Data from: North-Western Palaearctic species of the Pristiphora ruficornis group (Hymenoptera, Tenthredinidae)

The Pristiphora ruficornis group, defined here based on the structure of the penis valve and the genetic data, includes morphologically and genetically highly similar species that remain taxonomically challenging. Study of most of the relevant type material, examination of female saws and male genitalia, some rearing experiments, and genetic data enabled us to solve most of the taxonomic problems involving northern European taxa. As a result, 17 species are recognised in northern Europe. The following synonymies are proposed: Pristiphora aterrima Lindqvist, 1977, syn. n. is synonymised with P. albitibia (Costa, 1859), P. brunniapex Lindqvist, 1960, syn. n. and P. coniceps Lindqvist, 1955, syn. n. both with P. subopaca Lindqvist, 1955, Nematus vitreipennis Eversmann in Kawall, 1864, syn. n. (nomen oblitum) with P. leucopus (Hellén, 1948) (nomen protectum), and Nematus (Pristiphora) ruficornis var. integer Hellén, 1948, syn. n. with P. ruficornis (Olivier, 1811). Lectotypes are designated for the following taxa: Nematus appendiculatus Hartig, 1837, Nematus cathoraticus Förster, 1854, Nematus (Pristiphora) bifidus Hellén, 1948, Nematus frigidus Boheman, 1865, Pristiphora adelungi Konow, 1902, Nematus vitreipennis Eversmann in Kawall, 1864, Nematus melanocarpus Hartig, 1840, Nematus wuestneii Stein, 1885, Pristiphora pusilla Malaise, 1921, and Nematus fraxini Hartig, 1837. An illustrated electronic key made with Lucid and a traditional dichotomous key are provided to facilitate identification of the species. In addition we report the first occurrence of distinctly asymmetrical penis valves in Pristiphora (in P. pusilla), a condition rarely observed in Hymenoptera.

本研究基于阳茎瓣（penis valve）结构与遗传数据所界定的赤角扁角叶蜂类群（Pristiphora ruficornis group），包含形态与遗传特征均高度相似、分类学上仍具挑战性的物种。本研究通过检视多数相关模式标本（type material）、检查雌虫锯状产卵器与雄虫外生殖器、开展部分饲养实验并结合遗传数据，解决了北欧类群涉及的绝大多数分类学难题。据此，北欧地区目前已确认17个物种。
本文提出如下同物异名组合：Pristiphora aterrima Lindqvist, 1977，新异名（syn. n.）归为P. albitibia (Costa, 1859)的同物异名；P. brunniapex Lindqvist, 1960与P. coniceps Lindqvist, 1955，新异名（syn. n.）均归为P. subopaca Lindqvist, 1955的同物异名；Nematus vitreipennis Eversmann in Kawall, 1864，新异名（syn. n.，废弃学名nomen oblitum）归为P. leucopus (Hellén, 1948)（保护学名nomen protectum）的同物异名；以及Nematus (Pristiphora) ruficornis var. integer Hellén, 1948，新异名（syn. n.）归为P. ruficornis (Olivier, 1811)的同物异名。
本文为以下类群指定选模标本（lectotypes）：Nematus appendiculatus Hartig, 1837、Nematus cathoraticus Förster, 1854、Nematus (Pristiphora) bifidus Hellén, 1948、Nematus frigidus Boheman, 1865、Pristiphora adelungi Konow, 1902、Nematus vitreipennis Eversmann in Kawall, 1864、Nematus melanocarpus Hartig, 1840、Nematus wuestneii Stein, 1885、Pristiphora pusilla Malaise, 1921，以及Nematus fraxini Hartig, 1837。
本研究提供了基于Lucid平台制作的图文电子检索表，以及传统二项式检索表，以方便物种鉴定。此外，本研究首次报道了扁角叶蜂属（Pristiphora）中存在明显不对称阳茎瓣的个体（见于P. pusilla），该性状在膜翅目（Hymenoptera）中极少被观察到。