Aulacidae (Hymenoptera) in the mid-Atlantic states, with a key to species of eastern North America

18 Pages·1996·12.2 MB·

by  D R Smith

PROC. ENTOMOL. SOC. WASH.
98(2), 1996, pp. 274-291
AULACIDAE (HYMENOPTERA) IN THE MID-ATLANTIC STATES, WITH A
KEY TO SPECIES OF EASTERN NORTH AMERICA
DAvID R. SMITH
Systematic Entomology Laboratory, PSI, Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Depart-
ment of Agriculture, % National Museum of Natural History, MRC 168, Washington, DC
20560, U.S.A.
Abstract.(cid:8212)Sixteen species of Aulacidae occur in eastern North America, 15 of which
are found in the mid-Atlantic region, six species of Aulacus, including A. schiffi, n. sp.,
from Maryland, and nine species of Pristaulacus. Known hosts are wood-boring Cole-
optera and Hymenoptera. A key is given for the species of eastern North America, and
seasonal flight activity, distributions, and hosts are presented for each species occurring
in the mid-Atlantic states. This study is based on 790 specimens of 13 species collected
at ten sites in Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia.
Key Words: Aulacus, Pristaulacus, parasitoids, Xiphydriidae, Buprestidae, Cerambyci-
dae
Species of Aulacidae are parasitoids of MATERIALS AND METHODS
wood-boring insects. Hosts are not certain
Most collections were made by Townes-
for many, but some Aulacus are associated
style Malaise traps (Townes 1972), using
with Xiphydria spp. (Hymenoptera: Xiph-
95% ethyl alcohol as a killing agent; for
ydriidae), and some Aulacus and most Pris-
those in Allegany Co., Maryland, and Ran-
taulacus are associated with wood boring
dolph Co., West Virginia, potassium cya-
Coleoptera, especially Buprestidae and Cer-
nide was used as a killing agent; and those
ambycidae. Most are more commonly
in Randolph Co. were Cornell-style Malaise
reared than collected in the field. From 13
traps. Traps were in continuous operation
years of Malaise trapping at various sites in
from March or April through October or
Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia, I
November, depending on the site, and usu-
have collected 790 specimens of 13 of the
ally serviced every ten days to two weeks
15 species that occur in the mid-Atlantic
or sometimes longer intervals depending on
states and of the 16 species that occur in
eastern North America. This includes two the weather and time of season. Trapping
new species, the previously described A. was at ten collecting sites from the coastal
impolitus Smith (1991) and A. schiffi de- plain to the Appalachians. The localities,
scribed below. Thirty aulacid species are dates of operation, and number of traps
known in North America north of Mexico, used per year are as follows: MARYLAND:
9 of Aulacus and 21 of Pristaulacus. Here Allegany Co., Green Ridge State Park, 5 mi
I give a key to eastern North American spe- E Flintstone (1991-1993; 6 traps); Garrett
cies, present seasonal flight activity based Co., Finzel Swamp, 1 km S Finzel (1992(cid:8212)
on my collections in the mid-Atlantic states, 1993, 2 traps); Prince George(cid:8217)s Co., Belts-
and review distributions and hosts for each ville Agricultural Research Center, 3(cid:8212)6 mi
species. E Beltsville (1991-1993, 3 or 4 traps).
VOLUME 98, NUMBER 2 AS)
VIRGINIA: Essex Co., 1 mi SE Dunnsville wrinkles anteriorly (Figs. 7, 9, 12, 15); back of
(1991-1994, 12(cid:8212)16 traps); Clarke Co., Uni- head with concentric wrinkles in position of
versity of Virginia Blandy Experimental occipital carina; hindcoxa of female with a
ventral lobe projecting well beyond trochanter
Farm and State Arboretum of Virginia, 2 mi
socket (as in Fig. 6); parasites of Xiphydria
S Boyce (1990-1994, 5(cid:8212)11 traps); Louisa
. Head and mesosoma finely granular, dull; en-
Co., 4 mi S Cuckoo (1987-1989, 4-12 tirely reddish brown; ovipositor sheath about
traps); Fairfax Co., near Annandale (1982-(cid:8212) 0.8 forewing length; length, 7.5-9.0 mm
1994, 1 trap [backyard]). WEST VIRGIN- (Figs. 1, 2) spar Bde Metre atee atane prs A. impolitus Smith
Head smooth and shining, mesosoma shiny
IA: Tucker Co., Fernow Experimental For-
with reticulations or ridges; almost entirely
est, 3 mi S Parsons (1991-1993, 20 traps); black; ovipositor sheath about 0.5 forewing
Hardy Co., 3 mi NW Mathias (1994, 2 length; length, 6 mm (Figs. 3-5)
traps); Randolph Co., south of Dolly Sods ees ots evn ck Suses cea meter A. schiffi, n. sp.
Picnic Area (1993, 3 traps). In the speci- . Reticulate or transverse wrinkling of frons
coarse and extending almost to middle ocellus
mens examined sections, reference to these
(Fig. 7); sides of pronotum with some coarse
sites is by state and county, and years are
rugosities in addition to finer rugosities and
given for inclusive dates only if one or sev- some punctation; apex of metasoma usually
eral specimens were captured. black; mesosoma black, sometimes part of pro-
For references to original descriptions notum dark orange; head usually black
and synonymies, see Townes (1950) and ed Shes SE Se ae A. pallipes Cresson
Wrinkling of frons mostly transverse, fine and
Carlson (1979). The key is adapted from
confined mostly to its anterior portion, some-
Townes (1950). Distribution records are times reticulate but rarely extending close to
from Townes (1950), from specimens in the middle ocellus (Figs. 9, 12, 15); sides of pro-
National Museum of Natural History, or notum punctate or shining and partly finely
from collections I have examined (see ac- rugose, without coarse rugosities; metasoma
pale, rarely blackish at apex; mesosoma or-
knowledgments). Information in the speci-
ange to reddish or black; head usually pale,
mens examined sections are from my col-
sometimes blackish dorsally
lections. Length measurements exclude the . Apical process of female hindcoxa (as in Fig.
antennae and ovipositor. All figures are of 6) more than 1.4 as long as wide); meso-
females except for Pristaulacus violaceus. soma black, sometimes pronotum partly or-
ange; wrinkles on anterior part of frons irreg-
Specimens from my collections are in the
ular, more or less transverse, surface between
National Museum of Natural History,
wrinkles more punctate (Fig. 9) (ovipositor
Washington, D.C.
sheath about 0.9X forewing length; side of
mesosoma dull, granular between sculpture
KEY TO GENERA AND SPECIES
Rio Parte risN on Sire Bene Swain ere co A. digitalis Townes
1. Tarsal claws apparently simple, each with a Apical process of female hindcoxa less than
minute subapical tooth near base, difficult to 1.4X as long as wide; mesosoma usually pale;
see; Occipital carina absent; small species, transverse wrinkles on anterior part of frons
length usually less than 7 mm (except A. im- various, usually straighter, with surface shin-
politus); wings usually uniformly hyaline or ing or finely punctate (Figs. 12, 15) ......
slightly darkish (Aulacus) . Hindfemur about 5X as long as wide; frons
(cid:8212) Tarsal claws with two or more distinct sub- smooth and more distinctly punctate, without
apical teeth; occipital carina present as a nar- anterior fine longitudinal wrinkles or group of
row rim or broad upturned flange; usually wrinkles (Fig. 12); side of mesosoma granu-
larger species, length more than 8 mm; wings lar, dull between sculpturation; orange or with
various but commonly with dark spots and thorax all or partly and top of head sometimes
sometimes uniformly black or black with a blackish; forewing with cell | + 2Rs receiv-
yellow cross band (Pristaulacus) ing vein 2m-cu usually well beyond its mid-
2. Frons without wrinkles; back of head without dle; ovipositor sheath about 0.5X as long as
wrinkles in position of occipital carina; hind- forewing (Fig. 10) hy een A. lovei Ashmead
coxa of female without a projecting ventral Hindfemur about 6X as long as wide; frons
lobe; probably parasites of Coleoptera .... 3 with more wrinkles and less distinctly punc-
(cid:8212) Frons with reticulate ridges or with transverse tate, usually with an anterior median fine lon-
276 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON
Figs. 1-5. Aulacus impolitus. 1, Lateral view. 2, Dorsal view of head and anterior mesosoma. Length, ca. 8 mm.
A. schiffi. 3, Lateral view. 4, Mesosoma, lateral view. 5, Dorsal view of head and anterior mesosoma. Length, 6 mm.
gitudinal wrinkle, or group of wrinkles (Fig. 0.75 as long as forewing (Fig. 13) .....
15); side of mesosoma shinier between sculp- wwe ee ee ee es A. burquei Provancher
turation; entirely orange yellow; forewing with 7. Forewing black or black with a yellow cross
cell 1 + 2Rs receiving vein 2m-cu at or a little band (Figs. 16-18) ............-+---- 8
beyond its middle; ovipositor sheath about (cid:8212) Forewing hyaline, subhyaline or suffused
VOLUME 98, NUMBER 2 277
with reddish brown, with or without dark about 0.3 diameter of first flagellar segment
spots or bands (Figs. 23, 28, 30, 34,37) .. 9 (Rig 2 erencesau n P. niger (Shuckard)
. Forewing with a median yellowish cross band; 13. Upper side of hindcoxa smooth, without cross
tibiae and tarsi black (Figs. 16, 17) wrinkles; propleuron without distinct punc-
5 6.6 6.A NSE STG A Oe nee P. fasciatus (Say) tures (substigmal spot of forewing large, Fig.
Forewing entirely black; tibia and tarsi yellow 30) P. strangaliae (Rohwer)
CET ORDIS) ereBSs css ee e P. violaceus (Bradley) (cid:8212) Upper side of hindcoxa with more or less dis-
. Tarsal claws with a subapical large tooth and tinct cross wrinkles; propleuron with weak to
a subapical small tooth; forewing uniformly strong punctures
hyaline or slightly blackish, without spots 14. Occipital carina a reflexed flange that is about
(Fig. 23) (hindfemur black to dark brown) . 10 0.4X as wide as basal flagellar segment and
Tarsal claws with three to four subapical head behind eyes in dorsal view strongly con-
vex (Fig. 33); wings slightly blackish, sub-
teeth, of which the basal tooth is small; fore-
wing nearly always with a dark spot below stigmal spot broad (Fig. 34)
stigma and often with dark apical spot (Figs. seg Ly ee P. resutorivorus (Westwood)
AAS, BO; Su Ss Fed ics qacec testes eee Ermer 11 (cid:8212) Occipital carina a narrow rim, not more than
10. Side of mesosoma and hindcoxa polished 0.2X as wide as basal flagellar segment and
head behind eyes in dorsal view less strongly
with moderately coarse sculpture (Fig. 20);
convex (Fig. 36); wings hyaline, with narrow
propleuron not distinctly punctured, shiny;
substigmal spot (Fig. 37) ............. 15
posterior half of top of head with sparse fine
15. Head from above narrowing behind eyes, dis-
punctures; hindtarsus whitish to light brown;
tance from eye to occiput less than eye length
apical half of female metasoma ferruginous,
(Fig. 36); mesoprescutum with distinct dis-
sometimes a little infuscate; first metasomal
tinct, high transverse ridges (widely distrib-
tergum (excluding the partly fused second ter-
uted in eastern North America) ........
gum) of female about 1.5X as long as wide,
ay Ree nape Ac en ROE Rese P. stigmaterus (Cresson)
of male about 1.9X as long as wide
(cid:8212) Head from above long and with sides almost
ado o.0 ae eee P. rufitarsis (Cresson)
parallel behind eyes, distance from eye to oc-
Side of mesosoma and hindcoxa rather
ciput more than eye length; mesoprescutum
opaque and finely sculptured (Fig. 22); pro-
smooth, without or with very weak transverse
pleuron distinctly punctured; posterior half of
ridges (Maine, Ontario, Manitoba)
top of head with dense fine punctures; hind-
bE Ea ae P. canadensis (Townes)
tarsus dark brown; apical half of female me-
tasoma black; first metasomal tergum (ex-
Aulacus burquei (Provancher)
cluding the partly fused second tergum) of fe-
male about 1.3X as long as wide, of male (Figs. 13-15, 38)
about 1.5X as long as wide ..........
Diagnosis.(cid:8212)Uniformly orange to yel-
3 ord 6 ate Ene ae ae P. bilobatus (Provancher)
11. Front margin of pronotum with a forward pro- low; fine transverse wrinkles of frons con-
jecting, triangular tooth just above its mid- fined to anterior region and mostly shining
LenSt higeneecgevete eye sci areaer se:a cess ee laess & 12 between, usually with fine median longitu-
Front margin of pronotum without a distinct dinal carina; side of mesosoma shiny be-
tooth near its midlength (but sometimes with
tween sculpturation; hindfemur about 6X
an indistinct tooth near top) ........... 13
longer than wide; projecting ventral lobe of
12. Upper face of hindcoxa smooth, without cross
wrinkles; tarsal claws with three subapical female hindcoxa about 1.2 longer than
teeth; forewing with large dark spot below wide; Ovipositor sheath about 0.7 length
stigma and small apical dark spot (as in Fig. of forewing.
30); hindfemur black, tibiae and fore- and
Distribution.(cid:8212)Indiana, Maine, Mary-
midfemora yellow; occipital carina a narrow
land, Michigan, New Hampshire, New
rim, less than 0.2X diameter of first flagellar
segment (Fig. 25) ..... P. flavicrurus (Bradley) York, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Pennsylvania,
Upper face of hindcoxa with cross wrinkles; Quebec, Virginia.
tarsal claws with four subapical teeth; fore- Specimens examined.(cid:8212)Total: 63.
wing with small dark spot below stigma and
MARYLAND: Prince George(cid:8217)s Co., 3-
small dark spot at central basal area (Fig. 28);
15.V to 14(cid:8212)24.VI (10). VIRGINIA: Clarke
femora and tibiae concolorous, legs beyond
Co., 22(cid:8212)31.V.1991, 3(cid:8212)15.V1.1992 (3; plus
trochanters fulvous to black; occipital carina
produced as a flange, somewhat reflexed, several reared by N. Schiff from Acer
278 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON
Figs. 6-9. Aulacus pallipes. 6, Lateral view (arrow shows projecting ventral lobe of hindcoxa of female. 7,
Anterior view of head. Length, ca. 7 mm. Aulacus digitalis. 8, Lateral view. 9, Anterior view of head. Length,
ca. 7 mm.
branches containing Xiphydria maculata, cies are from the first of May to the end of
maple branches collected 7.1V.1993, June, with the peak flight from mid-May
emerged 27.I1V-1993 in lab); Essex Co., 15(cid:8212) through the first third of June (Fig. 38). Its
28.V.1993, 10(cid:8212)27.VII.1993, 11(cid:8212)21.VI.1994 flight coincides with the flight time of its
(4); Fairfax Co., 1-5.V to 25.VI-1.VII, host, Xiphydria maculata, which I have also
most in May (39); Louisa Co., 13(cid:8212)27.V to collected at each of the above sites at about
13(cid:8212)27.VII, most in May (7). the same time. Deyrup (1984) reported both
Hosts.(cid:8212)Xiphydria maculata Say (Xiph- A. burquei and A. digitalis parasitizing X. ma-
ydriidae) in Acer. Above rearing from culata in Indiana. Even though there are sev-
Clarke Co. From Xiphydria in Acer (Mary- eral morphological differences separating the
land); collected while ovipositing in Acer species, he found no ecological difference to
(New Hampshire); from Xiphydria macu- explain the co-existence of both species. I
lata in Acer (Pennsylvania) (Townes 1950). have found both Aulacus species in the same
From Xiphydria maculata in Acer and from habitats in the same traps. Nathan Schiff (per-
Carpinus caroliniana Walt. in Indiana sonal communication) has also reared both
(Deyrup 1984). species from Acer branches taken from the
Discussion.(cid:8212)Flight records for this spe- same site (see Clarke Co. records).
VOLUME 98, NUMBER 2 279
Aulacus digitalis Townes granular surface sculpture; female hindcoxa
(Figs. 8, 9) without projecting ventral lobe; ovipositor
Diagnosis.(cid:8212)Head brownish, darker sheath about 0.8 forewing length.
above and behind; mesosoma dark brown Distribution.(cid:8212) Virginia.
to blackish; metasoma reddish with first Specimens examined.(cid:8212)Total: 52. VIR-
segment black basally; legs light brown to GINIA: Clarke Co., 26.[1V(cid:8212)9.V to 3(cid:8212)15.VI
blackish with second trochanters, extreme (51); Louisa Co., 13(cid:8212)27.V.1987 (1).
apices of femora, fore- and midtibiae, and Host.(cid:8212)Unknown.
tarsi paler; transverse wrinkles on frons Discussion.(cid:8212)This species flies in May.
confined to anterior part irregular, suffused Only three or four of the 52 specimens were
with fine punctures; side of mesosoma dull taken in late April or early June. Most are
between sculpturation; hindfemur about 5X from Clarke Co., from where the species
longer than wide; projecting ventral lobe of was described (Smith 1991), and from traps
female hindcoxa 1.4X or more longer than set among willows and shrubbery around
wide; Ovipositor sheath about 0.9 _ fore- ponds and from traps set at the edge of an
wing length 80-year-old, elm-oak-hickory woodlot. It
Distribution.(cid:8212)Connecticut, Indiana, belongs to a group of Aulacus, character-
Maryland, Massachusetts, Ohio, Ontario, ized in the first half of the second couplet
Pennsylvania, Quebec, Virginia, West Vir- of the preceding key, that probably parasit-
ginia. izes wood-boring Coleoptera.
Specimens examined.(cid:8212)Total: 13. MARY-
LAND: Allegany Co., 10(cid:8212)20.VI.1993 (1); Aulacus lovei (Ashmead)
Prince George(cid:8217)s Co., 24.V(cid:8212)3.VI.1991 (2). (Figs. 10-12, 38)
VIRGINIA: Clarke Co. (specimens reared by Diagnosis.(cid:8212)Color variable, usually or-
N. Schiff from Acer branches containing ange brown to brown with top of head, me-
Xiphydria maculata, maple branches collect- sosoma (mesoscutellum usually pale or-
ed 7.1V.1993, emerged 27.1V.1993 in lab); ange), and most of legs blackish to dark
Essex Co., 10(cid:8212)23.V1I.1993 (2); Fairfax Co., brown; metasoma reddish with base of first
22(cid:8212)29.V to 12(cid:8212)20.VI (7); Louisa Co., 19(cid:8212)
segment black; fine transverse wrinkles on
ZONES Say):
frons confined to anterior portion, some-
Hosts.(cid:8212)Xiphydria maculata in Acer, in-
times suffused with fine punctures; side of
cluding the rearing above from Clarke Co.
mesosoma dull between sculpturation;
Emerged from dead wood (Connecticut);
hindfemur about 5X longer than wide; pro-
from Xiphydria maculata in Acer sacchar-
jecting ventral lobe of female hindcoxa
inum L. (Connecticut); (cid:8220)reared from host
about 1.1 longer than broad; ovipositor
in Malus pumila(cid:8217) (Connecticut); reared
sheath about 0.5 forewing length.
from host in dead Acer (Connecticut);
Distribution.(cid:8212)Connecticut, Georgia, In-
reared from host in Acer saccharum Marsh.
diana, Maryland, Massachusetts, New
(West Virginia) (Townes 1950). From Xiph-
Brunswick, New Jersey, New York, Nova
ydria maculata in Acer from Indiana (Dey-
Scotia, Ontario, Pennsylvania, Quebec, Ten-
rup 1984).
nessee, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia.
Discussion.(cid:8212)I have found this species
Specimens examined.(cid:8212)Total: 33. MARY-
from the end of May to the end of June, a
LAND: Allegany Co., 10(cid:8212)20.VI.1993 (2).
similar seasonal pattern as in A. burquei
VIRGINIA: Essex Co., 25.V(cid:8212)5.VI to 12(cid:8212)
(see discussion under A. burquei).
24.VI (8); Fairfax Co., 9-15.VI to 24(cid:8212)30.VI
Aulacus impolitus Smith (4); Louisa Co., 15(cid:8212)27.V to 22.VI-3.VII (3).
Ggsalep2) WEST VIRGINIA: Tucker Co., 9-19.VI to
Diagnosis.(cid:8212)Entirely reddish brown to 9(cid:8212)-19.VII (15); Hardy Co., 26.VI(cid:8212)4.VII.1994
orange; head and mesosoma dull, with fine, (1).
280 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON
Figs. 10-15. Aulacus lovei. 10, Lateral view. 11, Lateral view of mesosoma. 12, Anterior view of head.
Length, ca. 6 mm. Aulacus burquei. 13, Lateral view. 14, Lateral view of mesosoma. 15, Anterior view of head.
Length, ca. 8 mm.
Host.(cid:8212)Xiphydria (Xiphydriidae), mostly Maryland, Pennsylvania); from Carpinus
from Carpinus and Tilia. From Xiphydria (Maryland); from host in Tilia (New York);
tibialis in Betula (Maryland); from host in from host in Tilia americana L. (Pennsyl-
Carpinus caroliniana Walt. (Connecticut, vania); from Xiphydria in Tilia (Pennsyl-
VOLUME 98, NUMBER 2 281
vania); from Xiphydria attenuata [= X. ab- Betula. Reared records include X. mellipes
dominalis Say] in Tilia americana from Betula lutea Michx. f., Betula nigra
(Pennsylvania) (mostly from Townes, L., yellow birch or birch, and Xiphydria sp.
1950). Though X. tibialis may be a host for from Betula sp., mostly from northern
A. lovei, the most common Xiphydria spe- states (Townes 1950). Some labels record
cies recorded from Tilia is X. abdominalis the host as Xiphydria mellipes without the
(Say) and from Carpinus, X. champlaini host tree (Massachusetts, Missouri, New
Rohwer and X. scafa Smith. Some or all York, Virginia).
may serve as hosts. Discussion.(cid:8212)This species is associated
Discussion.(cid:8212)The flight time is from the with X. mellipes Harris, a more northern
end of May to mid-July, with most speci- species that attacks Betula. Both collection
mens taken from mid- to the end of June localities were in the Appalachians at over
(Fig. 38). The flight is slightly later than 2600 ft. elevation. Xiphydria mellipes was
those of A. burquei and A. digitalis and co- also collected at the Tucker Co. site.
incides with the flight time of Xiphydria ti-
Aulacus schiffi Smith, NEw SPECIES
bialis Say, which was also taken at each of
(Figs. 3-5)
the above localities on about the same
dates. Xiphydria tibialis is relatively com- Diagnosis.(cid:8212)Almost entirely black with
mon in traps, but I have also collected a few Scape, pedicel, narrow posterior bands on
X. scafa and X. abdominalis. All three spe- metasomal segments and part of legs
cies normally fly later than does X. macu- brownish; frons and top of head smooth,
lata. shining, with very few fine punctures; me-
sosoma shining between sculpturation; ovi-
Aulacus pallipes Cresson
positor sheath about 0.5X forewing length.
(Figs. 6, 7)
Female.(cid:8212)Length, 6.0 mm. Antenna
Diagnosis.(cid:8212)Color variable, usually black, scape and pedicel pale brown to or-
black with legs dark brown and apices of ange; head black, mandible brownish; me-
tibiae and tarsi yellowish; metasoma red- sosoma black; metasoma black with brown-
dish with basal part of first tergum black ish, narrow posterior bands on terga; legs
and apical third blackish; ridges and retic- black with following pale brown: trochan-
ulations of frons coarse and extending al- ters, outer surface of forefemur, apex of
most to middle ocellus; side of mesosoma midfemur; fore- and midtibia, extreme base
dull between sculpturation; hindfemur of hindtibia, and tarsi. Wings clear hyaline;
about 5X longer than wide; projecting ven- veins and stigma black. Antenna 14-seg-
tral lobe of female hindcoxa about 1.3 mented; 2nd flagellar segment longer than
longer than wide; ovipositor sheath about Ist and 3rd flagellar segments. Frons and
as long as forewing. top of head smooth and shining, without
Distribution.(cid:8212)British Columbia, Idaho, surface sculpture or wrinkles, but with few
Maine, Manitoba, Maryland, Massachu- very fine widely scattered punctures; occip-
setts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mon- ital carina absent and back of head without
tana, New Brunswick, New York, North- wrinkles in position of occipital carina. Side
west Territories, Ontario, Pennsylvania, of mesosoma shiny between coarse ridges
Quebec, Rhode Island, Washington, Virgin- and reticulations; mesoprescutum with
ia, West Virginia. . transverse ridges; mesonotal lateral lobes
Specimens examined.(cid:8212)Total: 2. MARY- and mesoscutellum reticulate. Vein 2m-cu
LAND: Garrett Co., 30.VI-10.VII.1993 (1). in forewing present. Hindcoxa without pro-
WEST VIRGINIA: Tucker Co., 19- jecting ventral lobe; inner side of hindcoxae
ZN NENSOSe CG): without a channel. Ovipositor about 0.5
Hosts.(cid:8212)Xiphydria mellipes Harris in as long as forewing.
282 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON
Figs. 16-18. Pristaulacus fasciatus. 14, Forewing . 15, Lateral view. Length, ca. 16 mm. Pristaulacus vio-
laceus. 18, Lateral view, male. Length, ca. 13 mm.
Male.(cid:8212)Unknown. See discussion. impolitus and A. schiffi, three other species
Holotype.(cid:8212)Female, labeled (cid:8220)(cid:8220)MARY- belong here, A. dispilis Townes (Texas), A.
LAND: Prince George(cid:8217)s Co., Beltsville brevicaudus (Cushman) (Oregon, Califor-
Agric. Res. Center, 39°02'N 76°52'W, D. nia), and A. aneurus Walkley (New Mexi-
Barriner and T. Smith,(cid:8217) (cid:8220)(cid:8216)26-VI-6-VII- co). The shiny, impunctate, smooth texture
1993, coniferous forest, Malaise trap #1.(cid:8221) of the frons and top of the head place A.
Deposited in the National Museum of Nat- schiffi close to A. brevicaudus. The frons
ural History, Washington, D.C. and top of the head of all other species are
Host.(cid:8212)Unknown. Belongs to the group dull and minutely granular (A. aneureus, A.
of Aulacus that probably parasitize wood- impolitus), or have large scattered deep
boring Coleoptera. punctures (A. dispilis); the forewing of A.
Discussion.(cid:8212)A male from (cid:8216)(cid:8220)Thwartway dispilis has an apical dark spot, and the
Island, St. Lawrence Is. National Park, On- head and mesosoma are reddish; A. impol-
tario,(cid:8221) (cid:8220)(cid:8220)A. Carter, Aug. 2, 1976, Malaise itus is entirely reddish brown; A. brevicau-
trap code 4276-N(cid:8221) may be the male of this dus also has a black head and thorax but
species. It is similar to the female except differs from A. schiffi by the orange meta-
for the legs which are entirely yellow or- soma and orange legs beyond the trochan-
ange beyond the coxae. ters; and A. aneurus Walkley is mostly
This species belongs in the group of Au- black but has very fine transverse striae on
lacus characterized in the first half of cou- the mesosotum, whereas the mesonotum of
plet two of the preceding key. Besides A. A. schiffi has very coarse transverse ridges.
VOLUME 98, NUMBER 2 283
The holotype was taken in a trap in a land, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri,
coniferous forest habitat in a opening on the Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia.
east bank of Beaver Dam Lake. Specimens examined.(cid:8212)Total: 4. MARY-
Etymology.(cid:8212)This species is named for AND: Prince: Georse su Coy mip yl
my colleague Dr. Nathan Schiff, Bee Re- 2.VIlI.1991 (1). VIRGINIA: Clarke Co.,
search Laboratory, U.S.D.A., Beltsville, 21.VII-1.VIII.1991, 8-25. VIII.1992 (2);
Maryland. Essex Co., 1-14. VHI.1992 (1).
Hosts.(cid:8212)Reared from Carya ovata (Mill.)
Pristaulacus bilobatus (Provancher) K. Koch (Pennsylvania) (Townes 1950).
(Figs. 21(cid:8212)23) Discussion.(cid:8212)This is a late flying species,
from the end of July into August. It is not
Diagnosis.(cid:8212)Most likely confused with
commonly collected.
P. rufitarsis, the only two species without
darks spots in the forewing and the tarsal Pristaulacus flavicrurus (Bradley)
claws with two subapical teeth. Black; me- (Figs. 24, 25, 39)
tasoma reddish with apical segments black;
Diagnosis.(cid:8212)Black; metasoma reddish
fore- and midtibiae and tarsi and some-
with base and apex black; hindfemur
times fore- and midfemora brownish; fore-
black, tibiae and fore- and midfemora yel-
wing uniformly hyaline, without black
lowish; forewing with large substigmal and
spots; tarsal claws with two _ subapical
small apical dark spots; front margin of
teeth; propleuron punctured, side of
pronotum with forward projecting tooth at
mesosoma rather dull, punctured, and fine-
midlength; tarsal claws with three subapi-
ly sculptured.
cal teeth; upper face of hindcoxa smooth,
Distribution.(cid:8212)Michigan, New Hamp-
without cross wrinkles; occipital carina a
shire, New Jersey, New York, Nova Scotia,
narrow rim.
North Carolina, Ohio, Ontario, Pennsyl-
Distribution.(cid:8212)Georgia, Maryland, Mich-
vania, West Virginia, Wisconsin.
igan, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, On-
Specimens examined.(cid:8212)None.
tario, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Ver-
Hosts.(cid:8212)Most rearing records give the
mont, Virginia, West Virginia.
host as Melanophila fulvoguttata (Harris)
Specimens examined.(cid:8212)Total: 45. MARY-
(Buprestidae), or as Melanophila, and
LAND: Allegany Co., 21(cid:8212)30.VI.1993 (1);
reared from hemlock, Tsuga canadensis
Garrett Co., 10(cid:8212)20.VI to 30.VI-9.VII (11);
(L.) Carr. (Townes 1950).
Prince George(cid:8217)s Co., 10(cid:8212)23.VI to 15(cid:8212)25.VI
Discussion.(cid:8212)Though recorded from
(5). VIRGINIA: Clarke Co., 15(cid:8212)24.VI to
West Virginia and North Carolina, I did not
25.VI-S.VII (7); Fairfax Co., 13(cid:8212)19.V1.1993
collect P. bilobatus. Because it is mainly
(1). WEST VIRGINIA: Tucker Co., 9-19.VI
associated with buprestids in hemlock, it
to 19(cid:8212)28.VII (20).
may occur only at higher elevations in hab-
Hosts.(cid:8212)Unknown.
itats where I have not collected. Townes
Discussion.(cid:8212)Flight records are from the
(1950) records this species from the end of
first of June to the end of July, with most
May to mid-August.
specimens collected from mid-June to the
first of July (Fig. 39).
Pristaulacus fasciatus (Say)
(Figs. 16, 17) Pristaulacus niger (Shuckard)
(Figs. 26(cid:8212)28)
Diagnosis.(cid:8212)Entirely black; wings black
with yellowish cross band immediately an- Diagnosis.(cid:8212)Black; metasoma reddish
terior to stigma. only on first and second segments; legs usu-
Distribution.(cid:8212)Arkansas, District of Co- ally orange beyond coxae (variable, some-
lumbia, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Mary- times blackish); forewing with small sub-