Prionyx (Harpactopus) zarudnyi (Gussakovskij, 1933)

(Figs 1f, 4a, 5e, 6e, 10g, 11e)

Sphex zarudnyi Gussakovskij 1933:372, ♂, ♀. Lectotype: ♀, “БаЗман—Тагаб” [Iran: Sistan and Baluchestan Province: Iranshahr County: Bazman District: Bazman], designated by Danilov 2012b:68 (ZISP), examined.— de Beaumont 1968:149; Danilov 2016:353.— As Prionyx zarudnyi: Bohart & Menke 1976:134; Danilov 2012a:163, 164, 2012b:68; Jahantigh, Rakhshani, Mokhtari & Ramroodi 2017:27; Danilov 2019:78; Danilov & Odintsev 2023:433; Pulawski 2024:46.

Diagnosis. Both sexes of P. zarudnyi resemble P. subfuscatus, P. judaeus, and P. crudelis, but differ in having the wings smoky and the body brownish ( P. subfuscatus, P. judaeus, and P. crudelis have the wings yellow and the body black).

Description. Body brownish with fine brown erect setae. Head. Labial palpomeres 2–4 usual. Vertex, occiput and gena microsculptured, with fine, sparse, inconspicuous, appressed, goldish or brownish setae. Mesosoma . Metanotum tuberculate dorsally. Mesopleuron, metapleuron and propodeum areolate-rugose, shiny; propodeal enclosure dull. Wings smoky; veins light brown; recurrent vein II of forewing received by submarginal cell III. Legs. Claws with 2 ventral teeth; arolia present.

Male. Body length 14–19 mm. Head. Labrum trapeziform. Clypeus with wide V-shaped median emargination. Clypeus, subantennal sclerite, paraocular area and frons with appressed, silvery setae. Mandible reddish mesally. F3–F5 with narrow, depressed placoids. Mesosoma . Pronotum microsculptured, slightly shiny. Scutum finely transversely rugose anteriorly, longitudinally rugose posteriorly and smooth posterolaterally, slightly shiny. Pronotum and scutum anteriorly with fine, sparse, inconspicuous, appressed, goldish or brownish setae. Scutellum finely longitudinally rugose, dull. Metasoma. S6 entire, without teeth.

Female. Body length 19–24 mm. Head. Labrum trapeziform, emarginate apically. Clypeus angulate, with U-shaped median notch. Clypeus, subantennal sclerite, paraocular area and frons with appressed, goldish setae. Mesosoma . Pronotum microsculptured, distinctly longitudinally emarginate dorsally, slightly shiny. Scutum micropunctate, slightly shiny. Pronotum and scutum with fine, sparse, inconspicuous, appressed, goldish or brownish setae. Scutellum micropunctate, finely longitudinally rugose posteriorly, shiny. Legs. Tarsal rake of foreleg with long, stout, bladelike and some short, hairlike setae.

Material examined. IRAN. Sistan and Baluchestan Province: Iranshahr County, Bazman District, Bazman [27°51’N, 60°10’E], 10.VIII.1898, N. Zarudny (3 ♂, 1 ♀ paralectotypes, 1 ♀, lectotype, ZISP); 30.VIII.1898 (1 ♂, paralectotype, ZISP) .

Distribution. Desert areas of the Iranian Plateau (Iran).