ðə mˌɛɾəsˈoʊmə ɪz ˈɑːɹmɚd wɪð tʃˈɪtɪnəs plˈeɪts ɔnðɪ ˌʌpɚ sˈɜːfɪs baɪ ðə tˈɜːdʒaɪts ænd ɔnðə lˈoʊɚ sˈɜːfɪs baɪ ðə stˈɜːnaɪts.
The metasoma is armoured with chitinous plates on the upper surface by the tergites and on the lower surface by the sternites.