Meteorus corax Marshall 1898

Meteorus corax Marshall

Fig. 51, 77, 94

Meteorus corax Marshall, 1898:220. Lectotype ♀ Switzerland: Val Somvix / 25.vii.1891 / Marshall det. (NMB, Bern)

Meteorus monachami Fischer, 1957c:17. Holotype ♀ Austria: Lunz (Haberfelner), ex Monochamus saltuarius Gebl. (ZSBS, Munich) Synonymized by Fischer, 1966:395.

Diagnosis: This is one of the larger species of Meteorus, at least in the Palaearctic Region, averaging about 9 mm in body length. It is most easily confused with M. nixoni. However, M. corax has twisted mandibles (straight in M. nixoni), the temples are wider than in M. nixoni, and the 3 rd abdominal tergum is densely covered with striae (only a few striae present in M. nixoni).

Studied material: ~ 10 specimens.

Description: Size about 6–10mm. Antennae 39–41 articles. Head rather square. Ocelli small, OOL=3. Eyes small, converging only very slightly. Face about twice as long as broad. Clypeus distinctly narrower than face; protuberant. Tentorial pits wide and deep. Mandibles very stout and slightly twisted, with striate-punctate sculpture and long setae. Precoxal sulcus deep, foveolate with, anteriorly, a reticulate-foveolate patch beneath. Propodeum strongly reticulate-rugose with basal and medial transverse carinae. Petiolar tergum with longitudinal sculpture laterally, reticulate-rugose centrally; spiracles distinctly before the middle; large dorsal pits present, borders of petiolar tergum not meeting ventrally. The ovipositor about 4 times length of petiolar tergum. Outer surface of hind coxa and femur densely reticulate - punctate; hind tibia strongly swollen though not as wide as femur; tarsal claws large, strongly curved, not lobed but strongly swollen at base. Colour black or dark brown.

Distribution: Palearctic. Country records: Austria; Finland; Germany; Italy; Japan; Korea; Russia; Sweden; Switzerland.

Biology: Most host records of Meteorus corax involve the coleopteran family Cerambycidae (Huddleston 1980).