Virgichneumon atricolor (BERTHOUMIEU, 1910)

Riedel, Matthias, 2024, The genus Virgichneumon HEINRICH in the West Palaearctic region (Hymenoptera, Ichneumonidae, Ichneumoninae), Linzer biologische Beiträge 56 (1), pp. 149-199 : 158-159

Virgichneumon atricolor (BERTHOUMIEU, 1910) , new ♁, (figs 2, 24, 44, 81, 77, 94)

Lectotype: (♀) Casset Ht Alpes; 49; type; Ichneumon atricolor n sp (Berth. vidit) (Paris), high resolution photos studied.

syn. nov. Barichneumon monostagon nigranator AUBERT, 1994

Paratypes: (2♀♀) Graun, 820 m, Italy, Tirol (Kaatatsch) 22-23.VIII.1973 (ZSM), paratypes studied.

D e s c r i p t i o n: ♀. Body length 10.0-13.0 mm. Flagellum with 47-48 segments, moderately lanceolate; 1 st flagellar segment 1.5-1.9× as long as wide; 7 th segment square, widest segments 1.5-1.8× as wide as long, preapical segments wider than long, tip of flagellum blunt (fig. 77). Temple moderately and roundly narrowed behind eye (fig. 2). OED 1.1-1.6× and OOD 1.5× ocellar diameter. Frons coarsely rugose-punctate. Clypeus with partly sparse punctures. Gena 0.9-1.3× as wide as eye, with coarse striated punctures dorsally and sparse punctures ventrally (fig. 81). MI 0.9-1.0. Hypostomal carina moderately elevated.

Mesoscutum coarsely rugose-punctate. Notaulus impressed in frontal 1/5-1/6 of mesoscutum. Mesopleuron and metapleuron coarsely striate-punctate, speculum punctate. Epicnemial carina low behind fore coxa. Scutellum about as long as wide or slightly wider than long, with sparse punctures and lateral carina in basal 0.2-0.5. Area basalis with strong median tubercle. Area superomedia heart-shaped or hexagonal, about as long as wide or slightly longer, at or posterior to its middle with costula (fig. 24). Area petiolaris slightly impressed, rugosely punctate, with lateral carina. Hind coxa densely punctate, but with partly sparse punctures apico-ventrally (fig. 94), without scopa. Hind femur densely punctate, 3.3-3.7× as long as wide. External surface of hind tibia with several (4-8) denticular spines. Areolet pentagonal, frontal distance between veins 2rs-m and 3rs-m 2-3× their width, vein 2m-cu distad its middle; vein 1cu-a postfurcal by 1-2× its width.

Postpetiole with latero-median carina; median field elevated, coarsely striate- or rugose-punctate. Gastrocoelus impressed, with ridges. Thyridium slightly oblique, 0.5× as wide as interval between thyridia (fig. 44). 2 nd tergite 1.2-1.3× as wide as long. 2 nd and 3 rd tergites coarsely rugose-punctate, ± dull (fig. 44). 4 th tergite with dense superficial punctures, ± shining. Ovipositor sheath extending beyond metasomal apex by 0.5-1.0× length of 7 th tergite.

Color: black. Setae of mesoscutum brownish. Flagellar segments 9/10-14/16 dorsally, spot on frontal orbit opposite to lateral ocellus and scutellum completely or apically ivory. Metasoma black; 2 nd tergite sometimes with narrow red apical margin; 7 th tergite sometimes with small ivory dorsal spot. Legs blackish or femora, tibiae and tarsi ± brownish or red; if hind tibia red, then infuscate in apical 0.3 and hind tarsus entirely black. Wings hyaline; pterostigma reddish-brown to brown.

♁. Body length 13 mm. Flagellum with 42 segments. Tyloids on flagellar segments 7-19, long oval, ca. 0.7× as long as their segments. OED 1.2× ocellar diameter. Frons fine rugose-punctate. Face punctate. Clypeus densely punctate. Gena with dense punctures ventrally. MI 0.7. Hypostomal carina not elevated, reaching genal carina far from mandibular base.

Notaulus impressed on frontal 1/6 of mesoscutum. Mesoscutum with fine dense punctures. Mesopleuron and metapleuron coarsely and densely punctate, partly striate. Scutellum moderately elevated, slightly wider than long, without lateral carina and with sparse punctures. Area basalis with strong median tubercle. Area superomedia hexagonal, about as long as wide; costula weak, reaching shortly anterior of its middle. Area petiolaris with transverse rugae and lateral carina. Hind femur 4.3× as long as wide. Fore metatarsus without apical tooth. External surface of hind tibia with multiple denticular spines. Areolet pentagonal, frontal distance between veins 2rs-m and 3rs-m 3× their width, vein 2m-cu reaching distad its middle. Vein 1cu-a postfurcal by 1× its width.

Postpetiole punctate, without distinct latero-median carina; median field moderately elevated. Gastrocoelus impressed, with fine ridges. Thyridium almost transverse, 0.4× as wide as the interval. 2 nd to 4 th tergites densely and finely rugose-punctate; 2 nd tergite with some longitudinal rugae medially.

Color: black. Setae of mesoscutum brownish. Palps, side of clypeus, wide facial and narrow frontal orbits, ventral spot of scape, collar and hind edge of pronotum, apical 2/3 of scutellum and frontal spots on fore and mid coxae ivory. Fore and mid femora apically and fore and mid tibiae and tarsi frontally yellowish. Hind tarsus black dorsally, brownish ventrally. Wings hyaline, pterostigma ochreous.

New host records: Spilosoma lubricipeda (LINNAEUS, 1758) (Lep. Erebidae ) (ZSM), Diaphora sordida (HÜBNER, 1803) (Lep. Erebidae ) (ZSM).

S t u d i e d m a t e r i a l: from Andorra * (ZSM), Austria * (ZSM), France, Germany * (ZSM), Italy * (ZSM).