Crete; 2♀♀, 1♂, Agia Irini, 26.iv.2013. 1♀, 1♂, Agia Irini, 28.iv.2013.

The barcodes of two sequenced A. nigrolinearis specimens (DEIGISHym20641, 20642) are identical and amongst 34 sequenced specimens of A. didymus and A. laticinctus sensu lato, are most similar to those of A. ariadne Liston and Jacobs, 2012 from Cyprus (DEIGISHym11089, 11093), with divergence of about 3.9%. Minimal divergence of A. nigrolinearis from A. laticinctus (France BC ZSM 01149 and Italy, Sicily DEIGISHym11042) is 6.4%. Noteworthy is that divergence of 5.3% between A. nigrolinearis and A. didymus (Klug, 1818) (Italy DEIGISHym18775, and Germany; 10 specimens) is somewhat less than from A. laticinctus. Several other segregates cluster around the four named taxa in the barcode similarity tree, indicating that the species group requires revision and may contain more taxa than previously thought.

As noted by Blank (1996), Zirngiebl apparently had no clear concept of species, subspecies and varieties. His var. nigrolinearis was described within a paragraph discussing colour variability of a reared series of female Emphytus balteatus from Germany. However, his wording does not make it clear what relationship he considered his new variety to have to the other specimens. In the absence of any clear indication that Zirngiebl considered nigrolinearis to be of infrasubspecific rank, the name is available (ICZN 1999, Article 45.6.4.).

Female A. nigrolinearis differ from those of A. laticinctus and A. ariadne in having an uninterrupted, broad, median, black vitta through the otherwise red sterna of the abdomen (Fig. 2). In the other species a number of sterna are entirely red. The metatibia of A. nigrolinearis females is also darker: apical half, and base narrowly, fuscous. In the other species the metatibia is entirely red except for apex. In two A. nigrolinearis the otherwise red abdominal terga 3–6 have a median black stripe (Fig. 3). In the third female, this stripe is interrupted on tergum 5 and the metatibia is somewhat paler than in the other specimens. The four basal serrulae of the lancet of A. nigrolinearis (Fig. 1) are subtriangular and similar to the other serrulae, whereas the four basal serrulae of A. laticinctus and A. ariadne are more rounded than the others (Liston and Jacobs 2012, Figs 4, 6). The males of A. nigrolinearis and A. ariadne are indistinguishable, apparently including their penis valves (A. nigrolinearis: Fig. 4. A. ariadne: Liston and Jacobs 2012, Fig. 7), but differ in leg colour from A. laticinctus. In A. nigrolinearis and A. ariadne the mid femur is almost entirely black except for the apex, but in A. laticinctus approximately the apical half of the mid femur is pale. The holotype of var. nigrolinearis was mistakenly considered by Schedl (1981, 1993) to belong to Allantus didymus (Klug, 1818) (Schedl 2011). Schedl (2011) added a record from Crete of a male specimen which he determined as A. didymus. However, confusion of A. didymus with A. laticinctus (sensu lato) has been widespread, particularly of the males (Koch 1988). Until more convincing evidence for the occurrence of A. didymus in Crete is presented, the name should be removed from the faunal list of the island.

Figures 1–4. 

Allantus nigrolinearis, Crete. 1, lancet, ♀, scale = 0.2 mm. 2, underside of abdomen, ♀, scale = 1 mm. 3, upperside of abdomen, ♀, scale = 1 mm. 4, penis valve, ♂, scale = 0.2 mm.

A. laticinctus has only definitely been reared from Rosa, in central and western Europe (Taeger et al. 1998, Knight 2006). The host(s) of A. nigrolinearis are likely to be Rosaceae (because the known hosts of other species in this complex are Rosaceae), but as for Empria archangelskii (see below), several host species seem possible.

Crete; 1♀, 6♂♂, Daratsos, on roses (garden cultivar) in hotel garden, 21–25.iv.2013. 1♂, Meskla, 22.iv.2013, near roses (garden cultivar). Rosa spp. are the known hosts: Taeger et al. 1998.

The garden habitat and association of the Cretan specimens with horticultural varieties of rose, suggest that A. viennensis may have been introduced to the island. A. viennensis, probably native to southern and central Europe, is also an introduced and established species in the eastern USA (Smith 2003).

Crete; 1♀, Strovles, 24.iv.2013.

One of the most cosmopolitan of sawflies, introduced to North America, South America and Australia from its (presumed) native range in the Palaearctic (Liston and Zerafa 2012).

Crete; 1♀ “Ajos Joánnis Ep. Ajos Wássilis” 21.iii.1925, leg. A. Schulz, Museum für Naturkunde, Berlin. 1♀, Agios Nicolaos, Almyros (Lasithi), 11.iv.1976, leg. Matti Viitasaari, Viitasaari Collection, Helsinki. 1♀, Mesa Potami, 28.iii.2013, swept from Crataegus monogyna. 1♀, Anogeia, 29.iii.2013, swept from flowering Acer sempervirens. 1♀, 1♂, Katharo Plateau, Kopraki, 30.iii.2013, swept from low vegetation on riverbank. 1♀, Agia Irini, 26.iv.2013, swept from low vegetation on a dry slope.

Based on the serrulae of the lancet, Prous (2012) treated the Cretan specimens preliminarily as a different species (sp4) from E. archangelskii. Serrulae in Cretan specimens are narrower and more protruding (Fig. 5) than in mainland specimens (Fig. 6). Although the three studied lancets of Cretan females are very similar to each other and slightly different from the two specimens studied from the mainland (one from Crimea, and the syntype of E. archangelskii from Tuapse, Krasnodar Krai, Russia), the penis valves of males appear to be indistinguishable (Figs 9–10). Because no consistent external differences were detected between the specimens from Crete and elsewhere, and a normal variability of lancets cannot be excluded, we consider them conspecific. Selandria labialis Brullé, 1832, currently treated as a synonym of E. immersa (Klug, 1818) (Taeger et al. 2010), was described from Methoni [Plaine de Modon], Messenia, Peloponnese, an area with habitats probably similar to those in Crete. The description of S. labialis can be interpreted as referring to E. immersa or E. archangelskii, although “Chaperon très-peu échancré” [clypeus very slightly emarginate] fits better with the former. Neither of these species has otherwise been recorded from mainland Greece. The Cretan E. archangelskii are the first recorded from Greece and are the most westerly records of the species, which is otherwise known from the North coast of the Black Sea (Russia, Ukraine), Cyprus, Israel, Lebanon and Syria (Prous 2012).

Figures 5–8. 

Empria, lancets, ♀. 5, E. archangelskii, Crete. 6, E. archangelskii, Crimea. 7, E. excisa, France. 8, E. excisa, Estonia.

Figures 9–12. 

Empria, penis valves, ♂. 9, E. archangelskii, Crete. 10, E. archangelskii, Crimea. 11, E. excisa, France. 12, E. excisa, Estonia.

The closest species to E. archangelskii is E. excisa (Thomson, 1871). E. archangelskii can be easily distinguished by the red-yellow pale colour of its legs, with femora mainly pale (black and whitish in E. excisa, with femora mainly black). There appear also to be slight differences between lancets and penis valves: serrulae are more protruding in E. archangelskii (Figs 5–6) than in E. excisa (Figs 7–8) and valviceps of penis valves might be slightly narrower and differently shaped in E. archangelskii (Figs 9–10) than in E. excisa (Figs 11–12).

The hostplant(s) of E. archangelskii are unknown. However, the larvae of Empria species which are morphologically and genetically closest to E. archangelskii all feed on non-woody Rosaceae. The plants from which the specimens were collected and were growing near the collecting sites did not offer clues as to the identity of a possible host. The only Rosaceae obviously present at all Cretan collecting sites was Crataegus monogyna, but presumably the widespread Sanguisorba minor, Sarcopoterium spinosum and Rubus sanctus were also present somewhere not too distant.

Crete; 1♂, Agia, 29.iv.2013, netted from Veronica sp. growing in wet bed of a stream. Veronica spp. are known hosts (Taeger et al. 1998).

Crete; 1♂, Potamies, 27.iii.2013. 4♀♀, Mesa Potami, 28.iii.2013. 1♀, Krasi, 28.iii.2013. 1♂, Daratsos, pool at hotel, 21.iv.2013. 1♀, 6♂♂, Omalos, 21.iv.2013. 1♀, Sempronas, 21.iv.2013. 1♂, Drakona, 22.iv.2013. 1♀, 8♂♂, Thériso-Drakona, 22.iv.2013. 1♂, Askifou, 23.iv.2013. 3♂♂, Kakopetros, 24.iv.2013. 1♀, 1♂ Strovles, 24.iv.2013. 3♀♀, 14♂♂, Omalos 2, 25.iv.2013. 14♀♀, 25♂♂, Agia Irini, 26.iv.2013. 1♂, Samonas, 27.iv.2013. 7♂♂, Moni, 28.iv.2013. 2♀♀, 3♂♂, Agia Irini, 28.iv.2013. 4♂♂, Agia, 29.iv.2013.

We did not collect all male specimens that were seen. During both visits to Agia Irini, males were very abundant in the uppermost part of the gorge.

Crete; 1♂, Strovles, 24.iv.2013.

Crete; 1♀, Drakona, 22.iv.2013, swept from Quercus sp. (either Q. ilex or Q. coccifera).

C. mediterranea was described from localities on the Mediterranean coast of mainland France and Corsica (Lacourt 2003). Specimens recorded as ? Chevinia sp. from Thessaly, mainland Greece, by Standfuss et al. (2010) also belong to this species (comparison with paratypes of C. mediterranea by A. Mol, S. Blank and A. Liston, 2013). The mainland specimens were also collected from Quercus spp. (K. Standfuss, personal communication), so perhaps the larval host is one or more oak species.

Crete; 1♀, Daratsos, pool at hotel, 22.iv.2013. 1♀, Meskla, 22.iv.2013. 2♀♀, Fournes-Meskla, 22.iv.2013. 1♀, Drakona, 22.iv.2013. 4♀♀, Agia Irini, 26.iv.2013. 1♀, Samonas, 27.iv.2013. 1♀, Moni, 28.iv.2013.

Crete; 5♀♀, 7♂♂, Omalos, 25.iv.2013, swept from Acer sempervirens: the host (Schedl 1981).

the barcode of one specimen collected from Acer sempervirens from the Peloponnese and determined as H. wuestneii (Konow, 1905) (DEIGISHym11102), diverges by 0.7% from two Lower Austrian specimens of H. wuestneii (BC ZSM HYM 04121, 04122). The minimum barcode divergence of the two barcoded Cretan H. imbrosensis (DEIGISHym20655, 20656) from the Peleponnesian H. wuestneii specimen is 1.8%.

H. imbrosensis closely resembles H. wuestneii. Specimens from Crete are darker than Central European (German and Austrian) H. wuestneii. The face may be entirely black in Cretan females, but usually there are at least small white patches on the inner orbits, whilst the tegula varies from entirely black to black with the posterior edge white. The H. wuestneii specimens from the Peloponnese are intermediate in coloration. According to Schedl (1981), H. imbrosensis is distinguished from similar species of the aceris group by the shape of the head behind the eyes in dorsal view. No such difference was found between the specimens of H. wuestneii and H. imbrosensis available to the authors. Furthermore, the apparently apically widened sawsheath of the holotype of H. imbrosensis [examined] as drawn by Schedl (1981) is the result of disruption of the valves of the sheath during extraction of the saw. As pointed out by Leppänen et al. (2012), the status of some of the Acer-feeding Heterarthrus needs further study, ideally including sequencing of nuclear DNA.

Crete; 3♀♀, 32♂♂, Krasi, 27–28.iii.2013. 3♂♂, Livadia, 29.iii.2013. 2 larvae (Fig. 13) beaten from Quercus coccifera, Drakona 2, 22.iv.2013 (determined by barcode congruence of one larva with 2 adults).1♀, Askifou, 23.iv.2013. All specimens swept from, or netted near, upper branches of Quercus coccifera (plants 3–5 m tall).

Figure 13. 

Periclista cretica, larva, Crete, scale = 1 mm.

The buds of the bushes and small trees of Quercus coccifera from which these were collected were swollen, but had not burst. Males were obtained mostly by netting them as they flew around the twigs in the upper crowns (at Krasi reached by standing on the many large boulders), and less so by sweeping around all accessible lower parts of the oaks. Sweeping yielded the only few females that we were able to obtain. The identification of the larvae allows us to state that Q. coccifera is the host plant. P. cretica was previously only known from the female holotype and a single male paratype (Schedl 1981), both of which we examined.

The taxonomy of this species will be dealt with in detail in a revision of West Palaearctic Periclista (A. Mol, in preparation).

Crete; 1♀, Krasi, 28.iii.2013. 1♀, Agia Irini, 26.iv.2013. Swept from low vegetation containing Sanguisorba minor, which is possibly a host plant (Liston and Jacobs 2012).

Crete; 1♀, 6♂♂, Topolia, 29.iv.2013, on Rosa sp.: the main hosts are Rosa spp. (Taeger et al. 1998).

Crete; 2♀♀, 4♂♂, Moni Kato Preveli, 25.iii.2013, swept from Salix alba, one of the main hosts: Taeger et al. 1998.

Crete; 3 galls in leaves of Salix alba, Meskla, 22.iv.2013. Galls very abundant (hundreds) on Salix alba, Agia, 29.iv.2013.

No adults were found by sweeping foliage of the three large trees at Agia. The majority of larvae were very small when about 200 galls were collected. Nevertheless, about 30 individuals had spun cocoons by 7.v.2013. Three females emerged in June 2013. Some others seemed to have entered prolonged diapause, but no adults were reared.

Crete; 1♀, Marathos, 24.iii.2013. 2♀♀, Pinakiano, 27.iii.2013. 2♀♀, Mesa Potami, 28.iii.2013. 1♀, Anogeia, 29.iii.2013. 2♀♀, Omalos, 25.iv.2013. Specimens mostly collected from inflorescences of Pyrus cultivars: the normal hosts are Pyrus spp. (Taeger et al. 1998).

Crete; 4♀♀, Marathos, 24.iii.2013. 9♀♀, Pinakiano, 27.iii.2013. 7♀♀, Mesa Potami, 28.iii.2013. 1♀, Krasi, 28.iii.2013. 10♀♀, Anogeia, 29.iii.2013. 1♀, Omalos, 21.iv.2013. Most specimens were swept from Crataegus monogyna with unopened inflorescences, and some others from inflorescences of cultivated Pyrus growing near Crataegus.

At none of the localities were Prunus spp. seen, although these are usually considered to be the larval hosts of H. chrysorrhoea in northern parts of Central Europe (e.g. Taeger et al. 1998). Perhaps Crataegus monogyna is a host in Crete.

Crete; 1♂, roadside between Kournas and Georgiopolis, 26.iii.2013. 1♀, Livadia, 29.iii.2013. Both specimens swept from freshly flushed Quercus pubescens: Quercus spp. are the known hosts (Liston 2012).

The depressed medial areas of the apical abdominal terga of the male are partly pale, unlike the completely dark terga of males so far examined from mainland Greece (see Liston 2012).

Crete; 4 larvae on cultivated Pyrus sp., Fournes, 25.iv.2013. One larva, larger than the others, had spun a cocoon by 7.v.2013.

Crete; 7♂♂, Pinakiano, 27.iii.2013. 5♂♂, Mesa Lasithi, 28.iii.2013. 1♀, 8♂♂, Katharo Plateau, Kopraki, 30.iii.2013. 6♀♀, 8♂♂, Omalos, 21.iv.2013. 11♀♀, 19♂♂, Askifou, 23.iv.2013. 7♀♀, 16♂♂, Omalos, 25.iv.2013. 2♀♀, Agia Irini, 26.iv.2013. All specimens swept from Acer sempervirens: because all species of the Pristiphora subbifida group use Acer spp. as hosts (Liston and Späth 2008), A. sempervirens (the only Acer sp. occurring in Crete) is probably a host.

Minimum divergence of three Cretan P. cretica (DEIGISHym20657–20659) from two northern Greek P. cretica (DEIGISHym11052, 19646) is approximately 1.2%. Interspecific divergence from the next nearest species, P. schedli (Cyprus: DEIGISHym10980, 10981) is about 3.8%.

In Crete Acer sempervirens displays considerable infraspecific variability in the timing of bud burst. Although Pristiphora cretica occurred at some localities together with P. tetrica (Zaddach, 1883), it was observed that these species have strongly differing preferences for trees at different stages of leaf and flower development. P. cretica is found exclusively on trees whose buds have fully opened and which are already flowering, whereas P. tetrica is found on trees whose buds have not yet burst, or have just opened. The preference is so strong, that this phenomenon could be observed on trees standing beside each other which were at different stages of flushing (Fig. 14). The difference in habit is also reflected in the temporal distribution of collection data: a larger number of P. cretica and higher proportion of females were recorded during the second 2013 visit than during the first, whereas most specimens of P. tetrica were collected during the first visit.

Figure 14. 

Acer sempervirens at different stages of bud-break. On the tree at left only Pristiphora cretica adults were found and on tree at right only P. tetrica. Crete, Lasithi Pref., Pinakiano, late March 2013.

The Cretan specimens listed above closely resemble the female holotype and male paratype (examined: Liston and Späth 2008), the only specimens previously known from Crete. Variability in the newly collected specimens affects the extent of pale coloration on the pronotum, outer orbits, clypeus and labrum in both sexes, and the extent of pale colour on the abdominal sternites. Specimens from the Vikos area, northern Greece (1♀, 7♂♂, Nom. Ioannina, Aristi, 16.4.2008, leg. Liston, SDEI) are very dark, with pronotum, abdominal sterna and metafemora nearly completely black. In a series (3♀♀, 3♂♂; SDEI) collected by S. M. Blank and C. Kutzscher in the western Peloponnese, the females are much paler than either the Cretan or Vikos specimens: abdomen including terga almost completely pale, in some specimens central part of mesepisternum pale. Colour of the Peleponnesian males falls within the range of variability seen in Cretan specimens. Some of the paler individuals of P. cretica could be mistaken for P. tetrica (Zaddach, 1883). Specimens of these species from the Mediterranean Region can be distinguished as follows:

Crete; 1♀, Daratsos, pool at hotel, 21.iv.2013. 1♀, Theriso-Drakona, 22.iv.2013.

These specimens are of the colour form with a very pale abdomen, which has sometimes been treated as a separate species, P. denudata Konow, 1902.

Crete; 1♀, Krasi, 27.iii.2013. 1♀, Livadia, 29.iii.2013. Both specimens swept from Quercus coccifera.

Crete; 1♂, Omalos, 21.iv.2013. Swept from Acer sempervirens, which is probably a host plant, because this is the only Acer sp. occurring in Crete and all species of the Pristiphora subbifida group use Acer spp. as hosts (Liston and Späth 2008).

Barcode data: the sequence of this specimen (DEIGISHym20661) diverges by about 4.8% from its nearest neighbour, P. tetrica (Zaddach, 1883) from Sicily (DEIGISHym10972). Divergence from two Cretan P. tetrica (see below) is approximately 5.3% and from P. schedli Liston and Späth, 2008 (Cyprus) approx. 8.6%.

Externally, the specimen differs from Cretan Pristiphora tetrica males only in the apex of the metatibia and most of metabasitarsomere being pale: Fig. 15 (largely black in P. tetrica: Fig. 19) and its slightly larger body length of 4.5 mm (P. tetrica: 3.5–4.0 mm). However, the penis valve of the unidentified species (Fig. 16) differs substantially from P. tetrica (Fig. 17), and resembles that of P. schedli: valvispina medially thickened and not strongly upcurved (in other subbifida group species not medially thickened, but strongly upcurved), apex of paravalva at base of valvispina not strongly expanded (other species: strongly expanded). On the other hand, the coloration of the head and thorax is much darker in Pristiphora sp. than in P. schedli, while the legs of the former are paler. Despite its morphological similarity to P. schedli, the very large barcode divergence of the single Cretan specimen suggests that it probably represents a previously unrecognized species. Possibly one of the two unidentified female Pristiphora specimens mentioned by Schedl (2011) belongs here. Further material should be obtained so that its status can be evaluated.

Figures 15–19. 

15–16. Pristiphora [subbifida group], Crete, ♂. 15, apex of metatibia and part of tarsus. 16, penis valve, scale = 0.5 mm. 17–19. Pristiphora tetrica, Crete. 17, penis valve, ♂, scale = 0.2 mm. 18, lancet, ♀, scale = 0.2 mm. 19, metatarsus and apex of metatibia, ♂.

Crete; 7♀♀, 3♂♂, Pinakiano, 27.iii.2013. 2♀♀, 11♂♂, Mesa Lasithi, 28.iii.2013. 1♂, Livadia, 29.iii.2013. 1♀, 4♂♂, Anogeia, 29.iii.2013. 5♀♀, 5♂♂, Katharo Plateau, Kopraki, 30.iii.2013. 1♀, 1♂, Omalos, 21.iv.2013. 2♀♀, Omalos, 25.iv.2013. All specimens swept from Acer sempervirens: because all species of the Pristiphora subbifida group use Acer spp. as hosts (Liston and Späth 2008), A. sempervirens (the only Acer sp. occurring in Crete) is probably a host.

Barcode data: sequences have been obtained for five specimens that were previously identified as P. nievesi: one specimen each from France, DEIGISHym19640; Italy, Sicily, DEIGISHym10972; mainland Greece, DEIGISHym10965, and two from Crete (DEIGISHym20660, 20662). Nested within this cluster in the barcode similarity tree are three specimens of P. tetrica from Germany (BC ZSM HYM 09418, BC ZSM HYM 20222, DEIGISHym18864). Although the minimum sequence divergence of the Cretan specimens from the German ones is about 1.9%, the Sicilian specimen differed from the German ones by only 0.6%. This is a comparatively small barcode difference (Hebert et al. 2004).

P. tetrica and P. nievesi have been recognized as being morphologically the most similar Pristiphora species within the Pristiphora subbifida group (Haris 2004, Liston and Späth 2008); even the penis valves and lancets (Cretan specimens: Figs 17, 18) are indistinguishable. However, the phenotypes do display minor differences in colour and size:

Occasional Central European specimens of P. tetrica occur that are unusually pale. They are larger than the types of P. nievesi but similarly coloured, apart from having black metafemora. One such individual is the type of Nematus velatus, described as having an almost completely yellow abdomen and less fuscous wings than typical P. tetrica. Specimens formerly identified as P. nievesi differ from each other in the colour pattern of the legs. The metatibia of the type specimens and the French specimen (Savina et al. 2014) is extensively or completely black. The base of the metatibia of the Sicilian and northern Greek specimens is obscurely paler. The Cretan specimens are paler than all of these, with the metatibia only apically black. For the following reasons, it seems best to regard the southern European P. nievesi as merely a series of relict populations of P. tetrica, and to treat them all as conspecific: a continuous gradient of variability in colour and size occurs between Central European P. tetrica specimens and specimens which have recently been treated as P. nievesi; morphology of lancets and penis valves is identical; genetic data at present reveals no clear difference between these nominal species.

See comments on phenology and distinction of P. tetrica from P. cretica, under P. cretica (above). Colour variability in P. tetrica from Crete is in the extent of pale on the outer orbits, tegulae and posterior edges of the pronotum. These parts are usually partly pale, but are entirely black in the darkest individuals. Males tend to be darker than females. Occasionally in females, the mesepisternum is partly pale medially.

Crete; 2♀♀, 2♂♂, Marathos, 24.iii.2013. 20♀♀, 23♂♂, Armeni, 25.iii.2013. 2♀♀, Lakki, 21.iv.2013. 7♀♀, 19♂♂, Sempronas, 21.iv.2013. 2♀♀, 5♂♂, Drakona, 22.iv.2013. 5♀♀, 4♂♂, Theriso-Drakona, 22.iv.2013. 7♀♀, 3♂♂, Strovles, 24.iv.2013. 7♀♀, 11♂♂, Agia Irini, 26.iv.2013. 2♀♀, 12♂♂, Topolia, 29.iv.2013. 1♀, 16♂♂, Agia, 29.iv.2013. All swept from, or netted near, Pteridium aquilinum, the only known host (Schedl 2011).

The barcodes of four sequenced Cretan specimens (DEIGISHym20637–206340: infraspecific variability about 0.7%) diverge by a minimum of 6.1% from the nearest neighbour A. bibolinii Zombori, 1979, represented by one male each from Corsica (first record from France: Ascu, 02.05.2004, leg. Liston, SDEI (DEIGISHym19725) and Sardinia (DEIGISHym19684): infraspecific variability about 0.7%. Minimum divergence of A. oertzeni to the next nearest species A. padi is 9.2% (many specimens from central and southern Europe, and Iran).

According to Benson (1968), A. oertzeni occurs not just in Crete (its type locality), but also in “Turkey and S. E. Europe”. However, in the same publication Benson stated that he had never seen specimens of this species. His statement may have been influenced by Konow (1905), who gave the distribution as Crete, Asia Minor and Moscow. The occurrence of A. oertzeni outside Crete has not been confirmed.

Niu and Wei (2013) placed Aneugmenus oertzeni in Atoposelandria (type species Selandria fuerstenbergensis Konow, 1885), which they treated as a genus distinct from Aneugmenus (type species Tenthredo coronata Klug, 1818). A. fuerstenbergensis is indeed distinguished from the other West Palaearctic Aneugmenus species by several characters: see for example key by Blank (1998). Niu and Wei (2013) stated that “Atoposelandria differs from Aneugmenus in the clypeus roundly and deeply incised; the frontal wall very sharp; claw slender and weakly bent, without basal lobe, and the inner tooth absent”. The depth and shape of the excision of the clypeus is by no means so different between A. fuerstenbergensis and other Aneugmenus as they suggest, and the development of the frontal wall shows considerable differences between the other W. Palaearctic species. On the other hand, A. fuerstenbergensis is unique amongst West Palaearctic species in the claws lacking an inner tooth, the densely transversely striated and matt abdominal terga and the lack of a sinus sexualis in the male. Nevertheless, at present there are no compelling arguments for the recognition of a separate genus, because insufficient phylogenetic evidence is available to support this, and because the practical value of the distinction is low: apart from A. fuerstenbergensis and A. oertzeni, Niu and Wei (2013) place only two other species, from the Oriental Region, in Atoposelandria. For the present, we point out that according to Niu and Wei’s definition of Atoposelandria, A. oertzeni does not belong there, but shares the “generic” characters of other W. Palaearctic Aneugmenus. In particular, its claw has an inner tooth, at least half as long as the outer. The inner one is however easy to overlook, as in all Aneugmenus species, because it arises close to the base of the claw and is obscured by setae and other parts of the apical tarsomere. Schedl (1981), who examined the types of Selandria oertzeni in the SDEI observed that A. oertzeni resembles A. coronatus (Klug, 1818). This is closer to reality than the comments of Benson (1968), who wrote of A. oertzeni: “This species, which I have never seen, is distinguished from A. padi by its untoothed tarsal claws. From A. fuerstenbergensis it is distinguished in the ♂ by having the 6th tergite emarginate apically and a transverse groove (sinus sexualis) across the 7th tergite (as in A. padi) and the tergites yellow from the 3rd segment; and in both sexes by the shining surface of the tergites which in A. fuerstenbergensis are dull with transverse striations.” On reading the original description of S. oertzeni, one sees how Benson was misled. Konow (1887) wrongly stated that oertzeni has simple claws and accordingly compared the taxon with the only other West Palaearctic Aneugmenus species that does have simple claws, namely A. fuerstenbergensis. Our examination of the types of A. oertzeni and the recently collected specimens revealed that this species is morphologically similar to A. padi. Externally, they can only be distinguished by colour characters and the larger inner tooth of the claw of A. padi. However, barcoding suggests a closer relationship of A. oertzeni to A. bibolinii than to A. padi. A revised key to West Palaearctic Aneugmenus species is in preparation.

Crete; 1♀, Katharo Plateau, Kopraki, 30.iii.2013.

As well as being the first record of a Dolerus species from Crete, this also seems to be the first published record of D. puncticollis from Greece. This is the most widespread Dolerus (Poodolerus) species in the Mediterranean Region, and the only member of the subgenus known in North Africa (Lacourt 1977).

Crete; 6♂♂, Marathos, 24.iii.2013. 2♀♀, 4♂♂, Armeni, 25.iii.2013. 1♂, Lakki, 21.iv.2013. 3♂♂, 1♀, Sempronas, 21.iv.2013. 1♀, 13♂♂, Thériso-Drakona, 22.iv.2013. 2♀♀, 3♂♂, Drakona, 22.iv.2013. 9♀♀, 6♂♂, Strovles, 24.iv.2013. 3♀♀, 2♂♂, Agia Irini, 26.iv.2013. 3♀♀, 2♂♂, Agia Irini, 28.iv.2013. 1♂, Topolia, 29.iv.2013. 1♂, Agia, 29.iv.2013. All swept from, or netted near Pteridium aquilinum, which is the only known host in Crete: Schedl 1981, 1993, 2011.

The barcodes of three sequenced Cretan specimens (DEIGISHym20648–20650) are identical and diverge by a minimum of 3.2% from 24 specimens of S. multifasciata collected throughout Europe (from Scotland to the Peloponnese) and Iran (infraspecific variability about 0.5%).

The Cretan specimens all belong to the form described as S. cretensis Konow, 1887, which was regarded as an allopatric local population of S. multifasciata by Naito (1996) and Blank (2002). Alternatively, Schedl (2011) treated S. cretensis as a distinct species. The Cretan specimens differ from mainland ones in a number of characters:

Figures 20–23. 

Strongylogaster multifasciata, ♀. 20, head, Crete. 21, habitus lateral, Crete, scale = 1 mm. 22, head, Scotland. 23, habitus lateral, Scotland, scale = 1 mm.

Further studies, including sequencing of nuclear genes, are required to clarify the status of the Cretan taxon.