A review of the European species of Phradis (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae: Tersilochinae), with a description of a new species from Spain

Abstract

Abstract. European species of the genus Phradis Förster, 1869 are reviewed. A new species from Spain, Phradis mediterraneus sp. n., is described and illustrated. A key to all 24 European species and data on distribution and biology of these species are pr ovided. 107tions for surface microsculpture of sclerites were adapted from Eady (1968). Terminology for morphological structures mainly follows Townes (1969), and Gauld & Bolton (1988) for insect body divisions. The term "basal area" is used for the combined basal area and areola (area superomedia). These areas, if present, are combined in the Tersilochinae. Taxonomy and distribution are as in the catalogue TaxaPad (Yu et al., 2005). Geographic data listed in "Material" are given by countries, arranged in alphabetic order. Place-names are mainly those used in the atlas Microsoft Encarta Premium 2006. RESULTS Genus Key to European species of Phradis (females only) 109Figs 1-15: Morphology of females of Phradis species. P. longibasalis (1), P. minutus (2, 13), P. nigritulus (3, 10), P. decameron (4), P. monticola (5), P. polonicus (6), P. brevicornis (7), P. gibbus (8), P. terebrator (9), P. denticulatus (11), P. punctus (12), P. interstitialis (14), P. brevis (15). 1 -head, dorsal view; 2-7 -antenna, lateral view; 8-15 -apex of ovipositor, lateral view. 111Figs 20-27: Morphology of P. mediterraneus sp. n., female (SEM photos). 20 -head, frontal view; 21 -head, dorsal view; 22 -mesosoma and head with antennae, lateral view; 23 -middle flagellar segments; 24 -mesosoma, lateral view; 25 -first metasomal segment, lateral view; 26 -metasoma with ovipositor, lateral view; 27 -apex of ovipositor, lateral view. (Horstmann, 1981;Nilsson & Andreasson, 1987;Šedivý, 1983;Williams et al., 1984). Flight period in Europe from late April to mid of July. P. longibasalis Khalaim, 2007Phradis longibasalis Khalaim, 2007 P. mediterraneus sp. n. Diagnosis. This new species resembles P. monticola and P. corsicator in having entirely black antenna with a 112 slender flagellum of 13-14 segments (Fig. 22), second recurrent vein entirely present, basal area of propodeum shorter than apical area, thyridia elongate, ovipositor with conspicuous dorsal subapical notch (Fig. 27). It differs from them by the basal area of propodeum, which is transverse, about twice as wide as long, and by its ovipositor sheath which is about as long as first tergite (Fig. 26). Head transverse in dorsal view, 1.8-2.0 times as wide as long, slightly constricted behind eyes (Fig. 21). Temple rounded, 0.7-0.9 times as long as width of eye (viewed from above) (Fig. 21). Vertex, frons, temple, face and cheek slightly but densely punctate on a strongly granulate background. Occiput smooth and shiny. Malar space about 0.7-0.8 times as long as basal width of mandible. Clypeus 2.8-3.1 times as wide as long, slightly convex with thick and dense punctures on a granulate background on the upper half, where long silver setae are present; lower half smooth and shiny, its lower margin straight centrally with a dense li...

Niche separation of pollen beetle parasitoids

“…It is possible that both Phradis species have coevolved under pressure of competition, and partitioned their niche on the temporal axis and microhabitat axis, separating into early season (P. interstitialis: eggs in buds) and later season (P. morionellus: larvae in buds). There is no knowledge whether the ancestral state was larval or egg-larval parasitism before the assumed character displacement, and it cannot be extrapolated from other Palearctic Phradis species, since the biology of most of them is unknown (Khalaim et al, 2009). If we assume larval parasitism, which is the common strategy in the subfamily Tersilochinae, as ancestral state, then P. interstitialis could have been pushed into exploitation of pollen beetle eggs if P. morionellus is a superior competitor for larvae in buds.…”

Landscape configuration affects herbivore–parasitoid communities in oilseed rape

“…Our result suggests that P. morionellus may during some part of its life cycle benefit from forest proximity, possibly by exploiting alternative hosts in the forest habitat. So far, the host range of this parasitoid outside oilseed rape is poorly known, but includes at least four additional pollen beetle species that feed on other plants than B. napus (Khalaim et al 2009 ). Overwintering in alternative hosts outside OSR would enhance the ability of this parasitoid species to persist in the changing agricultural landscape and colonize new OSR habitats.…”

Study on two unrecorded genera, Barycnemis Förster and Phradis Förster (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae: Tersilochinae), from South Korea

“…Moderately large predominantly Holarctic genus with 38 species in the Palaearctic region (Khalaim et al . ), one described (Khalaim ) and about 17 undescribed species in the Nearctic region (Horstmann unpubl. ), two species in South Africa (Khalaim ) and one species in Peru (Khalaim & Bordera ).…”