Terminal-instar larval systematics and biology of west European species of Ormyridae associated with insect galls (Hymenoptera, Chalcidoidea)
Author
Gomez, Jose F.
Author
Nieves, Maria Hernandez
Author
Gayubo, Severiano F.
Author
Nieves-Aldrey, Jose Luis
text
ZooKeys
2017
644
51
88
http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.644.10035
journal article
http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.644.10035
1313-2970-644-51
C86EC931EA0547DA9B942386D1624FB5
Ormyrus cupreus Askew, 1998
Material examined.
ex gall
Eurytoma gallephedrae
Askew on
Ephedra nebrodensis
, Spain, Madrid: Monte Pajares, 24.I.04, J. L. Nieves leg (n=1).
Description.
n = 1; Body length: 1.5 mm, width: 0.61 mm. Body fusiform, broader at the level of abdominal segments ABS2-ABS3 and tapering posteriorly towards ANS; ANS broader than long (Figs 3B, 5B) (Table 2); adp present from second thoracic to fifth abdominal segment, protruding conspicuously beyond the dorsal margin of body in lateral view, but only at the level of abdominal area (Fig. 5B); thoracic and abdominal segments with blister-like sculpture; thoracic setae relatively long, as long as the length of a thoracic segment. Head 1.1 broader than high (Fig. 7B); blister-like sculpture extended over the head; vertex concave in the middle; distance among vam as distance SA; am situated clearly above the antennae (Table 2). The lcs situated above cs; cs separated from lcs 2.5 as distance between cs (Fig. 9B). Lateral lobes of labrum almost fused with the medial lobe; posterior margin of medial piece of medial lobe straight. Maxilary palps indistinct. Mandibles unidentated with apex of tooth acute (Table 2).
Biology.
The larva of
Ormyrus cupreus
was described as a specific parasitoid of galls induced by
Eurytoma gallephedrae
Askew (
Chalcidoidea
,
Eurytomidae
) on
Ephedra
nebrodensis
stems (Fig. 12E). Additionally, from this host, we also reared larvae and adults of
Ormyrus cupreus
from galls on subterranean runners of
Ephedra nebrodensis
(Fig. 12F), most likely induced by
Eurytoma flaveola
(Zerova 1796), which is a species recorded inducing galls on
Ephedra
roots in Asia (
Zerova 1995
).
Askew and Blasco-Zumeta (1998)
performed detailed observations on the biology of this species and found
Ormyrus cupreus
is a primary, solitary idiobiont ectoparasitoid of the larva of
Eurytoma gallephedrae
, also attacking the adult
Eurytoma
at times or as a hyperparasitoid attacking larvae of the eupelmids
Brasema
and
Eupelmus
. These authors also reported cannibalistic behaviour. Because the remains of an adult
Eurytoma
were found jointly with a larva of
Ormyrus cupreus
, we confirmed the observations of Askew (Fig. 12G and H).