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| Chelonastichus hanssoni Ranjith & Quicke, in Ranjith, Quicke, Chansri et Butcher, 2025. |
Abstract
Chelonastichus Ranjith & Quicke, gen. nov., is described based on a new species, C. hanssoni Ranjith & Quicke, sp. nov., from Thailand. Whereas most Eulophidae exhibit a delicate, collapsible body, the new genus, is the first known case within the family that possesses a coarsely-sculptured metasomal carapace formed by Gt5, with Gt2–4 short. The possible affinities of the new genus are discussed and it is tentatively placed in the Tetrastichinae.
Keywords: New genus and species, oriental region, Southeast Asia, Tetrastichinae
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| Chelonastichus hanssoni, gen. et sp. nov., holotype, female A habitus, lateral view B head, frontal view C face and clypeus, frontal view D head, dorsal view E head and mesosoma, lateral view F mesosoma, dorsal view. |
Chelonastichus Ranjith & Quicke, gen. nov.
Etymology. The genus name derived from a combination of a generic name from the family Braconidae, ‘Chelonus’ because of the first instance of carapace-like metasoma in the family Eulophidae and ‘astichus’ from the subfamily name Tetrastichinae where this genus is provisionally included.
Chelonastichus hanssoni Ranjith & Quicke, sp. nov.
Avunjikkattu Parambil Ranjith, Donald L. J. Quicke, Kittipum Chansri and Buntika A. Butcher. 2025. Chelonastichus Ranjith & Quicke, gen. nov. (Hymenoptera, Eulophidae, Tetrastichinae) from Thailand: the first eulophid with a metasomal carapace. Journal of Hymenoptera Research. 98: 499-507. DOI: doi.org/10.3897/jhr.98.144864
