Megachelonus Baker, 1926

Zhou, Jin-Jin, Achterberg, Kees Van, Tang, Pu & Chen, Xue-Xin, 2022, A review of the subgenera Arichelonus, Megachelonus and Scabrichelonus of the genus Chelonus Panzer (Braconidae: Cheloninae) with description of five new species from China, Zootaxa 5165 (4), pp. 527-547 : 533

Subgenus Megachelonus Baker, 1926

Chelonus (Megachelonus) Baker, 1926: 451 . Type-species: Megachelonus bidentatus Baker, 1926 .

Megachelonus: De Saeger, 1948: 88 (as syn of Chelonus Panzer ).

Diagnosis. Head transverse ( Figs 6G , 8B , 10B , 12E ); antennomeres of apical half of antenna distinctly flattened and broadened; face striate to reticulate rugose, clypeus semi-elliptical ( Figs 6F , 8A , 10A , 12D ); eyes long elliptical or ovoid in lateral view ( Figs 6I , 8G , 10G , 12F ); mesosoma coarsely reticulate-rugose, transverse suture distinct; scutellum distinctly protruding above level of mesoscutum, with same sculpture as mesosoma; propodeum with a transverse carina and distinct tooth-like tubercles( Figs 6C, 6J , 8F , 10F , 12C ); metasomal carapace with two ventroapical tooth-like protuberances ( Figs 6E , 8C , 10C , 12H ).

Biology. Unknown.

Distribution. Oriental.

Key to species of subgenus Megachelonus

1 Carapace broadly yellowish basally....................................................................... 2

- Carapace completely black.............................................................................. 6

2 Antennomeres 28 in female; apex of metasomal carapace with two large teeth ( Fig. 10H )..... C. (M.) macrodontus sp. nov

- Antennomeres 16 in female; metasomal carapace with two comparatively small ventro-apical tooth-like protuberances ( Figs 6E , 8C , 10C )......................................................................................... 3

3 Carapace without lamella ( Fig. 6D )................................................ C. (M.) irilaminatus sp. nov.

- Carapace with lamella ( Figs 8D , 12D )..................................................................... 4

4 Lamella of carapace ventrally long and wide ( Figs 11 , 12D )........................ C. (M.) macros Zhang, Chen & He

- Lamella of carapace ventrally short and narrow ( Figs 7 , 8D ).................... C. (M.) longqiensis Zhang, Chen & He

5 Ventral opening of metasomal carapace reaching apex of carapace.............................................. 6

- Ventral opening remains far away from apex of metasomal carapace; apex of metasomal carapace distinctly swollen in lateral view............................................................................................... 8

6 Base of metasomal carapace entirely yellowish................................... C. (M.) bicoloricomis Baker, 1926

- Base of metasomal carapace black, without spots............................................................ 7

7 Metasomal carapace with a strongly transverse depression dorsally; body length 5.5 mm .. C. (M.) rectangularis Baker, 1926

- Metasomal carapace without dorsal depression body; length 6.0 mm................. C. (M.) megacephalus Baker, 1926

8 Antennomeres dark brown; hind femur entirely dark brown or blackish; body length 3.5 mm ..................................................................................................... C. (M.) uniformis Baker, 1926

- Basal half of antennomeres pale brown and apical half dark brown; hind femur only apically blackish; body length 4 mm ........................................................................... C. (M.) bicoloricomis Baker, 1926

Figures

FIGURE 6. Chelonus (Megachelonus) irilaminatus sp. nov., female, holotype. A, fore wing; B, mesosoma, lateral aspect; C, mesosoma, dorsal aspect; D, metasoma, lateral aspect; E, metasoma, dorsal aspect; F, head, anterior aspect; G, head, dorsal aspect; H, ovipositor and ovipositor sheath, lateral aspect; I, head, lateral aspect; J, propodeum, dorsal aspect.

FIGURE 7. Chelonus (Megachelonus) longqiensis Zhang, Chen & He, female, holotype, habitus, lateral aspect.

FIGURE 8. Chelonus (Megachelonus) longqiensis Zhang, Chen & He, female, holotype. A, head, anterior aspect; B, head, dorsal aspect; C, metasoma, dorsal aspect; D, metasoma, lateral aspect; E, mesosoma, lateral aspect; F, mesosoma, dorsal aspect; G, head, lateral aspect; H, fore wing.

FIGURE 10. Chelonus (Megachelonus) macrodontus sp. nov. female, holotype. A, fore wing; B, mesosoma, lateral aspect; C, mesosoma, dorsal aspect; D, head, anterior aspect; E, head, dorsal aspect; F, head, lateral aspect; G, metasoma, lateral aspect; H, metasoma, dorsal aspect.

FIGURE 11. Chelonus (Megachelonus) macros Zhang, Chen & He, female, holotype, habitus, lateral aspect.

FIGURE 12. Chelonus (Megachelonus) macros Zhang, Chen & He, female, holotype. A, head, anterior aspect; B, head, dorsal aspect; C, metasoma, dorsal aspect; D, metasoma, lateral aspect; E, mesosoma, lateral aspect; F, mesosoma, dorsal aspect; G, head, lateral aspect; H, fore wing.