Chelonus elaeaphilus
authorSilvestri, 1908
synonyms
body
shapeBody length 3.2 mm. [Si]. Body length ♀ 3.8 - 4.0 mm, ♂ 3.6 - 3.9 mm. [T14]. 3 mm. [T7]. 2.5 - 3 mm [Te1]. ♀ 3.8 - 4.0 mm., ♂ 3.6 - 4.0 mm. [P13]
colorBlack. The body is very briefly pubescent [Si]
head
shapeThe head is roundly narrowed behind the eyes, its width is twice its length. The eyes are almost as long as the temples. POL is slightly less than OOL. Face width 1.8 times its height. Malar space 0.25 longer than basal width of mandible [T14]. Gena height 0.4-0.5 times longitudinal eye diameter [T7]. The face is twice as wide as its height; Gena 0.35 - 0.4 times the longitudinal diameter of the eye. The ocelli are small; the distance between them and the eyes is 4 times the diameter of the ocullus [Te1]. Head in dorsal view (Fig. I, 1) transverse, twice as broad as long, eye somewhat longer than temple, latter rounded, occiput excavated. Ocelli round, forming a low triangle, POL somewhat shorter than OOL. Eye in lateral view 2.58 times as high as wide, temple behind eye 1.23 times as wide as eye (Fig. 2, see arrows). Malar space about one-quarter longer than basal width of mandible. Face 1.8 times as wide (close below pair of antennal sockets) as high, inner margin of eyes slightly converging ventrally. ♂ Head in dorsal view distinctly twice as broad as long. [P13].
sculptureThe face, vertex and temple are transversely striated [T14]. Around sockets somewhat concentric rugo-striate. Frons, vertex and occiput with rather transverse and more or less parallel striation (Fig. 1), temple with somewhat arched striation [P13].
colorPalpi yellow [P13].
antenna
shape ♀Antennae with 16 segments slightly attenuated at the apex. Length of the antennae just less than two thirds of the total body length, 2 mm. [Si]. Antennae in apical part without impressions on segments. Antennae equal to the total length of the head and mesosoma; the length of the 3rd antennal segment is 3 times its width, the length of the three apical segments is almost equal to their width [T14]. Length antennae 1/2 of the body, 16 segments [Te1]. Antenna about as long as head and mesosoma combined and with 16 segments. Third segment 3 times as long as broad apically, penultimate three segments cubic or subcubic, i.e., slightly longer than broad (Fig. 3) [P13].
shape ♂The antennae with 23 segments nearly as long as the body, 3.1 mm. [Si]. Antennae equal to the total length of the head, mesosoma and 2/3 of the metasoma, 22-23-segmented [T14]. 21 - 23 segments [Te1]. Italy: antenna with 22–23 antennomeres, penultimate flagellomere 1.6–1.7 times as long as broad, Israel: antenna with 21 antennomeres, penultimate flagellomere 1.5 times as long as broad [P11]. Antenna long, as long as head, mesosoma and two-thirds of carapace, with 22-23 antennomeres; penultimate flagellomere 1.6-1.7 times as long as broad [P13]
colorAntennae brown, Scapus and pedicel rusty red [T14]. Antennal scape yellowish brown on underside, brown on upper side [T7]. Basal antennae segments red. ♂ antenna usually completely black [Te1]. Scape and pedicel rusty red, flagellum brownish black. [P13].
mesosoma
shapePropodeum with two very short teeth [Si]. Mesosoma length 1.25 times its height; lateral teeth of propodeum in the form of small tubercles [T14]. Propodeum in the middle with a transverse ridge, on the sides with obtuse projections, no teeth [Te1]. Mesosoma in lateral view 1.25 times as long as high. Notaulices distinct and crenulate. Propodeum laterally with a pair of small tubercules [P13].
sculptureThe mesosoma including propodeum and scutellum are deeply foveolate, the mesosternum punctated [Si]. Mesonotum rugose, with crenulated notauli, matte. Scutellum weakly punctate, shining. [T14]. Mesonotum more or less shining [T7]. The entire mesosoma is roughly rugose, the scutellum is entirely rugose [Te1]. Mesonotum rugose and shiny, scutellum polished with hairpunctures, otherwise mesosoma scabrose [P13].
color
legs
shapeMid tibiae with two long spurs at the apex, hind tibiae swollen at the apex and with two short spurs [Si]. ♂ Hind tibia thickened (length 5 times apical width) [T7]. Hind femur 3 times as long as broad medially. Inner spur of hind tibia one-third as long as hind basitarsus. Hind basitarsus as long as tarsomeres 2-3 and half of tarsomere 4 combined [P13].
sculpture
colorFore and middle legs with the apex of the femur, tibiae and tarsi reddish; hind legs with a reddish band in the basal half of the tibia [Si]. The trochanters of the legs are dark-colored. Apices of fore femora, fore and middle tibiae brownish, tarsus darkened. [T14]. ♀ Hind tibia with indistinct yellowish band. ♂ brown, with yellowish band before the middle. [T7]. Fore tibiae entirely, hind tibiae at bases red [Te1]. Legs blackish; fore femur apically, entire fore and middle tibiae brownish, tarsi brown fumous [P13].
wings
shapeWing span 6 mm [Si]. SR1 straight. 1-R1 0.7 times as long as pterostigma [T7]. 1-R1 is noticeably shorter than the pterostigma. cu-a is postfurcal, separating 1/4 of the base of the 1st discal cell. r slightly longer than 3-SR. 2-SR twice as long as 3-SR. [Te1]. ♀ Fore wing as long as head, mesosoma and half of carapace combined. Pterostigma (Fig. 4) wide, twice as long as wide, issuing radial vein from its middle, metacarp as long as pterostigma; r slightly longer than 3-SR, SR1 faintly S-formed; 1-R1 somewhat shorter than pterostigma. ♂ Pterostigma 2.2 times as long as wide, issuing radial vein distally from its middle, R1 shorter than pterostigma, 1-R1 one-fourth shorter than pterostigma (Fig. 8). [P13].
colorWings very lightly darkened with brownish pterostigma and veins [Si]. The wings are almost light [T14]. tegulae and pterostigma brown [Te1]. Tegula blackish brown [P13]. Wings subhyaline, pterostigma brown, veins opaque light brown [P13].
metasoma
shapeMetasoma widened towards apical third, apically slightly bent forward, 1.6 - 1.7 times as long as wide [T14]. Metasoma oval [T7]. ♂ In dorsal view twice as long as broad (Israel) , 1.7 - 1.8 times as long as broad (Italy) [P11]. ♀ Carapace somewhat shorter than head and mesosoma combined, in dorsal view (Fig. 5) 1.6 - 1.7 times as long as broad posteriorly from middle, i.e., carapace broadening posteriorly; in lateral view 2.7 - 3.0 times as long as high behind and nearly twice as high behind as basally (Fig. 6, see four vertical arrows), behind (or apically) more or less truncate (Fig. 6, see horizontal arrow) . Ventral cavity of carapace nearly as long as carapace itself, i.e., carapace apically weakly incurved (Fig. 7, see arrow). ♂ Carapace in dorsal view (Fig. 9) 1.7-1.8 times as long as broad behind, in lateral view 3 times as long as high behind and 2.5 times as high behind as basally (Fig. 10, see vertical arrows); in ventral view cavity nearly as long as carapace itself, i.e., carapace somewhat more incurved than in female (Fig. 11) [P13].
sculptureThe metasoma not very deeply foveolate [Si]. Metasoma with dense, more or less parallel rugae, its apical part is irregularly rugose [T14]. Sharp longitudinal rugae, in ♂ longitudinal rugae weaker [Te1]. Carapace with dense, less strong and less parallel striation, interstriation densely rugulose, hind third rugose (Fig. 5)[P13].
colorBlack, with a fairly large subcircular straw-colored spot in the anterior median part of the metasoma [Si]. ♀ Basal yellow macula occupies about a third of the metasomal width. ♂ Metasoma with a rounded yellow basal spot. [T14]. metasoma with 1 small yellowish basal spot in the middle [T7]. ♀ Metasoma at the base with a yellow spot in the middle; ♂ sometimes with a yellow spot in the middle [Te1]. Reddish yellow macula of carapace sometrimes restricted to its medio-basal surface close beyond pair of keels. sometimes more extended [P13].
♀ ovipositorShort ovipositor, not visible when looking from above [Si]. The ovipositor is very short, usually hidden [T14]. Ovipositor sheath very short, usually concealed [P13].
♂ aperturemetasoma with a large aperture, width 1.6 x height [Si]. The aperture is elongated-oval, the width is 2.5-3 times its height [T14]. Aperture small, rounded [Te1]. Apical foramen of carapace wide, 2.6-2.9 times as wide as high (Fig. 12) [P13]..
other info
distributionNL [FE].
remarksThis species is close to Chelonus sulcatus Nees, but it is distinguished above all by the straw-colored spot on the median anterior part of the metasoma. From Chelonus basalis Curtis it is well distinguished for the number of the articles of the male's antennae and for the different coloring of the base of the metasoma [Si]. Taxonomic remark : Microchelonus elaeaphilus is related to M. silvestrii and M. fenestratus [P13]
hostsPrays oleae BERN. [Si].
