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Xanthellum Erdös & Novicky, 1951 comparative info return to: prev(eul 6) prev(eul 17) home
Females brachypterous, orange-yellow in color except for black, shiny recessed scrobal grooves extending to median ocellus and transverse markings on frons that may be indistinct. Notauli complete. Supracoxal flange expanded into broad translucent flange overhanging metacoxa; distinct carina extending laterally from above flap to under propodeal spiracle, sometimes forming a Y-shaped carina; propodeal sculpture distinctly granular in females, shiny and similar to that of Elachertus in males. Males brownish and macropterous, indistinguishable from those of Elachertus using generic characters. Compare with: Elachertus-males only.

Xanthellum transsylvanicum female

Biology: Parasitoids of Coleophoridae.

Comments: Extremely poorly known. 1 described species: X. transsylvanicum Erdös. Likely renders Elachertus paraphyletic. Certain Neotropical species have the dark scrobal grooves found in females of this species, but have macropterous females and no laminar supracoxal flange.

Comparative information:

Elachertus: Males indistinguishable using generic characters. Females are easily distinguishable, and males are best identified by association with females. The males of Xanthellum that I have seen are small and brown, with a very thin, laminar supracoxal flange, shiny but still brownish scrobal grooves, distinctly setose eyes, and flattened flagellum. Unfortunately, various males of other Elachertus species have one or more of these characters as well.

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References

Askew, R.R. 1968. Hymenoptera 2. Chalcidoidea section (b). Handbooks for the Identification of British Insects. 8(2)b.

Jansson, A. 1958. Studier över svenska chalcidider 5-6. Entomologisk Tidskrift. 79(3-4): 123-130.

Image credits: Askew (1968).