Norbanus brevispiculus Rahmani & Rakhshani, 2025

Norbanus brevispiculus Rahmani & Rakhshani sp. nov.

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( Figs 3 View FIGURE 3 , 4 View FIGURE 4 )

Diagnosis. Females of N. brevispiculus are similar to those of N. globulariae (Szelényi, 1941) in having POL longer than OOL ( Fig. 3B View FIGURE 3 ), basal cell setose over distal half ( Fig. 4A View FIGURE 4 ) and gaster without any reddish-orange colour ( Fig. 4C View FIGURE 4 ). They can be separated from females of the latter species by the vertex alutaceous-imbricate ( Figs 3A, B View FIGURE 3 ) vs reticulate ( Rizzo & Mitroiu 2010: fig. 10), antennal clava with a short, thick terminal spine ( Fig. 3D View FIGURE 3 ) vs narrow terminal spine, and postmarginal vein being shorter than the marginal vein ( Fig. 4A View FIGURE 4 ) vs postmarginal vein longer than marginal vein. Females also resemble N. cerasiops and N. tabatabeii due to the double-incised posterior margin of Gt 1 ( Fig. 4C View FIGURE 4 ), antennal clava with a short, thick terminal spine ( Fig. 3D View FIGURE 3 ), having the vertex alutaceous-imbricate ( Figs 3A, B View FIGURE 3 ) and shallow postspiracular furrow ( Fig. 4B View FIGURE 4 ). Females can be separated from those of N. cerasiops and N. tabatabeii by the characters given in the key.

Type material. Holotype ♀, Iran, Kerman, Koohpayeh ( 30°28’50.65”N, 57°19’17.98”E, 1803 m a.s.l.), Malaise trap, 18.07.2019, Leg.: Sh. Mohebban ( DPPZ). GoogleMaps

Description. FEMALE. Body length 3.7 mm, fore wing 2.4 mm.

Colour. Head and mesosoma dark blue ( Figs 3A–C, E, F View FIGURE 3 ). Metasoma blackish with blue reflections ( Fig. 4C View FIGURE 4 ). Eyes reddish, ocelli light brown ( Fig. 3B View FIGURE 3 ). Mandibles dark reddish-brown, teeth darker ( Fig. 3A View FIGURE 3 ). Antenna dark brown except base of scape, first anellus and apex of clava brown ( Fig. 3D View FIGURE 3 ). Wings hyaline, tegula, venation and setae brown ( Fig. 4A View FIGURE 4 ). Legs with coxae, trochanters and femora concolourous with mesosoma, all tibiae and tarsi pale yellow except middle part of tibiae and claws dark brown ( Fig. 4D View FIGURE 4 ).

Sculpture. Head reticulate except vertex and area around ocelli alutaceous-imbricate ( Fig. 3B View FIGURE 3 ), and lower face striate, the striae extending dorsally to a level a little below lower margin of eyes ( Fig. 3A View FIGURE 3 ). Mesosoma with pronotum and mesonotum dorsally coarsely reticulate ( Fig. 3E View FIGURE 3 ); dorsellum and propodeum finely reticulate ( Fig. 4B View FIGURE 4 ). Gastral terga alutaceous except Gt 1 smooth ( Fig. 4C View FIGURE 4 ).

Head. In frontal view 1.3× as wide as high ( Fig. 3A View FIGURE 3 ); in dorsal view width 2.4× its length ( Fig. 3B View FIGURE 3 ). Eye height in frontal view 1.59× as long as malar space ( Fig. 3A View FIGURE 3 ) and in lateral view 1.4× its length ( Fig. 3C View FIGURE 3 ); eye in dorsal view 2.9× as long as temple ( Fig. 3B View FIGURE 3 ). Clypeal margin shallowly emarginate ( Fig. 3A View FIGURE 3 ). Scrobes moderately shallow ( Fig. 3A View FIGURE 3 ), visible in dorsal view ( Fig. 3B View FIGURE 3 ). Antenna with scape reaching median ocellus ( Fig. 3A View FIGURE 3 ); flagellum with both anneli transverse, but second longer than the first ( Fig. 3D View FIGURE 3 ); all funiculars longer than wide, decreasing in length distally, with Fu 1 2.75× and Fu 6 1.2× as long as wide; clava with short, thick terminal spine ( Fig. 3D View FIGURE 3 ). Toruli almost equidistant from median ocellus and clypeal margin ( Fig. 3A View FIGURE 3 ). POL 1.4× as long as OOL ( Fig. 3B View FIGURE 3 ).

Mesosoma . Mesosoma 1.3× as long as wide ( Fig. 3E View FIGURE 3 ); mesoscutum 2× as wide as long ( Fig. 3E View FIGURE 3 ); mesoscutellum 0.76× as long as wide, without frenal line ( Fig. 3E View FIGURE 3 ). Propodeum 0.5× as long as mesoscutellum, with oval spiracles and very shallow postspiracular furrow ( Fig. 4B View FIGURE 4 ); callus with whitish setae not dense ( Fig. 3F View FIGURE 3 ). Fore wing 2.4× as long as wide; basal fold and basal cell over distal half setose; speculum small; marginal vein 1.4× as long as postmarginal vein and 1.7× as long as stigmal vein; postmarginal vein 1.3× as long as stigmal vein ( Fig. 4A View FIGURE 4 ).

Metasoma. Gaster ovate-acuminate, 1.8× as long as wide, slightly longer than head plus mesosoma; Gt 1 0.2× as long as metasoma, with posterior margin double-incised ( Fig. 4C View FIGURE 4 ).

MALE. Unknown.

Etymology. The name is in reference to the short claval terminal spine.

Distribution. Iran.