Chelonus latrunculus

Chelonus latrunculus

authorMarshall, 1885

synonyms

body

shapeLength 1 1/2 lin. [M]. Body 2.5 - 3 mm [T4]. ♀ 3.0-3.5 mm (3.8mm) , ♂ 2.0-3.0 mm (T14]. ♂ 2.5 - 3.5mm [S1]. ♀ 3.0 - 3.4mm [T10]

colorBlack [M]. The body is densely rugose-punctured [T14].

head

shapeHead less transverse, more orbicular, temples somewhat dilated [M]. Temple in dorsal view not bulging (Fig. 2) [P1]. Head roundly narrowed behind eyes, sometimes slightly broadened, but its maximum width behind eyes not greater than in ocular region [T4]. Head as wide as mesoscutum, weakly behind eyes, but rather strongly rounded-narrowed in posterior half; head width 1.6 times its length, 1.3 times its height. Temples 1.3 times as long as transverse eye diameter. Ocellar triangle 1.6 times as wide as OOL. POL 2.5 times eye diameter. Longitudinal diameter of eye 1.7 times transverse, twice height of malar space. Face width 1.7 times its height. Maxillary palp slightly shorter than height of face with clypeus [T14]. Head, transverse, posteriorly narrowed; the cheeks are not widened. The pits on the forehead at the base of the antennae are rugose, separated by a longitudinal ridge [Te1]. Head behind eyes usually roundly narrowed, rarely weakly widened [T10]. Temples as wide as eye [T24].

sculptureFace mildly and densely sculptured [T4]. Vertex behind ocelli densely transversely rugose, face with numerous thin rugae diverging from its upper corners [T14].

colorPalpi black ; mandibles reddish at the tips [M]. Palpi pale yellow[T14].

antenna

shape ♀16 segments, flattened and widened beyond the middle, the last 3 - 4 segments abruptly decreasing in size [M]. Antennae bristly, equal to the total length of the head, mesosoma and 0.3 of the metasoma; 3rd segment 3-3.5 times as long as wide, 12th segment 1.3 times, two apical segments equal to their width [T14]. Antennae 16-segmented, thickened in the middle, narrowed towards the apex, flattened [Te1]. Two apical segments nearly as long as wide; preceding ones distinctly longer [T10].

shape ♂22 segments [M]. Antennae 22-25-segmented [Te1].

colorThird segment yellow-brown [M]. Antennae yellowish in basal half [T14]. Scapus reddish-yellow [Te1].

mesosoma

shapeMesosoma length 1.3 times its height. Propodeum with weak transverse carina, with rather large lateral teeth rounded at apex [T14]. Propodeum with 2 teeth [Te1].

sculptureScutellum in middle usually with somewhat smooth sculpture [T4]. Scutellum punctated, dull [H2]. ♀ Mesonotum before scutellum with short and sinuous longitudinal rugae; scutellum weakly sculptured and shining in middle. ♂ Mesoscutum and scutellum more strongly sculptured, scutellum rugose-punctate at least laterally [T14]. The whole mesosoma, including propodeum is rugose [Te1]

color

legs

shapeHind femur 3 times as long as wide. Hind tibia equal to length of hind tarsus [T14].

sculpture

colorLegs ♀ orange-brown, including the trochanters, coxae black, tarsi and tips of hind tibiae dark brown; of the ♂ the four anterior femora are black, yellow-brown at both ends, hind femora entirely, and their tibiae at the apex, black [M]. ♂ Legs light brown to brown [P1]. ♂ Hind femora reddish brown [T4]. Legs ♀ red, ♂ black with red fore-tibiae and hind tibiae with yellow in middle [H2]. ♀ Legs are mostly brownish yellow. Hind femora brownish yellow, middle of hind tibiae yellow. ♂ Hind femora entirely brownish yellow [T14]. Legs reddish-yellow; coxae, hind tibia apex and tarsi black [Te1]. Hind femur red [S1]. Legs pale, brownish or reddish yellow [T10]. Hind coxae dark [T24].

wings

shapeVein r nearly perpendicular to the fore margin of pterostigma. ♂ Pterostigma issuing radial vein from its middle, 3-SR half as long as r, SR1 straight, 1-R1 about half as long as pterostigma (fig. 1) [P1]. r: 3-SR = 2 [H2]. The marginal cell of the fore wing is 2.5–3 times larger than the 2nd submarginal cell,1-R1 1.6–1.7 times shorter than pterostigma. ♂ 1-R1 is 0.7 times as long or slightly shorter than the pterostigma; 3-SR is much shorter than r [T14]. The marginal cell is larger than pterostigma. SR1 is straight. The radial vein of the hind wing is slightly curved [Te1]. 1-R1 about half as long as pterostigma; marginal cell 3-4 times as large as 2nd submarginal cell; r much longer than 3-SR, situated nearly vertically with respect to longitudinal axis of pterostigma [T10].

colorTegulae brown [T4]. Tegulae brownish yellow. The wings are slightly darkened [T14]. Wings smoky, with light transverse stripe behind brown stigma [Te1].

metasoma

shapeMetasoma [compared to sulcatus] less oval, more contracted at the base, the sides more parallel [M]. ♂ Carapace apically more incurved, i.e. ventral cavity of carapace distinctly shorter than carapace itself (Fig. 3) [P1]. ♀ Metasoma 1.5 times as long as wide [T4]. Metasoma angularly narrowed toward apex, bent apically anteriorly by 0.1 times its length, 1.8–1.9 times as long as wide [T14]. Metasoma ovoid, strongly narrowed at the base [Te1]. Carapace not reflexed apically, oval [T10]. Metasoma rounded apically, not or only weakly incurved [T24].

sculptureLongitudinal rugae on metasoma fine and short [T4]. Metasoma in the basal half with weak sinuous longitudinal rugae, its apex transversely rugose against the background of dense granular ornamentation [T14]. Metasoma without sharp longitudinal rugae, coarsely rugose at the base, slightly rugose at the apex, shining [Te1].

colorMetasoma without spots [M]. metasoma entirely black [T4].

♀ ovipositorThe ovipositor is hidden or protrudes to the total length of the 1st-3rd segments of the hind tarsus [T14]. The ovipositor is short [Te1].

♂ apertureAperture of the ♂ more cordiform, emarginate on the lower side and there ciliated, with a depressed shining margin [M]. Aperture of abdominal shield 2 - 3 times as wide as high, reddish, small [T4]. Small, round [H2]. The aperture is small, rounded [Te1].

other info

distributionCH, DE, CZ, FR, GB, NL, PL, SE [FE].

remarksVery like C. sulcatus Nees [M]. The two names, M. parcicornis and M. latrunculus, seem to refer to the same species. On the basis of Herrich-Schaeffer's key and short description the species M. parcicornis is unrecognizable and, furthermore, the syntype material of this taxon does not exist. The single female specimen of M. parcicornis sensu Wesmael is conspecific with M. latrunculus [P1]. In the western Palearctic there are only 3 species with light legs, dark body, no yellow abdominal spot: C. latrunculus, C. starki and C. radialis [T24].

hostsTortrix sp. (Tortricidae), Depressaria sp. (Oecophoridae) [Ay3].

figures

fig. 1: distal part of right fore wing (Papp 1995)	fig. 2: head in dorsal view (Papp 1995)	fig. 3: hind end of carapace in ventral view (Papp 1995)
fig. 4: head in dorsal view (Tobias 2010)	fig. 5: antenna, apex (Tobias 2010)	fig. 6: fore wing (Tobias 2010)
fig. 7: metasoma, dorsal view (Tobias 2010)	fig. 8: ♀ metasloma, lateral view (Tobias 2010)

references

code	reference	type of info	named as
Ab2	Abdínbekova 1971	k
AyB2	Aydoğdu & Beyarslan 2006	hosts
H2	Hellen 1958	dk
M	Marshall 1885	Tk
P1	Papp 1995	k4f
S1	Szepligeti 1908	k
S4	Szepligeti 1898	k
Te1	Telenga 1941	dk	Chelonella latruncula
T10	Tobias 2001b	k
T13	Tobias 2000	k2
T14	Tobias 2010	dk
T24	Tobias 1990	k
T4	Tobias 1986	k
FE	van Achterberg 2021	Fauna Europaea
legend:	Type description \| Redescription \| description \| in key \| comment \| nom. nov. \| figure(s) \| photo(s)

links

photos

type description

Marshall 1885

16. Chelonus latrunculus, n. s.

Niger, abdomino immaculato, palpis concoloribus, mandibulis apice rufescentibus. Feminae pedes cum trochanteribus rufotestacei, coxis nigris, tarsis et tibiarum posticarum apicibus infuscatis. Maris femora anteriora medio late, postica tota, tibiae poeticae apice, nigra. A C. sulcate haud facili negotio dignoscendus. Caput, ut videtur, magis cubicum, genis deorsum productis, dilatatis, oculis minoribus, antennis multo tenuioribus, maris 22-, feminae 16-articulatis, ultra medium incrassatis, flagelli basi rufa. metasoma minus ovatum juxta basin angustatum, lateribus magis parallelis; maris rima anali potius cordiformi vel subcirculari, subtus emarginata, ibidemque ciliata, limbo undique depresso splendente ; pedibus denique feminae fere totis testaceis.

Black ; metasoma immaculate; palpi black ; mandibles rufescent at the tips; legs 5 rufo-testaeeous, including the trochanters, coxae black, tarsi and tips of hind tibiae fuscescent; of the 3 the four anterior femora are black, testaceous at both ends, hind femora entirely, and their tibiae at the apex, black. Very like C. sulcatus Nees, but distinguished as follows :—Head less transverse, more orbicular, cheeks produced downwards, and somewhat dilated ; eyes smaller ; antennae more slender, of the ♂ 22-, of the ♀ 16-jointed, compresso-dilated beyond the middle, the last 3—4 joints abruptly diminishing; 1st joint of the flagellum testaceous. metasoma less oval, more contracted at the base, the sides more parallel; anal aperture of the ♂ narrower and longer, i. e., more cordiform, emarginate on the lower side and there ciliated, with a depressed shining margin. ♂ ♀. Length, 1 1/2; wings, 2 3/4 lin.

The colour of the legs in the female renders it probable that this may be C. parcicornis, Thoms., Opusc. Ent., vi., 1874, p. 579, ♂ ♀ , but not of Schäffer and Wesmael. The sexes differ only in the colour of the femora, and as they were taken together I presume that they are correctly paired.

Described from two pairs captured in Northants, and another from Gadder Wilderness, near Glasgow, in Cameron’s collection; also a male taken by Fitch at Maldon.

Data used in the multi-access key

These data are collected from the species descriptions and redescriptions, from published figures and photographs and from own measureements and observations. For a description of the different variables and value classes see this pdf.

morphology
basic information	female	male
body length (mm):	(2.3) 2.3 - 3.5 (3.8)	(2.3) 2.3 - 3.5 (3.8)
number of antennal segments:	16	(21) 21 - 25 (26)
head, dorsal view
Head width : length	narrow	narrow
Temples narrowing - widening	parallel	parallel
Eye length : temple length	0.75 - 1.0, 1.0 - 1.25	0.75 - 1.0, 1.0 - 1.25
Roundness temple	strong, medium, weak	strong, medium, weak
POL : OD	2 - 3	2 - 3
Ocellar triangle shape	wide	wide
Excavation of head	15 - 25%, 25 - 35%	15 - 25%, 25 - 35%
head, lateral view
Head height : length	---	---
Eye height : length	very short, short	very short, short
Temple length : eye length	very short, short	very short, short
head, frontal view
Head width : height	---	---
Face width : height	narrow	narrow
Eyes converging ventrally	---	---
EH : MSL	---	---
Clypeus width : height	---	---
Clypeus extending above bottom of eyes	---	---
Tentorial pits	---	---
Shape of lower margin clypeus	---	---
antennae
Antennal shape	clearly widened	filiform, not widened
Segment 3 length : width	medium	---
Penultimate segment length : width	short	---
Length of antenna : length of body	2: short, 3: long	---
mesosoma, lateral view
Length : height	short	short
transverse carina	weak, indistinct	weak, indistinct
lateral teeth	well developed	well developed
mesosoma, ventral view
Prepectal carina lamelliform	indistinct	indistinct
legs
Hind femur length : width ratio	short	short
Hind tibia length : hind tarsus length ratio	medium	medium
Hind tibia (longest) spur length : metatars length ratio
wings
Vein 1-R1 length : pterostigma length	short, medium	short, medium
Vein r length : vein 3-SR length	long	long
Shape vein SR1 (straight / concave / convex)	straight or S-shaped	straight or S-shaped
S-shape vein SR1	not S-shaped	not S-shaped
cell M : cell Sm2	Sm2 small	Sm2 small
Pterostigma length : width ratio	short	short
Angle between radial vein (r) : vein 1-R1	blunt	blunt
metasoma, dorsal view
Length : width ratio of metasoma	medium	medium
Shape of metasoma	narrowing to apex	narrowing to apex
metasoma, lateral view
Length : height ratio of metasoma	medium, long	medium, long
posterior : anterior height ratio of metasoma	small	small
Position of maximum height	medium	medium, medium-posterior
metasoma, ventral view
Metasoma posteriorly curved forwards	(almost) not incurved, just/slightly incurved	just/slightly incurved, (distinctly) incurved
male apical aperture
Aperture width : metasoma width	no aperture	small, medium
Aperture shape	n. a.	oval
Median process shape	n. a.	---
sculpture
head
general coarseness	fine	fine
clypeus
coarseness punctation	---	---
density punctation	---	---
face
sculpture type	rugose	rugose
sculpture direction	diagonal/concentric	diagonal/concentric
vertex and temple
sculpture type	transverse rugulose	transverse rugulose
mesonotum
sculpture type	---	---
scutellum
middle	smooth	smooth
lateral	rugulose, rugose / striate	rugulose, rugose / striate
metasoma
base - mid sculpture	longitudinally rugose / rugose-striate	longitudinally rugose / rugose-striate
sculpture at apex	rugulose	rugulose
coarse / fine boundary	base (to 50%)	base (to 50%)
color
head
mandibles color pattern	light tip	light tip
palpi, lightest color	black, dark brown, yellow, ivory, white	black, dark brown, yellow, ivory, white
antennae
scapus, lightest color	reddish or brownish yellow	reddish or brownish yellow
segment 3 and 4, lightest color	reddish or brownish yellow	reddish or brownish yellow
legs
fore coxae lightest colour	dark	dark
fore femur lightest colour	medium dark, medium light	medium dark, medium light
fore femur color pattern	tip light, entirely light	tip light, entirely light
hind femur lightest colour	medium dark, medium light	dark, medium dark, medium light
hind femur color pattern	entirely light	entirely dark, entirely light
hind tibia lightest colour	medium dark, medium light	medium dark, medium light
hind tibia color pattern	wide light ring, wide light base	narrow light ring, wide light ring
hind basitarsus lightest colour	dark	dark
hind tarsus segment 2-3 lightest colour	dark	dark
wings
middle veins lightest colour	medium dark, medium light	medium dark, medium light
basal veins lightest colour	medium light	medium light
metasoma
metasoma colour pattern	entirely dark	entirely dark
metasoma lightest colour	dark	dark
metasoma base, colour pattern	entirely dark	entirely dark
metasoma base, light spots	n.a.	n.a.
metasoma base, light band	n.a.	n.a.

Chelonus latrunculus in published keys

T10: Tobias 2001b

Microchelonus Species of the Subgenus Microchelonus s. str. (Hymenoptera, Braconidae) with Head Widened behind Eyes, from the Western Part of the Palaearctic Region.

T24: Tobias 1990

Contribution to the Knowledge of the Genus Microchelonus Szépl. (Hymenoptera, Braconidae) in the Far East; Species with Dark Abdomen and Light Legs.

T4: Tobias, 1986

Key to the Insects of the European Part of the USSR Volume III. Hymenoptera. Part four. Chapter 16

M: Marshall, 1885

Monograph of British Braconidae. Part 1

T14: Tobias, 2010

Palearctic species of Microchelonus Szépligeti (Hymenoptera: Braconidae, Cheloninae): key to species.

P1: Papp, 1995

Revision of C. Wesmael’s Chelonus species (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Cheloninae).