Hedychrum hyrcanum

Rosa, Paolo, Halada, Marek, Fateryga, Alexander V. & Proshchalykin, Maxim Yu., 2025, Contribution to the knowledge of the Uzbek cuckoo wasps (Hymenoptera, Chrysididae) with the first checklist and descriptions of new species, Zootaxa 5715 (1), pp. 331-399 : 341

publication ID	https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5715.1.32
publication LSID	lsid:zoobank.org:pub:5C44EFAE-A270-4536-BCF6-B89E6868E714
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/95358797-FFAB-784E-FF39-3C3BFBB0125B
treatment provided by	Plazi
scientific name	Hedychrum hyrcanum
status

Treatment

Hedychrum hyrcanum Semenov-Tian-Shanskij, 1967

Hedychrum hyrcanum Semenov-Tian-Shanskij, 1967: 137. Holotype ♀; Iran: Astrabad ( ZISP, examined).

Material examined. Uzbekistan: 1♀, Papngan , 20 km NW of Kokand, 12.V.1994, leg. M. Halada ( MHC) ; 1♀; Samarkand env., 19–21.V.1994, leg. M. Halada ( MHC) ; 1♂, 1♀, Aktaš , 70 km N of Tashkent, 27.V.1994, leg. M. Halada ( MHC, PRC) ; 9♀, Czirczik , 28.V.1994, leg. M. Halada ( MHC, PRC) .

Remarks. We identified the Uzbek specimens as Hedychrum hyrcanum . However, they show somehow intermediated features between H. hyrcanum and H. alexii Semenov-Tian-Shanskij, 1967 and they likely belong to an undescribed species. In particular, the structure of the head, almost flat, with weak scapal basin and simple tergal puncture correspond to H. hyrcanum . On the other hand, the punctures becoming larger and deeper on the apical margin of the second tergum correspond to H. alexii . However, the Uzbek specimens differ from H. alexii in head shape, as H. alexii has deeper scapal basin, more clearly delimited, and in ventral sculpture, which in H. alexii is dense and double while in the Uzbek specimens it is sparse, with relatively large, single punctures. In other morphological characters, the two species are similar, with H. hyrcanum showing a lighter green colouration and H. alexii a darker blue. The colour of the Uzbek specimens is also intermediate, with blue punctures contrasting with green interspaces on the mesosoma. We temporarily associate the Uzbek specimens with H. hyrcanum , considering the shape of the head to be more diagnostic.