Astata nigra F. Smith, 1856

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 : 132-133

publication ID	https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.16956868
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/0394DF04-FFEE-E553-12DF-C2B7FEA5A558
treatment provided by	Felipe
scientific name	Astata nigra F. Smith, 1856
status

Treatment

Astata nigra F. Smith, 1856 View in CoL

Astata unicolor LEPELETIER DE SAINT FARGEAU, 1845: 258 View in CoL , J. Holotype or syntypes, Algeria, Oran (depository unknown), junior primary homonym of Astata unicolor SAY, 1824 View in CoL .

Astata nigra F. SMITH, 1856: 310 View in CoL . Substitute name for Astata unicolor LEPELETIER DE SAINT FARGEAU, 1845 View in CoL .

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 LEPELETIER DE SAINT FARGEAU 1845 and KOHL 1885).

Long 4½ lines (10 mm). Head black, with a few silver setae in front. Antenna black.

Thorax black, with black setae. Propodeal dorsum divided into very small areoles by irregular furrows. Abdomen entirely black dorsally and ventrally, with black setae.

Wings entirely transparent, pterostigma ferruginous; tegula black.

♀. Unknown.

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

Astata picea A. COSTA, 1867 View in CoL stat.rev. Astata picea A. COSTA, 1867: 90 View in CoL , ♀. Holotype ♀, Italy, Sardegna, no specific locality (Torino?).

Astatus carbonarius KOHL, 1885: 437 View in CoL , J. Holotype or syntypes J, France, Corse, no specific locality (NHMW).

Astata picea A. COSTA, 1867: 90 View in CoL . Astata boops picea View in CoL (Beaumont in PULAWSKI 1956: 44) stat. nov.

M a t e r i a l e x a m i n e d: FRANCE: Corse, Porto Pollo , 28.07.1975, 1♀, Perraudin ( BOL) . ITALY: Sardegna, Cagliari , 05- 21.07.1959, 2JJ, 3♀♀, Wolf ( BOL) ; San Nicolao, Tropica , 03.08.1989, 1♀, Temesvary ( SE) ; Sardegna, Domusnovas , 26.08.1982, 2♀♀, Pagliano (JA) ; Sardegna, Orosei env., 50 km E of Nuoro, 27.05.2013, 1♀, J. Halada ( BOL) .

D e s c r i p t i o n: J. 9-11 mm. Black. Legs black, tarsi sometimes brownish. Forewing brownish darkened, apically hyaline, veins and pterostigma dark brown. Mandible black. Face with appressed white setae. Lower margin of mandible with small corner. Clypeus and frons densely punctate, dull. Middle clypeal lobe distinctly protruding beyond lateral lobe (cf. Fig. 6). Gena shiny, punctate, with white setae. Antennomere I with white setae and some black bristles; II with white setae; III about 4- 4.5× as long as apical width, about 1.3-1.4× as long as IV. Antennomeres V-IX(X) in profile concave basally (cf. Fig. 17), with carinate tyloids bearing nearly equal tubercles proximally and distally (cf. Fig. 18). Mesoscutum with white setae, densely punctate except posteromedian smooth spot. Mesopleuron densely punctate, with white and brownish setae. Prepectus and epimeron densely punctate. Mesoscutellum smooth and shiny, lateral and posterior margin densely punctate. Propodeal dorsum glabrous, irregularly reticulate. Lateral surface and declivity densely punctate, with white setae. Metasomal terga I-III with fine microsculpture, without punctures; I with long white erect setae. Lateral setae of metasomal hairbrush brown, about twice as long as those of sternum II. Central setae of metasomal hairbrush short, about a quarter as long as lateral ones, latter at least as long as those of sternum II. Legs unmodified, with greyish setae. Marginal cell long, about 4.0-4.5× as long as wide.

♀. 9-11 mm. Completely black. Mandible black, lower margin simple or with indistinct angle. Anterior margin of clypeal lamella straight. Clypeus, frons and area between posterior ocelli densely punctate (cf. Fig. 108 View Figs 107-112 ). Face and frons with white setae. Vertex, gena and occiput smooth and shiny with very scattered punctures and white setae. Antennomeres I-II on inner side with black bristles; III about 4× as long as apically wide, about 1.2-1.3× as long as IV; VI about 3.0× as long as wide. Pronotal collar dull, densely rugose-punctate. Anterior surface of mesoscutum densely punctate, remaining surface smooth and shiny with very scattered punctures. Mesoscutellum smooth and shiny, densely punctate laterally. Mesopleuron densely punctate with pale brownish setae; prepectus reticulate, epimeron with longitudinal striae. Propodeal dorsum strongly reticulate, dull, glabrous. Lateral surface of propodeum and declivity strongly reticulate, dull, with long greyish setae. Stigmal area of propodeum obtuse-angled. Metasomal terga weakly shiny, tergum I and II with same microsculpture. Sternum II and anterior margin of following sterna with short black setae. Pygidial plate narrowed apically, lateral margin slightly concave (cf. Fig. 81). Legs black; midcoxa with white setae, hindcoxa with white setae and on inner side with black bristles; femora with black setae. Longest ventral setae of hindfemur about as half as long as maximal femur diameter. Forebasitarsus long, with four rake spines; ventral surface with 13-15 undulating spines, fine setae between the spines in the proximal third only (cf. Fig. 81). Midbasitarsus slightly curved, ventrally with undulating spines (cf. Fig. 135 View Figs 131-140 ). Forewing with brownish tinge, with indistinct dark apical spot. Marginal cell about 2.5-2.6× as long as wide.

D i s t r i b u t i o n: Europe: Portugal ( CROSS et al. 2021), Spain ( GAYUBO 1982), France, Italy.

R e m a r k s: Schmid-Egger (personal communication) was able to examine two females of A. picea from Corsica genetically. Their COI barcodes are clearly distinct from that of A. boops . For this reason, the taxon is raised to species rank. This proof is outstanding for specimens from southwestern France and Spain. Their taxonomic status should be clarified genetically, these specimens may represent a different species or a color variant of A. boops . BEAUMONT (1942) mentioned three females from southern France with partly reddish metasomal terga I-II with gray (grise) setation. KOHL (1885) described the male of A. carbonarius from Corse with dark brown mesopleural setae (fusco-nigropilosus).

Kingdom	Animalia
Phylum	Arthropoda
Class	Insecta
Order	Hymenoptera
Family	Crabronidae
Genus	Astata