Omotilla conjuncta (Klug 1829), comb. nov.

(Figs 9, 10)

Mutilla conjuncta Klug 1829: [16], tab. 5, fig. 5, Ψ, "Arabia felix et Ambukohl", lectotype, Ψ, "Ambukohl, Ehrenberg" (Sudan), designated Bischoff 1920: 73 [ZMHU]. Odontotilla conjuncta: Bischoff 1920: 73, Ψ.

Odontotilla (Conjunctotilla) conjuncta: Nonveiller 1996a: 331, Ψ (Aden, Hodeida).

Diagnosis

The male of Omotilla conjuncta is similar to that of the type species O. curvidentata in having a dentate propodeal lateral border, similar wing venation, a similarly shaped tooth on S2, a similar carina on hypopygium, and similar apical white fringes on metasoma. It can be distinguished from the latter species in having a red mesosoma (black in O. curvidentata) and black metasoma (metasomal segments 1–3 red in O. curvidentata).

Description

MALE (hitherto unknown). Body length 6.4–8.8 mm. Head width 1.1–1.2X its height. Ocelli small, POD: OOD 0.5–0.6X. Eyes slightly emarginated inside. Relation of pedicel and first three flagellomeres 0.5(0.6): 0.9(1.0): 1.4(1.6): 1.3(1.5). Clypeus with two weak tubercles on anterior border. Mandible widened, not excised beneath (Fig. 9). Notauli well developed. Propodeum abrupt, lateral border dentate. S2 with strong dent oriented backward, hypopygium with median triangular carina. T2 with long lateral felt line; S2 without lateral felt line. Genitalia as in Fig. 10.

Head black to red with black frons. Antenna castaneous beneath, mandible red with dark denticles. Mesosoma red (pronotum anteriorly may be darkened), legs dark brown, wings infuscate. Metasoma black, T1 basally and S1 red. T1–T4 posteriorly with bands of dense white setae narrowed medially.

Material examined

Yemen: Al Kadan, 3.XII.1997 – 17.II.1998, MT, 1 Ψ, AvH & H.M. Naser [ZMAN]; 17.II–31.III.1998, MT, 1 ɗ, AvH & H.M. Naser [ZMAN]; 12 km NW Manakhah, 15.V–23.VI.2003, MT, AvH, 3 ɗ [RMNH, IBSS]; 24.VI–4.VII.2003, MT, 1 ɗ, AvH [RMNH]. Saudi Arabia: Al Hijaz (Hejaz), Jeddah, 24.VI.1931, Zhenzhurist (N. Filippov), 1 Ψ [ZMMU]. Eritrea: Assab, 1907, Katona / conjuncta Klug, Ψ (identified by H. Bischoff), 3 Ψ [ZIN].

Distribution

Mauritania, Senegal, Niger, Chad, Sudan, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Kenya, Israel, Egypt (Nonveiller 1996a).

Remarks

The described male is associated with the female of Omotilla conjuncta because both sexes have similarly shaped mandibles, dentate propodeal lateral border, armed hypopygium of male (this character corresponds to armed S6 of female). Furthermore only one species of this small group is distributed in Yemen.