home species list Chelonus starki
Chelonus starki
authorTelenga, 1953
synonyms
body
shape5mm [Te2]. ♀♂: (4-)4.5-5 (-5.3) mm [P3]. 4.0 - 5.0mm [T14][T16]. ♂ 4.5 - 5.3 mm [T24].
colorBlack [Te2]
head
shapeThe head is transverse, roundly narrowed posteriorly. Face half as long as wide. Clypeus rounded along the anterior margin, with two small fossae at the base. The ocelli are small, the distance between them and the edge of the eyes is at least three times the diameter of the ocellus. The occiput is slightly notched. The temples are slightly shorter than the transverse diameter of the eye. Palps not particularly short. The last two segments are equal to each other [Te2]. ♀♂: temple in dorsal view rounded [P3]. Head roundly narrowed behind eyes, 1.1 times as wide as mesonotum, twice as wide as long. Temples equal in length to the transverse diameter of the eye. Base of ocellar triangle larger than OOL plus one ocellus diameter. POL is 3 times the diameter of the ocellus. The longitudinal diameter of the eye is 1.9 times the transverse one, twice the height of the malar space. Face width 2.2 times its height. The proboscis does not protrude. Maxillary palps equal to the height of the face with clypeus [T14].
sculptureThe head is densely rugose, dull. Face with sparse grayish hairs. Clypeus more slightly rugose, shining. Frontal impressions are wrinkled [Te2]. Head above with relatively fine striation (Fig. 3) [P3]. The face is finely and unevenly rugose, the vertex with small transverse rugae behind the ocelli [T14].
colorThe maxillary palp is reddish brown, the labial palp is dark brown [Te2].
antenna
shape ♀Antennae filiform, barely reaching the middle of the metasoma, 23-segmented; their last segments are beaded [Te2]. Antenna with 21-22 antennomeres. Penultimate flagellomere of female cubic [P3]. Antennae slightly longer than head and mesosoma combined; length of 3rd antennal segment 3 times its width; length of segments in its apical part equal to their width [T14].
shape ♂Antennae bristle-shaped, 25-segmented [Te2]. Antennae 26-27-segmented [T24][T14].
colorAntennae black, scape only in front or mostly red [Te2]. Scape reddish yellow [P3].
mesosoma
shapeMesosoma as wide as head. Pronotum short. Prescutellar groove with sharp transverse notches, equal to one quarter of scutellum length. The propodeum with two lateral teeth and an incompletely bordered cell in the middle [Te2]. ♀: Mesosoma length 1.3 times its height. Propodeum with rather distinct transverse carina and small obtuse lateral teeth. ♂: The teeth of the propodeum are well developed [T14]. Propodeal denticles well developed [T24].
sculptureMesonotum at the posterior margin mostly coarsely rugose. Scutellum punctate in basal half, posteriorly rugose, shining. The propodeum is coarsely rugose. The sides of the entire mesosoma and propodeum segment are roughly rugose. Mesonotum with broad, coarsely wrinkled notauli and a longitudinal groove along the middle lobe. Proscutellum groove with sharp transverse notches, equal to one quarter of scutellum length [Te2]. Mesonotum before scutellum rough irregularly-wrinkled, scutellum with smooth sculpture, punctate, shining [T14].
color
legs
shapeThe femora and tibiae are slightly thickened [Te2]. Hind femur 3 times as long as wide. Hind tarsi longer than the hind tibia [T14].
sculptureThe hind coxae are rugose, dull [Te2].
colorLegs are reddish; coxae black, apex of hind tibiae and tarsi dark brown. ♂: Hind coxae dark brown at base [Te2]. Legs (except black coxae + trochanters) reddish yellow [P3]. Legs (except dark coxae) brownish-yellow or yellowish-brown, tarsus (except dark basitarsus) brown. Hind femora yellowish brown [T14]. Hind femora brownish-yellow [T5].
wings
shapeVein cu-a at an angle to CU, extending at a considerable distance behind the basal vein. r slightly longer than 3-SR. 1-RI is equal in length to the pterostigma [Te2]. Vein r nearly as long as 3-SR (Fig. 5) [P3]. Marginal cell 2.5 times as long as 2nd submarginal cell, 1-R1 as long as pterostigma or slightly shorter than it [T14].
colorThe wings are slightly smoky; tegulae, pterostigma and most of the veins are black [Te2]. The wings are slightly darkened. ♂: The veins M-CU and 1-M of the fore wing are colored lighter than other veins, yellowish [T24][T14].
metasoma
shapeThe metasoma is slightly longer than the mesosoma. The abdominal carapace is not rounded at the apex, its lower edge is visible along its entire length (fig. 1). [Te2]. Carapace in dorsal view 1.8-2 times (♀♂) as long as broad, usually somewhat more broadening. ♀: Carapace apically convex, i.e. not incised (Fig. 2). [P3]. Metasoma slightly widened posteriorly, apically slightly bent forward; metasomal length twice (or less than twice) its width [T14]. Length of metasoma less than twice width [T5].
sculptureMetasoma longitudinally rugose in basal half with two sharp carinae in first quarter, irregularly rugose at apex [Te2]. Striation of carapace less strong and with more anastomoses (Fig. 4) [P3]. Metasoma with rather coarse sinuous longitudinal rugae, almost reaching its apex [T14].
colorThe metasoma is entirely black [T14].
♀ ovipositorOvipositor straight, equal to 1/5 the length of the metasoma [Te2]. The ovipositor is hidden [T14].
♂ apertureAperture transverse, four times as wide as high [Te2]. Apical aperture strongly transverse, slit-like, slightly less than the width of the metasoma [T14]. Aperture strongly transverse, occupying nearly entire width of metasoma [T5][T24].
other info
distributionNL [FE].
remarksIt is difficult to determine its systematic position now. Apparently it is close to Chelonus lugubris Wesm. [Te2]. In the western Palearctic only 3 species with light legs, and dark body without yellow abdominal spot: M. latrunculus, M. starki and M. radialis [T24].
hostsSynanthedon (Sesia) formicaeforme Esb., Agrilus subauratus Gebl. Sciapteron tabaniformis Rott., Laspeyresia pomonella L. [Te2].