Chartocerus kerrichi ( Agarwal, 1963 )

Chartocerus kerrichi ( Agarwal, 1963) View in CoL

Figs 30, 31

Material examined. 80 ♀♀, 92 ♂♂: IRAN, West-Azarbaijan Province , Naqadeh, Solduz Wetland, 37º02′ N, 45º35′ E, 1277 m a.s.l., 21 July 2020, 29 April 2021, M. Razmi leg., ex Calamagrostis epigejos GoogleMaps .

Diagnosis (abstracted from Agarwal 1963; Hayat 1976; Schmidt et al. 2019). Females ( Fig. 30B) are similar to Chartocerus javensis Schmidt and Ubaidillah, 2019 and C. sumatrensis Schmidt and Polaszek, 2019 but can be distinguished from C. javensis by its shorter clava (4.5× as long as broad compared to 6.7× in C. javensis ) ( Fig. 30D), shorter fore wing marginal fringe (0.36–0.40× as long as width of disc compared to 0.56× in C. javensis ) ( Fig. 31E,F), and shorter mesotibial spur (distinctly shorter than the corresponding basitarsus in C. kerrichi but subequal in C. javensis ) ( Fig. 31C). It is differentiated from C. sumatrensis by its shorter ovipositor (2× as long as the mesotibia in C. kerrichi compared to 2.9× in C. sumatrensis ) ( Figs 30B, 31D) and less slender clava (4.5× as long as broad in C. kerrichi compared to 6× in C. sumatrensis ) ( Fig. 30D). Other key characteristics of the females include a dark brown body with a metallic luster; head wider than long and semilunar in shape ( Fig. 31B); frontovertex approximately twice as wide as long, with a rounded occipital margin and lateral ocellus very close to eye rim ( Fig. 31A); eyes globular and slightly longer than wide; head with deep antennal scrobes and carinate antennal sockets near oral margin ( Fig. 31A); mandibles bidentate; and maxillary palps 2-segmented ( Fig. 31A); antenna with seven funiculars, with a cylindrical scape about 5× as long as wide, and a large pedicel ( Fig. 30D); mesosoma with a convex anterior margin and a straight posterior margin with distinct alutaceous sculpture ( Fig. 31D); fore wing hyaline with an infuscate region, and a long marginal vein ( Fig. 31E,F); midleg with femur having three long spines, basitarsus much shorter than tibia, and tibial spur shorter than basitarsus ( Fig. 31C); gaster with ovipositor sheathes slightly exserted, and with distinct subgenital and outer plates ( Fig. 31D).

In comparison with closely related species, males ( Fig. 30A) of this species characterized by the presence of a comparatively short but considerably expanded antennal clava ( Fig. 30C). Males exhibit a high degree of similarity in both size and body color with females. Significant distinguishing features between the sexes include the male antenna with 2 anelli, a shorter pedicel, and a long, thick clava ( Fig. 30C), as well as a more elongated and cylindrical body compared to the broad and laterally compressed bodies of females.

Distribution. IRAN: West Azarbaijan Province (new record). EXTRALIMITAL: India ( Type locality) ( UCD Community 2023).

Biological association. Hosts for this species are indicated in the literature to be Hemiptera , specifically from Cerococcidae , Eriococcidae , and Pseudococcidae . While this species has been found on a diversity of plants, it has been particularly documented on Saccharum officinarum ( Poaceae ) ( UCD Community 2023). During field sampling of Calamagrostis specimens, we documented limited Pseudococcidae (mealybug) populations, potentially reflecting seasonal abundance patterns. However, the concurrent presence of known mealybug predators and parasitoids suggests these hemipterans likely inhabit the plant’s phyllosphere. We emphasize the need for a detailed examination to confirm these trophic relationships.