Meteorus longicaudis

Meteorus longicaudis (Ratzeburg)

Fig. 106

Perilitus longicaudis Ratzeburg, 1884:55. Syntypes ♀, Germany (destroyed).

Diagnosis: Very long ovipositor and transverse head makes this species similar to M. corax and M. nixoni but the number of antennal articles separates M. longicaudis (29–32) from M. corax (39–41) and M. nixoni (43).

Studied material: ~ 10 specimens.

Description: Size about 5 mm. Antennal articles 29–32. Head broad, strongly rounded behind eyes. Ocelli small, OOL=3. Eyes slightly convergent. Malar space about equal to basal breadth of mandible. Face not strongly protuberant, about twice as broad as high. Clypeus moderately convex with scattered deep punctures and a broad polished reflexed border. Tentorial pits indistinct. Mandibles stout, slightly twisted. Precoxal sulcus rugose, always broadened anteriorly into a reticulate-rugose area. Propodeum strongly rugose, the carinae strong but not easily seen. Petiolar tergum very broad, length about 1.5 times apical breadth; dorsal pits large, distinct. Ovipositor very long, 4.5 times length of petiolar tergum. Legs long, hind coxa weakly rugose dorsally; tarsal claws simple but somewhat thickened at base, strongly curved. Colour black; antennae, head, prothorax and legs orange-testaceous; the basal half of hind tibia lighter yellow, almost ivory; the head is sometimes infuscated, at least in part, and 3 rd abdominal tergite is often lighter in colour than rest of body. Male same as female except antennae longer, up to 36 articles.

Distribution: Western Palearctic. Country records: Croatia; Finland; Germany; Netherlands; Poland; Sweden; Yugoslavia.

Biology: M. longicaudis is recorded as a parasitoid of two beetles, Orchesia micans (Melandryidae) and Eledonoprius amatus (Tenebrionidae) (Huddleston 1980, Yu et al. 2005).