Parapiagetia Kohl, 1897

Schmid-Egger, Christian & Harten, Antonius Van, 2022, Additions to the digger wasps (Hymenoptera, Spheciformes) of the United Arab Emirates with description of ten new species, Zootaxa 5219 (6), pp. 543-575 : 567-568

Parapiagetia Kohl, 1897

The present sample includes a large number of Parapiagetia species with three undescribed species. For that reason, a new key for all Arabian species is given. It includes most species which are mentioned from Arabian peninsula by Gadallah (2020). However, some species were probably misidentified and do not occur in Arabia. The records of Parapiagetia odontostoma in Gadallah (2020) may refer to P. arabica , and those of P. erythropoda may refer to P. huwroberts Schmid-Egger , sp. nov. Another missidentified species is P. mongolica , which actually is P. alwathbaensis Schmid-Egger , sp. nov. Parapiagetia mongolica is not included in the key. See Gadallah (2020) for citations of these species. The females of P. kroupai and of P. haladai are unknown. However, we could examine a female from Oman with a unique character combination. It may represent the unkown female of P. haladai . It will be treated and described in detaileed in a later publication (Schmid-Egger & Al-Jahdhami in prep.), but was included in the key. Remaining Palearctic species can be identified with Pulawski (1977). The species distribution in the key is only given for Arabia, see also Pulawski (1977) for general distribution. Species already described and figured in Schmid-Egger (2011, 2014) are not mentioned in detail, because no new records were available, apart from P. arabica . For terminology of wing venation see Pulawski (1977).

Key to females of Parapiagetia from Arabian Peninsula (unknown: P. haladai , P. kroupai )

1 Apical part of vein M of forewing longer than cu-a ( Fig. 100 ). Pygidal plate smooth, at most with some small setae apically. ................................................................................................... 2

- Apical part of vein vein M of forewing shorer than cu-a, or crossvein interstitial ( Fig. 109 ). Pygidial plate with thick and long setae at least in apical half ( Fig. 114 )..................................................................... 5

2 Clypeal lobe straight or arcuate. [Marginal cell of forewing long: AR at least 1.5× as long as AT. Mesonotal punctation very dense and fine.]. Oman, UAE................................................. Parapiagetia substriatula (Turner)

- Clypel lobe with two or four teeth........................................................................ 3

3 Clypeal lobe with four teeth, lateral teeth as long as or longer than medial teeth. [Marginal cell long, AR = longer than AR]. N Africa to SW Asia, records from Yemen are doubtfull............................. Parapiagetia odontostoma (Kohl)

- Clypeal lobe with two medial teeth, lateral ACM without teeth, or with small teeth or corner......................... 4

4 Marginal cell long, AR at least 1.3× AT. Lateral ACM each with small tooth between medial teeth and eye margin. UAE.......................................................................... Parapiagetia arabica Schmid-Egger

- Marginal cell short, AR at most 1.1× AT ( Fig. 100 ). Lateral ACM straight, or with small corner. UAE............................................................................. Parapiagetia alwathbaensis Schmid-Egger sp. nov.

5 Ventral mandibular margin entire. Clypeal lobe with platform-like elevation, free margin bidentate. Saudi Arabia. (Here probably also the unknown female of P. kroupai Schmid-Egger ).................... Parapiagetia rufescens (Gussakowskij)

- Ventral mandibular margin stepped or notched. Clypeus otherwise............................................. 6.

6 Clypeal lobe with four teeth Undescribed female from Oman.............. presumably P. haladai Schmid-Egger sp. nov.

- Clypeal otherwise.................................................................................... 7

7 Clypeal lobe pointed (whole lobe triangulary advanced). AS 6–11 about as long as wide. Forecoxa without shiny surface, rounded [whole specimen with dense pilosity]............................. Oman Parapiagetia richteri de Beaumont

- Clypeal lobe otherwise. AS 6–11 longer than wide. Backside of forecoxa insignificantly concave, with shiny surface and with carina, separating foremargin........................................................................... 8

8 Clypeal lobe with two teeth near apical margin, directed downwards ( Fig. 113 ), free margin with some smaller teeth, clypeus in lateral view flat. Abdomen completely bright red ( Fig. 111 ). Oman, UAE.................................................................................................... Parapiagetia huwrobertsi Schmid-Egger sp. nov.

- Clypeal lobe with two teeth above apical magin, directed forewards, (teeth of) clypeus in lateral view prominent. Last abdominal segments black. Iran, India and adjacent countries........................... Parapiagetia erythropoda (Cameron)

Former records of Parapiagetia erythropoda from Arabian peninsula most probable refer to Parapiagetia huwrobertsi SchmidEgger , sp. nov.

Key to males of Parapiagetia from Arabian peninsula

1 Apical part of vein M of forewing longer than cu-a ( Fig. 100 ).................................................. 2

- Apical part of vein of vein M of forwing shorer than cu-a, or crossvein interstitial ( Fig. 109 )......................... 5

2 Marginal cell short, AR at most 1.1× as long as AT ( Figs 100, 101 ). [Volsella (in lateral view) as narrow as penis valve, evenly curved downwards, and with long setae on whole ventral margin ( Fig. 103 ) Vertex beside and behind ocelli with erect setae]. UAE...................................................... Parapiagetia alwathbaensis Schmid-Egger sp. nov.

- Marginal cell longer, AR at least 1.4× as long as AT (as in Fig. 114 )............................................. 3

3 Tergum I approximately 1.4× as long as apical width. Marginal cell long and apically narrowed, AR at least 2.5× AT. Tergum VII densely punctate, dull. Oman, UAE........................................ Parapiagetia substriatula (Turner)

- Tergum I at least 1.6 × as long as apical width. Marginal cell shorter, AR 1.5–2.0× AT. Tergum VII shiny, sparsely punctate. ................................................................................................... 4

4 Anterior third of mesonotum with coarse and irregular microstriation. Propodeal dorsum with distinct, transverse rugae, interspaces clearly shiny, asetose. N Africa to SW Asia, records from Yemen are doubtfull.... Parapiagetia odontostoma (Kohl)

- Anterior third of mesonotum with fine and dense punctation, somewhat shagreened ( Fig. 105 ). Propodeal dorsum with fine, transverse striation, interspaces somewhat shiny, with some pubesence. UAE........... Parapiagetia arabica Schmid-Egger

5 Clypeal lobe apically rounded. [Pygidal plate sparsely punctate, apex with denser punctation. Mesonotum with dense pubescence. Apical depressions of sterna II–V largely glabrous]. Oman................... Parapiagetia richteri de Beaumont

- Clypeal lobe sharply pointed, with acute angle.............................................................. 6

6 Propodeal dorsum shorter than scutellum. Sternum VIII pointed apically and carinated laterally. [Tergum I as long as apical width].............................................................................................. 7

- Propodeal dorsum longer than scutellum. Sternum VIII apically straight, without lateral carinae...................... 8

7 Mesosoma, abdomen and legs all reddish. Mesonotum impunctate. Sternum VIII apically rounded. Basal setae of gonforceps longer than apical setae. UAE.............................................. Parapiagetia kroupai Schmid-Egger

- Most parts of body black, some red on legs and abdomen. Mesonotum punctate. Sternum VIII apically truncate. Basal setae of gonforceps shorter than or as long as apical setae. Saudi Arabia................. Parapiagetia rufescens (Gussakowskij)

8 Clypeal lobe rounded, with small point medially. [Body length 9.2 mm. AS 3 longer than AS 2 ( Fig. 108 ). Pygidal plate sparsely punctate, with some large and close punctures apically]. UAE............. Parapiagetia haladai Schmid-Egger , sp. nov.

- Clypeal lobe gradually narrowing to apex.................................................................. 9

9 Terga uniformly grey or dark reddish. All femora black (except apically) ( Fig. 115 ). Oman, UAE.................................................................................. Parapiagetia huwrobertsi Schmid-Egger , sp. nov.

- Terga I + II red. Fore- and midfemora partly or all black. Iran, India and adjacent countries................................................................................................. Parapiagetia erythropoda (Cameron)

Former records of Parapiagetia erythropoda from Arabian peninsula most probable refer to Parapiagetia huwrobertsi SchmidEgger sp. nov.

Figures

FIGURES 97–104. 97. Oxybelus sajae ♀ holotype, metanotum and mucron. 98–103. Parapiagetia alwathbaensis; 98. ♀ lateral view. 99. ♀ face. 100. ♀ forewing. 101. ♁ holotype, lateral view. 102. ♁ holotype, face. 103. ♁ holotype, genitalia, lateral view. 104. Parapiagetia arabica ♁ lateral view.

FIGURES 105–112. 105. Parapiagetia arabica ♁ mesosoma and tergum I, dorsal view. 106–110. Parapiagetia haladai ♁ holotype; 106. Lateral view. 107. Face. 108.Antenna. 109. Forwing.110. Genitalia, lateral view. 111–112. Parapiagetia huwrobertsi ♀ holotype; 111. Lateral view. 112. Face.

FIGURES 113–116. Parapiagetia huwrobertsi; 113. ♀ holotype, clypeus. 114. ♀ holotype, tergum VI. 115. ♁ lateral view. 116. ♁ face.