Bracon (Glabrobracon) variator Nees 1811
Creators: name: Papp, Jenő
name: Xviii, Budapest
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2012
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Hymenoptera
Braconidae
Bracon
Bracon variator

description: Bracon (Glabrobracon) variator Nees, 1811
Fig. 67 A-J
Bracon variator Nees, 1811: 7 ♀♁ (type material: several ♀♀ and ♁♁, destroyed), type locality:?Sickershausen (Germany).
Braco bipartitus Wesmael, 1838: 51 ♀ (type material: one ♀), type locality: supposedly LiègeLiège in Belgium, ♀ holotype (“Je ne possède de cette espèce qu’un seul individu,” Wesmael l.c., present designation) in the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences, Brussels; examined.
Bracon collinus Szépligeti, 1896: 292 (in Hungarian) and 366 (in German) ♀ (type material: two ♀♀), type locality: “ Budapest ” (Hungary), ♀ lectotype (and one ♀ paralectotype, present designations) in Magyar Természettudományi Múzeum, Budapest; examined.
Bracon guttator Panzer, 1805: no. 92.8 ♀ (type material latent), type locality: Germany; nomen obliteratum.
Bracon variator – Nees 1834: 77 (detailed redescription). — Széplige...ti 1901: 269 (in key, in Hungarian); 1904 (1901): 190 (in key, in German).
Braco variator Nees sensu Wesmael, 1838: 52 ♀♁ (19 ♀♀ + 6 ♁♁, according to Wesmael “J’ai pris 25 individus de cette espèce...”), locality of the neotype: “environs de Bruxelles ” (Belgium), material currently existing: 16 ♀♀ (1 ♀: B. delibator Haliday) + 6 ♁♁ + two exemplars without metasoma in the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences, Brussels, one ♀ designated (from among the 16 ♀♀) as the neotype of Bracon variator Nees sensu Wesmael.
Bracon (Glabrobracon) variator – Fahringer 1927: 296 (♀), 307 (♁) (in key), 1928: 496 (redescription), assigned to “Section Glabrobracon ”. — Telenga 1936: 152 (♀), 156 (♁) (in key), 224 (redescription) (in Russian); 355 (♀), 359 (♁) (in key, in German). — Tobias 1961: 162 (synonyms, redescription, in Russian). — Papp 1966: 378 (in key) and 392 (synonyms, redescription). — Shenefelt 1978: 1584 (synonyms, literature up to 1974). — Tobias 1986: 134 (in key, synonyms, in Russian). — Tobias & Belokobylskij 2000: 143 (in key, in Russian).
Bracon bipartitus – Szépligeti 1901: as valid species 269 (in key, Hungarian), 1904 (1901): 190 (in key, in German).
Bracon (Glabrobracon) bipartitus – Fahringer 1927: as valid species 295 (♀, in key), 439 (redescription), assigned to “Section Glabrobracon ”. — Telenga 1936: as valid species 152(♀, in key), 222 (redescription) (in Russian) and 354 (♀, in key, in German). — Shenefelt 1978: 1559 (as valid species, literature up to 1971). — Tobias 1986: 134 (in key as new synonym of B. variator).
Bracon collinus – Szépligeti 1901: as valid species 270 (♀ ♁, in key, in Hungarian), 1904 (1901): 190 (♀ ♁, in key, in German).
Bracon (Glabrobracon) collinus – Fahringer 1927: as valid species 254 (♀), 258 (♁) (in key) and 348 (redescription), assigned to “Section Glabrobracon ”. — Telenga 1936: as valid species 176 (♀), 178 (♁) (in key), 298 (redescription) and 379 (♀), 381 (♁) (in key, in German). — Papp 1966: 392 (first synonymization). — Shenefelt 1978: 1585 (as synonym of B. variator after Papp l.c., literature up to 1974). — Papp 2004: 172 (type designations, depository, synonymy).
Bracon guttator – Nees 1834: 81 (as synonym of B. variator). Shenefelt 1978: 1570 (as valid species, literature up to 1936).
Designation of the neotype of Bracon variator Nees
(First label, printed) “ Coll. Wesmael ”; (second label) “ Braco variator N. ♀ ” (handwriting) / “dét. Wesmael ” (printed); (third label, with my handwriting) “ Belgium / Bruxelles ” (after Wesmael l.c.); fourth label is the neotype card (attached by me). Neotype is in good condition: (1) micropinned by mesosoma (micropin thick); (2) right flagellum apically deficient; (3) right hind wing missing.
The designation of the neotype was necessary to distinguish unambiguously B. variator from its nearest allies: B. obscurator Nees, B. otiosus Marshall, B. piger Wesmael and B. praecox Wesmael. It is wellknown that the Nees Collection, containing the type material of a series of species, was destroyed at the end of the Second World War; hence no type specimens designated by Nees exist any more. Wesmael (l.c.) was the first reviser of B. variator, consequently it was reasonable to select the neotype from the series identified by him on this name.
Designation of the ♀ holotype of B. bipartitus Wesmael
(First label, printed) “Coll. Wesmael”; (second label, printed) “2066”; (third label, printed red) “Type”; (fourth label) “ Braco bipartitus ♀ mihi” (handwritten) / “dét. C. Wesmael” (printed); fifth label is the holotype card (attached by me); sixth label is with the actual name B. variator var. bipartitus (Wesmael) given by me in 2006; seventh label is with the (?)inventory number “3.317”.
Material examined
333 ♀♀ + 448 ♁♁ from 38 countries: SCOTLAND: 1 ♀. ENGLAND: 5 ♀♀ + 3 ♁♁ from seven localities. SWEDEN: 5 ♀♀ + 1 ♁ from five localities. DENMARK: 2 ♁♁ from one locality. FINLAND: 1 ♀. THE NETHERLANDS: 1 ♀. FRANCE: 7 ♀♀ + 1 ♁ from seven localities. GERMANY: 15 ♀♀ + 9 ♁♁ from 18 localities. SWITZERLAND: 4 ♀♀ + 2 ♁♁ from six localities. AUSTRIA: 1 ♀ + 2 ♁♁ from three localities. BOHEMIA: 14 ♀♀ + 3 ♁♁ from thirteen localities. SLOVAKIA: 14 ♀♀ + 2 ♁♁ from eleven localities. HUNGARY: 143 ♀♀ + 109 ♁♁ from 216 localities. SLOVENIA: 2 ♀♀ + 2 ♁♁ from three localities. ROMANIA: 36 ♀♀ + 14 ♁♁ from 42 localities. CROATIA: 10 ♀♀ + 1 ♁ from seven localities. SERBIA: 2 ♀♀ + 1 ♁ from three localities. MACEDONIA: 5 ♀♀ + 2 ♁♁ from six localities. KOSOVO: 1 ♀. ALBANIA: 2 ♀♀ + 4 ♁♁ from six localities. BULGARIA: 9 ♀♀ + 4 ♁♁ from thirteen localities. GREECE: 6 ♀♀ + 4 ♁♁ from ten localities. PORTUGAL: 2 ♀♀ from two localities. SPAIN: 8 ♀♀ + 3 ♁♁ from eight localities. ITALY: 7 ♀♀ + 13 ♁♁ from twelve localities. ALGERIA: 1 ♀ + 2 ♁♁ from three localities. TUNISIA: 2 ♀♀ from two localities. SYRIA: 1 ♁. TURKEY: 12 ♀♀ + 3 ♁♁ from fifteen localities. JORDAN: 1 ♀ + 2 ♁♁ from two localities. UKRAINE: 3 ♀♀ from three localities. ARMENIA: 3 ♀♀ + 5 ♁♁ from five localities. GEORGIA: 1 ♀ + 1 ♁ from one locality. EUROPEAN RUSSIA: 1 ♀. IRAN: 1 ♁. TURKMENISTAN: 3 ♀♀ + 6 ♁♁ from five localities. MONGOLIA: 2 ♀♀ + 5 ♁♁ from four localities. KOREA: 3 ♀♀ + 2 ♁♁ from two localities.
Description of the ♀ neotype of Bracon variator Nees sensu Wesmael (Fig.67 A-J)
LENGTH. Body 3.5 mm long.
ANTENNAE. Antenna somewhat shorter than body and with 27 antennomeres (left antenna; right antenna deficient: with 21 antennomeres). First flagellomere almost 1.6 times and penultimate flagellomere 1.75 times longer than broad, flagellum indistinctly attenuating (Fig. 67A).
HEAD. In dorsal view transverse (Fig. 67B), 1.9 times as broad as long, eye almost 1.6 times as long as temple, temple rather rounded, occiput weakly excavated. Eye in lateral view nearly 1.65 times as high as wide and one-third (or 1.45 times) wider than temple, temple beyond eye evenly wide (Fig. 67C, see arrows). Oral opening of usual size, its horizontal diameter somewhat longer than shortest distance between opening and compound eye. Cheek convergent ventrally as in Fig. 67D.
MESOSOMA. In lateral view 1.3 times as long as high, polished. Notaulix evenly deep and shallow. Propodeum entirely polished.
LEGS. Hind femur 3.1 times as long as broad distally (Fig. 67E). Claw downcurved and with a distinct and fairly large basal lobe (Fig. 67F).
WINGS. Forewing somewhat longer than body. Pterostigma (Fig. 67G) 2.5 times as long as wide and issuing r proximally from its middle, r almost 0.7 times as long as width of pterostigma. Second submarginal cell usual in size, 3-SR 1.28 times as long as 2-SR, SR1 straight, 1.6 times longer than 3-SR and reaching tip of wing. Firs discal cell high, 1-M 1.75 times as long as m-cu and two veins nearly parallel with each other, 1-SR-M 1.25 times longer than 1-M (Fig. 67H).
TERGITES. First tergite (Fig. 67I) 1.4 times as long as broad behind, beyond pair of spiracles parallelsided, margin of scutum subcrenulate, otherwise smooth and shiny. Second tergite transverse, three times as broad behind as long laterally (Fig. 67I). Third tergite also transverse and as long as second tergite; suture between tergites 2-3 bisinuate, fairly deep and smooth. Tergites 2-7 polished. Hypopygium pointed, ovipositor sheath just shorter than hind tibia + tarsus combined (Fig. 67J).
COLOUR. Ground colour of body black.Antenna blackish brown. Oral organs brown, mandible testaceous. Tegula black, parategula black with brownish tint. Tergites 2-5 laterally and every sternite reddish yellow. Legs black: coxae, trochanters, femora 2-3 to brownish black: rest of legs. Wings brownish fumous, pterostigma brown, venation proximo-distally brown to light brown.
Taxonomic remarks
1) Bracon variator is a variable species concerning the length of its ovipositor sheath and colour pattern. The length of the ovipositor sheath of the nominate form (i.e. the neotype) is just shorter than the length of the hind tibia + tarsus combined and the ground colour of the nominate form is black, tergites laterally and sternites almost entirely reddish yellow.
Esenbeck ab Nees, the describer of B. variator, mentioned the high variability of his species (this is the reason, certainly, that he gave the name “variator” to his species). In its description (Nees 1811: 7-10) under the paragraph “Nota” as well as in its redescription (Nees 1834: 77-81) under the paragraphs “Varietates” and “Observatio” he presented a long series of colour-pattern groups signed with Latin and Greek letters. The variability of these features had already been noticed by Wesmael (l.c.) too. He described two species under the names B. bipartitus and B. maculiger although they differ only by the length of the ovipositor sheath and corporal colouration (B. maculiger) and by the shortest length of ovipositor sheath (B. bipartitus). One-and-a-half centuries later these names were placed in synonymy with B. variator by Tobias (1986: 134). I consider; however, these two forms as (1) the variety of the nominate form B. variator (var. bipartitus) and (2) as the variety of B. dichromus (var. maculiger, rectified variety).
2) In the series (16 ♀♀ + 6 ♁♁) of Wesmael’s Collection 9 ♀ and 2 ♁ specimens were identified and labelled by Wesmael which are considered as the nominate form of B. variator sensu Wesmael. The rest of the specimens (7 ♀♀ + 4 ♁♁) are divided among four colour varieties signed by Wesmael (l.c.) as var. 1 - 4, the four varieties cover the following specimens: var. 1.: 1 ♀ (metasoma, except black first tergite, reddish yellow with a narrow black streak medially, ovipositor sheath as long as hind tibia + tarsus combined; var. 2.: 5 ♀♀ + 2 ♁♁ (metasoma almost entirely black, melanic form); var. 3.: 2 ♁♁ (tergites beyond first tergite darkening reddish yellow to dark brown, legs pale yellow, coxae + trochanters brown to brownish); var. 4.: 1 ♀ (metasoma colour similar to that of var. 1., ovipositor sheath just shorter than hind tibia + tarsus combined). From among the nominate form (9 ♀♀ + 2 ♁♁) 1 ♀ is the neotype, 3 ♀♀ + 2 ♁♁ are labelled as “dét. C. Wesmael” and 5 ♀♀ are labelled as “dét. T. A. Marshall”; the latter five ♀♀ were identified but not labelled by Wesmael, because the first labels “Coll. Wesmael” are attached on them indicating that these specimens belong also to the original series of B. variator Nees sensu Wesmael.
Varieties of the species B. variator Nees sensu Wesmael
Besides the nominate form four, mainly colour pattern, varieties are distinguished:
1) B. variator var. bipartitus (Wesmael, 1838) (= ab. flavator Fahringer, 1928, = rotundulus Szépligeti, 1901). (a) Ovipositor sheath almost as long as hind tibia + basitarsus combined, (b) metasoma light coloured: scutum of first tergite blackish to black (rarely partly), otherwise tergites reddish yellow to rusty. Basal half of hind tibia yellow. Tegula rarely yellow to brownish.
Material examined
74 ♀♀ + 19 ♁♁ from 21 countries: ENGLAND: 4 ♀♀ from three localities. FINLAND: 1 ♀. FRANCE: 10 ♀♀ + 1 ♁ from five localities. GERMANY: 5 ♀♀ from three localities. BOHEMIA: 1 ♁. HUNGARY: 14 ♀♀ + 5 ♁♁ from thirteen localities. ROMANIA: 4♀♀ from four localities. CROATIA: 2 ♀♀ + 1 ♁ from two localities. MACEDONIA: 1 ♀. BULGARIA: 1 ♀. GREECE: 5 ♀♀ + 3 ♁♁ from five localities. SPAIN: 7 ♀♀ from seven localities. ITALY: 9 ♀♀ + 2 ♁♁ from seven localities. CYPRUS: 1 ♀. TURKEY: 4 ♀♀ + 2 ♁♁ from six localities. ALGERIA: 1 ♀ + 1 ♁ from two localities. SYRIA: 1 ♀ + 1 ♁ from two localities. EUROPEAN RUSSIA: 2 ♀♀ from two localities. UKRAINE: 1 ♁. TURKMENISTAN: 1 ♁. MONGOLIA: 2 ♀♀ from two localities.
2) Bracon variator var. collinus (Szépligeti, 1901) (= var. nigerrima Fahringer, 1928, = ab. niger Papp, 1966). A melanic form: body almost entirely, i.e. second tergite most laterally dark rusty to entirely black, legs also entirely black.
Material examined
29 ♀♀ +9 ♁♁ from 12 countries: DENMARK: 1♀. AUSTRIA: 1 ♀. SWITZERLAND: 1 ♀. SLOVAKIA: 1 ♀. HUNGARY: 15 ♀♀ + 7 ♁♁ from twenty localities. ROMANIA (Transsylvania): 4 ♀♀ from three localities. BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA: 1 ♀. KOSOVO: 2 ♀♀ from one locality. GREECE: 1 ♀ + 1 ♁ from two localities. ITALY: 1 ♀. UKRAINE: 1 ♀. TURKEY: 1 ♁.
3) Bracon variator var. flavipes Papp, 1966. Legs light coloured: yellow, at most coxae blackish to black, middle and hind femora sometimes darkening blackish or hind tibia sometimes darkening distally. Tegula frequently yellow, brownish yellow to brown. Wings less brownish fumous.
Material examined
9 ♀♀ + 6 ♁♁ from six countries: SLOVAKIA: 1 ♁. HUNGARY: 6 ♀♀ + 5 ♁♁ from ten localities. ROMANIA (Transsylvania): 4 ♀♀ from four localities. GREECE: 1 ♀. TURKEY: 2 ♀♀ from one locality. UKRAINE (Sub-Carpathian): 1 ♀.
4) Bracon variator var. kotulai (Niezabitowski, 1910). Ovipositor apparatus extremely long: nearly to fully as long as to just longer than body.
Material examined
4 ♀♀ from three countries: ENGLAND: 1 ♀. GERMANY: 2 ♀♀ from two localities. AUSTRIA: 1 ♀.
Remark
Fahringer’s (1928: 498) “ var. dimidiata ” is identical with the nominate form of B. variator Nees.
Altogether the examined material (nominate form + four varieties) of B. variator is 449 ♀♀ + 482 from forty countries.
Variable features of both the nominate form and the four varieties of B. variator
Body (2.5-)3-4.5(-5) mm (♀) and 2.5-4(-4.5) mm (♁) long. Antenna somewhat shorter to somewhat longer than body ˙(♀) or usually somewhat to distinctly longer than body (♁). Antenna with (22-)25- 30(-37) antennomeres (♀) or with 23-32(-36) antennomeres (♁). Flagellomeres 1.3-1.7 times (♀) or 1.6-1.9(-2) times (♁) longer than broad, ♀ flagellomeres exceptionally subcubic. Head in dorsal view (1.6-)1.7-2 times as broad as long (♀ ♁). Hind femur 3-3.4 times as long as broad distally (♀ ♁); that of ♁ exceptionally four times longer. Forewing: pterostigma 2.2-2.8 times, usually 2.4-2.5 times, as long as wide. Second submarginal cell rather exceptionally long, 3-SR 1.4-1.5 times longer than 2-SR (♀ ♁). First tergite 1.3-1.5 times longer than broad behind (♀ ♁), exceptionally first tergite unusually broad, i.e. 1.1-1.2 times as long as broad (♀). Second tergite antero-medially rugulose (♀). Tergites 2-3 either equal in length or sometimes third tergite slightly longer (♀ ♁) or, rarely, second tergite longer than third tergite (♀). Ovipositor sheath as long as hind tibia (frequently somewhat shorter) to as long as hind tibia + basitarsus combined.
Hosts (nominate form + four varieties)
COL. Anobiidae: Ernobius nigrinus Sturm. Bruchidae: Bruchidius laticollis Boheman, B. lentis Frölich, B. lividimanus Gyllenhal, B. poupilieri Allman, Bruchus atomarius Linnaeus, B. viciae Olivier. Curculionidae: Anthonomus pomorum Linnaeus, Baris chlorizans Germar, B. cuprirostris Fabricius, B. laticollis Marsham, Glocianus punctiger Gyllenhal, Gymnetron asellus Gravenhorst, G. tetrum Fabricius, Larinus jaceae Fabricius,! L. flavescens Germar, L. turbinus Gyllenhal, Magdalis rufa Germar,! Miarus campanulae Linnaeus, Microlarinus lareyniei Jacquelin du Val, Mononychus punctumalbum Herbst, Pissodes validirostris C.R. Sahlberg et J. Sahlberg, Sibinia viscariae Linnaeus, Sitona longulus Gyllenhal. — LEP. Lithocolletidae: Phyllonorycter mespiella Hübner. Coleophoridae: Coleophora coronillae Zeller, C. medelichennis Knone. Sesiidae: Synanthedon adrenaeformis Laspeyres. Gelechiidae: Mesophleps corsicellus Herrich-Schäffer, Pexicopia malvella Hübner, Platyedra subcinerea Haworth. Tortricidae: Barbara herrichiana Obroztsov, Dichrorampha petiverella Linnaeus, Eucosma cana Haworth, Grapholitha ceresana Koz., G. funebrana Treitschke, Laspeyresia capparidana Zeller, L. strobilella Linnaeus, Pandemis cerasana Hübner,! Retinia resinella Linnaeus. Cochylidae: Cochylis epilinana Duponchel. Phycitidae:! Dioryctria abietella Denis et Schiffermüller, Etiella zinckenella Treitschke, Myelois cribrella Hübner. Geometridae: Cidaria lugilunaria Hübner, Perizoma lugdunaria Herrich-Schäffer. Noctuidae: Cucullia campanulae Freyer,! Hadena bicruris Hufnagel. Pieridae:? Pieris brassicae Linnaeus. Lycaenidae: Lampides boeticus Linnaeus. Nymphalidae: Cynthia cardui Linnaeus. — DIPT. Cecidomyiidiae: Contaniria fagi Rübsaamen, Dasineura senecionis Rübsaamen. Syrphidae:! Cheilosa albipila Meigen,! Ch. fraterna Meigen. Tephritidae: Noeëta pupillata Fallén, Phagocarpus permundus Harris, Sitarea scorzonera Robineau-Desvoidy, Sphenella marginata Fallén. Tephritis cylindrica Robineau-Desvoidy, T. formosa Loew, T. leontodontis DeGeer, Urophora sp. — HYM. Tenthredinidae: Hoplocampa brevis Klug, H. flava Linnaeus, H. minuta Christ. Cynipidae: ?? Biorhiza pallida Olivier (= Andricus terminalis).
Taxonomic position
Within the subgenera Glabrobracon and Pigeria the species B. variator is nearest to B. praecox Wesmael and B. piger Wesmael, the three species are very similar to each other; however, they are differentiated by a few features keyed:
1 (2) Head in dorsal view transverse, 1.8-1.9 times as broad as long (Fig. 67B). First tergite 1.3-1.4 times as long as broad behind (Fig. 67I). ♀ ♁: 3-4.5 mm ..................................... B. (Gl.) variator Nees, 1811
2 (1) Head in dorsal view less transverse to subcubic, 1.6-1.7 times as broad as long (Figs 40B; 41A; 42H). First tergite as long as to 1.2-1.3 times longer than broad behind (Figs 40K; 41C; 42F; 43H).
3 (4) Propleuron in lateral view concave, i.e. ventrally somewhat protruding (subgeneric feature of Pigeria, otherwise like Glabrobracon: cf. van Achterberg 1985; Fig. 41B). First tergite as long as broad behind (Fig. 40K; 41C). ♀ ♁: (2.5-) 3.5-4.5 mm ....................................... B. (Pig.) piger Wesmael, 1838
4 (3) Propleuron in lateral view not concave, i.e. usual in form, not protruding ventrally (Fig. 42A). First tergite 1.2-1.3 times as long as broad behind (Figs 42F; 43H). ♀ ♁: (2.5-) 3.5-4.5 mm ................... .............................................................................................................. B. (Gl.) praecox Wesmael, 1838
description: Published as part of Papp, Jenő & Xviii, Budapest, 2012, A revision of the Bracon Fabricius species in Wesmael's collection deposited in Brussels (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Braconinae), pp. 1-154 in European Journal of Taxonomy 21 on pages 140-145, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2012.21, http://zenodo.org/record/3858161