Astata sicula KOHL , 1885

Hans-J, 2025, Astata LATREILLE, 1796 (Hymenoptera, Astatidae) from the Palearctic region with descriptions of nine new taxa and a key to species, Linzer biologische Beiträge 57 (1), pp. 71-168 : 144

Astata sicula KOHL, 1885

Astatus boops siculus KOHL, 1885: 436, ♀, J. Syntypes, Italy, Sicily, no specific locality (NHMW). New status as Astata sicula by KOHL in DALLA TORRE 1897: 655. Synonymized with Astata boops by PULAWSKI 1956: 44. Revalidated as Astata sicula by BEAUMONT 1959: 24.

M a t e r i a l e x a m i n e d: ITALY: Sizilien, Agrigento , 05.1988, 1♀, Schlaefle (WS) ; Sicilia, Trapani 55 km E, Castellamare env., 12.06.2002, 1♀, Halada ( SE) ; Sicilia, Taormina, Sirinatal , 03.10.1970, 1♀, M. Schwarz ( BOL) .

D e s c r i p t i o n: J (after KOHL 1885, BEAUMONT 1959 and SCHMIDT & BITSCH 2007). 9-11 mm. Head and mesosoma black; mandible black, lemon yellow mesally; metasomal segments I-III(IV) red; legs black, tibiae sometimes brownish. Lower margin of mandible with angle. Middle clypeal lobe distinctly protruding beyond lateral lobe. Antennomere III about 4.0-4.5× as long as apically wide; middle antennomeres with carinate tyloids; tyloids with basal and apical tubercle. Mesoscutum densely punctate. Metasomal hairbrush beginning on sternum III, central setae very short, lateral setae about 3× as long as the very short setae of metasomal sternum II. Midcoxa without modifications; hindcoxa on inner side slightly concave; inner surface of hindfemur smooth and shiny, in profile distinctly concave basally.

♀. 9-12 mm. Head and mesosoma black. Metasomal segments I-III red, I with black spot basally; sterna I-II red, remaining segments black. Legs black. Mandible black, lemon yellow mesally. Anterior margin of clypeal lamella slightly concave. Frons densely punctate, with white erect setae. Vertex and gena scattered punctate, latter with white setae. Antennomeres I-II with black bristles on inner side, III about as long as apically wide. Pronotal collar densely punctate, posteromedian with smooth and shiny triangle. Anterior margin of mesoscutum densely punctate, posterior surface smooth and shiny with isolated punctures. Mesopleuron densely punctate, prepectus irregularly reticulate, epimeron with longitudinal striae. Propodeal dorsum glabrous, strongly reticulate; lateral surface anteriorly smooth, posteriorly reticulate; declivity reticulate. Mesosoma except propodeal dorsum with white setae. Pygidial plate with concave lateral margin, wide basally, strongly narrowed distally. Coxae, trochanters and femora with white setae. Forebasitarsus with five rake spines; ventrally with 15-17 undulating spines, short setae between the spines limited to proximal third of spine row. Forewing with brownish tinge, apical margin darker brown.

D i s t r i b u t i o n: Europe: Italy (Sicily), Malta (SCHMID- EGGER et al. 2016).