Comparative morphology and biology of terminalinstar larvae of some Eurytoma (Hymenoptera, Eurytomidae) species parasitoids of gall wasps (Hymenoptera, Cynipidae) in western Europe Author Gómez, José Francisco Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas (UCM), Departamento de Zoología y Antropología Física, Ciudad Universitaria, 28040 Madrid (Spain) jf. gomez @ bio. ucm. es Author Nieves-Aldrey, José Luis Author Nieves, María Hernández Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (CSIC), Departamento de Biodiversidad y Biología Evolutiva, c / José Gutiérrez Abascal 2, 28006 Madrid (Spain) aldrey @ mncn. csic. es Author Stone, Graham Nicholas Institute of Evolutionary Biology, University of Edinburgh, School of Biological Sciences, The King’s Buildings, West Mains Road, Edinburgh, EH 9 3 JT (United Kingdom) graham. stone @ ed. ac. uk stone@ed.ac.uk text Zoosystema 2011 2011-09-30 33 3 287 323 http://dx.doi.org/10.5252/z2011n3a3 journal article 10.5252/z2011n3a3 1638-9387 4546941 Eurytoma cynipsea Boheman, 1836 MATERIAL EXAMINED. — Ex Aulacidea freesei / Phanacis zwolferi : Spain . Madrid , Arganda, 7.XI.2002 , J. L. Nieves leg (n = 1). — Madrid , Monte Pajares, 7.XI.2002 , J. L. Nieves leg (n = 10, of which 2 specimens MNHN- EY 6412). Ex Aulacidea pilosellae : Spain . Madrid , Valgallego, 19. VI .2004 , J. L. Nieves leg, (n = 3). Ex Isocolus lichtensteini : Spain . Madrid , Arganda, 24.III.2002 , J. L. Nieves leg (n = 1). Ex Timaspis cichorii : Spain . Madrid , Arganda, 8.XI.2003 , J. L. Nieves leg (n = 1). Ex Timaspis ursopermi : Spain . Málaga, Casares, VIII.2002 and II.2003 , J. L. Nieves leg (n = 2). Ex Phanacis hypochoeridis : Spain . Pontevedra, Islas Cíes, 16.VII.03, J. L. Nieves leg, (n = 1). DESCRIPTION n = 19; body length 1.6 mm (range 1.0-2.3); body width 0.9mm (0.4-1.5)( Figs5C ; 7C );body fusiform, ratio L/W = 1.7; ventral margin of body segments clearly convex; anterodorsal protuberances protruding from second thoracic segment to the seventh abdominal segment ( Fig. 2 ). Antero-medial setae of antennal area at the same level as the antennae; ratio SA/LAA = 0.55; ratio SA/DAV between 0.38-0.53; antero-medial setae of vertex situated relatively high on the upper face ( Fig. 3 ); dorsal-labral setae as long as clypeal setae; ventral margin of clypeus indistinct; labrum with deep divisions forming a pair of flaps and five well differentiated lobes; maxillary palps conspicuous ( Fig. 11C ). Both mandibles with two teeth and apical tooth clearly visible ( Fig. 11C ); ratio L/W 1T between 0.6-2.0, varying according to each specific host; outer margin of first tooth strongly convex, with the tip moderately recurved; the shape of apex of the second tooth varies from pointed to blunt depending on the specific host, but is always straight and directed upwards in the same direction as the first tooth ( Fig. 13C ). BIOLOGY The species Eurytoma cynipsea is also a polyphagous ectoparasitoid reared from galls of different Aylacini species ( Cynipidae ) on various species of Asteraceae . Fully-grown larvae consume gall tissue, and slightly enlarge the host gall cell ( Fig. 14H, I ). Larvae overwinter and adults emerge in the following year when new galls are available on the host plants. REMARKS As with E. aspila , E. cynipsea belongs to the cynipsea species-group ( Zerova 1993 ); their larvae have a similar appearance, with very large sclerotized and exposed mandibles. However, the mandible of E. cynipsea has only two teeth.