Holotype ♀: Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Riyadh, Ad Diriyah, Al Uyaynah, Wadi Al Hesiyah (40 NW of Riyadh) [24°55'22.44"N, 46°12'15.13"E, Alt. 790 m], 8.IV.2017, reared from Anthaxia sp. (Buprestidae), e.l. Acacia, leg. D. Baiocchi [KSMA]; Paratype 1♂, same data as for holotype [KSMA].

Body mostly red; fore wing hyaline with white setation (Fig. 4C); setation on body and wings sparse and short (Figs 3A−C, E, 4C); flagellomeres moderately long (Fig. 3D); clava 1-segmented in both sexes (Figs 3D, 6B); mesoscutellum moderately convex, truncate anteriorly ((Fig. 4A); propodeal spiracular tooth absent (Figs 4A, 6C); fore wing setation sparse and very short, distributed on both sides without line of setae on Rs (Fig. 4C); Gt₁ dorsally smooth (Fig. 5A); syntergum 0.276× as long as mesotibia (Fig. 5A, B).

Figure 3. 

A−E Phasgonophora baiocchii Soliman & Gul, sp. nov., female (holotype) A head (dorsal view) B head (frontal view) C head (lateral view) D antenna E mesosoma (dorsal view).

Figure 4. 

A−E Phasgonophora baiocchii Soliman & Gul, sp. nov., female (holotype) A mesosoma (part, dorsal view) B mesosoma (lateral view) C fore wing D proleg E hind leg.

This species is dedicated to Daniele Baiocchi, who reared this species from Anthaxia spp. (Buprestidae) infesting Acacia sp. (Fabaceae).

Specimen glued on rectangular card, metasoma glued separately. Head and mesosoma partly covered with a thin artifactual layer in bottom of areoles, appearing artificially dull rather than glossy by places; second to fifth terga with sides wide apart from each other, probably resulting from immersion in some medium.

♀: Body length 5.0 mm. Colour. Body reddish brown; antennal scape and pedicel, anellus and basal half of F1 reddish (Fig. 3D), the rest of flagellum dark brown, almost black (Fig. 3D); mandibular teeth black (Fig. 3B); palpi brown; mesoscutellum apically and metanotum dark (Fig. 3E); wings hyaline (Fig. 4C), SMV testaceous, MGV, STV and PMV dark brown (Fig. 4C); tegula brownish; all legs reddish, but tarsi testaceous; metafemur with black teeth on ventral margin (Fig. 4E); metasoma reddish brown (Fig. 5A, B), tip of ovipositor sheaths black (Fig. 5B).

Head (Fig. 3A−C). Slightly wider than maximal width of mesosoma; with sparse, short and thin setae; vertex and frons densely punctured (Fig. 3A, B), lower face and especially gena sparsely punctured, with interspaces as large as punctures on its mesal surface; lower face and frons strongly convex, without preorbital ridges (Fig. 3B); both mandibles 3-toothed, teeth of same length, somewhat blunt at apex (Fig. 3B); clypeus roundly protruding at free margin (Fig. 3B); tentorial pits well visible (Fig. 3B); genal carina strongly raised (Fig. 3C); scrobal cavity completely transversely strigose, reaching median ocellus (Fig. 3B); lateral margins of depression slightly converging dorsally; interantennal projection as wide as diameter of antennal torulus, subtriangular, and with punctulate front surface, with sharp carina above it, 0.33× as long as scape (Fig. 3B); occiput vertically strigulose behind ocellar triangle, punctured laterally (Fig. 3A).

Antenna (Fig. 3D). Apex of scape reaching level of median ocellus; pedicel 1.58× as long as wide, without basal bottle neck; anellus hardly transverse, tapering basally; flagellomeres pubescent, bearing numerous, not raised, multiporous plate sensilla in several intricate rows; F1 somewhat tapering basally, 1.59× as long as wide, slightly longer than each of F2 and F3; clava 1-segmented, conical, not much longer than F7 and very narrowly truncate at apex.

Mesosoma (Figs 3E, 4A, B). Slightly convex in lateral view (Fig. 4B), pronotum and mesonotum bearing short thin setae, adpressed on pronotum and suberect on mesonotum (Fig. 3E); pronotum entirely punctured, its dorsal outline regularly convex, without median depression (Fig. 3E); lateral panel with oblique crenulae ventrally; mesonotum cristate-punctured, the transverse crests moderately raised (Fig. 4B); notauli not much impressed (Fig. 3E); tegula bearing three very short setae basally; mesoscutellum short, convex in lateral view (Fig. 4B), truncate anteriorly as the axillae are widely separated, broadly rounded at apex, with fine longitudinal carinae; postscutellum as trapezoidal areola with secondary sculpture (Fig. 3E); propodeum not much sloping, without anterolateral spiracular tooth (Figs 3E, 4A), with irregular costula and poorly delimited median areola; mesepisternum with mesodiscrimen as faint carina dorsally, bifurcate ventrally delimiting a shallow fovea (Fig. 4A); epicnemial carina strongly raised at mid-height, moderately raised ventrally (Fig. 4B); ventral shelf virtually smooth; adscrobal area of mesepisternum, entire mesepimeron and metepimeron with dense setiferous punctures, the setae are short and adpressed as on pronotum (Fig. 4B); femoral scrobe of mesopleuron entirely strigose (Fig. 4B).

Wings (Fig. 4C). Fore wing lacking marginal fringe, with microtrichiae on both sides, MGV 0.35× as long as SMV, PMV 0.20× as long as MGV, STV slightly longer than PMV; hind wing with three similar closely set hamuli.

Legs (Fig. 4D, E). Procoxa deeply depressed anteriorly, the depression delimited laterodorsally by strongly raised carina (Fig. 4D). Protibia with thin apicodorsal socketed spine (Fig. 4D). Mesotibia without dorsal pegs. Hind leg bearing sparse, thin and suberect setae on ventral side of coxa, femur and tibia (Fig. 4E); metafemur sparsely punctulate on outer side, its ventral margin with a row of 11 regularly distributed equal teeth, basal tooth not prominent, no basal inner tooth (Fig. 4E). All tarsi thin, bearing slender claws.

Metasoma (Fig. 5A, B). Petiole quite transverse in dorsal view, ventral surface virtually smooth. Gaster short, only slightly longer than mesosoma; Gt₁ 2.6× as wide as long, as long as Gt₂ and Gt₃ combined, smooth on disc, solely with a row of three thin and short setae on either side (Fig. 5A); Gt_2–5 smooth, except for the setiferous punctures in front of their posterior margin, laterally with a complete row of setae and a partial row in front of it (Fig. 5A); penultimate tergite entirely densely and deeply punctured, with three rows of setiferous punctures, spaces between punctures smooth and shiny; spiracle very small, hardly visible at lateral edge of punctured surface as its peritreme is not raised; syntergum very short, only 0.276× as long as mesotibia, its basal part, in front of cercal plates (Fig. 5B); extremely short, median ridge present; tergum coarsely punctured laterally; sternites smooth and bare; tip of hypopygium at about half length of gaster.

Male (Figs 5C, D, 6A−C). Length 4.2 mm; similar to female except for the following characters: black parts better expanded especially on occiput, pronotum and mesonotum; scape bright reddish brown (Fig. 6B); head less transverse in dorsal view with anterior outline of frons more convex and temples relatively longer (Fig. 5C), gena mostly smooth, with very sparse punctures (Fig. 6A); frons with faint preorbital ridges, carina above interantennal projection almost reaching dorsal margin of scrobal depression (Fig. 5D); scape fusiform, 3.4 × as long as wide, anellus transverse, strongly tapering basally (Fig. 6B).

Figure 5. 

A−D Phasgonophora baiocchii Soliman & Gul, sp. nov. A, B female (holotype): A metasoma (dorsal view) B syntergum (lateral view) C, D male (paratype): C head (dorsal view) D head (frontal view).

Figure 6. 

A−C Phasgonophora baiocchii Soliman & Gul, sp. nov., male (paratype) A head (fronto-lateral view) B antenna C head and mesosoma (dorsal view).

None of the described Phasgonophora from the Afrotropical region have the short syntergum exhibited by P. baoicchii. Considering the Oriental species, the species would run, using Narendran (1989), either to Trigonura steffani Narendran, or T. javensis Narendran, 1987. The first species (holotype examined) is quite different, especially the deeply impressed notauli and the strongly convex mesoscutellum. In the second species (holotype examined), the lower face has a differentiate median strip similar to that of Muhattebella, and fore wing bears dark setae among other characters. From this species group, especially in P. euthyrrhinii, the type species of Chalcidiella, P. baiocchii differs from all species examined by the non-segmented clava, the mesodiscrimen, not raised as median crest, and the white setae of the fore wing versus clava 3-segmented, mesodiscrimen raised as a carina dorsally and fore wing setation dark.

Only known from Saudi Arabia, in Riyadh Region (Fig. 17).

Anthaxia (Haplanthaxia) abdita Bílý, 1982 and A. (H.) kneuckeri ssp. zabranskyi Bílý, 1995 (Coleoptera, Buprestidae).

Holotype ♀: Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Al-Baha, Al Mikhwa (Shada Al-Ala Natural Reserve) [19°50'51"N, 41°18'06.12"E, Alt. 1358 m], 14.IV.2016, e.l. Acacia, leg. D. Baiocchi [KSMA]. Paratypes: 7♀, same data as holotype [KSMA]; 2♀, same data as holotype [BMNH]; 2♀, same data as holotype [USNM]; 3♀, same data as holotype [EFC]; 2♀, same data as holotype but differing as for the coordinates [19°51'39.96"N, 41°18'15.84"E, Alt. 1248 m] and collection date, 29.III.2017 [KSMA]; 2♀, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Asir, Muhayil, Wadi Sabian (28 km SSE of Muhayil) [18°17'54.89"N, 42°07'41.11"E, Alt. 809 m], 05.IV.2017, e.l. Acacia, leg. D. Baiocchi [KSMA].

Gaster longer than mesosoma and acuminate, with syntergum longer than mesotibia (1.15×) (Fig. 9A, B); gena densely and entirely punctured (Figs 7D, 8A); occiput completely strigulose (Fig. 7A); flagellum filiform, with all flagellomeres much longer than wide, F1 2.5× as long as wide (Fig. 7C); mesosomal dorsum somewhat flattened (Fig. 8A); pronotal collum and mesonotum cristate punctured (Fig. 8A); axillae densely setose, setation masking integument posteriorly (Fig. 7E); propodeum with sharp spiracular teeth (Fig. 7E); mesepisternum with epicnemial carina forming sharp tooth mesoventrally (Fig. 8A); fore wing with dense but short setation, and pigmented track of Rs and r-m (Fig. 8D); Gt₁ with weak wrinkles dorsally (Fig. 9A); Gt₆ with deep punctures and very small, hardly visible, spiracle; cerci removed from base of syntergum, situated at half of its length (Fig. 9A, B).

Figure 7. 

A−E Phasgonophora granulis Delvare, sp. nov., female (holotype) A head (dorsal view) B head (frontal view) C antenna D head (frontolateral view) E mesosoma (dorsal view).

Figure 8. 

A−D Phasgonophora granulis Delvare, sp. nov., female (holotype) A head and mesosoma (lateral view) B head (part of integument, showing granulate foveae) C hind leg D fore and hind wings.

The name is chosen in reference to the secondary sculpture of the areoles on the head and mesonotum, giving to them a dull, granulose appearance (see Fig. 8B).

Specimen glued on rectangular card. Head and mesosoma partly covered with a thin layer on the bottom of areoles; second to fifth tergites with sides wide apart from each other, probably resulting from immersion in some medium.

Body 8.4 mm. Colour. Head and mesosoma entirely black (Fig. 7A−E), metasoma brown (Fig. 9A), with syntergum darker laterally (Fig. 9B); tegula brownish (Fig. 8A); fore and mid legs dark brown, but knees, apex of tibiae and tarsi testaceous; hind leg dark brown (Fig. 8C), ventral femoral teeth and ventral side of tibia black (Fig. 8C), tarsus lighter; antenna entirely black (Fig. 7C); wings hyaline, veins dark brown (Fig. 8D).

Head (Figs 7A, B, D, 8A). Hardly wider than mesosoma; with moderately dense setation, the setae long, thin and suberect, regularly distributed according to punctures; lower face and frons strongly convex, without preorbital ridges (Fig. 7D); vertex, frons and lower face densely punctured (Fig. 7B, D), gena more coarsely punctured (Fig. 8A); both mandibles 3-teethed (Fig. 7D), lower tooth the largest and somewhat removed from the mid one; clypeus hardly protruding at free margin (Fig. 7D); edge of oral fossa thickened (Fig. 7D); tentorial pits absent (Fig. 7B); scrobal depression entirely transversely strigose, reaching median ocellus (Fig. 7B); interantennal projection (Fig. 7B) strongly compressed laterally, narrower than antennal torulus, punctulate on front surface (one row of punctures only), narrowly produced upwards, but without flange above it; vertex with short but distinct carina behind median ocellus (Fig. 7A); POL 6× OOL (Fig. 7A); occiput entirely strigulose, except for a row of punctures behind posterior edge of eye (Fig. 7A).

Antenna (Fig. 7C). Scape linear, its apex with level of vertex; pedicel 1.2× as long as wide, with slight basal bottle neck; anellus slightly transverse, 0.8× as long as wide, tapering basally; funicular segments pubescent, bearing numerous, not raised multiporous plate sensilla in several intricate rows; F1 2.2× as long as wide, shorter than F2; F2 as long as F3; F7 1.64× as long as wide; clava 2-segmented (suture nevertheless hardly distinct), narrowly rounded apically.

Mesosoma (Figs 7E, 8A). With setae about twice as long puncture diameter, curved and suberect; setae regularly distributed on punctures, but pronotum in front of prepectus, axillae and propodeum laterally around the spiracle, densely setose, the setae adpressed there; dorsum of mesosoma somewhat flattened (Fig. 8A), with dorsal outline of pronotal collar and mesonotum straight; punctures with secondary, very fine, sculpture on their bottom (visible only at very high magnification: 800×) (as in Fig. 8B), thus appearing dull; pronotal collum transversely strigose (Fig. 7E); pronotal collar and mesonotum uniformly cristate punctured, the anterior wall of punctures forming crests (Fig. 8A); pronotal collar with shallow mesal depression, its sides strongly convex (Fig. 8A); pronotal carina visible laterally, forming a tooth in dorsal view; lateral panel mostly flat, with longitudinal carinulae dorsally and raised curved carina ventrally; notauli impressed (Fig. 7E); tegula with a tuft of about 10 setae anteriorly (Fig. 8A); mesoscutellum truncate anteriorly, rounded apically, its posterior margin raised and surpassing postscutellum (Fig. 7E); propodeum strongly sloping anteriorly, more strongly so posteriorly, with sharp spiracular tooth (Fig. 7E) and two irregular costulae; mesepisternum with mesodiscrimen as faint carina all over, without ventral fovea; epicnemial carina moderately raised laterally, strongly protruding mesoventrally, appearing as a sharp tooth in lateral view (Fig. 8A); ventral shelf in mesepisternum very weakly sculptured; adscrobal area, mesepimeron, and metepimeron coarsely areolate, the later bearing long setae; femoral depression of mesepisternum with only a few low carinae (Fig. 8A).

Wings (Fig. 8D). Fore wing densely setose but bare on basal cell, basal and cubital folds, marginal cell with a single, incomplete row of setae on the underside; setae generally very short on the disc of the wing, somewhat longer below MGV, PMV and Rs track; setae uniformly short on the underside of wing; MGV 0.27× as long as SMV; PMV 0.38× as long as MGV; STV 0.33× as long as PMV; hind wing with 4 hamuli, the basal one the largest, removed from the followings.

Legs (Fig. 8C). Procoxa with deep depression anteriorly, margined dorsolaterally with carina raised into flange. Protibia with sharp, non-socketed apical spine. Mesotibia without dorsal pegs. Metacoxa sparsely punctured ventrally, densely so on outer surface of metafemur, with dense and fine setiferous punctures, ventral edge with irregular row of unequal teeth, outer ventral margin with a row of 8−10 teeth, basal tooth not prominent but wider than other teeth; inner basal tooth absent; apical truncation of metatibia forming a curved spine. Tarsi slender.

Metasoma (Fig. 9A, B). Petiole not visible dorsally. Gaster lanceolate, longer than mesosoma; Gt₁ with weak wrinkles dorsally, setose laterally, the setae progressively longer towards the side (Fig. 9A); Gt₂₋₅ smooth, with posterior rows of setiferous punctures, a tuft of sublateral setae longer (Fig. 9A); posterior margin of tergites hardly concave; penultimate tergite smooth anteriorly, with moderately coarse setiferous punctures posteriorly; spiracle hardly visible in sublateral position, its aperture much smaller than puncture diameter; syntergum elongate (Fig. 9A, B), 1.23× as long as mesotibia, densely and deeply punctured, with dorsal median ridge (Fig. 9A); cerci removed from base of syntergum, situated at half of its length.

Male. Unknown.

Known from Saudi Arabia only in Al-Baha and Asir Regions (Fig. 17).

Anthaxia (Haplanthaxia) abdita Bílý, 1982 and A. (H.) kneuckeri ssp. zabranskyi Bílý, 1995 (Coleoptera, Buprestidae).

Figure 9. 

A, B Phasgonophora granulis Delvare, sp. nov., female (holotype) A metasoma (dorsal view) B syntergum (lateral view).

Holotype ♀: Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Asir, Abha (Garf Raydah Natural Reserve) [18°12'14.04"N, 42°24'42.84"E, Alt. 2809 m], 16.IV.2016, e.l. Dodonaea viscosa, reared from Chrysobothris sp. (Buprestidae), leg. G. Magnani [KSMA]; Paratypes: 1♀, same data as holotype but differing as for the collection date, 11−13.IV.2019 and the collector, D. Baiocchi [KSMA]; 1♂, same data as holotype [KSMA].

Body mostly black with head predominantly red (Figs 10A−F, 12A); setation of wings dark (Fig. 11B); frons strongly convex (Fig. 10C), and occiput quite concave (Fig. 10A); vertex with transverse mesal carina behind ocellar triangle (Fig. 10A); pedicel short with basal bottle neck (Fig. 10D); funicular segments elongate (Fig. 10D); clava 2-segmented (Fig. 10D); pronotum with mesal depression (Fig. 10E), notauli hardly impressed (Fig. 10E); mesoscutellum bluntly angulate anteriorly (Fig. 10E); propodeum with sharp spiracular teeth (Fig. 10E, F); surface of propodeum with long and dense setae lateral to costula (Fig. 10F); mesepisternum with mesodiscrimen as moderately raised carina, without ventral depression (Fig. 11A); epicnemial carina not raised laterally, but raised mesoventrally; forming a tooth in lateral view (Fig. 11A); gaster short with syntergum about half as long as mesotibia (Fig. 12A); vertex of male without transverse carina behind ocellar triangle (Fig. 12B); clava 1-segmented (Fig. 12D).

Figure 10. 

A−F Phasgonophora magnanii Gadallah & Gul, sp. nov., female (holotype) A head (dorsal view) B head (frontal view) C head (lateral view) D antenna E mesosoma (dorsal view) F propodeum (posterodorsal view, showing spiracular teeth).

Figure 11. 

A−D Phasgonophora magnanii Gadallah & Gul, sp. nov., female (holotype) A mesosoma (lateral view) B fore wing C fore leg D hind leg.

The new species is dedicated to Gianluca Mangani (Roma, Italy) who reared this species from Chrysobothris sp. (Buprestidae) infesting Dodonaea viscosa (L.) Jacq. (Sapindaceae).

Specimen glued on rectangular card; head and mesosoma partly covered with a thin artifactual layer on bottom of areoles, appearing artificially dull by places; second to fifth tergites with sides widely separated from each other, probably resulting from immersion in some medium.

♀: Body length 6.5 mm. Colour. Head mostly red (Fig. 10A−C), ocellar triangle, occiput laterally, gena ventrally, interantennal projection and supraclypeal strip, black (Fig. 10A–C); antenna black (Fig. 10D), scape and pedicel with faint brownish tint; meso- and metasoma black (Figs 10E, 12A), pronotal collar and shoulder (Fig. 10E), mesoscutum laterally and anteromedially (Fig. 10E), mesoscutellum dorso-laterally (Fig. 10E), posterior margin of Gt₁, gaster laterally, tip of syntergum and ovipositor sheaths basally, brownish (Fig. 12A); fore wing slightly infuscate, with track of Rs pigmented, veins dark brown to black (Fig. 11B); tegula glassy yellowish brown (Fig. 10E); fore and mid legs dark brown to black, tarsi brown (Fig. 11C); hind leg black (Fig. 11D), coxa apically, femur ventrally, tibia dorsally brownish, tarsus brown.

Head (Fig. 10A−C). Subequal to maximal width of mesosoma; with moderately dense long thin and suberect setae (Fig. 10A−C), setae longer towards oral fossa; lower face and frons strongly convex, without preorbital ridges (Fig. 10C); both mandibles 3-toothed, lower tooth the largest and somewhat removed from the mid one (Fig. 10B); clypeus protruding at free margin, but projection truncate (Fig. 10B); tentorial pits present, but not well distinct from other punctures (Fig. 10B); lower face and gena densely punctured (Fig. 10B, C), interspaces 0.2× punctures diameter; gena with deep sulcus along genal carina (Fig. 10C); scrobal depression piriform, entirely transversely strigose, reaching median ocellus (Fig. 10A); interantennal projection foveolate, nearly as wide as diameter of antennal torulus, 0.45× as long as scape (Fig. 10B); vertex and frons densely areolate (Fig. 10B), vertex with distinct curved carina behind ocellar triangle (Fig. 10A); occiput with vertical carinulae behind ocellar triangle; punctured-strigose laterally, with oblique crests (Fig. 10A).

Antenna (Fig. 10D). Apex of scape reaching level of median ocellus; anellus strongly transverse; pedicel short, with strong basal bottle neck; flagellomeres pubescent, bearing numerous, not raised, multiporous plate sensilla in several intricate rows; F1 1.8× as long as wide, scarcely shorter than F2 or F3 (0.93×); clava 2-segmented, narrowly rounded apically.

Mesosoma (Figs 10E, F, 11A). Pronotum and mesonotum bearing short, adpressed and thin setae (Fig. 10E); pronotum with deep median depression, only angulate laterally for distinction of collar, which is densely punctured, the anterior walls of which are raised into crests, especially on either side of the median depression (Fig. 10E); pronotal collum transversely strigose; lateral panel flat, with a single oblique carina (Fig. 11A); dorsal outline of mesonotum straight, mesoscutum and mesocutellum being flattened, crests transverse and hardly raised on mesoscutum, better raised and interrupted between each puncture on mesoscutellum (Fig. 11A); notauli hardly impressed posteriorly; tegula with a patch of about 10 setae posteriorly; mesoscutellum rhombic and angulate anteriorly as axillar grooves are joining to each other on transscutal line (Fig. 10E); frenum distinctly sloping; posterior margin of mesoscutellum rounded (Fig. 10E); propodeum moderately sloping, with sharp spiracular teeth and raised but irregular costulae (Fig. 10E, F); surface of propodeum with long and dense setae lateral to costulae (Fig. 10E); mesepisternum with mesodiscrimen appearing as moderately raised carina, without ventral depression (Fig. 11A); epicnemial carina not raised laterally, but raised mesoventrally, forming a tooth in lateral view (Fig. 11A); ventral shelf of mesepisternum punctured-strigose (Fig. 11A); adscrobal area, mesepimeron, and metepimeron coarsely areolate, bearing long, thin and erect setae (Fig. 11A).

Wings (Fig. 11B). Fore wing densely setose, but basal cell, basal and cubital folds bare; marginal cell with a single row of hairs on the underside; MGV 0.35× as long as SMV, PMV 0.2× as long as MGV, STV 1.3× as long as PMV; hind wing with three hamuli, the basal one larger and somewhat removed from the followings.

Legs (Fig. 11C, D). Procoxa depressed anteriorly, the depression delimited laterodorsally by a raised carina (Fig. 11C). Protibia with apicodorsal, not socketed spine. Mesotibia without pegs. Metacoxa densely punctured on outer ventral side, with long fine setae along its whole surface (Fig. 11D); metafemur with dense fine setiferous punctures on outer side, ventral margin with a row of 11 teeth, basal tooth not prominent but wider than other teeth, no inner basal tooth (Fig. 11D). Apical truncation of metatibia forming a curved spine (Fig. 11D).

Metasoma (Fig. 12A). Petiole not visible from above, entirely concealed within propodeal foramen. Gaster slightly longer than mesosoma; Gt₁ 1.35× as wide as long, as long as Gt_2–5 combined, faintly transversely striolate mesally, broadly setose posterolaterally; Gt_2–5 with 1 row of setae in front of the slightly concave posterior margin; penultimate tergite densely and coarsely punctured on the whole dorsal surface; spiracle very small, hardly distinct; syntergum short, 0.55× as long mesotibia, without median ridge, densely coarsely punctured laterally; sternites sparsely finely punctulate; tip of hypopygium 0.60 of gaster length.

Male (Figs 12B−D, 13A, B). Length 5.8 mm. Differs from female mostly through the following characters: interantennal projection better raised and laterally compressed (Fig. 12C); gena with dense umbilicate punctures (Fig. 12C); carina behind ocellar triangle vestigial (Figs 12B, 13A); flagellomeres shorter with clava only 1-segmented (Fig. 12D); mesosoma more elongate with dorsal outline slightly convex in lateral view; Gt_2–5 with 2–3 rows of setiferous punctures posteriorly (Fig. 13B).

Figure 12. 

A−D Phasgonophora magnanii Gadallah & Gul, sp. nov. A female (holotype) metasoma (lateral view) B, C male (paratype): B head (dorsal view) C head (lateral view) D antenna.

Figure 13. 

A, B Phasgonophora magnanii Gadallah & Gul, sp. nov., male (paratype) A head and mesosoma (dorsal view) B metasoma (dorsolateral view).

None of the Afrotropical species described in Trigonura or Phasgonophora has the short syntergum exhibited by P. magnanii. In the key of the Oriental species provided by Narendran (1989), it would run to T. samarensis Narendran, 1987. It differs from this species by the gaster being longer than the mesosoma versus shorter in samarensis; it also lacks the infuscate spot around the stigma, and Gt₁ is transversely striolate on the disc versus smooth and shiny in T. samarensis.

Only known from Saudi Arabia in Asir Region (Fig. 17).

Chrysobothris (Abothris) sp. (Coleoptera, Buprestidae).

Type material. Two conspecific, pinned, ♀ syntypes, labelled “Abissynien /Ambukohl /Ehrbg. L’ [manuscript, black ink, green label] ‘rubens Kl’ [manuscript, black pencil] ‘type’ [red label] ‘GBIF-ChalcISE /ID: Chalc0656’ [MNB].

Other material (all from Saudi Arabia): 1♀, 2♂, Al-Baha, 2 km E of Nawan [19°32'48"N, 41°11'34"E, Alt. 117 m], 31.III.2017, e.l. Acacia, leg. D. Baiocchi [KSMA]; 1♂, Asir, Abha, N of Khamis Mushait [18°25'25"N, 42°42'05"E, Alt. 1944 m], 17.IV.2016, e.l. Acacia, leg. D. Baiocchi [KSMA]; 2♀, 3♂, Riyadh, Ad Diriyah, Al Uyaynah, Al Bodah (30 km NW Riyadh) [24°53'33"N, 46°17'39.84"E, Alt. 761 m], 10.IV.2016, e.l. Acacia, leg. D. Baiocchi [KSMA]; 1♂, the same previous data but differing as for collection date (08.IV.2017) [KSMA]; 13♀, 14♂, Riyadh, Ibex Reserve Protected Area (W of Hutat Bani Tamim) [23°27'26’’N, 46°33'37’’E, Alt. 721 m], 11.IV.2017, e.l. Acacia, leg. D. Baiocchi [KSMA]; 3♀, 2♂, Riyadh, Ibex Reserve Protected Area (W of Hutat Bani Tamim) [23°21'06.62"N, 46°21'35.94"E, Alt. 709 m], 11.IV.2017, e.l. Acacia, leg. D. Baiocchi [KSMA]; 1♀, Riyadh, Rimah, Rawdat Khuraim (100 km NE Riyadh) [25°22'59.06"N, 47°16'42.58"E, Alt. 559 m], 18.II.2012, sweep net (A), Calotropis procera, leg. unknown [KSMA]; 1♂, Riyadh, Rimah, Rawdat Khuraim (100 km NE Riyadh) [25°25'56.64"N, 47°13'51.96"E, Alt. 572 m], 28.IV.2012, pitfall trap (B), leg. unknown [KSMA]; 1♀, same data but differing as for the trap (Malaise trap (B)) [KSMA]; 9♀, 7♂, Riyadh, Rimah, Rawdat Khuraim (100 km NE Riyadh) [25°23'13’’N, 47°16'45’’E, Alt. 550 m], 09.IV.2016, e.l. Acacia, leg. D. Baiocchi [KSMA]; 2♀, 1♂, Riyadh, Rimah, Rawdat Khuraim (100 km NE Riyadh) [25°22'59.06"N, 47°16'42.58"E, Alt. 559 m], 09.IV.2016, e.l. Acacia, leg. D. Baiocchi [EFC]; Riyadh, Rimah, Rawdat Khuraim (100 km NE Riyadh) [25°22'59.06"N, 47°16'42.58"E, Alt. 559 m], 09.IV.2017, e.l. Acacia, leg. D. Baiocchi [12♀, 13♂ in KSMA; 1♀, 1♂ in EFC]; 6♀, 8♂, Riyadh, Wadi Al Hesiyah (40 NW of Riyadh) [24°55'22.44"N, 46°12'15.13"E, Alt. 790 m], 08.IV.2017, e.l. Acacia, leg. D. Baiocchi [KSMA]; 1♀, Riyadh, Wadi Huraymila (86 km NW of Riyadh) [25°04'44.20"N, 46°03'29.80"E, Alt. 798 m], 08.IV.2017, e.l. Acacia, leg. D. Baiocchi [KSMA].

Female with gena sparsely setose (Fig. 14B); flagellomeres long, F1 2× as long as wide (Fig. 14C); pronotal collar angulate with collum, with shallow median depression (Fig. 14D); mesonotum flattened dorsally, entirely cristate (Fig. 14A); propodeum with spiracular teeth (Fig. 15A), sloping posteriorly; fore wing with moderately dense setation, without pigmented track of Rs and r-m (Fig. 15B); metasoma lanceolate (Figs 14A, 15C); Gt₁ with evident curved carinae dorsally, sparsely setose laterally (Fig. 15C); penultimate tergite densely and deeply punctured (Fig. 15C); syntergum (Fig. 14A) longer than mesotibia (1.25×), sparsely shallowly punctured (punctures dense at base), with median ridge (Fig. 15C). Male. Length 3.1–4.6 mm. Similar to female but antenna stouter; denser pale setae on fore wing; propodeal spiracular teeth slightly shorter; metasomal petiole narrow.

Figure 14. 

A−D Phasgonophora rubens (Klug), female A lateral habitus B head (anterolateral view) C antenna D mesosoma (dorsal view).

Figure 15. 

A−C Phasgonophora rubens (Klug), female A mesoscutellum and propodeum (dorsal view) B fore wing C metasoma (dorsal view).

General distribution. ALGERIA: mostly northwestern and central Sahara, less common in southern Sahara and Sahel (Mateu, 1972); EGYPT: surrounds of Cairo (Masi 1931); ISRAEL: Wadi Fukra (Bouček 1956); TUNISIA: Bled Ejdla (Nikol’skaya 1952); SAUDI ARABIA (new record; Asir, Al-Baha and Riyadh Regions, Fig. 16); SUDAN (Klug 1834); UAE (Delvare 2017).

Figure 16. 

A−C Phasgonophora ninae (Nikol’skaya), female A lateral habitus B dorsal habitus C mesosoma (lateral view).

Hosts. Anthaxia [as Cratomerus] angustipennis (Klug, 1829) (Buprestidae) (Nikol’skaya 1952); Anthaxia spp., especially A. angustipennis and A. pseudocongregata Descarpentries & de Miré, 1963, A. pulex Abeille de Perrin, 1893, Acmaeodera spp., especially A. adspersula (Illiger, 1803), A. flavipennis (Klug, 1829), A. convolute (Klug, 1829) (Mateu 1972), Anthaxia (Haplanthaxia) abdita Bílý, 1982, A. (H.) kneuckeri zabraskyi Bílý, 1995, and A. (H.) marginifera metallescens Abeille de Perrin, 1907 (present study).

Vachellia [= Acacia] farnesiana (L.) Willd, 1806 (Masi 1931), Acacia tortilis (Forssk.) Hayne, 1825 [ssp. Acacia raddiana Savi] and A. ehrenbergiana Haine [= A. flava (Forssk.) Schwein.]; it was also reared from cages with Tamarix pauciovulata and Rhus tripartitus R. Sch. infested by Buprestis hilaris Klug, 1829 but with possible contamination from cultures of infested A. tortilis (Mateu, 1972) in the neighborhood.

(Mateu 1972). Mating occurs only once and soon after the female looks for hosts. She oviposits preferably in cracks; the duration of oviposition is short (5−10 minutes); the stylets are not always vertical but forms an obtuse angle with the surface of the wood. A single, caudate larva develops within the host. The female apparently choses for old instar larvae. At the end of the development, the larva fully occupies the body of the pupa of the buprestid host, which is at that time mummified. The larva of the host is thus preserved until its complete development. In this respect, the mature larva of the host is able to dig the gallery that is normally used by the adult for emergence but used here by the chalcidid. The progeny emerges during late spring from eggs deposited in summer (August) of the previous year; the species is thus univoltine.

Figure 17. 

Distribution map of Phasgonophora species in Saudi Arabia.