Assessment Rationale:

Meloboris longicauda is an endemic ichneumonid wasp species of the Azores (Portugal), known from Pico island. From the historical data, this species has a small Extent of Occurrence (43 km2) and Area of Occupancy (40 km2). Despite one site of its description being currently a Nature Reserve (Lagoa do Caiado), it is possible that this species has declined in the past as a result of human activity. The present situation of this species needs to be further assessed, and further research is needed into its population, distribution, threats, ecology, life history and indigenous host species. Conservation/restoration of native habitats, as well as invasive plant species control, could potentially aid this species' conservation. Based upon the lack of recent data regarding this species' population, distribution, threats, ecology and hosts, this species is assessed as Data Deficient (DD).

Geographic Range:

Meloboris longicauda is an Azorean-endemic ichneumonid wasp species that was described from the island of Pico (Azores, Portugal), and known described from two sites, one currently a Nature Reserve (Lagoa do Caiado). Based on the data from the 1938 expedition of Frey, Stora and Cedercreutz, the Extent of Occurrence (EOO) is ca. 43 km² and the Area of Occupancy (AOO) is ca 40 km². However, there is no recent information regarding the distribution of this species.

Population:

There are no available data on the population size and trend of this species.

Habitat and Ecology

The ecology and traits of this species are unknown. Other ichneumonid wasps from the subfamily Campopleginae, tribe Limnertini, are koinobiont endoparasitoids, mainly of Lepidoptera larvae, but for some species also of Coleoptera larvae (Goulet and Huber 1993). This species was described generically from Pico Mountain and also from Lagoa do Caiado, currently a Nature Reserve.

Major Threat(s):

A lack of information regarding the present status of this species or its unknown indigenous hosts precludes an assessment of potential threats. Nevertheless, this species might be affected by future habitat declines as a consequence of climate change (Ferreira et al., 2016). It can be assumed that, despite the area were it was collected being currently a Nature Reserve, habitat degradation caused by past and present human disturbances, or by invasive species might also potentially affect or have affected this species or its indigenous hosts.

Conservation Actions

This species is not protected by regional law. Further research is needed into its population, distribution, threats, ecology and life history as well as into its hosts. Conservation/restoration of native habitats, as well as invasive plant species control, could potentially aid this species' conservation. Historically at least, this species was present in areas that are currently included in the Natural Park of Pico.