Catalogue of Danish Alysiinae (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), with the description of two new species of Aspilota Foerster, 1863

. In the present study, a total of 153 species of Alysiinae (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) from Denmark are catalogued. Two species are described as new for science: Aspilota leptoarticulata Munk & Peris-Felipo sp. nov. and A. grandis Munk & Peris-Felipo sp. nov. Additionally, 38 alysiine species are recorded for the first time for the Danish fauna. A faunistic list with distribution data and host records is provided.


Introduction
The Alysiinae is a subfamily of Braconidae, comprising more than 100 genera and 2300 species worldwide (Yu et al. 2012).They are koinobiont endoparasitoids of Diptera-Cyclorrapha (Gimeno et al. 1997;Zaldivar-Riverón et al. 2006;Peris-Felipo et al. 2014a); records of some species of Hymenoptera and Lepidoptera as hosts (Yu et al. 2012) are most probably erroneous.Some alysiine species can be relevant from an economic point of view due to their potential role in pest control (González et al. 2000;Elpino-Campos et al. 2007).The monophyly of the Alysiinae is based on the following distinctive apomorphic characters: the shape, increased number of teeth and position of the exodont mandibles and complete loss of the occipital and prepectal carinae.The subfamily is divided into two large and polymorphic tribes, the Alysiini and Dacnusini (Shenefelt 1974;Yu et al. 2012).Morphologically, these two tribes are mainly separated by the presence (Alysiini) or absence (Dacnusini) of the fore wing vein cuqu2 (r-m or second radiomedial); accordingly, Alysiini has two submarginal (radiomedial) cells while Dacnusini has only one cell (Shenefelt 1974;Yu et al. 2012;Peris-Felipo et al. 2014a).Members of the tribe Alysiini are common parasitoids of Diptera-Cyclorrapha, usually inhabiting humid and ephemeral substrates.Dacnusini are almost exclusively specialized on leaf and stem miners, mainly of the families Agromyzidae, Ephydridae and Chloropidae (Belokobylskij 2005;Berry 2007;Fischer & Beyarslan 2012;Peris-Felipo et al. 2014a).Species of the Alysiini genera Aphaereta Foerster, 1863 and Alysia Latreille, 1804 have been used in biological control programs, among others of Calliphoridae and Muscidae, while some Dacnusini have been successfully employed to control pests of leaf-mining flies and Tephritidae (Wharton et al. 1997).
Several investigations of the Alysiinae fauna have been conducted for the territories of northern Europe: among them, Tobias (1962) -North-West of Russia; Königsmann (1969) -Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden; Hedqvist (1972Hedqvist ( , 1973) ) -Sweden; Gannota (1993), Koponen (1999Koponen ( , 2000)), Koponen & Vikberg (2013) and van Achterberg & Vikberg (2014) -Finland; van Achterberg & Koponen (2003) -Finland, Estonia;Riedel et al. (2002) -Norway; Munk et al. (2013a, 2013b) -Denmark, Finland;Peris-Felipo et al. (2014a, 2014b) -Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden.No survey focused on the Danish fauna has been published until now, but the publications on the faunas of neighbouring countries serve as a starting point for an estimation of the Danish alysiine diversity.Adjacent countries, such as Germany (337 alysiine species), Poland (231) and Sweden (234) are better known (Yu et al. 2012).However, until now only 114 species of 20 genera were known in Denmark (Yu et al. 2012;van Achterberg 2013;Peris-Felipo et al. 2014a, 2014b).Thorkild Munk collected and identified specimens of Alysiinae during many years throughout the country, but the majority of this material remained unpublished at the time his death in December 2013.The current catalogue of Danish Alysiinae is mainly based on the results of the study of his extensive material.

Area of study
Denmark is located in northern Europe between the Baltic and the North Seas, comprising the southwestern part of Scandinavia.It is the smallest country of this region, having a total area of 43 094 km 2 .In contrast, Denmark has a comparatively long coastline, and no point of the country is more than 52 km from the sea.The main part (almost ¾ of the territory) is the Jutland Peninsula (Fig. 1: NEJ, NWJ, EJ, WJ, SJ) attached to northern Germany.The remainder of the country is an archipelago comprising more than 1400 islands above 100 m 2 ; of these, 443 are named and 72 inhabited (Geodatastyrelsen 2016).Denmark is generally flat with only low elevation, having an average height above sea level of 31 m; the highest natural point is Møllehøj at 170.86 m (Geodatastyrelsen 2016).
The climate is temperate and maritime, with mild winters (average temperature of 1.5°C) and cool summers (average temperature 17.2ºC).Precipitation is fairly evenly distributed throughout the year, averaging 765 mm annually (Danish Metereological Institute 2016).Denmark is the most densely populated country in Scandinavia, and it is one of the most intensively cultivated countries in the world, about 66% of the area being used for agricultural purposes (Den Store Danske 2016).Forests comprise about 16% of the area, commercially run evergreen tree plantations making up a substantial part.Habitats that are not at least moderately affected by human activities are virtually non-existent.
Most examined material and types of described species are deposited in the collection of the Natural History Museum of Denmark (Copenhagen, Denmark; NHMD), and some paratypes and additional material are housed in the Entomological Collection at the University of Valencia (Valencia, Spain; ENV), Naturhistorisk Museum Aarhus (Aarhus, Denmark; NMA), Zoological (Natural History) Museum, University of Helsinki (Helsinki, Finland; MZA); Naturhistorisches Museum Wien (Vienna, Austria; NHMW), Naturalis Biodiversity Center (Leiden, Netherlands; RMNH), Zoological Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences (St Petersburg, Russia; ZISP) and Zoologische Staatssammlung München (Munich, Germany; ZSSM).

Results
A total of 153 species belonging to 23 genera (13 from Alysiini and 10 from Dacnusini), are recorded and catalogued for the Danish fauna.

Remarks
Specimens of this species were sampled from different habitats such as Mercurialis community, oak wood or compost from gardens.Munk & Peris-Felipo sp. nov. urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act

Comparative diagnosis
The new species is similar to A. imparidens Fischer, 1974(Fischer 1974b) and A. laevinota Tobias, 1962(Tobias 1962).Aspilota grandis sp.nov.differs from A. imparidens in having the first flagellar segment 3.3 times as long as its maximum width (7.0 times in A. imparidens), middle segments 1.3-1.5 times as long as their maximum width (3.0 times in A. imparidens), hind femur 4.0 times as long as its maximum width (4.3 times in A. imparidens), and precoxal suture not reaching anterior or posterior margins of mesopleuron (reaching anterior margin in A. imparidens).Also, the new species differs from A. laevinota in having the face 1.8 times as wide as high (1.5 times in A. laevinota), the first flagellar segment 3.3 times as long as its maximum width (7.0 times in A. laevinota), middle segments 1.3-1.5 times as long as their maximum width (3.0 times in A. laevinota), and vein r2 (3-SR) 1.7 times as long as vein cuqu1 (2-SR) (1.5 times A. laevinota).

Etymology
The name is derived from Latin "grandis", meaning "big", referring to the size of the species.

Description Female (holotype)
Head.In dorsal view twice as wide as its median length, 1.4 times as wide as mesoscutum, with rounded temples behind eyes.Maximum width of head at level of temple (dorsal view) larger than width at level of eyes.Eye in lateral view 1.6 times as high as wide and 0.9 times as wide as temple medially.POL 1.3 times OD; OOL 3.6 times OD.Face 1.8 times as wide as high; inner margins of eyes subparallel.Clypeus slightly curved ventrally, 2.4 times as wide as high.Mandible widened towards apex, 1.7 times as long as maximum width.Upper tooth of mandible distinctly shorter than middle and lower teeth; middle tooth long and pointed; lower tooth longer than upper tooth, rounded apically.Antenna thick, 21-segmented.Scape 3.0 times as long as pedicel.First flagellar segment 3.3 times as long as its apical width, 1.6 times as long as second segment; 2 nd segment 2.0 times as long as its maximum width, 3 rd segment 1.8 times, 4 th to 8 th 1.5-1.6 times, 9 th to 18 th 1.3-1.4times, and 19 th (apical) 1.8 times as long as their maximum width, respectively.Legs.Hind femur 4.0 times as long as its maximum width.Hind tibia slightly widened towards apex, 9.2 times as long as its maximum subapical width, about as long as hind tarsus.First segment of hind tarsus twice as long as second segment.
MetasoMa.Distinctly compressed.First tergite striate, slightly widened towards apex, twice as long as its apical width.Ovipositor as long as first tergite, distinctly shorter than metasoma, 0.8 times as long as hind femur.
CoLour.Body, antenna and pterostigma dark brown.Mandible and legs brown.Wings hyaline.

Male (paratype)
Body length 3.2 mm.Fore wing length 3.6 mm; hind wing length 2.7 mm. Antenna 22-segmented.First flagellar segment 3.3 times as long as its maximum width.Hind femur 4.2 times as long as its maximum width.Otherwise similar to female.

Remarks
Specimens were sampled from habitats such as oak wood and compost in gardens.

Etymology
The name refers to the long, thin flagellar segments.Head.In dorsal view 1.8 times as wide as its median length, 1.4 times as wide as mesoscutum, with rounded temples behind eyes.Maximum width of head at level of temple (dorsal view) not larger than width at level of eyes.Eye in lateral view 1.6 times as high as wide and 1.1 times as wide as temple medially.POL 1.5 times OD; OOL 4.5 times OD.Face 1.5 times as wide as high; inner margins of eyes subparallel.Clypeus slightly curved ventrally, 2.5 times as wide as high.Mandible widened towards apex, 1.8 times as long as maximum width.Upper tooth of mandible distinctly shorter than middle and lower teeth; middle tooth long and pointed; lower tooth longer than upper tooth, rounded apically.Antenna slender, 16-segmented.Scape 1.5 times as long as pedicel.First flagellar segment 4.5 times as long as its apical width, 1.1 times as long as second segment; 2 nd and 3 rd segments 4.2 times as long as maximum width, 4 th and 5 th segments 3.8 times, 6 th to 9 th segments 3.3 times, 10 th segment 2.7 times, 11 th and 12 th segments 2.3 times, 13 th segment 2.0 times, and 14 th (apical) segment 2.2 times as long as their maximum widths.

Holotype
MesosoMa.In lateral view 1.3 times as long as high.Mesoscutum as long as maximum width.Notauli mainly absent on horizontal surface of mesoscutum.Mesoscutal pit absent.Prescutellar depression smooth, without lateral carinae.Precoxal suture present, not reaching anterior or posterior margins of mesopleuron.Posterior mesopleural furrow crenulate.Propodeum sculptured, with large areola.Propodeal spiracle small.
Legs.Hind femur 4.5 times as long as its maximum width.Hind tibia slightly widened towards apex, about 8.0 times as long as its maximum subapical width, as long as hind tarsus.First segment of hind tarsus 1.9 times as long as second segment.Wings.Length of fore wing 2.4 times its maximum width.Radial (marginal) cell ending at apex of wing, 4.1 times as long as its maximum width.Vein cuqu1 (2-SR) present and sclerotized.Vein r2 (3-SR) 2.8 times as long as vein cuqu1 (2-SR); vein r3 (SR1) 2.6 times as long as vein r2 (3-SR).Nervulus (cu-a) distinctly postfurcal.Brachial (subdiscal) cell closed distally, 2.8 times as long as its maximum width.Hind wing 6.0 times as long as its maximum width.
MetasoMa.Distinctly compressed.First tergite finely rugose, slightly widened towards apex, twice as long as its apical width.Ovipositor 1.1 times as long as first tergite, distinctly shorter than metasoma, 0.8 times as long as hind femur.
CoLour.Body, antenna and pterostigma brown to dark brown.Scape, pedicel, first flagellar segment, mandible and legs yellow.Wings hyaline.

Remarks
One specimen was collected in wet deciduous wood.

Remarks
One specimen was swept in a Pinus wood.

Remarks
One specimen swept from moss, Paludella sp.

Remarks
According to Yu et al. (2012), D. nervosum was recorded from Denmark by Fischer (1972: 422).However, in Fischerʹs paper only a single nation (Ireland) is listed and, therefore, the presence of D. nervosum in Denmark is not confirmed.