Content uploaded by Giuseppe Fabrizio Turrisi
Author content
All content in this area was uploaded by Giuseppe Fabrizio Turrisi on Mar 16, 2018
Content may be subject to copyright.
© Koninklijke Brill NV, Leiden, 2011 DOI 10.1163/187631211X545132
Insect Systematics & Evolution 42 (2011) 1–27 brill.nl/ise
Systematic revision of the sibling species belonging to the
Pristaulacus compressus group (Hymenoptera: Aulacidae)
Giuseppe Fabrizio Turrisi *
University of Catania, CUTGANA (Centro Universitario per la Tutela e la Gestione degli
Ambienti Naturali e degli Agroecosistemi), via Terzora 8, I-95027, San Gregorio di Catania,
Catania, Italy
*E-mail: turrisifabrizio@yahoo.it
Abstract
e Pristaulacus compressus species group is revised and illustrated. It has a strictly western Palearctic range
and includes four sibling species, two of which are newly described: P. rapuzzii Turrisi, sp.n. (Lebanon) and
P. samai Turrisi, sp.n. (Syria). Besides external characters of the tagmata, especially the sculpturation and
shape of the head and occipital carina, the taxonomic treatment of this species group takes into account
new diagnostic features of the male genital capsule, including the general shape and the shape of the apex
of the paramere, lamina volsellaris and penis valve. e previous key for identifi cation of the Palearctic
species of Pristaulacus is modifi ed to include the two new species. A discussion on taxonomy, biogeogra-
phy and host preference of the treated species is provided.
Keywords
Evanioidea , new species , western Palearctic
Introduction
Aulacidae comprises 221 extant species belonging to two genera (Turrisi et al. 2009 ):
Aulacus Jurine, 1807, with 75 species and Pristaulacus Kieff er, 1900 (including the
former Panaulix Benoit, 1984), with 146 species. Both genera are represented in all
zoogeographic regions, except Antarctica (Kieff er 1912 ; Hedicke 1939 ; Smith 2001 ,
2005a , b , 2008; He et al. 2002 ; Jennings et al. 2004a , b ,c; Turrisi 2004 , 2005 , 2006a ,
2007 ; Jennings & Austin 2006 ; Sun & Sheng 2007a , b ; Turrisi et al. 2009 ; Smith &
Vilela de Carvalho 2010 ). Aulacidae have a fairly good fossil record, with 37 described
species (Nel et al. 2004 ; Jennings & Krogmann 2009 ). e oldest record is from the
Lower Cretaceous, but most fossil species are from the Cenozoic and a few are recorded
from the Upper Eocene of the Isle of Wight, Baltic and Paris basin amber, and the
Oligocene of North America (Nel et al. 2004 ).
2 G.F. Turrisi / Insect Systematics & Evolution 42 (2011) 1–27
Aulacidae are koinobiont endoparasitoids of wood-boring larvae of Hymenoptera
and Coleoptera (Gauld & Hanson 1995 ; Jennings & Austin 2004 ). Hosts are larval
Xiphydriidae (Hymenoptera) and, more frequently, Buprestidae and Cerambycidae
(Coleoptera) (Skinner & ompson 1960 ; Deyrup 1984 ; Barriga 1990 ; Visitpanich
1994 ; Turrisi 1999 , 2004 , 2007 ; Smith 2001 ; Jennings & Austin 2004 ; Turrisi &
Vilhelmsen 2010 ).
e knowledge of the Palearctic Aulacidae has long been based on the worldwide
treatment of the family by Kieff er ( 1912 ). Since then, only a few taxonomic papers
were published and these for only part of the Palearctic, e.g., Oehlke ( 1984 ) for Europe
and Konishi ( 1990 ) for Japan. e recent revision by Turrisi ( 2007 ) provided a taxo-
nomic treatment of the genus Pristaulacus for the Palearctic region and included
twenty-one valid species. Subsequently, Turrisi & Pilato ( 2008 ) proposed an arrange-
ment of the Palearctic Pristaulacus recognizing eight discrete species groups. For the
Pristaulacus compressus group, only two closely related species have been recognized:
P. compressus (Spinola, 1808 ) and P. lindae Turrisi, 2000 (Turrisi 2000 , 2004 , 2007 ;
Turrisi & Pilato 2008 ; Turrisi et al. 2009 ). e former species was also recorded from
south-western Turkey, Lebanon and Syria by Turrisi ( 2007 ), who pointed out some
morphological diff erences between the specimens from those territories and the other
specimens of P. compressus , e.g., the wider occipital carina, and the coarser punctures of
head. A subsequent careful investigation of these series of specimens, including exami-
nation of the male genital capsule and comparisons with additional material of P. com-
pressus sensu lato from the entire range, has resulted in the discovery of two sibling
species having a strictly south-western Asiatic distribution.
e present paper deals with the description of these two new previously overlooked
species. It includes a taxonomic and biogeographical discussion, a redefi nition of the
distribution of the P. compressus species group, an update of the identifi cation key by
Turrisi ( 2007 ) and a re-evaluation of host-parasitoid relationships of each treated spe-
cies, based mainly on original data.
Materials and Methods
Specimens examined
is study is based primarily on examination of material recently collected by two
Italian coleopterists, Pierpaolo Rapuzzi (Ronchi di Cialla, Udine, Italy) and Gianfranco
Sama (Cesena, Italy), who reared the aulacid specimens in the laboratory. e study is
also based on re-examination of the specimens included within the P. compressus species
group by Turrisi ( 2007 ) and examination of newly acquired material, especially from
the Balkan Peninsula and Turkey. Depositories are listed below (acronyms from
Evenhuis & Samuelson 2004 ).
AEIC: American Entomological Institute, Gainesville, FL, USA (Dr. David Wahl).
BMNH: e Natural History Museum, London, UK (Ms. Suzanne Ryder).
G.F. Turrisi / Insect Systematics & Evolution 42 (2011) 1–27 3
DBAC: Dipartimento di Biologia Animale “Marcello La Greca”, Università di Catania,
Museo Zoologico, “Turrisi G.F. Collection”, Catania, Italy (Prof. A. Petralia).
MCFS: Museo Civico di Storia Naturale, Ferrara, Italy (Dr. Fausto Pesarini).
MSNG: Museo Civico di Storia Naturale “G. Doria”, Genova, Italy (Dr. Fabio
Penati).
MFNB: Museo Friulano di Storia Naturale, Udine, Italy (Dr. Carlo Morandini).
MHNG: Muséum d’Histoire Naturelle de la Ville de Genève, Geneva, Switzerland
(Dr. Bernhard Merz).
MNHN: Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, Laboratoire d’Entomologie, Paris,
France (Dr. Claire Villemant).
MNMS: Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales, Madrid, Spain (Dr. Carolina
Martìn).
MSNP: Museo Civico di Storia Naturale di Calci, Pisa, Italy (Mr. Pier Luigi
Scaramozzino).
MRSN: Museo Regionale di Storia Naturale, Torino, Italy (Mr. Guido Pagliano).
MZBS: Museu de Ciències Naturals, Edifi cio de Zoologia, Barcelona, Spain (Ms.
Glória Masó)
NMW: Naturhistorisches Museum, Vienna, Austria (Mr. Michael Madl).
OLML: Oberosterreichisches Landesmuseum, Linz, Austria (Dr. Fritz Gusenleitner).
SDEI: Senckenberg Deutsches Entomologisches Institut, Müncheberg, Germany
(Dr. Andreas Taeger).
USNM: National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington,
DC, USA (Dr. David R. Smith).
ZFMK: Zoologisches Forschungsinstitut und Museum A. Koenig, Bonn, Germany
(Dr. Dirk Rohwedder).
ZIN: Zoological Institute of the Russian Academy of Science, St. Petersburg, Russia
(Dr. Sergey Belokobylskij).
ZMHB: Museum für Naturkunde der Humboldt-Universität, Berlin, Germany
(Dr. Frank Koch).
ZMUC: Zoological Museum, Copenhagen University, Copenhagen, Denmark
(Dr. Lars Vilhelmsen).
ZSMC: Zoologische Staatssammlung München, Munich, Germany (Dr. Stefan
Schmidt).
Methods
Specimens were studied using a Wild M5A light stereomicroscope and measure-
ments were taken with the aid of an ocular scale. High resolution images (as raw
format) were taken with a Nikon D70, 6.0 megapixel digital camera using a trinocu-
lar attachment to the same stereomicroscope, with lighting achieved through a
white plastic light chamber. Illustrations were obtained by merging an image series,
covering diff erent focal planes (typically 30), into a single in-focus image through the
freeware CombineZM
© (Hadley 2008 ). e fi nal illustrations were post-processed
4 G.F. Turrisi / Insect Systematics & Evolution 42 (2011) 1–27
for contrast and light levels in Adobe Photoshop CS2
® software in order to enhance
clarity and crop the subject. e photographic plates were assembled using Corel-
Draw X3®.
Morphological terms
Morphological nomenclature follows Crosskey ( 1951 ), Huber & Sharkey ( 1993 ), and
Gauld & Bolton ( 1996 ) for adult morphology and Snodgrass ( 1941 ) for male genitalic
morphology. Terminology for surface sculpture follows Harris ( 1979 ). For the number
of tooth-like processes on the inner margin of the tarsal claw, the apex is not included
since it represents the tip of the claw (Turrisi 2007 ). All images presented in this paper
are available through the web archive Morphbank ( http://www.morphbank.net ) where
a collection of images has been created for each species treated. In the text, the follow-
ing abbreviations are used for some morphological structures: A, antennomere; OOL,
distance between outer margin of posterior ocellus and eye; POL, distance between
inner margins of posterior ocelli; T, tergite; S, sternite.
Results
Identifi cation key to the Palearctic species of Pristaulacus
With the addition of two new taxa, the genus Pristaulacus currently includes twenty-
three species in the Palearctic region (see Turrisi 2007 ). erefore, the key to Palearctic
species of Pristaulacus provided by Turrisi ( 2007 ) requires modifi cations and additions,
specifi cally to the couplet 39-40, which are reported in Appendix A. A complete and
revised version of that key is available as supplementary material, which can be accessed
via http://media.brill/ise/42/1 .
Systematics
Pristaulacus compressus species group
Diagnosis. Occipital carina wide to very wide and lamelliform, 1.0–2.0× diameter of an
ocellus; lateroventral margin of pronotum with two well-developed tooth-like proc-
esses; tarsal claw with four tooth-like processes; ovipositor moderately to relatively
long, 1.2–1.5× fore wing length.
Geographic range. is species group is restricted to the western Palearctic.
Comments. e P. compressus species group was fi rst defi ned by Turrisi ( 2004 ) and
Turrisi & Pilato ( 2008 ) then subsequently verifi ed by Turrisi et al. ( 2009 ) based on
cladistic analyses. is group was resolved as sister to the P. comptipennis species group.
However, Turrisi et al. ( 2009 ) failed to recognize a satisfactory arrangement of species
groups of Pristaulacus on a worldwide basis, due to the lack of a revisionary approach
of the entire genus.
G.F. Turrisi / Insect Systematics & Evolution 42 (2011) 1–27 5
Pristaulacus compressus (Spinola, 1808 ) ( Figs. 1, 5, 9, 13, 17, 21, 25, 26, 33, 37,
41, 47, 51, 52 )
Material examined. In total 263 specimens (159♀ and 104♂), including the material
previously studied by Turrisi ( 2006b , 2007 ) and the following additional material.
SPAIN: Pyrenees central, 18 km N Sort Espor, m 1300 a.s.l., 22.VII.1990, 1♂,
M. Schwarz leg. (NMW). AUSTRIA: Winden Bgld., 14.VII.1967, 1♂, K. Kusdas leg.
(BMNH); Winden Bgld., 4-8.VII.1959, 2♂, H. Priesner leg. (NMW); same data,
13.VII.1964, 1♂ (NMW); same data, 14.VII.1967, 1♀ (NMW); same data,
10.VII.1966, 1♂, J. Schmidt leg. (NMW); Niederosterreich, Felixdorf, 6.V.1996, 1♂,
Holzschuh leg. (ex Chlorophorus varius ) (NMW). HUNGARY: Simontornya, 17.
VII.1931, 1♀, Pillich leg. (NMW). BULGARIA: Belassitsa Mountains, S Belassitsa
hut, m 740 a.s.l., 10-20.VII.2002, 2♀, O. Todorov leg. (Malaise trap) (DBAC); same
data, 1-10.VIII.2002, 2♀ (DBAC); Black Sea coast, St. Konstantin & Helena, 4-6.
VII.2000, 1♀, D. Gradinarov leg. (Malaise trap) (DBAC); Black Sea coast, Achtopol,
8-18.VII.2003, 1♀, O. Todorov leg. (Malaise trap) (DBAC); Black Sea coast, Akhtopol,
Figs. 1–4. Head, dorsal view. (1) Pristaulacus compressus (Spinola, 1808) ♀ (Bulgaria); (2) P. lindae Turrisi,
2000 ♀ (Italy); (3) P. rapuzzii Turrisi, sp.n., holotype ♀ (Lebanon: Chouf, Barouk); (4) P. samai Turrisi,
sp.n., holotype ♀ (Syria: Al-Haff ah, Slinfah).
6 G.F. Turrisi / Insect Systematics & Evolution 42 (2011) 1–27
m 270 a.s.l., 8-18.VII.2003, 1♀, O. Todorov leg. (Malaise Trap) (DBAC); Tcherni
Lom Valley, Tabachka village, m 110 a.s.l., 43°37’N, 25°58’E, 27.VII-10.VIII.2004,
1♀, T. Ivanova leg. (Malaise trap) (DBAC); same data, 15.VIII-6.IX.2004, 1♀
(DBAC); Strandzha Mountain, SW Gramatikovo village, m 70 a.s.l., 42°02’N,
27°37’E, 18.VI.2006, 1♀, T. Ljubomirov leg. (DBAC). ITALY: Liguria, Genova, in
Museo, da alberi nella vetrina Struzzi, 13.VIII.1982, 2♀, R. Poggi leg. (MSNG);
Piedmont, Tigliole, VIII.1992, 1♀, G. Pagliano leg. (MSNG); Torino, 1♀ (ex coll. G.
Gribodo) (MSNG); Emilia-Romagna, Ravenna, Pineta San Vitale, from Chlorophorus
pilosus ssp. glabromaculatus , collected 10.III.1996, emerged 22.V.1996, 1♂, G.
Campadelli leg. (MSNG); Tuscany, Arezzo, Upacchi, 43°30’N, 11°59’E, 17.VI.2006,
1♀, M. & J. Schwarz (OLML); Latium, Montefi ascone, m 550 a.s.l., VII.1947, 1♀,
Consiglio leg. (Coll. P. Bisleti) (MSNG); Italia, 1♀, Passerini leg. (ex coll. G. Gribodo)
Figs. 5–8. Head, frontal view. (5) Pristaulacus compressus (Spinola, 1808) ♀ (Bulgaria); (6) P. lindae
Turrisi, 2000 ♀ (Italy); (7) P. rapuzzii Turrisi, sp.n., holotype ♀ (Lebanon; Chouf, Barouk); (8) P. samai
Turrisi, sp.n., holotype ♀ (Syria: Al-Haff ah, Slinfah).
G.F. Turrisi / Insect Systematics & Evolution 42 (2011) 1–27 7
(MSNG). CROATIA: Pola, Schletterer leg., 1♂ (NMW). YUGOSLAVIA: Srbija,
Kolubara R., Drazevac, VIII.1979, 1♀, L. Mihajlovic leg. (NMW). GREECE: Kerkini
wetlands, Krousia site, m 190 a.s.l., 41°11’32.4N, 23°03’59.5E, 13-19.VI.2007, 2♀,
G. Ramel leg. (BMNH); Kerkini Lake, Lithoto position, Ecotourism site, 18-24.
VII.2006, 1♀, G. Ramel leg. (Malaise trap) (DBAC). TURKEY: Manisa, 15 km SEE
Salihli, m 170 a.s.l., 38°26’N, 28°19’E, 2.VII.2006, 1♀, M. Kadlecovà leg. (OLML);
same data, 1♀, 3♂, J. Halada leg. (OLML); same data, 5♂, M. Halada leg. (OLML);
Denizli, 10 km NE, m 290 a.s.l., 37°56’N, 29°07’E, 4.VII.2006, 1♂, M. Halada leg.
(OLML).
Type locality. “Habitat in montibus Orerii” (Spinola 1808 ) (mountainous area sur-
roundings Orero, about 26.5 km west of Genova, Liguria region, Italy).
Synonymies. See Turrisi ( 2007 ).
Diagnosis . Head shiny with fi ne to moderately coarse and moderately dense punctures;
occipital carina moderately prominent, lamelliform, wide, 1.0× diameter of an ocellus;
in ventral view, U-shaped, distally subparallel to divergent, reaching apex of hypos-
tomal carina; genital capsule of male: apex of paramere rounded ( Fig. 47 ); lamina
volsellaris with a moderately long and acute tooth-like process ( Fig. 51 ); ventral margin
of cuspis slightly curved in the middle ( Fig. 51 ); base of penis valve with lower margin
weakly sclerotized and very slightly emarginated ( Fig. 52 and detail).
Description. See Spinola ( 1808 ). Redescriptions and data on intraspecifi c variation are
provided by Oehlke ( 1984 ) and Turrisi ( 2007 ).
Distribution. Spain, France, Austria, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Czech Republic,
Slovakia, Poland, Romania, Bulgaria, Hungary, Yugoslavia, Russia (western territo-
ries), Ukraine, Turkey, Morocco (Turrisi 2007 , emended) ( Fig. 59 ).
Biology. e known hosts were summarized and improved by Turrisi ( 2007 : 27; table
7). However, two of the hosts formerly attributed to P. compressus must be transferred
to the newly described species (see below). e probable hosts indicated for this species
belong mostly to Cerambycidae, albeit one record refers to Xiphydria longicollis
(Geoff roy, 1785) (Hymenoptera, Xiphydriidae) (Campadelli 1998 , quoted in Turrisi
2006b ). Among Cerambycidae several species belong to the genus Chlorophorus : C.
glabromaculatus (Goeze, 1777), C. pilosus (Förster, 1771), C. sexguttatus (Lucas, 1849)
and C. varius (Müller, 1776) (Turrisi 2007 ).
Pristaulacus lindae Turrisi, 2000 ( Figs. 2, 6, 10, 14, 18, 22, 27, 28, 34, 38, 42, 48,
53, 54 )
Material examined. See Turrisi ( 2000 , 2007 ).
Type locality. “Sicilia, Catania, Fiume Alcantara, Calatabiano, m 60” (Turrisi 2000 ).
Diagnosis . Head shiny with fi ne and scattered to moderately dense punctures; occipital
carina moderately prominent, lamelliform, wide, 1.0× diameter of an ocellus; in ven-
tral view, U-shaped, distally subparallel, reaching apex of hypostomal carina; A3 shorter
8 G.F. Turrisi / Insect Systematics & Evolution 42 (2011) 1–27
than 2/3 of A4; hind coxa extensively polished, at most with some weak transverse cari-
nae; tibiae and tarsi dark brown to blackish; ovipositor about 1.5× longer than fore
wing length; genital capsule of male: apex of paramere slightly obliquely truncated
( Fig. 48 ); lamina volsellaris with a very elongate and acute tooth-like process ( Fig. 53 );
ventral margin of cuspis curved below the middle ( Fig. 53 ); base of penis valve with
lower margin weakly sclerotized and regularly rounded ( Fig. 54 and detail).
Figs. 9–12. Head, lateral view. (9) Pristaulacus compressus (Spinola, 1808) ♀ (Bulgaria); (10) P. lindae
Turrisi, 2000 ♀ (Italy); (11) P. rapuzzii Turrisi, sp.n., holotype ♀ (Lebanon: Chouf, Barouk); (12) P. samai
Turrisi, sp.n., holotype ♀ (Syria: Al-Haff ah, Slinfah).
G.F. Turrisi / Insect Systematics & Evolution 42 (2011) 1–27 9
Description. See Turrisi ( 2000 ). Redescription and data on intraspecifi c variation are
provided by Turrisi ( 2007 ).
Distribution. Sicily (Italy) ( Fig. 59 ).
Biology. No data are currently known on host species (Turrisi 2007 ).
Pristaulacus rapuzzii Turrisi, sp.n. ( Figs. 3, 7, 11, 15, 19, 23, 29, 30, 35–39, 43, 49,
55, 56 )
Material examined. 9 ♀, 9♂. Holotype ♀ labelled “Libano-Chouf prov., Barouk,
m 1300, P. Rapuzzi lgt./ex larva, Quercus calliprinos , sfarf. 10/30.VI.2000/ Chlorophorus
yachovi Sama/ Pristaulacus rapuzzii Turrisi, sp.n., ♀, 2009, Holotypus” (DBAC).
Figs. 13–16. Head, ventral view. (13) Pristaulacus compressus (Spinola, 1808) ♀ (Bulgaria); (14) P. lindae
Turrisi, 2000 ♀ (Italy); (15) P. rapuzzii Turrisi, sp.n., holotype ♀ (Lebanon: Chouf, Barouk); (16) P. samai
Turrisi, sp.n., holotype ♀ (Syria: Al-Haff ah, Slinfah).
10 G.F. Turrisi / Insect Systematics & Evolution 42 (2011) 1–27
Paratypes: 5♀, 5♂, same data of holotype (labelled as paratypus); 3♀ labelled “Libano-
Chouf prov., Barouk, m 1000, P. Rapuzzi lgt./ex larva, Quercus calliprinos , sfarf.
10/30.VI.2000/ Chlorophorus yachovi Sama/ Pristaulacus rapuzzii Turrisi, sp.n., ♀,
2009, Paratypus” (DBAC); 3♂ labelled “Libano-Jbail prov., Machnaka, m 1300,
P. Rapuzzi lgt./ex larva, Quercus calliprinos , sfarf. 10/30.VI.2000/ Chlorophorus yachovi
Sama/ Pristaulacus rapuzzii Turrisi, sp.n., ♂, 2009, Paratypus” (DBAC); 1♂ labelled
“Libano-Akkar prov., Fnaideq, m 1400, P. Rapuzzi lgt./ex larva, Quercus cerris (= Quercus
ithaburensis Decne), sfarf. 20.V-10.VI.2001/ Chlorophorus yachovi Sama/ Pristaulacus
rapuzzii Turrisi, sp.n., ♂, 2009, Paratypus” (DBAC).
Type locality. Lebanon: Mount Lebanon Province, Chouf District, locality Barouk,
1300 m a.s.l. (coordinates 33°42’ N 35°41’ E).
Etymology. Named in honour of Pierpaolo Rapuzzi (Ronchi di Cialla, Udine, Italy),
specialist in Cerambycidae (Coleoptera), who reared and kindly provided me the speci-
mens of the new species.
Figs. 17–20. Antenna, dorsal view. (17) Pristaulacus compressus (Spinola, 1808) ♀ (Bulgaria); (18)
P. lindae Turrisi, 2000 ♀ (Italy); (19) P. rapuzzii Turrisi, sp.n., holotype ♀ (Lebanon: Chouf, Barouk); (20)
P. samai Turrisi, sp.n., holotype ♀ (Syria: Al-Haff ah, Slinfah).
G.F. Turrisi / Insect Systematics & Evolution 42 (2011) 1–27 11
Figs. 21–24. Mesosoma, dorsal view. (21) Pristaulacus compressus (Spinola, 1808) ♀ (Bulgaria);
(22) P. lindae Turrisi, 2000 ♀ (Italy); (23) P. rapuzzii Turrisi, sp.n., holotype ♀ (Lebanon: Chouf, Barouk);
(24) P. samai Turrisi, sp.n., holotype ♀ (Syria: Al-Haff ah, Slinfah).
12 G.F. Turrisi / Insect Systematics & Evolution 42 (2011) 1–27
Diagnosis. Head very coarsely and very densely punctate ( Figs. 3, 7, 11 ); occipital car-
ina prominent, lamelliform, very wide, 1.8× diameter of an ocellus ( Figs. 3 and 11 ); in
dorsal view, straight medially ( Fig. 3 ); in ventral view, subcircular-shaped, distally
strongly convergent, reaching submedian part of hypostomal carina ( Fig. 15 ); setae on
head mostly whitish; last antennomere 2.5× as long as wide (♀); genital capsule (♂):
apex of paramere obliquely truncated, moderately stout ( Fig. 49 ); lamina volsellaris
with a short and stout but pointed tooth-like process ( Fig. 55 ); ventral margin of
cuspis nearly straight ( Fig. 55 ); base of penis valve strongly sclerotized and strongly
emarginated ( Fig. 56 and detail).
Description (holotype, female). Length: 11.80 mm; antenna length: 7.86 mm; fore
wing length: 8.90 mm; ovipositor length: 11.20 mm.
Colour . Mainly black, except: mandible dark reddish medially; maxillo-labial complex
dark brown; antenna blackish with A1 partly dark reddish; fore and median femora
and hind tibia extensively blackish reddish; articular areas, apical fourth of fore and
median femora, base and apex of hind tibia, fore and median tibiae and tarsi and hind
tarsus reddish orange; wings hyaline; fore wing with several light brown spots: very
small and irregular in the middle of cell B; moderately wide and irregular below stigma
(about 2/3 as wide as stigma width) not reaching posterior margin of cell SM-2; small
and irregular on distal part of cell D-2; small and irregular between cells SB and SD-1;
metasoma reddish orange, except medial area of T1; valvula 3 of ovipositor blackish
brown. Setae whitish.
Head . From above, 1.28× wider than long, moderately shiny to dull ( Fig. 3 ); occipital
margin straight; temples, from above, well developed, rounded, as long as eye length
( Fig. 3 ); occipital carina prominent, lamelliform, very wide, 1.8× diameter of an ocel-
lus ( Figs. 3 and 11 ); in dorsal view, straight medially ( Fig. 3 ); in ventral view, subcircu-
lar-shaped, distally strongly convergent, reaching submedian part of hypostomal carina
( Fig. 15 ); POL:OOL=1.04; ocellar area 2.18× wider than long; vertex punctate to
rugulose, with very coarse, deep and very dense punctures (distance between punctures
0.2× or less diameter of a puncture), less coarse and dense between posterior ocellus
and eye ( Fig. 3 ); temple with moderately coarse, deep and dense to very dense punc-
tures (distance between punctures 0.5–0.1× diameter of a puncture) ( Fig. 11 ); frons
with coarse, very deep and very dense punctures (distance between punctures 0.1× or
less diameter of a puncture) ( Fig. 7 ); clypeus with moderately coarse, moderately deep
and dense punctures; anterior half of malar area with moderately coarse, deep and
dense punctures, posterior half polished, with a few scattered punctures; antenna 0.88×
longer than fore wing length; A3 6.38× longer than wide; A4 9.80× longer than wide
and 1.61× longer than A3; A5 10.40× longer than wide and 1.37× longer than A3; last
antennomere 2.50× longer than wide, shorter than previous one, compressed, with
apex rounded. Setae erect, moderately long and scattered on vertex and upper part of
frons; erect, long and scattered to moderately dense on temple (length of setae 1.0–
1.1× diameter of an ocellus); recumbent, short to long and moderately dense on lower
part of frons and clypeus; recumbent, short and dense to scattered on malar area.
G.F. Turrisi / Insect Systematics & Evolution 42 (2011) 1–27 13
Mesosoma . Coarsely sculptured ( Figs. 23 and 29 ); pronotum areolate rugose, except a
long and wide longitudinal polished area close to lateroventral margin with a few very
coarse and deep punctures and two moderately developed anterior and posterior tooth-
like processes on each lateroventral margin ( Fig. 29 ); dorsal surface of propleuron shiny
and regularly punctate, with coarse, deep and very dense punctures; ventral surface of
propleuron irregularly punctate, with coarse, superfi cial and dense to moderately dense
punctures (distance between punctures 1.0–3.0× diameter of a puncture); prescutum
triangular, long, weakly concave toward apex, areolate-rugose; mesoscutum mostly
transverse-carinate, except anterolateral margins and parascutal lobes ( Fig. 23 ); ante-
rior margin regularly rounded (lateral view) ( Fig. 29 ); notauli moderately deep and
wide ( Fig. 23 ); scutellum transverse-carinate in the middle, longitudinal-carinulate on
sides and areolate-rugose on posteromedial parts; mesopleuron mostly areolate-rugose,
subalar area extensively polished with coarse, deep and dense punctures; metanotum
mostly areolate-rugose to confused rugose, with posterolateral parts polished; propo-
deum coarsely areolate-rugose, except anterior margin longitudinally carinate and pos-
terodorsal surface partly with irregular and interrupted transverse carinae; ventral
parts of mesosoma mostly polished-punctate to rugulose; fore wing with vein 2-rs+m
short ( Fig. 30 ); coxa I polished with a few moderately coarse and superfi cial punc-
tures; coxa II transverse-carinate on dorsal surface, mostly polished with a few
moderately coarse punctures on ventral surface; coxa III extensively transverse-
carinulate, except on the middle, polished with a few coarse and deep puncture on
dorsal surface; polished to transverse-carinulate (on sides) and punctate on ventral
surface (punctures moderately coarse, moderately deep and moderately dense, distance
between punctures 1.5–2.5× diameter of a puncture) ( Fig. 35 ); outer spur of mid tibia
slightly longer than inner spur; inner spur of hind tibia slightly longer than outer spur;
hind basitarsus 7.40× longer than wide, and 1.14× longer than tarsomeres 2–5
( Fig. 39 ); tarsal claws with four tooth-like processes on inner margin. Setae erect or
semi erect, short and scattered on dorsal surface, longer on propodeum; mostly erect,
long and moderately dense on pronotum; erect, long and moderately dense on hind
surface of propodeum; erect, long and scattered to moderately dense on propleuron
(setae length 0.8–0.9× pretarsus length).
Metasoma . Pyriform (lateral view), weakly compressed laterally ( Fig. 43 ); petiole mod-
erately elongate, slender, 2.41× longer than wide ( Fig. 43 ); segments 1–2 polished and
shiny; following segments with very fi ne, superfi cial and moderately dense punctures,
sternites with fi ne, deep and dense punctures in middle; S7 dull, with fi ne, superfi cial
and scattered punctures; T8 with moderately coarse, deep and very dense punctures;
ovipositor 1.26× longer than fore wing length. Setae: segments 1 and 2 and S3 gla-
brous; recumbent, short and moderately dense on following tergites and sternites,
erect, short and scattered on S7, erect, short and dense on T8.
Male (based on one paratype from Chouf: Barouk). Length: 12.00 mm; fore wing
length: 8.50 mm. Colour, structure and setae like ♀, except A3 3.90× longer than
wide; A4 4.57× longer than wide, and 1.47× longer than A3; A5 4.57× longer than
wide, and 1.76× longer than A3; A13 subcylindrical, with apex rounded, 4.55× longer
14 G.F. Turrisi / Insect Systematics & Evolution 42 (2011) 1–27
than wide; hind basitarsus 7.70× longer than wide; wings with only one small, very
light brown spot below stigma, obsolescent toward cell SM-2; petiole 3.40× longer
than wide; metasomal tergites, except 1 and 2 and most part of 3, very weakly sculp-
tured, with very fi ne, superfi cial and moderately dense punctures, and recumbent,
short and moderately dense setae; sternites mostly polished with a few punctures and
setae in middle on S4 and following. Genital capsule: apex of paramere obliquely trun-
cated, moderately stout ( Fig. 49 ); lamina volsellaris and penis valve (Figs. 55 and 56) ;
lamina volsellaris with a short and stout but pointed tooth-like process ( Fig. 55 ); ven-
tral margin of cuspis nearly straight ( Fig. 55 ); base of penis valve strongly sclerotized
and strongly emarginated ( Fig. 56 and detail).
Intraspecifi c variation . Length: 11.01–11.97 mm (♀); 10.84–13.35 mm (♂); fore wing
length: 8.07–8.97 mm (♀), 7.28–8.91 mm (♂); ovipositor length: 1.18–1.28x longer
than fore wing length. e colour pattern and the sculpture of the body are almost
constant, especially the fore wing of the female, whereas in some males the brown spot
below the stigma is very small and obsolescent.
Distribution . e known range is restricted to Lebanon (North Governorate Province:
Akkar District; Mount Lebanon Province: Jbeil and Chouf Districts), excluding the
southernmost areas ( Fig. 59 ).
Biology. e collection sites are strictly mountainous wooded habitats, with altitudes
varying from 1000 to 1400 m a.s.l. Specimens were reared in the laboratory from
wood samples of Quercus calliprinos Webb and Quercus ithaburensis Decne (reported
on the original labels as Quercus cerris L.) (Fagaceae), together with specimens of
Chlorophorus yachovi Sama, 1996 (Coleoptera, Cerambycidae) which may be the host
species. is species was described from northern Israel (Upper Galilee) (Sama 1996 ),
and is also known from Lebanon (Sama et al. 2010 ), thus overlapping the known range
of Pristaulacus rapuzzii Turrisi sp.n. So far as is known, C. yachovi develops in dead
branches of deciduous to evergreen trees: Quercus boissieri Reut, Q. calliprinos Webb,
Q. ithaburensis Decne, (Fagaceae), Crataegus monogyna Jacq. (Rosaceae) and Pistacia
spp., with adults frequenting host plants in June–July (Sama 1996 ; Sama et al. 2010 ).
Pristaulacus samai Turrisi, sp.n. ( Figs. 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 31, 32, 36, 40, 44–46,
50, 57, 58 )
Material examined. 7 ♀, 2♂. Holotype ♀ labelled “Syria-Dj. Ansariyah, Slunfah, m
1200-1300, G. Sama leg., 2/6.VI.2000/ex larva, Quercus sp., sfarf. 4/10.VI.2001,
Chlorophorus dinae Rapuzzi & Sama/ Pristaulacus samai Turrisi, sp.n., ♀, 2009,
Holotypus” (DBAC). Paratypes: 2♀, same data of holotype (labelled as paratypus);
1♀, same data of fi rst label of holotype except “ex larva, Quercus cerris , 1.
VII.2000/ Chlorophorus dinae Sama-Rap., Coll. G. Sama” (labelled as paratypus)
(DBAC); 1♂, same data of fi rst label of holotype except “Slunfah, e.l., Quercus ,
V.2001/ Chlorophorus dinae , Coll. G. Sama” (labelled as paratypus) (DBAC); 1♂,
same data of fi rst label of holotype except “ex larva, 23.VI.2000, Carpinus
orientalis / Chlorophorus dinae Sama e Rap.” (labelled as paratypus) (DBAC); 2♀ labelled
G.F. Turrisi / Insect Systematics & Evolution 42 (2011) 1–27 15
“NW. Syria, Saladin Castel area, 16-18.V.2002, Ole Mehl leg./Ex larva from
Cerambycidae: Chlorophorus dinae / Pristaulacus compressus (Spinola 1808 ) ♀, G.F.
Turrisi det. 2007/ Pristaulacus samai Turrisi, sp.n., ♀, 2010, Paratypus” (ZMUC); 1♀
labelled “TR-Hatay-Antakya, Ziyaret dag.-Senkoy, P. Rapuzzi lgt./ex larva, Quercus
sp., Sfarf. 10.VI.1996/ Chlorophorus dinae ” (labelled as paratypus) (DBAC).
Type locality. Syria: Latakia Province, Al-Haff ah District, Al-Ansariyah Mountains,
locality Slinfah, 1200–1300 m a.s.l. (coordinates 35°35’N 36°11’E).
Figs. 25–32. Mesosoma, lateral view and wings. (25, 26) Pristaulacus compressus (Spinola, 1808) ♀
(Bulgaria); (27, 28) P. lindae Turrisi, 2000 ♀ (Italy); (29, 30) P. rapuzzii Turrisi, sp.n., holotype ♀
(Lebanon: Chouf, Barouk); (31, 32) P. samai Turrisi, sp.n., holotype ♀ (Syria: Al-Haff ah, Slinfah).
16 G.F. Turrisi / Insect Systematics & Evolution 42 (2011) 1–27
Figs. 33–40. Hind coxa, ventral view. (33) Pristaulacus compressus (Spinola, 1808) ♀ (Bulgaria); (34)
P. lindae Turrisi, 2000 ♀ (Italy); (35) P. rapuzzii Turrisi, sp.n., holotype ♀ (Lebanon: Chouf, Barouk); (36)
P. samai Turrisi, sp.n., holotype ♀ (Syria: Al-Haff ah, Slinfah). Hind tarsus, lateral view. (37) Pristaulacus
compressus (Spinola, 1808) ♀ (Bulgaria); (38) P. lindae Turrisi, 2000 ♀ (Italy); (39) P. rapuzzii Turrisi,
sp.n., holotype ♀ (Lebanon: Chouf, Barouk); (40) P. samai Turrisi, sp.n., holotype ♀ (Syria: Al-Haff ah,
Slinfah).
G.F. Turrisi / Insect Systematics & Evolution 42 (2011) 1–27 17
Figs. 41–44. Metasoma, lateral view. (41) Pristaulacus compressus (Spinola, 1808) ♀ (Bulgaria); (42)
P. lindae Turrisi, 2000 ♀ (Italy); (43) P. rapuzzii Turrisi, sp.n., holotype ♀ (Lebanon: Chouf, Barouk); (44)
P. samai Turrisi, sp.n., holotype ♀ (Syria: Al-Haff ah, Slinfah).
Figs. 45–46. Pristaulacus samai Turrisi, sp.n., paratype ♂ (Syria: Al-Haff ah, Slinfah), genital capsule. (45)
dorsal view; (46) ventral view. Abbreviations: la, lamina annularis; lp, lamina parameralis, pmr, parameres;
lv, lamina volsellaris; cus, cuspis; dig, digitus; vp, penis valve; aed, aedeagus. Scale bar=0.2 mm.
18 G.F. Turrisi / Insect Systematics & Evolution 42 (2011) 1–27
Etymology. Named in honour of Gianfranco Sama (Forlì, Cesena, Italy), specialist in
Cerambycidae (Coleoptera), who reared and kindly provided me the specimens of the
new species.
Diagnosis. Head coarsely and densely punctate ( Fig. 4 ); occipital carina prominent,
lamelliform, very wide, 1.8× diameter of an ocellus ( Figs. 4 and 12 ); in dorsal view,
weakly concave medially ( Fig. 4 ); in ventral view, U-shaped, distally weakly divergent,
reaching median part of hypostomal carina ( Fig. 16 ); setae on head mostly brownish;
last antennomere 2.0× as long as wide (♀); genital capsule (♂): apex of paramere
obliquely truncated, very stout, slightly emarginated in middle ( Fig. 50 ); lamina volsel-
laris with a moderately long tooth-like process, with apex truncated ( Fig. 57 ); ventral
margin of cuspis strongly curved in middle ( Fig. 57 ); base of penis valve moderately
sclerotized and moderately emarginated ( Fig. 58 and detail).
Description (holotype, female). Length: 13.30 mm; antenna length: 8.37 mm; fore
wing length: 9.80 mm; ovipositor length: 11.91 mm.
Colour . Mainly black, except mandible dark reddish medially; maxillo-labial complex
dark brown to brown; antenna blackish with A1 partly dark reddish; fore and median
femora and hind tibia extensively blackish reddish; articular areas, apical fourth of fore
and median femora, base and apex of hind tibia, fore and median tibiae and tarsi and
hind tarsus light reddish orange; wings hyaline; fore wing with a moderately wide and
irregular light brown spot below stigma (about 2/3 as wide as stigma width) not reach-
ing posterior margin of cell SM-2, a small and irregular spot on cell D-2 and a small
and irregular spot between cells SB and SD-1; metasoma reddish orange, except medial
area of T1; valvula 3 of ovipositor brown. Setae mainly whitish, partly brown on frons
and vertex of head.
Head . From above, 1.28× wider than long, shiny ( Fig. 4 ); occipital margin straight
( Fig. 4 ); temples, from above, well developed, moderately rounded, as long as eye
length ( Fig. 4 ); occipital carina prominent, lamelliform, very wide, 1.8× diameter of an
ocellus ( Figs. 4 and 12 ); in dorsal view, weakly concave medially ( Fig. 4 ); in ventral
view, U-shaped, distally weakly convergent, reaching median part of hypostomal carina
( Fig. 16 ); POL:OOL=1.08; ocellar area 2.26× wider than long; vertex and temple with
moderately coarse to coarse, deep and dense to very dense punctures (distance between
punctures 0.2–0.5× diameter of a puncture), impunctate behind posterior ocellus
( Figs. 4 and 12 ); frons with coarse, very deep and very dense punctures (distance
between punctures 0.1× or less diameter of a puncture) ( Fig. 8 ); clypeus with moder-
ately coarse, moderately deep and dense punctures; anterior half of malar area with fi ne
to moderately coarse, deep and dense punctures, posterior half polished, with a few
scattered punctures; antenna 0.85× longer than fore wing length; A3 6.28× longer than
wide; A4 11.08× longer than wide and 1.58x longer than A3; A5 11.04× longer than
wide and 1.24× longer than A3; last antennomere 2.00× longer than wide, shorter
than previous one, compressed, with apex rounded. Setae erect, moderately long and
scattered on vertex and upper part of frons; erect, long and scattered to moderately
G.F. Turrisi / Insect Systematics & Evolution 42 (2011) 1–27 19
dense on temple (length of setae 1.0–1.1× diameter of an ocellus); recumbent, short to
long and moderately dense on lower part of frons and clypeus; recumbent, short and
dense to scattered on malar area.
Mesosoma . Coarsely sculptured ( Figs. 24 and 31 ); pronotum areolate rugose except a
long and wide longitudinal polished area close to lateroventral margin with a few very
coarse and deep punctures and two moderately developed anterior and posterior tooth-
like processes on each lateroventral margin ( Fig. 31 ); dorsal surface of propleuron shiny
and regularly punctate, with coarse, deep and very dense punctures; ventral surface of
propleuron irregularly punctate, with coarse, superfi cial and dense to moderately dense
punctures (distance between punctures 1.0–3.0× diameter of a puncture); prescutum
triangular, very long, very weakly concave toward apex, areolate rugose (at base) to
transverse-carinate (at apex); mesoscutum mostly transverse-carinate, except anterola-
teral margins and parascutal lobes ( Fig. 24 ); anterior margin regularly rounded (lateral
view) ( Fig. 31 ); notauli moderately deep and wide ( Fig. 24 ); scutellum transverse-
carinate in middle, longitudinal-areolate on sides and areolate-rugose on posterome-
dial parts; mesopleuron areolate-rugose, subalar area partly rugose-foveolate; metanotum
mostly areolate-rugose to confused-rugose, with posterolateral parts polished; propo-
deum coarsely areolate-rugose, except anterior margin longitudinally carinate; ventral
parts of mesosoma polished-punctate to transverse-carinulate, rugulose and areolate-
rugose; fore wing with vein 2-rs+m short ( Fig. 32 ); coxa I polished and punctate,
punctures moderately coarse, moderately deep and moderately dense; coxa II trans-
verse-carinate on dorsal surface, irregularly transverse-carinulate with a few coarse and
deep punctures on ventral surface; coxa III transverse-carinate on dorsal surface; pol-
ished to transverse-carinulate (on sides) and punctate on ventral surface (punctures
moderately coarse, superfi cial and moderately dense, distance between punctures 1.5–
2.5× diameter of a puncture) ( Fig. 36 ); outer spur of mid tibia slightly longer than
inner spur; inner spur of hind tibia slightly longer than outer spur; hind basitarsus
7.85× longer than wide, and 1.20× longer than tarsomeres 2–5 ( Fig. 40 ); claw of legs
with four tooth-like processes. Setae erect or semi erect, very short and scattered on
dorsal surface, longer on propodeum; mostly erect, moderately long and moderately
dense on pronotum; erect, long and moderately dense on hind surface of propodeum;
erect, moderately long and moderately dense on propleuron (setae length about
0.7× pretarsus length).
Metasoma . Pyriform (lateral view), weakly compressed laterally ( Fig. 44 ); petiole mod-
erately elongate, slender, 2.43× longer than wide; segments 1–2 polished and shiny;
following segments with very fi ne, superfi cial and moderately dense punctures, ster-
nites with fi ne, deep and moderately dense punctures in middle; S7 dull, with fi ne
to moderately coarse, very superfi cial and scattered punctures; T8 with moderately
coarse, deep and very dense punctures; ovipositor 1.21× longer than fore wing length.
Setae: segments 1 and 2 and S3 glabrous; recumbent, very short and moderately dense
on following tergites and sternites, erect, short and scattered on S7, erect, short and
dense on T8.
20 G.F. Turrisi / Insect Systematics & Evolution 42 (2011) 1–27
♂ (based on one paratype from Al-Haff ah: Slinfah). Length: 12.80 mm; fore wing
length: 8.67 mm. Colour, structure and setae like ♀, except antenna length 0.92× fore
wing length; A3 3.79× longer than wide; A4 5.85× longer than wide, and 1.55× longer
than A3; A5 5.27× longer than wide, and 1.40× as A3; A13 subcylindrical, with apex
rounded, 4.61× longer than wide; hind basitarsus 7.12× longer than wide; wings with
only one small light brown spot below stigma, reaching middle of cell SM-2 (obsoles-
cent); petiole 2.90× longer than wide; metasomal tergites, except 1 and 2, very fi nely
sculptured, with fi ne, superfi cial and moderately dense punctures, and recumbent,
short, and moderately dense setae, except latero-apical parts; sternites, except 1–2, with
similar less dense punctures and setae in middle. Genital capsule: apex of paramere
obliquely truncated, very stout, slightly emarginated in middle ( Fig. 50 ); lamina volsel-
laris and penis valve ( Figs. 57 and 58 ); lamina volsellaris with a moderately long and
moderately elongate tooth-like process ( Fig. 57 ); ventral margin of cuspis strongly
curved in middle ( Fig. 57 ); base of penis valve moderately sclerotized and slightly
emarginated ( Fig. 58 and detail).
Figs. 47–58. Genital capsule, inner view. (47) Pristaulacus compressus (Spinola, 1808 ) ♂ (Italy); (48)
P. lindae Turrisi, 2000 ♂ (Italy); (49) P. rapuzzii Turrisi, sp.n., paratype ♂ (Lebanon: Chouf, Barouk); (50)
P. samai Turrisi, sp.n., paratype ♂ (Syria: Al-Haff ah, Slinfah). Scale bar=0.2 mm. Lamina volsellaris,
inner view and penis valve, outer view (with detail of base). (51, 52) Pristaulacus compressus (Spinola,
1808 ) ♂ (Italy); (53, 54) P. lindae Turrisi, 2000 ♂ (Italy); (55, 56) P. rapuzzii Turrisi, sp.n., paratype ♂
(Lebanon: Chouf, Barouk); (57, 58) P. samai Turrisi, sp.n., paratype ♂ (Syria: Al-Haff ah, Slinfah). Scale
bar=0.2 mm.
G.F. Turrisi / Insect Systematics & Evolution 42 (2011) 1–27 21
Intraspecifi c variation . Length: 11.88–14.39 mm (♀); 11.58–12.80 mm (♂); fore wing
length: 7.90–9.30 mm (♀), 8.03–8.67 mm (♂); ovipositor length: 1.13–1.26× longer
than fore wing length. e colour pattern and the sculpture of the body are almost
constant, albeit in one female the brown spots are wider and darker, and in one male
the brown spot below stigma is very light and obsolescent.
Distribution. e known range is restricted to south-central Turkey (Hatay Province)
and north-western Syria (Latakia Province) ( Fig. 59 ).
Biology. e collection sites are hilly to mountainous woody habitat, with altitude of
400 m a.s.l in Turkey and 900–1200 m a.s.l. in Syria. Specimens were reared in the
laboratory from wood samples of an unidentifi ed Quercus , Quercus cerris L. (Fagaceae)
and Carpinus orientalis Miller (Corylaceae), together with specimens of Chlorophorus
dinae Rapuzzi & Sama, 1999 (Coleoptera, Cerambycidae) which is probably the host
species. is species was described from the southernmost part of Turkey (Hatay:
Antakya) (Rapuzzi & Sama 1999 ) and also recorded from Syria (Özdikmen & Turgut
2009 ; Hoskovec & Rejzek 2010 ), thus overlapping the known range of Pristaulacus
samai Turrisi, sp.n. So far as is known, Chlorophorus dinae develops in dead branches
still attached to living trunks and in dead trunks of deciduous trees ( Quercus , Ostrya ,
Fig. 59. Distribution of the species belonging to the Pristaulacus compressus group and detail of P. rapuzzii
Turrisi, sp.n. (circles) and P. samai Turrisi, sp.n. (squares). Letters refer to species: a, P. compressus (Spinola,
1808 ); b, P. lindae Turrisi, 2000 ; c, P. rapuzzii Turrisi, sp.n.; d, P. samai Turrisi, sp.n.
22 G.F. Turrisi / Insect Systematics & Evolution 42 (2011) 1–27
Carpinus ); the larval substrate is very compact and dry. e larva takes two years to
complete its development (Hoskovec & Rejzek 2010 ).
Discussion
Taxonomy and biogeography
e Pristaulacus compressus species group currently includes four closely related taxa,
which are separated by several striking morphological diff erences, mainly the shape
and sculpture of the head, the shape and extension of the occipital carina and some
features of the male genital capsule, which provide good diagnostic characters and
which were previously overlooked in aulacid systematics (exceptions are Konishi 1990 ;
Turrisi 2000 , 2007 ).
e discovery of two new sibling species clearly shows that the taxonomy of the
“core species” P. compressus requires further investigation in order to improve the knowl-
edge of intraspecifi c variation and better clarify species boundaries. Careful investiga-
tion of additional material is needed, especially from peripheral areas of the range ( Fig.
59 ), to test the existence of further sibling species. e distributions of P. rapuzzii
Turrisi, sp.n. and P. samai Turrisi, sp.n. are adjacent to the range of P. compressus and,
as far is known, without any overlaps, suggesting a distribution pattern of a parapatric
species complex. Taking into account the distribution patterns of the P. compressus spe-
cies group, the newly described species share a western Palearctic rather than an Eremian
(Sahara-Arabian) origin, as is the case for P. compressus . e basic autoecological traits
of the species belonging to the P. compressus group clearly show a striking relationship
with broad-leaved mostly deciduous trees. Congruently, the newly described species
are restricted to mountainous wooded habitats of Lebanon, Syria and adjacent Turkey
(Hatay Province). e distribution of two species of P. compressus group in mountain-
ous areas of south-western Asia is highly congruent with the recent data published by
Médail & Diadema ( 2009 ) on the glacial refugia of the Mediterranean Basin, two of
which are properly located in south-central Turkey (Hatay Province) and Lebanon.
ese glacial refugia played an important role in vegetation dynamics during the inter-
glacial periods of the Pleistocene in Europe, also greatly aff ecting the existence of sev-
eral biodiversity hotspots (Hewitt 1999 ; Petit et al. 2003 ; Médail & Diadema 2009 ).
e changes in the vegetation patterns of these refugia, especially with regard to the
woody areas, have also clearly infl uenced the distribution patterns of many animal spe-
cies within those ecosystems. is includes Chlorophorus beetles living within the wood
of broad-leaved mostly deciduous trees, as well as their Pristaulacus parasitoids.
For a better understanding of the systematics of the P. compressus species group, a
molecular approach would be highly helpful. A preliminary molecular study has been
started (Turrisi unpubl.), but is currently limited by the unavailability of suffi cient
material.
Host preferences
Biological information on Pristaulacus species is not satisfactory primarily due to the
lack of direct observations (Turrisi 2004 , 2007 ; Turrisi & Vilhelmsen 2010 ). Data on
G.F. Turrisi / Insect Systematics & Evolution 42 (2011) 1–27 23
hosts, when known, are nearly all obtained by rearing them directly from wood sam-
ples in the laboratory together with their parasitoids, thus assuming putative associa-
tions. Since hosts are not isolated, there is no defi nitive knowledge on the host–parasitoid
relationship; thus, most of these host data are only inferred and should be referred
to as “probable hosts” (Turrisi 2007 ). A summary of probable hosts of Palearctic
Pristaulacus has recently been provided by Turrisi ( 2007 ).
e information on the putative hosts of the species belonging to the P. compressus
group have been recently improved through material obtained by coleopterists study-
ing Cerambycidae (see present list of material and Turrisi 2007 ). e species belong-
ing to P. compressus group clearly appear to be associated with longhorn beetles of
the genus Chlorophorus , with P. compressus apparently having the widest host range.
is species is associated with a group of four closely related Chlorophorus species,
whereas P. rapuzzii Turrisi, sp.n. and P. samai Turrisi, sp.n. seem to be associated
with two recently discovered taxa of Chlorophorus (see above under species treatment).
It remains to be determined whether the host range of P. lindae includes Chlorophorus
species.
Based on these data, is it possible to infer that the parasitoid has followed its host, as
a coevolution phenomenon? It is certainly an intriguing assumption, and the existence
of several independent congruent fi ndings seems to sustain a hypothesis in which the
divergence among Chlorophorus hosts, putatively during Pleistocenic climatic changes,
resulted in a parallel diff erentiation of closely related species of Pristaulacus as
parasitoid.
Another matter of discussion is the host specialization of the Aulacidae and,
consequently, of the species belonging to P. compressus group. Based on a survey of
data from literature within the entire family, many species seem to show a moder-
ately wide host range (Smith 2001 ; Jennings & Austin 2004 ; Turrisi 2007 ). is is
especially evident for the most commonly collected species, which apparently show
a wider host range. Taking into account the diffi culties to ascertain the host for
reared specimens (Turrisi 2007 ; see above), and the possibility of erroneously attribut-
ing host, there exists the suspicion that the host range of many aulacids has been
over-estimated. A narrower host range is indeed more congruent with the parasi-
toid strategy of aulacids, which are proved to be koinobiont endophagous feeders
(Skinner & ompson 1960 ), a life style implying a high degree of physiological
specialization (Quicke 1997 ; Vilhelmsen & Turrisi in press). In that perspective,
the choice of a narrow range of Chlorophorus as hosts by species belonging to the
P. compressus group seems to be congruent with a certain degree of specialization for
host selection.
Acknowledgements
I am especially grateful to Pierpaolo Rapuzzi (Ronchi di Cialla, Udine, Italy) and
Gianfranco Sama (Cesena, Italy) for donating aulacid material for study. I am also
grateful to the curators of museums (see Materials and Methods) for providing use-
ful material for identifi cation and colleagues Gordon Ramel (Kerkini, Greece) and
Toshko Ljubomirov (Sofi a, Bulgaria) for donating some specimens. ree anonymous
24 G.F. Turrisi / Insect Systematics & Evolution 42 (2011) 1–27
reviewers and the Editor, Dr Lars Krogmann, are kindly acknowledged for providing
valuable comments and improvements to the manuscript.
References
Barriga , J.-E.T . ( 1990 ) Parásitos y depredadores de larvas de Cerambycidae y Buprestidae (Coleoptera) de
Chile . Revista Chilena de Entomologia 18 : 57 – 59 .
Campadelli , G . ( 1998 ) Alcuni parassitoidi di Xiphydria longicollis nella pineta di S. Vitale (Ravenna) .
Informatore Fitopatologico 11 : 3 – 6 .
Crosskey , R.W . ( 1951 ) e morphology, taxonomy, and biology of the British Evanioidea . Transactions of
the Royal Entomological Society of London 102 : 247 – 301 .
Deyrup , M.A . ( 1984 ) A maple wood wasp, Xiphydria maculata , and its insect enemies (Hymenoptera:
Xiphydriidae) . e Great Lakes Entomologist 17 : 17 – 28 .
Evenhuis , N.L. & Samuelson , G.A. ( 2004 ) Abbreviations for Insect and Spider Collections of the World .
Available online at http://hbs.bishopmuseum.org/codens/codens-inst.html (downloaded September
7, 2008) .
Gauld , I.D. & Bolton , B . ( 1996 ) e Hymenoptera , second edition . British Museum (Natural History) ,
London and Oxford University Press , Oxford .
Gauld , I.D. & Hanson , B . ( 1995 ) e evaniomorph parasitoid families . In: Hanson , P.E. & Gauld , I.D.
(Eds) e Hymenoptera of Costa Rica . Oxford University Press , Oxford , pp. 185 – 208 .
Hadley , A. ( 2008 ) Combine ZM . Available online at http:// www.hadleyweb.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/
(accessed 12 December 2008) .
Harris , R.A . ( 1979 ) A glossary of surface sculpturing . Occasional Papers in Entomology 28 : 1 – 31 .
He , J.-H. , Chen , X.-X. & Ma , Y . ( 2002 ) Two new species of Aulacidae from Zhejiang province, China .
Acta Zootaxonomica Sinica 27 : 149 – 152 .
Hedicke , H . ( 1939 ) Aulacidae . Hymenopterorum Catalogus, Pars 10 . Verlag Gustav Feller , Neubrandenburg ,
pp. 3 – 28 .
Hewitt , G.M . ( 1999 ) Post-glacial re-colonization of European biota . Biological Journal of the Linnean
Society 68 : 87 – 112 .
Hoskovec , M. & Rejzek , M. ( 2010 ) Longhorn Beetles (Cerambycidae) of the West Palaearctic Region . http://
www.cerambyx.uochb.cz/ (accessed July 28, 2010) .
Huber , J.T. & Sharkey , M.J . ( 1993 ) Structure . In: Goulet , H. and Huber , J.T. (Eds) Hymenoptera of the
world: an identifi cation guide to families . Publ. 1894/E , Research Branch, Agriculture : Ottawa, ON ,
pp. 13 – 33 .
Jennings , J.T. & Austin , A.D . ( 2004 ) Biology and host relationships of aulacid and gasteruptiid wasps
(Hymenoptera: Evanioidea): a review . In: Rajmohana , K. , Sudheer , K. , Girish Kumar , P. and
Santhosh , S . (Eds), Perspectives on Biosystematics and Biodiversity . University of Calicut , Kerala , pp.
187 – 215 .
Jennings , J.T. & Austin , A.D . ( 2006 ) Aulacid wasps (Hymenoptera: Aulacidae) of New Guinea, with
descriptions of fi ve new species . Zootaxa 1365 : 19 – 35 .
Jennings , J.T. , Austin , A.D. & Stevens , N.B . ( 2004a ) e aulacid wasp fauna of Western Australia with
descriptions of six new species . Records of the Western Australian Museum 22 : 115 – 128 .
Jennings , J.T. , Austin , A.D. & Stevens , N.B . ( 2004b ) Species of the wasp genus Aulacus Jurine
(Hymenoptera: Aulacidae) endemic to South Australia . Transactions of the Royal Society of South
Australia 128 : 13 – 21 .
Jennings , J.T. , Austin , A.D. & Stevens , N.B . ( 2004c ) First record of Aulacidae (Hymenoptera: Evanioidea)
from New Caledonia with descriptions of three new species of Aulacus Jurine . Australian Journal of
Entomology 43 : 346 – 352 .
Jennings , J.T. & Krogmann , L . ( 2009 ) A new species of Pristaulacus Kieff er (Hymenoptera: Aulacidae)
from Baltic amber . Insect Systematics & Evolution 40 : 201 – 207 .
Kieff er , J.-J . ( 1912 ) Hymenoptera, Ichneumonidea, Evaniidae . In: Das Tierreich . Verlag von R. Friedländer
und Sohn , Berlin .
G.F. Turrisi / Insect Systematics & Evolution 42 (2011) 1–27 25
Konishi , K . ( 1990 ) A revision of the Aulacidae of Japan (Hymenoptera, Evanioidea) . Japanese Journal of
Entomology 58 : 637 – 655 .
Médail , F. & Diadema , K . ( 2009 ) Glacial refugia infl uence plant diversity patterns in the Mediterranean
Basin . Journal of Biogeography 36 : 1333 – 1345 .
Nel , A. , Waller , A. & De Ploëg , G . ( 2004 ) An Aulacid wasp in the Lowermost Eocene amber from the
Paris Basin (Hymenoptera: Aulacidae) . Geologica Acta 2 : 67 – 74 .
Oehlke , J . ( 1984 ) Beiträge zur Insektenfauna der DDR: Hymenoptera – Evanioidea, Stephanoidea,
Trigonalyoidea (Insecta) . Faunistische Abhandlungen Staatliches Museum für Tierkunde in Dresden 11 :
161 – 190 .
Özdikmen , H. & Turgut , S . ( 2009 ) A synopsis of Turkish Chlorophorus Chevrolat, 1863 with zooge-
ogrephical remarks (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae: Cerambycinae) . Munis Entomology & Zoology 4 :
577 – 595 .
Petit , R.J. , Aguinagalde , I. , de Beaulieu , J.-L. , Bittkau , C. , Brewer , S. , Cheddadi , R. , Ennos , R. , Fineschi , S. ,
Grivet , D. , Lascoux , M. , Mohanty , A. , Müller-Starck , G. , Demesure-Musch , B. , Palmé , A. , Martín ,
J.P. , Rendell , S. & Vendramin , G.G . ( 2003 ) Glacial refugia: hotspots but not melting pots of genetic
diversity . Science 300 : 1563 – 1565 .
Quicke , D.L.J . ( 1997 ). Parasitic Wasps . Chapman and Hall , London .
Rapuzzi , P. & Sama , G . ( 1999 ) Descrizione di due nuovi Chlorophorus di Asia Minore . Lambillonea 99 :
329 – 332 .
Sama , G . ( 1996 ) Cerambycidae nouveaux ou peu connus de la faune d’Israel (Coleoptera, Cerambycidae) .
Biocosme Mésogéen 12 : 93 – 100 .
Sama , G. , Buse , J. , Orbach , E. , Friedman , A.-L.-L. , Rittner , O. & Chikatunov , V . ( 2010 ) A new catalogue
of the Cerambycidae (Coleoptera) of Israel with notes on their distribution and host plants . Munis
Entomology & Zoology 5 : 1 – 51 .
Skinner , E.R. & ompson , G.H . ( 1960 ) e Alder woodwasp and its Insect Enemies . World Educational
Films , Roussac .
Smith , D.R . ( 2001 ) World catalog of the family Aulacidae (Hymenoptera) . Contributions on Entomology,
International 4 : 261 – 319 .
Smith , D.R . ( 2005a ) Aulacidae (Hymenoptera) of Northern South America, emphasizing Colombia .
Transactions of the American Entomological Society 131 : 217 – 253 .
Smith , D.R . ( 2005b ) Review of the Aulacidae (Hymenoptera) of Chile and adjacent Argentina . Proceedings
of the Entomological Society of Washington 107 : 820 – 834 .
Smith , D.R . ( 2008 ) Aulacidae of the southwestern United States, Mexico, and Central America
(Hymenoptera) . Beiträge zur Entomologie 58 : 267 – 355 .
Smith , D.R. & Vilela de Carvalho , D . ( 2010 ) ree new species of Aulacidae (Hymenoptera) from Brazil .
Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington 112 : 140 – 148 .
Snodgrass , R.E. ( 1941 ) e male genitalia of Hymenoptera . Smithsonian Miscellaneous Collections 99 :
86 pp. +33 plates .
Spinola , M. ( 1808 ) Insectorum Liguriae Species Novae aut Rariores quas in Agro Ligustico Nuper Detexit,
Descripsit, et Iconibus Illustravit . Genuae , 262 pp.
Sun , S.-P. & Sheng , M.-L . ( 2007a ) Aulacus Jurine (Hymenoptera: Aulacidae) from China with a new spe-
cies parasitizing Xiphydria popovi (Hymenoptera: Xiphydriidae) . Proceedings of the Entomological
Society of Washington 109 : 121 – 124 .
Sun , S.-P. & Sheng , M.-L . ( 2007b ) Genus Pristaulacus (Hymenoptera, Aulacidae) in Henan province,
China . Acta Zootaxonomica Sinica 32 : 216 – 220 .
Turrisi , G.F . ( 1999 ) Xyelidae, Aulacidae, Heloridae e Masaridae, quattro famiglie nuove per la fauna sicili-
ana (Insecta Hymenoptera) . Bollettino della Società entomologica italiana 131 : 41 – 46 .
Turrisi , G.F . ( 2000 ) Gli Aulacidae di Sicilia, con descrizione di Pristaulacus lindae n. sp. (Hymenoptera
Evanioidea) . Bollettino della Società entomologica italiana 132 : 259 – 268 .
Turrisi , G.F. ( 2004 ) Revisione delle specie paleartiche del genere Pristaulacus Kieff er, 1900, con considerazioni
fi logenetiche e note sulla biologia . Ph.D. esis , University of Catania , Catania , 1 – 203 (In Italian) .
Turrisi , G.F . ( 2005 ) Description of Aulacus schoenitzeri spec. nov. (Hymenoptera, Evanioidea, Aulacidae)
from China . Linzer Biologische Beiträge 37 : 797 – 803 .
26 G.F. Turrisi / Insect Systematics & Evolution 42 (2011) 1–27
Turrisi , G.F . ( 2006a ) Revision of the Afrotropical species of Pristaulacus Kieff er, 1900 (Hymenoptera,
Aulacidae) . Insect Systematics and Evolution 37 : 27 – 38 .
Turrisi , G.F . ( 2006b ) Gli Imenotteri Evanioidei della Collezione Campadelli (Hymenoptera, Evanioidea).
Catalogo sistematico della Collezione Campadelli. II contributo . Annali del Museo Civico di Storia
Naturale di Ferrara 7 ( 2004 ): 81 – 86 .
Turrisi , G.F . ( 2007 ) Revision of the Palaearctic species of Pristaulacus Kieff er, 1900 (Hymenoptera:
Aulacidae) . Zootaxa 1433 : 1 – 76 .
Turrisi , G.F. & Pilato , G . ( 2008 ) e Palaearctic species of Pristaulacus Kieff er, 1900 (Hymenoptera,
Aulacidae): remarks on taxonomy, systematic, and biogeography . Mitteilungen der Deutschen
Gesellschaft für allgemeine und angewandte Entomologie 16 : 87 – 94 .
Turrisi , G.F. & Vilhelmsen , L . ( 2010 ) Into the wood and back: morphological adaptations to the wood-
boring parasitoid lifestyle in adult aulacid wasps (Hymenoptera: Aulacidae) . Journal of Hymenoptera
Research 19 : 244 – 258 .
Turrisi , G.F. , Jennings , J.T. & Vilhelmsen , L . ( 2009 ) Phylogeny and generic concepts of the parasitoid
wasp family Aulacidae (Hymenoptera: Evanioidea) . Invertebrate Systematics 23 : 27 – 59 .
Vilhelmsen, L. & Turrisi, G.F. (in press) Per arborem ad astra: Morphological adaptations to exploiting
the woody habitat in the early evolution of Hymenoptera. Arthropod Structure & Development .
Visitpanich , J . ( 1994 ) e parasitoid wasps of the coff ee stem borer, Xylotrechus quadripes Chevrolat
(Coleoptera, Cerambycidae) in Northern ailand . Japanese Journal of Entomology 62 : 597 – 606 .
G.F. Turrisi / Insect Systematics & Evolution 42 (2011) 1–27 27
Appendix A: Modifi cations and additions to the “Key to Palearctic species of
Pristaulacus Kieff er, 1900”, couplet 39-40, provided by Turrisi ( 2007 ).
39. Occipital carina wide, 1.0× diameter of an ocellus ( Figs. 1 and 2 ); head shiny with
fi ne to moderately coarse and moderately dense punctures ( Figs. 1 and 2 ).…...41
40. Occipital carina very wide 1.8–2.0× wide as diameter of an ocellus ( Figs. 3 and 4 );
head weakly shiny or dull, with coarse to very coarse and dense to very dense
punctures ( Figs. 3 and 4 )……………………………………………………..43
41. Ovipositor 1.2–1.3× longer than fore wing length; genital capsule of male: apex of
paramere rounded ( Fig. 47 ); lamina volsellaris with a moderately long and acute
tooth-like process ( Fig. 51 ); ventral margin of cuspis slightly curved in middle
( Fig. 51 ); base of penis valve with lower margin weakly sclerotized and very slightly
emarginated ( Fig. 52 and detail); A3 as long as 2/3 of A4; hind coxa strongly
transverse-carinate; tibiae and tarsi light reddish orange…………………………
…………………… …………………… …………….… P. compressus (Spinola)
42. Ovipositor about 1.5× longer than length of fore wing; genital capsule of male:
apex of paramere slightly obliquely truncated ( Fig. 48 ); lamina volsellaris with a
very elongate and acute tooth-like process ( Fig. 53 ); ventral margin of cuspis
curved below middle ( Fig. 53 ); base of penis valve with lower margin weakly
sclerotized and regularly rounded ( Fig. 54 and detail); A3 shorter than 2/3 of A4;
hind coxa extensively polished, at most with some weak transverse carinae; tibiae
and tarsi dark brown to blackish………. ……….……….……… P. lindae Turrisi
43. Head very coarsely and densely punctate ( Fig. 3 ) with setae mostly whitish;
occipital carina, in dorsal view, straight medially ( Fig. 3 ); in ventral view,
subcircular-shaped, distally strongly convergent, reaching submedian part of
hypostomal carina ( Fig. 15 ); last antennomere 2.50× as long as wide (♀); genital
capsule (♂): apex of paramere obliquely truncated, moderately stout ( Fig. 49 );
lamina volsellaris and penis valve as Figs. 55 and 56 ; lamina volsellaris with a short
and stout but pointed tooth-like process ( Fig. 55 ); ventral margin of cuspis about
straight ( Fig. 55 ); base of penis valve strongly sclerotized and strongly emarginated
( Fig. 56 and detail)…………………….…….……….… P. rapuzzii Turrisi, sp.n.
44. Head less coarsely and densely punctate ( Fig. 4 ) with setae mostly brownish;
occipital carina, in dorsal view, weakly concave medially ( Fig. 4 ); in ventral view,
U-shaped, distally weakly divergent, reaching median part of hypostomal carina
( Fig. 16 ); last antennomere 2.00× as long as wide (♀); genital capsule (♂): apex of
paramere obliquely truncated, very stout, slightly emarginated in middle ( Fig.
50 ); lamina volsellaris and penis valve as Figs. 57 and 58 ; lamina volsellaris with a
moderately long and moderately elongate tooth-like process ( Fig. 57 ); ventral
margin of cuspis strongly curved in middle ( Fig. 57 ); base of penis valve moder-
ately sclerotized and slightly emarginated ( Fig. 58 and detail)…………………
………………….….…………….………….................… P. samai Turrisi, sp.n.
