Cerceris mahdaensis 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 : 412-413

Cerceris mahdaensis DOLLFUSS nov.sp. ( Fig. 1 )

H o l o t y p e: ♁, Oman, Kahal, 8 km NW Mahda, 24.449N 55.906E, 18.III.2022, leg. M. Halada (OÖLM).

E t y m o l o g y: Cerceris mahdaensis was collected near the town Mahda.

R e c o g n i t i o n: The male of Cerceris mahdaensis is characterized by having the coxa III without longitudinal carina and the tergum II apico-median with a small fossa, the mandible has a distinct tooth internally, the apical margin of the clypeus is yellow and edentate ( Fig. 1a ), the prosternum is punctate without transverse carina, the propodeal enclosure is smooth, shining and the latero- and medio-longitudinal furrows are not crenulate. Additionally, the petiolus is broader than long ( Fig. 1e ), the sterna III-VI are covered with erect setae which do not obscure the underlying sculpture, the sterna III-VI are laterally distinctly rised, the flagellomere XI is bent ( Fig. 1c ) and this male is predominantly yellow.

The male of tyrannica is similar to mahdaensis but differs in having the propodeal enclosure punctured (in mahdaensis the propodeal enclosure is smooth, shining with latera- and medio-longitudinal furrow not crenulate). The male of straminea is similar to mahdaensis but differs in having the mandible without a tooth internally and the propodeal enclosure has fine circular-transverse striae. The male of priesneri is similar colored as mahdaensis but differs in having the mandible without a tooth internally, the flagellomere XI is not bent, the sternum II with a medio-basal plate and the sterna are without erect setae, additionally, it is smaller. The also similar colored male of chromatica differs from mahdaensis in having the mandibles without a distinct tooth internally and the terga II-IV are rised apicolaterally.

D e s c r i p t i o n: ♁, 14 mm. Sculpture: anterior margin of clypeus edentate ( Fig. 1a ); mandible with distinct tooth internally; flagellomere XI slightly bent, apical straight cut ( Fig. 1c ); prosternum without transverse carina; mesopleuron with very small tubercle; epimeron without crest; propodeal enclosure smooth, shining, lateral- and medio-longitudinal furrows not crenulate; petiolus broader than long ( Fig. 1e ); terga I-IV with apico-medial fossae; sternum II without basal plate; tumid parts of sterna III-VI lateral distinctly rised; sterna III-VI with erect setae, that not obscure underlying sculpture; pygidial plate ( Fig. 1d ); genitalia ( Figs. 1 f,g ). Puncturation: clypeus and frons irregularly punctate; vertex densely punctate; pronotal collar punctate; scutum shining, irregularly punctate, (punctures 0-1 diameter apart); scutellum sparsely punctate; metanotum impunctate; terga densely punctate; sterna lateral punctate. Coloration: yellow; following parts black: vertex, pronotum anteriorly and scutum.

♀ unknown.

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

Figures

Fig. 1. Cerceris mahdaensis DOLLFUSS nov.sp. male: (a) clypeus; (b) clypeus lateral view; (c) flagellum; (d) pygidial plate; (e) petiolus; (f) genitalia dorsal view; (g) gonostylus lateral view.