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JHR 65: 131-140 (2018) JOURNAL OF rere soar
ica pee: (4G) Hymenoptera

http://jhr.pensoft.net The Inerational Society of Hymenopersts. RESEARCH

Notes on Grammospila Foerster (Hymenoptera,
Braconidae, Alysiinae), with description of a new species

Cornelis van Achterberg'”

| Department of Terrestrial Zoology, Naturalis Biodiversity Center, Postbus 9517, 2300 RA Leiden, The Ne-
therlands 2. Shaanxi Key Laboratory for Animal Conservation / Key Laboratory of Resource Biology and Bio-
technology in Western China, College of Life Sciences, Northwest University, 229 North Taibai Road, Xian,
Shaanxi 710069, China

Corresponding author: Cornelis van Achterberg (c.vanachterberg@xs4all.nl)

Academic editor: G. Broad | Received 19 June 2018 | Accepted 16 July 2018 | Published 27 August 2018
Attp://zoobank.org/8EF5 9F 48-23 12-47 D4-9FB0-D3CB6C5925F5

Citation: van Achterberg C (2018) Notes on Grammospila Foerster (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Alysiinae), with
description of a new species. Journal of Hymenoptera Research 65: 131-140. https://doi.org/10.3897/jhr.65.27626

Abstract

The species of the genus Grammospila Foerster, 1863 (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Alysiinae) are keyed,
an aberrant new species from Italy, G. martae sp. n., is described and illustrated, and G. ochrogaster
(Szépligeti, 1898), stat. n. is considered to be a valid species.

Keywords

Braconidae, Alysiinae, Grammospila, new species, Europe, Italy, key

Introduction

Grammospila Foerster, 1863, is a small Palaearctic and Northeast Oriental genus be-
longing to the large subfamily Alysiinae (Hymenoptera, Braconidae), with 2,442 valid
species in 107 genera up to 2015 according to Yu et al. (2016). Alysiinae are a common
group of generally small (2.0-5.0 mm) parasitoid wasps, and Grammospila is no excep-
tion. Grammospila \arvae are koinobiont parasitoids in larvae of mining Agromyzidae
(Yu et al. 2016) and Scathophagidae (Zhu et al. 2017, this paper). The adults have
been often classified among Dapsilarthra Foerster, 1863 (e.g., van Achterberg 1983),
but recently, the group has given generic rank (van Achterberg 2014). Grammospila
differs from Dapsilarthra s.s. by having the third antennal segment distinctly longer

Copyright Cornelis van Achterberg. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC
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132 Cornelis van Achterberg / Journal of Hymenoptera Research 65: 131-140 (2018)

than the fourth segment (subequal in Dapsilarthra s.s.), a different fore wing venation
and usually a shorter first discal cell (Zhu et al. 2017). There are only five valid species
recognised at the moment; four are described from Europe and one (G. eurys (Chen
& Wu, 1994)) from Oriental China (Chen and Wu 1994, Yu et al. 2016, Zhu et al.
2017). Among the Alysiini collected in a small brook bordered by a rivulet in the Parco
Naturale Alpi Marittime (NW Italy; EDIT survey) some aberrant specimens were dis-
covered. Their generic position was uncertain considering the first subdiscal cell of the
fore wing is partly open by the lack of vein CU1b (present in all other known Gram-
mospila spp.) and vein 2-1A largely sclerotized (entirely sclerotized in Grammospila
spp.; van Achterberg 1983). Nevertheless, comparison with all available material led to
the conclusion that the new species fits best in Grammospila Foerster. For the first time
a key to all currently recognised species of Grammospila is presented.

Material and methods

The specimens were collected in a Malaise trap and preserved in 70% alcohol during
a survey of the Parco Naturale Alpi Marittime in NW Italy. For identification of the
subfamily Alysiinae, see van Achterberg (1993), for identification of Grammospila
Foerster, see van Achterberg (2014), Zhu et al. (2017) and the diagnosis in this pa-
per, for references to the Alysiinae and Grammospila Foerster, see Yu et al. (2016) and
for the terminology used in this paper, see van Achterberg (1988, 1993). Measure-
ments are taken as indicated by van Achterberg (1988): for the length and the width
of a body part the maximum length and width is taken, unless otherwise indicated.
The length of the mesosoma is measured from the anterior border of the mesoscutum
to the apex of the propodeum and of the first tergite from the posterior border of the
adductor to the medio-posterior margin of the tergite. Observations and descriptions
was made with an Opto-Edu A230903 stereomicroscope and a fluorescent lamp.
Photographic images were made with the Keyence VHX-5000 digital microscope.
The specimens are deposited in the Naturalis Biodiversity Center, Leiden, the Neth-
erlands (RMNH).

Systematics

Grammospila Foerster, 1863
Figures 1-17

Grammospila Foerster, 1863: 269. Type species (by monotypy): Alysia isabella Haliday,
1838 [lost?].

Paraorthostigma K6nigsmann, 1972: 25. Type species (by monotypy): Paraorthostigma
tirolense K6nigsmann, 1972 [examined]. Synonymised with Dapsilarthra Foerst-
er, 1863 by van Achterberg (1983) and with Grammospila Foerster, 1863 by van
Achterberg (2014).

Notes on Grammospila Foerster. js

Figures 1-3. Grammospila martae sp. n., 2, holotype. | habitus, lateral aspect 2 mandible, full view on
dorsal tooth 3 mandible, full view on third tooth.

Description. Antenna with 27-41 segments, third segment 1.2—1.5 times as long
as fourth segment (in Palaearctic spp.); head comparatively robust in dorsal view (Fig.
11); anterior tentorial pit large and with triangular flat area between pit and eye above
curved up ventral rim (Figs 3, 10); area between mandibular base and ventro-posterior
margin of eye convex or flat, without oblique depression, without malar suture; an-
terior tentorial pits concave, pit-shaped, and remaining removed from eyes; mandible
with 3 teeth or lobes; ventral margin of mandible straight (Fig. 2); notauli absent
posteriorly; mesoscutum with medio-posterior depression; length of vein 3-SR of fore
wing more than 1.2 times vein 2-SR; length of vein r of fore wing 0.2—0.3 times vein
2-SR; diagonal width of first discal cell of fore wing often 1.4—1.6 times vein 1-M; vein
2-1A of fore wing sclerotized, as usually vein CU1b; vein 1-SR of fore wing distinct,
resulting in a petiolate first discal cell; vein r of fore wing emitted from basal 0.3—0.5
of pterostigma; first subdiscal cell of fore wing parallel-sided or nearly so; vein m-cu
of hind wing absent; pterostigma narrowly elliptical; first metasomal tergite parallel-
sided behind spiracles or nearly so, with deep dorsope and laterope, its spiracles facing
dorsad; apical third of ovipositor sheath evenly setose.

Biology. Endoparasitoids of Agromyzidae and Scathophagidae larvae. Grammospi-
la isabella (Haliday), has been reared from Scathophagidae (Americina vittata (Meigen,
1826) mining in Paris sp.; first record; RMNH).

Distribution. Palaearctic and NE Oriental. Seven species.

134

Cornelis van Achterberg / Journal of Hymenoptera Research 65: 131-140 (2018)

Key to species of the genus Grammospila Foerster

1

Antenna of 2 0.9-1.3 times as long as body and 0.9-1.1 times as long as fore
wing; if 1.1 times fore wing then vein 1-R1 of fore wing 0.8 times as long as
pterostiomias hind temuc larechyadark "brown we uecosssseenses oncom ten tosbys cess nos catas 2
Antenna of 9 1.4-1.9 times as long as body and 1.1-1.6 times as long as
fore wing; if 1.1 times fore wing then vein 1-R1 of fore wing about as long as
pterostigma; hind femur brownish yellow ......... cece eeeesesseceeeeseeseeeeseseeseees 3
Vein CU1b of fore wing present, resulting in a closed first subdiscal cell;
antenna approx. 1.3 times as long as body and 1.0—1.1 times as long as fore
wing; vein r issued near basal 0.3 of pterostigma; marginal cell compara-
tively natrow basally; [collected:av approx: 1600 tit) wecoc-sccansaxcestdisneeerounesaets
ora © rely perae Cav en ra Larrea ce G. tirolensis (K6nigsmann, 1972)
Vein CU1b of fore wing absent, resulting in partly open first subdiscal cell
(Figs 1, 4); antenna approx. 0.9 times as long as body or fore wing; vein r is-
sued near basal 0.4 of pterostigma (Fig. 4); marginal cell wide basally (Fig. 4);
[collected-arappiex. 1200: traliws.c sft Sed cctdlown seas npeeunaet G. martae sp. n.
Notauli complete; body with many long setae (including mesoscutum and
mesosternum); first subdiscal cell of fore wing widened distally and vein
1-CU1 widened; [third antennal segment 1.4—1.5 times as long as fourth
segment; vein m-cu of fore wing antefurcal (not postfurcal as mentioned in
original (Chinese) description)]; Oriental (East China, Fujian)...
Rimihan ch MTER ABI Rai Pe etaa a rene hab ic whalt or aMheSE G. eurys (Chen & Wu, 1994)
Notauli largely absent on mesoscutal disc (cf. Fig. 6); body with rather sparse
and medium-sized setae (including mesoscutum and mesosternum)); first sub-
discal cell of fore wing parallel-sided and vein 1-CU1 slender; Palaearctic...4
Penultimate segment of antenna of 9 1.7—2.0 times as long as wide; base of
hind coxa and second metasomal tergite dark brown or blackish...
este ASS ad chat an ote Mita seater mana ton AU pass See Sons Fg) G. fuscula (Griffiths, 1968)
Penultimate segment of antenna of 9 2.5—3.2 times as long as wide; base of
hind ‘coxa-and second:tergite: brownish yellowces. coorneseahats nme atpedeliameveenan 5
Antenna with 38-41 segments and approx. 1.6 times as long as fore wing;
length of fore wing 3.0—3.5 mm; vein SR1 of fore wing about twice as long
BE TBirol Nolte 0) kart Roig a RR nai Ra Re RE G. isabella (Haliday, 1838)
Antenna with 27-33 segments and 1.3—1.4 times as long as fore wing; length
of fore wing 2.0—2.5 mm; vein SR1 of fore wing approx. 2.5 times as long as

Clypeus comparatively narrow and rather convex (Figs 16, 17); metasoma
darkened or dark brown apically (Fig. 15)......... G. rufiventris (Nees, 1814)
Clypeus comparatively wide and flattened; metasoma yellow apically ...........
LAND tt LD. La ie eet cae G. ochrogaster (Szépligeti, 1898), stat. n.

Notes on Grammospila Foerster. 135

Grammospila martae sp. n.
http://zoobank.org/19C16B22-0975-4C53-AF48-02CC19C3F510
Figures 1-14

Type material. Holotype, 9 (RMNH), “N. Italy: Cuneo, N.P. Alpi Marittime, Trin-
ita, Ponte del Sufhet, 1192 m, Mallfaise] trap 4, near rivulet”, “edge of wet forest,
N44°11'427" E07°26'864", 10-24.vi.2008, C. v. Achterberg & R. de Vries, EDIT-
RMNH’08”. Paratypes: 2 2 (RMNH) with same data.

Comparative diagnosis. The short vein r (much shorter than width of pterostigma),
the straight ventral margin of the mandible, the large anterior tentorial pit and the smooth
triangular area between pit and eye indicate that G. martae sp. n. belongs to Grammospila
Foerster, despite the partially open first subdiscal cell of the fore wing. Within this genus
it shares with G. tirolensis (KOnigsmann) the comparatively short antenna (shortest of all
known species, only 0.9 times as long as body or fore wing). It differs from G. tirolensis
by the shorter antenna (1.3 times as long as body and 1.0—1.1 times as long as fore wing
in G. tirolensis) and the different wing venation, as indicated in the key.

Description. Holotype, 9°, length of body 4.1 mm; of fore wing 4.2 mm.

Head. Head transverse, its maximum width 1.9 times median length in dorsal view
and temple slightly widened behind eyes (Fig. 11); antenna with 32 segments, 0.9 times
as long as fore wing or body, third segment 1.4 times as long as fourth segment, length
of third, fourth and penultimate segments 3.7, 2.6 and 1.5 times their width, respec-
tively (measured in lateral view), apical segment without apical spine (Figs 8, 13); maxil-
lary palp 0.7 times as long as height of head; labial palp segments slender; length of eye
in dorsal view 0.8 times temple; temple and vertex smooth and shiny, except for some
sparse punctulation, sparsely setose; stemmaticum slightly protruding, with median
groove; OOL: diameter of ocellus: POL = 16:5:6; frons slightly depressed and glabrous,
with shallow pit in front of anterior ocellus and behind antennal sockets crenulate,
strongly shiny; face rugose and rugulose laterally, medially largely smooth and with tri-
angular area, rather flat (Fig. 10); anterior tentorial pits large (Fig. 3); width of clypeus
2.4 times its maximum height; clypeus distinctly convex, largely smooth, truncate ven-
trally and hardly protruding, ventral rim depressed and thin; epistomal suture narrow
and smooth (Fig. 10); malar space hardly developed; mandible 1.2 times longer medi-
ally than wide, with medium-sized ventral lamella (Figs 2, 3) and no crest connected
to third tooth and baso-ventral corner depressed (Fig. 2), with two wide lobe-shaped
lateral teeth, middle tooth wide triangular, upper tooth gradually widened dorsally.

Mesosoma. Mesosoma 1.4 times longer than high; pronope absent and pronotum
with finely crenulated groove anteriorly (Fig. 6); propleuron evenly convex (Fig. 5);
oblique groove of pronotal side finely crenulate, but posteriorly mainly granulate and
near posteriorly margin rugose, remainder of pronotum smooth (Fig. 5); epicnemial
area of mesopleuron distinctly crenulate or rugose (Fig. 5); precoxal sulcus remaining
removed from anterior and posterior margins of mesopleuron, wide and distinctly
crenulate (Fig. 5); remainder of mesopleuron shiny and with some very superficial mi-

136 Cornelis van Achterberg / Journal of Hymenoptera Research 65: 131-140 (2018)

Figures 4-14. Grammospila martae sp. n., 2, holotype. 4 wings 5 mesosoma lateral aspect 6 mesosoma

dorsal aspect 7 first-third metasomal tergites dorsal aspect 8 apical segments of antenna 9 outer hind
claw 10 head anterior aspect 11 head dorsal aspect 12 head lateral aspect 13 basal segments of antenna

14 hind leg lateral aspect.

Notes on Grammospila Foerster. 137

cro-sculpture; episternal scrobe rather small, round; pleural sulcus finely crenulate (Fig.
5); mesosternal sulcus medium-sized and crenulate; postpectal carina absent; medially
metapleuron with large pit and largely smooth, remainder crenulate or rugose (Fig.
5); lateral carina of mesoscutum complete and finely crenulate; notauli absent on disc,
but anteriorly shallowly crenulate; medio-posterior depression long, linear and finely
crenulate (Fig. 6); mesoscutal lobes along imaginary courses of notauli sparsely setose,
smooth and strongly shiny, middle lobe rather protruding antero-laterally (Fig. 6);
scutellar sulcus rather deep and superficially crenulate, 0.3 times as long as scutellum;
scutellum distinctly convex (protruding over level of mesoscutum), largely smooth,
with superficial transverse crest and medio-posteriorly with few punctures (Fig. 6);
metanotum smooth, anterior half with lamelliform median carina; dorsal surface of
propodeum hardly differentiated from its posterior surface, coarsely and densely ru-
gose, but antero-laterally sparsely so.

Wings. Fore wing: Pterostigma elongate elliptical (Fig. 4); vein r issued from basal
0.4 of pterostigma and its length 0.5 times width of pterostigma; r:2-SR:3-SR:SRI1 =
5:20:37:80; r-m vertical and unsclerotized, half as long as 2-SR; SR1 slightly sinuate;
M+CU1 largely sclerotized; cu-a vertical; 1-CU1:2-CU1 = 5:21; CU1b absent, result-
ing in an open subdiscal cell but 2-1A sclerotized and 3-CU1 medium-sized (Fig. 1);
m-cu antefurcal. Hind wing: M+CU:1-M:1r-m = 40:18:28; 1r-m curved; m-cu and
most of SR1 absent (Fig. 4).

Legs. Hind coxa smooth; tarsal claws medium-sized (Fig. 14); length of femur, tibia
and basitarsus of hind leg 4.3, 10.0 and 6.0 times their width, respectively.

Metasoma. Length of first metasomal tergite 1.6 times its apical width, irregularly
rugose, convex medially, subparallel-sided behind spiracles and dorsal carinae united
subbasally in a strong median carina (Fig. 7), medio-posteriorly strongly convex and
distinctly above level of second tergite in lateral view (Fig. 1); spiracles of first tergite
facing dorsally; dorsope and laterope large; second suture only laterally present (Fig. 7);
second and third tergites flat, with band of setae and smooth; ovipositor sheath with
long setae apically, glabrous submedially, setose part of sheath 0.05 times as long as fore
wing (total: 0.07 times) and 0.2 times as long as hind tibia (Fig. 1).

Colour. Black; tegula brown; labrum, humeral plate, fore femur (except basally),
tibia and tarsus, apical half of middle femur, tibia and tarsus, and apex of hind femur
brownish yellow; remainder of legs dark brown or brown (Figs 1, 14); palpi pale yel-
lowish or whitish; mandible (except dark brown margin) orange brown; metasoma
dark brown, but first tergite black and metasoma ventro-basally pale yellowish; wing
membrane subhyaline; pterostigma and veins brown.

Male. Unknown.

Variation. Length of body 3.5-4.1 mm; of fore wing 3.74.2 mm, antenna of 9
with 31(1) or 32(2) segments, third segment 1.4—1.5 times as long as fourth segment;
precoxal sulcus up to base of middle coxa and finely crenulate or posteriorly absent;
length of first metasomal tergite 1.5—1.7 times its apical width; setose part of sheath
0.05—0.06 times as long as fore wing.

138 Cornelis van Achterberg / Journal of Hymenoptera Research 65: 131-140 (2018)

Figures 15-17. Grammospila rufiventris (Nees), 9, Netherlands (Waarder). 15 habitus, lateral aspect
16 head, anterior aspect 17 head, lateral aspect.

Distribution. Italy (CN).
Etymology. Named after Marta Di Biaggi (Parchi Alpi Marittime e Marguareis,
Valdieri) for her help and kindness during the EDIT fieldwork in the Parco Naturale

Alpi Marittime.

Notes on Grammospila Foerster. 132

Grammospila ochrogaster (Szépligeti, 1898), stat. n.

Phaenocarpa ochrogaster Szépligeti, 1898: 393-394, 406; Papp 1968: 572 (as synonym
of Dapsilarthra rufiventris (Nees, 1812)); Shenefelt 1974: 1012 (as valid sp.); van
Achterberg 1983: 11 (as synonym of Dapsilarthra rufiventris (Nees, 1812)); Papp
2004: 166 (id.; lectotype designation).

Notes. The lectotype from Hungary (Budapest, Didsdrok) listed by Papp (2004) and
housed in the Hungarian Natural History Museum (Budapest) has been examined and
directly compared with Hungarian specimens of G. rufiventris (Nees). Traditionally,
it is considered to be a junior synonym of Dapsilarthra (now Grammospila) rufiventris
(Nees, 1812). However, the difference in colour of the metasoma (the apex is yellow,
a condition absent in G. rufiventris as examined so far) is accompanied by a small but
probably important difference in the shape of the clypeus (it is somewhat wider than in
G. rufiventris and flattened). Further research is needed to corroborate its independent
status and to record the distribution.

Acknowledgements

The author gratefully acknowledges the kindly supplied help of the staff of the Parco
Naturale Alpi Marittime (now Parchi Alpi Marittime e Marguareis) at Valdieri (CN),
the assistance of Rob de Vries (RMNH, Leiden) and the useful reviews of both referees

and editor.

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