Chelonus (Stylochelonus) acaretrus sp. nov.

Figs 101–104

Material examined. Holotype: female, Gutian Mt., Zhejiang Prov., China, 3.VII.2005, Hongying Zhang, No. 200602221 (ZJUH) . Paratypes: 1 female, Shenyang, Liaoning Prov., China, 10.VII.1994, Juxian Lou, No. 947173 ; 1 male, Dongliao, Jilin Prov., China, 22–31.VII.1988, Xiaoming Lou, No. 888131 ; 1 female, Lao Mt., Shandong Prov., China, 4.VIII.1995, Junhua He, No. 955892 ; 1 male, Baotianman, Henan Prov., China, 13–15.VII.1998, Xuexin Chen, No. 991789 ; 2 females, Qingchen Mt., Sichuan Prov., China, 19.VII.2006, Zhilei Gao, Nos. 200610765, 200610766 ; 1 female, Longxi Mt., Fujian Prov., China, 8.VII.1991, Changming Liu, No. 969745 ; 1 male, Xiangtuo Mt., Guangdong Prov., China, 11. V.2004, Zaifu Xu, No. 20048091 ; 2 females and males, Longsheng Huaping, Guangxi Prov., China, 25–26. VI.1982, Junhua He, Nos. 23608, 82382, 822028, 823067 ; 1 male, Bawang Ling, Hainan Prov., China, 20–23.VIII.2005, Jinxian Liu, No. 200702347 .

Diagnosis. This new species is similar to C. (S.) pedator (Dahlbom, 1833), both species having the metasomal carapace very short, but they can be separated by the following characters: temples strongly narrowed posteriorly behind eyes in dorsal view (Fig. 102G) (versus strongly widened in C. (S.) predator); metasomal carapace widest at middle (Fig. 102E) (versus tapering towards base) and face 1.9 × wider than high (Fig. 102F) (versus 1.5 ×).

Description. Holotype, female, length of body 2.9 mm, of fore wing 2.7 mm.

Head. Head transverse, width of head 2.5 × its dorsal length; occiput slightly excavated; antennomeres 22, filiform, antenna slightly widened after middle, length of 3 rd and penultimate antennomeres 3.9 × and 2.2 × their width, respectively; eye 1.5 × as long as temple in dorsal view; OOL: OD: POL=19: 7: 11; temple strongly narrowed behind eyes; frons and vertex striate-rugulose (Fig. 102G); face flat, transverse punctate-rugose, width of face 1.9 × its height; eyes about parallel; clypeus sparsely punctulate, interspaces shiny, 2.2 × wider than high, distance between tentorial pits 1.2 × distance between pits and eyes (Fig. 102F).

Mesosoma. Length of mesosoma 1.3 × its height; side of pronotum reticulate-rugose, mesopleuron coarsely reticulate-rugose (Fig. 102B); notauli indistinct; anterior part of mesoscutum dense punctate and posterior part coarsely reticulate-rugose, scutellum slightly convex, rugose; scutellar suture comparatively deep and with carinae; propodeum coarsely rugose, tubercles distinct (Fig. 102C).

Wings. Vein r straight; marginal cell 0.9 × as long as pterostigma; pterostigma 3.5 × longer than wide; r: 3-SR: SR1=14: 11: 62; SR1 straight; marginal cell 2.8 × longer than second submarginal cell; 1-CU1: 2-CU1=15: 29; 2-R1 absent (Fig. 102A).

Legs. Hind coxa smooth and shiny; length of hind femur, tibia and basitarsus 3.0 ×, 4.9 × and 3.6 × their maximum width, respectively; length of inner hind tibial spur 0.5 × hind basitarsus.

Metasoma. Length of carapace 1.7 × its maximum width, widest at middle, apex of carapace with small tubercle; basal 0.7 of carapace striate-rugose and reticulate-rugose apically (Fig. 102E); carapace in lateral view 2.4 × longer than high, posterior height of metasoma 1.5 × its anterior height, carapace apically slightly incurved (Fig. 102D).

Colour. Reddish brown; antenna brown; mandible light brown; palpi light brown; pterostigma and parastigma dark brown; wing and its veins medium light brown; legs partly brown; carapace entirely black.

Male. Antennomeres 27, antenna clearly widened medially, antenna three coloured, 3 rd –5 th antennomeres light brown, 6 th –9 th yellowish and remainder of antennomeres brown (Fig. 104I); carapace apically almost not incurved (Fig. 104D); apical aperture in posterior view small and nearly round (Fig. 104F); carapace with yellowish band in basal 1/3; other characters as in female (Fig. 104E).

Biology. Unknown.

Distribution. China (Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan, Henan, Jilin, Liaoning, Shandong, Sichuan, Zhejiang).

Etymology. Named after its short metasomal carapace, “ acares ” is Greek for short and “ etrom ” is Greek for belly.