Sphecodes simlaensis Bluethgen, 1924 Figures 127-129, 130-134

Sphecodes simlaensis Blüthgen, 1924: 514-515, ♀ (syntypes: 2 ♀♀, India, Simla, VIII. and IX.[18]98, Nurse leg.; were not found in NHMUK).

Sphecodes simlaellus Blüthgen, 1927: 46-48, Fig. 8, ♂ (lectotype (designated here): ♂, Simla [India, Himachal Pradesh], 8.98 // Col. C.G. Nurse Collection. 1920-72 // Sph. simlaensis n. sp., ♂, P. Blüthgen det. // Type; ZMHB, examined; paralectotype: 1 ♂ [without head]: Type // Simla, Nurse 9. 98 // Col. C.G. Nurse Collection. 1920-72 // Sph. simlaensis, Type P. Blüthgen det. // B.M.Type HYM.17a548 // NHMUK 0133803332; examined). Syn. nov.

Diagnosis.

This species is close to the Palaearctic Sphecodes geoffrellus (Kirby 1802) owing to a similar structure, sculpture, coloration of the body and shape of the male gonostylus. Females of S. simlaensis and S. geoffrellus are difficult to distinguish morphologically, but the male of S. simlaensis is easy discerned by the weakly developed tyloids, covering at most 1/4 of the basal ventral surfaces of the flagellomeres, Fig. 131 (versus at least 4/5 in S. geoffrellus). Structurally, the male of S. simlaensis is also close to S. shillongensis Blüthgen, 1927, but differs in the shape of the gonostylus which has a membranous part (lacking in S. shillongensis).

Descriptive notes.

Wings with weak yellowish or brownish darkening; hind wing with basal vein strongly curved with angle between basal (M) and cubital (Cu) veins ca. 80°, costal margin with five hamuli. Preoccipital carina absent. Female. Total bodylength 5-5.5 mm. Head (Fig. 127) weakly transverse, at most 1.2 times as wide as long; vertex not elevated as seen in frontal view; F1 and F2 transverse, 0.6-0.8 times as long as wide, F3 almost square, 0.9 times as long as wide; clypeus with punctures separated by 0.5-2 puncture diameters; ocello-ocular area with fine punctures separated by 1-3 puncture diameters; face and gena with sparse pubescence. Mesoscutum and mesoscutellum (Fig. 128) with punctures (15-20 μm) separated by 1-4 puncture diameters; hypoepimeral area coarsely reticulate. Propodeal triangle (metapostnotum) with coarse longitudinal wrinkles and shiny interspaces. Metasomal T1 impunctate, remaining terga basally with fine sparse setae pores (Fig. 129); marginal zones impunctate; T1-T3 red, pygidial plate 0.7 times as wide as metabasitarsus. Male. Total body length 5-5.5 mm. Head (Fig. 130) slightly transverse, 1.1 times as wide as long; vertex not elevated as seen in frontal view; antenna reaching posterior margin of mesoscutum; F2 1.4 times as long as wide, remaining flagellomeres almost square, ca. 1.1 times as long as wide, tyloids weakly developed, semi-oval across at most basal 1/4 of flagellar ventral surfaces (Fig. 131); ocello-ocular area shining, with fine punctures separated by 1-3 puncture diameters; face with pubescence obscuring integument below antennal stockers and sparser above. Mesoscutum medially with punctures (15-25 μm) separated by 0.5-3 puncture diameters, becoming denser peripherally (Fig. 132). Propodeal and metasomal sculpture as in the female; terga brownish (Fig. 134); gonocoxite dorsally with impression; gonostylus with small rectangular membranous part (Fig. 133).

Material examined.

Laos: 1 ♂, Phongsaly pr., Phogsaly env., 1500 m, 21°41'N, 102°06'E, VII.2003, Pacholatko (OLBL/PCMS); 1 ♂, idem, 6-17.V.2004, V. Kuban (OLBL/PCMS).

Distribution.

*Laos, India (Himachal Pradesh), Pakistan.