Eridontomerus isosomatis (Riley, 1882)

Eridontomerus isosomatis (Riley, 1882) View in CoL

Figs 32–34

Material examined. 17 ♀♀, 6 ♂♂: IRAN, West-Azarbaijan Province , Naqadeh, Solduz Wetland, 37º02′ N, 45º35′ E, 1277 m a.s.l., 21 July 2020, 29 April 2021, Y. Karimpour leg., ex Calamagrostis epigejos GoogleMaps .

Diagnosis (abstracted from Gahan 1921; Zerova and Seryogina 1999; Janšta and Bouček 2006). Female ( Fig. 32B): head, mesosoma, and metasoma distinctly metallic green with a green-violet iridescence, covered with sparse white setae ( Fig. 33A‒E); legs with coxae the same color as body ( Figs 32B, 33A); but femora and tibiae light yellow, with darker maculations on femora and metatibiae, and tarsi predominantly yellow except for darkened distal tarsomeres and claws ( Fig. 32B); scape basally yellow, transitioning to dark brown distally, the remainder of antenna uniformly dark brown with slight metallic luster and inconspicuous setation ( Fig. 32A); wings hyaline with a faint smoky tint, and yellow venation ( Fig. 34A); gaster entirely fuscous with a metallic green sheen and distinct, reticulate sculpture, second tergite with a distinct notch medially on posterior margin ( Figs 32B, 34B); ovipositor about one-quarter length of gaster ( Fig. 32B).

The body color of males ( Fig. 32D) matches that of females, but the antenna ( Fig. 32C) is completely dark with a faint metallic luster. Unlike the female, the notch on second tergite of the gaster is almost indistinct.

Distribution. IRAN: West Azarbaijan Province ( new record). The earlier report from Iran, Zanjan province by Abd-Rabou et al. (2019), is considered uncertain due to the lack of voucher specimens available for verification. In contrast, our present findings confirm the presence and distribution of this species within Iran. EXTRALIMITAL: East Kazakhstan, Europe, Mongolia, North America, ( UCD Community 2023).

Biological association. Eriodontomerus isosomatis develops primarily on two host groups: the Hessian fly and grass-galling species of Tetramesa , with these associations occurring specifically on grasses belonging to the genera Agropyron , Calamagrostis , Cynodon , Elymus , Phleum , and Stipa ( Poaceae ) ( UCD Community 2023). Field surveys confirmed the concurrent presence and successful collection of both host taxa on Calamagrostis specimens, thereby substantiating their ecological association with this species.