Astata affinis VANDER LINDEN, 1829

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 : 85-87

Astata affinis VANDER LINDEN, 1829

Astata affinis VAN DER LINDEN, 1829: 28 , 3. Holotype 3, Spain, no specific locality (IRSN).

Astata jerichoensis PULAWSKI, 1957: 82 , ♀. Holotype ♀, Israel, Jericho (NHMW).

Astata affinis ariadne PULAWSKI, 1959: 365, ♀. Holotype ♀, Greece, Crete, Candia ( NHMW).

Astata affinis jerichoensis PULAWSKI, 1957: 82 . BEAUMONT, 1965: 44 stat. nov.

M a t e r i a l e x a m i n e d: GREECE: Altkorinth , 24.05.1964, 13, Aigner ( BOL) ; Amopi, Karpathos , 04.06.2004, 1♀ Tkalcu ( BOL) ; Crete, S Astrousia Ori, SW of Vasiliki , 06.06.2017, 13, J. Halada ( BOL) ; Lefkos / Karpathos , 200 m, 24.06.2012, 233, Tiefenthaler ( BOL, JA) ; Myrtos , Creta, 02- 04.06.1990, 1♀ Kudrna ( BOL) ; Marmaras N, Westseite Sitonia , 20.07.2001, 1♀, Kwast ( LI) ; Omalos , Kreta occ., 1000 m, 22.06.2002, 1♀, Tkalcu ( BOL) ; Othos / Karpathos , 520 m, 35°32'N 27°09'E, 17.06.2012, 1♀, Tiefenthaler ( BOL) ; Saloniki , 06.1960, 1♀, Schlaefle (WS) ; Samos , 06.1999, 2♀♀, Schlaefle (WS, JA) ; Samos W Kokkari, 15.06.1994, 1♀, Degen ( SE) . IRAN: Golestan, Minudasht 70 km E, 37°26'N 55°99'E, 12.06.2010, 13, Mi. Halada ( BOL) . ITALY: Gargano, Nattinata , 19.06.1992, 1♀, Plicek ( BOL) . KAZAKHSTAN: Bayaldyr 5 km N, 590 m, 43°35'02''N 66°30'34''E, 25.05.2016, 13, J. Halada ( BOL) ; Djambul 10 km E, 31.05.1994, 1♀, Ma. Halada ( BOL) ; Dzambul, Karatau, prysmyk Ujuk , 1000 m, 03.06.1980, 2♀♀, Padr ( BOL) ; Kuyuk 40 km SW Djambul, 01.07.1992, 13, M. Halada ( BOL) ; Lepsi 6 km SE, 08.06.1992, 1♀, Jirousek ( BOL) ; Makbal, Dzambul env. 60 km, Kirgis. chrebet, 04.06.1960, 13, Padr ( BOL) ; Panfilow 40 km W, 1200 m, 44°14'N 79°28'E, 08.06.2001, 1♀, Hauser (JA) ; Usturt plat., Beyneu-Aktau road, 05.2000, 13, J. Miatleuski ( BOL) . KYRGYZSTAN: Izkeshtam, Nuza riv., 07.2000, 13, V. Gurko ( BOL) ; Taldi-Bulag 90 km E Talas, 05.07.1992, 13, M. Halada ( BOL) ; Tash-Arik 11 km E Talash, 04.07.1992, 13, 3♀♀, M. Halada ( BOL, JA) ; Tchon-Aryk, Kirghizskyi Mts. , 900 m, 11.07.2001, 1♀, V. Gurko ( BOL) ; Urumbash riv. E, Fergansky Mt. R., 06.2000, 433, V. Gurko ( BOL, JA) . MOROCCO: Anti-Atlas SO Agadir, SO Ait Baha , 25.05.1995, 1♀, Hauser ( SE) ; Anti-Atlas, 50 km NW Tafraoute, Bachbett bei Ait Baha , 25.05.1995, 1♀, Brechtel ( SE) . SPAIN: Madrid env. Helin erial, 06.1991, 13, Anonym ( BOL) ; Murcia, Cartagena 25 km SW, 12.05.2003, 13, J. Halada ( BOL) . TURKMENISTAN: Aschabad env., 15.05.1993, 13, M. Halada ( BOL) ; Aschabad env., 10.06.1993, 13, M. Halada ( BOL) . TÜRKIYE: Anomu , 06.1993, 1♀, Schlaefle (WS) ; Gümüshane, 1200 m, 12.07.1985, 1♀, M. Schwarz ( BOL) ; Halfeti, Birecik , 31.05.1998, 1♀, Ma. Halada ( BOL) ; Mut , 21.06.1969, 1♀, J. Schmidt ( BOL) ; Refahye , Erzincan, 2200 m, 23.08.1991, 1♀, M. Halada ( BOL) ; Silifke , 26.05.2001, 13, Snižek ( BOL) ; Ulukisla , 16.06.1998, 13, Ma. Halada ( BOL) ; Zelve , Nevsehir, 12.07.1997, 1♀, Ma. Halada ( BOL) . UZBEKISTAN: Darbaza 40 km N Tachkent, 30.05.1994, 13 Ma. Halada ( BOL) .

M e l a n i s t i c v a r i a n t: IRAN: Azer e Shabestar, Sis 10 km E Shabestar, 38°26'N 45°86'E, 1540 m, 19.06.2010, 2♀♀, Mi. Halada, ( BOL) ; Qom, 34°38'N 50°52'E, 05.2004, 1♀, H. Ghahari ( JIAU) . ISRAEL: 10 km E Kiryat Gat , 31.597°N 34.837°E, 13.05.2019, 2♀♀, M. Halada ( BOL, JA) . JORDAN: Shuna env., 29- 30.04.1996, 233, 1♀, Mi. Halada ( BOL) ; S of At Tafila, 12.05.2010, 1♀, Snižek ( BOL) ; Jordan Valley S Shuna , 25- 26.04.1996, 1♀, Ma. Halada ( BOL) ; Jordan Valley, Dayr Alla , 27.04.1996, 1♀, Mi. Halada ( BOL) ; Jordan Valley, Mubalath , 27.04.1996, 2♀♀, Ma. Halada ( BOL) . SYRIA: Maloulla , 05.06.2006, 1♀, Schlaefle (WS) ; Dibbin 30 km S Suwayda, 15- 17.05.1996, 233, Mi. Halada ( BOL) ; Kafr, Suwayda , 21.06.2000, 1♀, M. Halada ( BOL) ; Homs 50 km S, 24.05.1996, 1♀, Ma. Halada ( BOL) . TÜRKIYE: Adyaman, Gölbas , 21.06.1985, 1♀, M. Schwarz ( BOL) ; Gaziantep 30 km NW, 2001, 13, Snižek ( BOL) ; Hakkari, Gözeldere 25 km E, 930 m, 37°32'N 43°49'E, 22.06.2010, 333, Mi. Halada ( BOL) ; Kahraman Maras 40 km SE, 10.06.1998, 1♀, Ma. Halada ( BOL) ; Halfeti , 37.12,75'N 37.52,88'E, 400-500 m, 12.06.2000, 1♀, M. & O. Niehuis, det. Pulawski ; Urfa, 02.06.1968, 1♀, K. Kusdas ( BOL) .

D e s c r i p t i o n:3. 9-14 mm. Head and mesosoma black. Metasomal tergum I red with black basal spot, II red, III red with more or less extended black posterior margin, IV-VII black. Sterna I-II red with large black spots, remaining sterna black. Melanistic variant: Metasoma completely black, terga I-II with more or less reddish shimmer. Mandible, antenna and legs black; mandible sometimes reddish mesally. Clypeus densely punctate; middle clypeal lobe distinctly protruding beyond lateral lobe, anterior margin straight. Face and frons with appressed white setae. Lower margin of mandible with small angle. Gena densely punctate, with long white setae. Antennomere III about 3.5-4.0×, VI about 3× as long as apically wide. Antennomeres V-XI nearly cylindrical or slightly convex in profile (Fig. 15); with inconspicuous carinate tyloids, sometimes basally and distally slightly pale, but without distinct pale tubercles (Fig. 16). Pronotal collar densely punctate. Mesoscutum densely punctate, posteromedian with smooth and shiny spot, anterior surface with appressed white setae, especially in front of wing insertion. Mesopleuron dull, densely punctate, ventrally smooth and shiny with scattered punctures; prepectus and epimeron strongly reticulate, with white setae. Mesoscutellum smooth and shiny, laterally and distally densely punctate. Thorax with short white setae. Propodeal dorsum glabrous, strongly reticulate; lateral surface and declivity rugose-punctate, with long white setae. Tergum I dull, with distinct punctures and reticulate microsculpture ( Fig. 57 ), II laterally with scattered punctures. Tergum I, sternum II and posterior margins of sterna III-IV with long white setae. Central setae of metasomal hairbrush short, about one quarter as long as lateral setae, the latter longer than those of sternum II. Coxae and femora with white setae. Longest ventral setae of hindfemur about half as long as maximal diameter of femur. Forewing slightly brownish darkened, marginal cell about 3.5× as long as wide.

♀. 12-16 mm. Head and mesosoma black; mandible black, more or less reddish mesally. Metasomal segments I-II red, III red with black posterior margin; remaining segments black. Melanistic variant: Metasoma completely black, terga I-II with more or less reddish shimmer. Clypeus, frons up to anterior ocellus and area between posterior ocelli densely punctate, interspaces shiny. Clypeal lamella straight. Face with appressed white setae. Vertex and outer orbit smooth and shiny, at most with some isolated punctures. Pronotal collar smooth, with scattered punctures. Mesopleuron including prepectus and epimeron strongly wrinkled, ventral surface densely punctate. Propodeal dorsum glabrous, irregular reticulate, without microsculpture between the rugae. Declivity and posterior part of lateral surface of propodeum reticulate, the latter with smooth anterior area. Stigmal area of propodeum straight or slightly curved. Mesosoma except propodeal dorsum with white setae. Metasomal terga with microsculpture and isolated punctures. Forebasitarsus long, ventral surface with 12-15 undulating spines, fine setae between the spines restricted to the basal third. Midbasitarsus slightly curved, with undulating spines. Coxae, trochanters and femora with black setae; hindfemur on outer side with short black bristles. Longest ventral setae of hindfemur about half as long as maximal femur diameter. Forewing brownish darkened, apical margin darker brown, marginal cell about 3.5× as long as wide.

D i s t r i b u t i o n: Europe: Portugal ( CROSS et al. 2021), Spain, Italy, Greece. Maghreb: Algeria ( BEAUMONT 1950), Morocco. Middle East: Türkiye, Israel ( PULAWSKI 1973), Iran. Central Asia: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan.

M e l a n i s t i c v a r i a n t: Middle East: Azerbaijan: Nakhichevan ( MOKROUSOV et al. 2019), Iran, Israel, Jordan, Syria, Türkiye.

R e m a r k s: It is impossible for me to detect any morphological characters between specimens with red proximal metasomal segments and those with nearly complete black metasoma. Both forms are sympatric in the Middle East (see above). For this reason, the concept of subspecies does not work. Maybe, the black form represents a separate species, but it should be confirmed by genetic investigations. Until then it should be treated as a regional color variant.

Figures

Figs 57-68. Fig. 57: A. affinis J: tergum I. Fig. 58: A. gallica J: metasoma lateral. Fig. 59: A. brevitarsis J: antenna. Fig. 60: A. gobiensis nov.sp. J holotype: middle antennomeres. Figs 61-62: A. jucunda J: (61) middle antennomeres, (62) tyloids. Figs 63-64: A. arabica nov.sp. J paratype: (63) middle antennomeres, (64) tyloids. Figs 65-66: A. iranica nov.sp. J holotype: (65) middle antennomeres, (66) tyloids. Figs 67-68: A. mongolica nov.sp. J paratype: (67) middle antennomeres, (68) tyloids.