Gonaporus spinosissimus Wahis & I. Zonstein, sp. nov.

Gonaporus spinosissimus Wahis & I. Zonstein, sp. nov.

(Figs 18–19, 28, 35, 98, 109, 120, 130, 141, 152, 163, 174, 185, 195)

Diagnosis. This is the largest species in the genus. The body length of the female is 11.5 mm, and that of male is 7.6 mm. The female has six spines of the tarsal comb on the protarsomere 1—the largest number among all congeners (Figs 28, 141)

Description. Female. Body length 11.5 mm. Structure: see Table 1. Coloration: Head mostly black; clypeus mostly dark orange, narrowly black basally; mandible orange on basal 0.6 and dark brown-orange on apical 0.4; scape orange; pedicel and flagellum brown. Mesosoma mostly dark orange (Fig. 35); scutum, scutellum, and pleurae blackish-orange; tegula light orange. Legs mostly orange; tibiae slightly blackish apically; tarsomeres 1–3 mostly orange, brown apically; tarsomeres 4–5 brown; spur of fore leg orange basally, dark brown apically, other spurs dark brown; spines of tarsal comb orange; spines on tibiae and femora orange-brown; tarsi with brown spines. Metasoma orange. Pygidium orange-brown and shiny. Pubescence: Metapostnotum without pubescence (Fig. 35). Setae: Frons with short brown setae; occiput and propleuron with moderately long fine whitish setae. Protarsomere 1 with 6 long spines posteriorly and 3 short spines anteroventrally (Figs 28, 141).

Male. Body length 7.6 mm. Structure: see Table 2. Subgenital plate and genitalia not dissected from the specimen, partially visible; paramere not widened apically. Coloration: Head mostly black; clypeus black basally orange apically; mandible mostly orange, orange-brown on apical 0.25; scape and pedicel blackish dorsally and orange ventrally; flagellum dark brown dorsally and orange-brown ventrally. Mesosoma black. Legs: coxae mostly black, orange apically; trochanters, tibiae and femora orange; tarsi brown; spurs of protibia yellowish-orange basally and dark brown apically; spurs of meso- and metatibia brown; leg spines blackish-brown. Metasoma: Segments 1–3 orange; segments 4 blackish-orange; 5–7 black. Setae: Occiput with short fine whitish setae.

Etymology. The specific name is derived from the largest number of spines of the tarsal comb on the protarsomere 1 compare to all other congeners.

Material examined. Holotype: ♀, OMAN: Batinah Muscat, Seeb airport, 23°36'37''N 58°19'22''E, 10– 11.iv.2001, P. L. Scaramozzino & F. Strumia. Paratype: OMAN: Batinah Muscat, Seeb airport, 23°36'37''N 58°19'22''E, 10–11.iv.2001, P. L. Scaramozzino & F. Strumia, 1♂ (CRW).

Distribution. Oman (Fig. 216).

Habitat. Unknown.

Biology. Unknown.