Assessment Rationale:

Temelucha nigerrima is an endemic ichneumonid wasp species of the Azores (Portugal), recorded from the islands of Faial, Terceira and S. Miguel, including a site that is currently the Nature Reserve of Caldeira do Faial. From the historical data, this species potentially has a limited Extent of Occurrence (8,520 km2) and a small Area of Occupancy (56 km2). Given that some sites of its description are disturbed, 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, it is not possible to accurately estimate the extinction risk of the species and it could theoretically fall into any category. Therefore, this species is assessed as Data Deficient (DD).

Geographic Range:

Temelucha nigerrima is an Azorean-endemic ichneumonid wasp species described from Faial, Terceira and S. Miguel islands (Azores, Portugal). It has been collected in some currently disturbed habitats and in a site that is currently a Nature Reserve (Caldeira do Faial). Based on the data from the 1938 expedition of Frey, Stora and Cedercreutz, the Extent of Occurrence (EOO) would be ca. 8,520 km² and the Area of Occupancy (AOO) would be ca. 56 km². However, there is no recent information regarding the distribution of this species, and the actual full distribution of the species is unknown.

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 Cremastinae are koinobiont endoparasitoids of Lepidoptera larvae, such as leaf miner or leaf roller larvae (Goulet and Huber 1993). This subfamily has a worldwide distribution (Goulet and Huber 1993). This species was described from a site that currently a Nature Reserve (Caldeira do Faial), but also from a urbanised area and from semi-natural pastures.

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). Given that some of the areas from where this species was described were and are currently disturbed, it can be assumed that habitat degradation caused by past and present human disturbance and land use changes, 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 Parks of Pico and Terceira.