Cerchysius subplanus (Dalman, 1820)

Razmi, Mehdi, Karimpour, Younes & Lotfalizadeh, Hossein, 2025, Bushgrass, Calamagrostis epigejos (Poaceae), a natural pool of chalcidoid wasps (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea) in Iran, Zootaxa 5696 (2), pp. 151-204 : 159-161

Cerchysius subplanus (Dalman, 1820)

Figs 6 , 7

Material examined. 33 ♀♀, 10 ♂♂: IRAN, West-Azarbaijan Province , Naqadeh, Solduz Wetland, 37º02′ N, 45º35′ E, 1277 m a.s.l., 21 July 2020, 29 April 2021, Y. Karimpour leg., ex Calamagrostis epigejos .

Diagnosis (abstracted from Mercet 1921). Female ( Fig. 6B ): head and pronotum metallic blue, mesoscutum and scutellum greenish-golden, and gaster black-violet with a strongly shining golden-green basal tergite ( Figs 6B , 7A– E ); fore wings hyaline or slightly infuscate medially, with very short marginal fringe ( Fig. 7F,H ); ovipositor black, two-thirds length of gaster ( Fig. 7C ); antennal structure diagnostic: scape elongate, equal to first three funicular segments combined; Fu 1 elongate, nearly 3× as long as broad; clava large, depressed, as long as the preceding three funicular segments combined ( Fig. 6D ).

Male ( Fig. 6A ): resembles female in general coloration but differ by having a golden-greenish vertex and frons, and the tegula whitish basally ( Fig. 6A ); antennal structure diagnostic: entirely yellow with brownish markings on scape and pedicel; funicular segments elongate, with Fu 1 distinctly longer, apical segments nearly as long as basal segments; clava slightly larger than the preceding funicular segment ( Fig. 6C ).

Distribution. IRAN: West Azarbaijan Province ( Salimi et al. 2025). EXTRALIMITAL: Central Asia, Europe, former USSR, India, Mongolia, North Korea, China, Russia, Thailand, Transcaucasus, Turkey ( UCD Community 2023).

Biological association. Multiple species of Diptera , representing various families were collected from laboratory-maintained plant specimens and submitted to taxonomic specialists for identification. Some species of Eriococcidae and Pseudococcidae ( Hemiptera ) and Chamaemyiidae ( Diptera ) associated with plants of the Fagaceae and Poaceae families plants are documented hosts ( UCD Community 2023). Given the presence of Diptera , such as leafminers ( Liriomyza : Agromyzidae ), aphid flies ( Chamaemyiidae ), gall-makers ( Lasioptera calamagrostidis : Cecidomyiidae ), and grass flies ( Chlorops : Chloropidae ), among the herbivores of Calamagrostis , it is likely that the host of this parasitoid belongs to one of this Diptera .

Figures

FIGURE 6. Cerchysius subplanus (Dalman). A. Male in lateral habitus, B. Female in lateral habitus. C. Male antennae. D. Female antennae.

FIGURE 7. Cerchysius subplanus (Dalman), female. A. Head and mesosoma in lateral view. B. Propodeum in dorsal view, C. Metasoma and ovipositor in dorsal view. D. Mesosoma in dorsal view. E. Head in frontal view. F. Fore wing venation. G. Head in dorsal view. H. Fore wing. I. Mid leg in frontal view.