Chelonus topali ( Papp, 1999 )

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 topali ( Papp, 1999)

Fig. 1 F

Microchelonus topali Papp, 1999: 192. Papp 2016: 305–307. Type locality: Rio Negro, Argentina.

Description.

Female. Body length 2.05–2.31 mm. Head black. Mandibles brownish. Antenna shorter than the body, penultimate flagellomere cuboidal. Scape brownish to black. Pedicel concolorous with the scape. Flagellomeres brownish. Carinae between ocelli and eyes absent. Mesosoma black, scutellum punctuate. Leg coloration highly variable, Foreleg: Coxa and trochanter black or brown, femur extensively brown with apex light brown or entirely dark brown. Tibia dark brown, tarsi 1–4 brown last tarsomere black. Middle leg: coxa brownish, femur brown to black, tibia dark yellow with proximal and distal apex turning brown or entirely dark brown, tarsi 1–4 brown last tarsomere black. Hind leg: coxa black, femur brown to black, tibia light-yellow with a brown medial macula, tarsi 1–4 brown or entirely dark brown, last tarsomere brown or entirely dark brown. Fore wing stigma blackish. Metasoma completely black. Opening in ventral part of carapace almost as long as carapace. Carapace in dorsal view without longitudinal carinae. Apical foramen of carapace absent.

Comments.

Chelonus topali was previously recorded only from Argentina ( Papp 1999). This is the first record of this species occurring in the Galapagos.

Specimens studied.

Ecuador, Galápagos – Floreana • 19 ♀♀; 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; pantrap; ECESPOCH- ICCDRS – Isabela • 3 ♀♀; 0°50'19.248"S, 91°4’53.435"W; 762 m a. s. l; 03–06 Jun. 2019; J. Avendaño, D. Albuja leg.; Humid zone; pantrap; ECESPOCH- ICCDRS – Santiago • 1 ♀; 0°12'1.62"S, 90°42'45.539"W; 98 m a. s. l; 23–26 Jun. 2021; H. Herrera, J. Avendaño, P. Picón leg.; malaise trap; ECESPOCH- ICCDRS – Santa Cruz • 1 ♀; 0°41'24.9"S, 90°13'18.804"W; 21 m a. s. l; 25 Sep. - 02 Oct. 2018; J. Avendaño, Y. Campaña, P. Picón leg.; 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.