Lo Pinto Mirella, Guarino Salvatore, Agrò Alfonso
Department of Agricultural, Food and Forest Sciences (SAAF), University of Palermo, Viale delle Scienze, Building 5, 90128 Palermo, Italy.
Institute of Biosciences and Bioresources (IBBR), National Research Council of Italy (CNR), Corso Calatafimi 414, 90129 Palermo, Italy.
Insects. 2023 Jan 13;14(1):90. doi: 10.3390/insects14010090.
As part of the studies on the morphological color variation of insects, a case study on the seasonal body color variation of (Nees) (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae: Eulophinae) parasitoid of leafminers is reported. Observations were made from January 2000 to December 2003 in north-western Sicily (Italy), in relation to sex, body regions of adults and seasonal periods. Wasps parasitizing Stainton (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae) were collected from organic citrus orchards ( L., var. "Femminello zagara bianca" and "Femminello comune"). Adults were grouped in classes: yellow males, black males, yellow females, yellow-black females and black females. The results highlighted a phenotypic pigmentation variation in the head, thorax, gaster and legs of individuals influenced by the season of sampling. Adults were yellow-green in summer months, whereas individuals with dark pigmentation were found in autumn and winter months. A correlation between color patterns and seasonal temperatures was found for both females and males. This work provides a contribution to the description of the intraspecific variability of this species, improving its identification.
作为昆虫形态颜色变异研究的一部分，本文报道了一项关于潜叶虫寄生蜂（Nees）（膜翅目：姬小蜂科：姬小蜂亚科）季节性体色变异的案例研究。2000年1月至2003年12月期间，在意大利西西里岛西北部，针对成虫的性别、身体部位和季节时段进行了观察。从有机柑橘园（L.，品种“Femminello zagara bianca”和“Femminello comune”）收集寄生在斯坦顿潜叶蛾（Stainton）（鳞翅目：细蛾科）上的黄蜂。成虫分为以下类别：黄色雄蜂、黑色雄蜂、黄色雌蜂、黄黑相间雌蜂和黑色雌蜂。结果表明，受采样季节影响，个体的头部、胸部、腹部和腿部存在表型色素沉着变异。成虫在夏季为黄绿色，而在秋冬季节发现色素沉着较深的个体。雌蜂和雄蜂的颜色模式与季节温度之间均存在相关性。这项工作有助于描述该物种的种内变异性，从而改进其鉴定方法。
