Gastrosericus alwathbaensis Schmid-Egger, 2022

Schmid-Egger, Christian & Harten, Antonius Van, 2022, Additions to the digger wasps (Hymenoptera, Spheciformes) of the United Arab Emirates with description of ten new species, Zootaxa 5219 (6), pp. 543-575 : 549-551

Gastrosericus alwathbaensis Schmid-Egger , sp. nov.

( Figs 15–19 )

Holotype. ♁ United Arab Emirates 15.vii.2015, Abu Dhabi, Al Wathba , 24.248°N 54.742°E leg. A.S & AvH in Malaise trap ( CSE).

Diagnosis. Gastrosericus alwathbaensis is closely related to G. marginalis , described from Central Asia and also known from Egypt, and to G. mongolica , described from Mongolia. The species-group is characterized by a short marginal cell and ivory tergal bands, in combination with a small body size, shorter than 5 mm. The male of Gastrosericus alwathbaensis can be recognized by deeply impressed sterna II-V. The impression is covered with silver appressed pubescence, directed backwards. It differs also by different length of antennal segments. Otherwise, the species agrees with the description of G. marginalis in Pulawski (1995).

Description of male holotype. Body length 4.1 mm. Colour: Black with the following parts ivory white: antenna, mandible except red apex, clypeus, legs from apex of femora (femora and parts of fore and midtibiae red), wing venation, pronotal lobe, large bands of terga I–VI, medially half as large as tergal length (shorter in tergum I), laterally covering whole tergum. Basal part of terga I–VI, tergum VII and sterna reddish. Head and mesosoma with dense, silver pubescence, hiding integument, this of face longer than on mesosoma. Terga also with pubescence, less dense as on mesosoma. Morphology: Apical clypeal margin medially with triangular obtuse angle. Head behind eyes very short. Sterna III–V impressed on whole width, with long appressed pubescence, directed backwards and leaving a narrow medial area asetose. AS 2–3 shorter than wide, remaining segments as long as wide, apical segment 2× as long as basal width. Sternum VII apically deeply emarginate, lateral parts transparent, medial part red. Left antenna of holotype is broken.

Female. Unknown.

Distribution. United Arab Emirates.

Etymology. The species is named after the origin of the holotype, Al Wathba Wetland Reserve, near Abu Dhabi, a famous place with a high diversity of wasp species.

Figures

FIGURES 9–16. 9–14. Gastrosericus albidaaensis; 9. ♀ holotype, lateral view, 10. ♀ holotype, clypeus. 11. ♁ lateral view. 12. ♁ clypeus. 13. ♁ apex of abdomen. 14. ♁ sterna. 15–16. Gastrosericus alwathbaensis ♁ holotype; 15. lateral view., 16. face.

FIGURES 17–24. 17–19. Gastrosericus alwathbaensis ♁ holotype; 17. Sterna. 18. Apex of abdomen. 19. Forewing. 20–24. Gastrosericus barqaalsuqoorensis; 20. ♀ holotype, lateral view. 21. ♀ holotype, clypeus. 22. tergum 6. 23. ♁ lateral view. 24. ♁ face.