Ceramius caucasicus André, 1884

(Fig. 9A, D)

Ceramius caucasicus André, 1884: 820, ♂ (type locality: “ Caucase ” [presumably Armenia]), type depository unknown, probably Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, Paris, France (Carpenter 2001).

Material examined. ARMENIA: Etschmiadsin [Vagharshapat], 1 ♂ [ZISP]; Arsakiand [Arzakan], 22.VI.1904, 1 ♀, leg. N. Briansky [ZISP]; bei Erivan [Yerevan], 6300', 2.VII.1912, 2 ♂ [ZISP]; prope Mis-chana [Hankavan], 7000', 1924, 1 ♂ [ZISP]; Vallis Araxis, Mt. Saraj-bulag [8 km NE Armash], 5000', 8.VI.1926, 1 ♂, leg. A. Shelkovnikov [ZMMU]; Kotaik [Kotayk], prope Eilar [Abovyan], 1 ♂, leg. A. Shelkovnikov [ZMMU]; Kotaik [Kotayk], Mt. Gadis [Hatis], 6000', 1.VII.1926, 9 ♂, leg. A. Shelkovnikov [ZMMU]; Kotaik [Kotayk], Jelidja [4 km E Zovashen], 7100', 24.VII.1926, 4 ♀, 7 ♂, leg. A. Shelkovnikov [ZMMU]; Gokcha [Lake Sevan], northern coast, 19.VII.1927, 1 ♂, leg. Arnoldi [ZISP]; Karabakhlar [Vedi], 3.VI.1959, 2 ♂, leg. G. Viktorov [ZMMU]; Dzhrvezh [Jrvezh], 6.VI.1959, 1 ♂, leg. G. Viktorov [ZMMU]; Ashtarak District, Byurakan, 16.VII.1959, 1 ♂, leg. G. Viktorov [ZMMU]. AZERBAIJAN. Main territory: Adshikent [Hajikend], 2 ♀, 3 ♂ [ZISP]. Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic: Ordubad (Arax), 1892, 1 ♀, 1 ♂, leg. E. Reitter [ZISP]; Ordubad, Aghdara, 39°06'N, 45°54'E, 2000 m, 17.VI.2019, 1 ♂, leg. M. Proshchalykin, Kh. Aliyev, M. Maharramov [CAFK].

Additional literature records. ARMENIA: Erivan [Yerevan] and Kalp [Koghb] (Richards 1962); Kotaik [Kotayk], Keilan [probably Kuyli, 3 km NE Zovashen] (Kostylev 1929) .

Distribution. Armenia, Azerbaijan (main territory, Nakhchivan AR) (Fig. 11); Turkey, Iran.

Biology. Nesting of this species was studied in Turkey by Mauss et al. (2005). The only discovered nest was excavated by the female wasp in clayey but quite crumbly soil; the burrow was surmounted by a turret constructed by the female using mud extracted from within the burrow. The nest had a vertical to sub-vertical main shaft of approximately 13 cm length. At its base the main shaft turned outwards and continued into a short sub-horizontal secondary shaft terminated by a cell. The cell was sub-horizontal; there was no constructed mud cell within the excavated cell. Water was used to soften the soil; females visited water collection sites where they stood on wet ground, on or in dense vegetation, or on soil covered by a thin film of water. The provision consisted of pollen from plants of the families Campanulaceae and Lamiaceae . Pollen of the same two families was also present in the alimentary tract of females and males. Furthermore, the alimentary tract of males contained also pollen of Resedaceae, Fabaceae, and Caprifoliaceae (= Dipsacaceae) in lower proportions (Mauss et al. 2005). Therefore, C. caucasicus is a polylectic species. Flower-visiting records in Turkey: Ziziphora clinopodioides ( Lamiaceae), Papaver orientale L. ( Papaveraceae), and Acantholimon venustum Boiss. ( Plumbaginaceae) (Fahringer 1922; Mauss et al. 2005).