Asphaleia gussakovskii Mokrousov & Proshchalykin 2025, sp. nov.
Creators: name: Mokrousov, Mikhail V.
name: Proshchalykin, Maxim Yu.
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2025
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Hymenoptera
Crabronidae
Asphaleia
Asphaleia gussakovskii

description: Asphaleia gussakovskii Mokrousov, sp. nov.
http://zoobank.org/ urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 3EC9B84D-B17A-447C-A980-617273DD1C4C
(Figs 8–23, 32)
Type material (4 ♀, 21 ♂). Holotype — ♂, «УЗБекистан: Бухар., / Бага-АБЗаль / 19.vii.1930? В. Гуссаковский » [Uzbekistan, 50 km N of Buchara, Baga-Abzal’, 19.VII.1930, leg.?V. Gussakovskij] // Holotype ♂ / Asphaleia gussakovskii / Mokrousov [ZISP]. Paratypes: 1 ♂, Turkmenistan, Repetek, 30.VII.1925, V. Gussakovskij [ZISP]; 1 ♂, Turkmenistan, Askhabad, 20.VII.1926 [ZISP]; 5 ♂, 2 ♀, Turkmenistan, Askhabad, 10.VI.1928, V. Gussakovskij [ZISP]; 1 ♂, Turkmenistan, Askhabad, 26.VI.1928, V. Gussakovskij [ZISP]; 9 ♂, 1 ♀, Turkmenistan, Askhabad, 10.VII.1928, V. Gussakovskij [ZISP]; 1 ♂, Turkmenistan, Dzhebel, 12.VI.1934, V. Popov [ZISP]; 1 ♂, Turkmenistan, Ahcha-Kuima station [39.35°N, 55.162°E], 03.VII.1934, V. Popov [MMPC]; 1 ♀, Uzbekistan, Baga-Abzal’, 11.VIII.1928, Gerasimov [ZISP]; 1 ♂, Uzbekistan, Khiva, Ravat [41.38°N, 60.25°E], 4.VIII.1927, L. Zimin [ZISP].
Diagnosis. Males of Asphaleia gussakovskii sp. nov. clearly differ from all other species of the genus by non-modified midtarsus (in the other species the second midtarsomere is asymmetrical, enlarged apically, see Schmid-Egger 2022, fig. 8) and short interocular distance at vertex (interocular distance shorter than vertex length in Asphaleia gussakovskii sp. nov. and markedly longer in the other species). The female differs from A. ajjer and A. gessae by the large extension of the yellow on the head and mesosoma while predominantly black in A. ajjer and A. gessae. From more closely related A. orientalis it differs by a large extension of yellow, S6 rounded apically (S6 apically with triangular emargination in A. orientalis), and rounded apex of platform of T6 (pointed in A. orientalis).
Description. Head conspicuously transverse, eyes nearly parallel on lower part, convergent above on upper part (Figs 10, 18). Ocelli displaced to frons in an obtuse triangle. Distance between antennal socket and clypeus approximately equal to antennal socket diameter. Clypeal free margin evenly rounded. Occipital carina well developed, joining hypostomal carina, not fully dividing hypostomal and occipital cavities. Frons and clypeus with dense silver setation concealing integument; vertex with long erect setae, shiny, with large punctures.
Mesosoma. Pronotal collar narrower than mesoscutum; pronotal lobe conspicuously separated from tegula; pronotal collar narrow. Metanotal admedian line complete, reaching posterior margin; notauli present, but masked by punctures; parapsidal line unusually developed, in form of sulcus near reaching anterior margin; punctation irregular, with shiny interspaces; punctures large. Mesopleuron densely punctured dorsally, ventrally shiny, with single not large punctures. Mesopostnotum and metanotum with large sparce punctures. Metapostnotum coarsely punctato-rugose. Metapleuron and propodeum shagreened. Setation silver, long, semierect, denser on lateral and posterior parts of mesoscutum, upper mesopleura, on lateral surface of propodeum, partially concealing sculpture.
Wings. Form and venation typical of Laphyragoginae.
Metasoma. Anterior surface of T1 largely concave.
Coloration (Fig. 9). Black, with rich yellow pattern. Yellow are: clypeus, lower frons, upper occipital area, mouthparts (often except prementum), mandible (apex amber), scape, pedicel, F1 (except apex), pronotal lower apex, pronotal collar, pronotal lobe, lateral part and two large median stripes anteriorly on mesonotum, mesopleural spot behind pronotal lobe, posterior ventral medial arrow-like spot on mesopleuron, mesopostnotum, metanotum, lateral apical spot on metapostnotum, tegula, axilla, wing venation, legs (including coxae and trochanters), lateral propodeal surface and metasoma (except base of T2–T6).
Male (Figs 8–17). Body length 8.5–10.5 mm (holotype: 8.5 mm); fore wing length 5.7 mm (holotype).
Head (Figs 10–12) ratio H:W = 0.73; vertex narrow, interocular distance shorter than vertex length (Fig. 12). OOL very short, approximately equal to one third of anterior ocellus. Antenna not clavate, flagellomeres without swellings or excisions (Figs 12–13).
Legs. Midtarsus not modified, tarsomeres without basal widening.
Metasoma (Figs 14–16). Base platform of T7 with pointed overhanging apex; S6 with lateral stout spine; S7 with median longitudinal tubercle; S8 slightly rooflike.
Genitalia (Fig. 17). Paramerae widened basally, forming capsule, sclerotized and coloured apically (Fig. 16); volsella wide; penial valves asymmetrical, one being shorter than other, valves longitudinally expanded and slightly twisted spirally, forming tubular structure, longer than paramera.
Female (Figs 18–22). Body length 9.3–9.7 mm.
Head (Fig. 18) ratio H:W = 0.65. OOL approximately equal to posterior ocellus diameter.
Legs (Figs 20–21). Forebasitarsus with large apical lobe (Fig. 20); foreleg pulvillus present, on mid and hind legs lacking.
Metasoma. Dorsal platform on T6 with no overhanging and rounded apex.
Etymology. Species named in honor of the well-known researcher of Central Asian Hymenoptera Vsevolod Vladimirovich Gussakovskij, who first named this genus and species, but never published it.
Distribution. Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan.
description: Published as part of Mokrousov, Mikhail V. & Proshchalykin, Maxim Yu., 2025, A new genus and species of the subfamily Laphyragoginae (Hymenoptera, Apoidea, Crabronidae) with analysis of the relationship of Eremiaspheciinae and Laphyragoginae, stat. resurr., pp. 521-532 in Zootaxa 5631 (3) on pages 527-530, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5631.3.6, http://zenodo.org/record/15370958