Tetramesa sp.

Fig. 10

Material examined

IRAN – West-Azarbaijan Province • 4 ♀♀, 1 ♂; Urmia, Häshtïan; 37º47′ N, 44º39′ E; 1680 m a.s.l.; Apr. 2017; Y. Karimpour leg.; ex Phragmites australis; HMIM • 3 ♀♀; Urmia, Hesar-e Türkmän; 37º26′ N, 45º13′ E; 1293 m a.s.l.; Apr. 2017; Y. Karimpour leg.; ex Phragmites australis; HMIM .

Remarks

Only T. phragmitis has previously been reported from Phragmites spp. (Noyes 2020). Based on the key of Claridge (1961), our specimens are closely related to Tetramesa cornuta (Walker, 1832) in the couplet 17, sharing with this species the following characters: funicular segments short with F5 quadrate; pronotum transverse (Fig. 10D), about 2× as wide as long; mid tibial spur relatively long, longer than half length of basitarsus; longer GT3 non-emarginate posteriorly. However, the female appears to be larger than is reported for T. cornuta; marginal vein at most as long as stigmal vein (vs marginal vein twice as long as stigmal vein in T. cornuta); metasoma longer than the combined length of head plus mesosoma (75:65) (vs metasoma shorter than combined length of head and mesosoma in T. cornuta). In the male, the funicular segments are slightly longer than in the female (Fig. 10C) but a more distinct sexual dimorphism was observed in T. cornuta (Claridge 1961: figs 97–98). This species clearly is different from T. cornuta and may be new. However, further specimens are required and we also need to examine several type specimens belonging to the genus Tetramesa to ascertain its novelty.