Pseudoanthidium variabile (Pasteels, 1980)

(Figs 17, 20, 22)

Royanthidium variabile Pasteels, 1980 .— Oman, female

Pseudoanthidium (Royanthidium) variabile Pasteels, 1980 .— Michener & Griswold (1994).

Material examined. OMAN: ♀ holotype, Dhofar Ayun Pools (17.22°N, 53.90°E), 10.x.1977, K. M. Guichard leg. (NHMUK, B.M. Type Hym 17a.3169) .— OMAN: 1♀ paratype, same data as holotype (NHMUK) .

Other material. 2♀ (incl. one paratype), Qara Hills North Slope [N of Salalah, exact location not identified] (c. 17.38°N, 54.05°E), 22.x.1977, K. M. Guichard leg. (RBINS) (Pasteels 1980).

Genetic barcode information. No information available.

Description: Female (Fig. 19). 7 mm. Colouration of maculations on the terga variable, ranging from redorange (type) to golden yellow.— Head: Paraocular area, clypeus, preoccipital region, and gena orange; anterior edge of clypeus almost straight, with subapical region depressed; apical ridge brown, with five tubercles (Fig. 20); mandible yellow to orange-brown, featuring six more or less equally strong black teeth; postocello-preoccipital distance equal to interocellar distance.— Mesosoma: Scutum with narrow orange anterolateral stripe; axilla and a broad band on posterior scutellum orange; scutellum and axillae crescent-shaped in dorsal view, without a median emargination.— Metasoma: T1–T6 orange with a black median wedge; tergal punctation noticeable finer than on scutum; T6 inversely trapezoid in dorsal view with median bilobed projection (Figs 18c, 22); apical margin dark; scopa black with lighter hairs at the margin.— Legs: Trochanters and basal tibiae black; legs otherwise orange; orange bristles on inner face of hind basitarsus.— Wing: Brown infuscated, especially apically.

Male. Unknown.

Distribution. Only known from Oman (Fig. 27a).