Bembecinus keili, Schmid, 2024

Bembecinus keili SCHMID- EGGER nov.sp. (figs 34-44)

Holotype: IRAN: ♀, 05.v.2019 Hajjiabad 4 km NW, 28.3329 N 55.8441 E (leg. & coll CSE) GoogleMaps . Paratypes: 5♁♁ 2♀♀, same data as holotype (leg. & coll. CSE, Liebig, Jacobs).

D i a g n o s i s Bembecinus keili belongs to the B. peregrinus species group sensu SCHMID- EGGER (2004). The male is characterized by the following character combination: Hindfemur with a single spine, S3 with tooth, remaining sternites flat (figs 39, 40). It keys out with B. meridionalis A. COSTA, 1859 and B. gusenleitneri DE BEAUMONT, 1967 in the key of SCHMID- EGGER (2004), couplet 38. It differs from both species by the shape of sternal tooth: its apex is truncate, with large rectangular platform (ventral view, fig. 40), Sternal tooth is sharply keel-like in both other species. Mid- and hindfemora are yellow and reddish dorsally, without black, whereas they are black and yellow with red in the other species. Yellow color is pale, and tergal bands are narrow in B. gusenleitneri , and lemmon yellow with large tergal bands in B. meridionalis and B. keili . Bands are larger in B. keili (up to 0,7x of visible tergal length) compared to B. meridionalis (maximum 0,3x as long as terga). Lateral margin of T 7 is straight in B. keili (and in B. gusenleitneri ) and curved inwards in B. meridionalis , seen in dorsal view. The tergite tapered towards the back (fig. 37).

The female has rich yellow markings (Fig. 43). Space above clypeus and T 6 are yellow, legs are partly red. It keys out at couplet 45 in the key of SCHMID- EGGER (2004) with B. henseni and B. birecikensis SCHMID- EGGER, 2004. It differs from both species by a yellow spot on T 6 (black in remaining), and by a black mesopleuron (with yellow spot in the remaining). Propodeum is black, and with yellow spots in B. henseni .

D e s c r i p t i o n m a l e: Body length 11.0 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, triangluar spots on scutellum laterally, band on metanotum, large band on T 1, double indented bands on T 2-6, small spot on T 7, small lateral spots on S2-6. Coxae and trochanters mostly black, femora yellow, forefemur with black band dorsally, mid- and hindfemora with large red band dorsally, tibiae and tarsi yellow. Morphology: Hindfemur large, apically rectangular (fig. 41), with black spine on inner hindfemur apically, 0,8x as long as hindocellar diameter. Hindtibia clubiform, basally narrow, apically large. T 7 apically largely truncate. S3 basally with large tooth, directed backwards, in ventral view rectangular, apically truncate with platform, with indistinct medial impression on top (figs 39, 40). S6 slightly emarginate apically, S7 with longitudinal keel in basal two third. Lateral teeth of S8 large and apically rounded, medial tooth pointed (fig. 42). Propodeum emarginated in apico-lateral corner (seen in dorsal view).

V a r i a t i o n: Yellow color of abdomen is more extended in one paratype male and covers most of the terga.

D e s c r i p t i o n f e m a l e: Body length 9.0-10.0 mm. Color: Black, with the following parts lemmon yellow: labrum, clypeus, space above clypeus (in one female with some black medially), scape and flagellomeres ventrally, narrow band on pronotum, pronotal lobe, band on mesoscutum laterally, large rectangular spots on scutellum laterally, band on metanotum, narrow and double indented bands on T 1-5, longitudinal spot on T 6. S2-3 with small lateral triangular spots. Legs yellow, fore femur black, mid- and hindfemora red, each with some yellow ventrally, tibiae with some red ventrally. Mesosoma covered with dense appressed silver pilosity. Morphology: AS 3 2,3x as long as wide. Otherwise similiar to other species of the B. peregrinus species group.

E t y m o l o g y: The species is dedicated in honour to THOMAS KEIL, a German entomologist and expert for Zygaenidae . He also kindly organized our two collecting trips to Iran.

D i s t r i b u t i o n: Southern Iran.