Pseudepipona kozhevnikovi (Kostylev, 1927)

(Figs 13–15, 27, 40–45)

Odynerus kozhevnikovi Kostylev, 1927: 78–80, ♀ ♂; type locality: “Aralsee (Insel von Nicolaus)” [Uzbekistan], “Aralsee (Tjulenj-Agatsh, Syr-Darjja-Mündung)” [Kazakhstan: Kyzylorda Province], “Terenj-Uzjak, distr. Kyzyl-Orda (früher Perovsk, Syr-Darjja-Gebiet)” [Kazakhstan: Kyzylorda Province], “Kazalinsk” [Kazakhstan: Kyzylorda Province].

Pseudepipona kozhevnikovi: Blüthgen, 1938: 295 .

Material examined. TURKMENISTAN: 12 km W Chardzhou [currently Turkmenabad], 21. V .1973, 1 ♂, leg. V . L. Kazenas [FSCV]; Farab, Buchara, 11 ♀, 4 ♂, leg. L. Wollmann [ZISP]; ibid., IV– V .1917, 2 ♂, leg. L. Wollmann [ZISP] . UZBEKISTAN: Khiva, Nurlabay [= Nurillaboy], 9. VI.1927, 1 ♂, leg. V. Gussakovskij [ZISP]; ibid., 16.VII.1927, 1 ♂, leg. V. Gussakovskij [ZISP]; Khiva, Ravat, 26. VI.1927, 1 ♀, leg. V. Gussakovskij [ZISP]; Nukus, 14.VII.1898, 1 ♂, leg. Rossikov [ZISP]; Qashqadaryo Province, Quarshi, bank of Qashqadaryo River, 38.888448°N, 65.831745°E, 13. V .2015, 1 ♀, leg. M. V . Mokrousov, M.Yu. Proshchalykon & K.G. Samartsev [CAFK]; Urg-Aral, 22.VIII.1903, 1 ♀, leg. A. Berg [ZISP] . KYRGYZSTAN: Tien-Shan, Vicinity of Kazarman, 12.VIII.1972, 1 ♂, leg. L. Pek [FSCV] . KAZAKHSTAN. Aktobe Province: Chelkar, 17.VIII.1972, 2 ♀, leg. V . L. Kazenas [FSCV]; Grosse Barsuki bei Tschelkar, 2 ♀, leg. N. Androssow [ZISP]. Almaty Province: Tar-Desol Landmark, lower reaches of Ili River, 7.VIII.1903, 1 ♂, leg. A. Berg [ZISP]. East Kazakhstan Province: Kenderlyk River, 12. VI .1910, 1 ♂, leg. A. Yakobson [ZISP]; Vicinity of Koznakovka [currently Kulynzhon], 13–14.IX.1979, 1 ♀, leg. V . L. Kazenas [FSCV]; Zaysan, 1 ♂ [ZISP]. Jambyl Province: 80 km NW Furmanovka [currently Moyynkum], 7.VIII.1975, 1 ♀, leg. V . L. Kazenas [FSCV]; Balkhash Lake, Chiganak, 15.VIII.1978, 2 ♀, leg. V . L. Kazenas [FSCV]; Balkhash Lake, Mynaral, 12–14.VIII.1978, 1 ♀, leg. V . L. Kazenas [FSCV]; Betpak-Dala, 80 km NW Furmanovka, 25.VII.1975, 1 ♀, leg. V . L. Kazenas [FSCV]; NE Muyunkum, Chu River, 1. VI .1969, 1 ♂, leg. N. V . Kurzenko [FSCV]. Karaganda Province: Sary-Chagan Bay, W bank of Balkhash Lake, 7.VIII.1903, 1 ♂, leg. L. Berg [ZISP]. Kyzylorda Province: Dzhulek, 22. V .1905, 1 ♀ [ZISP]; Dzhulek, Bakta-Kum, 11–12. VI .1918, 1 ♀, leg. V . Kozhanchikov [ZISP]; Dzhulek, Syr-Daja Gebiet, 1 ♂, leg. L. Wollmann [ZISP]; Kazalinsk Uezd, Khorkhut — Nyagibay, 13. VI .1898, 1 ♀, leg. Geyer [ZISP]; Kyzylorda, 17. VI.1926, 1 ♀, leg. K. Ruzayev [ZISP]; Perovsk [currently Kyzylorda], Syr-Darja Gebiet, 29. V .1907, 1 ♂, leg. L. Wollmann [ZISP]; ibid., 1 ♀, 2 ♂, leg. W. Nikolskiy [ZISP]; Syr-Darya, vicinity of Yany-Kurgan, 21.VII.1973, 1 ♀, leg. N. V . Kurzenko [FSCV]; ibid., 25.VII.1973, 3 ♂, leg. N. V . Kurzenko [FSCV]; Tschiili [currently Shieli], Syr-Darja Gebiet, 1 ♂, leg. A. Kuzmin [ZISP]. Turkestan Province: Uch-Kayuk [currently Nurtas], Kyzyl-Kum, 27. VI .1912, 1 ♂, leg. Zarudny [ZISP]; Vicinity of Bairkum, 2. VI .1973, 5 ♂, leg. N. V . Kurzenko [FSCV] . CHINA. Gansu: South Gobi, Bayduntszy, 4700′, 20.IX.1901, 4 ♀, leg. P.K. Kozlov [ZISP]. Inner Mongolia: Alashan, Dyn-Yuan-In Oasis [currently Bayan-Khoto], 30–31. V.1908, 1 ♂, leg. P.K. Kozlov [ZISP]; ibid., 1–3. VI.1908, 1 ♂, leg. P.K. Kozlov [ZISP]; ibid., 10–11. VI.1908, 1 ♀, 1 ♂, leg. P.K. Kozlov [ZISP]; Ordos, left bank of Yellow River, Ulan-Modo, 29. V.1908, 1 ♂, leg. P.Ya. Napalkov [ZISP]. Xinjiang: Bugas near Khami to SE of Tienshan, 21–25.VIII.1895, 1 ♂, leg. V.I. Roborovski & P.K. Kozlov [ZISP]; ibid., 7.IX.1895, 1 ♀, leg. V. I. Roborovski & P.K. Kozlov [ZISP] .

Additional literature records. MONGOLIA: Ghovd Aimak, 3 km W von Somon Uenč im Tal Uenč Gol, 1450 m (Giordani Soika 1970b). CHINA. Gansu: Jiayuguan City, Xincheng Town, Anyuangou Village, 39.787°N, 98.322°E (Bai et al. 2021); Zhangye City, Gaotai County, Heiquan Town, Yanzhibao Village, 39.607°N, 99.654°E (Bai et al. 2021).

Diagnosis. Females of this species can be distinguished from other members of the P. herrichii -group by the following combination of characters: clypeus approximately 1.15× as wide as long, with relatively shallowly emarginated apical margin, yellow with a longitudinal black spot in its distal half; scutum with two comma-like spots; scutellum with a thick apical band taking more than a half of its area; propodeum with a weakly developed transverse carina between the shelf and concavity forming laterally acute teeth-like projections; propodeal valvula bluntly angled posteriorly; T1 with three small longitudinal carinae, in dorsal view approximately 1.55× as maximal wide as long. In the males, the clypeus is approximately 1.10× as wide as long; cuspis with a small and short dorsal process which is somewhat shorter than its width at the base; base of the digitus attached below the top of the cuspis apex so that the latter is protruding as a relatively long free acute spine; aedeagus with a median expansion; ventral lobe of the aedeagus rather angled in lateral view; aedeagus in dorsal view broad.

Distribution. Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan (Aktobe Province, Almaty Province, East Kazakhstan Province, Jambyl Province, Karaganda Province, Kyzylorda Province, Turkestan Province), Mongolia, China (Gansu, Inner Mongolia, Xinjiang) (Fig. 27).

Remarks. This species is polymorphic in coloration. Specimens from the main part of its range are black with yellow (Figs 40, 44) while the yellow color is replaced by orange in the specimens from Gansu and Inner Mongolia (Fig. 42).

Bionomics. Unknown.