Chelonus merdicus Rousse & Braet

Biology

Host unknown.

Distribution

Diagnosis

The dimensions of the first five flagellomeres are similar to those of species in the subgenus C. (Baculonus). This is the main character separating this species from its closely related species C. (M.) matilei. See C. matilei for additional comments. The two paratypes housed in the MNHN collections (box 45, under the label Chelonus spinosus Sigwalt) have probably been studied by the late Dr Sigwalt, but he never published the description (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.