Odontosphex leleji, Mokrousov & Proshchalykin, 2021

Mokrousov, Mikhail V. & Proshchalykin, Maxim Yu., 2021, Discovery of the digger wasp genus Odontosphex Arnold, 1951 (Hymenoptera, Apoidea, Spheciformes) in Central Asia, with description of a new species, Journal of Hymenoptera Research 84, pp. 137-143 : 137

Odontosphex leleji sp. nov.

Figures 1A-E , 2A-F

Material examined.

Holotype: ♂, Туркмения / Бадхызский зап-к / Ероюландуз / Курзенко 16 V 1990 [ Turkmenistan, Badkhyz Nature Reserve, Yeroyulanduz valley, 35.70°N, 61.97°E, 16.V.1990, leg. N. Kurzenko] // Holotype ♂ Odontosphex / Odontosphex leleji Mokrousov et / Proshchalykin [ZISP]. Paratypes: 3 ♂, with same data as the holotype [2 ♂ in ZISP, 1 ♂ in MMC] .

Diagnosis.

Odontosphex leleji sp. nov. clearly differs from the other Palaearctic species, O. bidens Arnold, by a 4-dentate clypeus, longer basal flagellomeres and not swollen flagellar segments (in the male of O. bidens the clypeus is bidentate, the basal flagellomeres are transverse, F7 and F10 are swollen behind); from Afrotropical O. damara Pulawski, the new species differs by short setation on vertex and T1, and by coloration of the body with brown, yellow and reddish pattern ( O. damara has long erect setae on the vertex and base of T1, and predominantly black body).

Description.

Male. Body length 5.8-7.1 mm (holotype: 6.0 mm); fore wing length 3.7 mm (holotype). Head (Fig. 2A-C ). Head ratio H:W = 0.84 (Fig. 2A ); eyes markedly convergent above, vertex linear, least interocular distance equal to 0.3 × transverse midocellar diameter, with central longitudinal sulcus (Fig. 2B, C ) which continues behind as very thin line. Posterior ocelli elongated, flattened and inconspicuous. Clypeus short, about half length from anterior margin to antennal sockets at middle; central part of anterior margin with two long median and two triangular lateral teeth (Fig. 1D ). Occipital carina well developed, joining hypostomal carina and then forming thin partition dividing hypostomal and occipital cavities. Antennae thickened, flagellomeres without swellings or excisions, F1-F5 nearly as long as wide, F6-F11 longer than wide; F4-F9 with tyloids, which are very small, in form of tubercles on F4 and F9, and oval, protruding and clearly visible on F5-F8 (Fig. 1C ). Lower frons and clypeus with dense silver setation concealing integument; upper frons dull, with spaced small punctures, ocellar area shiny with larger punctures about 0.5-1 diameter apart; gena slightly shiny, with obscure fine punctures. Mesosoma (Fig. 1E ). Omaulus short and visible only in upper part ventrally of pronotal lobe; scrobe unclear. Mesoscutum with wide depressed admedian area limited by furrows; notauli short but distinct and depressed; parapsidal furrow thin, not reaching anterior and posterior edges of mesoscutum (Fig. 1E ). Upper third of metapleuron longitudinally elevated. Mesonotum with fine and dense punctation in anterior part, with scattered punctures at middle and more dense punctures laterally and posteriorly. Mesoscutellum with scattered punctures at middle and more dense punctures posteriorly. Metanotum matt, microsculptured, densely punctate. Dorsal part of metapostnotum punctato-rugose, almost smooth and shiny apically. Mesopleuron densely punctate, punctures partly contiguous, interspaces shiny. Propodeum dorsolaterally matt and finely wrinkled, densely punctate ventrally. Mesoscutum anterolaterally, metapostnotum at center and mesopleuron with dense semierect and sparse erect setae, length of some setae more than one midocellar diameter. Propodeum posterolaterally with erect setae, length about 1.5 midocellar diameter. Wings (Fig. 2F ). Venation typical for genus. Setation. Foretarsal rake lacking, represented only by thin and rather sparse bristles; forefemur with dense semierect and sparse long erect setae ventrally. Metasoma with dense short setation forming indistinct bands at apical parts of segments. Genitalia (Fig. 2D, E ). Penial valve hooklike; cuspis and digitus longitudinally elongate. Coloration (Fig. 1A ). Black with reddish (brownish) and yellow pattern. Head black with light brown or yellowish mandibles (except base and apex), labrum and distal parts of mouth appendages; antenna brownish ventrally and darkened dorsally, apical flagellomeres almost completely light brown. Mesosoma black, pronotal lobe yellow. Fore and mid femora dark brown with lighter apex; hind femur, tibiae and tarsi yellowish or light brown. Tegula and wing veins basally yellow, veins brownish apically; forewing Sc+R mostly brownish. Metasomal segments 1-3 predominantly reddish brown, apical parts of segments translucent, metasomal apex reddish brown; in particular specimen, first three segments completely red.

Female. Unknown.

Etymology.

The species is named after a well-known Russian entomologist Prof. Arkady S. Lelej (Federal Scientific Center of the East Asia Terrestrial Biodiversity, Far East Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Vladivostok, Russia) on the occasion of his 75th birthday.

Distribution.

Only known from the type locality in Turkmenistan.

Figures

Figure 1. Odontosphex leleji sp. nov., holotype, male A habitus, lateral view B original labels C antenna, ventral view D clypeus and lower part of frons, frontal view E mesosoma, anteriodorsolateral view.

Figure 2. Odontosphex leleji sp. nov., paratype, male A head, frontal view B head, dorsal view C upper frons, frontal view D genitalia, ventral view E genitalia, ventrolateral view F hindwing, ventral view.