Eustenancistrocerus (Eustenancistrocerus) askhabadensis ( Radoszkowski, 1886 )

Fateryga, Alexander V., Proshchalykin, Maxim Yu., Mokrousov, Mikhail V. & Akhmedov, Askar G., 2023, To the knowledge of the solitary vespid wasps (Hymenoptera: Vespidae: Masarinae and Eumeninae s. l.) of Uzbekistan, Zootaxa 5278 (3), pp. 439-460 : 449

Eustenancistrocerus (Eustenancistrocerus) askhabadensis ( Radoszkowski, 1886)

Odynerus askhabadensis Radoszkowski, 1886: 47–48 , ♀ ♁ (type locality: “Askhabad ou de ses environs” [ Turkmenistan]). Odynerus leucospilus Cameron, 1907: 133 , ♀ (type locality: “Quetta” [ Pakistan]).

Odynerus quettaensis Cameron, 1907: 133–134 , ♀ (type locality: “ Quetta ” [ Pakistan]).

Odynerus jerichoensis von Schulthess, 1928: 73–74 , ♀ ♁ (type locality: “ Jericho ” [ Israel and Palestine]), syn. nov.

Odynerus sarykorum Kostylev, 1929: 111–112 , ♀ (type locality: “ Transkaspien , Sary-Jazy ” [ Turkmenistan]).

Ancistrocerus danticoides Giordani Soika, 1943: 7–8 , ♀ (type locality: “Turkestan: Ferghana, Osch ” [ Kyrgyzstan]), syn. nov. Eustenancistrocerus aemulus Giordani Soika, 1952: 35–36 , ♁ (type locality: “ Persia sud-occidentale” [ Iran]). Eustenancistrocerus jerichoensis iconius Blüthgen in Bytinski-Salz, 1957: 164–165, ♀ “Konia” [ Turkey]), syn. nov.

Material examined. Qashqadaryo Region: Muborak District, 5 km N Muborak, 39°18′31″N, 65°08′20″E, 15.V.2015, 3 ♀, 2 ♁, leg. M.M., M.P., K.S.; ibid., 16.V.2015, 1 ♀, leg. V.G.; Nishon District , Talimarzhan Reservoir, 38°26′03″N, 65°35′37″E, 12.V.2015, 2 ♁, leg. M.M., M.P., K.S.

Distribution. Russia (Dagestan), Azerbaijan, Turkey, Syria, Jordan, Israel, Iran, Pakistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, China (North-West).

Remarks. A close relation between more eastern species Eustenancistrocerus askhabadensis and more western E. jerichoensis has been already noticed ( Blüthgen 1939; Bytinski-Salz 1957). The claimed differences between them were only in coloration and slightly different punctation. We have examined a series of this species complex from Russia (Dagestan), Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Mongolia and found a large variability in coloration and punctation even among the material from the same locality. The specimens from the northernmost parts of the species range have less developed yellow (Dagestan) or whitish ( Mongolia) patterns. Southern specimens from Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan have more largely developed yellow coloration. The dorsolateral portions of the propodeum can be both polished and partially punctate (especially in males) in the specimens from the same locality (Dagestan) while the pattern can be also both yellow and whitish within the same population from Uzbekistan. No difference in male genitalia was revealed between specimens from Dagestan, confirmed to belong to E. jerichoensis by J. Gusenleitner ( Fateryga & Mokrousov 2019), and Uzbekistan. Therefore, we consider E. askhabadensis and E. jerichoensis conspecific and this species has a broad range.