Aphaereta Foerster, 1863

Rolli, Erminio & Peris-Felipo, Francisco Javier, 2022, First record of Aphaereta difficilis Nixon, 1939 from Italy with a key to the Italian species of the genus (Hymenoptera: Braconidae, Alysiinae), Fragmenta entomologica 54 (1), pp. 159-162 : 160

Key to the Italian species of the genus Aphaereta Foerster

1. Antenna as long as body. Notauli deep on horizontal surface of mesoscutum. Radial cell not reaching wing apex. First metasomal tergite about as long as its apical width. Hind femur 4.0 times as long as its maximum width. Body length 2.5–4.0 mm. Palaearctic region. .... ...................................................... A. major (Thomson)

- Antenna longer than body. Notauli mainly absent on horizontal surface of mesoscutum. Radial cell reaching wing apex. First metasomal tergite more than 1.5 times as long as its apical width. Hind femur about 5.0 times as long as its maximum width....................................... 2

2. Precoxal sulcus wide and crenulated ( Fig. 1B ). Scutellum distinctly convex medially ( Fig. 1E ). Hind femur with erect setose bristles and comparatively widened apically in lateral view ( Fig. 1F ). Second flagellar segment 1.7–1.8 times as long as first segment ( Fig. 1C ). Face 1.4 times as wide as high ( Fig. 1D ). Body length 1.5–2.2 mm. Palaearctic region......... A. difficilis Nixon

- Precoxal sulcus mainly smooth ( Fig. 3B ). Scutellum slightly convex medially ( Fig. 3E ). Hind femur less bristly setose and more slender in lateral view ( Fig. 3F ). Second flagellar segment 1.4 times as long as first segment ( Fig. 3C ). Face 1.6 times as wide as high ( Fig. 3D ). Body length 2.0–3.0 mm. Nearctic, Oceanic and Palaearctic regions............................. A. minuta (Nees)

Figures

Fig. 1 – Aphaereta difficilis Nixon, 1939 (female). A, Habitus, lateral view; B, Head and mesosoma, lateral view; C, Antenna, basal segments; D, Head, frontal view; E, Head and mesonotum, dorsal view; F, Legs, metasoma and ovipositor, lateral view.

Fig. 3 – Aphaereta minuta (Nees, 1811) (female). A, Habitus, lateral view; B, Head and mesosoma, lateral view; C, Antenna, basal segments; D, Head, frontal view; E, Head and mesonotum, dorsal view; F, Legs, metasoma and ovipositor, lateral view.