Astata selecta NURSE , 1909

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 : 143-144

Astata selecta NURSE, 1909

Astata selecta NURSE, 1909: 511 , ♀. Syntypes ♀, India, Gujarat, Deesa (BMNH).

M a t e r i a l e x a m i n e d: ETHIOPIA: Wachile env., 4°32'N 39°03'E, 1070 m, 22.05.2015, 1♀, J. Halada ( BOL) . ISRAEL: Arava Valley , Hazewa, 30°46.88'N 35°14.56'E, 05.05.1995, 1♀, Schmid-Egger, det. Pulawski ( SE) ; Arava Valley , Shizav Nature Reserve, Hazewa, north of water treatment plant, low sandy hummocks in small wadi, - 80 m, 30°06.41'N 35°15.37'E, 31.03.1995, 13, 03.04.1995, 1♀, Irwin, det. Pulawski (JA, SE) ; En Gedi , 18.06.1965, 1♀, Schlaefle (WS) ; Nizzana 10 km N, 30.944°N 34.401°E, 02.05.2019, M. 13, 1♀, Halada . OMAN: Jamma , Mansur 2 km N, 23.521N 57.553E, 16.03.2022, 1♀, M. Halada ( SE) .

D e s c r i p t i o n: 3. 8 mm. Habitus lateral see Fig. 37 . Head and mesosoma black. Metasomal segments I-III red, sternum II with large black spot, apical segments black. Mandible black, mesally reddish. Coxae and trochanters black, femora black with red apex, tibiae and tarsi red. Clypeus and frons densely punctate, with long and dense setation masking the surface. Middle clypeal lobe distinctly protruding beyond lateral lobe, anterior margin straight. Lower margin of mandible simple. Gena behind eyes smooth and shiny, asetose; remaining surface densely and shallowly punctate, with long white setae. Antennomeres I-II on inner side with white setae, III about 4× as long as apically wide; V-IX in profile nearly straight, maximal diameter apically (Fig. 30); tyloids carinate, with apical tubercle. Mesoscutum, mesoscutellum and mesopleuron very densely punctate, with dense pubescence partly masking the surface ( Fig. 37 ). Propodeal dorsum reticulate, glabrous. Declivity and lateral surface of propodeum very densely punctate, with long white setae. Metasomal terga dull, with microsculpture, I and anterolateral parts of II with long white setae. Sterna I-III with long white setae, hairbrush beginning on sternum III, consisting of long appressed setae, shorter than those of II. Mid- and hindcoxae unmodified. Coxae, trochanters and femora with long white setae, longest ventral setae of hindfemur at least about as long as maximal femur diameter. Forewing hyaline, marginal cell about 3× as long as wide.

♀. 8-9 mm. Head and mesosoma black. Metasoma red. Antennomeres I red, II and base of III brown, with white setae. Mandible yellow with dark brown apex. Clypeal lamella brown, anterior margin straight. Legs red, except black coxae. Face, frons and area between posterior ocelli densely punctate. Vertex with scattered punctures. Face with dense white pubescence masking the sculpture. Head behind eyes strongly narrowed, outer orbit smooth and shiny, without setae; gena with shallow punctures and white setae. Antennomere III about as 4× as long as apically wide. Pronotal collar densely punctate, dull. Mesoscutum densely and finely punctate, posteromedian with smooth and shiny spot. Mesoscutellum smooth and shiny, densely punctate laterally and posteriorly. Mesopleuron dull, densely wrinkled. Mesosoma except propodeal dorsum with dense and long whitish pubescence. Propodeal dorsum glabrous, densely and finely reticulate; declivity and lateral surface wrinkled, the latter with oblique striae. Metasoma with long white setae. Pygidial plate finely granulate, lateral margin straight. Femora with long white setae; longest ventral setae of hindfemur longer than maximal femur diameter. Forebasitarsus with four rake spines; ventrally with spines evenly prolonged to the apex of spine row. Forewing with light brownish tinge, with brown spot outside veins, marginal cell about 1.5× as long as wide.

D i s t r i b u t i o n: Middle East: Israel, United Arab Emirates, Oman. Africa: Ethiopia. South Asia: India: Gujarat (type locality).

Figures

Figs 37-46. Fig. 37: A. selecta J: habitus lateral. Fig. 38: A. quettae J: mesopleuron. Fig. 39: A. radialis J: metasoma lateral. Figs 40-41: A. minor J: (40) middle antennomeres, (41) tyloids. Figs 42-43: A. bulbosa nov.sp. J: (42) middle antennomeres, (43) tyloids. Figs 44-45: A. cobosi J: (44) middle antennomeres, (45) tyloids. Fig. 46: A. lusitanica J: antenna.