Miscophus pseudopapyrus Schmid-Egger & Ghaderipour, 2025

Miscophus pseudopapyrus Schmid-Egger & Ghaderipour sp. nov.

( Figs 7–10 View FIGURES 1–8 View FIGURES 9–16 )

Holotype: IRAN: ♀ 7.v.2019 Kerman prov., 55 km N Kerman, 30.80N 57.05E, 1721m, C. Schmid-Egger ( ZSM). GoogleMaps Paratypes: IRAN: 1♀ 6.vi.2013 Fars, Khonj 27.891N, 53.447E, 527m, M. Atbaei ( CSE); GoogleMaps Hormozgan province, Bandar Abbas env.: 2♀ 17.iv.2011, 18.iv.2011 Qaleh Qazi, 27.448N 56.548E GoogleMaps ; 1♀ 19.viii.2012 North Zakin, 27.885N, 56.332E, 1020 m GoogleMaps ; 2 ♀ 06.v..2011, 04.iv.2011, Geno, 27.404N, 56.147E, 1274m GoogleMaps ; 2♀ 23.v. 2011, 21. ix.2010 Zakin, Baneh , 27.864N, 56.309E, 1630 m GoogleMaps ; for all A. Ameri ( TMUC).

Diagnosis: The female of M. pseudopapyrus ( Fig. 7 View FIGURES 1–8 ) agrees in general aspects with M. helveticus and belongs to a lineage with four long basal spines (fig. 10), together with M. papyrus de Andrade, 1954 from North Africa and Arabian Peninsula and some other species from North Africa (not considered here). It differs from M. papyrus by predominantly black tegula ( Fig. 9 View FIGURES 9–16 ), precostal plate and femora (yellow or reddish in M. papyrus ). M. papyrus is not yet recorded from Iran. Another species with four basitarsal spines from Mongolia, M. eximius Gussakovskij, 1934 , is characterised by a conspicuous longitudinal furrow below mid ocellus, which divides the face into two parts. It lacks in remaining species of the members of the M. helveticus group with four fortarsal spines.

Description of female: Body length: 8.5–10.0 mm, holotype 8.5 mm. In general aspects similar to M. helveticus . Color: Black. Mandible reddish except apical black third. AS 1–3 below white ( AS 3 in one paratype only with small basal spot) ( Fig. 7 View FIGURES 1–8 ). Wing venation white-yellowish except brown subcosta. Tegula black with pale apex, precostal plate pale except black medial spot ( Fig. 9 View FIGURES 9–16 ). Gaster all red, in one paratype dark red with paler tergal margins. Coxae, trochanter and femora black, coxae and trochanters with some dark red above, femora at extreme apex with red. Remaining part of legs orange-reddish, with some dark patches on tibiae. Holotype with thin appressed pubescence on face and mesosoma, partly lacking (may be worn), and with dense pubescence in paratypes. Wings transparent with clouded apical zone outside of venation zone. Morphology: Middle section of ACM clearly protruding and towers above the lateral sections ( Fig. 8 View FIGURES 1–8 ). OOL and POL each 1,5 × as long as diameter of hindocellus, in one paratype shorter, 1 × as long. Fore basitarsus with four long spines, apical spine reaches middle of third tarsal segment ( Fig. 10 View FIGURES 9–16 ). Three apical long spines arise very close to each other near the apex of tarsal segment, shorter basal spine arises approximately in the middle of tarsal segment.

Variation in females: Specimens from Hormozgan are distinctly darker than remaining specimens, and pubescence is denser. However, there is no evidence that these belong to a different species.

Remark about male: A male form Qaleh Quazi/ Hormozgan was collected together with a female paratype. Due to the difficulties in distinguishing the males of the M. helveticus group ( Schmid-Egger & Al-Jadhami 2022), it will not be labelled or further described here as a paratype. It is similar in coloration to the darker female variant from the type series, as described above. The triangularly protruding middle part of the ACM is conspicuous, while it is usually more rounded in the other males of the species group.

Distribution: Iran.

Etymology: The species is named after its closest relative, the similar Miscophus papyrus from Arabian Peninsula and Northeast Africa.