Leucospis dorsigera Fabricius (Hymenoptera, Leucospidae) as a Hyperparasitoid of Cerambycidae (Coleoptera) through Xoridinae (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae) in Iran

2005·1.3 MB·English

by  Shahram Hesami

HYM. RES.
J.
Vol. 14(1), 2005, pp. 66-68
NOTE
Leucospis dorsigera Fabricius (Hymenoptera, Leucospidae) as a
Hyperparasitoid of Cerambycidae (Coleoptera) through Xoridinae
(Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae) in Iran
Shahram Hesami, Mohammad Ali Akrami, and Hannes Baur
(SH) Department of Plant Protection, Shiraz Islamic Azad University, Shiraz, Iran
email: [email protected];
(MAA) Department of Plant Protection, College of Agriculture, Tehran University, Karaj, Iran
email: [email protected];
(HB) Department of Invertebrates, Natural History Museum, Bernastrasse 15, CH-3005 Bern,
Switzerland, email: [email protected]
The genus Leucospis (Chalcidoidea: Leu- nae) and also five specimens of Leucospis
cospidae) is distinct among the Chalcidoi- dorsigera (Fig. 1). At first, we assumed that
dea both morphologically and biological- L. dorsigera emerged from a wasp or a bee
ly. The species are usually robust, pat- nesting in holes in the wood, but we could
terned vespid-like with yellow or red not find any of its known hosts. For this
stripes on a black ground color. The hind species, there are records from Apidae
femora are swollen and toothed beneath (Hymenoptera) and Bostrychidae (Cole-
as in the Chalcididae but the fore wings optera) (Noyes 2004), but the latter host
are folded longitudinally and the ovipo- records were considered doubtful by Baur
sitor is turned up over the abdomen (Bou- and Amiet (2000). To discover the possible
cek 1974, Grissell and Schauff 1997). host of L. dorsigera some infested branches
Determination of host associations for were opened by the senior authors. Final-
parasitic wasps is fraught with difficulties. ly, five Xorides cocoons (Fig. 2) contained
They are particularly problematic when it remnants of a X. corcyrensis larva together
comes to concealed hosts, especially those with a single ectoparasitoid larva which
living in deep or potentially complex sit- pupated after a few days and yielded L.
uations where more than one species may dorsigera.
be involved (Noyes 1994). In this paper, This is the first recorded instance of a
we report a new host relationship for Leu- species of Leucospis developing as a hy-
cospis dorsigera Fabricius, 1775 in Iran. perparasitoid. Host records have been re-
During the study of the natural enemies ported only for 33 (Grissell and Schauff
of the Rosaceae branch borer, Ospiiranteria 1997) of the 121 known species, all ofthem
coerulescens Redtenbacher, 1850 (Coleo- develop as primary parasitoids ofaculeate
ptera: Cerambycidae) on apricot trees in Hymenoptera. Their hosts are mainly sol-
Abarkouh region of Yazd province, Iran, itary bees, less frequently solitary wasps,
branches infested with borer larvae were e.g. Vespidae and Sphecidae nesting in a
hatched in plastic cages. Severalparasitoid similar way as the bees. Except for one
species emerged from the samples: Eury- gregarious species (Grissell —and Cameron
toiun sp. (Hymenoptera: Eurytomidae), 2002), —all Leucospis develop as far as is
Xorides corcyrensis (Kriechbaumer, 1894) known as solitarv parasitoids. Occasion-
(Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae: Xoridi- ally parasitic bees have also been recorded
Volume 14, Number 1, 2005 67
1
Fig. 1. Female of Leucospis dorsigera, emerged from larvae ofXorides corcyrensis (scale 0.5 cm)
as hosts for certain Palearctic species (Bou- the base of the gaster. The ratio of ovipo-
cek 1974), but such records were consid- sitor sheath to hind femur length is only
ered doubtful by Baur and Amiet (2000). 1.5, which lies slightly outside the range
L. dorsigera is a rather variable and of 1.53-1.92 given by Baur and Amiet
widely distributed species that occurs (2000) for European specimens. In all oth-
from Eastern Russia through Western Eu- er characters, especially the shape of the
rope to North Africa (Boucek 1974, Noyes clypeus and the first gastral tergite (com-
2004). The five specimens obtained from pare Baur and Amiet 2000: 367, figures 5a
the Xorides cocoons show rather extensive and 5b), the specimens fit very nicely the
yellow markings (Fig. 1). Furthermore, the diagnosis of L. dorsigera provided by Bou-
gaster of the female is relatively short and cek (1974) and Baur and Amiet (2000). Ac-
in lateral view broadly rounded at the cording to Boucek (1974), pale coloration
apex. Its ovipositor sheaths just reach to and a relatively short gaster were also ob-
**
•mmH
Fig. 2. Opened cocoon of Xorides corcyrensis containing a pupae of L. dorsigera together with frass and the
remnants of the Xorides larva (scale 1 cm).
68 Journalof Hymenoptera Research
served in other specimens collected in nem Bestimmungsschliissel und Daten zu den
southern parts of the distribution area of europaischen Arten. Revue Suisse de Zoologie 107:
359-388.
this species. A
Specimens of L. dorsigcra are deposited Boucemke,noZp.te1r9a7:4.Chalrceviidsoiiodneao)f otfhethLeeuwcoorslpdi.daBeull(eHtyi-n
in the Natural History Museum, Bern, ofthe British Museum (Natural History), Entomol-
Switzerland (1 female) and in the Dept. of ogy, Supplement23: 1-241.
Plant Protection, Shiraz Islamic Azad Uni- Grissell, E. E. and S. A. Cameron 2002. A new Leu-
versity, Shiraz, Iran (1 female, 3 males); cospisFabricius(Hymenoptera: Leucospidae),the
specimens of X. corcyrensis (3 females, 2 first reported gregarious species, journal ofHy-
msapleecsi;me3nsc)ocaoroensd)epaonsditoefdO.incotehreulDeescpetn.s o(f6 Grissemleln,opEt.eEr.aaRnedseaMr.chE.11S:ch2a7u3f-f2.771.997. A Handbookof
TPleaWhnretanPrUontievcetrisoint,y,CoKlalraejg,eIorfan.Agriculture, o(thfSesWeFacasmohinlidineegsdtiootfni.Noen,a8r7reetpvipie.seCdh)a.lcEindotiodmeoalo(HgyimceanlopStoecriae)t.y
are grateful to Elsa Obrecht, Natural Noyes, J. S. 2004. Universal Chalcidoidea Database.
History Museum Bern and two anony- World Wide Web electronic publication.
mous reviewers, for critical reading of the www.nhm.ac.uk/entomology/chalcidoids/
manuscript and many useful suggestions. index.html [accessed 05-May-2004].
LITERATURE CITED Noyes, J. S. 1994. The reliability of published host-
parasitoid records: A taxonomist's view. Norwe-
Baur, H. and Amiet, F. 2000. Die Leucospidae (Hy- gian Journal ofAgricultural Sciences, Supplement
menoptera: Chalcidoidea) der Schweiz, mit ei- 16: 59-69.