Cheloninae is a moderately large subfamily within the important parasitoid family Braconidae. The subfamily comprises more than 1400 described species belongs to 20 genus worldwide. So far, 67 species and 4 genera have been recorded in Iran. Chelonus Panzer, 1806 is one of the largest and the most diverse genus of Cheloninae more than 900 described species in the world and 21 species from Iran. The species of the genus are endoparasites of many families of Lepidoptera(especially Noctuidae,Tortricidae,Olethreutidae,and Pyralidae).They play an important role as regulatory agents for phytophagous insect population dynamics, particularly the economically important insect pest.
In this survey, we performed a well-covered sampling throughout Hormozgan province and the Iranian Islands of the Persian Gulf. The samplings were done using 16 Malaise traps during 2011-2013 from different districts including, , Bandarabbas, Rodan(Faryab), Minab and two Islands, Qeshm and Hendorabi. Traps were installed in different agro-ecosystems like orchards, fields, and shore in different elevations. Collected sample were placed in 100% alcohol for 5 minutes and then 30 minutes in Hexamethyldisilazane(HMDS) medium and then prepared for identification. In total, 10 species of of Genus Chelonus were collected and identified are listed as follows:
Chelonus (Microchelonus) nigritibialis Abdinbekova,1971*,
Chelonus (Microchelonus) rostratus , (Tobias,1966 *,
Chelonus (Microchelonus) sulcatus Jurine, (1807*,(
Chelonus(Chelonus)setaceus Papp, 1993,
Chelonus(Chelonus)oculator (Fabricius, 1775,
Chelonus(Chelonus)caradrinae Kokujev, 1914*,
Chelonus (Chelonus) scabrator (Fabricius, 1793(
Chelonus(Chelonus)asiaticus Telenga, 1941,
Chelonus(Chelonus)obscuratus Herrich-Schaffer, 1838*,
Chelonus (Microchelonus) kopetdagicus (Tobias, 1966)
A total of 10 species were collected and identified, of which five species that marked with star are recorded for first time in Iran. Adult specimens were collected from Zakin, Bandar Abbas and faryab, roodan, minab in date March 25, 2011 and April 25,2013 respectively All specimens are deposited in collection of the Department of Entomology, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran (TMUC).Complementary studies needed to revealed the potential bio-control performances and the hosts of this specie.