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New species of Megalommum from Iran 21
A new species of Megalommum Szépligeti
(Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Braconinae);
a parasitoid of the pistachio longhorn beetle
(Calchaenesthes pistacivora Holzschuh; Coleoptera,
Cerambycidae) in Iran
C. van Achterberg1,†, M.R. Mehrnejad2,‡
1 Dept. Terrestrial Zoology, NCB Naturalis, Postbus 9517, 2300 RA Leiden, e Netherlands 2 Pistachio
Research Institute, P.O. Box 77175.435, Rafsanjan, Iran
† urn:lsid:zoobank.org:author:D6374CF4–8F07–4FA8–8C55–9335FD19CECD
‡ urn:lsid:zoobank.org:author:6D72952F-DE3C-44CA-9F59-4E7209259BAB
Corresponding author: C. van Achterberg (Kees.vanAchterberg@ncbnaturalis.nl)
Academic editor: Michael Sharkey|Received 12 November 2010|Accepted 31 March 2011|Published 24 June2011
urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:5D08A285-4DF2-4ACA-A09F-FF25F9271F5E
Citation: Achterberg C van, Mehrnejad MR (2011) A new species of Megalommum Szépligeti (Hymenoptera,
Braconidae, Braconinae); a parasitoid of the pistachio longhorn beetle (Calchaenesthes pistacivora Holzschuh;
Coleoptera, Cerambycidae) in Iran. ZooKeys 112: 21–38. doi: 10.3897/zookeys.112.1735
Abstract
A new species of the genus Megalommum Szépligeti (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Braconinae),
reared from the pistachio longhorn beetle (Calchaenesthes pistacivora Holzschuh; Coleoptera:
Cerambycidae), is described and illustrated. e genera Curreia Ashmead, 1900 and Endovipio
Turner, 1922 are new synonyms of Megalommum Szépligeti, 1900. Notes on the biology of M.
pistacivorae sp. n. and a key to the West Palaearctic and Oriental species are added. e follow-
ing new combinations are given: M. xanthoceps (Fahringer, 1928), comb. n., M. jacobsoni (To-
bias, 1968), comb. n., M. ayyari (Watanabe, 1950), comb. n., M. philippinense (Baker, 1917),
comb. n., M. dodecanesi (Ferrière, 1922), comb. n., M. ceresense (Turner, 1922), comb. n., M.
inareatum (Granger, 1949), comb. n., M. antefurcale (Szépligeti, 1915) comb. n. and M. tibiale
(Ashmead, 1906), comb. n.
Keywords
Braconidae, Braconinae, Megalommum, Curreia; Endovipio, pistachio longhorn beetle, new species, Co-
leoptera, Cerambycidae; Calchaenesthes pistacivora, Cerambycidae, Palaearctic, Iran
ZooKeys 112: 21–38 (2011)
doi: 10.3897/zookeys.112.1735
www.zookeys.org
Copyright C. van Achterberg, M.R. Mehrnejad. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution
License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
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C. van Achterberg & M.R. Mehrnejad / ZooKeys 112: 21–38 (2011)
22
Introduction
In 1999 a conspicuous longhorn beetle (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae), was collected
from pistachio trees, Pistacia vera Linnaeus and P. atlantica subsp. mutica (Fischer &
C.A. Meyer) at Sirjan (South Iran) for the rst time. e beetle (Figs 7, 8, 10) proved
to be undescribed and was named as Calchaenesthes pistacivora by Dr C. Holzschuh
(Holzschuh 2003). According to Hashemi-Rad (2005) the pistachio longhorn beetle
caused very severe damage to weakened pistachio trees. During April, 2007 the second
author managed to rear a parasitoid from the longhorn beetle, which may play a role
in the biological control of the pest. It proved to be a new species of the genus Mega-
lommum Szépligeti near jacobsoni (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Braconinae). e new
species, M. pistacivorae, is described below. It is the rst record of a cerambycid host for
the genus, and is the rst record of the genus Megalommum from Iran.
Material and methods
e material was partially reared from the larvae of the pistachio longhorn beetle bor-
ing in pistachio trees and partially collected at light in the wild pistachio growing areas
of Sirjan (South Iran). e material is deposited in the Netherlands Centre for Biodi-
versity Naturalis at Leiden (RMNH).
For the recognition of the subfamily Braconinae, see van Achterberg (1990, 1993,
1997), for a key to the genera of Braconinae, see Quicke (1987), and for the terminol-
ogy used in this paper, see van Achterberg (1988).
No taxonomic history is presented in this paper; for information, we refer to the
Taxapad interactive catalogue (Yu et al. 2007 and later updates).
Key to the genera Aphrastobracon Ashmead and Megalommum Szépligeti
1 Scapus hardly or not protruding apico-ventrally (Fig. 71) and inner aspect
of scapus normal apically, without double margin (Fig. 71); marginal cell of
hind wing moderately wide subbasally (Fig. 65); rst subdiscal cell of fore
wing without dark patch; vein CU1b of fore wing subvertical and widened
(Fig. 69), obsolescent or moderately inclivous and slender; [medio-basal area
of second tergite semi-circular (Fig. 68) or triangular; dorso-lateral carinae of
rst metasomal tergite complete (Fig. 68)]; Oriental and Southeast Palaearc-
tic; parasitoids of Noctuidae (living on Coccoidea: Kerridae) and Curculioni-
dae ............................................................ Aphrastobracon Ashmead, 1896
– Scapus distinctly protruding apico-ventrally (Figs 33, 46, 59) and inner as-
pect of scapus with minute double margin apically (Figs 34, 48, but may
be less developed in Afrotropical and West Palaearctic spp.); marginal cell
of hind wing narrow subbasally (Figs 26, 38, 52), if intermediate then rst
New species of Megalommum from Iran 23
subdiscal cell with dark patch and vein CU1b of fore wing strongly reclivous
and more or less widened, triangular (Figs 45, 36) or parallel-sided (Fig. 60)
or nearly so; [medio-basal area of second tergite triangular or rhombic, and
often comparatively narrow (Figs 27, 39, 53), or area absent (M. inareatum
(Granger, 1949) comb. n.); vein 1-SR 0.5–0.7 times vein 1-M; specimens
from New Guinea (= Megalommum s.s.) have no dorso-lateral carinae of the
rst tergite (Fig. 50), upper valve of ovipositor wider than lower valve (and
distinctly attened; Fig. 51), have often a rather short ovipositor, if rather
long then ovipositor valves normal and lower valve slightly narrower; m-cu
of fore wing more or less widened]; New Guinea, Oriental, Afrotropical and
South Palaearctic; parasitoids of tunneling larvae of Cerambycidae and Xylo-
ryctidae (Pansepta spp.) ............. Megalommum Szépligeti, (Febr.) 1900 s.l.
Notes. Curreia Ashmead, [Oct.] 1900 (Figs 26–37) and Endovipio Turner, 1922
(Figs52–64) are new junior synonyms. Endovipio was synonymized with Curreia by Fal-
co and Quicke (1997) and Curreia is here synonymized with Megalommum (syn. n.). e
dierences between the genera Megalommum Szépligeti s.s. (species from Australasia),
Endovipio Turner (Afrotropical) and Curreia Ashmead (remainder of Palaeotropical area
and South Palaearctic) are gradual and, therefore, they are considered congeneric here.
e only small dierence that seems to be valid is the development of the dorso-lateral
carinae of the rst tergite posteriorly; absent in Megalommum s.s. and present (but often
only weakly developed) in Curreia and Endovipio. e shape of the ovipositor valves is
variable in both groups as is the relative length of veins 1-CU1 and 1-M of the fore wing.
Key to West Palaearctic and Oriental species of the genus Megalommum
Szépligeti
1 Vein CU1b of fore wing triangular, strongly widened basally (Figs 1, 2, 21,
45) .............................................................................................................. 2
– Vein CU1b of fore wing parallel-sided or slightly narrowed apically and more
or less evenly widened (Fig. 36) ..................................................................4
2 Medio-basal area of second metasomal tergite smooth and slightly longer
than half length of tergite (Figs 2, 18, 19, 23, 24); vein CU1b of fore wing
weakly reclivous (Figs 2, 22); vein 3-CU1 of fore wing 2–3 times as long as
vein CU1b (Figs 2, 22); body yellowish-, orange- or dark reddish-brown;
pterostigma partly dark brown (Figs 1, 2); veins more extensively dark brown
(Figs 2, 21); rst-fourth metasomal tergites of male largely rugulose to largely
smooth (Figs 19, 24) ...................................................................................3
– Medio-basal area of second metasomal tergite longitudinally rugulose and dis-
tinctly longer than half as long as tergite (Fig. 19 in Quicke et al. 2000); vein
CU1b of fore wing strongly reclivous; vein 3-CU1 of fore wing about 1.2 times
as long as vein CU1b; body pale yellowish; pterostigma completely yellow; veins
C. van Achterberg & M.R. Mehrnejad / ZooKeys 112: 21–38 (2011)
24
(except dark veins below blackish parastigma) yellowish; rst-fourth metasomal
tergites of male largely rugose; Afrotropical but reported from Yemen (Quicke
et al. 2000) .................................M. xanthoceps (Fahringer, 1928), comb. n.
3 Vein 1-M of fore wing 0.7–1.1 times as long as vein 1-CU1 (Figs 21, 77, 78);
hind femur more robust (Fig. 25); hind femur dorsally and coxa yellowish-
brown or brown (Fig. 25), at most hind femur dark brown dorsally; pter-
ostigma (near vein r) dark brown (Figs 21, 77, 78); OOL of ♀ short (Fig.
22); [vein 3-SR of fore wing 1.4–1.7 times vein 2-SR; body completely dark
reddish-, orange or yellowish-brown; pterostigma baso-posteriorly (and apex
narrowly) yellow and remainder dark brown]; Central Asia to Cape Verde
Isles, including Spain, France, Croatia, Egypt, Yemen (RMNH) and Mo-
rocco ............................................... M. jacobsoni (Tobias, 1968), comb. n.
Notes. Curreia antefurcalis Szépligeti, 1915 sensu Papp (1972) from Croatia
belongs to M. jacobsoni according to Falco and Quicke (1997); M. antefurcale
(Szépligeti, 1915) comb. n. is an Afrotropical species. M. jacobsoni is closely
related to M. tibiale (Ashmead, 1906) comb. n. from China and Japan.
– Vein 1-M of fore wing 1.4–2.2 times as long as vein 1-CU1 (Figs 2, 74, 75);
hind femur less robust (Fig. 20); hind femur dorsally and coxa dark brown
(Figs 1, 20), at most hind coxa largely brown; pterostigma medially (near vein
r) nearly always partly yellow (Figs 2, 74, 75); OOL of ♀ slightly longer (Fig.
16); Iran ....................................................................M. pistacivorae sp. n.
4 Vein 2-SC+R of hind wing vertical; rst subdiscal cell of fore wing with dis-
tinct dark spot and area below parastigma darkened; pterostigma largely yel-
low; marginal cell of hind wing parallel-sided submedially; vein 2–1A of fore
wing nearly straight or slightly curved; Oriental .......................................... 5
– Vein 2-SC+R of hind wing longitudinal; rst subdiscal cell of fore wing with-
out distinct dark spot and area below parastigma hardly or not darkened;
pterostigma partly dark brown (except of M. fasciatipenne); marginal cell of
hind wing more or less narrowed submedially; vein 2–1A of fore wing dis-
tinctly curved; [vein m-cu of fore wing narrow; scapus black]; Afrotropical
and West Palaearctic ...................................................................................6
5 Vein 2-SR of fore wing about as long as vein r-m; vein m-cu of fore wing
widened; scapus yellow with a black streak; vein CU1b of fore wing about
0.7 times as long as vein 3-CU1; = Aphrastobracon maculipennis Ramakrishna
Ayyar, 1926, not Megalommum maculipenne Cameron, 1914)]; India ...........
.......................................................M. ayyari (Watanabe, 1950), comb. n.
– Vein 2-SR of fore wing about twice as long as vein r-m; vein m-cu of fore
wing slender; scapus black; vein CU1b of fore wing about as long as vein
3-CU1; Philippines ....................M. philippinense (Baker, 1917), comb. n.
6 Vein cu-a of fore wing subinterstitial and subvertical (Figs 26, 36); vein CU1b
of fore wing about as long as vein 3-CU1 and subhorizontal (Fig. 36); eyes
New species of Megalommum from Iran 25
deeply incised (Fig. 28); maximum width of the subdiscal cell of fore wing
about equal to width of discal cell (Fig. 26); apical half of pterostigma largely
yellow; vein m-cu of fore wing subinterstitial (Fig. 26); [second metasomal
suture crenulate; surroundings of medio-basal area of second tergite rugu-
lose]; Afrotropical but reported from Egypt (Quicke et al. 2000) ..................
.............................................M. fasciatipenne (Ashmead, 1900), comb. n.
– Vein cu-a of fore wing far antefurcal and reclivous (Fig. 60); vein CU1b of
fore wing about half as long as vein 3-CU1 and oblique (Fig. 60); eyes shal-
lowly incised (Fig. 54); maximum width of the subdiscal cell of fore wing
about 1.4–1.7 times width of discal cell (Fig. 52); apical half of pterostigma
dark brown; vein m-cu of fore wing distinctly antefurcal (Fig. 52); [second
metasomal suture and surroundings of medio-basal area of second tergite
smooth; only males known]; Greece and Israel ..............................................
................................................... M. dodecanesi (Ferrière, 1922), comb. n.
Note. Very close to M. ceresense (Turner, 1922) comb. n. from South Africa
and Namibia; seems to dier mainly by having the maximum width of the
subdiscal cell of fore wing about 1.4 times width of discal cell (Fig. 60); about
1.6 times in M. dodecanesi).
Taxonomy
Megalommum pistacivorae sp. n.
urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:16F7B146-34DD-40BB-A3CF-CA5D7806C8A4
http://species-id.net/wiki/Megalommum_pistacivorae
Figs 1–3, 16–20, 74–76
Type material. Holotype, ♀ (RMNH), “Iran, Sirjan, ex Calchaenesthes pistacivora
(Ceramb.) on Pistacia vera, em. 14.iv.2007, M.R. Mehrnejad, RMNH’08”. Paratypes
(3 ♀ + 4 ♂; RMNH): 1 ♂ topotypical and from same host, but emerged 12.xi.2007;
2 ♀ “Iran, Sirjan, 14.v.2009, at light, M.R. Mehrnejad, RMNH’09”; 1 ♀ + 1 ♂, id.,
but 17.v.2009; 2 ♂, id., but 30.iv.2009.
Diagnosis. Body yellowish- or orange-brown; hind femur and coxa dark brown
(Figs 1, 20); pterostigma medially (near vein r) partly yellow (Figs 2, 74, 75); OOL of
♀ slightly longer (Fig. 16); vein CU1b of fore wing triangular, strongly widened basally
and weakly reclivous (Figs 2, 74, 75); vein 3-CU1 of fore wing 2–3 times as long as
vein CU1b; vein 1-M of fore wing 1.4–2.2 times as long as vein 1-CU1 (Figs 2, 74,
75); vein 2–1A distinctly bent (Fig. 2); hind femur rather slender (Fig. 20); medio-
basal area of second metasomal tergite smooth and slightly longer than half length of
tergite (Figs 2, 18, 19); ovipositor sheath 0.25 times as long as fore wing and half as
long as metasoma.
Description. Holotype, ♀, length of body 7.6 mm, of fore wing 7.3 mm.
C. van Achterberg & M.R. Mehrnejad / ZooKeys 112: 21–38 (2011)
26
Figures 1–6. 1–3: Megalommum pistacivorae sp. n., holotype female. 1 habitus dorsal (scale line = 1
mm) 2 wings and metasoma dorsal 3 head anterior. 4–6: Old Pistacia khinjuk tree. 4 infested tree 5 old
emergence holes of Calchaenesthes pistacivora 6 tunnel of Calchaenesthes pistacivora with closed cocoon of
Megalommum pistacivorae.
New species of Megalommum from Iran 27
Head. Antenna about as long as fore wing, with 61 segments; apical antennal segment
with distinct spine and slender, scapus robust and distinctly protruding apically, its inner
aspect with minute double margin apically; third, fourth and penultimate segments 1.2,
0.9 and 1.6 times their maximum width, respectively; length of maxillary palp 0.9 times
height of head; eye distinctly emarginate (Fig. 3); face narrow and irregularly rugulose;
clypeus at, partly smooth and with some microsculpture, dorsally with angled carina
and ventral margin thin and lamelliform, with 5 long setae ventrally; hypoclypeal de-
pression 0.7 times as wide as minimum width of face (Fig.3); frons moderately concave
behind antennal sockets, smooth, without median carina (Fig. 16); vertex slightly con-
vex, smooth, sparsely setose and stemmaticum protruding and surrounded by a groove;
OOL:diameter of posterior ocellus:POL = 5:10:4; in dorsal view length of eye 5.2 times
temple; temples directly narrowed behind eyes and smooth (Fig 16); malar suture absent,
eye almost touching base of mandible; mandible strongly twisted and unidentate.
Mesosoma. Length of mesosoma 1.6 times its height; side of pronotum and pro-
pleuron smooth, except for some indistinct ne crenulae anteriorly and some punct-
ulation posteriorly; pronotum vertical anteriorly and with a shallow groove and no
antescutal depression; mesopleuron smooth, setose, except for a medial glabrous area;
mesosternal sulcus smooth and narrow; metapleuron punctulate, convex; mesoscutum
nearly completely sparsely punctulate and setose; notauli only present anteriorly and
shallowly impressed; scutellar sulcus present and with distinct ne crenulae; scutellum
weakly convex and sparsely punctulate; side of scutellum smooth; metanotum medio-
anteriorly with carina, posteriorly evenly convex and smooth; propodeum smooth,
setose and evenly convex.
Wings. Fore wing (Figs 1, 2): 1-M 1.8 times as long as 1-CU1; m-cu widened and
1.1 times as long as 1-M; rst subdiscal cell with narrow and glabrous sclerome; 3-SR
and SR1 weakly curved; r:3-SR:SR1 = 2:5:13; 2-SR:3-SR:r-m = 18:25:19; r-m largely
unsclerotised; wide ring around dark patch of rst subdiscal cell glabrous, but posteri-
orly setose; CU1b triangular and strongly widened basally. Hind wing: SR sinuate and
marginal cell somewhat widened apically; subbasal cell setose; 1r-m weakly curved;
M+CU:1-M:1r-m = 6:18:5.
Legs. Tarsal claws simple and with bristly setae ventrally; hind femur slender
(Fig.20) compared to M. jacobsoni; length of femur, tibia and basitarsus of hind leg
3.9, 10.0 and 4.7 times their maximum width, respectively; hind tibia with dense ad-
pressed setae; hind tibial spurs 0.5 and 0.6 times as long as hind basitarsus; inner side
of hind tibia and tarsus with dense long whitish setae.
Metasoma. Length of rst tergite 1.1 times its apical width, parallel-sided, dorso-lat-
eral carinae strong behind spiracles and medial area longitudinally rugose; second tergite
smooth except for crenulae near distinct triangular medio-basal area, area surrounded by
crenulate groove and tergite antero-laterally with small triangular smooth areas (Fig.18);
second suture distinct and weakly sinuate and nely crenulate; medial length of second
tergite 1.2 times median length of third tergite; third and following tergites smooth;
ovipositor depressed, without notch or nodus dorsally and without ventral teeth, api-
cally narrowed (Fig. 76); ovipositor straight, its sheath 0.25 times as long as fore wing.
C. van Achterberg & M.R. Mehrnejad / ZooKeys 112: 21–38 (2011)
28
Colour. Yellowish-brown; antenna, hind femur dorsally, hind tibia and tarsus and
ovipositor sheath, black; fore and middle femora, tibiae and tarsi, and remainder of
hind leg more or less dark brown; most veins of basal half of wing, sclerome of rst sub-
discal cell and apical 0.6 of pterostigma largely dark brown (Fig. 2), vein 1-R1 of fore
wing yellowish and remainder of veins brown; wing membrane moderately infuscate,
below parastigma and patch in rst subdiscal cell dark brown.
Variation. Length of body of ♀ 6.7–8.7 mm (of ♂ 5.2–7.3 mm), and of fore
wing of ♀ 6.7–8.1 mm (of ♂ 4.3–6.4 mm); antenna of ♀ with 54 (1), 61 (1) or 65
(1) segments, of ♂ with 44 (1), 47 (1), 51 (1) or 52 (1) segments; vein 1-M of fore
wing 1.4–2.2 times as long as vein 1-CU1; vein 3-SR of fore wing 1.4–1.7 times vein
2-SR; body completely reddish-, orange or yellowish-brown; basal 0.4 of pterostigma
largely yellowish or darkened and only with yellowish basal patch; hind coxa and fe-
mur largely dark brown to largely brown; length of rst tergite 1.1–1.3 times its apical
width; second metasomal suture weakly to strongly crenulate; second, third and base
of fourth metasomal tergites of ♂ nely rugulose, but sometimes only supercially so
and partly smooth; length of ovipositor sheath 0.25–0.26 times fore wing.
Distribution. South Palaearctic (Iran).
Biology. Solitary and possibly endoparasitoid of Calchaenesthes pistacivora Holzs-
chuh (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) on Pistacia vera Linnaeus, P. atlantica subsp. mutica
(Fischer & C.A. Meyer) and P. khinjuk Stocks.
Etymology. Named after the specic name of its host.
Biology
e development of the cerambycid host Calchaenesthes pistacivora Holzschuh lasts
two years; the rst winter it survives as a larva and during the second autumn it usu-
ally develops into an adult (Hashemi-Rad 2005). e adult beetle stays inside the
feeding canal (Fig. 10) for about ve months, from mid October to late March. In
early April, the adult beetles appear on the pistachio trees and usually feed on the fresh
pistachio leaves (Fig. 7); the resulting damage is considered to be minimal. e beetles
lay their eggs on twigs, branches or stems of weakened pistachio trees, preferably on
the pruned sites where the tiny larvae promptly penetrate into the twigs or branches.
Changes in the environmental conditions of pistachio growing areas in the collection
site are thought to be drought, an increase of salinity in irrigation water, which in turn
is caused by a decrease of water resources and mismanagement by pistachio producers.
ese appear to be the major reasons for the establishment and development of this
pest on cultivated pistachio trees (Hashemi-Rad 2005). It is predicted that the con-
taminated areas will expand as more pistachio trees lose vigor. Our survey in wild pis-
tachio growing areas of Sirjan clearly showed that C. pistacivora had already been living
in the wild pistachio trees for a long time, because the beetle canals are clearly visible
on both dead and living trunks of very old trees of Pistacia khinjuk Stocks (Figs 4, 5)
and P. atlantica mutica. It is assumed that the beetle has been a minor phytophagous
New species of Megalommum from Iran 29
Figures 7–15. 7–11: Calchaenesthes pistacivora Holzschuh. 7 adult on pistachio tree 8 copula on pista-
chio tree 9 tunnel and emergence hole 10 freshly emerged adult 11 larva in tunnel in spring. 12–15:Tu n -
nels and emergence holes in pistachio trees. 12 opened cocoon of crabronid wasp and larvae of Hylaeus sp.
13 cocoon of crabronid wasp 14 grey coverage of emergence hole by Hylaeus sp. 15 Hylaeus cells.
C. van Achterberg & M.R. Mehrnejad / ZooKeys 112: 21–38 (2011)
30
pest on wild pistachio trees for hundreds of years, however, populations increased due
to weakening of these trees. e wild pistachio species have been suering from the
eects of erosion caused by human activities, particularly overgrazing and harvesting
for use as rewood or charcoal as well as from severe drought periods for several years.
In addition, the cultivated pistachio regions at Sirjan are not far from areas with wild
pistachio trees. erefore, emigration of C. pistacivora to pistachio orchards is likely.
At present the pistachio growers experience many serious problems caused by pests
and diseases (Mehrnejad 2001) and the longhorn beetle is one of those that can cause
considerable tree damage and reduction of yields.
e cocoons of the parasitoid were collected inside the tunnels of the beetle
(Fig.6). e cocoons are 12–15 mm long, brownish and consist of thin paper-like
silk. e beetle usually pupates inside the tunnel about 2–3 cm from the emergence
hole, where the cocoons of M. pistacivorae are also found. Field studies showed that the
parasitoid enters the tunnel of the beetle through the hole made by the last instar beetle
larva before pupation. e parasitoid attacks the last instar beetle larva in September
and October and the parasitoid larva is solitary. Members of Braconinae are all thought
to be ectoparasitoids. Surprisingly, the second author did not see any parasitoid larva or
egg when he collected a fully developed beetle larva from the feeding tunnel. e bee-
tle larva (still in the tunnel) was transferred to the laboratory where it was kept under
controlled conditions. After a week a naked pupa of the wasp (that did not construct
the usual cocoon) was present and the pupa developed into an adult M. pistacivorae.
Further investigations are necessary to rule out the possibility that a minute wasp larva
was present on the non-exposed side of the beetle larva.
M. pistacivorae overwinters in the prepupal stage and it has an obligatory diapause
to pass the winter. e parasitoid cocoons containing the prepupa were kept under
controlled conditions (27.5°C, 16L:8D photoperiod and 55±5 RH), but they did not
pupate until early March. In the eld, pupation takes place from mid to late March
and the adults of M. pistacivorae appear in the orchards from early April onwards. e
rate of parasitism was estimated to be about 23% (n = 110) in experimental orchards.
Alternative hosts for this parasitoid remain undetermined, also it is not clear if the
adult wasps attack another host after emergence in early April or they pass the hot sum-
mer period and attack the larvae of C. pistacivora the following September.
In the same tunnels several other insects were found; the most common was a bee
belonging to the genus Hylaeus. It uses the tunnels as shelter for its brood cells. Several
small cells of bees are usually found at the same site where M. pistacivorae makes its co-
coons (Fig. 15). From late September till late October the female bee makes 3–5 small
cells (4 mm length and 3 mm diameter each) in each tunnel, and lls them with a yel-
lowish jelly mixed with pollen. In each cell an egg or a young larva was found (Fig. 12).
e female bees cover the emergence hole (tunnel cup) with a very thin and delicate
grayish waxy layer (Fig. 14). e cover protects the ospring of the bee as well as that
of the wasp, M. pistacivorae, against predation or parasitism during the overwintering
period. e bee larvae overwinter in these cells at the prepupal stage and pupate from
late March on. e tunnels are also used as a nest site (Fig. 13) by a Crabronid wasp.
New species of Megalommum from Iran 31
Figures 16–25. 16–20: Megalommum pistacivorae sp. n., holotype female, but 19 of paratype male.
16 head dorsal 17 basal part of antenna 18, 19 basal metasomal tergites, dorsal 20 hind femur lateral.
21–25: Megalommum jacobsoni (Tobias), Yemen, Al Kowd, female, but 24 of male. 21 fore wing 22 head
dorsal 23, 24 basal metasomal tergites, dorsal 25 hind femur lateral.
C. van Achterberg & M.R. Mehrnejad / ZooKeys 112: 21–38 (2011)
32
Figures 26–37. Curreia fasciatipennis Ashmead, holotype female. 26 wings 27 rst-third metasomal
tergites dorsal 28 head, anterior 29 hind leg 30 veins 1-SR and 1-M of fore wing 31 head dorsal 32 mes-
onotum dorsal 33 scapus and pedicellus outer side 34 scapus and pedicellus inner side 35 habitus, lateral
36 rst discal and rst subdiscal cells of fore wing 37 inner hind claw.
New species of Megalommum from Iran 33
Figures 38–51. Megalommum oculatum Szépligeti, holotype female. 38 wings 39 rst-third metasomal
tergites dorsal 40 head anterior 41 mesonotum dorsal 42 hind leg 43 head dorsal 44 apex of antenna
45rst subdiscal cell of fore wing 46 scapus and pedicellus outer side 47 veins SC+R1, 2-SC+R and
1r-m of hind wing 48 scapus and pedicellus inner side 49 inner middle claw 50 habitus, lateral 51 apex
of ovipositor.
C. van Achterberg & M.R. Mehrnejad / ZooKeys 112: 21–38 (2011)
34
Figures 52–64. Endovipio ceresensis Turner, holotype male. 52 wings 53 rst-third metasomal tergites
dorsal 54 head anterior 55 hind leg 56 apex of antenna 57 head dorsal 58 mesonotum dorsal 59 scapus
and pedicellus outer side 60 rst discal and rst subdiscal cells of fore wing 61 scapus and pedicellus inner
side 63 habitus, lateral 64 inner hind claw.
New species of Megalommum from Iran 35
Figures 65–73. Aphrastobracon avipennis Ashmead, holotype male. 65 wings 66 head anterior 67 hind
leg 68 rst-third metasomal tergites dorsal 69 rst discal and rst subdiscal cells of fore wing 70 head
dorsal 71 scapus and pedicellus, outer side 72 scapus and pedicellus inner side 73 habitus lateral.
C. van Achterberg & M.R. Mehrnejad / ZooKeys 112: 21–38 (2011)
36
Figures 74–76. Megalommum pistacivorae sp. n., paratype female. 74 wings 75 detail of fore wing
76apex of ovipositor.
New species of Megalommum from Iran 37
Figures 77–79. Megalommum jacobsoni (Tobias), Yemen, Al Kowd, female. 77 wings 78 detail of fore
wing 79 apex of ovipositor.
C. van Achterberg & M.R. Mehrnejad / ZooKeys 112: 21–38 (2011)
38
Acknowledgements
We wish to thank Ing. Tony van Harten (Sharjah) for the specimens from the Arabian
Peninsula (Yemen) which allowed an analysis of the variation of M. jacobsoni and R.
Mirzaei for assistance during the eld survey. e eld survey was supported by the
Pistachio Research Institute of Iran.
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