Hungary, Pest [Budapest], 2.VII.1886 (1 ♂, syntype), Friese [ZISP].

Southern and Central Europe, Turkey (Bogusch 2018).

None.

Iran (Bogusch, 2021).

Austria, Wien, (1 ♀), coll. F. Morawitz, transitorius Eversm. [Morawitz det.] [ZISP]; Azerbaijan, Lenkoran, 28.VII.1930, (1 ♀), A. Shestakov [ZISP]; Georgia, Lagodehy, (1 ♀), coll. F. Morawitz [ZISP]; Iran, Shaku, Elbrus Mts., VI.1914, (1 ♀), Kirichenko [ZISP]; Tularud, 11.V.1916, (1 ♂), B. Ilyin [ZISP]; Kerman Prov., 8 km N of Bordsir, 200 m, 29°95'N, 56°58'E, 6.VI.2010, (1 ♂), Mi. Halada (OLBL); Moldova, Leovo, 25.VII.1913, (1 ♂), Chernavin [ZISP]; Kazakhstan, Kokshetau Mts., 1. VII, 3.VIII.1958, (2 ♀), V. Rudolf [ZISP]; Aktobe, Berchogur [Birshoghyr], 26.VI.1910, (7 ♀, 3 ♂), L. Bubyr [ZISP]; Russia, Dagestan Rep., 20 km W of Makhachkala, Sarykum, 23–24.V.2019, (1 ♂), MP, VL [FSCV]; Crimea, Mukhalatka, VII.1902, (1 ♀), N. Kuznetzov [ZISP]; Sevastopol, 28.VII.1916, (1 ♀), Pliginski [ZISP]; idem, 7.VII.2015, (1 ♀), V. Zhidkov [ZISP]; Tarkhankut, Atlesh, 29.VII.2008, (1 ♂), AF [ZISP]; Tarkhankut, Bolshoy Kastel, 25.VII.2015, (7 ♀), AF [ZISP]; idem, on Jurinea stoechadifolia, 8.VIII.2015, (1 ♀), V. Zhidkov [ZISP]; idem, 9.VIII.2020, (2 ♀), S. Ivanov [ZISP]; Tarkhankut, Kipchak, 16.IV.2016, (3 ♀, 1 ♂), V. Zhidkov [ZISP]; Tarkhankut, Dzhangul, 26.VII.2017, (3 ♀), AF [ZISP]; Feodossia, Karadag, 15.VI.2015, (1 ♀), AF [ZISP]; Lukull Cape, 8.VII.2015, (3 ♀), AF [ZISP]; near Sudak, 27.V.2016, (1 ♂), AF [ZISP]; Krasnodar Terr., Anapa, Bolshoy Utrish, 2.VII.2018, (1 ♀), AF [ZISP]; Orenburg Prov., Orenburg, (1 ♂), coll. F. Morawitz, Epeolus transitorius Eversm. [Morawitz det.] [ZISP]; SPAIN, Andalusia, 26.VI. (1 ♀, 1 ♂) [ZISP]; Ukraine, Akkerman[=Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyi], (1 ♂), 21.VIII.1921, Petrovich [ZISP].

The main differences between Epeolus julliani and E. transitorius are outlined by Le Divelec 2021, who removed the former from synonymy with the latter. Here, we describe the structure of the male genitalia (Table 1).

The integument coloration and variability are closest to E. transitorius (see below). Unlike E. transitorius, all studied female specimens of E. julliani have a sparsely pubescent or almost glabrous clypeus (vs on that is often obscured by dense tomentum), and the lower mesepisternum is always pubescent (vs often glabrous).

North Africa, Middle East, Europe, Caucasus, Russia (south of European part, south Ural), *Kazakhstan, Iran (Bischoff 1930; Le Divelec 2021; current data).

Holotype : ♀, Uzbekistan, Kyzyl-kum [Kyzylkum desert], 10 km SW Arnasay [Lakes], 27.VIII.1979, Yu. Pesenko [ZISP]. Paratypes: 3 ♂, the same label as in the holotype; 1 ♀, Kazakhstan, Perowsk[=Qyzylorda], Syr-Darja Geb., 17.VII.1909, W. Nikolsky [ZISP]; 1 ♀, Tajikistan, Farap, NW Bukhara, 5.VII.1928, V. Gussakovskij [ZISP].

This species is most similar to Epeolus iranicus, especially with regard to the extensive red integument coloration, but can be separated from it by the uninterrupted apical bands on the metasomal terga, dense pubescence of sterna, and longer antennae (flagellomeres distinctly longer than wide in both sexes vs slightly longer than wide in females and slightly shorter than wide in males of E. iranicus). The differences between E. kyzylkumicus sp. nov. and other species of the julliani group are outlined in Table 1.

Female. Total body length 8.0 mm (Figs 1A, 2A); forewing length (without tegula) 6.0 mm.

Figure 1. 

Epeolus kyzylkumicus Astafurova, sp. nov., holotype, female (A), paratype, male (B) A, B habitus, lateral view. Scale bars: 1.0 mm.

Structure and sculpture: Head (Fig. 2B) 1.3 times as wide as long. Labrum (Fig. 2D) 1.65 (holotype) to 1.75 times (paratypes) as wide as long, angulated basally, rounded laterally and weakly concave medially, apical margin straight without medial tooth; close to apex (but not directly) with two well-visible teeth (tubercles); integument shiny, densely punctate (10–30 μm / confluent–2). Clypeus densely and finely punctate (10–15 μm / confluent–0.5), narrowly impunctate along apical margin. Frons with developed frontal keel. Frons and vertex areolate punctate (15–30 μm). Flagellomeres long, F1 1.5 times as long as wide, succeeding flagellomeres ca 1.3–1.4 times as long as wide. Mesoscutum and mesoscutellum coarsely and densely punctate (30–70 μm / confluent–0.5), small interspaces between punctures shiny and smooth. Axilla convex, apically with distinct short tooth. Mesoscutellum with deep medial longitudinal impression distinctly divided mesoscutellum on two slightly convex lobes; poste­rior margin scarcely extending over propodeum. Mesepisternum areolate-punctate (sculpture not visible under pubescence). Propodeal triangle shagreened. Metasomal terga densely and finely punctate (10–15 μm / 0.5–1), interspaces shiny and smooth; marginal zones (apical impressed area) wide, equal to length of discs. Pseudopygidial area triangular. Pygidial plate trapezoidal, apically truncate (Fig. 2C). Processes on sides of S6 normal, with short projections (Fig. 8D). Metasomal terga and sterna with punctures more or less equally dense.

Figure 2. 

Epeolus kyzylkumicus Astafurova, sp. nov., holotype, female A habitus, dorsal view B head, frontal view C S6, ventral view D labrum, frontal view E metasoma, ventral view. Scale bars: 1.0 mm (A, E); 0.5 mm (B, C); 0.3 mm (D).

Integument coloration: Body mostly reddish, but paraocular and genal areas, frons and vertex black.

Pubescence: Body with dense and mostly white tomentum (brownish only on medial part of tergal discs). Labrum with mixed thin and plumose setae. Face and genal area with dense tomentum obscuring integument, vertex with sparser and short setae. Pronotum dorsally with tomentum obscuring integument. Mesoscutum with dense tomentum peripherally and with wide paramedial strips. Metanotal integument entirely obscured by tomentum. Lower and lateral parts of thorax and propodeum laterally entirely obscured by tomentum. Legs with dense tomentum. T1 with wide basal band of tomentum connected with apical band laterally; margs of T1–T4 with uninterrupted bands of tomentum. T1–T4 discs with tomentum dense and laterally similar to that on apical margins, but somewhat sparser and brownish medially. T5 entirely obscured by tomentum. Pseudopygidial area with golden pubescence. Sterna entirely obscured by tomentum, moderate on discs and distinctly denser and longer on margins (Fig. 2E).

Male. Structure, sculpture, coloration and pubescence are similar to those of the female (Figs 1B, 3A). Total body length 6.0–7.0 mm; forewing length (without tegula) 5.5 mm. Head (Fig. 3B) ca 1.2 times as wide as long. Labrum flatter and wider than in female, 1.9 times as wide as long. F1 ca 1.3 times as long as wide, succeeding flagellomeres ca 1.2 times as long as wide. Clypeus with dense tomentum obscuring integument. Mesoscutum entirely covered by plumose setae, denser peripherally and in anterior half. Hind basitarsus boarded by sparse fringe of pale short setae (Fig. 3E). Pygidial plate (T7) shiny, coarsely and densely punctate, 1.05–1.1 times wider than long, slightly narrowed toward apex; apical margin rounded (Fig. 3D). Margins of S2 and S3 with dense uninterrupted white tomentum bands; S4 and S5 normal, with cream long setae (Fig. 3C). Genitalia as in Fig. 9C, D.

Figure 3. 

Epeolus kyzylkumicus Astafurova, sp. nov., paratype, male A habitus, dorsal view B head, frontal view C metasoma, ventral view D T7, dorsal view E hind basiratsus, dorsal view. Scale bars: 1.0 mm (A, C); 0.5 mm (B, E); 0.3 mm (D).

The specific name “kyzylkumikus” is an adjective in the nominative singular and refers to the occurrence of this species in Kyzylkum desert of Central Asia.

Kazakhstan (Qyzylorda Prov.), Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan.

Kazakhstan, Kulandy, Aral Sea, 13.VII.1900, (1 ♀, 1 ♂), L. Berg (ZMMU); Mergenevo, Ural River, 12.VII.1951, (1 ♀), Romadina [ZISP]; Tajikistan, Kulyab, 7.VIII.1933, (2 ♀), V. Popov [ZISP]; Dzhili-Kul, Vakhsh River, 12.VI.1934, (1 ♀), VG [ZISP]; Kabadian, 2.VII.1934, (1 ♀, 2 ♂), VG; Ayvadzh, 8.VIII.1934, (1 ♀), VG; Stalinabad[=Dushanbe), Botanical garden, 21.VII–8.VIII.1943, (9 ♀, 9 ♂), V. Popov [ZISP]; Kurgan-Tuybe, 14.VIII.1948, (1 ♀), V. Popov [ZISP]; Turkmenistan, Ashgabat, (1 ♀), coll. F. Morawitz, transitorius Eversm. [Morawitz det.] [ZISP]; Kara-Kala, 27.V.1953, (1 ♂), Steinberg [ZISP]; Uzbekistan, Farab, 31.V.1912, (1 ♀, 3 ♂), Golbek [ZISP]; Bukhara, 26.VI.1926, (1 ♀), V. Yakhontov [ZISP]; Khiva, 15.VI.1927, (6 ♀), VG [ZISP]; idem, 18–22.VI.1927, (1 ♀, 9 ♂), VG [ZISP]; Kattakurgan, 12.VII.1931, (1 ♀), VG [ZISP]; Dzhuma, 25–29.VI.1937, (15 ♀, 7 ♂), V. Popov [ZISP].

Russia (Buryatia Rep.), *Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan (Popov 1935, 1949, 1967; current data).

Labral tubercles in both sexes are positioned, typically, more or less close to the apical margin and rarely directly thereupon.

Females have well developed red body coloration. The labrum, clypeus, pronotal lobe, tegulae, mesepisternum, axillae, mesoscutellum, metanotum, legs, pygidial plate and sterna are always reddened. The antennae are mostly reddish, but with terminal flagellomeres usually brownish. The pronotum varies from reddish to partially black. The mesoscutum is mostly black, but red patterning sometimes also occurs laterally, or rarely it is almost entirely red-brownish. The propodeum varies from black to reddish. The metasomal terga vary from dark brown to red-brown with golden marginal zones; T5 is usually reddish.

Males are mostly black (excepting a red labrum, scape, pedicel, F1, pronotal lobe, tegulae, legs and pygidial plate). The clypeus is red (entirely or only in apical half). The mesepisternum, axillae and mesoscutellum are typically black, but sometimes can be partially or entirely red. The sterna vary from brownish to reddish. The pygidial plate apical margin is typically more or less bilobed, sometimes rather straight.

Holotype : ♀, Russia, Buryatia Republic, Gusinoye Lake, Baraty, 25.VII.2007, A. Lelej, M. Proshchalykin, V. Loktionov [ZISP]; Paratypes: 1 ♀, 1 ♂, the same label as in the holotype [FSCV/ZISP]; 6 ♀, 1 ♂, the same label as in the holotype, but 26.VII.2007 [FSCV/ZISP]; 1 ♂, Naushki, Selenga River, 30.VII.2007, A. Lelej, M. Proshchalykin, V. Loktionov [ZISP].

China, Beijing, park of the Summer Palace, 18.VIII.1954, (1 ♀), G. Bey-Bienko [ZISP]; Mongolia, Khutag, Selenga River, 25.VII.1975, (1 ♂), E. Narchuk [ZISP]; 200 km SEE of Baruun-Urt, Moltsoy Els, 1250 m, 27.VII.2007, (3 ♀, 14 ♂), M. Kadlecova, M. Halada, P. Tymer [OLBL]; 100 km NE of Ondorkhaan, Kerulen River, 970 m, 22.VII.2007, (3 ♂), M. Kadlecova [OLBL]; 100 km W Choibalsan, 820 m, 23.VII.2007, (1 ♂), M. Halada [OLBL]; 15 km W Choibalsan, Kerulen River, 770 m, 24.VII.2007, (1 ♂), M. Halada [OLBL].

This species is most similar to Epeolus transitorius, with which it uniquely shares a deep depression in the anteromedian area of the mesepisternum, but can be separated from it by the position of the subpleural signum on a small elevated plate (Fig. 8C) and the presence of a strong, sharp carina on the mesepisternum lateral to the anteromedian depression (Fig. 8B) (vs weak rounded corners, Fig. 8A). The differences between Epeolus rasmonti sp. nov., E. transitorius and other species of the julliani group are outlined in Table 1.

Female. Total body length 7.0–9.0 mm (Figs 4, 5A); forewing length (without tegula) 6.0–7.0mm.

Figure 4. 

Epeolus rasmonti Astafurova & Proshchalykin, sp. nov., holotype, female, habitus, lateral view. Scale bar: 1.0 mm.

Structure and sculpture: Head (Fig. 5B) 1.3 times as wide as long. Labrum (Fig. 5C) 1.55 times as wide as long, more or less rounded basally and laterally, weakly concave medially, apical margin straight without medial tooth; apically with two well-visible carina-shaped teeth (tubercles); integument shiny, areolate punctate (10–30 μm). Clypeus densely and finely punctate (10–15 μm / confluent–0.5), narrowly impunctate along apical margin. Frons with developed frontal keel. Frons and vertex coarsely and areolate punctate (30–40 μm). F1 long, ca 1.5 times as long as wide, F2 distinctly shorter than F1 (1.0–1.1 times as long as wide), succeeding flagellomeres slightly longer than wide (ca 1.2 times). Mesoscutum and mesoscutellum coarsely and mostly areolate punctate (30–70 μm), a few small interspaces between punctures shiny and smooth. Axilla slightly convex laterally, apically with distinct short tooth. Mesoscutellum with shallow medial longitudinal impression; poste­rior margin scarcely extending over propodeum. Mesepisternum areolate punctate on upper half and with dull, delicately shagreened interspaces on lower part; anteromedian area with deep depression, laterally from anteromedian depression with strong sharp carina (Fig. 8B). Propodeal triangle shagreened. Metasomal terga densely and finely punctate (10–15 μm / confluent–1), interspaces shiny; marginal zones wide, equal to length of discs. Pseudopygidial area narrow, linear. Pygidial plate trapezoidal, apically truncate. Processes on sides of S6 normal, with short projections. Metasomal terga and sterna with punctures more or less equally dense (Fig. 5D).

Figure 5. 

Epeolus rasmonti Astafurova & Proshchalykin, sp. nov., holotype, female A habitus, dorsal view B head, frontal view C labrum, frontal view D metasoma, ventral view. Scale bars: 1.0 mm (A, D); 0.5 mm (B); 0.3 mm (C).

Integument coloration: Head mostly black, but mandibles (excluding darker apex), labrum, clypeus along apical margin, scape and F1 reddish (amber). Mesosoma mostly black; pronotal lobe, tegulae, axillae, mesoscutellum, metanotum medially and legs (including spurs) reddish (amber); wings with brownish darkening, stigma and veins brown. Mesepisternum partially reddish (usually in middle part, lower scobal area). Metasomal terga black; marginal zones brownish to dark-golden apically. Py­gidial plate reddish with brownish edging. Sterna brownish to reddish; margins golden.

Pubescence: Body with relatively sparse pubescence; tomentum white, except black on tergal discs. Labrum with thin sparse setae. Paraocular area with dense tomentum obscuring integument; remaining part of face and vertex with sparse thin pubescence. Upper half of frons with relatively long erect simple setae mixed with adpressed sparse plumose pubescence. Genal area with relatively dense plumose setae, but not obscuring integument. Pronotum dorsally with tomentum obscuring integument, but medially setae sparse and short. Mesoscutum with dense tomentum peripherally and with narrow paramedial strips. Mesepisternum with sparse, short plumose pubescence or glabrous on lower part and with relatively dense and longer plumose pubescence on upper half. Metanotal integument obscured by tomentum except medially. Legs with sparse pubescence. T1 with basal band of tomentum interrupted medially and connected with apical band laterally; margins of T1–T4 with widely interrupted bands of tomentum. Black tomentum on T1–T4 discs and in interrupted area sparser than pale tomentum. T5 obscured by white tomentum laterally and black medially. Pseudopygidial area with white pubescence. Discs of metasomal sterna with short brownish plumose setae, sparse on S2 and entirely obscured by tomentum on S3–S5; margins with dense and pale tomentum interrupted medially.

Male. Structure, sculpture, coloration and are similar to those of the female (Figs 6, 7), but pubescence more developed. Total body length 5.5–8.0 mm; forewing length (without tegula) 6.0–6.5 mm. F1 1.3–1.4 times as long as wide, succeeding flagellomeres ca 1.1 times as long as wide. Labrum with dense, plumose setae medially. Face obscured by plumose tomentum, but on upper frons sparser and mixed with long setae (Fig. 7B). Mesoscutum with paramedial strips wider than in female. Axillae and mesoscutellum black or reddish. Mesepisternum mostly areolate-punctate, with shiny, smooth interspaces on lower part; entirely obscured by tomentum. Hind basitarsus boarded by dense fringe of long golden setae (Fig. 7C). Metasomal terga with apical bands narrower interrupted than in female. Pygidial plate (T7) reddish, shiny, coarsely and densely punctate, ca 1.2 times wider than long, narrowed toward apex; apical margin rounded, slightly bilobed or almost straight (Fig. 7D). Margins of S2 and S3 with dense uninterrupted white tomentum bands; S4 and S5 normal, with gold long setae. Genitalia as on Fig. 9G, H.

Figure 6. 

Epeolus rasmonti Astafurova & Proshchalykin, sp. nov., paratype, male A, B habitus, lateral view (A) ventral view (B). Scale bars: 1.0 mm.

Figure 7. 

Epeolus rasmonti Astafurova & Proshchalykin, sp. nov., paratype, male A habitus, dorsal view B head, frontal view C hind basiratsus, dorsal view D T7, dorsal view. Scale bars: 1.0 mm (A); 0.5 mm (B–D).

The specific epithet is a patronym honoring our colleague and friend Prof. Pierre Rasmont (University of Mons, Belgium) on the occasion of his 65^th birthday and in recognition of his many contri­butions to the study of bee diversity.

(Fig. 10). Russia (Buryatia Rep.), Mongolia (Bulgan, Dornod, Khentii, Sukhbaatar), China (Beijing).

Azerbaijan, Araxesthal[=Nakhchivan Republic, near Ordubad], (1 ♀), Reitter leg. [ZISP]; Kazakhstan, Tartugay, 3–15.VI.1929, (3 ♀, 2 ♂), A. Shestakov [ZISP]; Charyn valley, W Chundza, 650 m, 43°37'N, 79°21'E, 29–31.V.2001, (2 ♀), M. Hauser [OLBL]; 30 km ENE Shelek, 43°41.24'N, 78°38.50'E, 500 m, on Tamarix sp., 2.VIII.2002, (1 ♂), M. Kuhlmann [OLBL]; 3 km NE Boradysu, 30 km E Shelek, 19.VI.2003, (1 ♀), V. Kazenas [ZISP]; Charyn valley, 12 km W Chundzha, 12.VI.2004, (1 ♀, 1 ♂), V. Kazenas [ZISP]; Tajikistan, Dushanbe, 1931, (1 ♀, 1 ♂), N. Fursov [ZISP]; Turkmenistan, Kopetdag, 12 km SW Kyzyl-Arvat, 24.V.1953, (1 ♂), Odintzova [ZISP].

Azerbaijan, *Kazakhstan, *Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Iran, Israel (Bogusch 2021; current records).

Records from Bogusch (2021: 59) from Iran (“Anaesthal”) belong to specimens collected in Araxesthal, Azerbaijan, near Ordubad (see, Reitter 1890, 1905).

Females have well developed red body coloration, including the labrum, clypeus, pronotal lobe, tegulae, mesepisternum, axillae, mesoscutellum, metanotum, legs, pygidial plate and sterna. The antennae are brownish with the scape, pedicel and F1 entirely reddish. The mesoscutum is mostly black, sometimes with small red patterning peripherally and a pair red stripes posteriorly. The propodeum varies from entirely reddish to entirely black. The tergal discs vary from brownish to reddish. The males are mostly black, except the red labrum, scape, pedicel, F1, pronotal lobe, tegulae, legs and pygidial plate. The axillae and mesoscutellum are black or red. Tergal discs vary from black to brownish, and sterna from brownish to reddish.

Italia, Sicilia, (2 ♀), coll. F. Morawitz [ZISP]; Sicilia, 35 km SW Ragusa, 18–22.VI.2002, (1 ♂), J. Halada (OLBL).

Italia (Sicilia) (Giordani Soika 1944).

Georgia, Tiflis[=Tbilisi], (1 ♀), coll. F. Morawitz, transitorius Eversm. [Morawitz det.] [ZISP]; Kazakhstan, Zaysan, IX.1908, (1 ♂), coll. Gussakovskij [ZISP]; Fort Aleksandrovsk[=Fort-Shevchenko], 5.VII.1909, (1 ♂), Nasonov [ZISP]; Berchogur[=Birshoghyr], 26.VI.1910, (1 ♂), L. Bubyr [ZISP]; Chernoretsk, 11.VII.1925, (2 ♂), coll. Gussakovskij [ZISP]; near Chelkar Lake, Bolshiye Barsuki desert, 20.VI–10.VII., (1 ♀) [ZMMU]; Yanvartsevo, 19.VI–17.VIII.1950, (1 ♀, 5 ♂), V. Rudolf [ZISP]; 10 km N Zharkol Lake, 9.VII.1950, (2 ♀), V. Rudolf [ZISP]; Tengiz Lake, 3.VII.1957, (2 ♂), V. Rudolf [ZISP]; Kokshetau, on Allium glabrosum, 11.VII.1958, (1 ♀), V. Rudolf [ZISP]; 50 km E Balkhash Lake, 26–27.VI.1992, (1 ♀, 2 ♂), J. Halada [OLBL]; 5 km W Shardara, 250 m, 41°16'N, 67°53'E, 23–24.V.2016, (1 ♀, 1 ♂), J. Halada [OLBL]; Russia, Astarakhan Prov., 35 km NNE of Astrakhan, 26.VII.2015, (1 ♀, 6 ♂), MP, VL, S. Belokobylskij, M. Mokrousov [ZISP]; Altai Terr., Novovoznesenka, 11.VII.1922, (2 ♂), A. Reygardt [ZISP]; Crimea, 8 km N of Dmitrovka, 5.VI.2018, (1 ♀), V. Savchuk [ZISP]; Mirny, Donuslav Lake, 17.VII.2017, (1 ♀), AF [ZISP]; Dagestan Rep., 20 km W of Makhachkala, Sarykum, 20–29.V.2019, (2 ♀, 1 ♂), MP, VL [FSCV]; Kalmykia Rep., 22 km E of Yashkul, 16–18.VII.2015, (1 ♀, 2 ♂) MP, VL, S. Belokobylskij, M. Mokrousov [FSCV/ZISP]; 17 km SWW of Artezian, Kuma River, 18–24.VII.2015, (2 ♀, 9 ♂), MP, VL, S. Belokobylskij, M. Mokrousov [FSCV/ZISP]; Orenburg Prov., Mayachnaya, 4.VIII.1993, (1 ♀), L. Zimin [ZMMU]; Orenburg, 9.VIII–3.IX.1926, (6 ♀, 1 ♂), P.A. Vorontzovskiy [ZISP]; Volgograd Prov., Sarepta, (2 ♀, 2 ♂), coll. F. Morawitz [ZISP]; Tinguta, 11.VIII.1952, (2 ♂), G. Viktorov [ZMMU]; Tajikistan, Yagnob River, (1 ♂), coll. F. Morawitz, transitorius Eversm. [Morawitz det.] [ZISP]; Stalinabad[=Dushanbe], 18.VII.1936, (2 ♀), VG [ZISP]; idem, 15.VII.1943, (2 ♀, 1 ♂), V. Popov [ZISP]; Ukraine, Yareski, 21.VII.1922, (2 ♀), coll. V. Gussakovskij [ZISP]; Kharkov, (1 ♂), coll. F. Morawitz, transitorius Eversm. [Morawitz det.] [ZISP]; Uzbekistan, Kurgan-Tyube[=Kurgantepa], Fergana, 27.V., 17.VII.1938, (1 ♀, 1 ♂), V. Popov [ZISP].

Figure 8. 

Epeolus transitorius Eversmann, 1852, female (A), E. rasmonti Astafurova & Proshchalykin, sp. nov., paratype, female (B, C), E. kyzylkumicus Astafurova, sp. nov., female (D) A, B lower mesepisternum, ventral view C subpleural signum (arrow), ventral view D S6, lateral view. Scale bars: 0.5 mm (A, B); 0.3 mm (C, D).

Females typically have well developed red body coloration. The labrum, pronotal lobe, tegulae, metanotum (medially), legs, and sterna are always red. The clypeus is usually red, but rarely can be mostly black or dark brownish (except with a red apical margin). The antennae are typically brownish with a red scape, pedicel and F1. The pronotum varies from black to partially red. The mesoscutum is mostly black, but red patterning sometimes also occurs laterally. Coloration of the mesepisternum varies from entirely red to partially black. The axillae and mesoscutellum are usually red, but rarely black peripherally. The terga are black or brownish, but T5 apically is typically red; sometimes red patterning occurs also on the anterior half of T1 and along margins. Pubescences of female is moderate. The face (except upper half of frons) is often obscured by dense tomentum, but 45% of specimens examined have the clypeus with sparse pubescence or almost glabrous. The mesepisternum is densely tomentose on the upper half and with sparse pubescence or glabrous below the scobal suture.

Figure 9. 

Male, genitalia A, C, E, G, I genital capsule, dorsal view B, D, F, H, J penis, dorsal view A, B Epeolus seraxensis Radoszkowski, 1893 C, D Epeolus kyzylkumicus Astafurova, sp. nov. E, F E. julliani Pérez, 1884 G, H E. rasmonti Astafurova & Proshchalykin, sp. nov. I, J E. laticauda Bischoff, 1930. Scale bars: 0.5 mm.

The males do not show significant variability. The body is mostly black, but the labrum, scape, pedicel, pronotal lobe, tegulae, legs and pygidial plate are red. The clypeus is black or with red patterning apically. The axillae and mesoscutellum are usually black, often with red axillar teeth, sometimes partially red on mesoscutellum. The sterna are black or brownish to red along margins; marginal zones are golden. The pygidial plate is apically rounded, sometimes more or less straight or slightly bilobed.

(Fig. 10). Greece, Georgia, Ukraine, Russia (south of European part, south Ural, SW Siberia), Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan (Le Divelec 2021; current data).

Figure 10. 

Distribution of Epeolus transitorius Eversmann (red dots) and E. rasmonti Astafurova & Proshchalykin, sp. nov. (blue dots).

The previous records of Epeolus transitorius from North Africa, Europe, Caucasus and Iran (Friese 1893, 1895; Bischoff 1930; Popov 1967; Bogusch and Hadrava 2018; Bogusch 2021) are mostly wrong (see Le Divelec 2021). Records from Morawitz (1875: 144, from Tajikistan [=Levchenko et al. 2017: 317, as Uzbekistan]) belongs to E. michailovi Astafurova & Proshchalykin, 2021; records from Turkmenistan (Levchenko et al. 2017: 317) refer to E. seraxensis Radoszkowski, 1893.