Zele ruricola Maetô, 1986

Fang, Yu, van Achterberg, Cornelis, Tang, Pu & Chen, Xue-xin, 2025, Revision of genus Zele Curtis (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Euphorinae) from China, with description of nineteen new species, ZooKeys 1248, pp. 125-208 : 125-208

Zele ruricola Maetô, 1986

Fig. 25

Zele ruricola Maetô, 1986: 253; Chen et al. 1987: 94.

Other material examined.

China – Fujian Prov. • 1 ♀; Dehua, Dongli, Mt. Xiaodaiyun ; 6 Jun. 1960; Cheng-lin Ma leg.; ( ZJUH) No. 871667 . – Heilongjiang Prov. • 1 ♀; Liangshui ; 7 Jul. 1977; Jun-hua He leg.; ( ZJUH) No. 770470 . – Jilin Prov. • 2 ♀♀; Mt. Changbai ; 9 Aug. 1977; Jun-hua He leg.; ( ZJUH) Nos. 770571, 770640 . • 1 ♀; Hunjiang ; 2 Aug. 1983; Fa-shen Li leg.; ( ZJUH) No. 200012131 . – Zhejiang Prov. • 1 ♀; Anming ; 8 Apr. 1980; Han-lin Chen leg.; ( ZJUH) No. 907728 . • 1 ♀; Longquan, Mt. Fengyang ; 25–29 Jul. 2007; Jing-xian Liu leg.; ( ZJUH) No. 200802957 . • 1 ♀; Mt. Xitianmu, Xianrending ; 23 Aug. 1998; Ming-shui Zhao leg.; Malaise trap; ( ZJUH) No. 994527 .

Diagnosis.

Length of hind femur of ♀ 5.0–6.2 × its maximum width (Fig. 25 L ); length of first metasomal tergite 1.6–1.9 × its apical width, robust (Fig. 25 J, K ); first metasomal tergite blackish and more or less contrasting with more or less yellowish (Fig. 25 J ); hind tarsus infuscated and apical 3 / 4 of hind tibia dark brown; pterostigma pale brown; dorsope of first tergite narrow and area between dorsope much wider than dorsope and area sculptured (Fig. 25 K ); ovipositor comparatively slender and setose part of sheath 0.34–0.40 × as long as fore wing (Fig. 25 F, D ); notauli narrow and smooth or very finely crenulate anteriorly (Fig. 25 C ).

Distribution.

China (Fujian, Heilongjiang, Jilin, Zhejiang), Japan, Korea, Russia.

Biology.

Unknown.

Remarks.

As mentioned by Maetô (1986) this species is very similar to the European Z. annulicrus ( Thomson, 1895) , however, the difference in the head shape (dorsal view eye 2.0–2.5 × longer than temple, but 1.4 × in lectotype of Z. annulicrus ). We recognise Z. ruricola as valid species because of the rectangular stemmaticum with larger ocelli (less so in Z. annulicrus ), area below precoxal sulcus finely sculptured (mainly smooth in Z. annulicrus ), swollen hind femur (slender) and subbasal carina of propodeum oblique (transverse, parallel with anterior margin of propodeum in Z. annulicrus : van Achterberg 1979: fig. 754) and dark brown scapus and pedicellus (yellowish in Z. annulicrus ).

Figures

Figure 25. Zele ruricola Maetô, China, Zhejiang, ♀ A. Habitus, lateral aspect; B. Mesosoma, lateral aspect; C. Mesosoma, dorsal aspect; D. Fore wing; E. Hind wing; F. Ovipositor sheath; G. Head, anterior aspect; H. Head, dorsal aspect; I. Head, lateral aspect; J. First metasomal tergite, lateral aspect; K. First metasomal tergite, dorsal aspect; L. Fore femur, lateral aspect; M. Fore tibial spur and fore basitarsus; N. Hind femur, lateral aspect. Scale bars: 500 μm.