Chelonus johni Marsh, 1979

Sandoval-B, Ada L., Shaw, Scott Richard, Herrera, Henri W. & Sarmiento, Carlos E., 2024, Diversity and differentiation of the Chelonus (Microchelonus) species of the Galapagos archipelago (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Cheloninae), Journal of Hymenoptera Research 97, pp. 825-848 : 825-848

Chelonus johni Marsh, 1979

Fig. 1 C

Chelonus (Microchelonus) johni Marsh, 1979: 14. Type locality: Palmira, Colombia.

Microchelonus johni (Marsh): Papp 1999: 185, 191, 194. Papp 2016: 268–270.

Description.

Female. Body length 2.10–2.47 mm. Head black. Mandible brownish basally turning yellow distally. Antenna shorter than the body, penultimate flagellomere cuboidal. Scape yellow to brownish, pedicel concolorous with the scape. First two flagellomeres dark yellow, others brownish. Carinae between ocelli absent. Mesosoma black, scutellum rugose. Foreleg yellow with coxa and last tarsomere brownish. Middle leg coxa brownish, trochanter yellow, femur brown to black with proximal and distal apex turning yellow. Tibia and tarsi 1–4 yellow, last tarsomere brown. Hind leg coxa brown, femur and tibia black to brownish with a proximal light-yellow band, tarsi 1–4 yellow, last tarsomere brown. Fore wing stigma brown. Metasoma completely black. Carapace in dorsal view without longitudinal carinae. Opening in ventral part of carapace almost as long as carapace. Apical foramen of carapace present. Marginal cell along wing margin ¾ as long as stigma.

Comments.

Chelonus johni has previously been recorded as occurring in Colombia, Costa Rica, Mexico, and Honduras ( Marsh 1979), where it has been reported as a beneficial species parasitizing the potato tuberworm ( Scrobipalpula species) and similar pest Gelechiidae . This is the first record of this species occurring in the Galapagos.

Specimens studied.

Ecuador, Galápagos – Floreana • 3 ♀♀; Cerro Pajas ; 1°17'38.292"S, 90°27'27.432"W; 580 m a. s. l; 22–29 May. 2019; J. Avendaño, D. Albuja leg.; humid zone; malaise trap; ECESPOCH- ICCDRS – Isabela • 1 ♀; 0°50'19.248"S, 91°4'53.435"W; 762 m a. s. l; 03–10 Jun. 2019; H. Herrera, J. Avendaño, D. Albuja leg.; Humid zone; malaise trap; ECESPOCH- ICCDRS – Santa Cruz • 1 ♀; 0°41'25.26"S, 90°13'17.579"W; 20 m a. s. l; 25 Sep. - 02 Oct. 2018; J. Avendaño, Y. Campaña, P. Picón leg.; dry zone; malaise trap; ECESPOCH- ICCDRS .

Figures

Figure 1. Habitus of the Chelonus species found in the Galapagos islands. Chelonus buscki A Chelonus carinatus B Chelonus johni C Chelonus refluus D Chelonus sulcifera E Chelonus topali F Chelonus turgoclarus G. Scale bars: 1 mm. All are females.