Ophion autumnalis Johansson & Cederberg 2019, sp. nov.
Creators: name: Johansson, Niklas
name: Cederberg, Björn
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2019
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Hymenoptera
Ichneumonidae
Ophion
Ophion autumnalis

description: Ophion autumnalis Johansson sp. nov.
urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 6A2AA4E5-7561-4E8F-863A-BF19DCD642ED
Figs 13B, 25
Diagnosis
Ophion autumnalis Johansson sp. nov. is most similar to Ophion obscuratus but is lacking extensive pale markings and has the temples more narrowed behind the eyes. The occipital carina usually joins the hypostomal carina at a strongly acute angle (as in Fig. 7L) while in O. variegatus and O. sylvestris Johansson sp. nov. it is just slightly acute (as in Fig. 7M). Also similar to O. kevoensis, but with the pterostigma apically and posteriorly distinctly pale (Fig. 13B). The result of the molecular analysis, which is based on quite weak sampling, does not indicate any distinction towards the closely related Ophion variegatus, but the morphological and ecological evidence motivates the description of a new species.
Etymology
The species is active during late autumn.
Material examined
5 ♀♀, 18 ♂♂ (Sweden); 1 ♀, 5 ♂♂ (Great Britain); 1 ♂ (Finland); 2 ♂♂ (Norway).
Type material
Holotype SWEDEN • ♀; Skåne, Ystad, Järahusen; 55.396° N, 14.207° E; 13 Oct. – 12 Nov. 2007; N. Ryrholm and C. Källander leg.; MV-light trap in coastal sanddunes in mixed oak and pine woodland; NHRS-HEVA000008620.
Paratypes SWEDEN • 1 ♀, 1 ♂; Skåne, Ystad, Hagestad; 55.386° N, 14.137° E; 10 Oct. – 27 Nov. 2016; N. Ryrholm and C. Källander leg.; MV-light trap in sandy coastal heath; NHRS-HEVA000008621, NHRS-HEVA000008622 • 1 ♂; Skåne, Ystad, Järahusen; 55.396° N, 14.207° E; 13 Oct.–12 Dec. 1997; N. Ryrholm and C. Källander leg.; MV-light trap in coastal sanddunes in mixed oak and pine woodland; NHRS-HEVA000008623 • 1 ♀, 1 ♂; same data as for preceding; 1 Sep.–31 Nov. 1997; N. Ryrholm and C. Källander leg.; MV-light trap in coastal sanddunes in mixed oak and pine woodland; NHRS-HEVA000008624, NHRS-HEVA000008625 • 1 ♂; Skåne, Simrishamn, Örnahusen; 55.450° N, 14.261° E; 2–28 Aug. 1996; N. Ryrholm and C. Källander leg.; MV-light trap in sandy coastal heath; NHRS-HEVA000008626 • 1 ♀, 1 ♂; Uppland, Bälinge, Ryggmossen; 60.038° N, 17.342° E; 21 Sep. 1965; U. Lohm leg.; UPSZ: 178596, UPSZ: 178598.
FINLAND • 1 ♂; Uusimaa, Porvoo (Porvoon maalaiskunta), Åminsby; 60.346° N, 25.537° E; 27 Sep. 1980; E. Suomalainen leg.; MV-light; MZLU Type no. 6368:1.
Description
Fore wing length 13–15 mm. Antenna with 53–55 flagellomeres. First flagellomere about 3.0–3.5 times as long as wide. Central flagellomeres about 1.3–1.5 times as long as wide. Apical flagellomeres approximately 1.5–1.6 times as long as wide. Head strongly narrowed behind eyes (almost as in Ophion pteridis Kriechbaumer, 1879), in lateral view with temple 0.3–0.4 times as long as compound eye. Gap between compound eye and lateral ocellus usually distinct, about 0.2 times the diameter of ocellus. Junction between occipital and hypostomal carina strongly acute, about 45 degrees (as in Fig. 7L). Malar space about 0.1 times as long as mandibular base in female and about 0.1–0.2 times in male. Mandibular gape right-angled, with internal angles. Wing membrane clear. Ramellus usually short, reaching 0.1–0.3 times the width of the discosubmarginal cell. Radius sinuous. Structure of mesopleuron similar to that of Ophion obscuratus, shining or weakly shagreened with weak, very regular punctation consisting of small punctures. Interstices between punctures about equal to their diameter up to 2.0 times their diameter. Epicnemial carina, in antero-ventral view, with pleurosternal angles obviously anterior to sternal angles. Pleurosternal angles rounded, obtuse to right angled. Scutellum without lateral carinae (as in Fig. 6A). Structure of propodeum similar to that of O. obscuratus, posterior to anterior transverse carina mostly shining. Anterior transverse carina always present centrally, anterior to area superomedia, but often also present laterally, though rarely strongly raised (as in Fig. 10A). Posterior transverse carina usually only present laterally, widely interrupted centrally. Central longitudinal carinae weak or absent, when present, forming a narrow triangular area. Sclerotised part of first sternite ending level with spiracle. Legs normal with hind femur about 6.0–7.0 times as long as wide. Hind trochantellus usually longer than in other species except O. luteus and O. slaviceki, slightly shorter than wide in dorsal view. Inner spur of hind tibia long about 0.3–0.4 times as long as hind metatarsus.
Colour
Body colour usually more brownish than most other Ophion species, inner and outer orbits paler, whitishyellow. Mandibular teeth black. Scutellum pale. Pterostigma apically and posteriorly pale. Ovipositor sheath testaceous, of the same colour as posterior metasomal segments.
DNA barcode
The DNA barcode sequences of two Swedish specimens of Ophion autumnalis Johansson sp. nov. are available at the BOLD systems database (www.boldsystems.org, Specimen codes: STI-NJBC: 104, 209).
Ecology
Ophion autumnalis Johansson sp. nov. is active during late autumn and early winter, September–December in open or semi-open heathlands on sandy or rocky ground. A likely host, as indirectly proposed by Brock, is Anarta myrtilli (Linnaeus, 1761).
Distribution in Sweden
Rare but locally in numbers in semi-open and open heathlands in Southern and Central Sweden but probably overlooked due to the late flight period.
Remarks
This species has previously partly been regarded as an autumnal generation of Ophion obscuratus s. lat. (Brock, 1982). Material of this species from heathlands in Scotland and England (BMNH) has been studied and fits very well with the species here described. This is most likely the species referred to by Brock (1982) as “autumnal dwarfs”. For further details, see Discussion; The Ophion obscuratus aggregate.
description: Published as part of Johansson, Niklas & Cederberg, Björn, 2019, Review of the Swedish species of Ophion (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae: Ophioninae), with the description of 18 new species and an illustrated key to Swedish species, pp. 1-136 in European Journal of Taxonomy 550 on pages 46-48, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2019.550, http://zenodo.org/record/3476402