Virgichneumon albignator AUBERT , 1994

Riedel, Matthias, 2024, The genus Virgichneumon HEINRICH in the West Palaearctic region (Hymenoptera, Ichneumonidae, Ichneumoninae), Linzer biologische Beiträge 56 (1), pp. 149-199 : 155-156

Virgichneumon albignator AUBERT, 1994 , new ♁, (figs 21, 41)

Holotype: (♀) [red] Type; Barichneumon albignator ♀; 2400 m J.-F. AUBERT 9.7.1970 (A.M.) Col de la Lonarde; Holotype Barichneumon albignator AUBERT, 1994 a labelled by S. KLOPFSTEIN (Lausanne), type studied.

syn. Barichneumon albignator africator AUBERT, 1994

Holotype: (♀) [red] Type; Barichneumon albignator ♀; J.F. AUBERT 12-3-1947 Maroc Marrakesh ; Holotype Barichneumon albignator africator AUBERT, 1994 a labelled by S. KLOPFSTEIN (Lausanne), type studied.

D e s c r i p t i o n: ♀. Body length 11 mm. Flagellum with 45 segments, almost filiform and slightly narrowed apically; 1 st flagellar segment 2.5× as long as wide; all segments longer than wide. Temple strongly narrowed behind eye. OED 1.0× ocellar diameter. Frons transversely rugulose-punctate; gena with longitudinal rugosity. MI 1.2. Genal carina reaching hypostomal carina far away from mandibular base. Hypostomal carina not elevated.

Mesoscutum coarsely punctate, shining; mesopleuron and metapleuron with longitudinal rugose punctures. Epicnemial carina moderately elevated behind fore coxa, about as wide as distal segment of maxillary palp. Scutellum slightly convex, about as long as wide, with lateral carina in basal 0.8 and very sparse punctures. Area basalis with strong central tubercle. Area superomedia hexagonal, about as long as wide, with strong longitudinal striae; costula distinct, reaching its middle (fig. 21). Hind coxa punctate, smooth, without scopa. Hind femur 3.9-4.2× as long as wide. External surface of hind tibia with several denticular spines. Areolet pentagonal, frontal distance between 2rs-m and 3rs-m 2× their width. Vein 1cu-a postfurcal.

Postpetiole widened, with distinct latero-median carina, median field with longitudinally striated punctures. Gastrocoelus impressed. Thyridium transverse, 0.5× as wide as interval between thyridia (fig. 41). 2 nd tergite 1.2× as wide as long. 2 nd and 3 rd tergites coarsely and densely punctate, with longitudinally striated punctures medially (fig. 41); 4 th and 5 th tergites with very superficial punctures. Ovipositor sheath slightly extending beyond metasomal apex.

Color: black. Flagellar segments 10-16 dorsally, narrow frontal orbit and apical margin of scutellum ivory or yellow (black in var. africator AUBERT ). All coxae, trochanters and trochantelli black; legs otherwise red; hind tibia infuscate in apical 0.2; hind tarsus ± blackish. Pterostigma blackish.

♁. Body length 15 mm. Flagellum with 45 segments. Tyloids on flagellar segments 6-18, long-oval, maximally 0.8× as long as their segments. Occiput with transverse rugae. Temple slightly and roundly narrowed behind eye. OED 1.4× and OOD 1.1× ocellar diameter. Frons with transverse rugose punctation. Gena wide, in profile 1.3× as wide as eye, with dense punctures. Clypeus partly with sparse punctures, flat, with sharp straight apical margin. Lower mandibular tooth turned inwards by 45°. MI 0.8.

Notaulus distinct in frontal 0.4 of mesoscutum. Mesoscutum, mesopleuron and metapleuron with coarse dense punctures, mesopleuron partly rugose, speculum smooth. Juxtacoxal carina present. Scutellum moderately elevated, about as long as wide, with dense punctures, without lateral carina. Area superomedia horseshoe-shaped, slightly longer than wide; costula reaching its middle. Fore metatarsus without apical tooth. Hind femur 4.0× as long as wide; hind tibia with several denticular spines externally. 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 of postpetiole as wide as median field, the latter with longitudinal striated punctures. Gastrocoelus almost triangularly impressed, with strong ridges. Thyridium oblique, 0.7× as wide as interval between punctures. 2 nd tergite about as long as wide. 2 nd to 4 th tergites with rugose punctation, 2 nd tergite with some longitudinal rugae medially, dull.

Color: black. Narrow stripe on frontal orbit yellowish. Coxae and trochanters black; hind trochantellus, femora, tibiae and tarsi red; hind tibia darkened on apical 0.2, hind tarsus blackish. Pterostigma ochreous.

Taxonomical remark: Due to the limited material, the correlation of both sexes is questionable and should be confirmed by additional specimens and genomic studies.

The studied ♁ (label: Holotypus Ichneumon monostagon var. inornata KRB. 1894 ♁ HILPERT 1990 ( ZSM), according to HORSTMANN (1997) name not available) differs from V. monostagon (GRAVENHORST) by: fore metatarsus without apical tooth, malar space wider, ivory color of face largely reduced, and pterostigma ochreous, not black.

S t u d i e d m a t e r i a l: from Hungary * ( ZSM), Morocco and Switzerland.