Astata moralesi GINER MARÍ, 1945

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 : 132

Astata moralesi GINER MARÍ, 1945

Astata moralesi Giner Marí, 1945: 232 , J. Holotype J, Morocco, Western Sahara, Amuiserat (Mus. Barcelona).

M a t e r i a l e x a m i n e d:nomaterialexamined.

D e s c r i p t i o n: J (after GINER MARÍ 1945 and PULAWSKI 1959). 9.5 mm. Black with predominantly red sterna I-II. Coxae, trochanters black, femora black with red tip, tibiae and tarsi ferruginous. Tegula brown. Forewing with yellowish tinge, apical margin hyaline. Head as broad as thorax, frontal outline circular. Antennomere III longer than 4× as apically wide, narrowed basally, somewhat longer than IV. Anterior margin of middle clypeal lobe straight. Mesoscutum shiny, with distinct punctures like A. massiliensis , sparse on posterior surface. Mesoscutellum without central furrow, strongly shiny, punctate, with smooth posteromedian spot. Mesopleuron with indistinct defined oblique striae. Propodeum similarly sculptured, but reticulation finer. Terminal tergum apically rounded, completely coarsely sculptured. Sterna IV-VI with numerous short yellowish bristles. Forewing marginal cell 2.5× as long as submarginal cells II-III together, anteriorly about as long as pterostigma. Face with rich white setation, on thorax likewise long but less dense, short on metasomal terga, but long on sterna.

♀. Unknown.

D i s t r i b u t i o n: Maghreb: Morocco (type locality).

R e m a r k s After PULAWSKI (1959) it is very similar to A. cleopatra , but middle antennomeres are longer (how much?) and the mesoscutum is somewhat denser punctate. Mandible, midcoxa, hindtrochanter and sterna are similar to A. cleopatra . The taxonomic status of A. moralesi requires further investigations.