Anthrax alruqibi El-Hawagry

El-Hawagry, Magdi S., Khalil, Mohammed W., Sharaf, Mostafa R., Hassan H. Fadl, & Aldawood, Abdulrahman S., 2013, A preliminary study on the insect fauna of Al-Baha Province, Saudi Arabia, with descriptions of two new species, ZooKeys 274, pp. 1-88 : 49-51

Anthrax alruqibi El-Hawagry sp. n. Figs 24

Remarks.

This species resembles Anthrax tureus Greathead, 1980 in size, vestiture, and venation. However, it differs in having faint brownish spots on r-m crossvein, on the origin of vein R2+3, on the middle of cell br slightly after origin of vein R1, and another fainter and smaller spot may be present on crossvein bm-cu. It differs also in having the wing very feebly tinged brownish at the base. Further, the sides of the 2nd and 4th tergites have tufts of long blackish scales and scaly hairs. The epiphallus terminates in a forceps-like process slightly inclined dorsally and continued with a long flange directed ventrally.

Key to the Arabian species of genus Anthrax Scopoli.

Etymology.

A patronymic name (A. alruqibi) is proposed in honor of Dr Saeid Al-Ruqib, dean of scientific research in Al-Baha University, Saudi Arabia.

Description.

Holotype male. Dull black medium sized species. Body length: 8 mm. Wing length: 9 mm.

Head: Frons with whitish pruinose, tending to be silvery at margins, covered with black hairs, and yellowish to brownish scales at the middle, and the scales become longer, more dense and pale above the antennae; ocellar tubercle black; occiput with whitish pruinose, whitish scales at eye margin, short sparse black hairs becoming more dense behind the ocellar tubercle, and long brownish scaly hairs around the occipital cavity; face covered with whitish long scaly hairs and long black hairs; eyes at upper part of frons separated by about twice width of ocellar triangle; antennae black with some pale brownish pruinose. Thorax: Scutum and scutellum covered with fine white and yellowish to brownish white scaly hairs; bristles and hairs black; anterior corners with snowy white scaly hairs, being shaggy and more slender at fore margin; hind margin of scutellum with short white scales; legs black; hairs and bristles black; coxae and tibiae covered with white scales, mixed with brownish white ones on tibiae; claws black; pulvilli grayish; wing hyaline (Fig. 2) with a feeble basicostal infuscation, with a faint brownish spots on r-m, on the origin of vein R2+3, on the middle of cell br slightly af ter origin of vein R1, and another fainter and smaller one may present also on bm-cu crossvein; squama with a short white fringe; plumula white; coastal hook black with white scales; halteres brown with knobs white at tip. Abdomen: Corners of 1st tergite with snowy whitish tuft of long scaly hairs; sides of 2nd and 4th tergites with tufts of long blackish scales and scaly hairs; sides of 3rd tergite with tufts of long snowy whitish scales and scaly hairs; bristles of abdomen black and strongly developed; sides of 3 last tergites with long white hairs seen lower to the black bristles; posterior margin of all tergites with snowy whitish scales, becoming more dense and broad at sides especially at sides of 6th tergite; yellowish white scaly hairs and small scales present across mid-line of 2nd, 3rd, and 4th tergites; tergites with dense black scales lying flat especially on sides of 4th and 5th ones. Hypopygium (Fig 3): Posterior processes of gonocoxites long and narrow; epiphallus terminating in a forceps-like process slightly inclined dorsally and continued with a long flange directed ventrally. Patatype female. Similar to holotype male; spermatheca (Fig. 4) weakly sclerotized, with globular capsules, ejection apparatus short.

Distribution.

Holotype male, Aqabet Al-Baha-Tihama, Al-Baha Province, Saudi Arabia (20.00000°N, 41.43758°E, 1300 m.a.s.l.), 18-19.IV.2012 (El-Hawagry). Paratypes: 1 female, the same holotype data; 1 male, Al-Mekhwa, 21.III.2012 (El-Hawagry); 1 male, Ghabet Raghdan, 12.V.2012 (El-Hawagry); Ghabet Shahba, 8.VI.2012 (El-Hawagry). Holotype and paratypes are deposited in Efflatoun collection, Entomology Department, Faculty of Science, Cairo University, Egypt (EFC).