Miscophus luteoabdominalis, Schmid-Egger, 2022

Schmid, Christian, Al, Ali & J, A -, 2022, The genus Miscophus JURINE, 1807 in Arabian Peninsula and southern Israel with description of seven new species (Hymenoptera, Spheciformes), Linzer biologische Beiträge 54 (1), pp. 319-340 : 335-336

Miscophus luteoabdominalis SCHMID- EGGER nov.sp. (figs 25-28)

Holotype: OMAN, Dhofar province: 1♀ 13.x.2021, 80 km SSW Salalah 16,857 N 53,420 E (leg. M. Halada, CSE) . Paratypes: OMAN, Al Wusta province: 1♀ 5.iv.2019 Wadi Ronub 18.802 N 56.340 E (leg. Said Al Rashdi in yellow pan traps, AJ) ; 4♁♁ 2♀♀, same data as holotype ( CSE) . ISRAEL: 1♀ 09.iv.1995 Arava Valley, Ketura , 30,96N 35,06E ; 1♀ 10.iv.1995, Arava Valley, Moshaav Hazeva 30.77 N 35.27 E ; 2♀♀ 08.v.1996 45 km SE Beer Sheva, Mezad Aqrabbim 30.930 N 35.149 E (leg. M. Irvin in Malaise traps, CSE) .

D i a g n o s i s Miscophus luteoabdominalis nov.sp. is characterised by transparent wings without infumate apex ( M. pretiosus lineage sensu DE ANDRADE, 1954). It keys out with M. pardoi DE ANDRADE, 1854 , in the key of DE ANDRADE (1954), described from Spanish Sahara in southern Morocco. Both species are unique amoung remaining Miscophus species by a predominantly yellow abdomen, yellow and reddish legs and by four forebasitarsal spines. M. pardoi is characterized by a distinctly shiny abdomen, whereas abdomen is dull and microsculptured in M. luteoabdominalis .

D e s c r i p t i o n f e m a l e H o l o t y p e: Body length 9.0 mm. Colour: Black with the following parts yellow. Mandible apart basally and apically, AS –6 below, pronotal lobe, tegula and wing base, wing venation, legs (coxa black with apex yellow), abdomen. Femora basally and above reddish with some black, tibia with some reddish parts. T1 basally, remaining terga and sterna apically with some darker yellow. Face and mesosoma covered with dense short white pubescence, hidding integument. Wings transparent, apex milky white. Morphology: Fore basitarsus with tree spines near apex and a shorter spine near tarsal base. OOL = 1.2x HD. Apical spine somewhat longer than second tarsal segment.

V a r i a t i o n i n f e m a l e p a r a t y p e s: Body length 8.5-9.0 mm. T 2-5 are partly blackish in two females from Israel. Here, apex of wing is somewhat greyish. The other female from Israel agree with the specimens from Oman.

D e s c r i p t i o n o f m a l e: Body length 6.0- 6.5 mm. Agree in colour and general aspects with the female. AS 1-3 yellow below, forebasitarus with one short spine apically.

D i s t r i b u t i o n AP. Oman, Israel.

R e m a r k GADALLAH (2020) mentions a record of M. pardoi DE ANDRADE, 1954 , from Kuwait. This record probably refer to M. luteoabdominalis , because the occurrence of M. pardoi described from southern Morocco near the Atlantic coast is very unlikely in Arabian Peninsula. This specimen has to be re-examined.

E t y m o l o g y: The species name means "yellow abdomen" in latin language. It is a noun in apposition.