Astata lubricata NURSE , 1903

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 : 121-122

Astata lubricata NURSE, 1903

Astata lubricata NURSE, 1903: 514 , ♀, 3. Lectotype ♀, India, Gujarat, Deesa (BMNH). Designated by PULAWSKI (1975).

Astata eremita PULAWSKI, 1959: 359 . Holotype 3, Egypt, Gebel Elba (CAS). Synonymized with Astata lubricata by PULAWSKI (1975).

M a t e r i a l e x a m i n e d: IRAN: Fars, Jahrom , 28°30'04''N 53°35'16''E, 1053 m, 25.04.2013, 13, B. Majnon Jahromi ( JIAU) . ISRAEL: 135 km N Elat Iddan , 30°47'N 35°17'E, 08.05.1996, 233, Schmid-Egger, det. Pulawski ( SE) ; Negev, Beer Sheeva 50 km SE, Wadi En Aqrabbim , 30°57'N 35°08'E, 08.05.1996, 1♀, Schmid-Egger, det. Pulawski ( SE) ; Arava Valley, Iddan , wadi running east of date palm orchard, - 110 m, 30°48,93'N 35°16,79'E, 15.05.1995, 13, Irwin, det. Pulawski ( SE) ; Arava Valley, Moshaav Hazewa, Wadi Shahak , between agricultural fields, - 110 m, 30°46.33'N 35°16.32'E, 10.04.1995, 1♀, Irvin, det. Pulawski ( SE) ; En Gedi , 02.06.1965 13, 16.06.1965, 1♀, Schlaefle (WS) . JORDAN: Wadi Rum , 05.05.1996, 13, Ma. Halada ( BOL) . OMAN: Mahda 7 km S, 24.348°N 55.978°E, 17.03.2022, 1♀, M. Halada ( SE) ; Kahal , 8 km NW Mahda, 24.449°N 55.906°E, 18.03.2022, 13, M. Halada ( SE) . PAKISTAN: Turbat, W Balochistan, 19.04.1993, 13, S. Bečvar ( BOL) . UNITED ARAB EMIRATES: Wadi Madhah W Murba , 25°16.22'N 56°15.68'E, 13.03.2008, 13, Hauser, det. Pulawski ( SE) .

D e s c r i p t i o n: 3. 8-9 mm. Head and mesosoma black, pronotal lobe and tegula whitish; metasoma red, apical segments sometimes brownish or blackish darkened, black at the male holotype of A. eremita ( PULAWSKI 1959) . Coxae, trochanters and femora black with white setae and some black bristles, foretibia brown, mid- and hindtibia darker; tarsi brown. Clypeus and frons densely punctate. Face and frons with dense appressed white setation. Middle clypeal lobe distinctly protruding beyond lateral lobe, narrow, about as wide as inner distance between antennal insertions, laterally with small tubercles (Fig. 3). Frons with deep central furrow; in front of anterior ocellus with smooth and shiny spot, about as large as two posterior ocelli together. Lower margin of mandible basally with angle. Gena smooth with shallow punctures and long white setae. Antennomeres V-VIII with carinate tyloids. Mesoscutum densely punctate, posteromedian with smooth and shiny spot. Mesoscutellum densely punctured laterally and basally, the large anteromedian spot smooth and shiny with isolated punctures. Mesopleuron dull, densely and strongly punctate. Propodeal dorsum reticulate; declivity and lateral surface densely rugose-punctate. Mesosoma including propodeal dorsum with long white setae. Metasomal tergum I densely punctate, punctures shallow, bearing white setae; other terga with micropunctures. Hairbrush on terga IV-VI poorly developed, consisting of single short bristles, lateral setae lacking. Forewing hyaline, with apical brown spot.

♀. 8-9 mm. Head and mesosoma including pronotal lobe black; metasoma red, pygidial plate brown. Mandible reddish-yellow with black tip. Legs black, foretibia on inner side and forefemur apically pale brown. Face with white appressed setae. Clypeal lamella with three teeth (cf. Fig. 83). Frons, vertex and gena dull, with shallow punctures, interspaces with dense microsculpture ( Fig. 73 ). Head behind eyes strongly narrowed. Malar space very short, mandible base almost touching the eye margin. Antennomeres III on inner side with dark bristles, III about 4× as long as apically wide. Pronotal collar dull, with fine oblique striae. Anterior third or half of mesoscutum very densely punctate, posterior surface with scattered punctures. Mesoscutellum smooth and shiny, with scattered punctures, laterally and distally densely punctate. Mesopleuron dull, reticulate (Fig. 75), ventrally with stiff black backwards directed bristles. Dorsal and lateral surface of propodeum reticulate, declivity rugose-punctate; lateral surface anteriorly with smooth and micropunctate area. Stigmal area of propodeum straight. Mesosoma except ventral surface of mesopleuron with short white setae. Metasomal sternum II and anterior margin of following sterna with short black bristles. Forebasitarsus with four rake spines; ventral surface with about nine spines continuously prolonged to the apex and with fine setae over its entire length. Midbasitarsus ventrally with spines continuously prolonged to the apex. Forewing hyaline with brown apical spot. Marginal cell about 2.0-2.5× as long as wide.

D i s t r i b u t i o n: North Africa: Ethiopia (JACOBS 2023). Middle East: Egypt (type locality of A. eremita ), Jordan, Oman, United Arab Emirates, Iran. South Asia: India (type locality of A. lubricata ), Pakistan.

Figures

Figs 69-74. Fig. 69: A. iranica nov.sp. J holotype: tergum I. Figs 70-72: mesopleuron J: (70) A. arabica nov.sp. holotype, (71) A. gobiensis nov.sp. holotype, (72) A. mongolica nov.sp. paratype. Figs 73-74: frons ♀: (73) A. lubricata, (74) A. miegii.