Bidecoloratilla iberica Suarez 1958, comb. nov.
Creators: name: Turrisi, Giuseppe Fabrizio
name: Palmerini, Maurizio Matteini
name: Brothers, Denis J.
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2015
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Hymenoptera
Mutillidae
Bidecoloratilla
Bidecoloratilla iberica

description: Bidecoloratilla iberica (Suárez, 1958), comb. nov.
(Figs 22–24)
Myrmilla chiesii [sic] iberica Suárez, 1958a: 92 (♂, ♀).
Myrmilla chiesii [sic] iberica f. obscura Suárez, 1958a: 95 (♂, ♀) (infrasubspecific, name unavailable).
Myrmilla chiesii [sic] iberica f. rufonotata Suárez, 1958a: 95 (♂, ♀) (infrasubspecific, name unavailable).
Myrmilla chiesii [sic] iberica var. nana Suárez, 1958a: 96 (♂, ♀) (infrasubspecific, name unavailable).
Bisigilla Chiesii [sic] iberica: Invrea 1964: 81 (♂, ♀).
Myrmilla chiesii [sic] iberica: Erlandsson 1974: 29 (catalogued).
Bisigilla chiesii [sic] iberica: Bordoni 1980: 180 (♂, ♀); Monastra 1990: 211 (♂).
Bisigilla iberica: Matteini Palmerini 1992: 200 (♂, ♀).
Blakeius ibericus: Turrisi 1999: 126 (listed).
Blakeius chiesi ibericus: Lelej 2002: 30 (catalogued); Pagliano & Strumia 2007: 47 (♂, ♀); Pagliano & Matteini Palmerini 2014: 177 (listed).
Type locality. “El Escorial (Madrid)” (Spain).
Type material examined. Holotype: ♂ labelled “Holotipo / El Escorial, Madrid-Espana, J. Suárez leg., 28.VIII.1953 / Myrmilla chiesii subsp. iberica nov. ♂, J. Suárez det. 1956, Holotipo / MNCN Cat. Tipos N° 11610 / MNCN _Ent, N° Cat. 59489” (MNCN). Paratypes: 1♀ labelled “Paratipo / El Escorial, Prov. Madrid, Suárez leg., 6.VII.50 / Paratypus, Myrmilla chiesii var. iberica / Museo Genova, coll. F. Invrea (acquisto 1973)” (MSNG); 1♂, labelled “Paratipo / El Escorial, Madrid-Espana, J. Suárez leg., 28.VIII.1953 / Myrmilla chiesii subsp. iberica nov., ♂, J. Suárez det. 195[6], Paratipo / MNCN Cat. Tipos N° 11610 / MNCN _Ent, N° Cat. 59493” (MNCN); 1♂, labelled “Paratipo / El Escorial, Madrid-Espana, J. Suárez leg., 28.VIII.1953 / Myrmilla chiesii subsp. iberica nov., ♂, J. Suárez det. 1956, Paratipo / M.N.C.N. Madrid” (MNCN); 1♂ labelled “Paratipo / Paterna, Alpujarras (Alm.), J. Suárez coll., 13.VII.1951 / Myrmilla chiesii ssp. iberica Suár. ♂, J. Suárez det. 1956 / Museo Civico di Genova / Myrmilla leopoldina iberica Suárez ♂, B. Petersen det. 1987 / Museo Genova, coll. F. Invrea (acquisto 1973)” (MSNG); 1♀, labelled “Paratipo / Paterna, Alpujarras (Alm.), J. Suárez coll., 15.VI.1953 / Myrmilla chiesii subsp. iberica nov. ♀, J. Suárez det. 1956, Paratipo / MNCN Cat. Tipos N° 11610 / MNCN _Ent, N° Cat. 59517” (MNCN); 1♀ labelled “Paratipo / El Garma Kebdana, Melilla (Marruecos), Pardo Alcaide, XI.1949 / Myrmilla chiesii subsp. nov. ♀, J. Suárez det. 1956, Paratipo / MNCN, Cat. Tipos N°11610 / MNCN _Ent, N° Cat. 59501” (MNCN); 1♂ labelled “Paratipo / La Joya, Almeria (Espana), J. Suárez leg., 7.VIII.55 / Myrmilla chiesii ssp. iberica Suár. ♂, J. Suárez det. 1956 / Museo Civico di Genova / Myrmilla leopoldina iberica Suárez ♂, B. Petersen det. 1987 / Museo Genova, coll. F. Invrea (acquisto 1973)” (MSNG); 1♀ labelled “Paratipo / Busquistar, Granada (Espana), J. Suárez leg., 7.VII.50 / Myrmilla chiesii ssp. iberica Suárez ♀, J. Suárez det. 1956 / Museo Genova, coll. F. Invrea (acquisto 1973)” (MSNG); 1♂ labelled “Paratipo / Laujar, Almería-Espana, J. Suárez coll., VII.1952 / Myrmilla chiesii subsp. iberica nov., ♂, J. Suárez det. 1956, Paratipo / MNCN, Cat. Tipos N°11610 / MNCN _Ent, N° Cat. 59495” (MNCN); 1♀ labelled “Paratipo / Laujar (Almeria), 6.IV.1951, I. Lucas col / Paratypus, Myrmilla chiesii var. iberica / Museo Genova, coll. F. Invrea (acquisto 1973)” (MSNG); 1♀ labelled “Paratipo / Madrid (Espana), Viana leg., 22.VII.53 / Paratypus, Myrmilla chiesii var. iberica / Museo Genova, coll. F. Invrea (acquisto 1973)” (MSNG).
Additional material examined of infrasubspecific names. Myrmilla chiesii iberica var. nana: 1♂ labelled “Holotipo / La Joya, Almería (Espana), J. Suárez leg., 19.VII.1953 / Myrmilla chiesii var. nana nov. var. ♂, J. Suárez det. 1956, Paratipo / MNCN Cat Tipos N°12308 / MNCN _Ent, N° Cat. 59544 / Bidecoloratilla iberica (Suárez 1958) ♂, Turrisi G.F. & Matteini Palmerini M. det. 2011” (MNCN); 1♂ labelled “Paratipo / La Joya, Almería (Espana), J. Suárez leg., 19.VII.1953 / Myrmilla chiesii var. nana nov. var. ♂, J. Suárez det. 1956, Paratipo / MNCN Cat Tipos N°12308 / MNCN _Ent, N° Cat. 59544 / Bidecoloratilla iberica (Suárez 1958) ♂, Turrisi G.F. & Matteini Palmerini M. det. 2011” (MNCN); 1♀ labelled “Alotipo / La Joya, Almería (Espana), J. Suárez leg., 19.VII.1953 / Myrmilla chiesii var. nana nov. var. ♀, J. Suárez det. 1956, Holotipo / M.N.C.N. Madrid / Bidecoloratilla iberica (Suárez 1958), Turrisi G.F. & Matteini Palmerini M. det. 2011” (MNCN). Myrmilla chiesii iberica f. obscura: 1♀ labelled “Paratipo / La Canada, Almería, 1950, Cobos Sánchez leg. / M. chiesii ssp. iberica nov. f. obscura nov. ♀, J. Suárez det. 195, Paratipo / MNCN, Cat. Tipos N°12310 / MNCN _Ent, N° Cat. 59538” (MNCN); 1♂ labelled “Paratipo / La Canada, Almería (Espana), J. Suárez leg., 11.VII.55 / M. chiesii ssp. iberica nov. f. obscura nov. ♂, J. Suárez det. 1956, Paratipo / MNCN, Cat. Tipos N°12310 / MNCN _Ent, N° Cat. 59533” (MNCN); 1♀ labelled “Paratipo / Gérgal, Almería (Espana), J. Suárez leg., 28.VI.56 / M. chiesii ssp. iberica nov. f. obscura nov. ♀, J. Suárez det. 1956, Paratipo / MNCN, Cat. Tipos N°12310 / MNCN _Ent, N° Cat. 59537” (MNCN); 1♂ labelled “Paratipo / Gérgal, Almería (Espana), J. Suárez coll., 2.VII.1955 / M. chiesii ssp. iberica nov. f. obscura nov. ♂, J. Suárez det. 1956, Paratipo / MNCN, Cat. Tipos N°12310 / MNCN _Ent, N° Cat. 59531” (MNCN); 1♂ labelled “Paratipo / Gérgal, Almería (Espana), J. Suárez leg., 28.VI.56 / M. chiesii ssp. iberica nov. f. obscura nov. ♂, J. Suárez det. 1956, Paratipo / M.N.C.N. Madrid” (MNCN); 1♂ labelled “Paratipo / Gérgal, Almería (Espana), J. Suárez leg., 19.VI.56 / M. chiesii ssp. iberica nov. f. obscura nov. ♂, J. Suárez det. 195, Paratipo / M.N.C.N. Madrid” (MNCN). Myrmilla chiesii iberica f. rufonotata: 1♂ labelled “Holotipo / Laujar, Almería, Espana, J. Suárez coll., 29.VIII.1943 / Myrmilla chiesii Spinola, det. Giner Marí / M. chiesii ssp. iberica nov. f. rufonotata nov. ♂, J. Suárez det. 1956, Holotipo / M.N.C.N. Madrid” (MNCN); 1♀ labelled “Paratipo / Jaén (Espana), VIII.1952, L.C. Martínez leg. / M. chiesii ssp. iberica nov. f. rufonotata nov. ♀, J. Suárez det. 1956, Paratipo / M.N.C.N. Madrid” (MNCN).
Additional material examined. SPAIN: 1♂, Madrid, Villa, 20.vi. [18]94, Coll. Ernest André, 1914 (MNHN); 1♀, Madrid, Coll. Ernest André, 1914 (MNHN); 1♂, Barcelona, Coll. Ernest André (MNHN); 1♂, Barcelona, Antiga, 16.viii. [1]901, Coll. Ernest André, 1914 (MNHN); 1♀, Pedralbes [Barcelona], vii.[18]95, Coll. J. De Gaulle, 1919 (MNHN); 1♀, Catalogna, Granollers, 26.iv.1949, J. Volkhemer leg. (MSNG); 2♀, Catalogna, Barcellona, spring 1950, Volkhemer leg. (MSNG); 1♀, Albanchez (Almería), 24.vi.1949, Suárez Egea leg. (MSNG); 1♀, La Cañada (Almería), 4.iv.1950, Suárez Egea leg. (MSNG); 1♂, Sevilla, 1893, A. Cabrera leg (MSNG); 1♀, same locality, vi.1893 (MNCN); 1♂, same data except Coll. Ernest André, 1914 (MNHN); 2♂, Los Molinos, G. Mercet leg. (MSNG); 1♂, same data (MNCN); 1♂, Laujar, Almería, 6.viii.1958, Coll. J. Suárez (MNCN); 1♂, same locality, 10.vii.1960, J. Suárez coll. / Myrmilla chiesii iberica Suár., J. Suárez det., 1976 (IBSS); 1♀, Montes Universales, Guadalaviar., Teruel, vii.1958, A. Cobos coll. (MNCN); 1♀, Montarco, Arias [leg.] (MNCN); 1♀, Molinicos, Coll. G. Mercet (MNCN); 1♀, Tijola, Almería, 1900, Escalera [leg.], Coll. G. Mercet (MNCN); 1♀, S.ra de Rinda [= Sierra de Ronda], Escalera [leg.], Coll. G. Mercet (MNCN); 1♀, Villaviciosa, Escalera [leg.], Coll. G. Mercet (MNCN); 1♀, Torrente, Valencia, F. Moroder [leg.], Coll. G. Mercet (MNCN); 1♀, Caballino, Vacela [= Varela], Coll. G. Mercet (MNCN); 1♂, Ruidera, Ciudad Real, 7.viii.1970, Coll. J. Suárez (MNCN); 1♀, Andalusia, Granada, 10.ix.1988, M. Matteini Palmerini leg. (MPCR); 1♀, 19♂, Andalusia, Sierra Nevada, Picacho de la Veleta, 9.ix.1988, M. Matteini Palmerini leg. (MPCR); 1♀, Andalusia, Rio Aguas (Mojacar), 11–24.vi.2002, M. Berra leg. (MRCP); 1♂, Andalusia, Fiumara della Playa, De El Algarrobico, Carboneras, 26–27.vi.2002, M. Berra leg. (MRCP); 5♀, 2♂, Alicante, 5–15.vii. [19]73, K. Guichard [leg.] (BMNH); 1♀, Gibr[altar], coll. E. Saunders, 1910 (BMNH); 1♂, Spain [without other data], Coll. Ernest André, 1914 (MNHN); 1♀, Cerfor, Coll. O. Sichel, 1867 (MNHN); 1♀, 1♂, Alicante, 5–15.vii. [19]73, K. Guichard [leg.] [det. by D.J. Brothers] (DJBC); 1♀, Torredembarra, 17.viii.1980, Pagino leg. / Myrmilla chiesii iberica Suár., J. Suárez det., 1981 (IBSS); 1♂, Villafranca del Bierzo (León), 19.vii.1974, J. Suárez coll. / Myrmilla chiesii iberica Suár., J. Suárez det., 1976 (IBSS); 1♂, Daimiel, Siudad-Real, 23.viii.1973, J. Suárez coll. / Myrmilla chiesii iberica Suár., J. Suárez det., 1976 (IBSS); 1♂, Corrotera de Felix, Almeria, 12.ix.1972, W. Wiltschko / Myrmilla chiesii iberica Suár., J. Suárez det., 1976 (IBSS). PORTUGAL: 1♂, Caparica, 18.vii. [19]82, K. Guichard [leg.] (BMNH); 1♂, Porto Leca da Palmeira, 10.viii.1962, J. Abraham & L. Horacsek [leg.] (BMNH). FRANCE: 1♂, Herault, Plan Gouvier, Clapiers, 15.vii.1996, A. Foucart leg. (UCTC). ITALY: 1♀, Marche, alluvione del Tronto, 1.ix.1938, A. Martelli leg. (MSNG); 1♀, Apulia, Lecce, Presicce, 20.viii.1979, A. Scupola leg. (MPCR); 4♀♀, 1♂, Apulia, Lecce, Santa Cesarea Terme, 20–30.vii.1989, M. Matteini Palmerini leg. (MPCR); 1♀, Molise, Campobasso, Montemitro, 7–9.ix.1986, M. Matteini Palmerini leg. (MPCR); 1♀, Calabria, Sant’Eufemia, 10.v.1951, Binaghi leg. (MSNG); 1♀, Calabria, Aspromonte, Bagaladi, 1200 m, 23.vii.1957, C. Conci leg. (MSNG); 2♀, Calabria, Sambiase, v.1920, C. Menozzi leg. (MSNG); 21♀, 7♂, Calabria, Vibo Valentia, Pizzo Calabro, 1–12.ix.1985, M. Matteini Palmerini leg. (MPCR); 2♀, 1♂, same data except ix.1989 (MPCR); 1♀, 3♂, Calabria, Cosenza, Cariati, 10.ix.1986, M. Matteini Palmerini leg. (MPCR); 1♂, Sicily, Etna, Catania, Linguaglossa, 25.viii.1996, G.F. Turrisi leg. (UCTC). MOROCCO: 2♀, Isaguen, [= Issaguen] 1500 m, vi.1941, Pardo Alcaide leg., Coll. Giner Marí (MNCN); 1♀, Isaguen, without other data, Pardo [leg.] (MNCN); 1♀, Tanger, M. Escalera [leg.] (MNCN); 1♀, same locality, Coll. Ernest André, 1914 (MNHN); 1♀, Taforalt, Oujda (Eastern Morocco), 21.iv.1963, Pardo Alcaide [leg.] (MNCN); 1♀, Melilla, Pardo Alcaide [leg.] (MNCN); 1♀, Mazuza, Melilla, ix.1956, Pardo Alcaide [leg.] (MNCN); 1♀, Tizi s’Tkrine, Dj. Ahmar (Central Atlas), 1700 m, 3–10 and 21.vi.[19]28, Mission F. Le Cerf (MNHN); 2♂, Ifrane 1650 m (Central Atlas), viii.[19]42, Bleton [leg.] (MNCN); 2♀, Taurirt, B. Sicar-Marruecos, A. Pardo coll., vi.1973 / Myrmilla (Blakeius) chiesii iberica Suár., J. Suárez det., 1974 (IBSS); 1♀, same locality, 26.vii.1972, A. Pardo coll. / Myrmilla (Blakeius) chiesii iberica Suár., J. Suárez det., 1974 (IBSS); 1♀, same locality, A. Pardo coll., 19.vi.1973 / Myrmilla (Blakeius) chiesii iberica Suár., J. Suárez det., 1974 (IBSS). ALGERIA: 1♀, 1♂, Oran, Coll. Ernest André, 1914 (MNHN). TUNISIA: 1♀, Kairouan, 31.v. [19]04, Santschi [leg.], Coll. Ernest André, 1914 (MNHN); 1♀, Kairouan, Hajeb, 25.v.1986, G. Sama & G. Magnani leg., at light (MPCR); 3♀, Gabes, 15.ix.1987, M. Matteini Palmerini leg. (MPCR); 2♂, Gafsa, 26.ix.1987, M. Matteini Palmerini leg. (MPCR).
Redescription. ♀ (paratype, Morocco: Melilla). Length: 5.0 mm. Colour. Head dark reddish brown with moderately dense mixed erect dark brown setae and recumbent whitish to light brown setae, more dense on vertex, forming weakly defined irregular spot; antennal rim (tubercle) reddish orange; clypeus light reddish orange with apical teeth darker; mandible light reddish orange with inner margin darker and apex blackish; antenna with A1 and A2 reddish orange, remaining part much darker; mesosoma reddish orange, except margin of scutum, sides and ventral part, darker; legs dark reddish to reddish orange distally; metasoma blackish with moderately dense, long, mixed erect and recumbent whitish and blackish setae; T2 with two round wide cuticular faint yellow spots, very close to anterior margin, diameter of each spot more than their distance from each other; T3 and T4 with broad whitish pubescent band, entire. Head weakly shiny, with coarse, deep and dense punctures (distance between punctures 0.5–1.5 × puncture diameter), less dense on frons; head width/length: 1.09; head width/pronotum width: 1.27; genal area (dorsal view) moderately long, margin slightly square toward occiput; gena (lateral view) with lower half slim, strongly angulate, with fair evident denticle; gena length/eye length: 1.00; frontal carina not touching inner margin of eye; antennal rim well exposed, recognizable in dorsal view; supra-antennal tooth absent; clypeus triangle shaped, moderately wide (axis of lateral process slightly less than antennal insertion), prominent dorsally, anterior margin weakly concave with moderately developed acute denticle laterally; postgena (behind oral fossa) weakly concave; oral fossa long (width less than length); mandible tridentate, without inner basal tooth; inner apical tooth equal in size to mid apical tooth; ratios A2:A3:A4 = 5:8:4. Mesosoma length/width: 1.3; coarsely punctate dorsally and laterally on propodeum, remaining sides polished and shiny with scattered coarse punctures on mesopleuron; humeral angle square, slightly pointed, with epomial carina very weak, far from pronotal spiracle; fore coxa slender, apex bearing acute ventral denticle; mid and hind tibia with three dorsal pre-apical spines arranged in single row. Metasoma ovoidal, slender, weakly shiny, punctate, punctures very dense, moderately coarse to coarse (on cuticular spots); T2 1.18 × as wide as long; S6 flat.
♂ (holotype). Length: 5.7 mm. Colour. Head blackish to dark reddish brown with moderately dense mixed erect and recumbent brownish setae, recumbent setae denser on vertex; antennal rim (tubercle) light reddish orange; clypeus dark reddish orange; mandible light reddish orange with inner margin darker and apex blackish; antenna with A1 and A2 reddish orange, remaining part much darker; mesosoma reddish orange, except side and ventral part darker; legs dark reddish to reddish orange distally; metasoma blackish with moderately dense, long, mixed erect and recumbent whitish and blackish setae; T2 with two round moderately wide cuticular faint yellow spots, very close to anterior margin, diameter of each spot about equal to their distance from each other; T3 and T4 with broad whitish pubescent band, entire. Head weakly shiny, with coarse, deep and dense punctures (distance between punctures 0.5–1.0 × puncture diameter), less dense on frons; head width/length: 1.14; head width/ pronotum width: 1.33; genal area (dorsal view) moderately long, margin slightly convergent and slightly square toward occiput; gena (lateral view) convex, not angulate, without denticle; gena length/eye length: 1.23; longitudinal frontal furrow absent; antennal rim well exposed, recognizable in dorsal view; clypeus triangle shaped, moderately wide (axis of lateral process about at level of antennal insertion), regularly convex dorsally, anterior margin fairly concave with weak denticle laterally; ocelli well developed, distance between anterior and posterior ocelli equal to distance between posterior ocelli; OOL:POL = 1.25:1.00; postgena (behind oral fossa) weakly concave; oral fossa long (width less than length); mandible tridentate, with a wide and prominent inner basal tooth, quite larger than inner apical tooth; ratios A2:A3:A4 = 5:9:8. Mesosoma length/width: 1.8; coarsely punctate dorsally, except propodeum, coarsely areolate-rugose, mesopleuron concave, shiny, mostly polished to punctate; humeral angle squared angulate, slightly pointed; sutures of mesoscutum reduced but well distinct; mesoscutum flat; mesoscutellum weakly defined, flat; propodeum (dorsal view) fairly more than pronotum width; tegula subcircular strongly reduced weakly recognizable; wings completely absent; fore coxa slender; mid and hind tibia without pre-apical spines. Metasoma ovoidal, slender, weakly shiny, punctate, punctures very dense, moderately coarse to coarse (on cuticular spots); T2 1.23 × as wide as long; S2 without traces of tooth-like process; S8 moderately elongate with sides strongly convergent toward apex, distal margin emarginated medially, length/ width: 1.25, with small and weakly raised tooth-like process on ventral surface; genital capsule: paramere harpe straight apically; cuspis of volsella stout, shield-shaped, slightly pointed, strongly convex, ending below mid length of paramere harpe, without longitudinal carina; digitus of volsella equal length of cuspis; midventral process of penis valve short and straight.
Intraspecific variation. Examined 92♀, 72♂. Female. Length: 2.7–7.5 mm; the colour varies as well as the size; the smallest specimens are entirely lighter; the head is mostly blackish with weak reddish tones, but in some specimens it is extensively dark reddish, in a few with the vertex extensively light reddish (these referred to as Bid. chiesi iberica f. rufonotata); the antenna is reddish to dark reddish, with the basal antennomeres lighter; the whitish setal spot on the vertex is mostly well developed, less evident in some specimens, where the setae are less dense; the mesosoma is mostly reddish orange (entirely in one specimen) with the sides darkened (dark reddish to blackish) and with the margins of the mesoscutum darkened; the mesosoma is much darker in several specimens and in those referred to as Bid. chiesi iberica f. obscura, where the mesoscutum is extensively blackish, except the middle part; the legs are reddish to dark reddish with the femora darker (e.g., in African specimens); specimens with a dark mesosoma have the legs reddish; the setae on the mesosoma are mostly dense, less dense in a few specimens; the cuticular spots on T2 are pale yellow (weakly evident) to light lemon yellow (fairly evident), variable in size (distance between spots 0.5–1.5 × diameter of each spot), in a few specimens these spots are very weak to obsolescent. Male. Length: 2.9–7.1 mm; the colour varies as well as the size, similarly to the female; the smallest specimens are entirely lighter; the head is mostly blackish, with reddish tones in many specimens, with the occiput bearing a small well defined reddish spot; the antenna is reddish to blackish, with the basal antennomeres lighter; the mesosoma is mostly reddish orange with the sides slightly darkened, but the reddish tone is darker in several specimens, with the sides distinctly darkened, and in those referred to as Bid. chiesi iberica f. obscura, the pronotum and propodeum are extensively blackish (one specimen has the mesosoma uniformly blackish-reddish); the metasoma of some specimens has reddish tones; the cuticular spots on T2 are pale yellow (weakly evident) to light lemon yellow (fairly evident), variable in size (distance between spots 0.3–2.0 × diameter of each spot), in a few specimens these spots are very weak to obsolescent.
Distribution. Europe: Southern France, Central and Southern Italy, Sicily, Spain, Portugal; North Africa: Tunisia, Morocco, Algeria (Fig. 37).
Remarks. Suárez (1958a: 95, 96) described two taxa as “forma” (Myrmilla chiesii iberica forma obscura and Myrmilla chiesii iberica forma rufonotata) and one as “var.” [varietà] (Myrmilla chiesii iberica var. nana). Because these names were expressly proposed to denote infrasubspecific taxa, they are not available according to Articles 45.5 and 45.6 of the ICZN (1999) (Lingafelter & Nearns 2013). Lelej (2002: 30) ascribed these three names to another species, Blakeius negrei (Suárez, 1958) without any explanation, but, in our opinion, based on examination of their purported type material, they clearly belong to Bid. iberica, in agreement with Invrea (1964: 82). Anyway, all these infrasubspecific taxa, in our opinion, represent only phenotypic expressions of variability, the first two characterized by colour differences, the other one by particularly small size.
The distribution of this species is probably wider in North Africa than ascertained until now, probably extending from Morocco to Egypt. For instance, at least part of the old records referring to Bid. chiesi in North Africa should be referred to Bid. iberica instead: e.g., André (1910) reported a detailed description of specimens from Egypt, which seems to refer properly to Bid. iberica. Anyway, a search for the material recorded by André (1910) in the MNHN failed. According to Matteini Palmerini (1992) the record for Sardinia by Bordoni (1980) is erroneous because it refers to Bid. chiesi instead (see also Monastra 1990: 211).
Two males from Morocco (Beni Sicar, Taourirt) (MNCN) are doubtfully ascribed to Bid. iberica. They both bear a weak tooth on S2 (that normally is not present in Bid. iberica), but otherwise are similar to this species; further material, including females from the same locality, is needed to ascertain their identity.
Biology. Based on material examined, the species was observed from April to September (female), and July to September (male). The female from Tunisia (Kairouan, Hajeb) was found to be active in the night, during a collecting session at a light; it is not ascertainable whether this species has true nocturnal activity or if it was found only because disturbed by light.
description: Published as part of Turrisi, Giuseppe Fabrizio, Palmerini, Maurizio Matteini & Brothers, Denis J., 2015, Systematic revision and phylogeny of the genera Blakeius Ashmead, 1903 and Liomutilla André, 1907, with description of two new genera (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae, Myrmillinae), pp. 1-78 in Zootaxa 4010 (1) on pages 43-50, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4010.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/289318