Miscophus eximius Gussakovskij, 1934

Mokrousov, Mikhail V. & Proshchalykin, Maxim Yu., 2025, Corrections and additions to the catalogue of the digger wasps (Hymenoptera: Ampulicidae, Sphecidae, Crabronidae) of Russia, Zootaxa 5728 (3), pp. 401-450 : 404-405

Miscophus eximius Gussakovskij, 1934

( Figs 1–7 )

Miscophus eximius Gussakovskij, 1934: 9 , ♀. Holotype: ♀, Mongolei, Fl. Onzin gol, 1.VI.1926, Exp. Kozlov [ZISP], examined.

Miscophus rasilis Kazenas, 1992a: 106 , 107. Nomen nudum.

Miscophus rasilis Kazenas, 1992b: 27 . Nomen nudum.

Miscophus rasilis Kazenas, 1993: 29 , ♀, ♂. Holotype: ♀, Turkmenistan, Repetek , 17.IX.1978, A. Lelej [ZISP], examined. Syn. nov.

Material examined. RUSSIA. Tyva Republic, 25 km SE of Erzin, Tes-Khem River, 50.080°N 95.353°E, 14, 15.VII.2014, 2 ♀, 1 ♂, A. Lelej, M. Proshchalykin, V. Loktionov [ CMMN]; 27 SSW of Erzin, Tore-Khol Lake , 50.022°N 95.041°E, 11, 12.VII.2014, 2 ♀, A. Lelej, M. Proshchalykin, V. Loktionov [ CMMN] . TURKMENISTAN. Repetek , 23.VI.1978, 2 ♀, V.Kazenas [ CMMN] . UZBEKISTAN. Sundukli desert, 38.962°N 64.541°E, 16, 21.V.2015, 1 ♀, 4 ♂, M. Mokrousov, M. Proshchalykin [ CMMN]; near Uchkyzyl village , 37.36°N 67.297°E, 11.IX.2017, 1 ♀ ,

M. Mokrousov [ CMMN]. MONGOLIA. South-Gobi Aimag , Dzemgin-Gobi, 25 km SSW of Khailastyn-Khuduk, 20.VI.1971, 1 ♀, M. Kozlov [ ZISP] .

Justification of New Synonymy. Comparison of the type and additional material for Miscophus eximius Gussakovskij, 1934 and M. rasilis Kazenas, 1993 showed the absence of morphological differences, including the male genitalia. Specimens from Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan differ from specimens from Tyva and Mongolia only in the lighter color of legs. The setation on the male frons and female clypeus varies greatly, since the setae are quickly worn off.

Miscophus eximius belongs to the M. helveticus species group. The main distinguishing features of this species are: female’s frons with deep longitudinal sulcus, asetose, noticeably shiny, but with visible micropunctation; mesonotum and scutellum with micropunctutes, merging into grooves; propodeal enclosure and adjacent areas with transverse folds that extend onto lateral surface; male genitalia— Figs 6, 7 .

Distribution. Russia ( Tyva Republic) (new record), Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan (new record), Mongolia.

Figures

FIGURES 1–7. Miscophus eximius Gussakovskij, 1934, ♀, holotype (1) and specimens from Uzbekistan, ♂ (4, 6, 7) and ♀ (5); M. rasilis Kazenas, 1993 (2, 3), ♀, holotype; 1, 2—habitus, lateral view and labels; 3, 4—head, frontal view; 5—scutellum, metanotum, and propodeum, dorsal view; 6—paramera, internal view; 7—penial valves, lateral view. (Photos 1–3 by Yu. Astafurova).