Sphecodes ebmeri Astafurova & Proshchalykin sp. n.

Figure 1 a-e, g

Material examined.

Holotype ♂: Iran, Mazandaran, Elbrus, 50 km S (90 km Straße) Chalus, 2800 m, 26.VII.1977, leg. A.W. Ebmer [ OÖLM].

Diagnosis.

The male is close to Sphecodes nomioidis Pesenko, 1979 owing to similar structure, sculpture of the body including distinctly punctate metasomal terga and similar small trapezoidal gonostylar shape (Fig. 1a, b). In gonostylar shape the new species is also close to S. geoffrellus (Kirby, 1802) (Fig. 1 c), but differs from both species by having less developed tyloids covering about 1/2 ventral surface of flagellomeres (Fig. 1d) (covering at least 4/5 ventral surface of flagellomeres in S. nomioidis and S. geoffrellus) (Fig. 1e).

Description.

(Male). (Fig. 1f). Total body length 5.5 mm. Head (Fig. 1g) black (except brown mouthparts and antenna); weakly transverse, at most 1.1 times as wide as long; vertex not elevated, distance from top of head to upper margin of a lateral ocellus about 2 lateral ocellar diameters as seen in dorsal view; antenna attain middle of mesoscutum, F1 transverse, 0.75 times as long as wide, F2 1.3 times as long as wide, remaining flagellomeres about 1.2 times as long as wide; tyloids (from F3 onwards) covering about 1/2 ventral surface of flagellomeres; clypeus, paraocular area and frons with confluent punctures (15-25 μm); area between ocellus and eye with punctures separated at most by 1.5 of a puncture diameter; vertex behind ocellus and gena rugose; face below antennal toruli with snow-white, plumose pubescence, obscuring the underlying integument.

Mesosoma black; mesoscutum and mesoscutellum with coarse punctures (20-30 μm) separated by 0.5-2 puncture diameters (Fig. 1h); mesepisternum and hypoepimeral area shiny, reticulate-rugose, with sparse, erect, plumose pubescence; propodeal triangle (metapostnotum) and remainder of propodeum shiny, coarsely rugose; femur dark brown, tibia and tarsi brownish with yellow. Hind wing with basal vein strongly curved; costal margin with 5 hamuli.

Metasoma (Fig. 1i) dark-brown; terga distinctly punctate (ca 10 μm / 2-4); marginal zones impunctate, smooth on T1 and T2 and finely tessellate on T3 and T4; sterna finely tessellate with sparse microscopic setae pores; gonocoxite dorsally with impression; membranous part of gonostylus small, trapezoidal.

Female unknown.

Etymology.

This species is dedicated to the Austrian hymenopterist Andreas W. Ebmer in recognition of his outstanding contributions to bee researches.

General distribution.

Only known from the type locality in Iran (Mazandaran).