An overview of the Leucospidae (Hymenoptera, Chalcidoidea) of the Arabian Peninsula with description of a new species

• Published in: ZooKeys Vol. 1189; no. 1; pp. 185 - 202
• Main Authors: Ahmad, Syed Kamran, Usman, Syeda Uzma, Khan, Farmanur Rahman, Lotfalizadeh, Hossein, Dawah, Hassan A, Rizvi, Parvez Qamar, Anwar, Prince Tarique
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Bulgaria Pensoft Publishers 2024
• Subjects: Analysis; Biological diversity; Chalcidoidea; Discovery and exploration; Hymenoptera; Leucospidae; Morphology (Animals); Morphometry; Museums; New species; Wasps; Zoology; Middle East; Saudi Arabia; Yemen; India; new species; taxonomy; Biodiversity; ectoparasitoids
• ISSN: 1313-2989; 1313-2970
• DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1189.113635

An overview of the family Leucospidae (Hymenoptera, Chalcidoidea) is provided for the leucospid fauna of the Arabian Peninsula. Two genera containing four species are identified based on morphometrics and colour patterns. One species,
Usman, Anwar & Ahmad,
, is described.
Klug had been previously recorded from Arabia Felix (= Yemen) and is recorded here for the first time from Saudi Arabia. The status of Leucospisaff.namibica from Yemen has been clarified, and this species is placed here in the genus
Kriechbaumer as
Steffan. An updated key and a map showing the distribution of the family Leucospidae in the Arabian Peninsula is provided. The occurrence and color morphs of all leucospid species that have been recorded so far from the region are briefly discussed.