Bembecinus dhofarensis, Schmid, 2024

Bembecinus dhofarensis SCHMID- EGGER nov.sp. (figs 19-23)

Holotype: OMAN: ♁, 22.ix.2023 15 km E Taqah 17.043 N 54.536 E (leg. M. Halada, coll. CSE) GoogleMaps . Paratypes: 2♁♁ 2♀♀ same data as holotype (coll. CSE).

D i a g n o s i s Bembecinus dhofarensis belongs to the B. peregrinus species group sensu SCHMID- EGGER (2004). The male is characterized by a special character, a very short and deeply emarginated T 7 (fig. 20). It shares this character with B. hebraeus DE BEAUMONT, 1968 described from Israel. Both species therefore form an easily recognizable lineage. Another character of this lineage is the position of the hindfemoral spine. It is situated basally close to the margin of the femur, and not in apical third as in other species of the B. peregrinus species group. B. hebraeus differs from B. dhofarensis by a row of long yellow bristles/thick setae on apex of S7, and by its smaller body size (7 mm). Bembecinus dhofarensis has only very short pubescence on apex of S7 (fig. 21).

The female has no particularities and keys out at couplet 56 in the key of SCHMID- EGGER (2004) near B. meridionalis COSTA, 1859. It is smaller than B. meridionalis (8 versus 10-

13 mm), spots and bands are pale yellow and not lemmon yellow as in B. meridionalis (fig. 22).

D e s c r i p t i o n m a l e: Body length 8.5 mm. Color: Black, with the following parts pale yellow: labrum, clypeus, space above clypeus, inner eye margin, scape and flagellomeres ventrally, narrow band on pronotum, pronotal lobe, band on mesoscutum laterally, band on scutellum, medially emarginated, band on metanotum, small spot on mesopleuron, spot on propodeum laterally, narrow bands on T 1-5, medial spot on T 6, lateral spots on S2-6 medially connected by a thin band on S2-5. Legs yellow, femora with black band in basal half dorsally. Morphology: AS 13 barley curved. Propodeum rounded in apico-lateral corner (seen in dorsal view). Spine of inner hindfemur minute, near base of inner side of hindfemur. Hindfemur apically slender. Apex of T 7 widely emarginated, apical margin with long setae (fig. 20). Apex of S7 emarginated (fig. 21), apical margin with short setae. S8 with three long and pointed spines.

D e s c r i p t i o n f e m a l e: Body length 8.0 mm. Color: Black, with the following parts pale yellow: labrum, clypeus, scape and flagellomeres ventrally, narrow band on pronotum, pronotal lobe, band on mesoscutum laterally, band on scutellum and metanotum, narrow and double indented bands on T 1-5, band on T 1 is double as wide as remaining bands. S2-5 with small band, last bands medially interrupted. Fore- and midfemora dorsally black, ventrally yellow. Hindfemur black with red apex. Tibiae yellow with black spots ventrally, tarsi yellow. Mesosoma with appressed setae, some erect pale setae on mesopleuron. Morphology: Propodeum rounded in apico-lateral corner (seen in dorsal view). Face see fig. 23.

E t y m o l o g y: The species is named after the type area, the Dhofar province in southern Oman.

D i s t r i b u t i o n: Dhofar province in southern Oman.