Thorictus omanensis nov.sp. (Figs. 1-2)

T y p e m a t e r i a l: Holotype (♂):N Oman, Al Batinah,N.Gov.Sohar, 14 km SW, 24- 25.3.2019, lgt. Jan Pelikán / 24°12´18.172´´N 56°38´43.868´´E, 116 m, wadi desert, individual coll., in anthill, (NMPC). Paratypes (52 spec.): same locality data as holotype [Jan Pelikán or Tomáš Kopecký lgt.], (18 JHAC, 21 JPPC, 13 TKPC).

D e s c r i p t i o n: Body small (Fig. 1), castaneous brown, covered with short, yellow setae on dorsal surface and short setae on ventral surface. Measurements (mm): TL 1.82, PW 0.93, EW 0.90. Head finely punctate with very short, yellow, recumbent setae. Labial palpi entirely brown. Antennae brown, with 11 antennomeres, antennal club compact, with 3 antennomeres, terminal antennomere with short yellow setae. Lateral eyes on head with very small granules. Pronotum as finely punctate as head, covered with short, yellow, recumbent setae. Lateral margin of pronotum without finely dentate. Posterior angles with long, yellow setae. Ventral posterior pronotal angles with yellow setae. Scutellum small, triangular, without setae. Elytra very finely punctate, covered with short, recumbent, yellow setae; lateral sides with yellow, erect setae; two depressions present in anterior half near scutellum. Epipleuron finely punctate, anterior angles with very small protuberance; protuberance finely punctured without yellow setae. Prosternum finely punctate. Mesosternum with small, foveolate punctures. Metasternum finely punctate. Visible abdominal sternites very finely punctate, covered with very short, recumbent, yellow setae. Striation on first visible abdominal ventrite long. Legs brown, covered with short, yellow setae.

V a r i a b i l i t y:Measurements(mm): TL 1.82-1.90, PW 0.92-0.97, EW 0.90-0.97.

D i f f e r e n t i a l d i a g n o s i s The known Arabian species Thorictus arabicus HÁVA, 2010 and Thorictus foreli WASMANN, 1894 belongs to " Thorictus castaneus species group", Thorictus peyerimhoffi CHOBAUT, 1904 to " Thorictus orientalis species group". The new species belongs to " Thorictus orientalis species group", according to characters stated by JOHN (1963); from the Arabian species differs by its very small body form and ventral setae on the margin of the thorax.

E t y m o l o g y: Toponymic, named after Sultanate of Oman.

B i o n o m y: Type specimens collected in an ant nest of Lepisiota omanensis SHARAF & MONKS, 2016 (Formicidae, Hymenoptera). This species is known from Oman and United Arab Emirates (SHARAF et al. 2016).