Research Article |
Corresponding author: Neveen Samy Gadallah ( n_gadallah@hotmail.com ) Academic editor: Michael Ohl
© 2019 Neveen Samy Gadallah, Ahmed Mostafa Soliman, Yousif Nasser Aldryhim, Hathal Mohammed Al Dhafer.
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:
Gadallah NS, Soliman AM, AlDryhim YN, Al Dhafer HM (2019) First contribution to the study of the genus Micatagla Argaman, 1994 (Hymenoptera, Bradynobaenidae, Apterogyninae) in the fauna of Saudi Arabia, with the description of four new species. Journal of Hymenoptera Research 70: 17-40. https://doi.org/10.3897/jhr.70.33381
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The species of the genus Micatagla Argaman (Bradynobaenidae: Apterogyninae) in Saudi Arabia are reviewed. A single species, M. antropovi Pagliano, 2002, has previously been reported from Abu Arish (Jazan region, Saudi Arabia). Four new species based on females are described and illustrated in the present paper: M. fuscogaster sp. nov. and M. reemae sp. nov. (Garf Raydah Natural Reserve, Asir region), M. saudita sp. nov. (Wadi Hanifah, Riyadh region) and M. similis sp. nov. (Shada Al-Ala Natural Reserve, Al-Baha region). An illustrated key to the females and an annotated faunistic list of all Micatagla species of Saudi Arabia are also provided.
faunistic list, females, Micatagla, new species, Saudi Arabia
The genus Micatagla Argaman, 1994 is one of the largest genera of Bradynobaenidae and the most speciose in the subfamily Apterogyninae (
The genus Micatagla was first proposed by
No study has so far focused on the taxonomy of Micatagla in Saudi Arabia. Only two species are known to occur in the whole Arabian Peninsula: M. antropovi (Saudi Arabia, Yemen) (
The specimens were collected from Riyadh region (Riyadh – Wadi Hanifah), Al-Baha region (Al-Mukhwah – Shada Al-Ala Natural Reserve; Mandaq – Amadan) and Asir region (Abha – Garf Raydah Natural Reserve) (Fig.
Morphological terms as well as descriptions follow
Photographic images were taken using a Canon EOS 70D attached to LEICA MZ 125 stereomicroscope. Individual source images were then stacked using HeliconFocus v6.22 (HeliconSoft LTD) extended depth of field software. Further image processing done by using the software Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 5.2 final [ChingLiu]. Measurements were made using an ocular micrometer. The distribution of the collecting sites (Fig.
Al-Baha Region: Amadan [20°12'09"N, 41°13'54"E, alt. 1881m]. Shada Al-Ala Natural Reserve (Fig.
Asir Region: Garf Raydah Natural Reserve (Fig.
Riyadh Region: Wadi Hanifah (Fig.
F antennal flagellomere;
GRNR Garf Raydah Natural Reserve;
HP hand picking;
LT light trap;
PT pitfall trap;
S metasomal sternite;
SANR Shada Al-Ala Natural Reserve;
T metasomal tergite;
WHN Wadi Hanifah, natural habitat;
WHS Wadi Hanifah, semi-natural habitat;
WHU Wadi Hanifah urbanization habitat.
1 | T4 & T5 dark reddish brown to blackish brown (Fig. |
2 |
– | T4 & T5 bright red to yellow (Fig. |
3 |
2 | Face covered with dense pale setae (Fig. |
M. fuscogaster Soliman & Gadallah, sp. nov. |
– | Face asetose (Fig. |
M. reemae Gadallah & Soliman, sp. nov. |
3 | Mesosomal dorsum beyond pronotum striatofoveate (Fig. |
M. saudita Soliman & Gadallah, sp. nov. |
– | Mesosomal dorsum beyond pronotum foveate-reticulate (Figs |
4 |
4 | Face with bright red to golden setae (Fig. |
M. similis Gadallah & Soliman, sp. nov. |
– | Face with white setae (Fig. |
M. antropovi Pagliano, 2002 |
Body clothed with dense white setae (Fig.
This species is closely related to the new species M. similis Gadallah & Soliman, from which it may be differentiated by the colour of setae covering face, length of the malar space, the setal density of posterior margin of metasomal tergites, the thickness of the yellow bands on metasomal tergites, and the shape of lateral setae of T6 characters given in the key. It may also be confused with the Egyptian species, M. ezzati Gadallah & Soliman (Fig.
1♀: Egypt: Fayoum (Kom Osheim), 30.v.2013, leg. Ahmed M. Soliman [EFC].
Abu Arish (Jazan region) (
Holotype ♀: Saudi Arabia, Asir (Abha, GRNR), 31.vii.2015, PT4 (Olive 1), leg. Al Dhafer et al. [ZMB]; Paratypes: 1♀ Saudi Arabia: Asir (Abha, GRNR), 28.iv.2014, PT6 (Olive 3), leg. Al Dhafer et al. [ZMB]; 1♀ Saudi Arabia: Asir (Abha, GRNR), 8.vi.2014, PT6 (Olive 3), leg. Al Dhafer et al. [ZMB]; 1♀ Saudi Arabia: Asir (Abha, GRNR), 5.iii.2015, PT3 (Juniper 3), leg. Al Torkey et al. [ZMB]; 1♀ Saudi Arabia: Asir (Abha, GRNR), 31.vii.2015, PT2 (Juniper 2), leg. Al Dhafer et al. [ZMB]; 1♀ Saudi Arabia: Asir (Abha, GRNR), 31.vii.2015, PT4 (Olive 1), leg. Al Dhafer et al. [ZMB]; 1♀ Saudi Arabia: Asir (Abha, GRNR), 31.vii.2015, PT6 (Olive 3), leg. Al Dhafer et al. [ZMB]; 1♀ Saudi Arabia: Asir, (Abha, GRNR), 26.viii.2014, PT (Olive 3), leg. Al Dhafer et al. [EFC]; 1♀ Saudi Arabia: same data, 31.vii.2015 [EFC].
Metasomal segments 2−6 dark reddish brown (Figs
The new species M. fuscogaster Soliman & Gadallah resembles the South African species M. ellipsigera (Invrea) in having T2 and T3 with greatly reduced apical yellow bands, and T4 and T5 dark reddish brown to black. However, it differs from it in having T2 bell-shape, 1.45 × as wide as long (T2 very transverse in M. ellipsigera, 2.5 × as wide as long); metasomal tergites with apical row of sparse setae (lacking in M. ellipsigera); T2 and T3 on disc strongly and irregularly ridged, with large ellipsoid setiferous puncture in between (in M. ellipsigera T2 and T3 finely longitudinally striated, denser and more parallel on T3).
Female (Holotype). Body length 6.6 mm.
Colour
(Figs
Pubescence
(Figs
Head
(Figs
Mesosoma
(Figs
Metasoma
(Figs
In one paratype specimen T3 with greatly reduced apical yellow band; some specimens shorter than the holotype specimen in length (4.3−6.0 mm).
Saudi Arabia (Asir region, Garf Raydah Natural Reserve).
The specific name ‘fuscogaster’ refers to the dark reddish brown colour of most of the metasoma.
Holotype ♀: Saudi Arabia, Asir (Abha, GRNR), 30.vii.2015, Hp4 (Olive 1), leg. Al Dhafer et al. [ZMB].
Metasomal segments 2−6 dark brown to black (Figs
This species resembles M. fuscogaster Soliman & Gadallah in having the same body colour, apical rows of setae and yellow bands of metasomal tergites, but differs in the following: face asetose (Fig.
Female (Holotype). Body length 6.0 mm.
Colour
(Figs
Pubescence
(Figs
Head
(Figs
Mesosoma
(Figs
Metasoma
(Figs
Saudi Arabia (Asir region, Garf Raydah Natural reserve).
Holotype ♀: Saudi Arabia, Riyadh (Wadi Hanifah, WHN05), 27.viii.2015, PT, leg. Abdeldayem et al. [ZMB]; Paratypes: 1♀ Saudi Arabia: Riyadh (Wadi Hanifah, WHS02), 27.viii.2015, PT, leg. Abdeldayem et al. [ZMB]; 1♀ Saudi Arabia: Riyadh (Wadi Hanifah, WHS03), 27.viii.2015, PT, leg. Abdeldayem et al. [ZMB]; 1♀ Saudi Arabia: Riyadh (Wadi Hanifah, WHS05), 27.viii.2015, PT, leg. Abdeldayem et al. [ZMB]; 1♀ Saudi Arabia: Riyadh (Wadi Hanifah, WHU02), 12.x.2015, PT, leg. Abdeldayem et al. [ZMB]; 5♀ Saudi Arabia: Riyadh (Wadi Hanifah, WHS01), 12.x.2015, PT, leg. Abdeldayem et al. [ZMB]; 1♀ Saudi Arabia: Riyadh (Wadi Hanifah, WHS02), 12.x.2015, PT, leg. Abdeldayem et al. [ZMB]; 1♀ Saudi Arabia: Riyadh (Wadi Hanifah, WHN01), 12.x.2015, PT, leg. Abdeldayem et al. [ZMB]; 2♀ Saudi Arabia: Riyadh (Wadi Hanifa WHS02), 12.x.2015, PT, leg. Abdeldayem, M. et al. [EFC].
Body slender; head, mesosoma and the first and 4−6th metasomal segments uniformly red (Figs
The new species may be confused with M. ezzati Gadallah & Soliman, 2014 (Egypt) (Fig.
Female (Holotype). Body slender, 4.0 mm in length.
Colour
(Figs
Pubescence
(Figs
Head
(Figs
Mesosoma
(Figs
Metasoma
(Figs
Some paratype specimens are longer, about 4.8−5.5 mm. In some specimens T6 slightly darker, yellow-brown; face with darker golden setae.
Saudi Arabia (Riyadh region).
The specific name ‘saudita’ is a Latinized adjective in the feminine gender derived from the country of the type locality, Saudi Arabia.
Holotype ♀: Saudi Arabia, Al-Baha, (Al-Mukhwah, Shada Al-Ala Natural Reserve), 31.vii.2015, PT4 (Acacia 2), leg. Al Dhafer et al. [ZMB]. Paratypes: 1♀ Saudi Arabia: Al-Baha (Amadan Madaq), 19.v.2010, leg. M.R. Sharaf [ZMB]; 1♀ Saudi Arabia: Al-Baha, (Al-Mukhwah, Shada Al-Ala Natural Reserve), 23.iv.2014, PT2 (Cactus 2), leg. Al Dhafer et al. [ZMB]; 1♀ Saudi Arabia: Al-Baha, (Al-Mukhwah, Shada Al-Ala Natural Reserve), 23.iv.2014, PT4 (Acacia 1), leg. Al Dhafer et al. [ZMB]; 5♀ Saudi Arabia: Al-Baha, (Al-Mukhwah, Shada Al-Ala Natural Reserve), 23.viii.2014, PT4 (Acacia 1), leg. Al Dhafer et al. [ZMB]; 1♀ Saudi Arabia: Al-Baha, (Al-Mukhwah, Shada Al-Ala Natural Reserve), 2.iii.2015, PT2 (Cactus 2), leg. Al Dhafer et al. [ZMB]; 1♀ Saudi Arabia: Al-Baha, (Al-Mukhwah, Shada Al-Ala Natural Reserve), 2.iii.2015, PT5 (Acacia 2), leg. Al Dhafer et al. [ZMB]; 2♀ Saudi Arabia, Al-Baha, (Al-Mukhwah, Shada Al-Ala Natural Reserve), 3.v.2015, PT2 (Cactus 2), leg. Al Dhafer et al. [ZMB]; 4♀ Saudi Arabia: Al-Baha, (Al-Mukhwah, Shada Al-Ala Natural Reserve), 3.v.2015, PT3 (Cactus 3), leg. Al Dhafer et al. [ZMB]; 2♀ Saudi Arabi: Al-Baha, (Al-Mukhwah, Shada Al-Ala Natural Reserve), 31.vii.2015, PT2 (Cactus 2), leg. Al Dhafer et al. [ZMB]; 3♀ Saudi Arabia: Al-Baha, (Al-Mukhwah, Shada Al-Ala Natural Reserve), 31.vii.2015, PT4 (Acacia 1), leg. Al Dhafer et al. [ZMB]; 4♀ Saudi Arabia: Al-Baha, (Al-Mukhwah, Shada Al-Ala Natural Reserve), 31.vii.2015, PT5 (Acacia 2), leg. Al Dhafer et al. [ZMB]; 1♀ Saudi Arabia: Al-Baha, (Al-Mukhwah, Shada Al-Ala Natural Reserve), 15.xi.2015, PT4 (Acacia 2), leg. Al Dhafer et al. [ZMB].
Body relatively slender; face with bright red setae (Fig.
This species may be confused with M. zavattarii (Invrea, 1950) (Fig.
Female (Holotype). Body length 6.0 mm.
Colour
(Figs
Pubescence
(Figs
Head
(Figs
Mesosoma
(Figs
Metasoma
(Figs
Sincere gratitude to Guido Pagliano for sending us a Micatagla zavattarii specimen to examine. Also, many thanks to Prof. Lynn Kimsey (reviewer) for her valuable comments and criticisms on the manuscript. We thank members of the King Saud University Museum of Arthropods for their help in collecting the specimens. Sincere appreciation extended to the Deanship of Scientific Research at King Saud University for funding this research group number RGP-1437-009.