Microcurgus Haupt, 1950

Schmid-Egger, Christian, Enayatnina, Masoumeh & Rakhshani, Ehsan, 2018, Review of the genus Microcurgus Haupt, 1950 (Hymenoptera, Pompilidae) with description of a new species from Iran, Zootaxa 4444 (5), pp. 530-536 : 531

Microcurgus Haupt, 1950

Microcurgus Haupt, 1950: 29 . Type species Microcurgus pallidovenosus Haupt, 1950 , female, by monotypy.

Micropompilus Priesner, 1955:163 . Type species: Micropompilus braconoides Priesner, 1955 [male] by monotypy. New synonym.

Diagnosis. Microcurgus belongs to the subfamily Pompilinae and in females is characterized by the following characters: Eyes (in frontal view) narrow, 0.20–0.33 times as wide as remaining face. Vertex narrow behind eyes, with edge behind ocelli, separate the ocellar area from vertical backside of head. Pterostigma large, its diameter larger than distance to submarginal cell. Foremetatarsus without spinulation, except a small spine on apex. AS III ivory white, contrasting with darker parts of remaining antennomeres. Pronotum anteriorly (in lateral view) with step, vertical falling to the apex (similar to Caliadurgus ). Metanotum vertical and situated below apex of mesoscutellum, forming a distinct step between level of mesoscutellum and metapostnotum. Base of mandible with brush of bristles, as long as mandible (not described in M. pallidovenosus , but may be overlooked). Small specimens, body length 5 mm maximum. These characters (apart from 4 and 9) probably represent true autapomorphies. More species from Africa, however, must be examined and therefore this diagnosis is provisional.

Remarks. The description of the Microcurgus Haupt, 1950 genotype agrees in general aspects with the examined specimen of Micropompilus braconoides Priesner , especially in wing venation, head shape, eye size, and the ivory white AS III that are similar in both species. For that reason, Micropompilus is is treated as a new synonym of Microcurgus .