A new subgenus of the genus Colastes Haliday (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Exothecinae) for species reared from bracket fungi, with description of two new species from Europe

Abstract

A new Holarctic subgenus (Fungivenator subgen. nov.) of the genus Colastes Haliday, 1833 (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Exothecinae) is proposed for a group of species that, as far as is known, has its larvae living on hosts in bracket fungi. The type species (Colastes sandei sp. nov. from Netherlands, Germany and England) and a second species (C. fritzeni sp. nov.) from Finland are described and illustrated. A key to the five known species is included.

Keywords:

• Colastes
• Fungivenator
• Phellinus
• Fomes
• Laetiporus
• Dorcatoma
• Daedaleopsis
• Netherlands
• Germany
• England
• Finland
• Europe
• Palaearctic region
• Nearctic region
• distribution
• new subgenus
• new species

Acknowledgements

We wish to thank Dr S.A. Belokobylskij (St. Petersburg) for the loan of the holotype of Colastes aciculatus Tobias, Mr J. C. P. M. van de Sande (Amsterdam) and Mr L. Moraal (Wageningen), Drs H. Mendel and G. Broad (London) for insects reared from polypores in the Netherlands, Germany and UK, Mr N. R. Fritzén (Sund) for supplying insects reared from polypores in Finland, and Dr J. Borowski (Warsaw) for determining beetles from the latter samples.