Virgichneumon gemellus (GRAVENHORST, 1829), 2024

Virgichneumon gemellus (GRAVENHORST, 1829) , comb. nov. (figs 8, 30, 50, 68, 85)

Lectotype: (♁) (Wroclaw), studied and designated by RASNITSYN (1981).

D e s c r i p t i o n: ♀. Body length 8.5-10.0 mm. Flagellum with 34-35 segments, moderately lanceolate; 1 st flagellar segment 1.8-1.9× as long as wide; 4 th segment square, widest segments 1.2-1.5× as wide as long. Temple moderately and roundly narrowed behind eye (fig. 8). OED 1.0-1.2× and OOD 1.1-1.4× ocellar diameter. Frons and face punctate, partly with transverse striation, smooth and shining. Clypeus with sparse punctures. Clypeus 2.2-2.5× as wide as long. Gena with sparse punctures ventrally, 1.0- 1.2× as wide as eye (fig. 85). MI 0.6-0.7. Hypostomal carina low.

Notaulus impressed in frontal 1/4 of mesoscutum. Mesoscutum, mesopleuron and metapleuron densely punctate; mesopleuron posteriorly with longitudinal striation. Epicnemial carina low behind fore coxa. Scutellum slightly elevated, as wide as long, without or with lateral carina in basal 0.2-0.4. Area superomedia large, about as wide as long or slightly wider, hexagonal or half-moon-shaped; at its middle with costula (fig. 30). Hind coxa with large scopa. Hind femur stout, 3.4-3.8× as long as wide. External surface of hind tibia without or with few (1-3) denticular spines. Areolet pentagonal, frontal distance between veins 2rs-m and 3rs-m 2× their width; vein 2m-cu reaching its middle. Vein 1cu-a postfurcal by 1× its width.

Postpetiole with ± distinct latero-median carina, lateral field punctate, 0.8× as wide as median field, median field with coarse longitudinal striato-punctures. Gastrocoelus strongly impressed, with ridges. Thyridium almost transverse, 0.8× as wide as interval between thyridia. 2 nd tergite 1.3× as wide as long. 2 nd and 3 rd tergites densely punctate, medially with longitudinal aciculation (fig. 50). Ovipositor sheath slightly extending beyond metasomal apex.

Color: black. Setae of mesoscutum grey. Flagellar segments 7-13/14 dorsally, long narrow stripe on upper frontal orbit up to vertex, sometimes side of clypeus and spot on collar, and large marks on 6 th and 7 th tergites ivory. 2 nd and 3 rd tergites reddish-brown, also postpetiole apically and 4 th tergite, sometimes 5 th tergite laterally. Legs black; fore leg yellowish frontally; hind tibia reddish or reddish-brown in basal 2/3. Pterostigma brown. ♁. Body length 11.0- 12.5 mm. Flagellum with 35-37 segments; 1st flagellar segment

2.0× as long as wide. Tyloids on flagellar segments 5/6-11/12, long-oval to linear, 0.7× as long as their segments. Temple roundly narrowed behind eye. OED 0.9× ocellar diameter. Frons finely transversely rugose-punctate. Face with fine punctures and fine granulation. Clypeus with scattered punctures and fine longitudinal rugae medially (fig. 68). Gena 0.9× as wide as eye. MI 0.2. Hypostomal carina slightly elevated.

Side of pronotum with superficial punctures dorsally and striated ventrally. Lateral field of mesoscutum punctate, smooth between punctures. Mesopleuron punctate ; metapleuron with coarse punctures. Scutellum slightly wider than long, punctate, with lateral carina in basal 0.5-0.6, with longitudinal rugae apically. Area superomedia rather large, halfmoon-shaped, slightly wider than long ; costula reaching posterior to its middle. Fore metatarsus with large apical tooth. Hind coxa densely punctate, with long setae. Mid femur lamella-like widened ventrally and concave ventro-apically. Hind femur with sparse punctures ventrally, 3.4-3.6× as long as wide. Vein 1cu-a strongly postfurcal ; vein M+ RS (basal vein) with sharp edge.

Postpetiole with distinct latero-median carina. Lateral field 0.8-1.2× as wide as median field, median field with 8-12 longitudinal striae. Gastrocoelus distinctly impressed. Thyridium oblique, 1.0-1.2× as wide as interval. 2 nd tergite 0.9-1.1× as long as wide. 2 nd to 5 th tergites with rather superficial punctures, finely rugose laterally, 2 nd and 3 rd tergites with longitudinal rugae medially.

Color: black. Setae of mesoscutum grey. Flagellum reddish ventrally. Base of mandible, palps, side of clypeus, facial orbit, frontal orbit up to vertex (fig. 68), outer orbit, usually spot on scape ventrally, collar and hind edge of pronotum, usually spot on subtegular ridge, sometimes frontal spot of fore coxa, often lateral spots on scutellum (sometimes confluent medially) yellowish. Legs black or brownish; fore femur apically and fore tibia frontally yellowish; hind tibia usually dark brown, black apically. Hind tarsus black. Pterostigma brown to black.

T a x o n o m i c a l r e m a r k s: The correct generic position of Virgichneumon gemellus (GRAVENHORST) has been a matter of discussion in the past. RASNITSYN (1981) transferred this species to the (Afrotropical) genus Rugosculpta HEINRICH, 1967 which was rejected by HILPERT (1992) who provisionally re-included V. gemellus in the genus Barichneumon , together with the closely related V. rhenanus (HABERMEHL) . HILPERT (1992) also mentioned that the generical separation of Barichneumon and allied genera needs further investigation. Despite the differences between typical members of Rugosculpta and V. gemellus, TERESHIKIN (2005) re-established the position of V. gemellus in Rugosculpta .

In my opinion, the differences between V. gemellus and the two known Afrotropical members of Rugosculpta (e.g. almost completely carinated scutellum and strongly convergent temples behind eyes), do not support the view of RASNITSYN (1981) and TERESHKIN (2005). Due to the rather slender basal flagellar segment, structure of postpetiole with distinct lateral-median carina and distinctly impressed gastrocoelus, the species is newly transferred to Virgichneumon here.

S t u d i e d m a t e r i a l: from Austria, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Kirghizstan, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, United Kingdom.