Research Article |
Corresponding author: Shunpei Fujie ( shunpei.fujie@gmail.com ) Academic editor: Dominique Zimmermann
© 2021 Shunpei Fujie, George Japoshvili, Jose Fernandez-Triana.
This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the CC0 Public Domain Dedication.
Citation:
Fujie S, Japoshvili G, Fernandez-Triana J (2021) Review of the world species of Paroplitis Mason, 1981 (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Microgastrinae), with description of three new species. Deutsche Entomologische Zeitschrift 68(1): 33-43. https://doi.org/10.3897/dez.68.59641
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The world species of the microgastrine genus Paroplitis (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) are revised. Three new species are described, P. horticola Fujie & Fernandez-Triana, sp. nov. and P. japonicus Fujie & Fernandez-Triana, sp. nov. from Japan and P. kakhetiensis Fujie, Japoshvili & Fernandez-Triana, sp. nov. from Georgia. P. vietnamensis van Achterberg & Fernandez-Triana, 2013 is re-described, based on additional specimens. P. wesmaeli Ruthe, 1860 is recorded from Georgia for the first time. A key to the nine known species (eight described and one undescribed) of the genus is provided.
Palaearctic, taxonomic revision, world key, parasitoid wasps, Japan, Georgia
The subfamily Microgastrinae (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) is a large group of parasitoid wasps living on the larvae of Lepidoptera (
As a result of studies being carried out by the authors on the Microgastrinae fauna of Georgia (GJ and JFT), new material, representing one additional species of Paroplitis, was discovered. Additionally, until now, no species were known in the eastern Palaearctic Region; however, ongoing research on the Microgastrinae fauna of Japan (SF and JFT), has revealed two new species for Japan. This paper describes these three new species and provides an updated key to the world species.
Specimens of the new species were collected by Malaise traps and yellow pan traps in Japan and Georgia. The material has been deposited in the repositories listed below.
Morphological terms and measurements follow
Photos of specimens were taken with Keyence VHX-1000 and VHX-7000 Digital Microscopes, using a lens with a range of 10–130×. Multiple images were taken of the structures through the focal plane and then combined to produce a single in-focus image using the software associated with the Keyence System. Plates were prepared using Microsoft PowerPoint 2010 and saved as .TIF files.
A map with the distribution of the species was generated using SimpleMappr (
We recognise eight species of Paroplitis worldwide, including three new species described in the present paper. We are aware of at least one other undescribed species from India (
1 |
T1 and T2 entirely sculptured (Figs |
2 |
– |
T1 smooth on posterior half (except for P. wesmaeli), T2 mostly smooth and shiny (at most with few, fine striae on lateral margins) (Figs |
4 |
2(1) |
F15 about 2.0× as long as wide; metafemur 3.5× as long as wide [Oriental Region: India; undescribed species incorrectly identified as P. vietnamensis in |
Paroplitis sp. |
– |
F15 1.2–1.6× as long as wide (Fig. |
3 |
3(2) | Propodeum evenly rugose on its entire surface, without distinctive carinae [western Palaearctic Region: Austria; known from single locality at 2,400 m altitude] | P. rugosus Papp, 1991 |
– | Propodeum smooth at least anteriorly, with distinct median and transverse carinae (Fig. |
P. japonicus Fujie & Fernandez-Triana, sp. nov. |
4(1) | Fore wing areolet quadrangular and relatively large, its maximum height 1.1× vein r length; fore wing with vein 2CUa tubular on its anterior 0.3–0.5 [Nearctic Region: Canada (British Columbia, Yukon) and United States (Alaska)] | P. beringianus Mason, 1981 |
– | Fore wing with areolet triangular and relatively small, its maximum height at most 0.7× vein r length, usually much less (Figs |
5 |
5(4) | Scape, tegula, humeral complex and legs entirely yellow (except for anterior 0.5–0.7 of metacoxa which is brown); fore wing with vein R1 as long as or longer than pterostigma length and much longer than distance delimited between end of vein R1 and end of vein 3RSb [Oriental Region: Philippines, Vietnam] | P. luzonicus Mason, 1981 |
– | Scape, tegula, humeral complex and most of legs entirely brown to black; fore wing with vein R1 shorter than pterostigma length and same length (at most, slightly larger) as distance delimited between end of vein R1 and end of vein 3RSb (Figs |
6 |
6(5) | Propodeum with a distinct areola medioposteriorly (Fig. |
P. kakhetiensis sp. nov. Japoshvili, Fujie & Fernandez-Triana, sp. nov. |
– | Propodeum without a distinct areola medioposteriorly (Fig. |
7 |
7(6) | Propodeum usually without trace of transverse carina (although very rarely a more or less complete carina may be present); fore wing with areolet very small, its maximum height 0.2× vein r length, its maximum width 0.2× vein r length [western Palaearctic Region: Azerbaijan, Belgium, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Russia (Krasnodar Kray), Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine and United Kingdom] | P. wesmaeli (Ruthe, 1860) |
– | Propodeum with a more or less complete and defined transverse carina; fore wing with areolet larger, its maximum height 0.3–0.7× vein r length, its maximum width 0.4–0.7× vein r length (Figs |
8 |
8(7) | Posterior ocelli comparatively larger, OOL/OD = 1.9–2.3, POL/OD = 1.4–1.5 (Fig. |
P. horticola Fujie & Fernandez-Triana, sp. nov. |
– | Posterior ocelli comparatively smaller, OOL/OD = 2.3–2.6, POL/OD = 1.6–1.8 (Fig. |
P. vietnamensis van Achterberg & Fernandez-Triana, 2013 |
Paroplitis beringianus Mason, 1981: 70. Original description.
Female,
1 female (
1 female (
A detailed description of the species and images are available in
Unknown.
Nearctic Region: Canada (British Columbia, Yukon) and United States (Alaska) (
Female,
8♀ (
Paroplitis horticola, holotype. 3. Habitus; 4. Fore wing; 5. Dorsal view of mesoscutellar disc, propodeum and mediotergites; 6. Apical segments of antenna; 7. Basal segments of antenna; 8. Frontal view of head; 9. Dorsal view of head; 10. Detail of T1, dorsal view; 11. Lateral view of ovipositor sheath and ovipositor tip.
Female (n = 8). Body length: 2.1–2.4 mm; fore wing length: 2.1–2.4 mm; F2 L/W: 1.1–1.3×; F14 L/W: 1.1–1.4×; F15 L/W: 1.2–1.4×; F2 L/F14 L: 1.1–1.3×; OOL/ OD: 1.9–2.3×; POL/OD: 1.4–1.5×. Fore wing with vein 2CUa entirely nebulous; vein R1 shorter than pterostigma length and a little longer than distance delimited between end of vein R1 and end of vein 3RSb. Fore wing with areolet triangular and relatively small, its maximum height 0.3–0.4× vein r length, its maximum width 0.4–0.6× vein r length. Propodeum mostly smooth and shiny, with some rugosity longitudinally and along median transverse carina; median longitudinal carina complete, at least on anterior 0.5; transverse carina more or less developed. Metafemur L/W: 2.6–2.8×. Anterior 0.5 of T1 irregularly rugose, at least laterally, rest of T1 and T2 mostly smooth; T1 median length 1.8–2.0× its width at posterior margin; T2 width at posterior margin 2.0–2.2× its median length. Metatibia L: 0.74–0.84 mm. Metatibia L/ovipositor sheath L: 2.0–2.6×. Ovipositor sheath L: 0.31–0.38 mm. Maximum length of setae on ovipositor sheath much longer than maximum width of ovipositor sheath.
Body dark brown to black. Mouth parts, humeral complex, wing veins (except sometimes for C+SC+R, pterostigma, R1), trochantelli, posterior 0.2 of pro- and mesofemora, pro- and mesotibiae and tarsi, anterior 0.2 of metatibia and sternites brown to yellowish-brown. Palpi yellow.
Male (n = 1). Similar to female, except for flagellomeres with two ranks of placodes; F2 L/W: 1.9×; F14 L/W: 2.3×; F15 L/W: 2.3×.
Unknown.
Eastern Palaearctic: Japan (Hokkaido).
Named “horticola” because type specimens were collected from a Malaise trap set in a garden.
Female,
1♀ (
Paroplitis japonicus, holotype; 12. Habitus; 13. Fore wing; 14. Dorsal view of mesoscutellar disc, propodeum and mediotergites; 15. Apical segments of antenna; 16. Basal segments of antenna; 17. Frontal view of head; 18. Dorsal view of head and anteromesoscutum; 19. Detail of T1 and T2, dorsal view.
Female (n = 7). Body length: 2.1–2.5 mm; fore wing length: 1.9–2.2 mm; F2 L/W: 1.3–1.6×; F14 L/W: 1.3–1.6×; F15 L/W: 1.2–1.6×; F2 L/F14 L: 1.1–1.3×; OOL/OD: 1.9–2.1×; POL/OD: 1.5–1.8×. Fore wing with vein 2CUa entirely nebulous; vein R1 shorter than pterostigma length and same length or a little longer than distance delimited between end of vein R1 and end of vein 3RSb. Fore wing with areolet triangular and relatively large, its maximum height 0.4–0.6× vein r length, its maximum width 0.7–0.9× vein r length. Propodeum mostly smooth and shiny dorsally, with some rugosity longitudinally and along median transverse carina; median longitudinal carina complete; transverse carina well developed, with additional, small, transverse striation near the carina. Metafemur L/W: 2.7–3.2×. T1 and T2 entirely coarsely rugose; T1 median length 2.1–2.6× its width at posterior margin; T2 width at posterior margin 2.1–2.6× its median length. Metatibia L: 0.64–0.76 mm. Metatibia L/ovipositor sheath L: 2.9–3.2×. Ovipositor sheath L: 0.20–0.25 mm. Maximum length of setae on ovipositor sheath, at most, slightly longer than maximum width of ovipositor sheath.
Body dark brown. Mouth parts, antenna, humeral complex, wing veins and most of legs brown. Trochantelli, apical part of pro- and mesofemora, pro- and mesotibiae and tarsi, anterior 0.2 of metatibia and basal sternites yellowish-brown. Palpi pale yellow.
Male. Similar to female, except for flagellomeres with two ranks of placodes; F2 L/W: 2.5×; F14 L/W: 2.3×; F15 L/W: 2.2×.
Unknown.
Eastern Palaearctic: Japan (Honshu, Kyushu, Yakushima).
The name refers to the country where the species is found.
Female,
Female (n = 1). Body length: 2.4 mm. Fore wing length: 2.4 mm. F2 L/W: 1.4×. F14 L/W: 1.3×. F15 L/W: 1.3×. F2 L/F14 L: 1.2×. OOL/OD: 2.1×. POL/OD: 1.4×. Fore wing with vein 2CUa entirely nebulous; vein R1 shorter than pterostigma length and a little longer than distance delimited between end of vein R1 and end of vein 3RSb. Fore wing with areolet triangular and relatively small, its maximum height 0.3× vein r length, its maximum width 0.5× vein r length. Propodeum mostly smooth and shiny, with some rugosity longitudinally and along median transverse area, without trace of some transverse carina; median longitudinal carina complete at least on anterior 0.5; propodeal areola present medio-posteriorly. Metafemur L/W: 2.5×. Anterior 0.5 of T1 coarsely punctate-rugose, rest of T1 and T2 mostly smooth; T1 median length 1.7× its width at posterior margin; T2 width at posterior margin 1.8× its median length. Metatibia L: 0.79 mm. Metatibia L/ovipositor sheath L: 2.9×. Ovipositor sheath L: 0.27 mm. Maximum length of setae on ovipositor sheath at most slightly longer than maximum width of ovipositor sheath.
Body dark brown to black. Mouth parts, humeral complex, wing veins, trochantellus, apical part of pro- and mesofemora, pro- and mesotibiae and tarsi and anterior 0.2 of metatibia brown to yellowish-brown. Palpi yellow.
Male. Unknown.
Unknown.
Western Palaearctic Region: Georgia.
The species is named after the region in Georgia (Kakheti), where it was found.
The distribution of P. kakhetiensis seems to overlap with that of P. wesmaeli, although P. kakhetiensis was collected at a higher altitude (1840 m) than wesmaeli specimens.
Paroplitis luzonicus Mason, 1981: 70. Original description.
Female, AEI (not examined). Holotype labels: Philippine Is., Luzon I., Mt. Data, 7800 ft. [2,400 m] alt., Oak forest, 31 December 1952, Townes family.
A detailed description of the species and images are available in
Unknown.
Oriental Region: Philippines, Vietnam (
Paroplitis rugosus Papp, 1991: 165. Original description.
Female,
A detailed description and images of the species in
Unknown.
Western Palaearctic Region: Austria (
Only known from the female holotype. Its distribution seems to overlap with that of P. wesmaeli, although P. rugosus was collected in the Alps at a higher altitude (2400 m) than European specimens of wesmaeli.
Paroplitis vietnamensis
Female, NCB (examined). Holotype labels: 1. NW Vietnam: Tonkin. Hoang Lien N. R., 15 km W Sa Pa, ca. 1900 m alt., 15–21. X. 1999, Malaise traps, C. v. Achterberg, RMNH’99.
1 female (
1 female (
A detailed description of the species and images are available in
Unknown.
Distribution. Oriental Region: northern Vietnam (
Microgaster picipes Wesmael, 1837: 38. See Microgaster wesmaeli Ruthe below.
Microgaster wesmaeli Ruthe, 1860: 148. Replacement name for Microgaster picipes Wesmael, 1837.
Apanteles wesmaeli (Ruthe, 1860). Transferred by Dalla Torre 1898: 185.
Hypomicrogaster wesmaeli (Ruthe, 1860). Transferred by Nixon 1965: 210.
Paroplitis wesmaeli
(Ruthe, 1860). Transferred by
Female, IRSNB (not examined). Holotype label: environs de Bruxelles.
1 female (
A detailed description and images of the species in
Gregarious. Hosts: A gregarious parasitoid of scopariine Crambidae feeding in mosses (
Western Palearctic Region: Azerbaijan, Belgium, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Russia (Krasnodar Kray), Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine and United Kingdom (
This species has a widespread distribution in the western Palaearctic Region and it also has relatively large morphological variation – for example, propodeum with a transverse carina (commonly) or without a transverse carina (rarely); areola size small (commonly) or relatively larger (rarely). We suspect that, under the name P. wesmaeli, there could be a complex of species. However, more collecting and study of specimens (throughout the Palaearctic Region), as well as DNA barcoding, will be needed before any attempt to unravel this complex is made.
Oriental Region: India (Jammu and Kashmir).
This species seems to be closely related to P. rugosus and P. japonicus in having mostly entirely sculptured T1 and T2, comparatively large areolet and R1 almost as long as the length of pterostigma. However, it differs by comparatively slender F15, propodeum with longitudinal carina and comparatively slender metafemur, according to photographs by
The reviews of Michael Sharkey (United States), Kaoru Maeto (Kobe University, Japan) and Mark Shaw (National Museums of Scotland, United Kingdom) were extremely helpful and contributed significantly to improve the final version of the manuscript. We acknowledge the Museum für Naturkunde Berlin for waiving the author’s fees. SF thanks K. Yamagishi and J. Yamasako for their hospitality whilst working on the braconid holdings and loan of material at