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Odontochrydium arabicum Soliman & Rosa, sp. nov. Figures 1���4 Type materials. Holotype ♂, Saudi Arabia: Asir region, Abha, Wadi Mashwas [18��10���06���N 42��22���04���E, Alt. 1251 m], 20.XI.2015, leg. Ahmed M. Soliman, sweep net [KSMA]. Paratypes: 1 ♀, Oman: Dhofar, Wadi Magsail [16��52���00���N 53��43���00���E, Alt. 120 m], 2.X.2013, leg. M. Halada, sweep net [MHPC]; 1 ♂, Oman: Dhofar, 55 km W Salalah [16��49���05���N 53��37���12���E, Alt. 1000 m], 4.X.2021, leg. M. Halada, sweep net [MHPC]; 1 ♀, Saudi Arabia: Asir region, Marabah, Al-Hudaithy farm [17��50���53���N 42��23���11���E, Alt. 226 m], 9.III.2015, leg. Hasan A. Dawah, Malaise trap [FSPC]; 2 ♂, Saudi Arabia: Jazan region, Al-Aridah, Gabal Sala, Al-Matal [17��01���02���N 43��07���01���E, Alt. 290 m], 9.I.2022, leg. Ahmed M. Soliman, sweep net [KSMA, PRPC]; 1 ♀, Saudi Arabia: Jazan region, Al-Aridah, Wadi Haif [17��05���20���N 42��58���05���E, Alt. 289 m], 14.I.2022, leg. Ahmed M. Soliman, sweep net [KSMA]; 1 ♀, Yemen: Al Lahima, 16.X���31.XII.2000, leg. A.v. Harten & A.M. Hager, Malaise trap / RMNH Leiden ex collection ZMAN [RMNH]; 1 ♀, Yemen: Al Lahima, 9.IV���5.VI.2001, leg. A.v. Harten, Malaise trap [RMNH]; 1 ♀, Yemen: Wadi Aniz, SSW of Sana [15��00���00���N 44��09���00���E, Alt. 1520 m], 7.X.2006, leg. M. Halada, sweep net [MHPC]. Diagnosis. Body metallic dark blue, with violet and greenish reflections (Figs 1, 4); mesoscutal median area reticulate-foveate, with two stout longitudinal ridges forming elongate fovea between ridges (Figs 2E, 4C); metasomal tergites sparsely, largely punctate (Figs 1B, 3C, 4C, D); T3 apico-median tooth longer to distinctly longer than lateral ones (Figs 3C, 4D); S1 and S2 with pair of widely separated black spots, adjacent to lateral margin of sternites (Fig. 3D). Description (Male holotype, Figs 1���3). Body length 5.2 mm. Forewing length 3.9 mm. OOL 1.75 �� AOD; POL 2.5 �� AOD; MS 1.0 �� AOD; P and F1���F3 equal in length. Colour (Figs 1A���C, 2A���F, 3A���D). Body overall metallic dark blue, with slight greenish reflection on TFC, scapal basin, clypeus, pronotal dorsal face and mesopleuron, with violet reflection on T3; legs metallic blue, with tarsi dark brown; first tarsomeres with slight blue reflection; forewing, except hyaline R cell, slightly infumate, in particular 2R1 cell (Fig. 3A), hind wing hyaline; tegula metallic blue; S1 polish brown, with pair of black spots bounded by bluish reflection; S2 and S3 metallic blue, former polish brown anteriorly, with pair of black spots; scape and pedicel blue, flagellomeres black; mandible bluish on basal half, brown apically. The colour of the specimens while they are alive is bright green with some copper reflections, this colour gradually turns into dark blue after their death. Pubescence (Figs 1A, B, 3D). Body sparsely setose, setae whitish and short, about 1 �� AOD, silvery, erect to suberect, denser and recumbent on S2 and S3. Head (Fig. 2A���D, F). Frons with strong TFC, weakly angulate medially, with branches encircling mid-ocellar area, forming kidney-shaped area, less deeply punctate than rest of vertex and almost polished around anterior ocellus; vertex and frons largely deeply punctate-reticulate; scapal basin deep, medially strongly, transversely ridged; laterally with small punctures between ridges and covered with suberect silvery setae, densely punctulate with similar setae along inner eye orbit; clypeus densely irregularly punctulate, with tiny dots mixed with small punctures, hardly convex on disc, relatively short, with subantennal distance 1.6 �� AOD, with margin straight; antennal sockets close, about 0.4 �� AOD apart; malar space finely reticulate-punctulate, about 1.0 �� AOD; genal carina strong and complete; anterior ocellus and posterior ocelli lidded; mandible subdistally toothed. Mesosoma (Figs 1A, 2C���F, 3A). Pronotal shelf with two deep submedial pits, with polished median area; pronotal dorsal face largely punctate-subreticulate, with punctures up to 0.75 �� AOD, and with interspaces micropunctate; with strongly incurved anterior margin, and posterior margin slightly incurved; with antero-median groove wide and relatively shallow, impunctate and polished on anterior 2/3, reaching more than 3/4 of pronotal length; pronotal humeral angles acute; mesoscutum foveate-reticulate on median lobe and on greater part of lateral lobes; punctate-subreticulate adjacent to tegula, with punctures up to 0.8 �� AOD; median mesoscutal lobe with two stout longitudinal ridges and elongate fovea between ridges; tegula narrowed and partially hide; notauli complete, deeply, irregularly foveate; parapsidal furrows developed only until half mesoscutal length; mesoscutellum and metanotum subreticulate-punctate, the latter evenly rounded; propodeal lateral angle rather narrow, with blunt apex and incurved posterior margin; mesopleuron ventrally nearly smooth and armed with three strong teeth, dorsal teeth subequal; fourth sharp tooth present posteriorly on mesopleuron, before metapleuron. Forewing with distal area of Rs 1 �� AOD apart from wing margin; M meets M+Cu before cu-a. Metasoma (Figs 2D, 3B���D). Exposed tergites sparsely setiferous punctate, interspaces between punctures smooth to finely punctulate; T3 convex and continuous in profile, without pre-pit swelling or post-pit sunken areas; pit row somewhat distinct, pits small, deep; T3 apical margin with three subtriangular teeth, median tooth slightly longer than lateral ones. Genitalia (Fig. 3E, F). Gonostyle hardly shorter than cuspis of volsella; apex of aedeagus digitate; digitus as long as cuspis. Female ( Fig. 4A���D ). Similar to male except body with more violet tint, in particular on bottom of punctures; forewing darker; T3 distinctly acuminate posteriorly, with apico-median tooth distinctly longer than lateral ones. Recognition. The male of Odontochrydium arabicum sp. nov. is similar to the male of the African species O. bicristatum (paratype, Fig. 5A���F) by having mesoscutal median area reticulate-foveate, with two stout longitudinal ridges and T1���T3 sparsely largely punctate; it differs from the latter by: body generally metallic dark blue, sometimes with a little violet tint on T3 and on bottom of punctures (Figs 1, 3D), vs. metallic green in O. bicristatum, with a little bluish tint on mesoscutum, sometimes being rosy to golden red on the head, pronotum and metasomal tergites in prepared specimens (Fig. 5A���E), likely golden or red in nature; clypeus short, with subantennal distance 1.6 �� AOD (Fig. 2A), vs. longitudinally elongate, with subantennal distance 2.0 �� AOD (Fig. 5C); pronotum with large, deep and dense punctures (Fig. 2C), vs. pronotum with sparser and smaller punctures, not distinctly deep (Fig. 5B); mesoscutellum with sparse, large and round punctures, with wide interspaces bearing small dots (Fig. 2E), vs. mesoscutellum with dense, polygonal punctures without interspaces (Fig. 5B); metanotum with similar punctation, with large, round and deep punctures (Fig. 2D, E), vs. metanotum with dense, not particularly deepened polygonal punctures (Fig. 5B); propodeal lateral tooth obtuse apically (Fig. 2D), vs. sharp apically (Fig. 5B); T3 without longitudinal median ridge (Fig. 3C), vs. T3 with micropunctate longitudinal median ridge (Fig. 5D); apico-median tooth of T3 longer than lateral ones (Fig. 3C), vs. hardly longer than lateral teeth (Fig. 5D); S2 with longer and denser pubescence (Fig. 3D), vs. S2 with shorter and sparse setae (Fig. 5E); gonostyle hardly shorter than cuspis of volsella (Fig. 3E, F), vs. longer than cuspis of volsella in O. bicristatum (Fig. 5F). Remarks. Due to a fracture at the inner side of the genital gonocoxae of the holotype male genitalia (Fig. 3E), where they meet, during the preparation for photographing, we added a figure of a complete genital capsule of a paratype (Fig. 3G) in order to clarify the normal shape of the capsule. Etymology. The new species name refers to the Arabian Peninsula, where the type specimens were collected. Distribution. Oman, Saudi Arabia and Yemen., Published as part of Soliman, Ahmed M., Rosa, Paolo & Al Dhafer, Hathal M., 2022, Description of a new species of Odontochrydium Brauns (Hymenoptera: Chrysididae) from the Arabian Peninsula, pp. 287-295 in Zootaxa 5100 (2) on pages 288-294, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5100.2.8, http://zenodo.org/record/6145902

Hydatothrips bahaensis Rasool sp. n. (Figs 8–14, 34, 35) Female macroptera. Body reddish brown (Fig. 34); antennal segments I–IV yellow, IV brown at apex, V–VIII brown; head, pronotum, pterothorax and abdominal segments I–VII reddish brown; meso and metasternal plates, abdominal VIII–X and legs dark brown; fore wing brown with sub basal band paler (Fig. 14); clavus brown but pale at extreme apex. Head with occipital apodeme touching posterior margin of eyes and ocellar triangle; ocellar triangle with irregular widely spaced transverse striae, with longitudinal lines of internal markings; setae pair III arise inside ocellar triangle (Fig. 8). Antenna 8-segmented. Pronotum with one pair of minute posteroangular setae, transversely reticulate, with internal markings in reticles, pronotal blotch transversely reticulate, with internal longitudinal lines (Fig. 8); mesonotum transversely striate, with irregular internal markings; metanotum longitudinally reticulate, with internal markings, median and sub median setal pairs arising at anterior margin (Fig. 10); anterior margin of metasternal plate deeply emarginate (Fig. 9); fore wing with sub basal band longer than wide (Fig. 14), second vein without setae (Fig. 14). Tergites I–VIII with rows of dense microtrichia laterally; tergites III–VII with microtrichia medially; tergites III–VI with setae S3 arising well ahead of posterior margin, with 6–8 further setae lateral to S3 (Fig. 11); tergites II–V without posteromarginal microtrichia medially; tergites VII–VIII with complete comb of microtrichia; tergite IX with 2 pairs of mid-dorsal setae (Fig. 13); tergite X with few microtrichia posteriorly and without median split; sternites III–VI completely covered with microtrichia medially, posterior margin with comb of microtrichia medially (Fig. 12); posterior setae at sternite VII arising in front of posterior margin. Measurements (holotype Female): Body length 1250; Head length 105, width 180; pronotum length 120, width 225; ovipositor length 230; ocellar setae pair III 14; metanotum median setae 26; fore wing length 775; antennal segments I–VIII 25, 35, 62, 60, 50, 60, 15, 15 respectively; tergite IX S1 setae 57. Female paratypes: Body length 1142–1250; Head length 95–105, width 174–180; pronotum length 110–120, width 220–225; ovipositor length 220–230; ocellar setae pair III 12–14; metanotum median setae 24–26; fore wing wing length 763–775; antennal segments I–VIII length 23–25, 32–35, 57–62, 55–60, 46–50, 55–60, 12–15, 12–15 respectively; tergite IX S1 setae 55–57. Male macroptera. Similar to female, but smaller in size; sternites VI–VII with transverse pore plate. Measurements (male paratype): Body length 900; head length 75, width 145; pronotum length 145, width 175; ocellar setae pair III 10; metanotum median setae 23; fore wing length 580; antennal segments I–VIII length 20, 35, 50, 45, 45, 50, 14, 14 respectively; tergite IX S1 setae 50. Larvae II. Body yellowish (Fig. 39); antennae, coxae, outer margin of all tibiae and abdominal segment IX with gray; antennae 7-segmented; pterothorax with three lateral dark spots, which are absent on pronotum. Major body setae brown with broadly expanded apex (about three times as wide as base) arising from brown ring. Length of setae 15–20 excluding basal ring, width at apex 12–15, width at base of setae 5. Etymology: The specific epithet is a Latinized adjective form based on ‘Al Baha’ area from where this new species was collected. Material studied. Holotype female, SAUDI ARABIA, Al Baha, AL Makhwa, Thee Ain Village, breeding and feeding on leaves of Pergularia sp., 25.ix.2020, (19°55.776’N 41°26.598’E Alt. 741 m), BT, (Rasool, I.) (KSMA). Paratypes: 142 females, 65 males and 27 larvae, the same data as holotype; 13 females and 2 males from leaves of Pergularia sp., 15 females and 7 males from Boerhavia diffusa, the same locality as holotype except 7.iv.2019; Al Baha, Shada Al-Ala Natural Reserve, 4 females, from grasses, 8.iv.2019, (19°50.411’N 41°18.686’E Alt, 1611 m); same locality, 12 females from Boerhavia diffusa, 8.ix.2019, (19°50.575’N 41°18.691’E Alt. 1666 m), BT, (Rasool I.) (KSMA). Comments. None of the species described in the genus Hydatothrips (except H. boerhaaviae) has the following combination of characters: setae S3 on tergites IV–VI arising far from posterior margin, with 6–7 setae lateral to S3; head, pronotum and pterothorax with wrinkles inside; sternites II–VII completely covered with microtrichia medially, posterior margin with comb of microtrichia medially; male with transverse pore plate on sternites VI–VII; fore wing second vein without setae, costal setae at middle of fore wing about as long as width of wing in middle. The new species differs from H. boerhaaviae by having: ocellar setae III arising in the middle of the ocellar triangle anterior to hind ocelli (ocellar setae III arise at outer margin of triangle in H. boerhaaviae); reddish brown body (H. boerhaaviae bicolored, with predominantly yellow body, except abdominal segments II–III and VI brownish)., Published as part of Rasool, Iftekhar, Soliman, Ahmed M., Alattal, Yehya Zaki & Al Dhafer, Hathal M., 2021, The Thripidae subfamily Sericothripinae (Thysanoptera) from Saudi Arabia with a new species of Hydatothrips Karny, pp. 29-40 in Zootaxa 4908 (1) on page 32, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4908.1.2, http://zenodo.org/record/4435706

Hydatothrips Karny Hydatothrips is the second largest genus of subfamily Sericothripinae. Members of this pantropical genus can be distinguished from the other two genera of this subfamily by having the metasternal plate anterior border with deeply U or V shaped emargination, usually more than half as deep as length of this sclerite. In contrast, Neohydatothrips and Sericothrips have the metasternal plate anterior border transverse, or with shallow emargination (Lima & Mound 2016a)., Published as part of Rasool, Iftekhar, Soliman, Ahmed M., Alattal, Yehya Zaki & Al Dhafer, Hathal M., 2021, The Thripidae subfamily Sericothripinae (Thysanoptera) from Saudi Arabia with a new species of Hydatothrips Karny, pp. 29-40 in Zootaxa 4908 (1) on page 30, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4908.1.2, http://zenodo.org/record/4435706, {"references":["Lima, E. F. B. & Mound, L. A. (2016 a) Species-richness in Neotropical Sericothripinae (Thysanoptera: Thripidae). Zootaxa, 4162 (1), 1 - 45. https: // doi. org / 10.11646 / zootaxa. 4162.1.1"]}

Hydatothrips adolfifriderici Karny (Figs 1–7, 32, 33) Hydatothrips adolfifriderici Karny, 1913: 218. This Afrotropical species was described originally from Nigeria and is widespread from South Africa to Sudan (zur Strassen 2004), but has been recorded from Yemen in south western of Arabian Peninsula (zur Strassen 1990). In general appearance and characters, it is close to H. spadix (Hartwig) from South Africa, but is distinguished by: fore wing costal setae at middle shorter than width of wing at middle (as long as width of wing in the middle in H. spadix); abdominal segments IV and V and antennal segments III–V largely yellow (Figs 4 & 6) (uniformly dark brown, except antennal segment III yellow at basal half in H. spadix) (Bhatti 1973). This species is widely associated with leaves of Fabaceae and Moraceae (Priesner 1965; zur Strassen 1990), and is an important pest of Phaseolus vulgaris in Africa (Nyasani et al. 2012). It was also collected from these families during the current study. Material studied. SAUDI ARABIA, Al Baha, Al Makhwa, Thee Ain Village, 14 females and 3 males from Ficus sycomorus leaves, 7.iv.2019, (19°55.776’N 41°26.598’E Alt. 741 m), BT, (Rasool, I.); Al Baha, Shada Al-Ala Natural Reserve, 2 females and 1 male from Ficus sycomorus, 19 females and 1 male from Phaseolus vulgaris leaves, 1 female from grasses, 8.iv.2019, (19°50.575’N 41°18.691’E Alt. 1666 m), BT, (Rasool, I.) (KSMA)., Published as part of Rasool, Iftekhar, Soliman, Ahmed M., Alattal, Yehya Zaki & Al Dhafer, Hathal M., 2021, The Thripidae subfamily Sericothripinae (Thysanoptera) from Saudi Arabia with a new species of Hydatothrips Karny, pp. 29-40 in Zootaxa 4908 (1) on pages 30-32, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4908.1.2, http://zenodo.org/record/4435706, {"references":["Karny, H. (1913) Thysanoptera. Wissenschaftliche Ergebnisse der Deutschen Zentral-Afrika Expedition 1907 - 1908, 4, 281 - 282.","Bhatti, J. S. (1973) A preliminary revision of Sericothrips Haliday, sensu lat., and related genera, with a revised concept of the tribe Sericothripini. Oriental Insects, 7, 403 - 449. https: // doi. org / 10.1080 / 00305316.1973.10434100","Priesner, H. (1965) A monograph of the Thysanoptera of the Egyptian deserts. Publications de la Institut Desert Egypte, 13, 1 - 549.","Nyasani, J. O., Meyh ˆ fer, R., Subramanian, S. & Poehling H. - M. (2012) Effect of intercrops on thrips species composition and population abundance on French beans in Kenya. Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata, 142, 236 - 246. https: // doi. org / 10.1111 / j. 1570 - 7458.2011.01217. x"]}

Key to the genera and species of Sericothripinae from Saudi Arabia 1. Metasternal plate anterior margin with deep U- or V-shape invagination medially (Figs 2, 9)............. Hydatothrips... 2 - Metasternal plate anterior margin either transverse (Fig. 19) or with shallow emargination medially (Fig. 26)................................................................................................. Neohydatothrips... 3 2. Ocellar triangle closely striated (Fig. 1); metanotum longitudinally striate (Fig. 3); setal pair S3 on abdominal tergites IV–VI at posterior margin, with only three setae anterior to S3 (Fig. 4); tergite IX with three pairs of mid-dorsal setae (Fig. 5); abdominal segments IV–V yellow (Fig. 32)............................................................. H. adolfifriderici - Ocellar triangle with widely spaced striae (Fig. 8); metanotum longitudinally reticulate (Fig. 10); setae S3 on abdominal tergites IV–VI placed far ahead of posterior margin, with 6–8 setae anterior to S3 (Fig. 11); tergite IX with two pairs of mid-dorsal setae (Fig. 13); abdominal segments reddish brown (Fig. 34)......................................... H. bahaensis sp. n. 3. Occipital apodeme confluent with posterior margin of compound eyes (Fig. 16), ocellar setae pair III arising at external margin of triangle and shorter than distance between their bases; metasternal plate with anterior margin transverse (Fig. 19); sternites without discal microtrichia or posteromarginal comb (Fig. 20); tergite IX with only one pair of mid-dorsal setae (Fig. 21); abdominal segments I–VI unicolor pale yellow to white, without trace of shadings (Figs 36, 37)................ N. amygdali - Occipital apodeme widely spaced from posterior margin of compound eyes (Fig. 25), ocellar setae pair III arising inside the triangle and longer than distance between their bases; metasternal plate with anterior margin shallowly invaginated (Fig. 26); sternites with discal microtrichia and III–VI with postero-marginal comb (Fig. 29); tergite IX with two pairs of mid-dorsal setae (Fig. 30); abdominal segments largely brown, except tergites IV–V yellow medially (Fig. 38).............. N. samayunkur, Published as part of Rasool, Iftekhar, Soliman, Ahmed M., Alattal, Yehya Zaki & Al Dhafer, Hathal M., 2021, The Thripidae subfamily Sericothripinae (Thysanoptera) from Saudi Arabia with a new species of Hydatothrips Karny, pp. 29-40 in Zootaxa 4908 (1) on page 30, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4908.1.2, http://zenodo.org/record/4435706

Neohydatothrips John Neohydatothrips is the most species rich genus in subfamily Sericothripinae, and is found mainly in tropical countries. The members of this genus are usually extremely bicolored, with complex body structure. The species are morphologically similar to those of Sericothrips and are distinguished by tergites III–VI lacking or having very few microtrichia medially, also longitudinal sculpture on the metanotum without microtrichia. In contrast, in Sericothrips species tergites III–VI are fully covered with microtrichia medially, and the metanotum has transverse lines of sculptures provided with microtrichia (Lima & Mound 2016b). Host plant associations are known for only a few species of this genus (Mound & Tree 2009)., Published as part of Rasool, Iftekhar, Soliman, Ahmed M., Alattal, Yehya Zaki & Al Dhafer, Hathal M., 2021, The Thripidae subfamily Sericothripinae (Thysanoptera) from Saudi Arabia with a new species of Hydatothrips Karny, pp. 29-40 in Zootaxa 4908 (1) on page 34, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4908.1.2, http://zenodo.org/record/4435706, {"references":["Lima, E. F. B. & Mound, L. A. (2016 b) Systematic relationships of the Thripidae subfamily Sericothripinae (Insecta: Thysanop- tera). Zoologischer Anzeiger-A Journal of Comparative Zoology, 263, 24 - 32. https: // doi. org / 10.1016 / j. jcz. 2016.03.001","Mound, L. A. & Tree, D. J. (2009) Identification and host-plant associations of Australian Sericothripinae (Thysanoptera, Thripidae). Zootaxa, 1983 (1), 1 - 22. https: // doi. org / 10.11646 / zootaxa. 1983.1.1"]}

Neohydatothrips amygdali Minaei (Figs 16���24, 36���37, 40) Neohydatothrips amygdali Minaei, 2016: 371. This species was described from Iran and is the only member of Neohydatothrips species with one pair of discal setae on tergite IX (Minaei 2016). All other species in this genus have 2���3 pairs of discal setae on tergite IX (Lima & Mound 2016b). Individuals of this species recorded from Saudi Arabia show some variation from those of Iranian populations: posteromarginal comb is complete on abdominal tergite VIII, and laterally on VII, also all the coxae and the distal half of hind femora are brown, with the tarsi pale. In contrast, abdominal tergites VII���VIII in Iranian populations are without posteromarginal comb or with only very weak teeth. All legs are yellow except brown tarsi (Minaei 2016). The male of this species is reported here for the first time. It is similar to females in general appearance and structural details, but smaller in size (Fig. 37), tergite IX without drepanae (Fig. 22). Sternites without pore plates. Measurements (male macroptera): Total body length 760, head length 85, width 158; ocellar setae pair III 11; pronotum length 62, width 195; metanotum median setae 32; fore wing length 645; antennal segments I���VIII, 22, 32, 42, 35, 35, 33, 5, 8. Larvae II. Body yellow without trace of shading (Fig. 40); antennae 7 segmented, segment I yellow, II���VII grey. All dorsal setae brown and broad, expended (about two times as wide as base) and dentate at apex arising from brown wring (Fig. 23). Length of setae 10���15 excluding basal ring, width at apex 8���10, width at base of setae 4. Material studied. SAUDI ARABIA, Riyadh, Dirab, King Saudi University Educational farm, 31 females, 14 males and 7 Larvae, from leaves of Acacia seyal, 2���8.vii.2020, (24��24.525���N 46��39.718���E Alt. 575 m), BT, Rasool, I.; 4 females 1 male and 1 larva same data except from leaves of A. ehrenbergiana; 1 female same data except from A. etbaica; 2 females same locality except A. seyal, except 09.vi.2020, (24��25.223���N 46��39.252���E Alt. 574 m), SW, (Soliman, A.); Riyadh, Al-Deri���yya, Al Oyayna, Bodha park, 1 female, from leaves of A. ehrenbergiana, 2.iv.2019, (24��53.549���N 46��17.459���E Alt. 755 m), BT, Rasool, I.; Riyadh, Al Dawadmi, Ash, shura, 2 females 1 male from leaves of A. ehrenbergiana, (24��15.734���N 44��10.542���E Alt. 951 m), BT, (Rasool, I.); Al Baha, Al Makhwa, Al Hamadan, Wadi Riyan, 3 females from leaves of A. ehrenbergiana, 7.iv.2019, (19��50.428���N 41��22.573���E, Alt. 491 m), BT; Al Makhwa, Nawan, near sea, 4 females, from leaves of A. ehrenbergiana, 10.iv.2019, (19��32.778���N 41��11.706���E, Alt. 817 m), BT, (Rasool, I.); Aqiq, Wadi Liyan, 1 female from Acacia sp., 23.ix.2020, (20��08.573���N 41��35.551���E Alt. 1689 m), BT; Qilwah, Ramziyah, Wadi Aleep, 2 females from Acacia spp. 25.ix.2020, (19��54.353���N 41��07.148���E 250 m), BT; Shada Al Ala, Qarwiya, 1 female from Acacia sp. 26.ix.2020, (19��54.461���N 41��16.944���E Alt. 520 m), BT, (Rasool. I. & Habib, M.M.) (KSMA). Comments. In Iran, this species was collected only from leaves of Mygdalus scoparia (Minaei 2016), whereas in Saudi Arabia it was collected throughout the year across Riyadh and Al Baha only on Acacia sp., Published as part of Rasool, Iftekhar, Soliman, Ahmed M., Alattal, Yehya Zaki & Al Dhafer, Hathal M., 2021, The Thripidae subfamily Sericothripinae (Thysanoptera) from Saudi Arabia with a new species of Hydatothrips Karny, pp. 29-40 in Zootaxa 4908 (1) on pages 34-36, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4908.1.2, http://zenodo.org/record/4435706, {"references":["Minaei, K. (2016) The genus Neohydatothrips (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) in Iran with one new species and first record of a micropterous form. Zootaxa, 4189 (2), 367 - 377. https: // doi. org / 10.11646 / zootaxa. 4189.2.10","Lima, E. F. B. & Mound, L. A. (2016 b) Systematic relationships of the Thripidae subfamily Sericothripinae (Insecta: Thysanop- tera). Zoologischer Anzeiger-A Journal of Comparative Zoology, 263, 24 - 32. https: // doi. org / 10.1016 / j. jcz. 2016.03.001"]}

Neohydatothrips samayunkur (Kudô) (Figs 25–31, 38) Hydatothrips (Neohydatothrips) samayunkur Kudô, 1995: 169 First described from Japan this species is wide spread around the world in Asia, Africa, Central and South America and Australia (Mound & Tree 2009). It is commonly known as marigold thrips due to its strong association with leaves and flowers of marigold (Tagetes sp.) for breeding and feeding (Nakahara 1999; Lima & Mound 2016a). N. samayunkur is very similar to N. hemileucus (Hood) in general appearance and body features, but can be distinguished by the dark brown pronotal blotch as compared to the yellow blotch in hemileucus (Lima & Mound 2016a). Material studied. SAUDI ARABIA, Al Baha, Al Makhwa, Shada Al Ala Natural Reserve, 91 females, from Tagetes minuta, 8.iv.2019, (19°50.575’N 41°18.691’E Alt. 1666 m), BT; Shada Al Ala Natural Reserve, 2 females from Solanum macranthum, 1 female from T. minuta, 8.iv.2019, (19°50.411’N 41°18.686’E Alt, 1611 m), BT; Al Baha, Raghadan park, 11 females and 2 larvae from T. minuta, 22.ix.2020, (20°01.079’N 41°27.084’E Alt. 2168 m), BT, (Rasool, I.) (KSMA)., Published as part of Rasool, Iftekhar, Soliman, Ahmed M., Alattal, Yehya Zaki & Al Dhafer, Hathal M., 2021, The Thripidae subfamily Sericothripinae (Thysanoptera) from Saudi Arabia with a new species of Hydatothrips Karny, pp. 29-40 in Zootaxa 4908 (1) on page 36, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4908.1.2, http://zenodo.org/record/4435706, {"references":["Kudo, I. (1995) A new species of Hydatothrips (Thysanoptera: Terebrantia: Thripidae) on marigold in Japan and the United States. Applied Entomology and Zoology, 30, 169 - 176. https: // doi. org / 10.1303 / aez. 30.169","Mound, L. A. & Tree, D. J. (2009) Identification and host-plant associations of Australian Sericothripinae (Thysanoptera, Thripidae). Zootaxa, 1983 (1), 1 - 22. https: // doi. org / 10.11646 / zootaxa. 1983.1.1","Nakahara, S. (1999) Validation of Neohydatothrips samayunkur (Kudo) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) for a thrips damaging marigolds (Tagetes spp.). Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington, 101, 458 - 459.","Lima, E. F. B. & Mound, L. A. (2016 a) Species-richness in Neotropical Sericothripinae (Thysanoptera: Thripidae). Zootaxa, 4162 (1), 1 - 45. https: // doi. org / 10.11646 / zootaxa. 4162.1.1"]}

Nesomyrmex micheleae Sharaf sp. nov. urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 1D2EC498-3B2E-43CD-A3C0-1C6C237471E2 (Figure 4a – c) Holotype worker: OMAN: DHOFAR: Ayn Sahlanoot, 17.14766°N, 54.17878°E, alt. 151 m, 16 November 2017, BS, M. R. Sharaf leg., King Saud University Museum of Arthropods, Plant Protection Department, College of Food and Agriculture Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSMA). Paratype workers: Same data as the holotype, 2 w, CASENT0922872 (KSMA). Measurements Holotype worker: HL 0.75; HW 0.67; SL 0.62; EL 0.20; PRH 0.37; PRW 0.40; WL 1.0; PSL 0.07; PTL 0.25; PTH 0.27; PTW 0.25; PPL 0.17; PPH 0.25; PPW 0.30; TL 3.25; OI 30; SI 93; CI 89; DMI 40; LMI 37; PSLI 9; LPeI 93; DPeI 100; LPpI 68; DPpI 176; PPI 120. Paratype workers: HL 0.77 – 0.82; HW 0.60 – 0.66; SL 0.53 – 0.62; EL 0.15 – 0.17; PRH 0.25 – 0.37; PRW 0.44 – 0.45; WL 0.97 – 0.98; PSL 0.05 – 0.06; PTL 0.17 – 0.21; PTH 0.20 – 0.22; PTW 0.20 – 0.23; PPL 0.17 – 0.18; PPH 0.21 – 0.22; PPW 0.27 – 0.28; TL 3.12 – 3.22; OI 23 – 28; SI 80 – 103; CI 78 – 80; DMI 45 – 46; LMI 26 – 38; OI 23 – 30, PSLI 6 – 7; LPeI 85 – 95; DPeI 110 – 118; LPpI 77 – 86; DPpI 156 – 159; PPI 122 – 135 (n = 2). Diagnosis. Nesomyrmex micheleae sp. nov. can be distinguished from regional congeners by the combination of the following characters: median clypeal carina distinct; petiolar node nearly hexagonal in dorsal view; area in front of eyes and median cephalic surface irregularly, longitudinally rugulose; body covered with erect, blunt, stout and moderately short setae; bicoloured species with head black-brown, mesosoma, petiole, postpetiole and appendages brown, gaster golden yellow. Description Worker. Head. Head distinctly longer than broad (CI 78 – 89) with straight or feebly convex posterior margin and lateral sides, broader posteriorly behind eye level in fullface view; lateral sides of head making a feeble but distinct obtuse angle with posterior margin of head in full-face view; antennal scapes relatively short (SI 80 – 103), when laid back from insertions fail to reach posterior margin of head in full-face view; masticatory margin of mandible with five teeth, decreasing in size from largest, acute apical tooth to smallest basal denticle; eyes of moderate size (OI 23 – 30) located at mid-length of head; anterior clypeal margin rounded; median clypeal carina distinct; frontal carinae and antennal scrobes absent. Mesosoma. In profile mesosomal outline absolutely flat without promesonotal suture or metanotal groove; pronotal corners acutely angular in dorsal view; propodeum armed with short and acute propodeal teeth (PSLI 6 – 9); metapleural lobe low and rounded. Petiole. In profile, petiolar peduncle short; node relatively high (LPeI 85 – 95) with straight-sloping anterior face; petiolar node nearly hexagonal in dorsal view and almost as broad as or little broader than long (DPeI 100 – 118); anteroventral process triangular and blunt. Postpetiole. Distinctly broader than long in dorsal view (PPI 122 – 135) with node lower than petiolar node in profile; postpetiole globular in profile distinctly higher than long (LPpI 68 – 86); in dorsal view, postpetiolar node more than 1.5× broader than long (DPpI 156 – 176); in dorsal view, postpetiolar node distinctly broader than petiolar node (PPI 120 – 135). Sculpture. Mandibles longitudinally striated; area in front of eyes and median cephalic surface irregularly longitudinally rugulose; ground sculpture between cephalic rugae and remaining cephalic surface finely and superficially imbricate; median clypeal carina distinct, two lateral feebly distinct longitudinal rugae present; mesosomal, petiolar and postpetiolar sides finely reticulatepunctate; seen from dorsal view, mesosomal margins, petiolar and postpetiolar nodes distinctly reticulate-rugulose; mesonotum and propodeal dorsum finely punctate; gaster smooth and shining. Pilosity. Head, mesosoma, petiole, postpetiole and gaster dorsally with erect, blunt, stout and moderately short setae; funiculus with dense appressed pubescence; anterior clypeal margin with fine long setae; mandibles with fine shorter setae. Colour. Strongly bicoloured species with head black-brown, mesosoma, petiole, postpetiole, antennae, femur and tibia brown or dark brown, tarsi yellow, gaster golden yellow, with brown tints dorsally on first gastral tergite. Etymology. The patronym for N. micheleae sp. nov. has been chosen in honour of Michele Esposito, California Academy of Sciences (CAS), San Francisco. Differential diagnosis. As defined by Hita Garcia et al. (2017), N. micheleae sp. nov. is a member of the N. angulatus species group with which it shares the following characters: antennae 12-segmented; anterior clypeal margin convex and without anterior projections; propodeal spines well developed; petiole and postpetiole without lateral projections; body pilosity short and blunt. Within the N. angulatus species group, N. grisoni (Forel 1916) from Democratic Republic of Congo is apparently morphologically similar to N. micheleae sp. nov., sharing the sharply angular pronotal corners, the distinctly reticulate-rugulose petiolar and postpetiolar nodes, the smooth gaster, the short and acute propodeal spines, the short petiolar peduncle, and the blunt and short body pilosity. However, N. micheleae sp. nov. is readily distinguished from N. grisoni by the golden yellow gaster that contrasts with the dark brown body; the irregular longitudinal rugulose sculpture on cephalic surface; the finely punctate mesonotum and propodeal dorsum. Nesomyrmex grisoni has a unicolourous brown or black-brown body, and strong reticulate rugae on cephalic, mesonotal and propodeal surfaces. Among the Arabian species, N. micheleae sp. nov. appears superficially similar to N. zaheri but the former species can be separated by the relatively longer scapes that fail to reach the posterior margin of the head in full-face view, and the obtusely angled pronotal corners when seen in dorsal view, whereas N. zaheri has distinctly shorter scapes that surpass the posterior level of the eyes by about the length of the first funicular segment in full-face view, and distinctly rounded pronotal corners. Nesomyrmex micheleae sp. nov. also looks similar to N. angulatus but the latter species has relatively longer scapes that reach the posterior margin of head in full-face view, one pair of small acute dents on pronotal corners when seen in dorsal view, and higher ocular and dorsal postpetiole indices (OI 27 – 35, DPpI 154 – 188) versus (OI 23 – 28; DPpI 156 – 159) in N. micheleae. Additionally, N. micheleae sp. nov. is easily separated from all Arabian Nesomyrmex species by its strongly bicoloured body which has a black to black-brown head, and the mesosoma, petiole and postpetiole are dark brown, contrasting with the golden yellow gaster. Ecological and biological notes. The three collected workers of N . micheleae sp. nov. were foraging on a large tree in Ayn Sahalnoot of the Dhofar Governorate in the south of Oman (Figure 5), and were collected using a beating sheet. Additional collections in a broad range of habitats in the Dhofar Governorate were not successful in obtaining additional material. The type locality, Ayn Sahalnoot or Wadi Sahalnoot, has spectacular natural scenery. The Dhofar Governorate is a rich, biodiverse region shaped by climate factors (the average annual temperature and precipitation in Salalah are 25.8°C and> 94 mm, respectively) and vegetated with frequent areas of small- to medium-sized perennial shrubs, scattered between broader areas of loam, gravel and rocks and semi-evergreen grassland. Geographic range. Known only from Oman.

Thyridanthrax decipulus (Austen, 1937) [New record from Egypt] (Figs. 2 – 9) Villa decipulus Austen 1937: 143. Type locality: Palestine (West Bank). Distribution: AF: Oman, United Arab Emirates. PA: Egypt, Palestine (West Bank), Saudi Arabia. Egyptian localities: Sinai: Wadi Gharba. Saudi Arabian localities: Al-Baha: nr. Al-Mekhwa (Al-Mekhwa Governorate). Al-Qassim: Bureida City (Bureida Governorate). Material examined: EGY: 2 males, Wadi Gharba, 14.IV.1927 (Efflatoun) [EFC]. KSA: 1 male, nr. Al-Mekhwa (Al-Baha-Al-Mekhwa Road), 5.V.2012 (El-Hawagry) [in personal collection of El-Hawagry]. Diagnosis: Body length: approximately 13 mm. Frons and occiput mainly dark gray in ground color; face brownish, with large grayish median spot; oral margin yellowish; upper part of frons in male very narrow, of same width as or slightly wider than ocellar tubercle; frons covered with short black hairs and white scales; face rounded, not projecting, covered with white scales and fine yellowish hairs; occiput clothed with white scales; scape and pedicel yellowish or yellowish-orange, with hairs black above and on sides, and yellowish below; flagellum blackish-brown to black, with apical half tapering (Fig. 4). Scutum blackish in ground color; scutellum, except base and sides, brownish; collar fringed with thick golden yellow hairs, becoming whitish below; thoracic setae more or less golden yellow or reddish-yellow; pleura covered with white scales and fine yellowish hairs. Wings with brownish basicostal infuscation extending over basal half of surface, with basal costal, costal and subcostal cells dark brownish, and base paler brownish; hyaline spots (window panes) present on crossveins and origin of vein R 2+3; basal medial cell (bm) pale brownish, with dark brown spot on apical third, joined to brownish large spot on basal third of discal medial cell (dm); basal radial cell (br) mainly infuscated brownish; posterior cubital cell (cup) infuscated brownish at middle; brownish spot on base of discal medial cell not exceeding base of r–m crossvein; anterior cubital cells (cua 1) narrowly infuscated at base; calypter yellowish, fringed with long white scales. Legs with femora blackish-brown with yellowish-brown tips; tibiae dark brown; tarsi black; femora and tibiae clothed with whitish scales. Abdomen dark gray in ground color, with three white and four black transverse bands of scales; 1 st tergite with yellowish-white scales, becoming pure white on lateral sides; 2 nd tergite with yellowish-white scales on basal two-fifths, rest with black scales; 3 rd tergite with white scales on basal half, and black scales on apical half; 4 th tergite with white scales, becoming yellowish on hind border towards lateral sides; 5 th tergite with black scales on basal half, and yellowish scales on apical half; 6 th tergite with black scales on basal half, and white scales on apical half; 2 nd to 5 th tergites with short and fine black hairs among scales, these hairs become longer on apical half of 5 th tergite; 6 th tergite clothed with fairly long black hairs. Gonocoxites (Figs. 8, 9) prominent at basal half; epiphallus bulging at tip, spinulate dorsally before the bulging tip (Figs. 5 –7)., Published as part of El-Hawagry, Magdi S., Abdel-Dayem, Mahmoud S. & Al Dhafer, Hathal M., 2019, On the taxonomy of the genus Thyridanthrax Osten Sacken in Egypt and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, with description of a new species (Diptera: Bombyliidae), pp. 501-519 in Zootaxa 4701 (6) on page 505, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4701.6.1, http://zenodo.org/record/3562556, {"references":["Austen, E. E. (1937) The Bombyliidae of Palestine. British Museum (Natural History), London, ix + 188 pp."]}

Genus Thyridanthrax Osten Sacken Thyridanthrax Osten Sacken 1886: 113 (as subgenus of Anthrax Scopoli). Type species: Anthrax selene Osten Sacken 1886, by subsequent designation (Coquillett 1910: 615)., Published as part of El-Hawagry, Magdi S., Abdel-Dayem, Mahmoud S. & Al Dhafer, Hathal M., 2019, On the taxonomy of the genus Thyridanthrax Osten Sacken in Egypt and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, with description of a new species (Diptera: Bombyliidae), pp. 501-519 in Zootaxa 4701 (6) on page 504, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4701.6.1, http://zenodo.org/record/3562556, {"references":["Osten Sacken, C. R. (1886) Diptera [part]. In: Godman, F. D. & Salvin, O. (Eds.), Biologia Centrali- Americana. Zoologia. Insecta. Diptera. Vol. 1. Taylor & Francis, London, pp. 105 - 128.","Coquillett, D. W. (1910) The type species of the North American genera of Diptera. Proceedings of the United States National Museum, 37, 499 - 647. https: // doi. org / 10.5479 / si. 00963801.37 - 1719.499"]}

Thyridanthrax obliteratus (Loew, 1862) Anthrax obliterata Loew 1862: 80. Type locality: Greece. Distribution: PA: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Egypt, Greece, Georgia, Iran, Italy, Kyrgyz Republic, Libya, Mongolia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Yugoslavia. Egyptian localities: Coastal Strip: Mallaha. Sinai: El-Arish. Material examined: 1 female, Mallaha, 10.VIII.1927 (R.M.); 1 female, Arish, Wadi El-Daiqa, 25.VIII.1951 (Shafik) [EFC]. Diagnosis: Upper part of frons and occiput black in ground color, with face and lower parts of frons yellowish; middle of face, middle of lower half of frons, and all upper half of frons with bright ocher yellowish scales, becoming pure white on sides of lower frons, sides of face, and genae; face and frons with short whitish-yellow hairs, with some brown to black hairs only on vertex next to ocellar tubercle; scape and pedicel yellowish-brown, predominantly with yellowish hairs. Thorax black in ground color, most part of scutellum yellowish or reddish-brown; scutum and scutellum predominantly covered with yellowish vestiture; setae on scutum and scutellum golden yellow. Wings with basal medial cell (bm) slightly yellowish, only distal end brown or at least darker; third posterior cell (m2) and anterior cubital cell (cua1) narrowly infuscated at base. Abdomen black in ground color, with narrow yellowishbrown margins of tergites and large triangular reddish-brown spots on sides of 2 nd and 3 rd tergites; sides of 1 st and front corners of 2 nd tergites with protruding long white hairs; back corners of 2 nd tergite with few short black hairs; on posterior margins of 5 th and 6 th tergites white hairs mixed with short black hairs; tergites covered with brownish to black scales, interrupted at 3 rd and 4 th tergites by broad white bands occupying almost entire tergites except hind quarters, which intersperse with golden scales on posterior margins; golden scales present also on posterior margin of 5 th tergite, while posterior margin of 6 th tergite with white scales, which completely cover 7 th tergite., Published as part of El-Hawagry, Magdi S., Abdel-Dayem, Mahmoud S. & Al Dhafer, Hathal M., 2019, On the taxonomy of the genus Thyridanthrax Osten Sacken in Egypt and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, with description of a new species (Diptera: Bombyliidae), pp. 501-519 in Zootaxa 4701 (6) on page 514, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4701.6.1, http://zenodo.org/record/3562556, {"references":["Loew, H. (1862) Ueber griechesche Dipteren. Berliner Entomologische Zeitschrift, 6, 69 - 89. https: // doi. org / 10.1002 / mmnd. 47918620107"]}

Thyridanthrax incanus (Klug, 1832) (Figs 28–30) Anthrax incana Klug 1832: pl. 30, fig. 5. Type locality: Lebanon or Syria. Anthrax testacea Macquart 1840: 61. Type locality: Egypt and probably Saudi Arabia [as “Arabie”]. Anthrax varipennis Macquart in Lucas 1849: 457. Type locality: Algeria. Distribution: OR: Pakistan. PA: Afghanistan, Algeria, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Cyprus, Egypt, France, Greece, Georgia, Iran, Israel, Italy (incl. Sicily), Lebanon, Libya, Macedonia, Morocco, Syria, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Yugoslavia. Egyptian localities: Coastal Strip: Amiria, Burg, Mariout, Nuzha. Lower Nile Valley: Mahmoudia. Sinai: Gebel Moussa, Wadi El-Arbaein, Wadi El-Lega, Wadi El-Rabba, Wadi El-Tala’a, Wadi Gebal, Wadi Itlah, Wadi Shalalah. Material examined: EGY: 1 male and 1 female, Farsh Gabal Moussa, 26. VI.1930 (H.C.E); 1 female, Mariout, Burg, 15, VII.1926 (Efflatoun); 1 female, Wadi El-Rabbah, 21–24.IV.1940 (H.C.E.); 1 female, Wadi El-Tala’a, 15.V.1996 (Magdi S.A.); 1 female, Wadi Gebal, R. Nada, 19.VIII.1995 (Magdi S.A.); 1 female, Wadi Gebal, Wadi El-Kat, 20.VIII.1995 (Magdi S.A.); 1 female, Wadi Shalalah (nr. Rabbah, S. Sinai), 30. VI.1943 (Efflatoun); 1 male, Wadi Itlah (S. Sinai), 10.VII.1943 (Efflatoun); 1 male, Wadi El-Lega (S. Sinai), VI–VIII.1943 (Efflatoun). Diagnosis: Body length: approximately 14 mm. Head yellowish-brown in ground color, only upper half of frons, vertex, and occiput black; frons with black hairs, almost as long as scape, becoming denser at middle; frons and face covered with yellowish-white scales and scaly-hairs, becoming more yellowish or ochre yellowish on oral margin, sides, and upper portion of frons and on occiput; scape yellowish with long black hairs, mixed with few yellowish ones; pedicel darker with shorter black hairs; flagellum conical, dark brown to black, longer than scape and pedicel together; upper part of frons in male less than three times as wide as ocellar tubercle, those of female more than three times as wide as ocellar tubercle. Thorax black in ground color, with apical half of scutellum yellowish-brown; collar golden ochre yellow hairy; tuft of almost pure white hairs present in front of wing base; tuft of white long scaly-hairs present above hind coxae and on laterotergites. Scutum and scutellum covered with ochre yellow scaly-hairs, becoming lighter on lateral and basal margins of scutellum; notopleural setae reddish-yellow, other setae of scutum and scutellum golden yellowish. Legs yellowish-brown, with tips of tibiae and tarsi blackish; covered with yellowish-white scales. Wings with pale brown or yellowish-brown basicostal infuscation extending over basal half to basal two-thirds of surface, with paler base and hyaline spots on crossveins (window panes); brown pattern on wing usually reduced to spots separated by pale areas on crossveins and on base; base of costa covered with yellowish-white scales becoming more whitish on lower half. Abdomen with tergites in some specimens black, with narrow brownish-yellow posterior margins and reddish-yellow spots on sides, in some other specimens tergites predominantly reddish-yellow or brown with 1 st tergite and middle parts of 2 nd and 3 rd tergites black; all sides of abdomen surrounded with glossy yellowish-white hairs, mixed with very few black ones on sides of 4 th and 5 th tergites; some black hairs present also on posterior margins of tergites 2–5; 1 st tergite with whitish relatively long scaly-hairs on posterior border; 2 nd tergite covered with yellowish scaly-hairs on anterior two-thirds becoming whitish on anterior border, with band of dark brownish scaly-hairs on posterior third becoming wider on middle; 3 rd and 4 th tergites covered with whitish scaly-hairs forming transverse band on anterior half of each, becoming yellowish and brownish on posterior half, with narrow band of dark brownish scaly-hairs sometimes present on posterior margin; 5 th tergite completely covered with yellowish scaly-hairs, becoming slightly whitish on anterior half, mixed with some black hairs on posterior margin; 6 th tergite covered with whitish scaly-hairs mixed with few yellowish ones on posterior margin; 7 th tergite completely covered with long white scales. Spermatheca (Fig. 30) with the duct between the bulb and swelling slightly dilated; swelling separated from the terminal bulb by about the length of the pump and located at the middle between the bulb and the pump., Published as part of El-Hawagry, Magdi S., Abdel-Dayem, Mahmoud S. & Al Dhafer, Hathal M., 2019, On the taxonomy of the genus Thyridanthrax Osten Sacken in Egypt and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, with description of a new species (Diptera: Bombyliidae), pp. 501-519 in Zootaxa 4701 (6) on page 512, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4701.6.1, http://zenodo.org/record/3562556, {"references":["Klug, J. C. F. (1832) Insecta. Decas tertia. In: Symbolae physicae, seu icones et descriptiones insectorum, quae ex itinere per Africam borealem et Asiam occidentalem F. G. Hemprich et C. G. Ehrenberg studio novae aut illustratae redierunt. Vol. III. C. Mittler, Berolini (Berlin), pp. 21 - 30.","Macquart, P. J. M. (1840) Dipteres exotiques nouveaux ou peu connus. Tome Deuxieme. 1 re partie. N. E. Roret, Paris, 135 pp.","Lucas, P. H. (1849) Exploration scientifique de l'Algerie pendant les annees 1840, 1841, 1842 publiee par ordre du Gouvernement et avec le concours d'une Commission Academique. Sciences Physiques. Zoologie. Histoire naturelle des animaux articules. Part III. Insectes. \" 1849 \". A. Bertrand, Paris, 527 pp."]}

Thyridanthrax elegans elegans (Wiedemann, 1820) (Figs 10���15) Anthrax elegans Hoffmansegg in Wiedemann 1818: 17. Nomen nudum. Nemotelus inquinatus Pallas in Wiedemann 1818: 17. Unavailable name; name proposed in synonymy and not made available before 1961. Anthrax elegans Wiedemann in Meigen 1820: 155. Type locality: Portugal and Russia [as ���S��drussland���]. Anthrax varinevris Macquart 1846: 351 (223), pl. 9, fig. 14. Type locality: Palaearctic [specific locality not given]. Anthrax variegatus Jaennicke 1867: 69. Type locality: Italy (Sicily). Thyridanthrax dolgovskayae Zaitzev 1999: 898. Type locality: Israel. Distribution: PA: Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bosnia- Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Egypt, France (incl. Corsica), Greece (incl. Corfu, Lesbos), Georgia, Iran, Israel, Italy (incl. Sicily), Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Lebanon, Libya, Malta, Moldova, Mongolia, Morocco, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Spain (incl. Ibiza, Mallorca), Syria, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Yugoslavia. Egyptian localities: Coastal Strip: Alexandria (Nuzha and Ramleh), Mariout (Burg). Material examined: EGY: 2 males and 2 females, Burg, 15.VII.1926 (H.C.E. and M.T.); 2 females, Nuzha, 25.VIII.1926 (H.C.E. and M.T.); 1 male, same data, 4.VIII.1926; 1 male and 2 females, same data, 21.VII.1926 [EFC]. Diagnosis: Body length: approximately 7 mm. Almost all frons and occiput black in ground color, face yellowish; frons and face at apex of facial cone with black hairs; frons and face covered with whitish-yellow scales; gena with white hairs; occiput densely covered with pure white scales, yellowish on middle behind vertex; scape and pedicel reddish-yellow with black hairs; flagellum dark brownish, conical, with width at upper third less than half its width at base; upper part of frons in male less than three times as wide as ocellar tubercle, that of female more than three times as wide as ocellar tubercle. Thorax black in ground color, only posterior half of scutellum brownish; tufts of white long scales present above hind coxa; scutum and scutellum covered with yellowish tomentum, becoming whitish on lateral and posterior margins of scutum and on base of scutellum; white transverse band of scaly-hairs present on scutum in front of wing bases; all thoracic setae golden-yellow or reddish-yellow. Legs with fore and mid femora more or less reddish-yellow, black only at bases; hind femora mostly black; tibiae yellowish in basal halves, blackish in apical halves; tarsi blackish; legs covered with white scales mixed with yellowish ones; all legs except fore tibiae with black setae. Wings with brown or yellowish-brown basicostal infuscation extending over basal half of surface, becoming paler at base and costal margin, with hyaline spots on crossveins (window panes); basal medial cell (bm) faintly infuscated yellowish with a brownish spot on distal end joined to brownish large spot on basal half of discal medial cell (dm) and that on middle of posterior cubital cell (cup); brownish spot on base of discal medial cell always reaching beyond base of r���m crossvein; third posterior cell (m2) and anterior cubital cell (cua1) narrowly infuscated at base; calypter yellowish-white; halter yellowish. Abdomen mostly dark brown in ground color; sides of 1 st tergite and anterior corners of 2 nd tergite with white hairs, mixed with black ones on posterior corners of latter; 2 nd tergite broad, covered with yellowish-white scales on anterior half, becoming more yellowish on sides, and with dark brown scales on posterior half forming transverse dark brown band; broad transverse band of whitish scales present on 3 rd tergite, and another more yellowish one may present on 4 th tergite, with narrow dark brown bands present on posterior margins of both; posterior margins of 6 th and entire 7 th tergite with whitish scales, rest with yellowish scales except some dark brown scales on anterior margins of 5 th and 6 th tergites; some black hairs present on 4 th and 5 th tergites especially on posterior margins and sides. Epiphallus large, spinulate dorsally at apical part, and curved dorsally at level of tip of aedeagus forming marked angle (Figs. 12 ��� 14). Spermatheca (Fig. 15) with the swelling in the duct separated from the terminal bulb by about the length of the pump, or slightly more. The swelling approximately has the same size as the terminal bulb., Published as part of El-Hawagry, Magdi S., Abdel-Dayem, Mahmoud S. & Al Dhafer, Hathal M., 2019, On the taxonomy of the genus Thyridanthrax Osten Sacken in Egypt and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, with description of a new species (Diptera: Bombyliidae), pp. 501-519 in Zootaxa 4701 (6) on pages 506-507, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4701.6.1, http://zenodo.org/record/3562556, {"references":["Wiedemann, C. R. W. (1818) Aus Pallas dipterologischen Nachlasse. Zoologische Magazin, 1 (2), 1 - 40.","Meigen, J. W. (1820) Systematische Beschreibung der bekannten europaischen zweiflugeligen Insekten. Zweiter Theil. F. W. Forstmann, Aachen, x + 363 pp.","Macquart, P. J. M. (1846) Dipteres exotiques nouveaux ou peu connus. Supplement. N. E. Roret, Paris, 238 pp.","Jaennicke, J. F. (1867) Beitrage zur Kenntniss der europaischen Bombyliiden, Acroceriden, Scenopiniden, Thereviden und Asiliden. Berliner Entomologische Zeitschrift, 11, 63 - 94. https: // doi. org / 10.1002 / mmnd. 18670110105","Zaitzev, V. F. (1999) On the fauna of flies of the family Bombyliidae (Diptera) of Israel. IV. Entomologicheskoe Obozrenie, 77 (1998), 888 - 903."]}

Thyridanthrax anomalus Greathead, 1980 Thyridanthrax anomalus Greathead 1980: 324. Type locality: Saudi Arabia. Distribution: PA: Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabian localities: Makkah: Al-Baha-Taief Road (Taief Governorate), Wadi Fatimah (Al-Jamoum Governorate). Material examined: KSA: 1 female in a bad condition, Al-Baha-Taief Road, 3.VIII.2009 (Col. El-Hawagry) [from personal collection of El-Hawagry]. Diagnosis: Body length: approximately 12 mm. Head with upper part of frons and occiput black in ground color, remainder reddish; frons with grey tomentum, sparse black hairs and golden yellow scales; face rounded, barely projecting beyond curve of frons, with short pale yellowish hairs and white scales; scape and pedicel reddishbrown with black hairs; flagellum black. Thorax dull black with scutellum, except on its extreme base, postpronotal lobe and postalar callus reddish-brown; hairs of collar pale and prealar tuft yellow; hairs on pleura whitish; scales on pleura, margins of scutellum, behind collar, and around wing bases white; hairs on disc of scutum and scutellum ochreous-yellow to brownish-black. Legs with coxae grayish-brown, femora yellowish-brown, tibiae brown, tarsi blackish-brown. Wings, except for yellowish base, gray with darker areas around pale fenestrae; base of costa black with brown scales; calypter gray with white fringe. Abdomen reddish-brown in ground color, with 1 st tergite and middle parts of 2 nd and 3 rd tergites black; 1 st tergite with white hairs and scales, and narrow band of blackish scales across middle two-thirds of posterior margin; 2 nd tergite with white scales on base forming a transverse band, remainder with black scales; basal half of 3 rd tergite, entire 4 th tergite, and apical halves of 5 th��� 7 th tergites with white scales, rest of these tergites with black scales; hairs weak, sparse, and black, except strong hairs on 6 th tergite and yellowish hairs on 7 th tergite., Published as part of El-Hawagry, Magdi S., Abdel-Dayem, Mahmoud S. & Al Dhafer, Hathal M., 2019, On the taxonomy of the genus Thyridanthrax Osten Sacken in Egypt and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, with description of a new species (Diptera: Bombyliidae), pp. 501-519 in Zootaxa 4701 (6) on page 505, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4701.6.1, http://zenodo.org/record/3562556, {"references":["Greathead, D. J. (1980) Insects of Saudi Arabia. Diptera: Family Bombyliidae. Fauna of Saudi Arabia, 2, 291 - 337."]}

Thyridanthrax elegansoides El-Hawagry sp. nov. (Figs 16 ��� 24) Specimens of this species were identified by E.O. Engel as T. elegans and deposited amongst other specimens of T. elegans in EFC. However, they were found to clearly differ from other specimens of T. elegans in some external morphological features such as the color of antennae, which are entirely dark brown, the ground color of the scutellum, which is dark brown to black, the color of legs, which are dark brown with apical halves of tibiae and tarsi black, and the contrasting banding pattern of the abdomen. To confirm these specific differences, the male genitalia were dissected; it was then found that these specimens undoubtedly represent a completely different species. Distribution: PA: Egypt. Egyptian localities: Eastern Desert: Wadies, southeast of Cairo. Lower Nile Valley: Helwan. Material examined: EGY: Holotype male, Helwan, 17.IV.1934 (Farag); Paratypes: 1 female, same data as holotype; 1 female, Helwan, 16.IV.1930 (Tewfik); 1 male, dissected, Wadi Hetaim, 16.IV.1930 (Tewfik); 1 male and 1 female, Wadi Rigam El-Sheikh Salama, 14.IV.1930 (Tewfik) [EFC]. Description. Holotype, male. Relatively medium-sized species, body length: 8 mm, wing length: 6.5 mm. Head (Fig. 18) dark brown to black in ground color, face yellowish; frons with numerous black hairs and sparse yellowishwhite long scales, being denser on lower part; face densely covered with yellowish-white scales and hairs becoming more whitish on sides, with few black hairs on apex of facial cone; gena with white hairs; occiput densely covered with pure white scales, but yellowish on middle behind vertex; antennae (Fig. 17) entirely dark brown with black hairs on scape and pedicel; flagellum conical, tapering at apical half; upper part of frons in male less than three times as wide as ocellar tubercle. Thorax including scutellum dark brown to black in ground color; scutum covered with yellowish-white vestiture, mixed with whitish scales on posterior part, few short black hairs on postalar calli; white transverse band of scales and scaly-hairs present on scutum in front of wing bases; scutellum covered with white longitudinal scales, becoming slightly yellowish at middle; thoracic setae reddish-yellow, being glossy golden-yellow at posterior margin of scutum and on all scutellum; tufts of pure white long scales present above hind coxae; episternum densely covered with white vestiture. All legs dark brown, with tarsi and apical halves of tibiae black; legs covered with white scales mixed with yellowish ones; all legs except fore tibiae with black setae. Wings with faint brown or yellowish-brown basicostal infuscation extending over basal half of surface, becoming paler at base and costal margin, with hyaline spots on crossveins (window panes); basal medial cell (bm) faintly infuscated brownish with slightly darker spot on apex not joined to brownish large spot on basal half of discal medial cell (dm); posterior cubital cell (cup) slightly infuscated but without a distinct spot; brownish spot on base of discal medial cell always reaching beyond base of r���m crossvein; third posterior cell (m2) and anterior cubital cell (cua1) narrowly infuscated at base; calypter yellowish, fringed with pure white longitudinal scales; base of costa covered with yellowish-brown scales; halter yellowish-brown with whitish-yellow tip. Abdomen dark brown in ground color; sides of 1 st tergite and anterior corners of 2 nd tergite with pure white hairs, mixed with dark brown to black hairs on posterior corners of latter; sides of 4 th and 5 th tergites and posterior margins of latter with numerous long black hairs; rest of abdominal hairs white to whitish-yellow; 2 nd tergite broadly covered with white to yellowish-white scales on anterior quarter, and dark brown to black scales on posterior three-quarters forming broad transverse dark band; transverse bands of yellowish-white scales present on anterior two-thirds of 3 rd and 4 th tergites, only narrow dark brown bands present on posterior margins; almost entire 5 th tergite and anterior half of 6 th tergite covered with dark brown to black scales, only few brownish-yellow scales present on posterior margin of 5 th tergite, rest of 6 th tergite and entire 7 th tergite with whitish scales. Male genitalia (Figs. 19 ��� 24) with epiphallus long, broad, straight, bluntly rounded at apex, not spinulate. Female (paratype). Similar to male holotype but with upper part of frons more than three times as wide as ocellar tubercle. Female genitalia not dissected., Published as part of El-Hawagry, Magdi S., Abdel-Dayem, Mahmoud S. & Al Dhafer, Hathal M., 2019, On the taxonomy of the genus Thyridanthrax Osten Sacken in Egypt and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, with description of a new species (Diptera: Bombyliidae), pp. 501-519 in Zootaxa 4701 (6) on pages 508-510, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4701.6.1, http://zenodo.org/record/3562556