Research Article |
Corresponding author: Maxim Yu. Proshchalykin ( proshchalikin@biosoil.ru ) Academic editor: Michael S. Engel
© 2019 Yulia V. Astafurova, Maxim Yu. Proshchalykin, Maximilian Schwarz.
This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY 4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
Citation:
Astafurova YV, Proshchalykin MYu, Schwarz M (2019) The distribution of the genus Sphecodes Latreille (Hymenoptera, Halictidae) of the Arabian Peninsula and surrounding countries with description of hitherto unknown female of S. atlanticus Warncke, 1992 and male of S. dathei Schwarz, 2010. ZooKeys 872: 13-40. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.872.35361
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This study summarises all available information on the bees of the genus Sphecodes in the Arabian Peninsula and surrounding countries (Israel, Jordan, and Syria). Twenty-six species are currently known from this area, while five species are newly recorded from the Arabian Peninsula: Sphecodes atlanticus Warncke, 1992 (Saudi Arabia, Yemen), S. intermedius Blüthgen, 1923 (UAE), S. nomioidis Pesenko, 1979 (UAE, Oman), S. puncticeps Thomson, 1870 (Saudi Arabia), and S. turanicus Astafurova & Proshchalykin, 2017 (Saudi Arabia). In addition, twelve species are newly recorded from Jordan, six for Syria, and four for Israel. The female of S. atlanticus Warncke, 1992 and the male of S. dathei Schwarz, 2010 are here described for the first time and a lectotype is designated for S. intermedius Blüthgen, 1923.
Anthophila, Apiformes, cleptoparasites, fauna, lectotype, taxonomy
The present paper is part of a series of studies dealing with the bees of the genus Sphecodes of the territory of the Palaearctic region (
For a long time, the Arabian bee fauna has been one of the lesser sampled faunas of the world. But in recent years significant progress has been made towards a better knowledge of the bees from the Arabian Peninsula, in particular regarding the family Halictidae (
Probably the first information on the genus Sphecodes Latreille from the Arabian Peninsula and its adjacent lands was published by Lepeletier de Saint Fargeau (
Checklist of the Sphecodes species of the Arabian Peninsula and surrounding lands including distribution by countries.
Species | Arabian Peninsula | surrounding lands | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
UAE | Oman | Qatar | Saudi Arabia | Yemen | Lebanon | Israel | Jordan | Syria | ||
1 | S. alternatus Smith | ○● | ● | ○ | ||||||
2 | S. atlanticus Warncke | ● | ● | |||||||
3 | S. barbatus Blüthgen | ● | ||||||||
4 | S. dathei Schwarz | ○● | ● | ● | ||||||
5 | S. dusmeti Blüthgen | ○ | ||||||||
6 | S. ephippius (Linnaeus) | ○ | ○ | |||||||
7 | S. gibbus (Linnaeus) | ○● | ● | |||||||
8 | S. intermedius Blüthgen | ● | ○● | ● | ||||||
9 | S. longuloides Blüthgen | ○ | ||||||||
10 | S. longulus Hagens | ● | ○● | ○● | ||||||
11 | S. majalis Pérez | ● | ||||||||
12 | S. marginatus Hagens | ○ | ● | ● | ||||||
13 | S. monilicornis (Kirby) | ○ | ○● | ● | ||||||
14 | S. nomioidis Pesenko | ● | ● | ○ | ||||||
15 | S. olivieri Lepeletier | ○● | ● | ○ | ● | ○● | ● | |||
16 | S. pellucidus Smith | ● | ● | |||||||
17 | S. pinguiculus Pérez | ○ | ● | ● | ○● | ● | ||||
18 | S. puncticeps Thomson | ● | ○● | ● | ● | |||||
19 | S. rubicundus Hagens | ● | ||||||||
20 | S. rubripes Spinola | ○ | ● | ○ | ||||||
21 | S. ruficrus (Erichson) | ○ | ● | |||||||
22 | S. rufiventris (Panzer) | ○ | ● | |||||||
23 | S. tadschicus Blüthgen | ● | ||||||||
24 | S. turanicus Astafurova & Proshchalykin | ● | ||||||||
25 | S. schenckii Hagens | ○ | ● | ● | ||||||
26 | S. villosulus Schwarz | ○● | ● | |||||||
Total: | 9 | 4 | 1 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 16 | 15 | 9 | |
12 | 20 |
Based on a comprehensive study of specimens in various collections, we here list 23 species of the genus Sphecodes, with five species recorded from the Arabian Peninsula for the first time. Additionally, twelve species are newly recorded from Jordan, six species newly recorded from Syria, and four species newly recorded from Israel. The female of S. atlanticus Warncke, 1992 and the male of S. dathei Schwarz, 2010 are here described for the first time and a lectotype is designated for S. intermedius Blüthgen, 1923.
The results presented in this paper are based on 235 specimens collected in the Arabian Peninsula and surrounding territories and currently housed in the Natural History Museum (London, UK,
The taxonomy and distribution of species follows that of
Specimens were studied with a Leica M205A stereomicroscope and photographs taken with a combination of stereomicroscope (Olympus SZX10) and digital camera (Canon EOS70D). Final images are stacked composites using the program Helicon Focus 6. All images were post-processed for contrast and brightness using Adobe Photoshop.
New distributional records are noted with an asterisk (*).
Sphecodes alternatus
Smith, 1853: 36, ♀ (syntypes: ♀♀, Albania;
Sphecodes punctiventris Hagens, 1882; S. gracilior Morawitz, 1893; S. antigae Tournier, 1901; S. reticulatus var. algeriensis Alfken, 1914; S. alternatus lindbergi Pittioni, 1950 (Synonyms).
See
ISRAEL: 1 ♀, Rehovot s.l., 29.IV.1975, K.M. Guichard (
Israel, *Jordan, Syria; North Africa, South and Central Europe, Russia (east to Khakassia Republic), Turkey, Caucasus, Iran, Central Asia, Kazakhstan, NW China.
Sphecodes atlanticus
Warncke, 1992: 25, Abb. 17, ♂ (holotype: ♂, Algeria: Hoggar-Geb., Guelta;
This species is similar to the Trans-Palaearctic Sphecodes scabricollis Wesmael, 1835 owing to the flat genal area, the developed preoccipital lateral carina, the densely punctate head and mesoscutum, the size and shape of male antennal tyloids, and in the similar gonostylar shape. However, S. atlanticus differs from S. scabricollis by a number of characters outlined in Table
Differences between Sphecodes atlanticus Warncke, 1992 and S. scabricollis Wesmael, 1835.
Characters | Sphecodes atlanticus | Sphecodes scabricollis |
---|---|---|
Both sexes | ||
Distance from top of head to upper margin of lateral ocellus as seen in frontal and dorsal views | about one lateral ocellar diameters (Fig. |
about two lateral ocellar diameters (Fig. |
Propodeal triangle/metaposnotum | equal (in female) or longer (in male) than mesoscutellum (Figs |
distinctly shorter than mesoscutellum (Figs |
Metasomal terga | with coarser and denser punctures (Fig. |
with fine and sparser punctures, especially on T1 (Fig. |
Male | ||
Mesoscutum | punctures separated by at most 1.5–2.0 puncture diameters; polished between punctures (Fig. |
areolate (Fig. |
Genitalia | gonocoxite dorsally with weak impression; gonostylar process longer (Fig. |
gonocoxite dorsally without impression; gonostylar process shorter (Fig. |
Female | ||
Paraocular areas | with dense pubescence obscuring integument (Fig. |
with sparse pubescence not obscuring integument (Fig. |
Total body length 6.5–8.5 mm. Head (Fig.
Mesosoma black; mesoscutum with coarse punctures (25–50 μm) separated by at most a puncture diameter (Fig.
Metasoma (Fig.
SAUDI ARABIA: 6 ♂♂, Wadi Majarish (below Taif), 12.II.1983, K. Guichard (
*Saudi Arabia, *Yemen; Algeria, the Canary Islands.
Sphecodes barbatus Blüthgen, 1923: 497–498, ♀ (holotype: ♀, Turkey, Ak-Chehir; ZSM).
Sphecodes barbatus is very similar to S. majalis. The two species are easily separable in the female, but males are difficult. The female S. barbatus differs from S. majalis by denser, distinctly plumose pubescence on paraocular areas and clypeus (Fig.
SYRIA: 1 ♀, Syria, 40 km NE Damaskus, 22.V.1996, H. Halada (
*Syria; Greece, Turkey.
Sphecodes dathei
Schwarz, 2010: 483–486, ♀, plates 1–12 (holotype: ♀, United Arab Emirates, Wadi Shawkah, 25°06'N, 56°02'E, 9–24.VI.2007, in water trap, A. van Harten leg.;
The species is similar to Sphecodes crassus Thomson, 1870 owing to the wide female metafemur (strongly enlarged in the basal half); strongly transverse female head; sparsely punctate mesoscutum in both sexes, weakly developed male antennal tyloids (usually covering less than 1/3 of ventral flagellar surfaces). The female of Sphecodes dathei differs from S. crassus by dense, apressed, snow-white, plumose pubescence obscuring integument in paraocular areas (sparse, simple pubescence not obscuring integument in S. crassus); the male differs by densely and relatively coarsely punctate T1 (in S. crassus T1 usually with a few fine punctures, rarely with relatively coarse and dense punctures). Both species have similar gonostylar shape, but S. dathei has a narrower, trapezoidal membranous portion of the gonostylus (wider, close to oval in S. crassus, Fig.
Total body length 5.0–6.5 mm. Head (Fig.
Mesosoma (Fig.
Metasomal T1–T3 red (T1 black basally, T3 – apically); tergal discs (Fig.
SAUDI ARABIA: 1 ♀, Wadi Majarish, 800 m, 12.II.1983, K. Guichard (
United Arab Emirates, *Saudi Arabia, *Yemen.
Sphex gibba
Linnaeus, 1758: 571, ♀ (syntypes: ♀♀, Sweden;
Apis glabra Füessly, 1775; Andrena ferruginea Olivier, 1789; Apis gibbosa Christ, 1791; Melitta sphecoides Kirby, 1802; M. picea Kirby, 1802; Andrena austriacaFabricius, 1804; Dichora analis Illiger, 1806; Sphecodes apicatus Smith, 1853; S. nigripennis Morawitz, 1876; S. sutor Nurse, 1903; S. gibbus var. rufispinosus Meyer, 1920; S. g. var. turkestanicus Meyer, 1920; S. castilianus Blüthgen, 1924; S. pergibbus Blüthgen, 1938; S. lustrans Cockerell, 1931; S. angarensis Cockerell, 1937 (Synonyms).
See
JORDAN: 1 ♀, Jordan Valey, Dayr Alla, 27.IV.1996, M. Halada (
Israel, *Jordan; North Africa, Europe (north to 63°), Russia (east to Yakutia), Turkey, Iran, Pakistan, Central Asia, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, NW China, India.
Sphecodes intermedius
Blüthgen, 1923: 500 (lectotype (designated here): ♂, Type <red label> // Caucas Portz // Sph. intermedius ♂, Type., P. Blüthgen det. // <blue circle> // Lectotypus, Sphecodes intermedius Blüthgen, 1923, ♂, des. Astafurova & Proshchalykin, 2018; paralectotype: ♀, Type <red label> Sph. intermedius ♀, Type, P. Blüthgen det. // Paralectotypus, Sphecodes intermedius Blüthgen, 1923, ♀, des. Astafurova & Proshchalykin, 2018;
Sphecodes lactipennis Meyer, 1925 (Synonym).
See
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES: 1 ♂, Hatta (Hotel), 28. IV.1989, (
*United Arab Emirates, Israel, *Jordan; North Africa, South Europe (east to Ukraine), Russia (south of the European part, Urals), Caucasus, Turkey, Kazakhstan, Central Asia, Pakistan, China (Gansu).
Sphecodes intermedius Blüthgen, 1923 was described from specimens of both sexes collected in “Caucas” [Caucasus] (Fig.
Sphecodes longulus
Hagens, 1882: 226, Fig.
Sphecodes longulus var. eupidus Hagens, 1882; S. nitidulus Hagens, 1882; S. subfasciatus Blüthgen, 1934; S. amakusensis Yasumatsu & Hirashima, 1951; S. sabulosus Tsuneki, 1983; S. crassicornis Tsuneki, 1983; S. tsunekii Haneda, 1994 (Synonyms).
See
JORDAN: 1 ♀, 30 km N Tafila, 2.V.1996, M. Halada (
*Israel, Jordan, Syria; Europe (north to Finland, Sweden, Denmark, England), Russia (east to Far East), Turkey, Iran, Central Asia, Kazakhstan, China, Japan.
Sphecodes majalis
Pérez, 1903: 219, ♀, ♂, (syntypes: ♀, ♂, France, Spain;
Sphecodes gracilior Pérez, 1903; S. opacifrons Pérez, 1903; S. problematicus Schulz, 1906 (Synonyms).
Refer to the diagnosis S. barbarus, above.
JORDAN: 35 ♀ ♀, 5 ♂♂, 10 km N Petra, 3.V.1996, M. Halada (
*Jordan; North Africa, South Europe, Russia (south of the European part), Turkey, Iran.
Sphecodes marginatus
Hagens, 1882: 223, Fig.
Sphecodes atratus Hagens, 1882; S. nigritulus Hagens, 1882; S. biskrensis Pérez, 1903 (Synonyms).
This species belongs to the miniatus species group (S. creticus Warncke, 1992, S. haladai Warncke, 1992, S. larochei Warncke, 1992, S. marginatus Hagens, 1882, S. miniatus Hagens, 1882, S. nomioidis Pesenko, 1979, S. schawrzi Astafurova & Proshchalykin, 2014, and S. sandykachis Astafurova & Proshchalykin, 2018), with the same length and transverse F1–F3 in females. Among species of this group S. marginatus is most close to S. miniatus and S. nomioidis as they have a similar sculpture and structure of the body. Hence females of the three species are challenging to distinguish, but the male differs from the other two species by smaller triangular gonostylus. Differences between these three species are outlined by
ISRAEL: 1 ♀, 1 ♂, Jerusalim, 18.VI.1930; 1 ♂, idem, 10.VI.1931, S. Bodenheimer [det. Blüthgen] (MNHB); JORDAN: 1 ♀, W Jordan Valey, Mubalath, 27.IV.1996, M.Halada (
United Arab Emirates, *Israel, *Jordan; North Africa, Europe (north to Germany and Denmark, east to Belarus).
Melitta monilicornis
Kirby, 1802: 47, ♂ (syntypes: ♂♂, England,
Sphecodes maculatus Lepeletier de Saint Fargeau, 1841; S. subquadratus Smith, 1845; S. ruficrus Dalla Torre, 1896; S. hanuman Nurse, 1903; S. monilicornis var. nigerrima Blüthgen, 1927; S. caucasicus Meyer, 1920; S. cephalotes Meyer, 1920; S. smyrnensis Meyer, 1920; S. monilicornis quadratus Meyer, 1920; S. monilicornis berberus Warncke, 1992; S. quadratus cephalotiformis Pittoni, 1950 (Synonyms).
See
SYRIA: 1 ♀, 50 km W Homs, 12.V.1996, M. Halada (
Jordan, *Syria; North Africa, Europe (north to 64°), Russia (east to Far East), Caucasus, Turkey, Iran, Pakistan, Central Asia, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, China.
Sphecodes nomioidis
Pesenko, 1979: 860, ♀ (holotype: ♀, Ukraine: Donetsk Province, Yenaktsevo, 10.VIII.1978, V. Radchenko leg.;
Refer to diagnosis for S. marginatus, above.
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES: 4 ♂♂, Hatta, 14.IV.1990, I. Hamer (
*United Arab Emirates, *Oman, Jordan; South and Central Europe (west to Austria), Ukraine, Russia (SW of the European part), Turkey.
Sphecodes olivieri Lepeletier de Saint Fargeau in Lepeletier de Saint Fargeau and Audinet-Serville, 1825: 448, ♂ (syntypes: ♂♂, ‘Arabie’).
Sphecodes collaris Spinola, 1843; S. hispanicus var. abyssinicus Sichel, 1865; S. ruficornis Sichel, 1865; S. punctulatus Sichel, 1865; S. subpunctulatus Sichel, 1865; S. rufithorax Morawitz, 1876; S. verticalis Hagens, 1882; S. desertus Nurse, 1903; S. chionospilus Cockerell, 1911; S. chionospilus var. sanguinatus Cockerell, 1911; S. tenuis Meyer, 1920; S. olivieri var. niveatus Meyer, 1925 (Synonyms).
See
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES, 1 ♂, Digdaga, 8.VIII.1984, J.N. Brown [D. Baker det, 92] (
ISRAEL, 1 ♂, Ein Bokek Zohar, 350 m, 25.V.1975, K.M. Guichard (
Lepeletier de Saint Fargeau 1825: 448 (‘Arabie’);
United Arab Emirates, *Oman, Qatar, *Saudi Arabia, Israel, *Jordan; North Africa, South Europe, Russia (South of European part), Turkey, Caucasus, Iran, Pakistan, Central Asia, Kazakhstan, NW China.
Sphecodes pellucidus
Smith, 1845: 1014, ♀, ♂ (syntypes: ♀♀, ♂♂, England;
Sphecodes pilifrons Thomson, 1870; S. brevicornis Hagens, 1874; S. volatilis Smith, 1879; S. pellucidus var. algirus Alfken, 1914; S. pellucidus var. hybridus Blüthgen, 1924; S. pellucidus var. niveipennis Meyer, 1925 (Synonyms).
See
SYRIA: 1 ♀, 30 km N Dara, Nawa, 18.V.1996, M. Halada (
*Jordan, *Syria; North Africa, Europe (north to 66°), Russia (east to Far East), Turkey, Iran, Central Asia, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, China.
Sphecodes pinguiculus
Pérez, 1903: CCXX, ♀ (syntypes: ♀♀, Spain: Catalonia;
Sphecodes sareptensis Meyer, 1922; S. excellens Meyer, 1922; S. punctatissimus Meyer, 1922; S. hungaricus Blüthgen, 1923; S. coelebs Blüthgen, 1923; S. consobrinus Blüthgen, 1923; S. persicus Blüthgen, 1924; S. capverdensis Pauly & La Roche, 2002 (Synonyms).
See
SYRIA: 1 ♂, 80 km E Palmira, 450 m, 22.IV.1992, K. Warncke (OÖLM); SAUDI ARABIA, 1 ♀, Hofut, 145 m, 21–6.IV.1980, K. Guichard (
ISRAEL: 1 ♂, Tel-Aviv, 22.IV.1966, Bytinski-Salz (
United Arab Emirates, *Oman, *Saudi Arabia, Israel, *Syria; Cape Verde Islands, North Africa, South Europe, Russia (east to Buryatia), Turkey, Iran, Central Asia, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, North China.
Sphecodes puncticeps
Thomson, 1870: 99, ♀, ♂ (syntypes: ♀♀, ♂♂, Sweden;
Sphecodes bituberculatus Pérez, 1903; S. opacifrons Pérez, 1903; S. puncticeps var. cretanus Strand, 1921 (Synonyms).
See
SAUDI ARABIA: 1 ♂, Riyadh area, 16–21.IV.1980, K.M. Guichard (
*Saudi Arabia, Israel, *Jordan, *Syria; North Africa, Europe (north to Finland and Sweden), Russia (east to Far East), Turkey, Iran, Central Asia, Kazakhstan, Mongolia.
Sphecodes rubicundus Hagens, 1875: 318 (syntypes: ♂♂, ♀♀, Germany; ? Dominican monastery, Venlo, Nederland).
Sphecodes rubicundus altisilesiacus Torka, 1927 (Synonyms).
The female of this species as well as S. ruficrus is most close to S. pellucidus and S. ephippius owing to a densely punctate head and mesosoma, relative wide pygidial plate and impunctate T1, but differs by having a distinctly elevated vertex with the distance between vertex and upper margin of lateral ocellus at least a lateral ocellar diameter as seen in frontal view (versus 0.2–0.5). S. rubicundus differs from S. ruficrus by white pubescence of head and mesosoma (with brown setae in S. ruficrus) and a less curved basal (M) vein in hind wing. The male most closely resembles S. pesenkoi Astafurova & Proshchalykin, 2018 and S. ruficrus (Erichson, 1835) owing to a similar gonostylar shape (elongate, spoon-shaped). The male of S. rubicundus differs from S. pesenkoi by an areolate mesoscutum (versus punctures separated by 1–3 puncture diameters) and coarsely and densely punctate T1 (a few fine punctures in S. pesenkoi).
According to the phylogenetic analysis (
ISRAEL, 2 ♂♂, Jerusalem, 800 m, 20.III.1975, K.M. Guichard (
*Israel; Europe (north to 56°), Russia (south of the European part), Turkey, Caucasus, Iran.
Sphecodes rubripes
Spinola, 1839: 512, ♀ (syntypes: ♀♀, Cyprus;
Sphecodes africanus Lepeletier, 1841; S. rufipennis Cockerell, 1931, S. atrescens Cockerell, 1931 (Synonyms).
The female of S. rubripes differs from S. albilabris by the pubescence of paraocular area (Fig.
JORDAN: 1 ♀, 10 km N Petra, 3.V.1996, M. Halada (
*Jordan, Israel, Syria; North Africa, South-Western Europe, Cyprus.
Mayer (1924) and later
Dichroa ruficrus Erichson, 1835: 101, ♀, (syntypes: ♀♀, Spain; ZMHB).
Sphecodes hispanicus Wesmael, 1836; S. rufipes Smith, 1853; S. gibbus var. tunetanus Gribodo, 1894; S. atrohirtus Pérez, 1903 (Synonyms).
Refer to diagnosis for S. rubicundus, above.
JORDAN: 1 ♀, W Jordan Valley, env. of S. Shuna, 17.IV.1996, M. Halada (
Israel, *Jordan; North Africa, southwestern Europe.
Russia is mistakenly listed as within the distribution by
Tiphia rufiventris Panzer, 1798: 4, ♀ (syntypes: ♀♀, Germany; ZMHB).
Sphecodes subovalis Schenck, 1853; S. brevis Hagens, 1875; S. singularis Meyer, 1920; S. combinatus Blüthgen, 1927; S. subovalis austrinus Erlandsson, 1979; S. rufiventris hethiticus Warncke, 1992 (Synonyms).
See
JORDAN: 1 ♂, W Jordan Valey, Mubalath, 27.IV.1996, M. Halada (
Israel, *Jordan; North Africa, Europe, (north to 57°), Russia (east to Khakassia Republic), Turkey, Iran, Central Asia, Kazakhstan.
Sphecodes schenckii
Hagens, 1882: 217, ♂ (holotype: ♂, no locality, Rudow leg. [see
Sphecodes sulcicollis Pérez, 1903; S. caspicus Meyer, 1920 (Synonyms).
See
JORDAN: 1 ♂, NW Ajlun, 850 m, 20.V.2007, Z. Kejval (
Israel, *Jordan, *Syria; Europe (north to Germany), Russia (European part), Turkey, Caucasus, ? Iran.
Sphecodes tadschicus
Blüthgen in Popov, 1935: 366, ♂, ♀ (holotype: ♂, near Kulab [Tajikistan], 25.VII.1935, V. Popov leg.;
See
ISRAEL: 1 ♀, 8 ♂♂, Jerusalem, 10–25.VIII.1960, Bytinski (MNHB).
*Israel; Turkey, Iran, Central Asia, Kazakhstan.
Sphecodes turanicus
Astafurova & Proshchalykin, 2017b: 274, ♂, ♀ (holotype: ♀, Turkmenistan, Chardzhou, 16.IV.1988, Dialentov leg.;
See
SAUDI ARABIA: 1 ♂, Riyadh, El Ha’ir, 16–21.IV.1980, K.M. Guichard (
*Saudi Arabia; Central Asia, Kazakhstan, China (Gansu).
Sphecodes villosulus
Schwarz, 2010: 486–491, ♀, ♂ (holotype: ♀, United Arab Emirates, Dubai, Nakhalai, 28–30.IV.1984, in Malaise trap, E. Sugden leg.;
This species differs from other small Palaearctic species with 5–6 hamuli in the hind wing by having a unique combination of simple mandibles and the male gonocoxite dorsally with an impression. The female is closest to S. armeniacus owing to dense appressed snow-white pubescence obscuring the integument on face, a transverse head and sparsely punctate mesoscutum, but differs from this species by sparser and finer punctate ocello-ocular area (3–5 μm / 2–3 versus 5–10 μm / 1–2) and strongly transverse F3 (almost square in S. armeniacus). The male of S. villosulus recalls S. miniatus in the rectangular gonostylar shape, but clearly differs from this species by the less developed tyloids on the flagellomeres extending to approximately a half of ventral flagellar surfaces (versus those across 4/5).
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES: 1 ♀, 1♂, Abu Dhabi, 30.I.1987, I. Hamer (
United Arab Emirates, *Oman, *Saudi Arabia.
In total, 26 species of Sphecodes are recorded from the Arabian Peninsula and surrounding lands (Israel, Jordan and Syria) (Table
List of Sphecodes species recorded in Arabian Peninsula and surrounding lands (AP+SL), Turkey, Iran, North Africa (Morocco, Algeria, Libya, Tunisia, Egypt) and Central Asia (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan).
Sphecodes species | AP+SL | Turkey | Iran | North Africa | Central Asia | |
1 | S. albilabris (Fabricius, 1793) | – | + | + | + | + |
2 | S. alternatus Smith, 1853 | + | + | + | + | + |
3 | S. anatolicus Warncke, 1992 | – | + | + | – | + |
4 | S. armeniacus Warncke, 1992 | – | + | – | + | + |
5 | S. atlanticus Warncke, 1992 | + | – | – | + | – |
6 | S. atlassa Warncke, 1992 | – | – | – | + | – |
7 | S. barbatus Blüthgen, 1923 | + | + | – | – | – |
8 | S. crassanus Warncke, 1992 | – | + | – | – | + |
9 | S. crassus Thomson, 1870 | – | + | + | + | + |
10 | S. cristatus Hagens, 1882 | – | + | – | – | + |
11 | S. croaticus Meyer, 1922 | – | + | + | + | + |
12 | S. dathei Schwarz, 2010 | + | – | – | – | – |
13 | S. dusmeti Blüthgen, 1924 | + | + | – | + | – |
14 | S. ebmeri Astafurova & Proshchalykin, 2018 | – | – | + | – | – |
15 | S. ephippius (Linné, 1767) | + | + | + | – | + |
16 | S. ferruginatus Hagens, 1882 | – | + | – | – | + |
17 | S. geoffrellus (Kirby, 1802) | – | + | – | + | + |
19 | S. gibbus (Linnaeus, 1758) | + | + | + | + | + |
20 | S. hakkariensis Warncke, 1992 | – | + | – | – | + |
21 | S. haladai Warncke, 1992 | – | – | + | + | + |
22 | S. hyalinatus Hagens, 1882 | – | – | – | – | + |
23 | S. hirtellus Blüthgen, 1923 | – | – | – | + | – |
24 | S. intermedius Blüthgen, 1923 | + | + | – | + | + |
25 | S. longulus Hagens, 1882 | + | + | + | – | + |
27 | S. longuloides Blüthgen, 1923 | + | – | – | + | – |
28 | S. majalis Pérez, 1903 | + | + | + | + | – |
29 | S. marginatus Hagens, 1882 | + | – | – | + | – |
30 | S. monilicornis (Kirby, 1802) | + | + | + | + | + |
31 | S. niger Hagens, 1874 | – | + | – | – | – |
32 | S. nomioidis Pesenko, 1979 | + | + | – | – | – |
33 | S. nurekensis Warncke, 1992 | – | – | – | – | + |
34 | S. olivieri Lepeletier de Saint Fargeau, 1825 | + | + | + | + | + |
35 | S. pectoralis Morawitz, 1876 | – | – | + | – | + |
36 | S. pellucidus Smith, 1845 | + | + | + | + | + |
37 | S. pesenkoi Astafurova & Proshchalykin, 2018 | – | – | – | – | + |
38 | S. pinguiculus Pérez, 1903 | + | + | + | + | + |
39 | S. pseudofasciatus Blüthgen, 1925 | – | + | – | + | – |
40 | S. puncticeps Thomson, 1870 | + | + | + | + | + |
41 | S. reticulatus Thomson, 1870 | – | + | + | – | + |
42 | S. rubicundus Hagens, 1875 | + | + | + | – | – |
43 | S. rubripes Spinola, 1839 | + | – | – | + | – |
44 | S. ruficrus (Erichson, 1835) | + | – | – | + | – |
45 | S. rufiventris (Panzer, 1798) | + | + | + | + | + |
46 | S. sandykachis Astafurova & Proshchalykin, 2018 | – | – | – | – | + |
47 | S. saxicolus Warncke, 1992 | – | – | + | – | + |
48 | S. scabricollis Wesmael, 1835 | – | + | + | – | + |
49 | S. schenckii Hagens, 1882 | + | + | + | – | – |
50 | S. schwarzi Astafurova & Proshchalykin, 2015 | – | – | – | – | + |
51 | S. spinulosus Hagens, 1875 | – | + | + | + | + |
52 | S. tadschicus Blüthgen, 1935 | + | + | + | – | + |
53 | S. trjapitzini Astafurova & Proshchalykin, 2018 | – | – | – | – | + |
54 | S. turanicus Astafurova & Proshchalykin, 2017 | + | – | – | – | + |
55 | S. zangherii Noskiewicz, 1931 | – | + | – | – | – |
56 | S. villosulus Schwarz, 2010 | + | – | – | – | – |
Total: | 26 | 34 | 25 | 26 | 35 |
The Sphecodes fauna of the Arabian Peninsula and surrounding lands is a complex of Mediterranean, Sahara-Gobian, endemic, and species widespread in the Palaearctic region. Eight species, namely S. alternatus, S. ephippius, S. gibbus, S. longulus, S. monilicornis, S. marginatus, S. pellucidus, and S. puncticeps are widespread from north to south of the Palaearctic region and occur in biomes ranging from forest to desert. However, two of these (S. marginatus and S. puncticeps) are recorded from the Arabian Peninsula and the remainder all are found only in Mediterranean areas.
Sphecodes majalis, S. schenckii Hagens, S. rubicundus, and S. nomioidis are steppe species, distributed in Europe, Turkey and the Caucasus to Iran. Of them, only S. nomioidis is recorded from the Arabian Peninsula.
Sphecodes olivieri, S. intermedius, S. rufiventris, and S. pinguiculus are widespread from steppe to desert in the Western Palaearctic. Of these only S. rufiventris is not recorded from the Arabian Peninsula.
Sphecodes barbatus, S. rubripes, and S. ruficrus are possibly purely Mediterranean species not reaching the Arabian Peninsula. In contrast, S. atlanticus turns out to be Sahara-Arabian. Sphecodes dusmeti and S. longuloides are Mediterranean-Arabian species.
Sphecodes tadschicus and S. turanicus are Irano-Turanian species reaching the Arabian Peninsula.
Finally, two species, S. dathei and S. villosulus are endemic to the Arabian Peninsula.
Although the Arabian fauna of the genus is not fully studied it is now clear that the Arabian fauna differs from that of the Mediterranean; of 26 recorded species only six (S. olivieri, S. intermedius, S. marginatus, S. nomioidis, S. pinguiculus, and S. puncticeps) are common to both and these are all widespread in the Western Palaearctic.
We are grateful to Fritz Gusenleitner (
This investigation was supported by the Russian Funds for Basic Research (grant numbers 17-04-00259 and 19-04-00027) and the state research project (№ АААА-А19-119020690101-6).