Chelonus mayi Braet & Rousse

Biology

Host unknown.

Distribution

Diagnosis

A distinctive species of African Chelonus. It is the only species which has a yellowish metasoma (except apically) (vs. usually entirely blackish or sometimes with one or two white patch(es) basally), and shining metasomal apex (usually it is rugose or finely areolate). Other species of Chelonus with entirely yellowish carapaces can be found in Europe (e.g., Chelonus erythrogaster Lucas, 1849), Africa (e.g., Chelonus mediterraneus Schmiedeknecht et Fahringer, 1934, C. (M.) ensifer Granger, 1949), Oriental region (van Achterberg, personal communication) and at least one undescribed neotropical species. But none of them have a dark patch apically on the carapace (Braet et al., 2012).

Etymology

References

Braet, Y., Rousse, P. & Sharkey, M. 2012. New data on African Cheloninae (Hymenoptera, Braconidae) show a strong biogeographic signal for taxa with spined propodea. Zootaxa 3385: 1–32.

Brues, C.T. 1924. Some South African parasitic Hymenoptera of the families Evaniidae, Braconidae, Alysiidae, and Plumariidae in the South African Museum with a catalogue of the known species. Annals of the South African Museum. 19:1-150.

De Saeger, H. 1948. Cardiochilinae et Sigalphinae (Hymenoptea: Apocrita) Fam. Braconidae. Exploration du Parc National Albert. Mission G.F. de Witte. 53:1-272.

Granger, C. 1949. Braconides de Madagascar. Mémoires de l’Institut scientifique de Madagascar (A), 2, 1–428.

Shenefelt, R.D. 1973. Braconidae 6. Cheloninae. Hymenopterorum Catalogus (nova editio). Pars 10. pp.813-936.

Wesmael, C. 1835. Monographie des Braconides de Belgique. Nouveaux Memoires de l'Academie Royale des Sciences et Belles-lettres Bruxelles 9: 1–252.
Zettel, H. 1990. Eine Revision der Gattungen der Cheloninae (Hymenoptera, Braconidae) mit Beschreibungen neuer Gattungen und Arten. Annalen des Naturhistorischen Museums in Wien. 91B:147-196.

Credits

Photographs © Yves Braet.