taxonID	type	description	language	source
F770A4688731FFAE005AF2C1DF80BCDF.taxon	materials_examined	Material examined IRAQ: Kurdistan, Duhok, Mt. Gara, 1912 m, 37.0158 ° N 43.3505 ° E, 11 May 2023, 1 ♀ (MSVI).	en	Selis, Marco, Ismael, Halgurd R., Hamad, Mudhafar I., Baiocchi, Daniele, Cilia, Giovanni (2025): A first update to the vespid fauna of Iraq (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), with description of a new species. Journal of Natural History 59 (13 - 16): 941-981, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842
F770A4688731FFAE005AF2C1DF80BCDF.taxon	distribution	Distribution Turkey, Israel, Iraq *, Iran (Gusenleitner 2011, 2013 a). voucher code. All data are available on GenBank. Countries are abbreviated using ISO 3166 – 1 alpha- 2 codes.	en	Selis, Marco, Ismael, Halgurd R., Hamad, Mudhafar I., Baiocchi, Daniele, Cilia, Giovanni (2025): A first update to the vespid fauna of Iraq (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), with description of a new species. Journal of Natural History 59 (13 - 16): 941-981, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842
F770A4688736FFA80001F784D959BC9C.taxon	materials_examined	Material examined IRAQ: Kurdistan, Duhok, Bnavi village, 1580 m, 37.2427 ° N 43.3808 ° E, 7 June 2024, 1 ♀ (MSVI).	en	Selis, Marco, Ismael, Halgurd R., Hamad, Mudhafar I., Baiocchi, Daniele, Cilia, Giovanni (2025): A first update to the vespid fauna of Iraq (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), with description of a new species. Journal of Natural History 59 (13 - 16): 941-981, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842
F770A4688736FFA80001F784D959BC9C.taxon	distribution	Distribution Turkey, Iraq * (Gusenleitner 2001, 2013 a).	en	Selis, Marco, Ismael, Halgurd R., Hamad, Mudhafar I., Baiocchi, Daniele, Cilia, Giovanni (2025): A first update to the vespid fauna of Iraq (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), with description of a new species. Journal of Natural History 59 (13 - 16): 941-981, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842
F770A4688736FFA80032F6D9D80BBE69.taxon	materials_examined	Material examined IRAQ: Kurdistan, Duhok, 3 km SSE of Ashewa, Mt. Gara, 1450 – 1525 m, 37.9997 ° N 43.3055 ° E, 9 – 12 June 2024, 3 ♀ (DUMAI, MSVI); Kurdistan, Duhok, 5 km E of Ashewa, Mt. Gara, 1750 – 1950 m, 37.0158 ° N 43.3505 ° E, 30 May- 12 June 2024, 4 ♂ (DUMAI, MSVI); Kurdistan, Duhok, S of Zawita, Bablo Park, 1063 m, 36.8675 ° N 43.1205 ° E, 3 – 8 June 2024, 1 ♀ (MSVI).	en	Selis, Marco, Ismael, Halgurd R., Hamad, Mudhafar I., Baiocchi, Daniele, Cilia, Giovanni (2025): A first update to the vespid fauna of Iraq (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), with description of a new species. Journal of Natural History 59 (13 - 16): 941-981, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842
F770A4688736FFA80032F6D9D80BBE69.taxon	distribution	Distribution Austria, Bulgaria, Greece, Turkey, Iraq * (Gusenleitner 1996).	en	Selis, Marco, Ismael, Halgurd R., Hamad, Mudhafar I., Baiocchi, Daniele, Cilia, Giovanni (2025): A first update to the vespid fauna of Iraq (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), with description of a new species. Journal of Natural History 59 (13 - 16): 941-981, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842
F770A4688736FFA80051F455DAFBB8EE.taxon	description	Literature records Giordani Soika (1970).	en	Selis, Marco, Ismael, Halgurd R., Hamad, Mudhafar I., Baiocchi, Daniele, Cilia, Giovanni (2025): A first update to the vespid fauna of Iraq (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), with description of a new species. Journal of Natural History 59 (13 - 16): 941-981, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842
F770A4688736FFA80051F455DAFBB8EE.taxon	materials_examined	Material examined IRAQ: Kurdistan, Duhok, Erbil-Duhok Road, 4.5 km N of Ba’adra, Derke, 630 m, 36.7725 ° N 43.2491 ° E, 2 – 6 May 2024, 1 ♂ (DUMAI); Kurdistan, Duhok, Erbil-Duhok Road, 4.5 km N of Ba’adra, Derke, 630 m, 36.7725 ° N 43.2491 ° E, 16 – 22 May 2024, 1 ♀ (MSVI); Kurdistan, Duhok, Erbil-Duhok Road, 4.5 km N of Ba’adra, Derke, 630 m, 36.7725 ° N 43.2491 ° E, 30 May- 1 June 2024, 1 ♀ (MSVI); Kurdistan, Duhok, 5 km E of Ashewa, Mt. Gara, 1750 – 1950 m, 37.0158 ° N 43.3505 ° E, 30 May- 12 June 2024, 1 ♂ (MSVI).	en	Selis, Marco, Ismael, Halgurd R., Hamad, Mudhafar I., Baiocchi, Daniele, Cilia, Giovanni (2025): A first update to the vespid fauna of Iraq (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), with description of a new species. Journal of Natural History 59 (13 - 16): 941-981, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842
F770A4688736FFA80051F455DAFBB8EE.taxon	distribution	Distribution Turkey, Israel, Syria, Jordan, Armenia, Iraq, Iran (Giordani Soika 1970; Gusenleitner 2013 a; Schmid-Egger et al. 2021).	en	Selis, Marco, Ismael, Halgurd R., Hamad, Mudhafar I., Baiocchi, Daniele, Cilia, Giovanni (2025): A first update to the vespid fauna of Iraq (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), with description of a new species. Journal of Natural History 59 (13 - 16): 941-981, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842
F770A4688736FFAB00F6F2E8DA1BBC55.taxon	discussion	Remarks This species is reported as occurring in Iraq by Rafi et al. (2017), although no earlier sources could be located that reported its presence and later sources do not report it for Iraq (e. g., Carpenter and Gadallah 2020). We were unable to examine specimens of this species from Iraq; however, given the known distribution, its presence is highly probable and is therefore retained in the list.	en	Selis, Marco, Ismael, Halgurd R., Hamad, Mudhafar I., Baiocchi, Daniele, Cilia, Giovanni (2025): A first update to the vespid fauna of Iraq (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), with description of a new species. Journal of Natural History 59 (13 - 16): 941-981, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842
F770A4688736FFAB00F6F2E8DA1BBC55.taxon	distribution	Distribution Greece, Turkey, Syria, Israel, Jordan, Iraq, United Arab Emirates, Oman, Iran, Pakistan, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, China (Rafi et al. 2017; Carpenter and Gadallah 2020; Li and Chen 2023).	en	Selis, Marco, Ismael, Halgurd R., Hamad, Mudhafar I., Baiocchi, Daniele, Cilia, Giovanni (2025): A first update to the vespid fauna of Iraq (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), with description of a new species. Journal of Natural History 59 (13 - 16): 941-981, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842
F770A4688735FFAB0029F6CBD904B906.taxon	materials_examined	Material examined IRAQ: Kurdistan, Duhok, 5 km E of Ashewa, Mt. Gara, 1750 – 1950 m, 37.0158 ° N 43.3505 ° E, 30 May- 12 June 2024, 1 ♂ (MSVI, PQ 676353).	en	Selis, Marco, Ismael, Halgurd R., Hamad, Mudhafar I., Baiocchi, Daniele, Cilia, Giovanni (2025): A first update to the vespid fauna of Iraq (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), with description of a new species. Journal of Natural History 59 (13 - 16): 941-981, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842
F770A4688735FFAB0029F6CBD904B906.taxon	discussion	Remarks The only examined specimen is small and shows a rather dark pattern, with reduced paleyellow markings, and lacks the yellow spots on T 2 often reported to be a diagnostic character of the species. Comparison with several males from Europe did not, however, show the slightest difference in external morphology and genitalia, and the barcoding of it and two Italian males (Table 1) did not reveal any genetic difference.	en	Selis, Marco, Ismael, Halgurd R., Hamad, Mudhafar I., Baiocchi, Daniele, Cilia, Giovanni (2025): A first update to the vespid fauna of Iraq (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), with description of a new species. Journal of Natural History 59 (13 - 16): 941-981, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842
F770A4688735FFAB0029F6CBD904B906.taxon	distribution	Distribution France, Portugal, Spain, Italy (including Sardinia and Sicily), Switzerland, Germany, Austria, Croatia, Slovenia, Albania, Russia, Tunisia, Algeria, Cyprus, Turkey, Jordan, Armenia, Iraq * (Gusenleitner 2013 a; Fateryga 2018).	en	Selis, Marco, Ismael, Halgurd R., Hamad, Mudhafar I., Baiocchi, Daniele, Cilia, Giovanni (2025): A first update to the vespid fauna of Iraq (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), with description of a new species. Journal of Natural History 59 (13 - 16): 941-981, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842
F770A4688735FFAB00FCF347DF10B8B6.taxon	description	Giordani Soika (1970).	en	Selis, Marco, Ismael, Halgurd R., Hamad, Mudhafar I., Baiocchi, Daniele, Cilia, Giovanni (2025): A first update to the vespid fauna of Iraq (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), with description of a new species. Journal of Natural History 59 (13 - 16): 941-981, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842
F770A4688735FFAB00FCF347DF10B8B6.taxon	distribution	Distribution Spain, France, Switzerland, Austria, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Italy (including Sicily), Slovenia, Albania, North Macedonia, Greece, Russia, Turkey, Armenia, Israel, Syria, Jordan, Iraq, Iran, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan (Gusenleitner 2013 a; Fateryga 2018).	en	Selis, Marco, Ismael, Halgurd R., Hamad, Mudhafar I., Baiocchi, Daniele, Cilia, Giovanni (2025): A first update to the vespid fauna of Iraq (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), with description of a new species. Journal of Natural History 59 (13 - 16): 941-981, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842
F770A4688735FFAA000AF2EAD93BBDE0.taxon	materials_examined	Material examined IRAQ: Kurdistan, Duhok, SW of Ashewa, 1100 m, 37.013611 ° N 43.284444 ° E, 1 – 4 June 2024, 1 ♂ (MSVI); Kurdistan, Duhok, 5 km E of Ashewa, Mt. Gara, 1750 – 1950 m, 37.0158 ° N 43.3505 ° E, 30 May- 12 June 2024, 1 ♂ (MSVI).	en	Selis, Marco, Ismael, Halgurd R., Hamad, Mudhafar I., Baiocchi, Daniele, Cilia, Giovanni (2025): A first update to the vespid fauna of Iraq (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), with description of a new species. Journal of Natural History 59 (13 - 16): 941-981, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842
F770A4688735FFAA000AF2EAD93BBDE0.taxon	distribution	Distribution Iraq *, Iran (Gusenleitner 2010 b).	en	Selis, Marco, Ismael, Halgurd R., Hamad, Mudhafar I., Baiocchi, Daniele, Cilia, Giovanni (2025): A first update to the vespid fauna of Iraq (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), with description of a new species. Journal of Natural History 59 (13 - 16): 941-981, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842
F770A4688734FFAA00C1F61AD83ABF36.taxon	description	Giordani Soika (1970).	en	Selis, Marco, Ismael, Halgurd R., Hamad, Mudhafar I., Baiocchi, Daniele, Cilia, Giovanni (2025): A first update to the vespid fauna of Iraq (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), with description of a new species. Journal of Natural History 59 (13 - 16): 941-981, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842
F770A4688734FFAA00C1F61AD83ABF36.taxon	distribution	Distribution Iraq, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, China (Qin et al. 2024).	en	Selis, Marco, Ismael, Halgurd R., Hamad, Mudhafar I., Baiocchi, Daniele, Cilia, Giovanni (2025): A first update to the vespid fauna of Iraq (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), with description of a new species. Journal of Natural History 59 (13 - 16): 941-981, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842
F770A4688734FFAA00F8F56BDF39BEFC.taxon	description	Giordani Soika (1970).	en	Selis, Marco, Ismael, Halgurd R., Hamad, Mudhafar I., Baiocchi, Daniele, Cilia, Giovanni (2025): A first update to the vespid fauna of Iraq (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), with description of a new species. Journal of Natural History 59 (13 - 16): 941-981, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842
F770A4688734FFAA00F8F56BDF39BEFC.taxon	distribution	Distribution France, Portugal, Spain, Algeria, Morocco, Italy (including Sardinia and Sicily), Switzerland, Germany, Austria, Croatia, Slovenia, Montenegro, Albania, Ukraine, Russia, Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Turkey, Cyprus, Lebanon, Israel, Jordan, Iraq, Iran, Pakistan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, China (Fateryga et al. 2019).	en	Selis, Marco, Ismael, Halgurd R., Hamad, Mudhafar I., Baiocchi, Daniele, Cilia, Giovanni (2025): A first update to the vespid fauna of Iraq (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), with description of a new species. Journal of Natural History 59 (13 - 16): 941-981, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842
F770A4688734FFAA00C3F311D9DBB867.taxon	materials_examined	Material examined IRAQ: Kurdistan, Duhok, Sharifa env., NW of Amadiya, 1420 m, 37.1066 ° N 43.465 ° E, 6 June 2024, 1 ♀ (MSVI).	en	Selis, Marco, Ismael, Halgurd R., Hamad, Mudhafar I., Baiocchi, Daniele, Cilia, Giovanni (2025): A first update to the vespid fauna of Iraq (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), with description of a new species. Journal of Natural History 59 (13 - 16): 941-981, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842
F770A4688734FFAA00C3F311D9DBB867.taxon	distribution	Distribution Turkey, Syria, Israel, Iraq *, Iran (Gusenleitner 2013 a).	en	Selis, Marco, Ismael, Halgurd R., Hamad, Mudhafar I., Baiocchi, Daniele, Cilia, Giovanni (2025): A first update to the vespid fauna of Iraq (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), with description of a new species. Journal of Natural History 59 (13 - 16): 941-981, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842
F770A4688734FFAA000AF29AD91DBBEB.taxon	materials_examined	Material examined IRAQ: Kurdistan, Duhok, 2 km NNE of Dihe village, 1135 m, 37.149444 ° N 43.166944 ° E, 1 – 11 June 2024, 2 ♀ (MSVI).	en	Selis, Marco, Ismael, Halgurd R., Hamad, Mudhafar I., Baiocchi, Daniele, Cilia, Giovanni (2025): A first update to the vespid fauna of Iraq (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), with description of a new species. Journal of Natural History 59 (13 - 16): 941-981, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842
F770A4688734FFAA000AF29AD91DBBEB.taxon	distribution	Distribution Turkey, Iraq * (Gusenleitner 2013 a).	en	Selis, Marco, Ismael, Halgurd R., Hamad, Mudhafar I., Baiocchi, Daniele, Cilia, Giovanni (2025): A first update to the vespid fauna of Iraq (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), with description of a new species. Journal of Natural History 59 (13 - 16): 941-981, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842
F770A468873BFFA5001CF784DAF6BCB3.taxon	description	Giordani Soika (1970).	en	Selis, Marco, Ismael, Halgurd R., Hamad, Mudhafar I., Baiocchi, Daniele, Cilia, Giovanni (2025): A first update to the vespid fauna of Iraq (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), with description of a new species. Journal of Natural History 59 (13 - 16): 941-981, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842
F770A468873BFFA5001CF784DAF6BCB3.taxon	distribution	Distribution Iraq (Giordani Soika 1970).	en	Selis, Marco, Ismael, Halgurd R., Hamad, Mudhafar I., Baiocchi, Daniele, Cilia, Giovanni (2025): A first update to the vespid fauna of Iraq (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), with description of a new species. Journal of Natural History 59 (13 - 16): 941-981, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842
F770A468873BFFA500E8F6D1D917BE22.taxon	description	Giordani Soika (1970).	en	Selis, Marco, Ismael, Halgurd R., Hamad, Mudhafar I., Baiocchi, Daniele, Cilia, Giovanni (2025): A first update to the vespid fauna of Iraq (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), with description of a new species. Journal of Natural History 59 (13 - 16): 941-981, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842
F770A468873BFFA500E8F6D1D917BE22.taxon	distribution	Distribution Armenia, Azerbaijan, Turkey, Lebanon, Iraq, Iran, Pakistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, China (Qin et al. 2024).	en	Selis, Marco, Ismael, Halgurd R., Hamad, Mudhafar I., Baiocchi, Daniele, Cilia, Giovanni (2025): A first update to the vespid fauna of Iraq (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), with description of a new species. Journal of Natural History 59 (13 - 16): 941-981, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842
F770A468873BFFA50011F441D91DB952.taxon	materials_examined	Material examined IRAQ: Kurdistan, Duhok, 5 km E of Ashewa, Mt. Gara, 1750 – 1950 m, 37.0158 ° N 43.3505 ° E, 30 May- 12 June 2024, 1 ♀ (MSVI).	en	Selis, Marco, Ismael, Halgurd R., Hamad, Mudhafar I., Baiocchi, Daniele, Cilia, Giovanni (2025): A first update to the vespid fauna of Iraq (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), with description of a new species. Journal of Natural History 59 (13 - 16): 941-981, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842
F770A468873BFFA50011F441D91DB952.taxon	distribution	Distribution Turkey, Iraq * (Gusenleitner 2013 a).	en	Selis, Marco, Ismael, Halgurd R., Hamad, Mudhafar I., Baiocchi, Daniele, Cilia, Giovanni (2025): A first update to the vespid fauna of Iraq (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), with description of a new species. Journal of Natural History 59 (13 - 16): 941-981, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842
F770A468873BFFA500E5F3B6DF64BBEB.taxon	description	Derwesh (1965), mentioning ‘ B. M. list No. 1493 ’; Augul (2017).	en	Selis, Marco, Ismael, Halgurd R., Hamad, Mudhafar I., Baiocchi, Daniele, Cilia, Giovanni (2025): A first update to the vespid fauna of Iraq (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), with description of a new species. Journal of Natural History 59 (13 - 16): 941-981, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842
F770A468873BFFA500E5F3B6DF64BBEB.taxon	materials_examined	Material examined IRAQ: Kurdistan, Duhok, SW of Zawita, 1000 m, 36.8966 ° N 43.1466 ° E, 25 May 2024, 1 ♀ (MSVI).	en	Selis, Marco, Ismael, Halgurd R., Hamad, Mudhafar I., Baiocchi, Daniele, Cilia, Giovanni (2025): A first update to the vespid fauna of Iraq (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), with description of a new species. Journal of Natural History 59 (13 - 16): 941-981, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842
F770A468873BFFA500E5F3B6DF64BBEB.taxon	distribution	Distribution Canary Islands, Azerbaijan, Turkey, Syria, Jordan, Egypt, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Oman, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, India, Nepal, China, Chad, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Mauritania, Niger, Socotra, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Uganda (Carpenter et al. 2010; Fateryga et al. 2021; Li and Chen 2023).	en	Selis, Marco, Ismael, Halgurd R., Hamad, Mudhafar I., Baiocchi, Daniele, Cilia, Giovanni (2025): A first update to the vespid fauna of Iraq (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), with description of a new species. Journal of Natural History 59 (13 - 16): 941-981, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842
F770A468873AFFA400ECF784D9DBBF32.taxon	description	Morice (1921); Derwesh (1965), mentioning ‘ B. M. list No. 1493 ’ and ‘ Survey of Iraq Fauna, 1915 – 1919 ’; Giordani Soika (1970); van der Vecht and Fischer (1972); Abdul-Rassoul (1976); Augul (2017); Al-Saffar and Augul (2021).	en	Selis, Marco, Ismael, Halgurd R., Hamad, Mudhafar I., Baiocchi, Daniele, Cilia, Giovanni (2025): A first update to the vespid fauna of Iraq (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), with description of a new species. Journal of Natural History 59 (13 - 16): 941-981, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842
F770A468873AFFA400ECF784D9DBBF32.taxon	distribution	Distribution Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Oman, Mauritius, Israel, Iraq, Iran, Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, China, adventive in New Caledonia (Carpenter 2023; Li and Chen 2023).	en	Selis, Marco, Ismael, Halgurd R., Hamad, Mudhafar I., Baiocchi, Daniele, Cilia, Giovanni (2025): A first update to the vespid fauna of Iraq (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), with description of a new species. Journal of Natural History 59 (13 - 16): 941-981, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842
F770A468873AFFA400D3F55FDFBDBEB7.taxon	description	Khalaf and Al-Omar (1974).	en	Selis, Marco, Ismael, Halgurd R., Hamad, Mudhafar I., Baiocchi, Daniele, Cilia, Giovanni (2025): A first update to the vespid fauna of Iraq (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), with description of a new species. Journal of Natural History 59 (13 - 16): 941-981, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842
F770A468873AFFA400D3F55FDFBDBEB7.taxon	distribution	Distribution Morocco, France, Spain, Portugal, Italy (including Sicily), Switzerland, Germany, Austria, Slovenia, Bulgaria, Greece, Russia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Turkey, Cyprus, Syria, Lebanon, Israel, Iraq, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan (Fateryga et al. 2021).	en	Selis, Marco, Ismael, Halgurd R., Hamad, Mudhafar I., Baiocchi, Daniele, Cilia, Giovanni (2025): A first update to the vespid fauna of Iraq (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), with description of a new species. Journal of Natural History 59 (13 - 16): 941-981, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842
F770A468873AFFA4005AF4DDD84DBBEB.taxon	materials_examined	Material examined IRAQ: Kurdistan, Duhok, 5 km E of Ashewa, Mt. Gara, 1750 – 1950 m, 37.0158 ° N 43.3505 ° E, 30. V- 12 June 2024, 1 ♂ (MSVI).	en	Selis, Marco, Ismael, Halgurd R., Hamad, Mudhafar I., Baiocchi, Daniele, Cilia, Giovanni (2025): A first update to the vespid fauna of Iraq (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), with description of a new species. Journal of Natural History 59 (13 - 16): 941-981, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842
F770A468873AFFA4005AF4DDD84DBBEB.taxon	discussion	Remarks The taxonomy of Eumenes coarctatus is quite complex and still not completely resolved, as in the past it has been repeatedly divided into several species and subspecies (Gusenleitner 1999), which more recently were grouped under just two subspecies: E. c. coarctatus and E. c. lunulatus Fabricius (van Achterberg et al. 2023). Pending a revision that clarifies the taxonomy of its numerous forms, a broad concept of Eumenes coarctatus is maintained.	en	Selis, Marco, Ismael, Halgurd R., Hamad, Mudhafar I., Baiocchi, Daniele, Cilia, Giovanni (2025): A first update to the vespid fauna of Iraq (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), with description of a new species. Journal of Natural History 59 (13 - 16): 941-981, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842
F770A468873AFFA4005AF4DDD84DBBEB.taxon	distribution	Distribution Morocco, Libya, United Kingdom, Sweden, Finland, Netherlands, France (including Corsica), Spain (including Balearic Islands), Portugal, Italy (including Sardinia and Sicily), Switzerland, Germany, Austria, Hungary, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland, Belarus, Russia, Slovenia, Serbia, Romania, Bulgaria, Greece, Cyprus, Syria, Israel, Jordan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Turkey, Iraq *, Iran, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Mongolia, China, Japan (van Achterberg et al. 2023).	en	Selis, Marco, Ismael, Halgurd R., Hamad, Mudhafar I., Baiocchi, Daniele, Cilia, Giovanni (2025): A first update to the vespid fauna of Iraq (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), with description of a new species. Journal of Natural History 59 (13 - 16): 941-981, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842
F770A4688739FFA701A7F6CBDFBDB949.taxon	description	Gusenleitner (1972); Augul (2017).	en	Selis, Marco, Ismael, Halgurd R., Hamad, Mudhafar I., Baiocchi, Daniele, Cilia, Giovanni (2025): A first update to the vespid fauna of Iraq (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), with description of a new species. Journal of Natural History 59 (13 - 16): 941-981, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842
F770A4688739FFA701A7F6CBDFBDB949.taxon	materials_examined	Material examined IRAQ: Kurdistan, Duhok, 5 km E of Ashewa, Mt. Gara, 1750 – 1950 m, 37.0158 ° N 43.3505 ° E, 3 – 6 June 2023, 1 ♀ (MSVI).	en	Selis, Marco, Ismael, Halgurd R., Hamad, Mudhafar I., Baiocchi, Daniele, Cilia, Giovanni (2025): A first update to the vespid fauna of Iraq (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), with description of a new species. Journal of Natural History 59 (13 - 16): 941-981, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842
F770A4688739FFA701A7F6CBDFBDB949.taxon	discussion	Remarks Augul (2017) recorded this species from Iraq, misidentified as Eumenes pomiformis (see below).	en	Selis, Marco, Ismael, Halgurd R., Hamad, Mudhafar I., Baiocchi, Daniele, Cilia, Giovanni (2025): A first update to the vespid fauna of Iraq (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), with description of a new species. Journal of Natural History 59 (13 - 16): 941-981, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842
F770A4688739FFA701A7F6CBDFBDB949.taxon	distribution	Distribution France, Spain, Portugal, Italy (including Sardinia and Sicily), Switzerland, Germany, Austria, Serbia, Albania, Bulgaria, Greece, Turkey, Syria, Lebanon, Israel, Palestine, Jordan, Egypt, Sudan, Tunisia, Morocco, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Russia, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, adventive in Tahiti (Carpenter 2023).	en	Selis, Marco, Ismael, Halgurd R., Hamad, Mudhafar I., Baiocchi, Daniele, Cilia, Giovanni (2025): A first update to the vespid fauna of Iraq (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), with description of a new species. Journal of Natural History 59 (13 - 16): 941-981, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842
F770A4688739FFA6005FF10AD893BC3B.taxon	materials_examined	Material examined IRAQ: Kurdistan, Duhok, 5 km E of Ashewa, Mt. Gara, 1750 – 1950 m, 37.0158 ° N 43.3505 ° E, 3 – 6 June 2023, 1 ♂ (MSVI).	en	Selis, Marco, Ismael, Halgurd R., Hamad, Mudhafar I., Baiocchi, Daniele, Cilia, Giovanni (2025): A first update to the vespid fauna of Iraq (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), with description of a new species. Journal of Natural History 59 (13 - 16): 941-981, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842
F770A4688739FFA6005FF10AD893BC3B.taxon	distribution	Distribution Belgium, France, Spain (including Balearic Islands), Portugal, Italy (including Sicily), Switzerland, Germany, Austria, Czech Republic, Serbia, Albania, Bulgaria, Greece, Israel, Lebanon, Turkey, Iraq *, Algeria, Morocco (van Achterberg et al. 2023).	en	Selis, Marco, Ismael, Halgurd R., Hamad, Mudhafar I., Baiocchi, Daniele, Cilia, Giovanni (2025): A first update to the vespid fauna of Iraq (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), with description of a new species. Journal of Natural History 59 (13 - 16): 941-981, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842
F770A4688738FFA60026F65BD825BF57.taxon	materials_examined	Material examined IRAQ: Kurdistan, Duhok, Mt. Gara, 1912 m, 37.015833 ° N 43.350556 ° E, 11 May 2023, 2 ♀ (MSVI).	en	Selis, Marco, Ismael, Halgurd R., Hamad, Mudhafar I., Baiocchi, Daniele, Cilia, Giovanni (2025): A first update to the vespid fauna of Iraq (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), with description of a new species. Journal of Natural History 59 (13 - 16): 941-981, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842
F770A4688738FFA60026F65BD825BF57.taxon	distribution	Distribution Greece, Bulgaria, Turkey, Iraq * (Castro and Dvořák 2009).	en	Selis, Marco, Ismael, Halgurd R., Hamad, Mudhafar I., Baiocchi, Daniele, Cilia, Giovanni (2025): A first update to the vespid fauna of Iraq (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), with description of a new species. Journal of Natural History 59 (13 - 16): 941-981, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842
F770A4688738FFA6002EF5B7D98DBEED.taxon	materials_examined	Material examined IRAQ: Goyje Dagh, 3 May 1937, leg. A. Memarian, 1 ♀ (MSNVE).	en	Selis, Marco, Ismael, Halgurd R., Hamad, Mudhafar I., Baiocchi, Daniele, Cilia, Giovanni (2025): A first update to the vespid fauna of Iraq (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), with description of a new species. Journal of Natural History 59 (13 - 16): 941-981, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842
F770A4688738FFA6002EF5B7D98DBEED.taxon	distribution	Distribution Iraq *, Iran (Kostylev 1937; Giordani Soika 1970).	en	Selis, Marco, Ismael, Halgurd R., Hamad, Mudhafar I., Baiocchi, Daniele, Cilia, Giovanni (2025): A first update to the vespid fauna of Iraq (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), with description of a new species. Journal of Natural History 59 (13 - 16): 941-981, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842
F770A4688738FFA10072F12CD967BC95.taxon	description	Giordani Soika (1970).	en	Selis, Marco, Ismael, Halgurd R., Hamad, Mudhafar I., Baiocchi, Daniele, Cilia, Giovanni (2025): A first update to the vespid fauna of Iraq (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), with description of a new species. Journal of Natural History 59 (13 - 16): 941-981, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842
F770A4688738FFA10072F12CD967BC95.taxon	discussion	Remarks This species was recorded by Giordani Soika (1970) under the name Euodynerus sulfuripes (Morawitz), now considered a synonym (Selis et al. 2024 b).	en	Selis, Marco, Ismael, Halgurd R., Hamad, Mudhafar I., Baiocchi, Daniele, Cilia, Giovanni (2025): A first update to the vespid fauna of Iraq (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), with description of a new species. Journal of Natural History 59 (13 - 16): 941-981, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842
F770A4688738FFA10072F12CD967BC95.taxon	distribution	Distribution France, Spain, Italy (including Sicily), Germany, Austria, Croatia, Serbia, Albania, Greece, Russia, Turkey, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Cyprus, West Bank, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Iran, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Afghanistan, Pakistan (Fateryga et al. 2021; Selis et al. 2024 b).	en	Selis, Marco, Ismael, Halgurd R., Hamad, Mudhafar I., Baiocchi, Daniele, Cilia, Giovanni (2025): A first update to the vespid fauna of Iraq (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), with description of a new species. Journal of Natural History 59 (13 - 16): 941-981, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842
F770A468873FFFA10063F6FDD99CB84D.taxon	materials_examined	Material examined IRAQ: Kurdistan, Duhok, 5 km E of Ashewa, Mt. Gara, 1750 – 1950 m, 37.0158 ° N 43.3505 ° E, 30 May- 12 June 2024, 3 ♂ 1 ♀ (DUMAI, MSVI, PQ 676358); Kurdistan, Duhok, 2 km NNE of Dihe, 1135 m, 37.149444 ° N 43.166944 ° E, 1 – 11 June 2024, 1 ♀ (MSVI, PQ 676359).	en	Selis, Marco, Ismael, Halgurd R., Hamad, Mudhafar I., Baiocchi, Daniele, Cilia, Giovanni (2025): A first update to the vespid fauna of Iraq (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), with description of a new species. Journal of Natural History 59 (13 - 16): 941-981, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842
F770A468873FFFA10063F6FDD99CB84D.taxon	discussion	Remarks Giordani Soika (1952) described this species based on a single male from Rosh, comparing it with Euodynerus dantici (Rossi) due to the sculpture of the tegula, and to E. curictensis Blüthgen and E. velutinus Blüthgen due to the vestiture of the mesosoma. A morphological study of new material from Iraq and specimens from Turkey identified by Giordani Soika showed how the sculpture of the tegula is in fact variable, ranging from clearly punctate in the posterior half to mostly smooth with very fine scattered punctures, and the species does not show any clear affinity with E. dantici. The comparison with E. curictensis and E. velutinus is instead supported by the dense brush-like vestiture of the mesosoma and by other morphological similarities; however, E. semidantici is readily distinguished by having different clypeal morphology, a not-modified hind femur and more developed inferior and lateral carinae of propodeum, as mentioned in the original description. DNA barcoding of an Iraqi pair (Table 1) further supports the treatment of E. semidantici as a distinct species, presenting a genetic distance of 8.25 – 9.72 % from E. velutinus and 38.70 – 41.43 % from E. curictensis.	en	Selis, Marco, Ismael, Halgurd R., Hamad, Mudhafar I., Baiocchi, Daniele, Cilia, Giovanni (2025): A first update to the vespid fauna of Iraq (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), with description of a new species. Journal of Natural History 59 (13 - 16): 941-981, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842
F770A468873FFFA10063F6FDD99CB84D.taxon	distribution	Distribution Turkey, Israel, Iraq *, Iran (Gusenleitner 2013 a).	en	Selis, Marco, Ismael, Halgurd R., Hamad, Mudhafar I., Baiocchi, Daniele, Cilia, Giovanni (2025): A first update to the vespid fauna of Iraq (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), with description of a new species. Journal of Natural History 59 (13 - 16): 941-981, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842
F770A468873FFFA00077F102D9A2BFFF.taxon	materials_examined	Material examined IRAQ: Kurdistan, Duhok, 5 km E of Ashewa, Mt. Gara, 1750 – 1950 m, 37.0158 ° N 43.3505 ° E, 30 May- 12 June 2024, 1 ♂ 1 ♀ (MSVI, PQ 676356, PQ 676357).	en	Selis, Marco, Ismael, Halgurd R., Hamad, Mudhafar I., Baiocchi, Daniele, Cilia, Giovanni (2025): A first update to the vespid fauna of Iraq (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), with description of a new species. Journal of Natural History 59 (13 - 16): 941-981, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842
F770A468873FFFA00077F102D9A2BFFF.taxon	discussion	Remarks Giordani Soika (1970) described Euodynerus mavromoustakisi based on a few females from Lebanon and Syria, distinguishing it from the female of E. velutinus based on the shape of the apical emargination of the clypeus and the sculpture of T 2. Comparison of new material from Iraq with a paratype of E. mavromoustakisi from Lebanon and several specimens of E. velutinus ranging from Greece to Azerbaijan (see Selis et al. 2024 b for a list of examined specimens) revealed how these two characters are in fact variable in both sexes and that males attributable to E. mavromoustakisi have the hind femur basally expanded as in the males of E. velutinus. The absence of stable morphological differences indicates that E. mavromoustakisi is in fact just a more xanthic form of E. velutinus, and the genetic data support this view as a distance of just 1.23 % was recovered between E. velutinus and a pair of E. mavromoustakisi from Iraq (Table 1). Euodynerus mavromoustakisi is therefore synonymised under E. velutinus.	en	Selis, Marco, Ismael, Halgurd R., Hamad, Mudhafar I., Baiocchi, Daniele, Cilia, Giovanni (2025): A first update to the vespid fauna of Iraq (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), with description of a new species. Journal of Natural History 59 (13 - 16): 941-981, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842
F770A468873FFFA00077F102D9A2BFFF.taxon	distribution	Distribution North Macedonia, Greece, Turkey, Cyprus, Russia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq * (Giordani Soika 1970; Selis et al. 2024 b).	en	Selis, Marco, Ismael, Halgurd R., Hamad, Mudhafar I., Baiocchi, Daniele, Cilia, Giovanni (2025): A first update to the vespid fauna of Iraq (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), with description of a new species. Journal of Natural History 59 (13 - 16): 941-981, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842
F770A468873EFFBC0033F404DAA1BF05.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis Although the monophyly of the subgenera of Euodynerus has been recently questioned (Selis et al. 2024 b), Euodynerus garaensis can be placed in the subgenus Pareuodynerus Blüthgen due to the presence of the following characters: metanotum with posterior margin of dorsal face finely denticulate and not laterally raised, darkened and weakly expanded last segment of mid and hind tarsi, subrectangular digitus with a hyaline spot in its centre. It is to be noted that the new species shows a strong reduction of the dorsal propodeal carinae (Figure 2 d), which are barely visible and do not form the lamellar tooth usually observed in E. (Pareuodynerus); however, this reduction is also observed in E. bidentiformis (Giordani Soika) from Sardinia and the development of the propodeal carinae is widely variable in numerous genera of Eumeninae, so its diagnostic value at the subgeneric level is somewhat questionable. Among the species of the subgenus Pareuodynerus, E. garaensis presents the second sternite strongly protruding at the base with a distinct vertical face (Figure 2 f) and a reduction of the translucent margin at the apex of the T 1 (Figure 2 e), characters that place the new species close to E. bidentiformis and E. bidentoides (Giordani Soika), both species from the western Mediterranean, while the other Palearctic species of the subgenus have the second sternite regularly convex and / or the translucent margin of the T 1 well developed, in addition to the greater development of the dorsal carinae of the propodeum that form a lamellar tooth at the sides of the metanotum. Euodynerus garaensis is further differentiated from both E. bidentiformis and E. bidentoides, in that the dorsal carinae of the propodeum are barely visible as in E. bidentiformis (Figure 2 d) (well developed in E. bidentoides) and the S 2 in lateral view is bent at a right angle at the base and then flat as in E. bidentoides (Figure 2 f) (acutely protruding at the base and then concave in E. bidentoides), and unlike both species the F 11 is proportionally smaller (Figure 2 c), the pronotal humeri are more sharply angled, and the metasoma is more elongated and with more evident punctures (Figure 2 e). Genitalia in Figure 2 g.	en	Selis, Marco, Ismael, Halgurd R., Hamad, Mudhafar I., Baiocchi, Daniele, Cilia, Giovanni (2025): A first update to the vespid fauna of Iraq (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), with description of a new species. Journal of Natural History 59 (13 - 16): 941-981, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842
F770A468873EFFBC0033F404DAA1BF05.taxon	materials_examined	Material examined HOLOTYPE: ♂ labelled: ‘ IQ – Kurdistan, Duhok gov. / 5 km E of Ashewa, Mt. Gara / 37.0158 N 3.3505 E 1750 – 1950 m / 30. V- 12. VI. 202 leg. D. Baiocchi // GenBank / PQ 676360 // Euodynerus garaensis / HOLOTYPUS ♂ / Det. Marco Selis 2024 [red label] ’ (currently in MSVI, will be deposited in MSNVE; PQ 676360).	en	Selis, Marco, Ismael, Halgurd R., Hamad, Mudhafar I., Baiocchi, Daniele, Cilia, Giovanni (2025): A first update to the vespid fauna of Iraq (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), with description of a new species. Journal of Natural History 59 (13 - 16): 941-981, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842
F770A468873EFFBC0033F404DAA1BF05.taxon	description	Description Male holotype (Figure 2 a). Body length (head + mesosoma + T 1 – T 2) 7.0 mm; fore wing length 6.0 mm. Head (Figure 2 b) in frontal view 1.3 × as wide as long, evenly curved from side to side except for shallowly raised ocellar area. Mandible short, about as long as ventral lobe of eye; inner margin of mandible five-toothed, first tooth curved and as long as second and third together, second and third teeth small and more produced apically than basally, fourth tooth forming a small equilateral triangle perpendicular to longitudinal axis of the mandible, fifth tooth very small and consisting in a shallow angulation of the inner margin. Clypeus in frontal view 1.1 × as wide as long, free apical part slightly shorter than interocular basal part and with converging sides; apical margin 0.3 × as wide as width of clypeus and very shallowly emarginate, laterally margined by right-angled and barely produced apical teeth; clypeus in lateral view weakly convex, flattened in ventral third. Flagellum thick and barely widening apically; F 1 1.9 × as long as apically wide and 1.5 × as long as F 2, F 2 longer than wide and following flagellomeres becoming progressively shorter, F 11 finger-shaped and apically rounded, straight in dorsal view and barely curved in lateral view, its apex reaching the middle of F 8; F 6 – F 9 weakly nodose dorsally; F 7 – F 9 on ventral side with tyloids represented by a finely shagreened area starting from middle of F 7 (Figure 2 c). Vertex short, 1.4 × as long as ocellocular distance, in lateral view flattened and weakly sloping posteriorly; ocellar area weakly raised and with a short but distinct longitudinal furrow just behind median ocellus; gena 1.1 × as long as eye at bottom of ocular sinus; occipital carina incomplete, absent in median third and fine on lateral thirds of vertex, thickened and shortly lamellate on gena, evenly and weakly curved from vertex to mandible. Mesosoma short and robust, 1.15 × as long as wide in dorsal view. Pronotum in dorsal view short and with strongly converging sides, forming obtuse but marked angle on humeri; pronotal carina complete and narrowly depressed in the middle, sharp but very short on dorsal face, becoming higher on lateral faces, especially in front of pronotal fovea; pretegular carina complete and strong, sharp. Mesoscutum 0.85 × as long as wide, with barely visible indications of notauli in front of scutellum; mesoscutum in lateral view evenly convex. Scutellum wider than long, posterior margin slightly wider than anterior margin, deeply separated from mesoscutum by a shallowly crenate furrow; opening of axillary fossa large, much larger than one ocellus. Metanotum vertical with a short dorsal horizontal face, separated from the posterior part by an irregular and finely denticulate transverse carina; posterior part transversely convex and posteriorly produced above, so that in lateral view it faces towards the propodeum. Tegula longer than wide with subtriangular but blunt posterior lobe, equalling the very short and right-angled parategula. Mesepisternum with epicnemial carina starting below epipleural suture, carina fine and blunt. Propodeum (Figure 2 d) very short, almost entirely vertical; dorsal faces of propodeum weakly convex and strongly oblique, smoothly passing into the posterior depressed face; lateral faces of propodeum flattened above and shallowly depressed above valvula; posterior face of propodeum wide and weakly depressed, forming two deep pits above propodeal orifice, mid-line with a small basal triangular sclerite smoothly passing into a longitudinal carina; dorsal carinae barely developed, visible only for short traces mixed in the very coarse sculpture, lateral and inferior carinae well developed but irregular due to the sculpture, forming an obtuse and shallowly produced angle where they meet; propodeal valvula completely fused with submarginal carina, which is subtle and runs on upper margin of valvula. Tarsus of mid and hind legs with darkened apical segment, clearly widened on mid leg and barely on hind leg. Metasoma subcylindrical (Figure 2 e). T 1 0.6 × as long as apically wide, sides subparallel and smoothly passing into convex anterior margin; T 1 in lateral view rising perpendicularly behind suspensory ligament and then perpendicularly curved, clearly forming two faces; apex of T 1 with a translucent margin, about as long as one ocellar diameter on extreme sides and becoming much shorter medially, so that it is nearly linear in the middle. T 2 elongate and with weakly convex subparallel sides, posterior margin convex; T 2 in lateral view weakly and evenly convex, obliquely cut off at posterior end, so that it is 1.5 × as long as S 2 (Figure 2 f). S 2 evenly convex from side to side, in lateral view flattened and then almost perpendicularly bent at extreme base, forming a well-developed vertical face delimited by a blunt transverse ridge (Figure 2 f). Clypeus shiny with sparse fine punctures, interspaces as wide as several puncture diameters and smooth, only sides and base with few and barely visible micropunctures. Scape finely shagreened and shiny, with sparse fine punctures. Frons and ocular sinus with shallow punctures, denser and separated by convex narrow interspaces that become wider on ocular sinus; vertex more irregularly punctate, punctures variable in size and density; gena with coarser and sparser punctures, mixed with fine striation on posterior half. Punctures on mesosoma larger and deeper than on frons, interspaces narrower and more sharply raised, many punctures fused in irregular series; lateral faces of pronotum irregularly and densely striate; interspaces on scutellum forming irregular longitudinal ridges; metanotum with very coarse punctures on dorsal face, interspaces reduced to sharp ridges and spine, posterior face with smaller punctures on dorsal half and almost impunctate ventrally; mesepisternum with very large and flat-bottomed elongate punctures arranged in irregular oblique series, forming an irregular and elongate sharp reticulation; dorsal plate of metaepisternum regularly striate, ventral plate irregularly and finely striate with few shallow punctures intermixed; dorsal faces of propodeum with very large and flat-bottomed polygonal cells, interspaces reduced to sharp ridges; lateral faces of propodeum in upper half with elongate cells larger than those on dorsal faces, finely and irregularly striate below; posterior face of propodeum with fine and irregular oblique striation. T 1 with deep punctures, very dense on basal convexity and becoming progressively sparser apically; T 2 shiny with sparse deep punctures, slightly larger at extreme base, interspaces very finely and sparsely micropunctate; T 3 – T 4 with sparse punctures, similar to apex of T 2; T 5 – T 6 finely shagreened with scattered fine punctures; T 7 shagreened with dense micropunctures; S 2 with punctures larger and much sparser than on T 2, anterior vertical face impunctate; S 3 – S 6 with punctures larger than on respective tergites; S 7 shiny with micropunctures sparser than on T 7. Head, mesosoma, S 1 and base of S 2 with long and wavy dark-brown setae, denser on gena and sides of mesosoma; clypeus with sparse and short pale pubescence on base and scattered appressed short setae on whole surface; metasoma with very short appressed pubescence, sparse and barely noticeable; apical margin of S 7 with short brush of dark setae. Black; following parts yellow: basal triangle of mandible, clypeus except narrow black margins, transverse spot above interantennal space, anterior face of scape, small spot on gena behind upper lobe of eye, narrow and medially interrupted band along pronotal carina, barely visible anterior spot on tegula, bilobate band covering apical third of T 1, apical band on T 2 weakly expanded on sides, T 3 – T 4 with bands similar to T 2, T 5 with band reduced to irregular spots, S 2 – S 3 with apical band similar to respective tergites but narrower and more sinuate, S 4 – S 5 with posterolateral spots, large spot on ventral face of mid coxa, very small dorsal spot at apex of fore and hind femur, anterior elongate spot on apical third of mid femur, tibiae except large spots on inner face, basitarsi; tarsi ferruginous (except yellow basitarsus), with darkened apical segment on mid and hind legs. Wings hyaline with brownish tinge along costa.	en	Selis, Marco, Ismael, Halgurd R., Hamad, Mudhafar I., Baiocchi, Daniele, Cilia, Giovanni (2025): A first update to the vespid fauna of Iraq (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), with description of a new species. Journal of Natural History 59 (13 - 16): 941-981, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842
F770A468873EFFBC0033F404DAA1BF05.taxon	etymology	Etymology The species epithet refers to the collecting locality of the holotype, Mount Gara.	en	Selis, Marco, Ismael, Halgurd R., Hamad, Mudhafar I., Baiocchi, Daniele, Cilia, Giovanni (2025): A first update to the vespid fauna of Iraq (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), with description of a new species. Journal of Natural History 59 (13 - 16): 941-981, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842
F770A468873EFFBC0033F404DAA1BF05.taxon	discussion	Remarks DNA barcoding of the holotype places E. garaensis close to the West-Mediterranean species E. bidentoides (Giordani Soika) from which it differs by 6.22 – 11.76 % genetic distance, further supporting its recognition as a distinct species in combination with morphological differences and geographic isolation. The other morphologically similar species, E. bidentiformis (Giordani Soika) from Sardinia, differs by 37.75 %.	en	Selis, Marco, Ismael, Halgurd R., Hamad, Mudhafar I., Baiocchi, Daniele, Cilia, Giovanni (2025): A first update to the vespid fauna of Iraq (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), with description of a new species. Journal of Natural History 59 (13 - 16): 941-981, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842
F770A468873EFFBC0033F404DAA1BF05.taxon	distribution	Distribution Iraq: Kurdistan Region.	en	Selis, Marco, Ismael, Halgurd R., Hamad, Mudhafar I., Baiocchi, Daniele, Cilia, Giovanni (2025): A first update to the vespid fauna of Iraq (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), with description of a new species. Journal of Natural History 59 (13 - 16): 941-981, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842
F770A4688722FFBC01CCF566D8D5B83E.taxon	description	Literature records Giordani Soika (1970).	en	Selis, Marco, Ismael, Halgurd R., Hamad, Mudhafar I., Baiocchi, Daniele, Cilia, Giovanni (2025): A first update to the vespid fauna of Iraq (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), with description of a new species. Journal of Natural History 59 (13 - 16): 941-981, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842
F770A4688722FFBC01CCF566D8D5B83E.taxon	discussion	Remarks Morice (1921) recorded this species from Amarah and Shahroban [Miqdadiyah] under the synonym Odynerus transitorius, but stated that ‘ many specimens, apart from their “ pictura pallida ” [pale pattern], were largely or even entirely red’. Eustenancistrocerus amadanensis is always black and yellow, without any red markings; therefore, Morice’s records likely refer in fact to one of the several red-marked Eustenancistrocerus occurring in the Middle East. The presence of E. amadanensis in Iraq is, however, confirmed by the records published by Giordani Soika (1970).	en	Selis, Marco, Ismael, Halgurd R., Hamad, Mudhafar I., Baiocchi, Daniele, Cilia, Giovanni (2025): A first update to the vespid fauna of Iraq (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), with description of a new species. Journal of Natural History 59 (13 - 16): 941-981, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842
F770A4688722FFBC01CCF566D8D5B83E.taxon	distribution	Distribution Portugal, Spain, Italy (including Sicily), Hungary, Greece, Turkey, Cyprus, Russia, Azerbaijan, Syria, Israel and Palestine, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Iran, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Pakistan, China (Fateryga and Proshchalykin 2024).	en	Selis, Marco, Ismael, Halgurd R., Hamad, Mudhafar I., Baiocchi, Daniele, Cilia, Giovanni (2025): A first update to the vespid fauna of Iraq (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), with description of a new species. Journal of Natural History 59 (13 - 16): 941-981, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842
F770A4688722FFBF01A9F25EDAB0BDC6.taxon	description	Morice (1921); Derwesh (1965), mentioning ‘ Survey of Iraq Fauna, 1915 – 1919 ’; Giordani Soika (1970).	en	Selis, Marco, Ismael, Halgurd R., Hamad, Mudhafar I., Baiocchi, Daniele, Cilia, Giovanni (2025): A first update to the vespid fauna of Iraq (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), with description of a new species. Journal of Natural History 59 (13 - 16): 941-981, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842
F770A4688722FFBF01A9F25EDAB0BDC6.taxon	discussion	Remarks This species was described from Iraq as Nortonia deceptrix Morice, 1921, a taxon later regarded as a variety or subspecies (Blüthgen 1939; Giordani Soika 1970) and finally as a synonym (Gusenleitner 2013 a) of J. jucundus.	en	Selis, Marco, Ismael, Halgurd R., Hamad, Mudhafar I., Baiocchi, Daniele, Cilia, Giovanni (2025): A first update to the vespid fauna of Iraq (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), with description of a new species. Journal of Natural History 59 (13 - 16): 941-981, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842
F770A4688722FFBF01A9F25EDAB0BDC6.taxon	distribution	Distribution Austria, Hungary, Slovenia, Bulgaria, Greece, Turkey, Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, Turkmenistan (Gusenleitner 2013 a).	en	Selis, Marco, Ismael, Halgurd R., Hamad, Mudhafar I., Baiocchi, Daniele, Cilia, Giovanni (2025): A first update to the vespid fauna of Iraq (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), with description of a new species. Journal of Natural History 59 (13 - 16): 941-981, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842
F770A4688721FFBF0023F638DAF6BF14.taxon	description	Giordani Soika (1986).	en	Selis, Marco, Ismael, Halgurd R., Hamad, Mudhafar I., Baiocchi, Daniele, Cilia, Giovanni (2025): A first update to the vespid fauna of Iraq (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), with description of a new species. Journal of Natural History 59 (13 - 16): 941-981, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842
F770A4688721FFBF0023F638DAF6BF14.taxon	distribution	Distribution Iraq (Giordani Soika 1986).	en	Selis, Marco, Ismael, Halgurd R., Hamad, Mudhafar I., Baiocchi, Daniele, Cilia, Giovanni (2025): A first update to the vespid fauna of Iraq (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), with description of a new species. Journal of Natural History 59 (13 - 16): 941-981, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842
F770A4688721FFBF0079F58ED915BE9F.taxon	materials_examined	Material examined IRAQ: Kurdistan, Duhok, 5 km E of Ashewa, Mt. Gara, 1750 – 1950 m, 37.0158 ° N 43.3505 ° E, 30 May- 12 June 2024, 1 ♀ (MSVI).	en	Selis, Marco, Ismael, Halgurd R., Hamad, Mudhafar I., Baiocchi, Daniele, Cilia, Giovanni (2025): A first update to the vespid fauna of Iraq (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), with description of a new species. Journal of Natural History 59 (13 - 16): 941-981, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842
F770A4688721FFBF0079F58ED915BE9F.taxon	distribution	Distribution Turkey, Iraq * (Giordani Soika 1986).	en	Selis, Marco, Ismael, Halgurd R., Hamad, Mudhafar I., Baiocchi, Daniele, Cilia, Giovanni (2025): A first update to the vespid fauna of Iraq (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), with description of a new species. Journal of Natural History 59 (13 - 16): 941-981, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842
F770A4688721FFBF005BF4F3D9FBB802.taxon	materials_examined	Material examined IRAQ: Kurdistan, Duhok, Mt. Gara, 1912 m, 37.015833 ° N 43.350556 ° E, 11 May 2023, 1 ♂ (MSVI).	en	Selis, Marco, Ismael, Halgurd R., Hamad, Mudhafar I., Baiocchi, Daniele, Cilia, Giovanni (2025): A first update to the vespid fauna of Iraq (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), with description of a new species. Journal of Natural History 59 (13 - 16): 941-981, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842
F770A4688721FFBF005BF4F3D9FBB802.taxon	distribution	Distribution Greece, Turkey, Israel, Iraq * (Gusenleitner 2013 a).	en	Selis, Marco, Ismael, Halgurd R., Hamad, Mudhafar I., Baiocchi, Daniele, Cilia, Giovanni (2025): A first update to the vespid fauna of Iraq (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), with description of a new species. Journal of Natural History 59 (13 - 16): 941-981, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842
F770A4688721FFBF01D2F264D87ABBEB.taxon	materials_examined	Material examined IRAQ: Kurdistan, Duhok, 5 km E of Ashewa, Mt. Gara, 1750 – 1950 m, 37.0158 ° N 43.3505 ° E, 30 May- 12 June 2024, 2 ♂ (MSVI).	en	Selis, Marco, Ismael, Halgurd R., Hamad, Mudhafar I., Baiocchi, Daniele, Cilia, Giovanni (2025): A first update to the vespid fauna of Iraq (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), with description of a new species. Journal of Natural History 59 (13 - 16): 941-981, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842
F770A4688721FFBF01D2F264D87ABBEB.taxon	distribution	Distribution Italy, Bulgaria, Greece, Russia, Ukraine, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Turkey, Israel, Iraq *, Iran, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan (Fateryga et al. 2021).	en	Selis, Marco, Ismael, Halgurd R., Hamad, Mudhafar I., Baiocchi, Daniele, Cilia, Giovanni (2025): A first update to the vespid fauna of Iraq (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), with description of a new species. Journal of Natural History 59 (13 - 16): 941-981, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842
F770A4688720FFBE0058F784DAC8BCFC.taxon	materials_examined	Material examined IRAQ: Kurdistan, Duhok, 5 km E of Ashewa, Mt. Gara, 1750 – 1950 m, 37.0158 ° N 43.3505 ° E, 3 – 6 June 2023, 1 ♂ (MSVI); Kurdistan, Duhok, 5 km E of Ashewa, Mt. Gara, 1750 – 1950 m, 37.0158 ° N 43.3505 ° E, 30 May- 12 June 2024, 1 ♂ (MSVI).	en	Selis, Marco, Ismael, Halgurd R., Hamad, Mudhafar I., Baiocchi, Daniele, Cilia, Giovanni (2025): A first update to the vespid fauna of Iraq (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), with description of a new species. Journal of Natural History 59 (13 - 16): 941-981, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842
F770A4688720FFBE0058F784DAC8BCFC.taxon	distribution	Distribution Iraq *, Iran (Gusenleitner 2016).	en	Selis, Marco, Ismael, Halgurd R., Hamad, Mudhafar I., Baiocchi, Daniele, Cilia, Giovanni (2025): A first update to the vespid fauna of Iraq (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), with description of a new species. Journal of Natural History 59 (13 - 16): 941-981, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842
F770A4688720FFB8019FF51ED9C6BF04.taxon	materials_examined	Material examined IRAQ: Kurdistan, Duhok, Bessre, Bablo village, 1065 m, 36.8675 ° N 43.120556 ° E, 5 – 6 May 2023, 1 ♂ (MSVI, PQ 676391); Kurdistan, Duhok, Mangeshke, 806 m, 36.923884 ° N 43.159401 ° E, 13 May 2023, 1 ♀ (MSVI, PQ 676393); Kurdistan, Duhok, SW of Ashewa, 1100 m, 37.013611 ° N 43.284444 ° E, 1 – 4 June 2024, 1 ♀ (MSVI, PQ 676392).	en	Selis, Marco, Ismael, Halgurd R., Hamad, Mudhafar I., Baiocchi, Daniele, Cilia, Giovanni (2025): A first update to the vespid fauna of Iraq (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), with description of a new species. Journal of Natural History 59 (13 - 16): 941-981, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842
F770A4688720FFB8019FF51ED9C6BF04.taxon	discussion	Remarks Gusenleitner (in Bytinski-Salz and Gusenleitner 1971) described the subspecies Leptochilus mimulus turcicus (Figure 3 a-b) from Turkey and Israel, differentiating it from the nominotypical subspecies from the Balkan Peninsula based on few characters: coarser sculpture of T 2 and S 2, T 3 – T 6 entirely black in the female, and ventral face of flagellum orange. The study of type specimens and new material revealed, however, further differences [characters of nominotypical L. mimulus in square brackets]: pronotal carina lower on sides and pronotal humeri evenly rounded (Figure 3 c) [pronotal carina higher on sides and humeri obtusely but distinctly angled, especially in the male (Figure 3 d)], interspaces on mesoscutum and scutellum strongly shiny with few scattered micropunctures (Figure 3 e) [weakly shiny with denser micropunctures (Figure 3 f)], dorsal faces of propodeum sparsely punctate and mirror-like shiny above dorsal carinae [densely punctate with micropunctate interspaces, not so shiny], dorsal carinae of propodeum blunt but strongly developed (Figure 3 g) [sharp but weak (Figure 3 h)], lateral faces of propodeum very shallowly depressed and separated from dorsal faces by blunt hints of lateral carinae [flattened and without hints of lateral carinae delimiting them], apical emargination of female clypeus deeper and evenly concave with more protruding and sharp lateral teeth (Figure 3 i) [shallower and more or less flattened medially, with less protruding and blunt lateral teeth (Figure 3 j)], tegula with ferruginous discal spot (Figure 3 c) [black and white without ferruginous (Figure 3 d)], female with legs largely reddish in addition to yellow markings [black with yellowish markings only], male F 11 shorter, stouter and more curved in lateral view and broader in dorsal view (Figure 3 k) [longer, narrow and weakly curved in lateral view and narrower in dorsal view (Figure 3 l)], digitus with more projecting and apically reflexed ventrobasal angle (Figure 3 m) [less projecting and not reflexed], apical part of aedeagus parallel-sided [constricted in basal half and then apically expanding (Figure 3 n)], ventral lobes of aedeagus longer and with less produced apical part, ventral Figure 3. a – c, e, g, i, k, m, Leptochilus (Lionotulus) turcicus Gusenleitner, stat. n. d, f, h, j, l, n, Leptochilus (Lionotulus) mimulus Gusenleitner. a, habitus of male, dorsal view. b, habitus of female, dorsal view. c – d, anterior half of mesosoma of male, dorsal view. e – f, mesoscutum and scutellum of female, dorsal view. g – h, propodeum of female, posterior view. i – j, clypeus of female, frontal view. k – l, apex of male flagellum, lateral view. m – n, male genitalia, from left to right: aedeagus in ventral view, aedeagus in lateral view, digitus + volsella. margin weakly reflexed and in ventral view forming semielliptical lobe (Figure 3 m) [shorter and with ventrally produced apical part, almost divided into two parts, ventral margin strongly reflexed and in ventral view forming subtriangular lobe (Figure 3 n)], median sclerite in lateral view with expanded apical part and apically subtruncate [barely thickened apically and with almost pointed apex]. This series of characters does not support the recognition of the taxon turcicus as a mere subspecies of L. mimulus and is further supported by genetic data, as DNA barcoding revealed a genetic distance of 3.17 % between Greek L. mimulus mimulus and Iraqi L. mimulus turcicus (Table 1). Similar values of genetic distance have been observed to indicate intraspecific variability in other genera of Eumeninae (Selis et al. 2024 a, 2024 b); however, a comparison with the related Leptochilus tarsatus (de Saussure) showed comparable values, as the latter species differs from L. mimulus mimulus by 6.66 – 6.84 % and from L. mimulus turcicus by 4.90 – 5.07 %, indicating the diagnostic value of such genetic distance in the L. tarsatus group, and these values are also much higher than the intraspecific distances observed in the three barcoded taxa (0.00 % in both subspecies of L. mimulus and 0.00 – 0.15 % in L. tarsatus). The combination of several morphological differences, genetic distance and geographic separation does not support the treatment of L. mimulus turcicus as a mere subspecies, leading to its elevation to the species rank.	en	Selis, Marco, Ismael, Halgurd R., Hamad, Mudhafar I., Baiocchi, Daniele, Cilia, Giovanni (2025): A first update to the vespid fauna of Iraq (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), with description of a new species. Journal of Natural History 59 (13 - 16): 941-981, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842
F770A4688720FFB8019FF51ED9C6BF04.taxon	distribution	Distribution Turkey, Israel, Jordan, Iraq * (Castro and Dvořák 2010).	en	Selis, Marco, Ismael, Halgurd R., Hamad, Mudhafar I., Baiocchi, Daniele, Cilia, Giovanni (2025): A first update to the vespid fauna of Iraq (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), with description of a new species. Journal of Natural History 59 (13 - 16): 941-981, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842
F770A4688726FFB80189F57CDBCEBE82.taxon	materials_examined	Material examined IRAQ: Kurdistan, Duhok, Mt. Gara, 1912 m, 37.0158 ° N 43.3505 ° E, 11 May 2023, 1 ♀ (MSVI).	en	Selis, Marco, Ismael, Halgurd R., Hamad, Mudhafar I., Baiocchi, Daniele, Cilia, Giovanni (2025): A first update to the vespid fauna of Iraq (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), with description of a new species. Journal of Natural History 59 (13 - 16): 941-981, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842
F770A4688726FFB80189F57CDBCEBE82.taxon	distribution	Distribution France, Italy, North Macedonia, Bulgaria, Greece, Turkey, Jordan, Iraq * (Gusenleitner 2013 a).	en	Selis, Marco, Ismael, Halgurd R., Hamad, Mudhafar I., Baiocchi, Daniele, Cilia, Giovanni (2025): A first update to the vespid fauna of Iraq (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), with description of a new species. Journal of Natural History 59 (13 - 16): 941-981, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842
F770A4688726FFB8007AF4FAD9B5B808.taxon	materials_examined	Material examined IRAQ: Kurdistan, Duhok, 5 km E of Ashewa, Mt. Gara, 1750 – 1950 m, 37.0158 ° N 43.3505 ° E, 30 May- 12 June 2024, 3 ♂ (DUMAI, MSVI).	en	Selis, Marco, Ismael, Halgurd R., Hamad, Mudhafar I., Baiocchi, Daniele, Cilia, Giovanni (2025): A first update to the vespid fauna of Iraq (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), with description of a new species. Journal of Natural History 59 (13 - 16): 941-981, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842
F770A4688726FFB8007AF4FAD9B5B808.taxon	distribution	Distribution Bulgaria, Turkey, Iraq * (Gusenleitner 2013 a).	en	Selis, Marco, Ismael, Halgurd R., Hamad, Mudhafar I., Baiocchi, Daniele, Cilia, Giovanni (2025): A first update to the vespid fauna of Iraq (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), with description of a new species. Journal of Natural History 59 (13 - 16): 941-981, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842
F770A4688726FFB801D8F260D91DBBEB.taxon	materials_examined	Material examined IRAQ: Kurdistan, Duhok, Bnavi village, 1580 m, 37.2427 ° N 43.3808 ° E, 7 June 2024, 1 ♀ (MSVI); Kurdistan, Duhok, 2 km NNE of Dihe, 1135 m, 37.149444 ° N 43.166944 ° E, 1 – 11 June 2024, 1 ♀ (MSVI).	en	Selis, Marco, Ismael, Halgurd R., Hamad, Mudhafar I., Baiocchi, Daniele, Cilia, Giovanni (2025): A first update to the vespid fauna of Iraq (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), with description of a new species. Journal of Natural History 59 (13 - 16): 941-981, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842
F770A4688726FFB801D8F260D91DBBEB.taxon	distribution	Distribution Turkey, Iraq * (Gusenleitner 2013 a).	en	Selis, Marco, Ismael, Halgurd R., Hamad, Mudhafar I., Baiocchi, Daniele, Cilia, Giovanni (2025): A first update to the vespid fauna of Iraq (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), with description of a new species. Journal of Natural History 59 (13 - 16): 941-981, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842
F770A4688725FFBB0076F784D981BCBB.taxon	materials_examined	Material examined IRAQ: Kurdistan, Duhok, Mt. Gara, 1912 m, 37.0158 ° N 43.3505 ° E, 11 May 2023, 1 ♂ (MSVI).	en	Selis, Marco, Ismael, Halgurd R., Hamad, Mudhafar I., Baiocchi, Daniele, Cilia, Giovanni (2025): A first update to the vespid fauna of Iraq (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), with description of a new species. Journal of Natural History 59 (13 - 16): 941-981, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842
F770A4688725FFBB0076F784D981BCBB.taxon	distribution	Distribution Turkey, Jordan, Syria, Iraq * (Gusenleitner 2013 a).	en	Selis, Marco, Ismael, Halgurd R., Hamad, Mudhafar I., Baiocchi, Daniele, Cilia, Giovanni (2025): A first update to the vespid fauna of Iraq (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), with description of a new species. Journal of Natural History 59 (13 - 16): 941-981, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842
F770A4688725FFB4006DF6C7D921BC70.taxon	description	Morice (1921); Derwesh (1965), mentioning ‘ Survey of Iraq Fauna, 1915 – 1919 ’; Augul (2017).	en	Selis, Marco, Ismael, Halgurd R., Hamad, Mudhafar I., Baiocchi, Daniele, Cilia, Giovanni (2025): A first update to the vespid fauna of Iraq (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), with description of a new species. Journal of Natural History 59 (13 - 16): 941-981, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842
F770A4688725FFB4006DF6C7D921BC70.taxon	materials_examined	Material examined CYPRUS: Lemesos, Amathus, Ancient Site, 14 April 2002, leg. E. Scheuchl, 1 ♂ (MSVI, PQ 676371). IRAQ: Kurdistan, Duhok, Amedi, NW of Banka, 13442 m, 37.1605 ° N 43.1641 ° E, 9 May 2023, 1 ♂ (MSVI); Kurdistan, Duhok, Bablo, 1065 m, 36.8675 ° N 43.1205 ° E, 6 May 2023, 3 ♂ (MSVI); Kurdistan, Duhok, Derke, 627 m, 36.7724 ° N 43.2491 ° E, 10 May 2023, 1 ♀ (MSVI); Kurdistan, Duhok, E of Mangesh, 1046 m, 3.0230 ° N 43.1505 ° E, 8 May 2023, 8 ♂ 2 ♀ (MSVI); Kurdistan, Duhok, Mt. Gara, 1912 m, 37.0158 ° N 43.3505 ° E, 11 May 2023, 10 ♂ 7 ♀ (MSVI); Kurdistan, Duhok, NW of Scren, 829 m, 37.0527 ° N 43.2633 ° E, 9 May 2023, 2 ♀ (MSVI); Kurdistan, Duhok, Road Arbil-Duhok, 4.5 km N of Ba’adra, 630 m, 36.7725 ° N 43.2491 ° E, 9 – 22 May 2024, 11 ♀ (MSVI, PQ 676378, PQ 676379); Kurdistan, Duhok, SW of Ashewa, 1100 m, 37.0136 ° N 43.2844 ° E, 1 – 4 June 2024, 1 ♂ 5 ♀ (MSVI, PQ 676376, PQ 676377); Kurdistan, Duhok, SW of Bagera, 948 m, 36.9169 ° N 43.2325 ° E, 6 May 2023, 4 ♀ (MSVI); Kurdistan, Duhok, SW of Beshingi, 760 m, 36.9813 ° N 43.0291 ° E, 7 May 2023, 1 ♂ 2 ♀ (MSVI); Kurdistan, Duhok, Zawita, 852 m, 36.9141 ° N 43.1516 ° E, 6 May 2023, 1 ♀ (MSVI); Kurdistan, Duhok, 4.5 km N of Ba’adra, 630 m, 36.7725 ° N 43.2391 ° E, 9 – 12 May 2024, 4 ♀ (MSVI). LEBANON: Balbek-Hermel, Haouch Snaid, AUB farm, 1000 m, 33.924 ° N 36.0754 ° E, 6 April 2023, leg. T. J. Wood, 1 ♂ (MSVI); Beqaa, Aammiq wetland, 850 m, 33.7321 ° N 35.7853 ° E, 3 April 2023, leg. T. J. Wood, 1 ♂ (MSVI, PQ 676373); Beqaa, 1 km E of Anjar, cemetery, 900 m, 33.7372 ° N 35.9503 ° E, 7 April 2023, leg. T. J. Wood, 1 ♂ (MSVI); Beqaa, 1 km E of Anjar, reforestation area, 1000 m, 33.7311 ° N 35.9478 ° E, 7 April 2023, leg. T. J. Wood, 1 ♂ (MSVI); Beqaa, Mansourah, Aana village, 900 m, 333.6910 ° N 35.7581 ° E, 2 April 2023, leg. T. J. Wood, 1 ♂ (MSVI); Beqaa, Qaraoun dam, 850 m, 33.5483 ° N 35.6851 ° E, 4 April 2023, leg. T. J. Wood, 2 ♂ (MSVI); Beqaa, Qaraoun, 3.5 km W of Madjal Balhis, 900 m, 33.5377 ° N 35.7038 ° E, 4 April 2023, leg. T. J. Wood, 1 ♂ (MSVI); Beqaa, 500 m NW of Qob Elias, 900 m, 33.7989 ° N 35.8192 ° E, 5 April 2023, leg. T. J. Wood, 1 ♀ (MSVI, PQ 676372).	en	Selis, Marco, Ismael, Halgurd R., Hamad, Mudhafar I., Baiocchi, Daniele, Cilia, Giovanni (2025): A first update to the vespid fauna of Iraq (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), with description of a new species. Journal of Natural History 59 (13 - 16): 941-981, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842
F770A4688725FFB4006DF6C7D921BC70.taxon	discussion	Remarks Odynerus armeniacus was reduced to subspecies of Odynerus melanocephalus (Gmelin) by Eck (1971) based on morphological and geographic data, with this treatment followed by most subsequent authors, except Kurzenko (1977) who treated it as a separate species. Our combination of genetic and morphological data does not support Eck’s treatment of armeniacus as a subspecies of O. melanocephalus. DNA barcoding shows how O. melanocephalus (specimens sequenced from Italy, Greece and Iran, see Table 1) and O. armeniacus (specimens sequenced from Turkey, Cyprus, Lebanon, Israel and Iraq, see Table 1) form two distinct groups separated by a genetic distance of 8.93 %, a value in line with the interspecific distances observed between other species of the nominotypical subgenus of Odynerus (e. g., 7.87 % between O. femoratus and O. spinipes, 8.46 % between O. spinipes and O. alpinus, 9.10 % between O. armeniacus and O. rotundigaster). This genetic distance cannot be justified as intraspecific variability by geographic separation, as specimens of O. melanocephalus ranging from Italy to Iran, and therefore co-occurring with O. armeniacus in the Middle East, do not show the slightest variability in the COI gene. In addition, the following morphological characters were found distinguishing the males of O. armeniacus from O. melanocephalus [characters of O. melanocephalus in square brackets]: apical emargination of clypeus subtriangular and about as wide as deep (Figure 4 c) [semicircular and wider than deep (Figure 4 d)], F 8 – F 10 with straight and parallel sides (Figure 4 g) [with convex and weakly diverging sides (Figure 4 h)], F 11 1.85 × as long as wide, with straight posterior margin and weakly curved anterior margin, its apex somewhat pointed (Figure 4 g) [F 11 1.35 × as long as wide, with diverging sides and anterior margin strongly curved, its apex subtruncate (Figure 4 h)], fore femur strongly constricted in the middle and with concave sides in posterior view (Figure 4 i) [weakly constricted and with barely sinuate sides in posterior view (Figure 4 j)], median tooth of mid femur lower and broader, weakly sloping towards apex of femur (Figure 4 k) [higher and narrower, strongly sloping towards apex of femur (Figure 4 l)], apical tooth of mid femur lower and more shallowly separated from mid tooth (Figure 4 k) [higher and separated from mid tooth by a deep incision (Figure 4 i)], apical expansion of mid tibia stronger and more angular (Figure 4 k) [weaker and rounded (Figure 4 l)], hind femur proportionally shorter and more strongly expanded basally, almost bulbous (Figure 4 m) [proportionally longer and basal expansion weaker (Figure 4 n)]. Excluding the constant morphology of the flagellomeres, it should be noted that the other characters are subject to a certain degree of variability and the modification of the legs is also related to the size of the specimen, making some isolated specimens present some characters approaching the state of the other species in various combinations; therefore, the identification should always be based on the examination of the whole series of characters and mostly on the antennal morphology. The separation of the two taxa in the female sex is more challenging, as the females of Odynerus s. str. are generally homogeneous in morphology; however, two constant differences in sculpture were observed: in O. armeniacus the frons has well-impressed and separated punctures, with slightly convex and distinct interspaces (Figure 4 e), and the S 2 has coarser and much more abundant punctures, leaving only a small medioapical area with large interspaces (Figure 4 o), while in O. melanocephalus the punctures on the frons are shallower and mostly fused in longitudinal series, with the interspaces reduced to sharp ridges (Figure 4 f), and the S 2 is more finely punctate with a shiny and very sparsely punctate area almost covering the whole median third (Figure 4 p). In addition to the characters listed above, the two species are immediately recognisable on the basis of their colouration, as O. armeniacus (Figure 4 a, b) has a brighter yellow pattern, with yellow tegulae, two yellow spots of variable size on the scutellum and black legs with sharply separated yellow spots, while in O. melanocephalus the markings are paler and whitish, with red-brown Figure 4. a – c, e, g, i, k, m, o, Odynerus (Odynerus) armeniacus (Morawitz) stat. rest. d, f, h, j, l, n, p, Odynerus (Odynerus) melanocephalus (Gmelin). a, habitus of male, dorsal view. b, habitus of female, dorsal view. c – d, clypeus of male, frontal view. e – f, frons of female, frontal view. g – h, F 8 – F 11 of male, dorsal view. i – j, fore femur of male, posterior view. k – l, mid leg of male, frontal view. m – n, hind femur of male, frontal view. o – p, S 2 of female, ventral view. tegulae (at most with small yellow dots at the extremities), entirely black scutellum and legs with yellow spots that gradually pass to black through an intermediate reddish area, usually largely to almost entirely reddish in the females. Of the numerous specimens examined, only one particularly dark female of O. armeniacus from the south-west of Bagera has an unspotted scutellum, but all other chromatic characters correspond to those reported above. Fateryga et al. (2021) reported that Eck (1971) did not study the male genitalia of the two species; however, a comparison of the genitalia of various specimens of the two species did not reveal any substantial differences; this does not conflict with the treatment of the two taxa as distinct species, as the genitalia are generally homogeneous and little informative in the nominal subgenus of Odynerus. Morice (1921) recorded seven specimens of Odynerus melanocephalus from Amarah, stating that some of them had distinct yellow spots on the scutellum, suggesting that they belonged in fact to Odynerus armeniacus. Augul (2017) recorded this species from Iraq misidentified as Odynerus spinipes (see below).	en	Selis, Marco, Ismael, Halgurd R., Hamad, Mudhafar I., Baiocchi, Daniele, Cilia, Giovanni (2025): A first update to the vespid fauna of Iraq (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), with description of a new species. Journal of Natural History 59 (13 - 16): 941-981, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842
F770A4688725FFB4006DF6C7D921BC70.taxon	distribution	Distribution Turkey, Cyprus *, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Syria, Lebanon *, Jordan, Israel, Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan (Fateryga et al. 2021).	en	Selis, Marco, Ismael, Halgurd R., Hamad, Mudhafar I., Baiocchi, Daniele, Cilia, Giovanni (2025): A first update to the vespid fauna of Iraq (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), with description of a new species. Journal of Natural History 59 (13 - 16): 941-981, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842
F770A468872AFFB40022F697D883BE56.taxon	materials_examined	Material examined IRAQ: Kurdistan, Duhok, SW of Ashewa, 1100 m, 37.013611 ° N 43.284444 ° E, 1 – 4 June 2024, 1 ♂ (MSVI, PQ 676368).	en	Selis, Marco, Ismael, Halgurd R., Hamad, Mudhafar I., Baiocchi, Daniele, Cilia, Giovanni (2025): A first update to the vespid fauna of Iraq (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), with description of a new species. Journal of Natural History 59 (13 - 16): 941-981, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842
F770A468872AFFB40022F697D883BE56.taxon	discussion	Remarks The only Iraqi specimen available was barcoded, showing no genetic distance from Italian and Greek specimens (Table 1).	en	Selis, Marco, Ismael, Halgurd R., Hamad, Mudhafar I., Baiocchi, Daniele, Cilia, Giovanni (2025): A first update to the vespid fauna of Iraq (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), with description of a new species. Journal of Natural History 59 (13 - 16): 941-981, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842
F770A468872AFFB40022F697D883BE56.taxon	distribution	Distribution Portugal, Spain, France, Austria, Hungary, Italy (including Sardinia and Sicily), Bulgaria, Russia, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Syria, Israel, Iraq *, Iran (Fateryga et al. 2021).	en	Selis, Marco, Ismael, Halgurd R., Hamad, Mudhafar I., Baiocchi, Daniele, Cilia, Giovanni (2025): A first update to the vespid fauna of Iraq (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), with description of a new species. Journal of Natural History 59 (13 - 16): 941-981, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842
F770A468872AFFB70055F109DF0BBDE0.taxon	materials_examined	Material examined IRAQ: Kurdistan, Duhok, SW of Ashewa, 1100 m, 37.013611 ° N 43.284444 ° E, 1 – 4 June 2024, 1 ♀ (MSVI).	en	Selis, Marco, Ismael, Halgurd R., Hamad, Mudhafar I., Baiocchi, Daniele, Cilia, Giovanni (2025): A first update to the vespid fauna of Iraq (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), with description of a new species. Journal of Natural History 59 (13 - 16): 941-981, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842
F770A468872AFFB70055F109DF0BBDE0.taxon	distribution	Distribution Turkey, Iraq *, Iran, Afghanistan, Turkmenistan (Yildirim 2012; Gusenleitner 2013 a).	en	Selis, Marco, Ismael, Halgurd R., Hamad, Mudhafar I., Baiocchi, Daniele, Cilia, Giovanni (2025): A first update to the vespid fauna of Iraq (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), with description of a new species. Journal of Natural History 59 (13 - 16): 941-981, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842
F770A4688729FFB70018F602DF5CBF5F.taxon	materials_examined	Material examined IRAQ: Kurdistan, Duhok, 5 km E of Ashewa, Mt. Gara, 1750 – 1950 m, 37.0158 ° N 43.3505 ° E, 30 May- 12 June 2024, 1 ♀ (MSVI).	en	Selis, Marco, Ismael, Halgurd R., Hamad, Mudhafar I., Baiocchi, Daniele, Cilia, Giovanni (2025): A first update to the vespid fauna of Iraq (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), with description of a new species. Journal of Natural History 59 (13 - 16): 941-981, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842
F770A4688729FFB70018F602DF5CBF5F.taxon	distribution	Distribution Morocco, France, Spain, Portugal, Italy (including Sardinia and Sicily), Switzerland, Austria, Croatia, Albania, Greece, Russia, Turkey, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Lebanon, Iraq *, Iran, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan (Fateryga and Proshchalykin 2024).	en	Selis, Marco, Ismael, Halgurd R., Hamad, Mudhafar I., Baiocchi, Daniele, Cilia, Giovanni (2025): A first update to the vespid fauna of Iraq (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), with description of a new species. Journal of Natural History 59 (13 - 16): 941-981, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842
F770A4688729FFB70020F5B8D958B81C.taxon	materials_examined	Material examined IRAQ: Kurdistan, Duhok, 2 km NNE of Dihe, 1135 m, 37.149444 ° N 43.166944 ° E, 1 – 11 June 2024, 1 ♀ (MSVI).	en	Selis, Marco, Ismael, Halgurd R., Hamad, Mudhafar I., Baiocchi, Daniele, Cilia, Giovanni (2025): A first update to the vespid fauna of Iraq (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), with description of a new species. Journal of Natural History 59 (13 - 16): 941-981, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842
F770A4688729FFB70020F5B8D958B81C.taxon	discussion	Remarks Gusenleitner (1997 b) described the genus Intereuodynerus Gusenleitner, 1997 to include three species similar to the genus Syneuodynerus Blüthgen, 1951 but lacking the lamellar dorsal carinae of the propodeum. It should be noted, however, that the development of the propodeal carinae is a highly variable character within a genus, as is also observed in the related genus Euodynerus (Selis et al. 2024 b), and comparison of the type species of Intereuodynerus, Intereuodynerus fritzi Gusenleitner, 1997, with various species of Syneuodynerus did not allow us to find any further differences beyond those of specific value. The genus Intereuodynerus syn. n. is therefore synonymised under Syneuodynerus.	en	Selis, Marco, Ismael, Halgurd R., Hamad, Mudhafar I., Baiocchi, Daniele, Cilia, Giovanni (2025): A first update to the vespid fauna of Iraq (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), with description of a new species. Journal of Natural History 59 (13 - 16): 941-981, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842
F770A4688729FFB70020F5B8D958B81C.taxon	distribution	Distribution Turkey, Syria, Iraq * (Gusenleitner 2013 a).	en	Selis, Marco, Ismael, Halgurd R., Hamad, Mudhafar I., Baiocchi, Daniele, Cilia, Giovanni (2025): A first update to the vespid fauna of Iraq (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), with description of a new species. Journal of Natural History 59 (13 - 16): 941-981, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842
F770A4688729FFB6005CF2E9D83CBDE0.taxon	materials_examined	Material examined IRAQ: Kurdistan, Duhok, S of Zawita, Bablo village, 1063 m, 36.8675 ° N 43.1205 ° E, 3 – 8 June 2024, 1 ♀ (MSVI); Kurdistan, Duhok, 3 km SSE of Ashewa, Mt. Gara, 1450 – 1525 m, 37.9997 ° N 43.3055 ° E, 9 – 12 June 2024, 1 ♂ (MSVI).	en	Selis, Marco, Ismael, Halgurd R., Hamad, Mudhafar I., Baiocchi, Daniele, Cilia, Giovanni (2025): A first update to the vespid fauna of Iraq (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), with description of a new species. Journal of Natural History 59 (13 - 16): 941-981, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842
F770A4688729FFB6005CF2E9D83CBDE0.taxon	distribution	Distribution Syria, Jordan, Turkey, Iraq * (Gusenleitner 1973, 1997 a).	en	Selis, Marco, Ismael, Halgurd R., Hamad, Mudhafar I., Baiocchi, Daniele, Cilia, Giovanni (2025): A first update to the vespid fauna of Iraq (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), with description of a new species. Journal of Natural History 59 (13 - 16): 941-981, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842
F770A4688728FFB6001CF5E0DF75B958.taxon	description	Carpenter (1999); Ali et al. (2023).	en	Selis, Marco, Ismael, Halgurd R., Hamad, Mudhafar I., Baiocchi, Daniele, Cilia, Giovanni (2025): A first update to the vespid fauna of Iraq (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), with description of a new species. Journal of Natural History 59 (13 - 16): 941-981, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842
F770A4688728FFB6001CF5E0DF75B958.taxon	discussion	Remarks Ali et al. (2023) recorded Parapolybia escalerae as new for Iraq, but in fact it was already recorded by Carpenter (1999).	en	Selis, Marco, Ismael, Halgurd R., Hamad, Mudhafar I., Baiocchi, Daniele, Cilia, Giovanni (2025): A first update to the vespid fauna of Iraq (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), with description of a new species. Journal of Natural History 59 (13 - 16): 941-981, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842
F770A4688728FFB6001CF5E0DF75B958.taxon	distribution	Distribution Turkey, Iraq, Iran, Pakistan (Gusenleitner 2013 b; Rahmani et al. 2020; Ali et al. 2023).	en	Selis, Marco, Ismael, Halgurd R., Hamad, Mudhafar I., Baiocchi, Daniele, Cilia, Giovanni (2025): A first update to the vespid fauna of Iraq (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), with description of a new species. Journal of Natural History 59 (13 - 16): 941-981, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842
F770A4688728FFB6001CF3A6D854BBEB.taxon	description	Morice (1921), as P. hebraeus; Derwesh (1965), as P. hebroeus and mentioning ‘ Survey of Iraq Fauna, 1959 – 1919 ’; Khalaf and Al-Omar (1974), as P. olivaceus; Swailem et al. (1974); Abdul-Rassoul (1976), as P. macaensis; Al-Ali (1977), as P. hebroeus; Augul (2017); Al-Saffar and Augul (2021).	en	Selis, Marco, Ismael, Halgurd R., Hamad, Mudhafar I., Baiocchi, Daniele, Cilia, Giovanni (2025): A first update to the vespid fauna of Iraq (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), with description of a new species. Journal of Natural History 59 (13 - 16): 941-981, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842
F770A4688728FFB6001CF3A6D854BBEB.taxon	materials_examined	Material examined IRAQ: Kurdistan, Duhok, 5 km E of Ashewa, Mt. Gara, 1750 – 1950 m, 37.0158 ° N 43.3505 ° E, 3 – 6 June 2023, 1 ♂ 3 ♀ (DUMAI, MSVI).	en	Selis, Marco, Ismael, Halgurd R., Hamad, Mudhafar I., Baiocchi, Daniele, Cilia, Giovanni (2025): A first update to the vespid fauna of Iraq (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), with description of a new species. Journal of Natural History 59 (13 - 16): 941-981, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842
F770A4688728FFB6001CF3A6D854BBEB.taxon	distribution	Distribution Iraq, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Oman, Mauritius, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, China (Castro and Dvořák 2010).	en	Selis, Marco, Ismael, Halgurd R., Hamad, Mudhafar I., Baiocchi, Daniele, Cilia, Giovanni (2025): A first update to the vespid fauna of Iraq (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), with description of a new species. Journal of Natural History 59 (13 - 16): 941-981, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842
F770A4688728FFB600F0F60EDBCDBF6C.taxon	materials_examined	Material examined IRAQ: Kurdistan, Duhok, Bnavi village, 1580 m, 37.2427 ° N 43.3808 ° E, 7 June 2024, 4 ♂ (DUMAI, MSVI).	en	Selis, Marco, Ismael, Halgurd R., Hamad, Mudhafar I., Baiocchi, Daniele, Cilia, Giovanni (2025): A first update to the vespid fauna of Iraq (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), with description of a new species. Journal of Natural History 59 (13 - 16): 941-981, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842
F770A4688728FFB600F0F60EDBCDBF6C.taxon	distribution	Distribution Syria, Turkey, Iraq * (Gusenleitner 1997 a; Yildirim 2012; Yildirim and Gusenleitner 2012, 2013 b).	en	Selis, Marco, Ismael, Halgurd R., Hamad, Mudhafar I., Baiocchi, Daniele, Cilia, Giovanni (2025): A first update to the vespid fauna of Iraq (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), with description of a new species. Journal of Natural History 59 (13 - 16): 941-981, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842
F770A468872FFFB100F8F784DA1EBF00.taxon	materials_examined	Material examined IRAQ: Kurdistan, Duhok, SW of Ashewa, 1100 m, 37.013611 ° N 43.284444 ° E, 1 – 4 June 2024, 2 ♀ (MSVI).	en	Selis, Marco, Ismael, Halgurd R., Hamad, Mudhafar I., Baiocchi, Daniele, Cilia, Giovanni (2025): A first update to the vespid fauna of Iraq (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), with description of a new species. Journal of Natural History 59 (13 - 16): 941-981, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842
F770A468872FFFB100F8F784DA1EBF00.taxon	distribution	Distribution Spain, France (including Corsica), Italy (including Sicily), Malta, Switzerland, Austria, Slovakia, Croatia, Slovenia, Bulgaria, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Greece, Turkey, Israel, Azerbaijan, Russia, Iraq *, Iran, Pakistan, India, Tajikistan, China (Schmid-Egger et al. 2017).	en	Selis, Marco, Ismael, Halgurd R., Hamad, Mudhafar I., Baiocchi, Daniele, Cilia, Giovanni (2025): A first update to the vespid fauna of Iraq (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), with description of a new species. Journal of Natural History 59 (13 - 16): 941-981, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842
F770A468872FFFB10041F5E7DF0BBB50.taxon	materials_examined	Material examined IRAQ: Kurdistan, Duhok, 5 km E of Ashewa, Mt. Gara, 1750 – 1950 m, 37.0158 ° N 43.3305 ° E, 30 May- 12 June 2024, 2 ♂ (MSVI, PQ 676388).	en	Selis, Marco, Ismael, Halgurd R., Hamad, Mudhafar I., Baiocchi, Daniele, Cilia, Giovanni (2025): A first update to the vespid fauna of Iraq (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), with description of a new species. Journal of Natural History 59 (13 - 16): 941-981, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842
F770A468872FFFB10041F5E7DF0BBB50.taxon	discussion	Remarks Blüthgen (in Bytinski-Salz 1957) described the subspecies Polistes atrimandibularis albidus from Turkey, characterising it as a form with whitish markings instead of the bright yellow markings usually observed in the European populations of P. atrimandibularis, and more recently this taxon has been considered as a probable synonym of P. atrimandibularis by Schmid-Egger et al. (2017). Comparison of two white-marked specimens from Iraq with yellow-marked specimens from Europe did not reveal any morphological difference except for the colour, and DNA barcoding of Italian and Iraqi specimens (Table 1) revealed a genetic distance of just 0.76 %, a value in line with the intraspecific variability observed in other parasitic Polistes species (0.00 – 0.95 % in P. austroccidentalis van Achterberg and Neumeyer, and 0.00 – 0.82 % in P. semenowi Morawitz) and well-below the interspecific distances observed between P. atrimandibularis and the other social parasites (1.69 – 3.00 % from P. semenowi Morawitz, 2.17 – 3.43 % from P. austroccidentalis van Achterberg and Neumeyer, and 4.11 % from P. maroccanus Schmid-Egger). Polistes atrimandibularis albidus is therefore confirmed as a synonym of nominotypical P. atrimandibularis.	en	Selis, Marco, Ismael, Halgurd R., Hamad, Mudhafar I., Baiocchi, Daniele, Cilia, Giovanni (2025): A first update to the vespid fauna of Iraq (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), with description of a new species. Journal of Natural History 59 (13 - 16): 941-981, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842
F770A468872FFFB10041F5E7DF0BBB50.taxon	distribution	Distribution Spain, France, Italy (including Sicily), Switzerland, Germany, Austria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Bulgaria, Greece, Turkey, Armenia, Iraq *, Iran (Schmid-Egger et al. 2017).	en	Selis, Marco, Ismael, Halgurd R., Hamad, Mudhafar I., Baiocchi, Daniele, Cilia, Giovanni (2025): A first update to the vespid fauna of Iraq (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), with description of a new species. Journal of Natural History 59 (13 - 16): 941-981, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842
F770A468872EFFB0000EF784D92ABFA6.taxon	description	Derwesh (1965), mentioning ‘ Zoologische Sumlon d. Bayer. Staates’.	en	Selis, Marco, Ismael, Halgurd R., Hamad, Mudhafar I., Baiocchi, Daniele, Cilia, Giovanni (2025): A first update to the vespid fauna of Iraq (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), with description of a new species. Journal of Natural History 59 (13 - 16): 941-981, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842
F770A468872EFFB0000EF784D92ABFA6.taxon	materials_examined	Material examined IRAQ: Kurdistan, Duhok, Bnavi village, 1580 m, 37.2427 ° N 43.3808 ° E, 7 June 2024, 3 ♀ (DUMAI, MSVI); Kurdistan, Duhok, SW of Ashewa, 1100 m, 37.013611 ° N 43.284444 ° E, 1 – 4 June 2024, 1 ♀ (MSVI); Kurdistan, Duhok, 5 km E of Ashewa, Mt. Gara, 1750 – 1950 m, 37.0158 ° N 43.3505 ° E, 30 May- 12 June 2024, 1 ♀ (MSVI).	en	Selis, Marco, Ismael, Halgurd R., Hamad, Mudhafar I., Baiocchi, Daniele, Cilia, Giovanni (2025): A first update to the vespid fauna of Iraq (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), with description of a new species. Journal of Natural History 59 (13 - 16): 941-981, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842
F770A468872EFFB0000EF784D92ABFA6.taxon	distribution	Distribution Greece (Crete), Cyprus, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Egypt, Israel, Iraq, Iran, Uzbekistan, Mongolia, China (Schmid-Egger et al. 2017).	en	Selis, Marco, Ismael, Halgurd R., Hamad, Mudhafar I., Baiocchi, Daniele, Cilia, Giovanni (2025): A first update to the vespid fauna of Iraq (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), with description of a new species. Journal of Natural History 59 (13 - 16): 941-981, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842
F770A468872EFFB000EFF5C7DBDAB83A.taxon	description	Derwesh (1965), mentioning ‘ Zoologische Sumlon d. Bayer. Staates’; Al-Ali (1977).	en	Selis, Marco, Ismael, Halgurd R., Hamad, Mudhafar I., Baiocchi, Daniele, Cilia, Giovanni (2025): A first update to the vespid fauna of Iraq (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), with description of a new species. Journal of Natural History 59 (13 - 16): 941-981, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842
F770A468872EFFB000EFF5C7DBDAB83A.taxon	discussion	Remarks Al-Ali (1977) recorded this species as widespread in Iraq. We have not examined any specimens of this species from Iraq and the taxonomy of this taxon has long been confused and only recently resolved (Schmid-Egger et al. 2017), but given its presence in Turkey and Azerbaijan, its presence in at least northern Iraq is plausible. The southernmost records are likely to be attributable to P. mongolicus, newly recorded from Iraq in this note, but it is impossible to confirm this without re-examining the specimens.	en	Selis, Marco, Ismael, Halgurd R., Hamad, Mudhafar I., Baiocchi, Daniele, Cilia, Giovanni (2025): A first update to the vespid fauna of Iraq (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), with description of a new species. Journal of Natural History 59 (13 - 16): 941-981, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842
F770A468872EFFB000EFF5C7DBDAB83A.taxon	distribution	Distribution Italy, Croatia, Slovenia, Greece, Turkey, Cyprus, Azerbaijan, Iraq (Schmid-Egger et al. 2017, 2021).	en	Selis, Marco, Ismael, Halgurd R., Hamad, Mudhafar I., Baiocchi, Daniele, Cilia, Giovanni (2025): A first update to the vespid fauna of Iraq (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), with description of a new species. Journal of Natural History 59 (13 - 16): 941-981, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842
F770A468872EFFB300FEF25BDA73BC4E.taxon	description	Kumar and Lambert (2010)	en	Selis, Marco, Ismael, Halgurd R., Hamad, Mudhafar I., Baiocchi, Daniele, Cilia, Giovanni (2025): A first update to the vespid fauna of Iraq (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), with description of a new species. Journal of Natural History 59 (13 - 16): 941-981, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842
F770A468872EFFB300FEF25BDA73BC4E.taxon	discussion	Remarks We have not been able to locate in the literature the first record for Iraq of this species, which appears to be reported as present in Iraq for the first time by Kumar and Lambert (2010), without providing information on the origin of this record. We have not examined any Iraqi specimen of this species that could confirm the record; however, given the known distribution its presence in Iraq is highly probable and is therefore maintained in the list.	en	Selis, Marco, Ismael, Halgurd R., Hamad, Mudhafar I., Baiocchi, Daniele, Cilia, Giovanni (2025): A first update to the vespid fauna of Iraq (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), with description of a new species. Journal of Natural History 59 (13 - 16): 941-981, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842
F770A468872EFFB300FEF25BDA73BC4E.taxon	distribution	Distribution United Arab Emirates, Oman, Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India (Carpenter and Gadallah 2020).	en	Selis, Marco, Ismael, Halgurd R., Hamad, Mudhafar I., Baiocchi, Daniele, Cilia, Giovanni (2025): A first update to the vespid fauna of Iraq (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), with description of a new species. Journal of Natural History 59 (13 - 16): 941-981, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842
F770A468872DFFB30036F6BED838BE12.taxon	materials_examined	Material examined IRAQ: Kurdistan, Duhok, SW of Ashewa, 1100 m, 37.013611 ° N 43.284444 ° E, 1 – 4 June 2024, 3 ♀ (DUMAI, MSVI); Kurdistan, Duhok, 2 km NNE of Dihe, 1135 m, 37.149444 ° N 43.166944 ° E, 1 – 11 June 2024, 1 ♀ (MSVI).	en	Selis, Marco, Ismael, Halgurd R., Hamad, Mudhafar I., Baiocchi, Daniele, Cilia, Giovanni (2025): A first update to the vespid fauna of Iraq (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), with description of a new species. Journal of Natural History 59 (13 - 16): 941-981, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842
F770A468872DFFB30036F6BED838BE12.taxon	distribution	Distribution Croatia, Serbia, North Macedonia, Greece, Turkey, Cyprus, Israel, Egypt, Azerbaijan, Iraq *, Iran, Mongolia, China (Schmid-Egger et al. 2017, 2021).	en	Selis, Marco, Ismael, Halgurd R., Hamad, Mudhafar I., Baiocchi, Daniele, Cilia, Giovanni (2025): A first update to the vespid fauna of Iraq (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), with description of a new species. Journal of Natural History 59 (13 - 16): 941-981, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842
F770A468872DFFB300F1F483DA1EBB24.taxon	description	Derwesh (1965), mentioning ‘ Zoologische Sumlong d. Bayer. Staates’; Gusenleitner (1976); Al-Ali (1977).	en	Selis, Marco, Ismael, Halgurd R., Hamad, Mudhafar I., Baiocchi, Daniele, Cilia, Giovanni (2025): A first update to the vespid fauna of Iraq (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), with description of a new species. Journal of Natural History 59 (13 - 16): 941-981, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842
F770A468872DFFB300F1F483DA1EBB24.taxon	materials_examined	Material examined IRAQ: Kurdistan, Duhok, SW of Ashewa, 1100 m, 37.013611 ° N 43.284444 ° E, 1 – 4 June 2024, 1 ♀ (MSVI); Kurdistan, Duhok, 5 km E of Ashewa, Mt. Gara, 1750 – 1950 m, 37.0158 ° N 43.3305 ° E, 30 May- 12 June 2024, 1 ♂ (MSVI).	en	Selis, Marco, Ismael, Halgurd R., Hamad, Mudhafar I., Baiocchi, Daniele, Cilia, Giovanni (2025): A first update to the vespid fauna of Iraq (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), with description of a new species. Journal of Natural History 59 (13 - 16): 941-981, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842
F770A468872DFFB300F1F483DA1EBB24.taxon	distribution	Distribution Sweden, Germany, Belgium, France, Spain, Portugal (including Madeira), Switzerland, Italy (including Sardinia and Sicily), Austria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Latvia, Russia, Croatia, Slovenia, Serbia, Albania, Bulgaria, Greece, Morocco, Israel, Turkey, Iraq, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Iran, Pakistan, India, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, China (Schmid-Egger et al. 2017).	en	Selis, Marco, Ismael, Halgurd R., Hamad, Mudhafar I., Baiocchi, Daniele, Cilia, Giovanni (2025): A first update to the vespid fauna of Iraq (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), with description of a new species. Journal of Natural History 59 (13 - 16): 941-981, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842
F770A468872CFFB200A3F7FCD8B5BE53.taxon	description	Morice (1921); Derwesh (1965), mentioning ‘ B. M. list No. 70 ’; Swailem et al. (1974); Abdul-Rassoul (1976); Al-Ali (1977); Augul (2016, 2017); Al-Saffar and Augul (2021).	en	Selis, Marco, Ismael, Halgurd R., Hamad, Mudhafar I., Baiocchi, Daniele, Cilia, Giovanni (2025): A first update to the vespid fauna of Iraq (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), with description of a new species. Journal of Natural History 59 (13 - 16): 941-981, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842
F770A468872CFFB200A3F7FCD8B5BE53.taxon	materials_examined	Material examined IRAQ: Kurdistan, Duhok, 5 km E of Ashewa, Mt. Gara, 1750 – 1950 m, 37.0158 ° N 43.3505 ° E, 3 – 6 June 2023, 1 ♀ (MSVI).	en	Selis, Marco, Ismael, Halgurd R., Hamad, Mudhafar I., Baiocchi, Daniele, Cilia, Giovanni (2025): A first update to the vespid fauna of Iraq (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), with description of a new species. Journal of Natural History 59 (13 - 16): 941-981, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842
F770A468872CFFB200A3F7FCD8B5BE53.taxon	distribution	Distribution Algeria, Libya, Egypt, Ethiopia, Somalia, Chad, Sudan, Malta, Italy (including Sardinia and Sicily), Croatia, Slovenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Albania, North Macedonia, Romania, Bulgaria, Greece (including Crete), Cyprus, Russia, Turkey, Israel, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Oman, United Arab Emirates, Bahrein, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Nepal, introduced into United Kingdom, Belgium, Czech Republic, Spain, China, Chile, Mexico, United States (Carpenter and Gadallah 2020).	en	Selis, Marco, Ismael, Halgurd R., Hamad, Mudhafar I., Baiocchi, Daniele, Cilia, Giovanni (2025): A first update to the vespid fauna of Iraq (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), with description of a new species. Journal of Natural History 59 (13 - 16): 941-981, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842
F770A468872CFFB200C5F4BED8A0BB50.taxon	description	Khalaf (1958); Derwesh (1965); Al-Ali (1977); Augul (2017).	en	Selis, Marco, Ismael, Halgurd R., Hamad, Mudhafar I., Baiocchi, Daniele, Cilia, Giovanni (2025): A first update to the vespid fauna of Iraq (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), with description of a new species. Journal of Natural History 59 (13 - 16): 941-981, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842
F770A468872CFFB200C5F4BED8A0BB50.taxon	materials_examined	Material examined IRAQ: Kurdistan, Duhok, Bnavi village, 1498 m, 37.2477 ° N 43.3791 ° E, 7 June 2024, 2 ♀ (MSVI).	en	Selis, Marco, Ismael, Halgurd R., Hamad, Mudhafar I., Baiocchi, Daniele, Cilia, Giovanni (2025): A first update to the vespid fauna of Iraq (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), with description of a new species. Journal of Natural History 59 (13 - 16): 941-981, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842
F770A468872CFFB200C5F4BED8A0BB50.taxon	distribution	Distribution United Kingdom, Ireland, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, France, Italy (including Sardinia and Sicily), Switzerland, Austria, Lichtenstein, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Romania, Moldova, Bulgaria, Albania, North Macedonia, Greece, Poland, Lithuania, Estonia, Belarus, Ukraine, Russia, Spain (including Balearic and Canary Islands), Portugal (including Azores), Malta, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Syria, Lebanon, Israel, Jordan, Turkey, Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Pakistan, India, Mongolia, China, Korea, introduced into Iceland, New Zealand, Australia, Ascension Islands, South Africa, Chila, Argentina, Canada, United States (Rahmani et al. 2020).	en	Selis, Marco, Ismael, Halgurd R., Hamad, Mudhafar I., Baiocchi, Daniele, Cilia, Giovanni (2025): A first update to the vespid fauna of Iraq (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), with description of a new species. Journal of Natural History 59 (13 - 16): 941-981, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842
F770A4688713FF8D00E3F4BED8D6B849.taxon	description	Morice (1921); Derwesh (1965), mentioning ‘ Survey of Iraq Fauna, 1915 – 1919 ’.	en	Selis, Marco, Ismael, Halgurd R., Hamad, Mudhafar I., Baiocchi, Daniele, Cilia, Giovanni (2025): A first update to the vespid fauna of Iraq (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), with description of a new species. Journal of Natural History 59 (13 - 16): 941-981, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842
F770A4688713FF8D00E3F4BED8D6B849.taxon	discussion	Remarks We have examined no specimens of Chlorodynerus from Iraq. Morice (1921) recorded this species from Amarah and Basra, close to the Iranian border. Chlorodynerus chloroticus is a mainly North-African species, reaching the Levant and the Arabian Peninsula in the east, without further findings in the areas near the locations cited by Morice (1921). Many species of Chlorodynerus were described after 1921, and several also in Iran, so it is impossible to ascertain the identity of the specimens examined by Morice.	en	Selis, Marco, Ismael, Halgurd R., Hamad, Mudhafar I., Baiocchi, Daniele, Cilia, Giovanni (2025): A first update to the vespid fauna of Iraq (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), with description of a new species. Journal of Natural History 59 (13 - 16): 941-981, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842
F770A4688713FF8C0034F297D98DBCB1.taxon	description	Khalaf (1958); Derwesh (1965); Augul (2017).	en	Selis, Marco, Ismael, Halgurd R., Hamad, Mudhafar I., Baiocchi, Daniele, Cilia, Giovanni (2025): A first update to the vespid fauna of Iraq (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), with description of a new species. Journal of Natural History 59 (13 - 16): 941-981, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842
F770A4688713FF8C0034F297D98DBCB1.taxon	discussion	Remarks We have examined no specimens of this species from Iraq. Augul (2017) cites Khalaf (1958) as a previous source for the occurrence of this species in Iraq and provides further records, but as visible from the pictures provided these records are in fact attributable to Eumenes mediterraneus. The data published by Khalaf (1958) cannot be considered reliable, as in the past the name E. pomiformis has been used in a very broad sense including several taxa now considered distinct species. Given the currently known distribution, E. pomiformis could be present in Iraq, but for the moment the species is excluded as its presence in the Middle East needs to be reviewed given the past taxonomic problems and misidentifications (e. g., the only record from the Arabian Peninsula published by Gusenleitner (2010 a) should be referred to E. mediterraneus).	en	Selis, Marco, Ismael, Halgurd R., Hamad, Mudhafar I., Baiocchi, Daniele, Cilia, Giovanni (2025): A first update to the vespid fauna of Iraq (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), with description of a new species. Journal of Natural History 59 (13 - 16): 941-981, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842
F770A4688713FF8D00D6F784D973BE25.taxon	description	Khalaf (1961); Derwesh (1965).	en	Selis, Marco, Ismael, Halgurd R., Hamad, Mudhafar I., Baiocchi, Daniele, Cilia, Giovanni (2025): A first update to the vespid fauna of Iraq (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), with description of a new species. Journal of Natural History 59 (13 - 16): 941-981, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842
F770A4688713FF8D00D6F784D973BE25.taxon	discussion	Remarks Augul (2017) reports further findings of this species from Solaf [Sulev], but these records belong in fact to Vespula germanica, as visible from the pictures provided.	en	Selis, Marco, Ismael, Halgurd R., Hamad, Mudhafar I., Baiocchi, Daniele, Cilia, Giovanni (2025): A first update to the vespid fauna of Iraq (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), with description of a new species. Journal of Natural History 59 (13 - 16): 941-981, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842
F770A4688713FF8D00D6F784D973BE25.taxon	distribution	Distribution United Kingdom, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, France (including Corsica), Spain (including Balearic Islands), Portugal, Italy (including Sardinia and Sicily), Switzerland, Austria, Lichtenstein, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia, Croatia, Serbia, Albania, North Macedonia, Greece, Bulgaria, Moldova, Romania, Poland, Ukraine, Belarus, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Russia, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Turkey, Syria, Israel, Iraq, Iran, Pakistan, India, Buthan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, China, Korea, Japan; introduced into Iceland, New Zealand, Australia, French Polynesia, Chile, Argentina (Rahmani et al. 2020).	en	Selis, Marco, Ismael, Halgurd R., Hamad, Mudhafar I., Baiocchi, Daniele, Cilia, Giovanni (2025): A first update to the vespid fauna of Iraq (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), with description of a new species. Journal of Natural History 59 (13 - 16): 941-981, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842
F770A4688712FF8C0055F6D5D9AABEB1.taxon	description	Morice (1921); Derwesh (1965), mentioning ‘ Survey of Iraq Fauna, 1915 – 1919 ’.	en	Selis, Marco, Ismael, Halgurd R., Hamad, Mudhafar I., Baiocchi, Daniele, Cilia, Giovanni (2025): A first update to the vespid fauna of Iraq (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), with description of a new species. Journal of Natural History 59 (13 - 16): 941-981, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842
F770A4688712FF8C0055F6D5D9AABEB1.taxon	discussion	Remarks We have examined no specimens of this species from Iraq. Morice (1921) recorded this species from Amarah under the name Odynerus crenatus Lepeletier, currently regarded as a synonym. As evidenced by Selis et al. (2024 b), Euodynerus variegatus is a mainly western and southern Mediterranean species, barely reaching the Levant in the east; therefore, its presence in Iraq is improbable. Morice’s records likely belong to the similar E. disconotatus, recorded from Iraq by Giordani Soika (1970).	en	Selis, Marco, Ismael, Halgurd R., Hamad, Mudhafar I., Baiocchi, Daniele, Cilia, Giovanni (2025): A first update to the vespid fauna of Iraq (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), with description of a new species. Journal of Natural History 59 (13 - 16): 941-981, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842
F770A4688712FF8C0001F4D4DA32B8F4.taxon	description	Khalaf (1958); Derwesh (1965); Augul (2017); Al-Saffar and Augul (2021).	en	Selis, Marco, Ismael, Halgurd R., Hamad, Mudhafar I., Baiocchi, Daniele, Cilia, Giovanni (2025): A first update to the vespid fauna of Iraq (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), with description of a new species. Journal of Natural History 59 (13 - 16): 941-981, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842
F770A4688712FF8C0001F4D4DA32B8F4.taxon	discussion	Remarks We have examined no specimens of this species from Iraq. Augul (2017) and Al-Saffar and Augul (2021) cite Khalaf (1958) as a previous source for the occurrence of this species in Iraq and provide further records, but as visible from the pictures provided by Augul (2017) these records are in fact attributable to Odynerus armeniacus. The data published by Khalaf (1958) cannot be considered reliable, as O. spinipes is a mainly northern species, occurring in central and northern Europe with few isolate records in southern Europe and northern Turkey. Pending further investigation, we exclude O. spinipes from the list of Iraqi Vespidae.	en	Selis, Marco, Ismael, Halgurd R., Hamad, Mudhafar I., Baiocchi, Daniele, Cilia, Giovanni (2025): A first update to the vespid fauna of Iraq (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), with description of a new species. Journal of Natural History 59 (13 - 16): 941-981, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842
F770A4688712FF8F003FF129D92EBC53.taxon	description	Derwesh (1965), mentioning ‘ Zoologische Sumlong d. Bayer. Staates’.	en	Selis, Marco, Ismael, Halgurd R., Hamad, Mudhafar I., Baiocchi, Daniele, Cilia, Giovanni (2025): A first update to the vespid fauna of Iraq (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), with description of a new species. Journal of Natural History 59 (13 - 16): 941-981, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842
F770A4688712FF8F003FF129D92EBC53.taxon	discussion	Remarks We have examined no specimens of this species from Iraq. Derwesh (1965) reports it as ‘ Hoplomerus teniformis [!] Gmel. var.? ’ without providing any detailed specimen records. There are currently no other records of Odynerus reniformis in the Middle East and several other species of the subgenus Spinicoxa are present in the area, making it impossible to ascertain the identity of the record published by Derwesh (1965). The species is not considered to be present in Iraq.	en	Selis, Marco, Ismael, Halgurd R., Hamad, Mudhafar I., Baiocchi, Daniele, Cilia, Giovanni (2025): A first update to the vespid fauna of Iraq (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), with description of a new species. Journal of Natural History 59 (13 - 16): 941-981, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842
F770A4688711FF8F0006F6CBD830BEED.taxon	description	Morice (1921); Derwesh (1965), mentioning ‘ Survey of Iraq Fauna, 1959 – 1919 ’; Khalaf and Al-Omar (1974); Abdul-Rassoul (1976); Al-Ali (1977).	en	Selis, Marco, Ismael, Halgurd R., Hamad, Mudhafar I., Baiocchi, Daniele, Cilia, Giovanni (2025): A first update to the vespid fauna of Iraq (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), with description of a new species. Journal of Natural History 59 (13 - 16): 941-981, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842
F770A4688711FF8F0006F6CBD830BEED.taxon	discussion	Remarks We have examined no specimens of this species from Iraq. Morice (1921) records it from Amarah and Baghdad, reporting that the specimens ‘ are very pale forms with hardly any black markings’, suggesting that they belonged in fact to Polistes wattii, which is common and widespread in the Middle East. Khalaf and Al-Omar (1974), Abdul-Rassoul (1976) and Al-Ali (1977) recorded it from several localities, but given the confusion in the past between P. olivaceus and P. wattii, these records are attributed to the latter. We do not know of any confirmed record of P. olivaceus from Iraq.	en	Selis, Marco, Ismael, Halgurd R., Hamad, Mudhafar I., Baiocchi, Daniele, Cilia, Giovanni (2025): A first update to the vespid fauna of Iraq (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), with description of a new species. Journal of Natural History 59 (13 - 16): 941-981, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842
F770A4688711FF8F0017F304D8E7BB50.taxon	description	Blüthgen and Königsmann (1969).	en	Selis, Marco, Ismael, Halgurd R., Hamad, Mudhafar I., Baiocchi, Daniele, Cilia, Giovanni (2025): A first update to the vespid fauna of Iraq (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), with description of a new species. Journal of Natural History 59 (13 - 16): 941-981, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842
F770A4688711FF8F0017F304D8E7BB50.taxon	discussion	Remarks We have examined no specimens of this species from Iraq. This species is listed as present in Iraq in several recent sources (e. g., Castro and Dvořák 2010; Rafi et al. 2017); however, it has not been possible to find a source indicating a precise locality in Iraq. Castro and Dvořák (2010) indicate Blüthgen and Königsmann (1969) as the source of the presence of P. biglumis in Iraq; however, the latter authors only indicate the species as present in ‘ Mesopotamien’, a name indicating a territory covering much of today’s Iraq but also large areas in Turkey, Syria, Iran and the extreme north of the Arabian Peninsula. Given the impossibility of clarifying the actual origin of the record published by Blüthgen and Königsmann (1969) and the uncertainty about the identity of the Middle Eastern specimens identified so far as P. biglumis (Schmid-Egger et al. 2017; C. Schmid-Egger, personal communication), the species is, for now, excluded from the fauna of Iraq.	en	Selis, Marco, Ismael, Halgurd R., Hamad, Mudhafar I., Baiocchi, Daniele, Cilia, Giovanni (2025): A first update to the vespid fauna of Iraq (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), with description of a new species. Journal of Natural History 59 (13 - 16): 941-981, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842
F770A4688710FF8E001DF784DA7EBFA9.taxon	description	Abdul-Rassoul (1976); Al-Ali (1977); Augul (2017).	en	Selis, Marco, Ismael, Halgurd R., Hamad, Mudhafar I., Baiocchi, Daniele, Cilia, Giovanni (2025): A first update to the vespid fauna of Iraq (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), with description of a new species. Journal of Natural History 59 (13 - 16): 941-981, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842
F770A4688710FF8E001DF784DA7EBFA9.taxon	discussion	Remarks We have examined no specimens of this species from Iraq. Augul (2017) cites Derwesh (1965) as a previous source for the occurrence of this species in Iraq and provides further records, but as visible from the pictures provided these records are in fact attributable to at least two different species, none of which is Polistes gallicus. Moreover, the record published by Derwesh (1965) refers to ‘ P. gallicus L. var. bucharensis ’, currently regarded as a distinct species. As shown by Schmid-Egger et al. (2017), Polistes gallicus is a western and central Mediterranean species with its eastern limit in Corfu; therefore, its presence in Iraq is implausible.	en	Selis, Marco, Ismael, Halgurd R., Hamad, Mudhafar I., Baiocchi, Daniele, Cilia, Giovanni (2025): A first update to the vespid fauna of Iraq (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), with description of a new species. Journal of Natural History 59 (13 - 16): 941-981, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842
F770A4688710FF8E0044F5B5DF26B967.taxon	description	Khalaf and Al-Omar (1974).	en	Selis, Marco, Ismael, Halgurd R., Hamad, Mudhafar I., Baiocchi, Daniele, Cilia, Giovanni (2025): A first update to the vespid fauna of Iraq (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), with description of a new species. Journal of Natural History 59 (13 - 16): 941-981, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842
F770A4688710FF8E0044F5B5DF26B967.taxon	discussion	Remarks We have examined no specimens of this species from Iraq. Khalaf and Al-Omar (1974) recorded a single specimen collected in Baghdad under the name Odynerus aurantiacus Mocsary, currently regarded as a synonym. Pseudepipona augusta is known to range from eastern Europe to Central Asia and China, with the southernmost records in Hungary, Ukraine and southern Russia, making its occurrence in central Iraq implausible.	en	Selis, Marco, Ismael, Halgurd R., Hamad, Mudhafar I., Baiocchi, Daniele, Cilia, Giovanni (2025): A first update to the vespid fauna of Iraq (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), with description of a new species. Journal of Natural History 59 (13 - 16): 941-981, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842, URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2025.2460842
