Miscophus irwini, Schmid & Al & J, 2022

Schmid, Christian, Al, Ali & J, A -, 2022, The genus Miscophus JURINE, 1807 in Arabian Peninsula and southern Israel with description of seven new species (Hymenoptera, Spheciformes), Linzer biologische Beiträge 54 (1), pp. 319-340 : 335

Miscophus irwini SCHMID- EGGER nov.sp. (figs 22-24)

Holotype: ISRAEL: 1♀ 8.v.1996 Arava Valley , Iddan, 30.807N 35.298E (leg. M. Irwin in malaise traps, CSE) . Paratypes: ISRAEL: 7♀♀, data like Holotype; 5♀♀ 8.vi.1996 45km SE Beer Sheva, Mezad ( Wadi ) Ayrabbim 30.95’N 35.15E; 1♀ 4.v.1995 Arava valley, Wadi Neqarot 30.60N 35.05E (leg. M. Irwin in malaise traps, CSE) .

D i a g n o s i s: The female of M. irwini nov.sp. share the distinctly convergent inner eye margin with M. fuscoales nov.sp. and M. dispersus . M. dispersus has five forebasitarsal spines, in contrast to three in remaining species. Wings are greyish infuscate without a black apex and without metallic reflexions in M. irwini nov.sp., and legs have some red parts, what distinguishes the species from M. fuscoales nov.sp.

D e s c r i p t i o n o f f e m a l e: Body length 7.5-8.0 mm. Colour: Black, red are: ACM, tegula, tibiae and tarsi, hindfemur, abdomen, praecostal plate (tegula and pr.pl. both with black center). Remainng femora and parts of tibiae partly or all black (leg colour in paratypes variable). Mandible except apex, AS 1 below and pronotal lobe yellowish. Wings transparent, apex infuscate. Morphology: Inner eye margin convergent, OOL = 0.5x HD, POL = 0.8-1x HD. Medial clypeal margin rounded, medially somewhat emarginated. Pilosity of lower face dense, of remaining body sparse. Fore basitarsus with 3 spines, apical spine somewhat longer than second tarsal segment.

V a r i a t i o n i n f e m a l e p a r a t y p e s: Body length 7.5-8.0 mm. Colour of legs variable.

M a l e: Unknown.

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

E t y m o l o g y: The species is named in honour to Mike Irwin from the University of Illinois in recognition of his services in research of Diptera and collecting of Hymenoptera . He collected most of the specimens from Israel, described here, with malaise traps during two field trips in 1995 and 1996.