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Subspecies
Pschorn-Walcher (1955) suggested that this taxon may be a subspecies of Helorus ruficornis. However, I follow his later work (Pschorn-Walcher 1971) and regard it as a bona species. No subspecies are recognized.


Original description
Original spelling: Helorus coruscus

Haliday AH (1857). Note on a peculiar form of the ovaries observed in a hymenopterous insect, constituting a new genus and species of the family Diapridae. Natural History Review 4, 166-174 (p. 168).

Locus typicus: England and Westfalen (Germany), but not specified in more detail. The type specimens are in Dublin (according to Pschorn-Walcher (1955)).


Synonyms
Helorus coruscus Haliday, 1857 (p. 168)

Helorus coruscus coruscus Haliday, 1857

Helorus corruscus Dalla Torre, 1898 (misspelling or unjustified emendation)
Helorus flavipes Kieffer, 1907
Helorus ruficornis Townes, 1977 (nec Förster, 1856) (a misidentification)
Helorus ruficornis Van Achterberg, 2006 (nec Förster, 1856) (a misidentification)
Helorus ater auct. nec Latreille, 1802 (a misidentification)

This species is synonymized with Helorus ruficornis by Townes (1977). However, this author does not explain the reasons why he regards the two taxa as conspecific. Presumably, Townes (1977) only followed Dalla Torre (1898) who listed Helorus ruficornis as an unclear synonym of Helorus coruscus. According to Pschorn-Walcher (1955), Pschorn-Walcher (1971) and Mayer (in Dathe et al. (2001)) these two taxa show clear differences and I follow these authors and acknowledge Helorus coruscus as a bona species.

The species figured by Von Achterberg (2006) is not Helorus ruficornis, but Helorus coruscus, based on the figured wing that shows the pterostigma. For these specimens Von Achterberg (2006) states that the coloration of the middle trochanter and femur differs between Central and South European specimens (see below), indicating that cryptic species (or subspecies) might be involved.


Identification
Forewing length 2,8-3,7 mm. Very similar to Helorus ruficornis. The two species can be distinguished by the shape of the pterostigma and the body color. Helorus coruscus has a compact and short pterostigma (approx. 2 to 2,3 times longer than high), while the pterostigma of Helorus ruficornis is more elongate (approx. 2,3 to 2,6 times longer than high). The body of H. ruficornis is more reddish-brown, the body of H. coruscus is black. In addition, the petiolus is said to be longer in Helorus ruficornis than in Helorus coruscus. The antennae of females of both species are yellow or red brown, while in the males the antennae show differences between the species; in Helorus coruscus the male antennae are usually brown to blackish; in Helorus ruficornis the male antennae are usually yellow or red brown.

The coloration of the femur and trochanter of the mesothorax differs between South and Central European specimens (Van Achterberg 2006). These leg segments are more yellowish-brown in Central European specimens, and dark brown in most South European specimens. This character (that is also used in the identification key) is thus only valid for Central Europe. The southern European specimens may be a separate species (or subspecies).


Distribution
The species is often confused (or synonymized) with Helorus ruficornis, and therefore most records are unclear. Confirmed records exist for Switzerland, northern Italy, Germany, Ireland, and the UK, but the species is certainly more widespread.
Germany: Niedersachsen, Rheinland-Pfalz, Baden-Württemberg.


Biology
Adults have been collected in June to August in Central Europe. The species parasitizes in lacewings (Neuroptera), so far the following host have been recorded: Dichochrysa ventralis, Nineta flava, and Chrysotropia ciliata. This indicates that the species is not host specific or this could be another piece of evidence for the presence of several cryptic species under the name Helorus coruscus.

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