Zele chlorophthalmus

Zele chlorophthalmus (Spinola, 1808)

Fig. 137

Bracon chlorophthalmus Spinola, 1808: 133 Neotype ♀ (RMNH, Leiden)

Bracon chrysophthalmus Nees von Esenbeck, 1811: 21 Neotype ♀, Wesmael coll. (IRSNB, Brussels). Synonymized by Van Achterberg 1979:370.

Bracon pallidus Nees von Esenbeck, 1811: 22 Type material lost. Syn. n.

Ichneumon nudator Thunberg, 1822: 263 Holotype ♂, Thunberg coll. (UDE, Uppsala). Synonymized by Van Achterberg 1979:364.

Meteorus splendens Costa, 1884: 171 Holotype ♀, Italy: Sardinia. A. de Costa Lima coll. (USN, Naples). Synonymized by Van Achterberg 1979:364.

Meteorus (Zemiotes) nigricollis Thomson, 1895:2150 Holotype ♀, Sweden, Degerberga (MZLU, Lund). Synonymized by Van Achterberg 1979:364

Diagnosis: Zele chlorophthalmus has a slightly darker and more slender appearance than the two other “larger” Zele species: Z. deceptor and Z. albiditarsus. The best way to separate Z. chlorophthalmus from the other two is to study the wing vein cu–a of the fore wing. This vein is antefurcal in Z. chlorophthalmus and postfurcal in Z. deceptor and Z. albiditarsus. Also, the ovipositor is longer (2.6 times petiolar tergum) in Z. chlorophthalmus than in Z. albiditarsus and Z. deceptor (1.6 times petiolar tergum in both species).

Studied material: ~ 50 specimens.

Description: Antennal articles 36–42. OOL=1.2. Eyes large, slightly protuberant and not convergent. Malar space 0.1 times basal width of mandibles, eyes almost touching mandibles. Face 1.3 times wider than high. Clypeus almost as wide as face, protuberant and punctate. Mandibles stout and twisted. Precoxal sulcus wide. Length of petiolar tergite 2.1–2.4 times its apical width. Propodeum with a median carinae. Ovipositor long, 2.6 times petiolar tergum. The petiolar tergum with deep laterope joining dorsally with dorsope. Ventral borders widely separated. Hind coxa punctulate, tarsal claws lobed. Vein cu–a of fore wing antefurcal or interstitial. Large, and body colour variable, varies from yellow or brown to mainly dark brown or blackish.

Distribution: Eastern and Western Palearctic; Madagascar and India. Country records: Norway; Sweden; United Kingdom.

Biology: Zele chlorophthalmus is a solitary parasitoid recorded as parasitizing on the larval stages of eight different Lepidoptera families: Depressariidae, Geometridae, Lasiocampidae, Lymantriidae, Noctuidae, Pyralidae, Tortricidae and Zygaenidae (Yu et al. 2005). It has been used as a biocontrol agent for Ostrina nubilalis (Lepidoptera). We found 9 specimens within the SMTP. They were caught from June to August in deciduous forest or in close vicinity of meadows.