Cerceris omaniensis DOLLFUSS, 2023

Dollfuss, Hermann, 2023, Sphecid wasps of the genus Cerceris LATREILLE, 1802 from Oman, with description of three new species (Hymenoptera, Apoidea, Crabronidae), Linzer biologische Beiträge 54 (2), pp. 407-416 : 413-416

Cerceris omaniensis DOLLFUSS nov.sp. ( Fig. 2 )

H o l o t y p e: ♀, Oman, Dhofar, 80 km W Salalah, 16.840N 53.311E, 1000m, 12.X.2021, leg. M. Halada (OÖLM).P a r a t y p e: 1♀, Oman, south Dhofar, 55 km SWW Salalah, 970m, 16°49'N 53°37'E, 3.-4.X.2021, leg. A. Kudrna jr..

E t y m o l o g y: The holotype was collected in Oman.

R e c o g n i t i o n: The female of Cerceris omaniensis is characterized by having the coxa III with a longitudinal carina, the lamella of median area of clypeus is short and as broad as the distance between the tentorial pits ( Fig. 2a ), the mandible has two blunt teeth internally, the propodeal enclosure is smooth and shining with few micropunctures and the lateral- and medio-longitudinal furrows are slightly crenulate. Additionally, the legs are ferruginous and yellow. The female of fingo differs from omaniensis in having the lamella of median area of clypeus deeply and arcuately emarginate, its anterior angles are rounded and extending as far as the transverse apical margin; additionally, the mandibles have a very small tooth in the middle of the inner margin, the prosternum has a transverse carina and the thorax is black except for the anterior half of tegulae and the metanotum, which are yellow.

D e s c r i p t i o n: ♀, 10 mm. Sculpture: anterior margin of clypeus slightly emarginate; lamella of median area of clypeus short and as broad as distance between tentorial pits, anterior margin of lamella slightly rised and slightly emarginate ( Figs. 2a,b ); mandibles with two blunt teeth internally; prosternum without distinct transverse carina; mesopleuron without tubercle; epimeron without crest; propodeal enclosure smooth, shining, sparsely micropunctate, lateral- and medio-longitudinal furrows shallowly crenulate; petiolus as long as wide or slightly longer ( Fig. 2e ); sternum II without medio-basal plate; pygidial plate ( Fig. 2d ); flagellum ( Fig. 2c ). Puncturation: clypeus and frons micropunctate and densely punctate; vertex densely rugose-punctate; pronotal collar and prosternum punctate; scutum shining and nearly densely punctate; scutellum sparsely punctate; metanotum impunctate; propodeal sides irregularly punctate; terga densely punctate; sterna lateral punctate. Pilosity: body sparsely covered with erect setae. Coloration: black; following parts whitish-yellow: clypeus (except anterior margin) and frons, mandible basally, interantennal carina, scapus anteriorly, pronotal collar lateral, tegulae, metanotum, tergum II basal, terga III and V partly, tibiae I and II, tibia III partly, sternum III lateral. Femora and pygidial plate brownish-ferruginous. Flagellum dorsal fuscous and ventral brownish.

♁ unknown.

D i s t r i b u t i o n: Oman.

Cerceris pseudovittata DOLLFUSS nov.sp. ( Fig. 3 ) H o l o t y p e: ♁, Oman, 7 km S Mahda, 24.348N 55.978E, 17.III.2022, leg. M. Halada (OÖLM).

P a r a t y p e s: 1♁, same data as holotype ; 2♁♁, Oman, 80 km W Salalah , 16.840N 53.311E, 1000m, 12.X.2021, leg. M. Halada.

E t y m o l o g y: Thismaleissimilarto Cerceris vittata eurytropyga KOHL.

R e c o g n i t i o n: Cerceris pseudovittata has no longitudinal carina on coxa III and small apomedian fossae on terga II-VI, the flagellomeres IV-XI are distinctly broadened in dorsal view ( Fig. 3c ), the prosternum has no transverse carina and the pronotal collar is lateral rectangularly elevated. Additionally, the propodeal enclosure is smooth as a mirror nearly without lateral- and medio-longitudinal furrows and the propodeal sides are smooth with irregular sparse punctation (punctures 0-3 diameters apart), further the scutum is smooth and finely sparsely punctate (punctures 2-5 diameters apart).

The male of vittata erythropyga shares with pseudovittata the lateral elevated pronotal collar, but differs in having no distinct broadened flagellomeres and the propodeal sides are densely punctate.

D e s c r i p t i o n: ♁, 8mm. Sculpture: longitudinal carina on coxa III lacking; terga II-VI with small appomedian fossae; anterior margin of clypeus yellowich-brown and shallowly tridentate ( Fig. 3a ); flagellomeres distinctly broadened in dorsal view ( Fig. 3c ); flagellomere XI as long as IX and X together and bent; clypeus anterior half straight in lateral view ( Fig. 3b ); pronotal collar lateral rectangularly elevated; prosternum shining and without transverse carina; lateral carina of pronotum ending in point; mandible without distinct tooth internally; mesopleuron without tubercle; epimeron without crest; scutum smooth shining and sparsely irregularly finely punctate (punctures 2-5 diameters apart); scutellum similar; propodeal enclosure smooth as a mirror and nearly without lateral- and medio-longitudinal furrows; petiolus broader than long or as long as wide; sternum II without medio-basal plate; pygidial plate ( Fig. 3e ); genitalia ( Figs. 3f,g ). Puncturation: clypeus and frons sparsely punctate; vertex irregularly and more densely punctate; pronotal collar sparsely punctate; tegulae impunctate; terga irregularly sparsely punctate (punctures 0-3 diameters apart); mesopleuron coarsely reticulate-punctate; propodeal sides densely punctate; metanotum impunctate; sterna laterally punctate; pygidial plate irregularly punctate. Pilosity: body with short setae, more erect setae on sterna. Coloration: black; folowing parts yellow: clypeus, frons, spot on vertex laterally, pronotal collar lateral, tegulae, scutellum, metanotum, propodeum lateral, mesopleuron and epimeron partly, legs I and II, leg III partly, terga and sterna partly (variably). Flagellum above ferruginous, beneath yellowich-brown. Wings hyaline and apically fuscous.

♀ unknown.

D i s t r i b u t i o n: Oman.

Figures

Fig. 2. Cerceris omaniensis DOLLFUSS nov.sp. female: (a) clypeus; (b) clypeus lateral view; (c) flagellum; (d) pygidial plate; (e) petiolus.

Fig. 3. Cerceris pseudovittata DOLLFUSS nov.sp. male: (a) clypeus; (b) clypeus lateral view; (c) flagellum; (d) petiolus; (e) pygidial plate; (f) genitalia dorsal view; (g) gonostylus lateral view.