Gastrosericus sheikhae Schmid-Egger, 2022

Schmid-Egger, Christian & Harten, Antonius Van, 2022, Additions to the digger wasps (Hymenoptera, Spheciformes) of the United Arab Emirates with description of ten new species, Zootaxa 5219 (6), pp. 543-575 : 560

Gastrosericus sheikhae Schmid-Egger , sp. nov.

( Figs 66–73 )

Holotype. ♀ United Arab Emirates 8.x.2018 Barg al-Saqoor, 24,018 N 52,592 E . Paratypes. 1 ♀ 28.vi.2008 Al Rafah , 25,61 N 55,68 E ; 1 ♀ 15.v.2016 Abu Dhabi, Al Wathba Wetland Reserve , 24.248 N 54.742 E ; 1 ♀ 13.vi.2016 30 km SEE Ruwais, Houbara Protected Area , 24.01 N 53.04 E ; 1 ♀ 15.vi.2016 Abu Dhabi, Al Wathba Wetland Reserve , 24.248 N 54.742 E ; 1 ♀ 16.viii.2018 Al Bida’a Protected Area , 23,608 N 53,972 E ; 2 ♁ 1 ♀ 30.viii.2018 Yawal Dibsa , 23,834 N 53,150 E ; 1 ♀ 06.ix.2018 Barg al-Saqoor, 24,018 N 52,592 E ; 14 ♀ 06.ix.2018 Al Bida’a Protected Area , 23,608 N 53,972 E ; 1 male 3 ♀ 19.ix.2018 Yawal Dibsa , 23,834 N 53,150 E : 1 ♀ 29.x.2018 Al Bida’a Protected Area , 23,608 N 53,972 E ; 1 ♀ 29.x.2018 Barg al-Saqoor, 24,018 N 52,592 E ; 1 ♀ 17.06.2019 Al Bida’a Protected Area ; 2 ♁ 1 ♀ 30.06.2019, 1 ♀ 15.07.2019, 5 ♁ 1 ♀ 15.07.2019, 8 ♁ 8 ♀ 10.09.2019, 1 ♀ 19.04.2020, 1 ♀ 30.04.2031 Barqa al-Saqoor (all leg. A.S & AvH, in Malaise traps, coll. CSE) .

Diagnosis. Gastrosericus sheikhae is a member of the G. waltlii species group (characterized by erect and semierect setae on gena). The female can be recognized by all red legs and abdomen and by an obtuse angled clypeal lamella. The mesosoma is partly red. The related G. waltlii has at least black femora and a partly or all black abdomen. In G. sheikhae setae of gena may also be appressed and not erect, but this can result from preservation of specimens in ethanol. Specimens with appressed pilositiy on gena can be confused with G. albidaaensis . The latter differs by a prolonged apical clypeal margin, which is short and medially emarginate in G. albidaaensis . Male sterna III and IV of G. sheikhae each have a large impression, covered with patch of long setae. This impression does not reach apical sternal margin, and is distinctly separated by a sharp margin from remaining sternal surface. The species shares this special character with G. waltlii . Both are similar and differ mainly by gastral colour. It is red in G. sheikhae and dark in G. waltlii .

Description of holotype, female: Body length 11.0 mm. Colour: Body orange red with the following parts black: head, antenna and mesonotum. Mandible basally yellow, apically black, with small red zone in beetween. Scape yellow below. Wing venation orange-brown. Head, mesosoma, coxae and femora with long and dense, appressed pubescence. Some parts of pubescence of gena and legs erect (difficult to see because of ethanol treatment of species, which pat setae down). Terga I-V with some bandlike short silver pubescence. Morphology: Apical clypeal margin medially advanced, with obtuse angle. Mandible at underside with tooth in basal third, and with small emargination medially. Pronotum not sulcate. Propleuron with two pointed triangular teeth near hindmargin. Apical tergal margin I-IV deeply impressed. Pygidal plate somewhat bulged, covered with yellowish short bristles, apically truncate. Fore basitarsus with eight pale spines, longest spine as long as foretarsomere II.

Variation in female paratypes. Body length 10.0-11.0 mm.

Description of male. Body length 7.0-9.0 mm. Colour: Head and mesosoma red, abdominal segments I-III red, parts of legs red. Mandible yellow with black apex, scape below partly yellow. Pubescence and wing colour as in female, sternum I and II with long erect pale setae. Morphology: Clypeal apical margin medially with large, pointed tooth. Fore basitarsus with seven fine pale spines, approximately as long as foretarsomere II. Sternum III and VI with large medial impression, covered with patch of erect setae, impression surrounded by sharp ege, mainly near foremargin. Sternum VIII long, narrow, apically rounded-truncate.

Distribution. Coastal plaine of the United Arab Emirates.

Etymology. Gastrosericus sheikhae , sp. nov. is named after H.E. Dr. Sheikha Salem Al Dhaheri, Secretary General of the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi, for her enthusiasm and energy to gain a complete knowledge of the arthropod biodiversity in the Abu Dhabi Emirate.

Figures

FIGURES 65–72. 65. Gastrosericus sanctus ♁ from Namibia, sterna. 66–72. Gastrosericus sheikhae; 66. ♀ holotype, lateral view. 67. ♀ holotype, face. 68. ♀ holotype, clypeus. 69. ♀ holotype, tergum VI. 70. ♁ lateral view. 71. ♁ face. 72. ♁ clypeus.

FIGURES 73–80. 73. Gastrosericus sheikhae ♁ sterna. 74–78. Gastrosericus turneri; 74. ♀ from Namibia, lateral view. 75. ♀ from Namibia, clypeus. 76. ♀ from Namibia, pronotum laterally (sulcus see arrow). 77. ♁ lateral view. 78. ♁ face. 79–80. Gastrosericus vedda ♀ from Oman; 79. Lateral view 80. Face.