Chelonastichus Ranjith & Quicke, 2025
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publication ID |
https://doi.org/10.3897/jhr.98.144864 |
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publication LSID |
lsid:zoobank.org:pub:A754CCBF-18B9-42D6-ABD6-2D6FFFA24BD0 |
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DOI |
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.15270906 |
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persistent identifier |
https://treatment.plazi.org/id/B89DEA07-0D17-5AE9-A130-44610B7CEEE8 |
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treatment provided by |
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scientific name |
Chelonastichus Ranjith & Quicke |
| status |
gen. nov. |
Chelonastichus Ranjith & Quicke gen. nov.
Figs 1 View Figure 1 , 2 View Figure 2 , 3 View Figure 3
Type species.
Chelonastichus hanssoni Ranjith & Quicke , sp. nov.
Comparative diagnosis.
The new genus Chelonastichus can be distinguished from all other eulophids by the autapomorphic character, Gt 5 modified into a distinct carapace. The new genus is tentatively placed in the subfamily Tetrastichinae based on the following characters; axillae strongly angularly advanced, postmarginal vein of fore wing absent and submarginal vein of fore wing not smoothly continuous with parastigma. Most tetrastichines have submedian longitudinal grooves on mesoscutellum, but in Chelonastichus , gen. nov., these are almost indistinct. Apart from the metasomal carapace, the new genus distantly related to the following genera, Aceratoneura Girault from Australia and the widespread Old World genus Sigmophora Rondani based on the presence of transverse carina behind lateral ocelli ( Bouček 1988). It differs from Aceratoneura by the number of funicular segments of the antennae and from Sigmophora by the number of anelli, and from both through the enlarged Gt 5. In the key to European eulophid genera ( Graham 1987) the new genus runs to Nesolynx Ashmead in having scattered setae on the middle lobe of the mesoscutum, mesoscutellum without submedian grooves and vertex with transverse ridge. In addition to its greatly enlarged and coarsely sculptured Gt 5, Chelonastichus , gen. nov., differs from Nesolynx in not having a metallic tinge on head and mesosoma, antennal funiculars longer than wide, not distinctly transverse and mesoscutellum with an anterior row of strong setae.
Description.
Female. Head. Antennae attached slightly below middle of frons, halfway between anterior ocellus and mouth margin; scape not reaching to upper level of vertex (Fig. 1 B View Figure 1 ); pedicel stout (Figs 1 E View Figure 1 , 2 E View Figure 2 ); antenna with two anelli and three funiculars, and three clavomeres with a weak constriction between C 1 and C 2 (Fig. 2 E View Figure 2 ). Head with malar sulcus complete and straight (Figs 1 E View Figure 1 , 2 E View Figure 2 ); without subocular fovea and genal carina (Figs 1 E View Figure 1 , 2 E View Figure 2 ); clypeal margin convex without teeth (Fig. 1 B, C View Figure 1 ); mandible bidentate, upper tooth wide, lower tooth acute (Fig. 1 B, C View Figure 1 ); frons shiny, transversely striae antero-laterally associated with fine reticulations and with transverse carina medially (Fig. 1 B, D View Figure 1 ); vertex finely reticulate with more or less complete transverse carina, rest of vertex unevenly sculptured (Fig. 1 D View Figure 1 ); occipital margin rounded (Fig. 1 D View Figure 1 ).
Mesosoma. Pronotum with long setae, distinctly reticulated and shiny, without transverse carina (Fig. 1 D, F View Figure 1 ). Mesoscutum reticulated with a distinct median groove in anterior 2 / 3 rd; with one pair of long and strong adnotaular setae posteriorly (Fig. 1 F View Figure 1 ). Notauli complete without crenulations (Fig. 1 F View Figure 1 ). Axillae advanced by half their length in front of transscutal articulation (Fig. 1 F View Figure 1 ). Mesoscutellum slightly convex in lateral view; with indistinct submedian grooves in posterior half; with sublateral grooves; with four pairs of setae sublaterally and a single pair of setae antero-medially; frenal groove present, wide and crenulated (Figs 1 F View Figure 1 , 2 A View Figure 2 ). Dorsellum smooth and shiny, without median carina or groove (Fig. 2 B View Figure 2 ). Propodeum with a wide and short fovea just behind dorsellum and a complete and strong narrow median carina that expands to a triangular shape posteriorly; without paraspiracular carinae; spiracles large, rounded and not covered by a flap; callus with three setae; plica distinct in apical half of propodeum (Fig. 2 B View Figure 2 ). Wings. Fore wing entirely hyaline (Fig. 2 F View Figure 2 ); with four setae on the dorsal surface of a submarginal vein (Fig. 3 D, E View Figure 3 ); postmarginal vein absent (Figs 2 F View Figure 2 , 3 F View Figure 3 ); costal cell very narrow, 13.0 × as long as wide (Figs 2 F View Figure 2 , 3 D, E View Figure 3 ); speculum open (Figs 2 F View Figure 2 , 3 D, E View Figure 3 ); stigmal vein with four companiform sensillae (Fig. 3 F View Figure 3 ); posterior margin of hind wing with long setae (Fig. 3 E View Figure 3 ). Legs. Coxae with weak reticulation (Fig. 1 A View Figure 1 ).
Metasoma. Petiole transverse, with irregular sculpture, smooth medially (Fig. 2 B View Figure 2 ). Gaster 2.0 × as long as wide, setose (Figs 1 A View Figure 1 , 2 C, D View Figure 2 , 3 A – C View Figure 3 ). Gt 1 smooth faintly reticulated, sparsely setose laterally (Fig. 2 D View Figure 2 ); Gt 2–4 faintly reticulated with transverse rows of setae (Fig. 2 C, D View Figure 2 ); Gt 5 modified into a carapace, strongly reticulate without interspaces, setose (Figs 1 A View Figure 1 , 2 C, D View Figure 2 , 3 A – C View Figure 3 ); Gt 6–7, strongly reticulate and retracted under Gt 5 (Fig. 3 A, B View Figure 3 ). Gt 7 produced into a triangular process posteriorly (Fig. 3 B View Figure 3 ). Ovipositor sheaths setose throughout (Fig. 3 A – C View Figure 3 ). Female hypopygium reaching half the length of gaster, acute in lateral view (Fig. 3 A, C View Figure 3 ).
Distribution.
Oriental region ( Thailand).
Hosts / biology.
Unknown.
Etymology.
The genus name derived from a combination of a generic name from the family Braconidae , ‘ Chelonus ’ because of the first instance of carapace-like metasoma in the family Eulophidae and ‘ astichus ’ from the subfamily name Tetrastichinae where this genus is provisionally included.
No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.
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