Oryttus konradschmidti Schmid-Egger & Hauser, 2021

Schmid-Egger, Christian & Hauser, Martin, 2021, A new species of Oryttus Spinola, 1836 from the United Arab Emirates and Tunisia with identification key to Palaearctic species (Hymenoptera, Crabronidae), Zootaxa 4908 (3), pp. 441-446 : 443-444

Oryttus konradschmidti Schmid-Egger & Hauser sp. nov.

( Figs 1–8 )

Holotype: United Arab Emirates, 1 ³, 10.V.2017, Abu Dhabi, Al Wathba 24.248N 54.742E (leg. A. Saji & T.v. Harten in Malaise trap, Type in the collection of CSE, for later permanent deposition in ZSM) . Paratype: 1♀, 20. V .1993, Tunisia, Djerba, 7km sw Houmt-Souk, leg. M. Hauser, labelled „ Oryttus nov. sp.? det. K. Schmidt 1993 neu f. NAfrika“ [new for North Africa ], coll CSCA .

Diagnosis: Oryttus konradschmidti is well characterized by its color pattern. The red head (with some yellow spots on the male face (fig.2)), red mesosoma and legs, and the black abdomen (red on tergite I in male (fig. 1)) with whitish bands on tergite I (and tergite II in the female (fig. 5)) is unique for this genus. It is the only Oryttus species known from North Africa and the Arabian Peninsula.

Description of male, holotype (figs 1–3): Body length 9.8 mm. Body ground color bright red. Yellowish are: labrum, dorsolateral spots on clypeus, inner eye margin (fig. 2), scape below, inner side of foretibia, large apical and medially emarginated band on tergite I. Black are: abdominal segments II–VII (sternite II, V and VI with brownish area medially), apical spot on inner hindtibia, wing venation. Wing grayish with the following parts dark infuscate: marginal cell, submarginal cell II and III, discoidal cell I, parts of discoidal cell II, wing apex behind submarginal cell II. Wing venation and pterostigma black, small spot in front of pterostigma yellow. Morphology: Antennal segments ( AS) 8–13 modified (fig. 3): AS 8–11 with shiny tyloids, AS 10 1.5x as long as wide, deeply impressed on whole underside, AS 11–12 with shiny and weakly impressed underside, AS 10–13 with longitudinal keel on whole length of underside. Area above antennal socket dull, not punctated. Face in upper half and vertex with large punctures (0.5–1.5 diameters apart, interspaces microsculptured). Mesoscutum and scutellum with coarse and dense punctation, punctures 0.5 diameters apart, interspaces polished. Mesopleuron and propodeum laterally with coarse, comb-like sculpture. Propodeal dorsum with fine, irregular sculpture. Tergite II with similar punctation as frons, punctures 0.5–1 diameter apart. Remaining tergites finer and more indistinct punctured, interspaces of tergite I polished, on tergites III–VII dull. Sternite I with distinct longitudinal medial keel over whole length, keel in basal forth emarginated (seen in lateral view). Sternites II–VI polished, with scattered punctation (3–4 diameters apart), punctation on last sternites indistinct. Sternite VIII apically deeply V-shaped emarginated.

Description of female, paratype: As in male, except the following: body length 10.5 mm, face all red, inner eye margin lighter orange (fig. 7). Fore tarsi with long digging spines (fig. 7), five on first segment, second to fourth segment with each two spines. Pterostigma light yellow (fig. 4). Wing with dark brown infuscation in marginal cell, greater apical part of submarginal cell I, submarginal cell II and greater part of submarginal III. The latter with posterior margin. Wing tip also transparent, but lighter brown infuscated, as well as anterior and central part of discoidal cell II. Anterior apical part of hind wing light brown infuscate. Pygidium flat, with sharp, slightly elevated rim, polished with sparse deep punctation (fig. 8).

Distribution: Tunisia and United Arab Emirates.

Etymology. The species is named in honor of the sphecid expert Konrad Schmidt, who first realized that this was an undescribed species. We are grateful to Konrad Schmidt for his support and help in the early days of our entomological careers.

Figures

FIGURES 1–4. Oryttus konradschmidti sp. nov., male holotype (1–3). 1. Dorsal view. 2. Face. 3. Antenna right side. 4. female paratype, wings.

FIGURES 5–8. Oryttus konradschmidti sp. nov., female paratype. 5. Dorsal view. 6. Scutellum, metanotum and propodeum. 7. Face. 8. Last abdominal segments.