Meropsiella apiastri (Denny, 1842)

(Figs 479–485)

Nirmus apiastri Denny, 1842: 52 .

Degeeriella apiastri (Denny, 1842); Harrison, 1916: 108. Meropsiella apiastri (Denny, 1842); Conci, 1941b: 104. Brueelia apiastri (Denny, 1842); Hopkins & Clay, 1952: 53.

Type host. Merops apiaster Linnaeus, 1758 — European bee-eater. Type locality. Belfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom.

Description. Both sexes. Head shape, structure, and chaetotaxy as in genus description and Fig. 481. Bulge median of mts 3 slight. Thoracic and abdominal segments as in genus description and Figs 479–480; 1 seta on each side of metasternum.

Male. Abdominal chaetotaxy as in Table 2 and Fig. 479. Male genitalia (Figs 483–485) unique within genus and the Brueelia -complex. Basal apodeme (Fig. 483) roughly trapezoidal. Proximal mesosome square-shaped. Gonopore (Fig. 484) ventral, narrowly open distally, with large, roughly Y-shaped thickening on each side. Mesosomal lobes rounded, fused distally. Moderate lateral nodi on ventral surface of mesosome, not reaching distal end of mesosome; 2 pmes microsetae on each side on these nodi. Parameral heads (Fig. 485) slender, bifid. Parameral blades gently curved around mesosome, slightly elongated distally; pst1–2 sensilla, proximal to elongation of parameres. Measurements ex Merops apiaster (n = 9): TL = 1.41–1.53; HL = 0.40–0.41; HW = 0.34– 0.36; PRW = 0.22–0.24; PTW = 0.33-0.35; AW = 0.42–0.46.

Female. Abdominal chaetotaxy as in Table 2 and Fig. 480. Subgenital plate (Fig. 482) flares distally, but does not reach vulval margin, forming wide cross-piece that broadens laterally. Vulval margin (Fig. 482) with distinct median bulge; 1–3 slender vms and 2–3 thorn-like vss situated on each side of bulge, mixed; 3–5 long, slender vos on each side; vos do not approach vss. Measurements ex Merops apiaster (n = 11): TL = 1.76–1.95 (1.87); HL = 0.43–0.47 (0.45); HW = 0.36–0.40 (0.38); PRW = 0.22–0.26 (0.24); PTW = 0.35–0.39 (0.37); AW = 0.50–0.57 (0.53).

Type material. Ex Merops apiaster: Holotype ♂, Belfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom, Denny Collection, BM 1952-98 (NHML).

Additional material examined (non-types)

Ex Merops apiaster: 1♀, Agigea, [Constata County,] Romania, 2 Jul. 1958, I. Bechet, 22/a/5, 22039 on reverse (OSUS) ; 1♂, 1♀, Israel, 23 May 1968, C-2194 (OSUS) ; 1♂, 1♀, “ Desert ”, Al Magrah, [Matruh Governate,] Egypt, 15 May 1975, HH8277 (OSUS) ; 1♀, Paralimni, [Famagusta District,] Cyprus, 12 May 1968, CYS-385 (OSUS) ; 1♂, Luanshya River, Zambia, 13 Oct. 1951, E.L. Haydoek, ML/30, Brit. Mus. 1952-149 (NHML); 1♂, Slovakia, 24 Jul. 1949, F. Balát, BM 1950-389 (NHML) ; 2♂, 14♀, Afghanistan, May 1937, R. Meinertzhagen, 10006 and 10086–91 (NHML); 4♂, 6♀, Quetta, Afghanistan, May 1937, R. Meinertzhagen, 2746 (NHML) ; 3♂, 11♀, Kabul, Afghanistan, Apr. 1937, R. Meinertzhagen, 9687 (NHML); 1♂, 1♀, Johannesburg, Transvaal, South Africa, 15 Nov. 1968, J. Ledger, Brit. Mus. 1972-382 (NHML) ; 1♂, 1♀, “ Asia Minor ”, Turkey, May 1935, R.Meinertzhagen, 3885 (NHML) ; 2♂, 3♀, Palestine, Apr. 1953, R. Meinertzhagen, BM1953-225 (NHML); 4♂, 3♀, Defilia, near Figuig, Morocco, 12 Apr. 1966, A. Hutson, Brit. Mus. 1966-241 (NHML) ; 3♂, 1♀, “ Southern Spain ”, SPAIN, 21 Apr. 1961, Varma No. A 252, Brit. Mus. 1962-325 (NHML) ; 1♂, 3♀, Yinna [?], Mbaraza [?], Uganda, 11 Nov. 1934, G.H.E. Hopkins (NHML) ; 1♂, 1♀, “ Stavros ”, unknown locality, 23 May 1918, J. Waterston, BM1930-232 (NHML) ; 1♀, Khuta Maji, Vwaza Marsh, Vwaza Wildlife Reserve, Malawi, 16 Oct. 2009, Jason D. Weckstein, MLW-3753, FMNH 467914, FMNH 0 0 0 0 0 29 0 33, DNA voucher for sequence Brap. 1.25.2011.1 (FMNH) ; 1♀, Metkovic, Croatia, 20 May 1963, A. Lesinger, 7554 (PMSL) ; 2♂, 1♀, Metkovic, Croatia, 15 Oct. 1964, A. Lesinger, 9791–9802 (PMSL) ; 1♂, Metkovic, Croatia, 18 May 1968, A. Lesinger, 11400 (PMSL) ; 1♀, Bitola, Macedonia, 15 Aug. 1928, S. Brelih, 2469 (PMSL); 1♂, Red Sea, SUDAN, 9 Sep. 1960, S. Brelih, 3225 (PMSL) .

Ex “ Merops aegyptius ”: 1♀, Wolffhügel, IN1278/69 (MFNB).

Remarks. In the material we have examined, the parameres are not shaped as in Williams (1981: fig. 6), but are distally elongated. William’s (1981: figs 4, 5) illustrations also lack the dorsal preantennal suture, which is present in our material examined.