Meteorus versicolor Wesmael 1835

Meteorus versicolor (Wesmael, 1835)

Distribution in Iran. Azarbaijan (Abdinbekova 1975, 1995), East Azarbaijan (Nickdel et al. 2004; Sedighi and Madjdzadeh 2015), Guilan (Farahani and Talebi 2012; Sedighi and Madjdzadeh 2015), Iran (no specific locality) (Fallahzadeh and Saghaei 2010), Golestan (Ghahari et al. 2009a).

Distribution outside Iran. All Europe (Szépligeti 1904). Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Finland, France, Germany, Japan, Korea, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Mongolia, Netherlands, Palestine, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, USA, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, former Yugoslavia (Yu et al. 2012), Belgium (Wesmael 1835 as Perilitus bimaculatus, as P. unicolor as Perilitus versicolor; Yu et al. 2012; Stigenberg 2013; Stigenberg and Shaw 2013), Croatia, Macedonia (Papp 2010; Yu et al. 2012), Czech Republic (Lozan et al. 2010; Yu et al. 2012), Greece (Papp 1990a, 2003b; Yu et al. 2012), Hungary (Papp 1973, 1990b, 2006; Yu et al. 2012), Israel (Papp 1988; Yu et al. 2012), Italy (Cobelli 1905 as M. unicolor; Yu et al. 2012), Madeira (van Achterberg and Aguiar 2009; Yu et al. 2012; Stigenberg 2013; Stigenberg and Shaw 2013), Norway (Yu et al. 2012; Stigenberg and Hansen 2013), Russia (Tobias 1971; Yu et al. 2012), Spain (Stigenberg 2013; Stigenberg and Shaw 2013), Turkey (Öncüer et al. 1977; Beyarslan et al. 2004, 2013; Kamuran and Kornoşor 2008; Yilmaz et al. 2010; Yu et al. 2012; Koldaş et al. 2013), UK (Marshall 1887; Broad and Shaw 2009; Yu et al. 2012; Stigenberg 2013; Stigenberg and Shaw 2013).

Host records. Meteorus versicolor is recorded as a parasitoid of 14 different lepidopteran families. There are also some very unlikely records indicating that the species parasitizes different families of Chalcidoidea or Ichneumonidae (Yu et al. 2012). In the former USSR this species is reported as a parasitoid of Lymantria monacha Linnaeus, L. salicis Linnaeus, Euproctis chrysorrhoea Linnaeus (Lepidoptera: Lymantridae), Thaumetopoea processionea Linnaeus (Lepidoptera: Thaumetopoeidae), Cosmotriche lobulina (Denis & Schiffermüller, 1775) (Lepidoptera: Lasiocampidae), Autographa gamma (Linnaeus) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), Nycteola asiatica Krulikovski (Lepidoptera: Nolidae) (Tobias 1971). It is also bred from Goemetra papilionaria Linnaeus (Lepidoptera: Geometridae), Arctornis l-nigra (Müller), Asteroscopus sphinx Hufnagel (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) (Marshall 1885). In Norway, it is reared from the larva of Anarta myrtilli (Linnaeus) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) on Calluna vulgaris and from the larva of Coranarta cordigera (Thunberg) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) on Calluna vulgaris (Stigenberg and Hansen 2013). In addition, Stigenberg (2013) and Stigenberg and Shaw (2013) reported this species from: Dichomeris ustalella (Fabricius) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae), Callophrys rubi (Linnaeus) (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae), Macrothylacia rubi (Linnaeus) (Lepidoptera: Lasiocampidae), Agriopis aurantiaria (Hübner), A. marginaria (Fabricius), Apocheima pilosaria (Denis & Schiffermüller), Ematurga atomaria (Linnaeus), Epirrita sp., Eulithis testata (Linnaeus), Hydriomena ruberata (Freyer), Pachycnemia hippocastanaria (Hübner), Thera juniperata (Linnaeus) (Lepidoptera: Geometridae), Thaumetopoea pityocampa (Linnaeus) (Lepidoptera: Thaumetopoeidae), Phigalia haematidea (Duponchel), Anarta myrtilli (Linnaeus), Lycophotia porphyrea (Denis & Schiffermüller), Orthosia miniosa (Denis & Schiffermüller), Nycteola revayana (Scopoli) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), Orgyia antiquoides (Hübner), O. dubia, Euproctis chrysorrhoea (Linnaeus), Calliteara pudibunda (Linnaeus) (Lepidoptera: Lymantridae). Parasitoid of Euproctis chrysorrhoea Linnaeus (Lepidoptera: Lymantriidae) (Nikdel et al. 2004). In Iran, it is reared from the 3rd larval instar of Hyphantria cunea (Drury) (Lepidoptera: Arctiidae) (Nurieva 2002).