The ectoparasitoid wasp Heterospilus sicanus (Marshall, 1888) (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Doryctinae) as a natural enemy of Gastrallus pubens Fairmaire, 1875 (Coleoptera, Ptinidae) in Italy

Abstract

Heterospilus sicanus (Marshall, 1888) is redescribed and illustrated based on the holotype of Dendrosoter sicanus Marshall, 1888 and on recently collected material from its type locality (Sicily, Italy). Previous host records for this species are unreliable. Here, the host of H. sicanus, the rare ptinid beetle Gastrallus pubens Fairmaire, 1875, is recorded for the first time, having been reared in a historic library in Palermo, Italy. Heterospilus sicanus is compared with the similar species Telebolus (= Heterospilus) corsicus Marshall, 1888, which was described in the same monograph from Corsica (France), and it is also redescribed and illustrated. Atoreuteus ceballosi Docavo Alberti, 1960, syn. nov. is synonymised under Heterospilus sicanus (Marshall, 1888), and Hormiopterus (= Rhaconotus) ollivieri Giraud var. flava Fahringer, 1931, syn. nov. is a junior synonym of Heterospilus cephi Rohwer, 1925. A key for determination of the Western Palaearctic Heterospilus species with a striate vertex is provided and the distributions of H. sicanus and H. corsicus are discussed.