Genus Rhaconotus Ruthe, 1854

Type species

Rhaconotus aciculatus Ruthe, 1854, by monotypy.

Remarks

This is a large and worldwide distributed rhaconotine genus, currently consisting of two subgenera, the monotypic Afrotropical Pararhacon Belokobylskij, 2005, and the widely distributed Rhaconotus s. str.

Distribution

Afrotropical, Australasian, Nearctic, Neotropical, Oriental and Palaearctic regions.

Key to Arabian species of the genera Rhaconotus and Rhaconotinus (female)

1. Metasoma of female with six dorsally visible hardly sclerotised tergites (Figs 44B–C, 46B–C) ( Rhaconotinus Hedqvist, 1965) ........................................................................................................ 2

– Metasoma of female with only five dorsally visible hardly sclerotised tergites (Figs 48B–C, 50B–C, 52B–C, 54D, 56B–C, 58C–D, 60B–C, 62C–D) ( Rhaconotus Ruthe, 1854) .................................... 3

2. Transverse diameter of eye 1.2–1.3 times larger than temple length (Fig. 43C). Vertex entirely transversely striate (Fig. 43C). Mesosoma covered by long yellow setae (Fig. 43H–I). Pterostigma mainly dark brown, but pale in basal third (Fig. 44A). Mediocubital vein of fore wing distinctly curved in apical half (Fig. 44A). Sixth tergite in posterior margin with distinct median emargination (Fig. 43K); long, 1.5–2.0 times longer than fifth tergite (Fig. 44B). Ovipositor sheath almost as long as metasoma, 0.8 times as long as fore wing (Fig. 43A). Body length 5.5–6.9 mm .......................... .................................................................... Rhaconotinus (Rh.) albosetosus Belokobylskij sp. nov.

– Transverse diameter of eye 1.8–2.3 times length of temple (Fig. 45B). Vertex entirely granulate and with reticulation at least partly, always without striae (Fig. 45B). Mesosoma covered by short whitish setae (Fig. 45G–H). Pterostigma entirely yellow or pale brown (Fig. 46A). Mediocubital vein of fore wing weakly curved in apical half (Fig. 46A). Sixth tergite in posterior margin without median emargination; short, usually not or only sometimes weakly longer than fifth tergite (Fig. 46B). Ovipositor sheath distinctly shorter than metasoma, 0.4–0.5 times as long as fore wing (Fig. 45A). Body length 3.6–5.0 mm ........................................... Rhaconotinus (Rh.) menippus (Nixon, 1939)

3. Second metasomal suture without additional transverse furrow and without posterior area (Figs 54C, 58C, 60B, 62C) ................................................................................................................................. 4

– Second metasomal suture with additional transverse furrow and with delineated posterior area (Figs 48C, 50B, 52B, 56B) ............................................................................................................... 7

4. Fifth metasomal tergites with two long processes on its posterior margin (Figs 61J–K, 62C–D). Body length 3.3 mm ...................................... Rhaconotus (Rh.) vanharteni Belokobylskij sp. nov.

– Fifth metasomal tergites without processes on its posterior margin, evenly curved (Figs 54B, 58C, 60B) .................................................................................................................................................. 5

5. Pterostigma mainly dark brown and only its basal third yellow (Fig. 60A). Body length 3.0– 5.4 mm .................................................................... Rhaconotus (Rh.) sudanensis Wilkinson, 1927

– Pterostigma entirely yellow or pale brown (Figs 54A, 58A) ............................................................ 6

6. Vertex with dense and rather long setae directed laterally (Fig. 57B). Mesosoma entirely or almost entirely with dense and rather long pale setae (Fig. 57G–H). Body length 4.2–5.5 mm ................... .............................................................................. Rhaconotus (Rh.) scirpophagae Wilkinson, 1927

– Vertex with dense and rather long setae directed laterally (Fig. 53B). Mesosoma entirely or almost entirely with dense and rather long pale setae (Fig. 57F–G). Body length 3.0– 4.2 mm .................... ............................................................................................ Rhaconotus (Rh.) manolus Nixon, 1941

7. Radial (marginal) cell of fore wing strongly shortened; metacarpus (1-R1) 0.5–0.6 times as long as pterostigma, about 0.7 times as long as distance from apex of radial cell to apex of wing (Fig. 50A). Body length 3.6–4.8 mm .......................... Rhaconotus (Rh.) brevicellularis Belokobylskij sp. nov.

– Radial (marginal cell) of fore wing not or only weakly shortened, proceeding till apex of wing; metacarpus (1-R1) 0.9–1.1 times as long as pterostigma, much longer than distance from apex of radial cell to apex of wing (Figs 48A, 52A, 56A) ............................................................................ 8

8. Third and fourth metasomal tergite in distal third or quarter with deep and coarsely crenulate transverse furrow (Figs 47H–I, 48C). Second metasomal suture with distinct median break (Figs 47H, 48C). Fifth metasomal tergite at least medially widely smooth or almost smooth (Figs 47I, 48C). Legs mainly reddish brown to dark reddish brown (Fig. 47A). Body length 2.4–3.8 mm ......................... ............................................................................... Rhaconotus (Rh.) arabicus Belokobylskij, 2001

– Third and fourth metasomal tergite in distal third without transverse crenulate furrows (Figs 52B, 56B). Second metasomal suture without median break (Figs 52B, 55J, 56B). Fifth metasomal tergite entirely coarsely striate (Figs 52B, 55K, 56B). Legs mainly yellow, but sometimes with brownish tint or brownish yellow, often dark basally (Figs 51A, 55A) ........................................................... 9

9. Fifth tergite on posterior margin without median incision (Fig. 52B). Temple longer, transverse diameter of its eye 1.4–1.7 times temple length (Fig. 51B). Upper margin of clypeus situated on or weakly below than lower level of eyes (Fig. 51C). First metasomal tergite longer, 1.2–1.4 times longer than its posterior width (Fig. 52B). Second metasomal tergite 2.6–3.3 times longer than third tergite (Fig. 52B). Ovipositor sheath shorter, 0.8–0.9. times longer than mesosoma, 0.4 times as long as fore wing (Fig. 51A). Body length 2.6–3.8 mm ............................................................................. .................................................................... Rhaconotus (Rh.) magniareolus Belokobylskij sp. nov.

– Fifth tergite on posterior margin with small median incision (Fig. 55K). Temple shorter, transverse diameter of its eye 2.2–2.5 times temple length (Fig. 55B). Upper margin of clypeus situated distinctly upper than lower level of eyes (Fig. 55C). First metasomal tergite longer, 1.5–1.6 times longer than its posterior width (Figs 55J, 56B). Second metasomal tergite 1.4–1.6 times longer than third tergite (Figs 55J, 56B). Ovipositor sheath longer, 1.1–1.2 times longer than mesosoma, 0.50–0.55 times as long as fore wing (Fig. 55A). Body length 3.5–4.2 mm ..................................................................... ................................................................. Rhaconotus (Rh.) microexcavatus Belokobylskij sp. nov.