Azevedo C.O.1, Rosa P.2, Mirzaeva G.3, Akhmedov A.3 2026. Filling gap of Glenosema Kieffer (Hymenoptera, Bethylidae) in Central Asia, with description of a new species // Euroasian Entomological Journal. Vol.25. Suppl.1: 14–20 [in English].
1 Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, NESB — Núcleo de Excelência em Sistemática de Bethylidae, Vitória ES, Brazil. E-mail: bethylidae@gmail.com
2 Université de Mons, Institut de Recherche en Biosciences, Place du parc 20, 7000 Mons Belgium.
3 Zoologiya Instituti, Fanlar Akademiyasi, 232B Bogishamol Str., Tashkent 100053 Uzbekistan.
doi 10.15298/euroasentj.25.S01.03
ABSTRACT. A new species of the bethylid wasp genus Glenosema, Glenosema octoleleji Azevedo, sp.n., is described from the Kyzylkum Desert, Uzbekistan. This represents the first record of the genus from Central Asia and fills a major distributional gap between the Mediterranean, Arabian, and Oriental regions. The new species is described from a male specimen and can be distinguished from its congeners by a unique combination of morphological characters, including extremely reduced propodeal spiracles, a strongly elongate ocellar triangle, a complete metapostnotal median carina, and distinctive genitalia. A reassessment of the diagnostic characters previously proposed for males of Glenosema is provided, incorporating morphological variation documented in all currently known species. Several previously overlooked genitalic features, including paired apical filaments of the aedeagus and the enlarged basal ring, are identified as potentially important generic characters. The discovery of G. octoleleji extends the known range of Glenosema into the Central Asian Palaearctic and supports the interpretation of the genus as an Afro-Eurasian trans-Palaeotropical lineage rather than a predominantly Afro-Mediterranean group. The new record highlights the importance of poorly surveyed regions in revealing the true diversity and distribution of Bethylidae.
KEY WORDS: Glenoseminae, male morphology, disjunct biogeographical distribution, arid environmental adaptations, Kyzylkum Desert, Uzbekistan.