Miscophus hormozganensis Schmid-Egger & Ghaderipour sp. nov.

(Figs 11–13)

Holotype: IRAN ♀ 2.v.2011, Hormozgan province, Bandar Abbas, Zakin, Baneh, 27.864N 56.309E, 1630 m, A. Ameri (ZSM). Paratype: 1♀ 23.v.2011, same data as holotype (TMUC).

Diagnosis: Miscophus hormozganensis belongs to the M. bicolor species group and is characterized by the combination of a nearly impunctate and shiny mesopleuron, a distinct copper shimmer on frons and mesosoma, and by light red legs (Fig. 11). Propodeal dorsum has a distinct longitudinal keel and indistinct lateral diagonal striae (Fig. 13). The species is similar to M. johni Mokrousov, 2004 from Eastern Europe and Russia, 2004, but the latter is all black with mostly black legs, propodeal dorsum with a few distinct diagonal striae only, and most specimens are smaller than 4.0 mm.

Description of female: Body length: 4.5 mm. Color: Black, face and mesosoma with copper shimmer (Figs 11. 12). Light reddish are: mandible (apart from black apex), AS 1–2, tegula and legs, tibiae somewhat dark above. Wing venation brown. Morphology: ACM forms a more or less rounded line not protruding beyond lower eye margin; middle part not protruding beyond side parts either (Fig. 12). Frons finely reticulate, in general shiny. OOL = 1 × diameter of hindocellus, POL = 1.5 × diameter of hindocellus. Eye (frontal view) as large as half remaining face, face medially with indistinct furrow. Eye (lateral view) in broadest diameter 1.5 × as long as gena. Mesoscutum and scutellum finely punctate, interspaces shiny. Mesopleuron impunctate, shiny. Propodeal dorsum with distinct medial keel, laterally with indistinct diagonal striae (Fig. 13). Posterior and lateral surfaces of propodeum horizontally striate, with some pale setae. Terga finely puncto-reticulate, shiny. Forebasitarsis with two black spines, both as long as half second tarsal segment.

Male: Unknown.

Distribution: Hormozgan province in southern Iran.

Etymology: The species is named after the Hormozgan province in southern Iran, where the holotype was collected.

Remark: This species was collected from Baneh village, located near North Zakin. This mountainous region, situated at an elevation of 1630 meters in the foothills of Siahu district, is part of the mountainous areas of Bandar Abbas city. The climate in Baneh is relatively cold in winter and mild in summer. The vegetation cover mainly consists of wild almond, wild pistachio, wild cherry, and juniper (Asadpour & Soltanipoor, 2017).