Ampulicomorpha thauma Rasnitsyn & Matveev 1989

Ampulicomorpha thauma Rasnitsyn & Matveev, 1989

(Fig. 2)

Type material examined. HOLOTYPE, ♀: RUSSIA, Rostov Province (Oblast), 25 km W of Oblivskaya Station, Model Experimental Farm, 23.vi–3.vii.1984, soil trap, L. B. Cherezova coll., ZMMU. PARATYPES: 4 ♀, same data as for holotype; 1 ♀, same data as for holotype except for: 6.vii.1984, USNM.

Material examined from the Middle East. IRAN, Kerman province, Jiroft, Khatoun-Abad: 2 ♀, (28º36’20.50”N, 57º42’56.27”E, 626 m), 22.iv.–24.v.2019, Malaise trap No. 3 settled in an orchard, Code: 48 (4), S. Mohebban coll., MOLC. Kerman province, Jiroft, Baghbaghuiyeh: 6 ♀, (28º33’16.99”N, 57º43’38.84”E, 602 m), 29.iii.–19.iv.2019, Malaise trap No. 3 settled in an orchard, Code: 47 (2), S. Mohebban coll., DPPZ (5 ♀), MOLC (1 ♀); 1 ♀, same data as for preceding except for: 22.iv.–24.v.2019, DPPZ.

Diagnosis. Palpal formula 5/2 (Fig. 2C); frons with median longitudinal furrow between antennal toruli (Fig. 2E); pronotum with complete median longitudinal furrow (Fig. 2F); notaulus visible but very short and reaching approximately 0.15 × length of anteromesoscutum (Fig. 2F); metapectal-propodeal complex with two longitudinal carinae, basally with median rectangular areola and basally both lateral areas of metanotum glossy and smooth, apically without lateral pointed apophyses (Fig. 2G); metasomal tergum 1 smooth with densely minute setae, laterally with pair of longitudinal elevations, and basally with pair of distinct pits (Fig. 2H).

Redescription (Female). Macropterous. Body length 4.1 mm.

Head. Antenna filiform, without strong contiguous frontal processes, apically narrow, ratio of antennomeres (only in examined material): 28:6:14:14:14:14:14:14:13:16 (Fig. 2K); antennal toruli far from basal margin of clypeus; head pyriform (Figs 2D–2E), flattened, in profile weakly rounded (Figs 2C, 2E), with dorsal and ventral margins, faintly punctate, covered densely with minute setae, longer than wide (1.1 ×), longer than height (deep, 0.98 ×), longer than eye (3.5 ×); face with two convergent longitudinal sutures which extended from clypeus to antennal toruli (basal half of sutures hardly visible, Fig. 2C); frons with median longitudinal furrow between antennal toruli (Figs 2C, 2E); occipital carina complete (Fig. 2D); ocelli distinct and arranged in acute triangle; POL: 3, OL: 4, OOL: 9, OPL: 5, TL: 13; eye very small, approximately 0.3 × head length (Fig. 2E); palpal formula 5/2, third maxillary palpomere broadened (Fig. 2C).

Mesosoma. Pronotum dull, punctate, covered with short setae, longer than length (3.1 ×), shorter than mesoscutum, with complete median longitudinal furrow, in lateral view rounded, basally crossed by strong transverse impression, laterally both apical-medially areas with row of shallow foveae (Fig. 2F); notaulus visible, but short and reaching approximately 0.15 × length of anteromesoscutum; anteromesoscutum and mesoscutellum elongated, shiny, punctate, covered with minute setae; parapsidal signum distinctly visible near lateral margins of mesoscutellum (Fig. 2F); mesoscuto-mesoscutellar suture deep and continuous (Fig. 2F); mesopleuron and lateral areas of metapectal-propodeal complex glossy, faintly punctate, unsculptured among punctures, with densely minute setae; meso-metapleural suture distinct and complete (Fig. 2I); metanotum very short, polished with several indistinct small punctures (Fig. 2F); metapectal-propodeal complex dull, reticulate rugose, with pair of complete median longitudinal carinae, basal half with some irregular median carinae, basally median rectangular areola and basally both lateral areas of metanotum glossy, smooth, unsculptured, apically with lateral pointed apophyses (Fig. 2G).

Wings (Fig. 2B). Fore wing well-developed with veins pigmented; second radial 1 (2R1), first radial 1 (1R1) and first radial 2 (1R2) cells open; first medial (1M) cell subrectangular and close, second medial (2M) cell open; second cubital (2Cu) cell partly open, not fully enclosed by pigmented veins; hind wing fully developed, hyaline.

Legs (Fig. 2A). Profemur stout and 2.4 × longer than wide; protibia 4.7 × longer than wide; metatibia 4.4 × longer than wide; outer spur short and stout, approximately 0.6 × of inner spur; tibial spurs formula 1/2/2.

Metasoma (Fig. 2H). Metasomal tergum 1 smooth with densely minute setae, laterally with pair of longitudinal elevation, basally with pair of distinct pits.

Colour. Head dark brown (Figs 2C–2E); antenna, mandible, clypeus, and legs yellowish brown to brown (Figs 2A, 2C); maxillary and labial palpi brownish yellow (Fig. 2C); mesosoma fully dark except dark brown prothorax (Fig. 2F); propleuron blackish brown (Fig. 2I); tegula pale brown (Fig. 2F); wings faintly tinged with brown, veins dark brown (Fig. 2B); metasoma dark brown (Figs 2H, 2J).

Male. Unknown.

Geographical distribution (Fig. 7A). Russia (European part), Iran (new record) (Western Palaearctic subregion), Russia (Asian part), South Korea, and Japan (Eastern Palaearctic subregion) (Chény et al. 2020).

Distribution inside the Middle East (Fig. 8A). Iran, Kerman province (South Iran Nubo-Sindian desert and semi-desert ecoregion).

Host. Unknown but probably attacks the nymphs of Achilidae (Hemiptera: Auchenorrhyncha) living in rotten logs and feeding on fungus (Olmi et al. 2014).

Type status. Pinned and in good condition.