Not examined.

(from Kazenas 1996, 2000).

Male. Body length 4–4.5 mm. Black. Antenna brown, partly yellowish-brown. Legs predominantly brown, femora reddish apically, tibiae reddish apically and basally, fore tibia with yellowish spot medially. Fore tarsus yellowish-brown, mid and hind tarsus brown. Middle clypeal lobe linguiform protruding, apically rounded (Fig. 9), slightly bent upwards, smooth and shiny; lateral lobes with transverse striae. Malar space twice as long as diameter of anterior ocellus. Frons with longitudinal furrow. Antennomeres II–III laterally with obliquely protruding setae. Mesoscutum, mesoscutellum and mesopleuron smooth and shiny; mesoscutum anteriorly with small punctures and setae, mesopleuron with scattered fine punctures and long setae. Propodeal dorsum finely micro-reticulated, posterior surface smooth and shiny. Wings hyaline, forewing veins brown, partly colourless. Subcosta and costa pale yellow before pterostigma, pterostigma pale brown with pale yellow margin. Marginal cell markedly short, anterior margin maximal about half as long as posterior height (Fig. 1).

Female. Unknown.

(Fig. 35). Kazakhstan (type locality).

Mongolia. 1 ♂, Bayankhongor 130 km S, 1240 m, 45.03'N, 100.59'E, 06.07.2004, J. Halada (OLML).

Male. Body length 4.0–5.0 mm, lateral view Fig. 15. Head and mesosoma black. Antenna reddish-brown, mandible reddish with brown tip. Antennomeres I–III with short white setae. Mandible basally with deep transverse sulcus, medially with tuft of pale setae. Malar space about 3× as long as diameter of anterior ocellus. Middle clypeal lobe medially with short triangular tooth in the middle and small lateral teeth, separating middle lobe from lateral lobes (Fig. 10). Clypeus indistinctly punctate, lateral lobes without distinct striae, finely punctate. Face finely punctate, with long white setae; frons, vertex and occiput smooth and shiny (Fig. 16). Head behind eyes well developed, about as long as eye length on vertex. Mesoscutum, mesoscutellum and mesopleuron smooth and shiny. Mesoscutum anteriorly and mesopleuron with scattered pale setae. Propodeal dorsum very finely micro-reticulated. Lateral surface of propodeum strongly coriaceous, declivity with strong punctures, both with long white setae. Metasoma dark brown to black, pygidium reddish. Tergum I and sterna with white setae. Femora dark brown with reddish apex and short white setae, longest ventral setae of hind femur distinctly shorter than half maximal femur diameter. Tibiae and tarsi reddish. Wings hyaline. Tegula brown; basal sclerites and base of forewing veins pale yellowish, other veins brown; pterostigma brown, basal quarter pale yellow. Anterior margin of marginal cell about 0.8× as long as apical height (Fig. 2).

Female (from Kazenas 1996, 2000). Body length 4 mm. Head and mesosoma black, pronotal lobe brown; metasoma black, proximal terga sometimes brownish, pygidium reddish. Femora dark brown to black with reddish apex, tibiae and tarsi reddish. Mandible reddish-yellow, tip dark brown. Antenna brown, apically reddish. Clypeus reddish-brown, middle clypeal lobe weakly convex, separated from lateral lobes by short teeth directed obliquely forward (Fig. 11). Malar space about as long as diameter of anterior ocellus. Frons strongly and evenly curved, smooth and shiny; nearly without punctures and microsculpture, medially with deep longitudinal furrow. Distance between antennal insertions about as wide as insertion diameter, about 2.5× as wide as distance between insertion and eye. Mesoscutum glabrous, smooth and shiny, with very scattered fine punctures. Mesoscutellum with deep longitudinal furrow. Mesopleuron smooth and shiny, with some pale setae. Propodeal dorsum finely reticulated, posterior surface smooth. Lateral propodeal surface smooth and shiny, with sparse white setation. Tegula reddish-brown, posteriorly hyaline. Wing veins brown or reddish-brown, basally whitish-yellow. Pterostigma brown with whitish-yellow base as well as adjacent part of costa. Marginal cell very short, apically rounded, anterior margin less than half as long as posterior height (Fig. 3). First recurrent vein leads to submarginal cell I.

(Fig. 35). Turkmenistan (holotype), Kazakhstan (paratypes, Kazenas 1972, 1996, 2002), Mongolia (Tsuneki 1971), Russia: Astrakhan prov. (Mokrousov et al. 2016) (Fig. 35). The isolated record (a single male) from Israel (Mokrousov et al. 2016) requires confirmation and is not included in the distribution map.

♂, Iran, Kerman prov., Ghobira 20 km E, 1780 m, 30.10'N, 56.59’Е, 05.06.2010, Mi. Halada (OLML). Paratypes. 1 ♂, 1 ♀ with same data as holotype (OLML).

Male. The male of D. iranicum sp. nov. is distinguished from the other Palaearctic species of Diploplectron by the extensive yellow colouration on terga I–II. It differs from D. alexandri, D. asiaticum and D. palaearcticum by the ventrally yellow apical antennomeres, the yellow frontal spot and the shorter malar space. It differs from D. asiaticum by the roundly protruding and upwards bent middle clypeal lobe and due to the absence of a transverse sulcus at the mandible base; from D. palaearcticum and D. alexandri by the brown pterostigma and from D. palaearcticum additionally by the mostly brown forewing veins. It is additionally distinguished from D. pulawskii by pale setae of the antennomeres I–III.

Female. The female of D. iranicum sp. nov. is distinguished from D. palaearcticum and D. asiaticum by a longer marginal cell of the forewing and by a shorter malar space, from D. palaearcticum additionally by mostly brown forewing veins. It differs from D. pulawskii by white setae of antennomeres I–II and by white bristles on mid and hind coxa.

Male. Body length 5.0–5.5 mm, dorsal view Figs 17, 19, lateral view Figs 18, 20 (holotype, paratype). Head and mesosoma black, frons with small yellow spot below anterior ocellus (Fig. 33). Metasoma dark brown, tergum I with pale yellow band or nearly confluent spots, II with small pale yellow spots variable in size, small at holotype, large and nearly confluent at paratype. Pygidium reddish. Mandible black, apex reddish, with tuft of pale setae medially, simple. Malar space about 1.1–1.5× as long as diameter of anterior ocellus. Antenna black, antennomeres (VIII)IX–XII(XIII) ventrally yellow or pale brown, I–III with pale setae. Clypeus smooth and shiny; middle clypeal lobe linguiform protruding, anterior margin rounded and bent upwards; separated from lateral lobes by deep sulcus. Lateral clypeal lobes finely transverse striated. Face finely micro-sculptured, glabrous. Frons and vertex smooth and shiny, frons distinctly convex (Fig. 33). Gena smooth and shiny, occiput with long white setae. Mesoscutum, mesoscutellum, mesopleuron and metapleuron smooth and shiny; anterior surface of mesoscutum and mesopleuron with white setae, those on mesopleuron longer than diameter of anterior ocellus. Propodeal dorsum micro-reticulated, lateral and posterior area smooth and shiny. Lateral surface of propodeum coriaceous; declivity with deep triangular basal impression, smooth and shiny; both with long white setae. Tergum I and sterna with short white setae. Coxae and trochanters black, femora black with reddish apex; tibiae brown with yellowish basal spot, fore tibia with reddish-yellow inner surface; tarsi reddish-brown, hind tarsus darker. Mid and hind coxa with pale bristles. Fore and hind femur ventrally with white setae, shorter than maximal femur diameter. Forewing hyaline, with light brownish tinge. Tegula, basal sclerites, base of forewing veins and subcosta before the pterostigma pale yellow, other veins and pterostigma brown. Anterior margin of marginal cell about 1.3–1.5× as long as posterior height (Fig. 5).

Female. Body length 5.5 mm, paratype dorsal view Fig. 21, lateral view Fig. 22. Head and mesosoma black, pygidial plate reddish. Mandible reddish with dark brown tip. Clypeus smooth and shiny, anterior margin of middle clypeal lobe with two small teeth. Malar space very short, about 0.5× as long as diameter of anterior ocellus. Face finely micro-sculptured, glabrous. Frons and vertex smooth and shiny, frons distinctly convex. Antenna black, antennomeres I–II with pale bristles, III with very short pale setae. Frons, vertex and occiput smooth and shiny, frons with indistinct and very scattered punctures (Fig. 34). Mesoscutum, mesoscutellum and mesopleuron smooth and shiny, mesoscutum anteriorly with scattered punctures. Propodeal dorsum micro-reticulated. Lateral surface of propodeum micropunctate, posteriorly with some longitudinal carinae. Declivity smooth and shiny, with triangular basal impression. Propodeum, except dorsal surface, with white setae. Pygidial plate with nearly straight lateral margins, surface coriaceous. Terga shiny, with transverse micro-striae. Sterna with short white setae. Coxae and trochanters black, femora black with reddish apex; tibiae brown with reddish base, fore tibia with reddish-yellow inner surface; tarsi reddish-brown, hind tarsus darker. Mid and hind coxa with pale bristles. Fore and hind femur ventrally with brownish setae, longest ventral setae of hind femur about as long as maximal femur diameter. Fore basitarsus with four short rake spines, apical spine about two thirds as long as tarsomere II. Forewing hyaline, with light brownish tinge. Tegula brown with yellow posterior margin; basal sclerites, base of forewing veins and subcosta before the pterostigma pale yellow, other veins and pterostigma brown. Anterior margin of marginal cell about 1.3× as long as posterior height (Fig. 6).

(Fig. 35). Iran (type locality).

Egypt. Fayed, 04.1943, Priesner, 1 ♀ (OLML). Israel. Arava valley, Hyw 90 at km 149, -60 m, 30.42.90'N, 35.11.15'E, 04.05.1995 O.&M.Niehius, 1 ♀ (CSE). — Morocco. Rachidia 80 km S, Rissani 20 km W, 04.04.1996, O.&M. Niehuis, det. Pulawski, 1 ♀ (CSE). — Saudi Arabia. Riyad r., S of Riyadh, 24.425'N, 46.653'E, 06.03.2024, M. Halada, 1 ♂, 1 ♀ (CSE). – Riyad r., Ulya 100 km NW Riyadh, 25.281'N 46.021'E, 09.03.2024, M. Halada, 1 ♂, 2 ♀♀ (CSE). — Tunisia. Tataouine, 11.04.2001, M. Halada, 1 ♀ (OLML). — United Arab Emirates. Jebel Hafit, 24.07'N, 55.75'E, 03.03.2011, van Harten, det. Schmid-Egger, 1 ♀ (CSE). – Liwa Oasis 5 km E Mezairaa, 23.12'N, 53.84'E, 09.01.2011, leg. et det. Schmid-Egger, 1 ♂ (CSE). – Sarhaj Desert Park, 25.17'N, 55.42'E, 22.11.2004, van Harten, det. Schmid-Egger, 1 ♀ (CSE). Wadi Maidaq, 25.18'N, 56.07'E, 29.04.2009, van Harten, 1 ♀ (CSE).

Male. Body length 4.0–4.5 mm, lateral view Fig. 23, dorsal view Fig. 24. Black, pygidium sometimes brownish. Antenna dark brown, antennomeres I–III inner side with long black setae, IV–XI with narrow brownish tyloids. Coxae and trochanters black, femora black with reddish apex; fore tibia and tarsus reddish-brown, tibia and tarsus of mid and hind legs mostly darker brown. Mandible black, reddish mesally, simple. Malar space about three times as long as diameter of anterior ocellus. Middle clypeal lobe smooth and shiny; anterior margin linguiform prolonged, apex slightly bent upwards (Fig. 12). Lateral clypeal lobes with oblique striae, separated from middle lobe by deep sulcus. Face finely micro-striated; frons smooth and shiny, with very scattered punctures (Fig. 25). Vertex and occiput smooth and shiny, the latter with very scattered punctures and pale setae. Mesoscutum shiny, anterior surface finely coriaceous, with short pale setae, posterior surface smooth with very scattered punctures. Mesoscutellum variable; smooth and shiny or more or less finely reticulated. Mesopleuron smooth and shiny, posteriorly with scattered punctures, ventrally with brownish setae. Propodeal dorsum micro-reticulated, posterior margin smooth and shiny. Lateral surface of propodeum with strong punctures, interspaces distinctly micro-punctate. Declivity smooth and shiny, with scattered punctures. Propodeum, except propodeal dorsum, with pale setae. Metasomal terga with transverse micro-striation; sternum II with some erect pale setae. Ventral setae of fore and hind femur about half as long as maximal femur diameter. Forewing hyaline; tegula, basal sclerites and wing veins pale yellow; pterostigma pale yellow or pale brown with yellow border. Anterior margin of marginal cell about 0.7× as posterior height (Fig. 4).

Female. Body length 4.0–4.5 mm, lateral view Fig. 26, dorsal view Fig. 27. Head, mesosoma and metasoma black. Antenna dark brown to black, antennomeres I–III with black bristles. Coxae and trochanters black, femora black with reddish apex, fore tibia and tarsus reddish-brown, tibia and tarsus of mid and hind legs darker brown with reddish base. Mandible reddish with dark brown tip. Malar space about two times as long as diameter of anterior ocellus. Middle clypeal lobe smooth and shiny, anterior margin with three short teeth (often difficult visible), separated from lateral lobes by deep sulcus, without tooth between middle and lateral lobes (Fig. 13). Lateral clypeal lobes with oblique striae. Face very finely micro-sculptured, frons smooth and shiny with very scattered punctures (Fig. 28). Vertex smooth and shiny, beside posterior ocelli with dull impression about twice as long as diameter of anterior ocellus. Occiput smooth and shiny, with white setae. Mesoscutum, mesoscutellum and mesopleuron smooth and shiny; ventral surface of mesopleuron with greyish setae. Propodeal dorsum finely granulate. Lateral surface of propodeum and declivity coriaceous, with distinct longitudinal carinae. Propodeum, except dorsum, with sparse whitish setation. Metasomal terga shiny. Sternum II and posterior margins of terminal sterna with dark setae. Fore basitarsus with four long rake spines, apical spine about twice as long as tarsomere II. Mid and hind coxa with black bristles. Ventral setae of fore and hind femur at least about as long as maximal femur diameter. Forewing hyaline; tegula, basal sclerites and at least costa and subcosta yellow, remaining forewing veins yellowish or pale brown. Pterostigma yellow or pale brown with yellow border. Marginal cell very short, anterior margin about 0.3–0.5× as long as posterior height.

(Fig. 35). Egypt (type locality) (Pulawski 1964, Roche 2007), Israel (Beaumont et al. 1973), Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates (Schmid-Egger 2014).

Kazakhstan. Charyn Valley W Chundza, 650 m, 43.37'N, 79.21'E, 31.05.2001, M. Hauser, 1 ♀ (CSE). — Mongolia. Bayankhongor 130 km S, 1240 m, 45.03'N, 100.59'E, 06.07.2004, J. Halada, 1 ♀ (OLML). – Choibalsan 100 km W, 820 m, 23.07.2007, M. Kadlecova, 1 ♂ (OLML); J. Halada, 1 ♂ (CSE). – Domogoy reg. stepp, Chatan Bulag 28 km SE, 03.08.2007, M. Halada, 1 ♂, 3 ♀♀ (OLML). – Saynshand 70 km S, 1100 m, 06.08.2007, M. Halada, 4 ♂♂, 1 ♀ (OLML).

Male. Body length 5.0–5.5 mm, lateral view Fig. 29. Head black, frons with small yellow spot below anterior ocellus. Mesosoma and metasoma black, pygidium sometimes brownish. Legs black, fore femur with red apex, fore tibia inner side and basally reddish-yellow, fore tarsus reddish-brown. Antenna black, antennomeres IX–XII ventrally pale yellow or pale brownish. Mandible black, reddish mesally. Malar space about 1.2–1.5× as long as diameter of anterior ocellus. Middle clypeal lobe smooth and shiny, anterior margin roundly protruding, apex bent upwards from lateral lobes separated by deep sulcus. Lateral clypeal lobes with fine transverse striae. Face, frons, vertex and occiput shiny, finely micro-punctate; occiput with white setae (Fig. 31). Antennomeres I–III with dark bristles. Mesoscutum, mesoscutellum and mesopleuron smooth and shiny; anterior surface of mesoscutum coriaceous with short white setae. Mesopleuron ventrally with white setae. Propo­deal dorsum finely granulate, lateral surface of propodeum coriaceous, declivity smooth and shiny with strong punctures. Propodeum, except dorsum, with white setae. Metasoma shiny, tergum I and sterna with white setae. Mid- and hind coxa with pale setae. Longest ventral setae of fore- and hind femur no longer than half maximal femur diameter. Tegula dark brown. Forewing hyaline, basal sclerites brown and pale yellow, base of veins and subcosta before the pterostigma pale yellow, other veins and pterostigma dark brown. Anterior margin of marginal cell about 1.2–1.8× as long as apical height (Fig. 7).

Female. Body length (4.5)5.5–6.5 mm, lateral view Fig. 30). Head, antenna and mesosoma black. Mandible reddish-brown with black tip. Metasoma black, terga I–II sometimes dark brownish, pygidial plate reddish. Coxae, trochanters and femora black; fore tibia reddish-brown; mid and hind tibia dark brown; fore- and mid-tarsus reddish, hind tarsus dark brown. Malar space about 0.3–0.5× as long as diameter of anterior ocellus. Middle clypeal lobe shiny with some punctures, anterior margin with two very small teeth (Fig. 14). Face and frons very finely micro-reticulated, with very scattered distinct punctures (Fig. 32). Vertex and occiput smooth and shiny, the latter with short white setae. Antennomeres I–III with black bristles. Pronotal collar micro-reticulated, with short white setae. Mesoscutum smooth and shiny, anterior margin coriaceous, with short white setae. Mesoscutellum smooth and shiny, finely micro-striated posteriorly. Mesopleuron micro-reticulated, moderately shiny, ventrally with brownish setae. Epimeron smooth and shiny, distinctly different from remaining parts of mesopleuron. Propodeal dorsum densely granulated, dull. Lateral surface of propodeum coriaceous, dull, with longitudinal striae posteriorly. Declivity coriaceous with some stronger punctures. Propodeum, except dorsum, with white setae. Metasomal terga finely micro-striated. Sternum II and posterior margins of following sterna with black setae. Fore basitarsus with four black rake spines, apical spine about as long as fore tarsomere II. Fore- and hind femur with black setae ventrally; the longest ones of fore femur about half as long, those of hind femur about two thirds as long as maximal femur diameter. Coxa and trochanter of mid- and hind legs with black bristles. Tegula brown, posterior margin transparent. Forewing hyaline, basal sclerites, base of costa and subcosta pale yellow, subcosta before pterostigma pale brown; other veins dark brown, pterostigma brown. Anterior margin of marginal cell about 0.9–1.2× as long as apical height (Fig. 8).

(Fig. 35). Kazakhstan (type locality, Kazenas 2002), Russia: Kalmykia (Mokrousov et al. 2016), Mongolia.