Phanerotoma hellyeri sp. nov. Figs 152-155, 156-166

Type material.

Holotype, ♀ (RMNH), " United Arab Emirates, Sharjah Desert Park (2517), light trap, 20.x.-8.xi.2005, 25°17'N, 55°42'E, A. v. Harten, RMNH’06” . Paratypes: 2♀, 3♂: Same data as holotype; 3♀: Idem, 29.iii.-6.iv.2005; 2♀, 1♂: Idem, 6-13.iv.2005; 1♀, 2♂: Idem, 13-23.iv.2005; 1♀: Idem, 25.ii.-25.iii.2006; 1♀: Idem, 10.xi.2004; 1♀: Idem, 30.iv.-7.v.2005; 2♀: Idem, 23-30.iv.2005; 1♀: Idem, 21-29.iii.2005; 1♀: Idem, 1.ii.-14.iii.2005; 2♀, 1♂: "United Arab Emirates, SSW of ad-Dhaid (6154), light tr[ap], 24-30.v.2006, 25°09'N, 55°48'E, A. v. Harten, RMNH’06”; 2♀: "United Arab Emirates, NARC near Sweihan (1410), light trap, 1.ii.-14.iii.2005, 24°24'N, 55°26'E, A. v. Harten, RMNH’05”; 6♀, 2♂: Idem, 28.iii.-2.iv.2005; 24♀, 2♂: Idem, 9-20.iv.2005; 22♀, 3♂: Idem, 20-30.iv.2005; 1♂: Idem, 14-28.iii.2005; 1♀: "United Arab Emirates, al-Ajban (6426), Malaise tr[ap], 25.v.-26.vi.2006, 24°36'N, 55°01'E, A. v. Harten, RMNH’07”; 3♀, 1♂: Idem, 22.x.-9.xi.2005; 3♀, 3♂: Idem, 7-28.xii.2006; 6♀: Idem, 17.iv.-29.v.2006; 3♀, 1♂: Idem, 27.v.-26.vi.2006; 1♂: Idem, 17.x.-9.xi.2005; 1♂: Idem, 12-19.vi.2006; 2♂: "United Arab Emirates, Fujairah (1314), light tr[ap], 13-19.iv.2005, 25°08'N, 56°21'E, A. v. Harten, RMNH’05”; 1♂: Idem, 2-13.v.2005; 6♂: Idem, 2.v.-5.vi.2005; 1♀, 1♂: Idem, 19.iv.-2.v.2005; "; 1♀: Idem, 5-24.iii.2005; 2♀, 2♂: "United Arab Emirates, Sharjah (2279), light trap, 30.vi.-21.vii.2005, 25°17'N, 55°42'E, A. v. Harten, RMNH’06”; 1♂: "United Arab Emirates, Sharjah x Khor Kalba (6308-6311), light trap, [24°59'N, 56°09'E,] 31.v.-7.vi.2006, A. v. Harten, RMNH’06”; 1♂: Idem, 16-31.i.2006; 1♂: "United Arab Emirates, Hatta (6398), at light, 17-24.viii.2006, 24°49'N, 56°07'E, A. v. Harten, RMNH’06”; 2♀: Idem, 21.vi.-19.vii.2006; 1♀: " Yemen (no. 3111), Ta’izz, light trap, 26-28.v.1998, A. van Harten & Ahmad Ahwad, RMNH’98”; 1♀: Idem, ix.2000; 1♀: Idem, vii.2002; 1♀: "Yemen (6141), Al Kowd, light trap, 16-20.viii.2001, A. van Harten & S. Al Haruri, RMNH’02”; 1♀: Idem, 27-31.vii.2001; 1♀: "Yemen (7501), Al Kadan, light trap, i.2003, A. v. Harten & T. Abdul-Haq, RMNH’03”; 2♀: Idem, v.2002; 1♀: Idem, x.2001; 1♀: "Yemen (6158), Al Lahima, 17.ix.-14.xi.2001, Mal[aise] trap, A. v. Harten, RMNH’02” .

Diagnosis.

Robust species with twelfth-16th (counted from apex of antenna) antennal segments of ♀ widened (compared to more basal segments) and ventrally flattened, 13th segment from apex of antenna of ♀ as long as wide (Figs 165, 166) and eighth-tenth apical segments moniliform, stocky, matt or slightly shiny (Fig. 166); stemmaticum yellow, more or less infuscate subapically; eye 2.0-2.1 × as wide as median width of temple in lateral view (Fig. 164); POL of ♀ slightly less than width of posterior ocellus; frons with median carina anteriorly; second submarginal cell somewhat longer than in P. mesocellata; parastigma usually largely yellow, rarely infuscate; vein 1-M (as usually parastigma) slightly darker than yellow M+CU1 of fore wing; blister of middle tibia medium-sized; hind femur and tibia rather stout (Fig. 160).

Description.

Female, holotype, length of body (excluding ovipositor) 4.2 mm; antenna 3.0 mm; fore wing 3.1 mm; visible part of ovipositor sheath 0.3 mm (0.1 mm erect setose).

Head. Width 1.6 × median length in anterior view and part of head above eye in lateral view 0.2 × height of eye (Fig. 164); antenna with 23 cylindrical segments and as long as fore wing, 10 apical antennal segments small, rather serrate and moniliform (Figs 165, 166), with short bristles apically and apical segment with rather long spine, third, fourth and penultimate segments 3.0, 2.6 and 1.3 × longer than wide in lateral view, respectively; area of stemmaticum rugulose; OOL: diameter of posterior ocellus: POL = 20: 10: 9; length of eye 3.8 × temple in dorsal view (Fig. 162); frons with median carina (V-shaped dorsally: Fig. 162), smooth antero-medially, posteriorly with curved rugae and finely rugose laterally; vertex rugose and with satin sheen, but posteriorly transversely rugulose; temple rugose but coriaceous near eye, convex, parallel-sided in lateral view and with satin sheen, directly narrowed behind eyes; face transversely rugose laterally, rugulose and with obsolescent median bump and rather shiny; clypeus smooth (except punctulation), shiny and as wide as minimum width of face, intertentorial distance 3.8 × minimum width between clypeus and eye (Fig. 163), long erect setose and with 3 distinct blunt teeth medio-ventrally (Fig. 161); eye large, strongly convex and in lateral view twice wider than temple (measured medially; Fig. 164), in anterior view its height 0.9 × minimum width of face (Fig. 163); upper condyle of mandible above lower level of eyes (Fig. 163); malar space rugulose, with satin sheen and 0.5 × as long as basal width of mandible; lower tooth of mandible half as long as apical tooth, robust (Fig. 161).

Mesosoma (Figs 152, 157). Length1.4 × its width in lateral view; side of pronotum reticulate-punctate; posteriorly propleuron bulging near central groove; mesosternum smooth and shiny; mesoscutum densely reticulate-rugose, with satin sheen, notauli anteriorly impressed; scutellum flat, finely punctate-rugose; scutellar sulcus medium-sized, with twelve carinae (Fig. 157); metanotum with median carina and medio-posterior tooth, its posterior border finely serrate; propodeum coarsely reticulate-rugose, dorsal face short, without transverse or median carinae, and latero-posteriorly weakly tuberculate. Wings. Fore wing 2.7 × longer than its maximum width; 1-R1 1.2 × as long as pterostigma; distance between wing apex and marginal cell apex 0.25 × length of 1-R1; r issued far beyond middle of pterostigma and 0.2 × 3-SR; 2-SR distinctly curved and subparallel with posterior margin of pterostigma (Fig. 156); SR1 curved; m-cu interstitial; parastigma large; 1-CU1 0.3 × as long as vein 2-CU1, cu-a 1.3 × 1-CU1, strongly inclivous; r:3-SR:SR1 = 5:22:51; 2-SR:3-SR:r-m = 27:22:7; r-m reclivous; 2-M oblique and slightly curved (Fig. 156). Hind wing: M+CU:1-M:1r-m = 21:19:10. Legs. Hind femur matt, 3.2 × as long as wide and robust; hind tibia swollen (Fig. 161); middle tibia with distinct ivory blister; inner spur of middle tibia 0.5 × its basitarsus; hind coxa mostly smooth, but dorsally partly superficially granulate and rather shiny.

Metasoma (Figs 158, 159). Oval in dorsal view, 1.5 × as long as wide and 1.1 × as long as mesosoma; first and second tergites densely and coarsely longitudinally rugose; second metasomal suture rather wide and slightly curved; third tergite 1.6 × longer than second tergite and laterally curved, convex medially, rounded posteriorly in dorsal view (Fig. 158), obtuse posteriorly in lateral view (Fig. 159), densely reticulate-rugose and with satin sheen (Fig. 158), lateral lamella narrow, wide latero-apically and medio-apically; ovipositor sheath narrow, apically somewhat widened and darkened (Fig. 159), its visible and setose part 0.1 × as long as fore wing and 0.2 × metasomal carapace, and with erect setae; hypopygium of ♀ with short widely triangular and up curved apical protuberance (Fig. 159) and with short setae.

Colour. Pale brownish yellow (including stemmaticum); apex of antenna, hind tibia apically and subbasally and apex of ovipositor sheath rather brown; parastigma and vein 1-M yellow; clypeus, palpi, tegulae, remainder of legs, mesoscutum medio-posteriorly, first and second tergites and metasoma baso-ventrally pale yellowish or ivory; pterostigma (but basally and apically pale yellowish) and most veins brown; wing membrane slightly brownish below pterostigma.

Male.

Similar to female (including hind femur and tibia: Fig. 155), but antenna slenderer (Fig. 153).

Biology.

Unknown.

Variations.

Length of fore wing of ♀ 2.4-3.7 mm, of ♂ 2.2-3.2 mm; vein 2-SR usually evenly curved, but sometimes distinctly bent and parallel with posterior margin of pterostigma; vein 1-M of fore wing and parastigma pale yellowish, but sometimes more or less brown; pterostigma partly dark brown, largely or entirely pale yellowish; third tergite brown to rather dark brown; stemmaticum brownish yellow, only rarely darkened; apical half of antenna brownish yellow or dark brown.

Distribution.

United Arab Emirates, Yemen.

Etymology.

The new species is named after Peter Hellyer for his life-long research on the archaeology and ecology of the United Arab Emirates and his support of the series "Arthropod Fauna of the UAE".