Chrysis felix Rosa, 2024

Chrysis felix Rosa , sp. nov. ( Figs 9A–9F, 10A–10G)

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Material examined. Holotype ♀, Yemen: 12 km NW of Manakhah , 3.VII.-21.VIII.2001, Malaise trap, leg. A. van Harten ( RMNH) . Paratypes 1♀, same data ( RMNH) ; 1♂, Al-Lahima, I.2009 - 9.IV.2001, Malaise trap, leg. A. van Harten & A. M. Hajer ( RMNH) .

Diagnosis. Chrysis felix sp. nov. belongs to the succincta group. It is closely related to the Arabian species Chrysis maidaquensis Strumia, 2014 , which was originally described from United Arab Emirates and later reported from Iran ( Tavasoli & Fallahzadeh, 2015, Farhard et al., 2015; Rosa et al., 2024a). The female of Chrysis felix sp. nov. can be easily distinguished by the following combination of characters: frons without transverse frontal carina ( Fig. 9B) ( vs. double carina in C. maidaquensis ); apical margin of the third tergum with a blunt, large median tooth and two lateral blunt corners ( Fig. 9E) ( vs. three long and pointed teeth in C. maidaquensis ); black spots on the second sternum rounded and separated medially ( Fig. 9F), covering about two-thirds of sternal length ( vs. black spots fused in a transverse rectangle, covering about half sternal length). The male shares a similar habitus, colour pattern, and sculpture; the median apical tooth of the third tergum is more of an undulation rather than a distinct lobe or pointed tooth ( Figs 10E, 10G); the genital capsule has the inner margin of gonocoxa forming a right angle with the apical margin ( Fig. 10F) (the male of Chrysis maidaquensis is still unknown).

Description. Holotype ♀ ( Fig. 9A–F). Body length: 4.0 mm (female paratype body length: 3.6 mm).

Head. Frons with dense small to medium punctures (0.3–0.5 × MOD), subcontiguous without interspaces; frontal carina faint ( Fig. 9B); scapal basin deep, fully wrinkled; area between scapal basin and eye with large punctures from frons to malar space; malar space long (1.4 × MOD) covered by dense, large punctures ( Fig. 9C); subantennal space short (0.7 × MOD); genal carina sharp, fully developed from temple to mandible insertion; clypeal apex with thin brown rim; mandible simple. Distance from anterior ocellus to scapal basin 2.8 × MOD; OOL 1.6 × MOD; POL 2.3 × MOD; MS 1.4 × MOD. Holotype missing both flagella; relative length of P: F1: F2 measured on paratype = 1.0: 1.3: 0.9.

Mesosoma. Medial pronotal line deep and elongate, as long as two thirds of pronotal length; pronotum as long as scutellum; pronotal punctation double with punctures of variable size, with narrow interspaces; punctures smaller along basal margin; mesonotum with double punctation, larger punctures situated medially on mesoscutum and mesoscutellum; punctures separated by polished interspaces; notauli formed by subsquare foveae, relatively small ( Fig. 9D); parapsidal signum as deep line; scutellar-metanotal suture deep, formed by longitudinally elongate foveae, longer than larger punctures on mesonotum; metanotal punctures denser, with large anteromedian fovea; posterior propodeal projections subparallel, downwardly directed; mesepimeron with punctures similar to those at sides of propodeum, mesepisteron with smaller punctures; episternal sulcus formed by relatively small irregular foveae, partially confluent each other, as large as punctures on mesepimeron.

Metasoma. First tergum with even, relatively small punctures, smaller than those on mesoscutum, with micropunctate interspaces; second tergum with denser, larger, geminate punctation, becoming shallower, smaller and sparser on the second half of tergum; third tergum with denser punctures, as large as those at base of second tergum, with corrugate interspaces; median longitudinal carina weak, on second tergum formed by aligned micropunctures; pits of pit row deep, round, and black ( Fig. 9E); apical margin of third tergum bordered by thick hyaline margin; median tooth as a large lobe or convexity, lateral teeth like blunt angles ( Fig. 9E); black spots on second sternum large, covering about two thirds of sternum length and separated medially ( Fig. 9F).

Colour. Head blue, green on frons and face; pronotum blue with anterolateral green band; mesoscutum pinkish to purplish, metanotum and propodeum green; notauli, axillae and sutures blue; metasomal first tergum olive green, second and third terga purplish with apical margin green to blue; sterna golden-green. Scape golden-red, pedicel and flagellomeres non-metallic brown; wings hyaline with brown nervures.

Male ( Fig. 10). Similar to female for habitus, colour pattern, and sculpture. Sexual dimorphism can be observed in metallic pedicel, longer POL 2.4 × MOD, apical margin of third tergum with three undulations, being the median tooth aligned to lateral ones. Inner margin of gonocoxa fully developed, forming a right angle with apical margin ( Fig. 10F).

Etymology. The specific epithet felix is derived from the Old Latin name of Yemen Arabia Felix , one of the three regions into which the Romans subdivided the Arabian Peninsula : Arabia Deserta , Arabia Felix , and Arabia Petraea. The meaning of Felix is both fertile but also happy, fortunate or blessed, being this area well irrigated in the Arabian Peninsula with significant vegetation and river beds (wadis).

Distribution. Yemen (Al-Lahima, Manakhah).

Remarks. The holotype is damaged missing both flagella, fore and mid legs, right hind leg. These damages are likely due to the prolonged stay in the Malaise trap. The paratype is conversely complete. The choice to designate the damaged specimen as holotype is due to the preparation that allows the study of diagnostic characters, such as face and black spots on second sternum which are not visible clearly on the paratype, being prepared rolled up. All the other diagnostic characters like sculpture, relative lengths, colour and shape of apical margin is anyway conforming between the two females.