Zele rufulus ( Thomson, 1895 )

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 rufulus ( Thomson, 1895) , reinstated

Fig. 23

Meteorus (Zemiotes) rufulus Thomson, 1895: 2149. Syn. by van Achterberg 1979 of Zele albitarsus f. deceptor ( Wesmael, 1835).

Zele albitarsus f. deceptor: van Achterberg 1979: 376.

Zele deceptor f. rufulus: van Achterberg 1984: 110–112; Chen et al. 1987: 94–96.

Type material examined.

Neotype (here designated). Germany • ♀; Spessart, Nöhe von Lochmühle ; 22–23 Aug. 1970; G. van Rossem leg.; RMNH (Leiden).

Diagnosis.

Subbasal carina of propodeum medially subparallel with anterior margin of propodeum (somewhat wider laterally) and enclosed area comparatively wide and rugose (Fig. 23 C ); vein 1 - M of hind wing distinctly wider than vein M + CU (Fig. 23 E ); hind tarsus largely whitish; first tergite 2.4 × longer than its apical width; dorsope of first tergite medium-sized and area between dorsope distinctly wider than dorsope (Fig. 23 K ); ovipositor sheath ~ 0.27 × as long as fore wing.

Distribution.

Albania, Austria, China (Anhui, Fujian, Guizhou, Hubei, Hunan, Shaanxi, Sichuan, Xizang, Yunnan, Zhejiang), Germany, Japan, Lithuania, Russia, Sweden, former Yugoslavia.

Biology.

Parasitoid of Geometridae .

Remarks.

This species as a form was included in the species Z. deceptor f. rufulus ( van Achterberg, 1984), because length of fore femur 6.2–8.4 × its maximum width; length of fore spur comparatively short, vein r of hind wing absent, fit with Z. deceptor f. deceptor. It is only different by the colour of the hind tarsus and the sculpture of the propodeum. Although we obtained partial COI gene sequences, we failed to acquire COI data for Z. rufulus . Through a comprehensive study of the genus Zele of China and comparative morphological analysis, we conclude that these two taxa are different species. They can be separated by subbasal carina of propodeum medially subparallel with anterior margin of propodeum (distinct diverging from anterior margin in Z. deceptor ); vein 1 - M of hind wing distinctly wider than vein M + CU (as wide as in Z. deceptor ), and hind tarsus largely whitish (usually brownish yellow or yellowish brown in Z. deceptor ).

Figures

Figure 23. Zele rufulus (Thomson), Germany, neotype, ♀ 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.