Pristiphora mollis (Hartig, 1837)

Prous, Marko, Kramp, Katja & Liston 1, Veli VikbergAndrew, 2017, North-Western Palaearctic species of Pristiphora (Hymenoptera, Tenthredinidae), Journal of Hymenoptera Research 59, pp. 1-190 : 90

Pristiphora mollis (Hartig, 1837) Figs 156, 300

Tenthredo bipunctata Gmelin, 1790: 2670. Primary homonym of Tenthredo bipunctata O.F. Müller, 1776 [= Tenthredo (Tenthredella) livida Linné, 1758]. Type specimens probably lost ( Blank et al. 2009: 13). Type locality: Lusatia [Lausitz], Brandenburg or Saxony, Germany.

Nematus mollis Hartig, 1837: 201. Lectotype ♀ (GBIF-GISHym3355; here designated) in ZSM, examined. Type locality: Harz or Berlin [from original description, no locality label on the lectotype], Germany.

Tenthredo lapponica Zetterstedt, 1838: 350. Lectotype ♀ (MZLU2014469; here designated) in MZLU, examined. Type locality: Karungi, Norrbotten, Sweden. Note. Konow (1905) proposed synonymy with Tenthredo (Emphytus) grossulariae Klug, 1818 [= Ametastegia pallipes (Spinola, 1808)], which was accepted by Taeger et al. (2010). The synonymy with mollis , first proposed by Thomson (1863), is here confirmed.

Nematus whitei Cameron, 1878b: 35-36. Syntype(s) ♂ possibly in BMNH, not examined. Type locality: Braemar, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, United Kingdom. Synonymised with P. mollis by Konow (1904b).

Pachynematus orarius Kincaid, 1900: 348. Syntype ♀ (USNMENT00778196) in USNM, not examined. Type locality: Kukak Bay and Sitka, Alaska, USA. Synonymised with P. mollis by Ross (1951).

Lygaeonematus mollis ab. albipes Lindqvist, 1943: 107. Not available. Infrasubspecific name.

Lygaeonematus mollis ab. rufonotata Lindqvist, 1943: 107. Not available. Infrasubspecific name.

Pachynematus kontkaneni Lindqvist, 1960a: 35-36. Holotype ♀ in MZH, examined. Type locality: Kuusamo, Koillismaa, Finland.

Similar species.

The most similar species belong to the carinata group. Externally, both females and males of P. mollis generally have a more depressed frontal field (area anterior to median ocellus) and it is often rather smooth compared to carinata group specimens, but the difference is rather small and difficult to quantify. Females of P. mollis can often be distinguished from carinata group specimens by the combination of darker coloration of the head and abdomen (black clypeus and valvifer 2, and usually black tergum 10), the paler metatarsus (usually mainly pale), and longer cerci. Lancet (Fig. 156) and penis valve (Fig. 300) of P. mollis are clearly different from those in the carinata group (Figs 210-217, 238-242).

Genetic data.

Based on COI barcode sequences, P. mollis forms its own BIN cluster (BOLD:AAF5097) (Fig. 3). Maximum distance within the BIN is 1.51%. The nearest neighbour to BOLD:AAF5097, diverging by a minimum of 6.2%, is BOLD:AAH7553 ( P. leucopodia ). Based on nuclear data, the nearest neighbour is 2.8% ( P. nigriceps , only NaK) or 4.2% different ( P. laricis , both genes combined).

Host plants.

Vaccinium myrtillus L. ( Savina et al. 2014, ex ovo rearing experiments by VV), V. uliginosum L. ( Verzhutskii 1981, Kangas 1985).

Rearing notes.

Ovipositing experiment no. 4/1986: Finland, South Häme, Janakkala, Kalpalinna. One captured female laid several eggs on 23.V.1986 in pockets on undersides of young leaves of Vaccinium myrtillus . Eggs were situated very close to the leaf margin at the base of teeth (leaf edges) of the plant. 5 larval instars were observed, the development of larvae was rapid and on 6.VI.1986 first cocoon was observed. No extra moult after feeding. Larva can be green or red. On both sides of the dark dorsal vessel, there are longitudinal white subcutaneous fat stripes on the thorax and abdominal segments 1-9.

Distribution and material examined.

West Palaearctic, Nearctic. Specimens studied are from Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, and Ukraine.