Chelonus obscuratus

Chelonus obscuratus

authorHerrich-Schäffer, 1838

synonyms

body

shape5.3-5.6 mm. [P1]. ♀ 5-6 mm, ♂ 5-6 mm, usually 5.5-5.8 mm [P2]. 4.5 - 5.2 [T16]. 6-8 mill.(3.6-4.8 mm) [Th, intermedius].

colorGround colour of body black [P2].

head

shapeHead in dorsal view (Fig. 1) slightly less transverse, 1.8 - 1.9x as broad as long, eye nearly 1/3 longer than temple, latter rounded. Ocelli small, POL : OD : OOL as 14 : 5 : 15. Eye in lateral view 1.75x as high as wide, temple just less wide than eye. Malar space about as long as basal width of mandible. Inner margin of eyes parallel [P2]. head 1.82-1.96 as broad as long (Fig. 9) [P1]. POL 1.5–1.6 times as long as OOL (Fig.11) [E1]. The head is transverse, slightly roundly narrowed posteriorly. Face almost twice as wide as high, without longitudinal ridge in the middle; malar space equal to 1/2 of the longitudinal diameter of the eye; temples slightly more than the width of the eye. The forehead is at the base with a notch covered with transverse rugae. The ocelli are small; OOL is 4 times the diameter of the ocellus. [Te1]. Temples slightly longer than transverse diameter of eye, slightly broad [T4].

sculptureThe head is, except for the clypeus, roughly wrinkled. Clypeus gently punctate, shining. The temples and vertex are rugose-striate [Te1]. Vertex almost not transversely wrinkled [T4].

colorPalpi black [P2].

antenna

shape ♀25 - 29 segments [H]. Antenna longer than head + mesosoma, with 23-24(-25) segments. Third segment 3x and penultimate 2 segments 1.33x and 1.5x as long as broad, respectively [P2]. Antenna with 23-24 segments, flagellum medially hardly flattened [P1]. Antennae equal to body length; 29-30-segmented; compressed and thickened behind the middle, noticeably thinning at the apex [Te1]. Antennae 24—25-segmented, apical segments longer than wide [T4][T16].

shape ♂Antenna with 27-30 segments [P1]. Antenna 2/3 - 3/4 as long as body, with 27-28(-30) segments; penultimate segment 1.7-1.8x as long as broad [P2]. Antennae equal to body length; 29-30-segmented; thin, filiform [Te1].

color Antenna black [P2].

mesosoma

shapePropodeum with weak to distinct carinae and very small sideways pointing hind and fore corners [H]. Mesosoma in lateral view 1.5x as long as high. Notauli distinct by somewhat rougher sculpture [P2]. The sides of the mesonotum are without noticeable longitudinal groove. Propodeum with a transverse ridge in the middle, with obtuse short teeth on the sides [Te1].

sculptureScutellum with longitudinal striae [H]. Mesosoma rugose; scutellum with longitudinal rugae, interspaces shiny [P2]. Mesosternum weakly rugose-punctate in the middle, shining, roughly rugose along the anterior margin. There are no notauli. The pronotum, the sides of the mesonotum and the propodeum are coarsely rugose. Scutellum smooth at base, rugose towards apex [Te1].

color

legs

shapeHind femur 3.25x as long as medially broad. Pair of spurs of hind tibia subequal, inner spur about 2/3 as long as basitarus; hind basitarsus as long as tarsomeres 2-4 (Fig. 7) [P1]. Pair of spurs of hind tibia clearly unequal in length, inner spur longer than half basitarsus (Fig. 10). Hind femur 3.3-3.5 times as long as broad at its middle [P2]. Hind tibial spurs equal to 1/2 metatars [Te1].

sculptureHind coxae densely rugose dorsally [Te1].

colorOnly the tips of femora and tibiae reddish-yellow. Hind tibiae at base and top half black, sometimes completely black. Mid tibiae sometimes on outside blackish. Tarsi brownish [H]. Femora reddish yellow, basally blackish to black [P1]. Coxae and trochanters black, femora and tibiae reddish yellow, hind tibia apically and all tarsi blackish [P2]. Legs are red; coxae, trochanters, base of femur, apex of hind tibiae and tarsi black [Te1]. Tibiae and femora red [M2, intermedius].

wings

shapeFore wing somewhat shorter than body. Pterostigma 2.3-2.8(-3)x, usually 2.4-2.6x, as long as wide, issuing radial vein from its middle, R1 somewhat longer than pterostigma;1-R1 as long as pterostigma, 3-SR 1.3x as long as r, SR1 not straight [P2]. Vein r is equal to 3-SR and r-m; SR1 straight, almost 4 times as long as 3-SR. 1-R1 slightly longer than pterostigma. 1-CU1 is half as long as 2-CU1. The radial vein of the hind wing is strongly curved at the base [Te1].

colorTegula black [P1]. Wings subhyaline, pterostigma brown, veins proximo-distally opaque yellow to brownish [P2]. The wings are light at the base, smoky behind the middle; veins in basal half of fore wing yellow [Te1]. Costal vein and parastigma brown [T4]. Tegulae brown [T4][T16].

metasoma

shape♀ Carapace in dorsal view (Fig. 4) 1.9 - 2x as long as medially broad, apically rounded; in lateral view (Fig. 3) 2.5x as long as posteriorly high, its posterior end distinctly rounded (Fig. 3, arrow); in ventral view (Fig. 6) clearly incurved, i. e. ventral cavity of carapace shorter than carapace itself. ♂ Carapace in dorsal view (Fig. 5) cylindrical, 2-2.2x as long as medially broad; in lateral view less rounded posteriorly (Fig. 3)[P2]. Carapace in lateral view (Fig. 8) apically deeply rounded i.e. carapace apico-ventrally deeply incurved (Fig. 6). Carapace in dorsal view 1.8-1.9 times (♀) and 1.8-2 times (♂) as long as broad posteriorly [P1]. Apex of metasomal shield without ventral groove or groove slight and narrow; metasomal shield posteriorly slightly down curved, 3.5 - 4 times as long as high in apical third [Ay2]. Maximum length of female carapace 2.3 times its maximum height (Fig. 12) [E1]. Metasoma almost equal to length of head and mesosoma, with parallel lateral margins, broadly rounded at apex [Te1]. Metasoma on lower side of apex with longitudinal groove. Metasoma 3.5-4 times as long as high in apical third [T4].

sculptureCarapace anteriorly strio-rugose, posteriorly rugose [P2]. Metasoma with distinct longitudinal rugae in basal half, irregularly wrinkled at apex [Te1]. Metasoma in basal third with two sharp longitudinal carinae [T4][T16].

colorWhite lateral spots [H]. ♀ Pair of basal maculae of carapace pale yellow. ♂ Carapace frequently lacking basal pair of yellow spots, i. e., carapace entirely black [P2].

♀ ovipositorOvipositor sheath short, somewhat shorter than hind basitarsus [P2]. The ovipositor is straight, short [Te1].

♂ aperture

other info

distributionCH, DE, CZ, PL, SE [FE].

remarksCh. obscuratus Herrich-Schaeffer is very similar to Ch. oculator (Fabricius, 1775) (= Ch. oculator Panzer, 1799 sensu auct.)

hostsRhyacionia buoliana Den. and Schiff. (Tortricidae)

figures

fig. 1: Head in dorsal view with indication of its sculpture (Papp 1997a)	fig. 2: Female carapace in lateral view (Papp 1997a)	fig. 3: Posterior end of male carapace in lateral vie (Papp 1997a)
fig. 4: Female carapace in dorsal view with sculpture (Papp 1997a)	fig. 5: Male carapace in dorsal view (Papp 1997a)	fig. 6: Posterior end of carapace in ventral view (Papp 1995)
fig. 7: Hind tarsus (Papp 1997a)	fig. 8: carapace of female in lateral view (Papp 1995)	fig. 9: head in dorsal view (Papp 1995)
fig. 10: pair of spurs of hind tibia (Papp 1995)	fig. 11: head in dorsal view (Edmardash et al. 2011)	fig. 12: carapace in lateral view (Edmardash et al. 2011)

references

code	reference	type of info	named as
Ay1	Aydoğdu 2008	k
E1	Edmardash et al. 2011	k
H	Herrich 1838	T
M2	Marshall 1889	d	intermedius
P1	Papp 1995	k2f
P2	Papp 1997a	Rk7f
S1	Szepligeti 1908	k
S4	Szepligeti 1898	k
Te1	Telenga 1941	dk
Th	Thomson 1874	T	intermedius
T16	Tobias 1972a	k	C. obscurator
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

Fauna Europaea

photos

type description

Herrich 1838

22, CHELONUS obscuratus mihi.

Schildchen mit Längsfalten, Metamesosoma mit undeutlichen Kielen und sehr kleinen, seitlich vorstehenden Hinter- und Vorderecken. Hinterleib wie bei Ch. variabilis, Flecke weisslich, weiter vorwärts stekend, wenig einwärts ragend, nur die Spitze der Schenkel und die Schienen rostgelb; HSchienen hinter der W und an der Endhälfte schwarz, Tarsen bräunlich; 25 Fühlerglieder.
var. 1. HSchienen ganz, MSchienen aussen schwärzlich,
var. 2. HLeib ungefleckt, Kiele des Metamesosoma deutlicher, 27-29 Fühlerglieder.
var. 3. 25 Fühlerglieder, Leib flacher, die Falten stärker, weniger verzweigt.

Was an den Beinen von dem vielen Schwarz übrigbleibt, ist mehr rostgelb als roth. Die flügel sind auffallend schwarzlicher als bei den vorhergehenden Arten, nur am Wurzeldrittel glashell, die Schwiele braun.

Bei einem Expl. hat die Spitze des Hinterleibs eine ziemlich tiefe, aber nicht gerandete Querfurche, bei einem andern ist sie langer als gewöhnlich vorgezogen, fast wie bei productus.

Ein Expl. hat nur 20 Fühlerglieder.

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):	(5) 5 - 5.8 (6)	(5) 5 - 5.8 (6)
number of antennal segments:	23 - 26 (29)	27 - 29 (30)
head, dorsal view
Head width : length	narrow, wide	narrow, wide
Temples narrowing - widening	parallel	parallel
Eye length : temple length	1.0 - 1.25, > 1.25	1.0 - 1.25, > 1.25
Roundness temple	medium, weak	medium, weak
POL : OD	2 - 3, 3 - 4	2 - 3, 3 - 4
Ocellar triangle shape	narrow, wide	narrow, 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, wide	narrow, wide
Eyes converging ventrally	about parallel	about parallel
EH : MSL	short	short
Clypeus width : height	---	---
Clypeus extending above bottom of eyes	---	---
Tentorial pits	---	---
Shape of lower margin clypeus	---	---
antennae
Antennal shape	slightly widened, clearly widened	filiform, not widened
Segment 3 length : width	medium	---
Penultimate segment length : width	medium	medium, long
Length of antenna : length of body	2: short, 3: long, 4: very long	3: long, 4: very long
mesosoma, lateral view
Length : height	medium	medium
transverse carina	present	present
lateral teeth	very small, very weak, weak, small, short	very small, very weak, weak, small, short
mesosoma, ventral view
Prepectal carina lamelliform	indistinct	indistinct
legs
Hind femur length : width ratio	medium	medium
Hind tibia length : hind tarsus length ratio	---	---
Hind tibia (longest) spur length : metatars length ratio	long	long
wings
Vein 1-R1 length : pterostigma length	long	long
Vein r length : vein 3-SR length	short	short
Shape vein SR1 (straight / concave / convex)
S-shape vein SR1	---	apically convex
cell M : cell Sm2	---	---
Pterostigma length : width ratio	short, medium, long	short, medium, long
Angle between radial vein (r) : vein 1-R1	---	---
metasoma, dorsal view
Length : width ratio of metasoma	medium, long	medium, long
Shape of metasoma	widest in middle, widest towards apex	widest in middle, widest towards apex
metasoma, lateral view
Length : height ratio of metasoma	short, medium, long	short, medium, long
posterior : anterior height ratio of metasoma	large	large
Position of maximum height	medium-posterior, posterior	posterior
metasoma, ventral view
Metasoma posteriorly curved forwards	(distinctly) incurved	(distinctly) incurved
male apical aperture
Aperture width : metasoma width	no aperture	no aperture
Aperture shape	n. a.	n. a.
Median process shape	n. a.	n. a.
sculpture
head
general coarseness	coarse	coarse
clypeus
coarseness punctation	punctate	punctate
density punctation	---	---
face
sculpture type	rugose	rugose
sculpture direction	---	---
vertex and temple
sculpture type	striate-rugulose, transverse rugulose	striate-rugulose, transverse rugulose
mesonotum
sculpture type	notauli indistinct	notauli indistinct
scutellum
middle	rugose / striate	rugose / striate
lateral	rugose / striate	rugose / striate
metasoma
base - mid sculpture	striate-rugose, longitudinally rugose / rugose-striate	striate-rugose, longitudinally rugose / rugose-striate
sculpture at apex	rugose	rugose
coarse / fine boundary	base (to 50%)	base (to 50%)
color
head
mandibles color pattern	---	---
palpi, lightest color	black, dark brown	black, dark brown
antennae
scapus, lightest color	black, dark brown	black, dark brown
segment 3 and 4, lightest color	black, dark brown	black, dark brown
legs
fore coxae lightest colour	dark	dark
fore femur lightest colour	medium light	medium light
fore femur color pattern	tip light, base dark	tip light, base dark
hind femur lightest colour	medium dark, medium light	medium dark, medium light
hind femur color pattern	tip light	tip light
hind tibia lightest colour	dark, medium dark, medium light	dark, medium dark, medium light
hind tibia color pattern	entirely dark, narrow light ring	entirely dark, narrow 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	light	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 obscuratus in published keys

T4: Tobias, 1986

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

P2: Papp, 1997a

Revision of the Chelonus s. str. species described by C. G. Thomson (Hymenoptera: Braconidae, Cheloninae)

Ay1: Aydogdu 2008

A new species of the genus Chelonus Panzer, 1806 (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Cheloninae) from Western Anatolia (Turkey).

P1: Papp, 1995

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