Miscophus bytinskii P. VERHOEFF 1955

Miscophus bytinskii species group

DE ANDRADE (1960) did not assign M. bytinskii to any of his species groups but treated it as an isolated species. However, because there are now already five species with this particular character combination, the setting up of an own species group is justified. It is named M. bytinskii -species group after the first described speecies of this group. The M. bytinskii -species group is characterized by an all shiny and smooth body surface without striation or punctures (apart from some sculpture and pubescence of mesopleuron in two species) in combination with an obtuse angle between propodeal dorsum and propodeal declivity, seen in lateral view, without any edge or keel at the transition. Remaining species of Miscophus always have striation, punctation or other sculpture at most on mesosoma. The propodeal angle is more or less right angled (or nearby), and often with edge on transition from horizontal to vertical part of propodeum. The M. bytinskii group is named after the first described species of the group Misocophus grangeri DE BEAUMONT, 1968, described from Algeria, also belongs to this species group. For recognition of it see below at M. paolorosai.

Both new described species from Oman, M. alhashamii nov.sp. and M. qaboosi nov.sp., differ from the remaining species of the M. bytinskii species group by a dense pubescence on mesopleuron, and M. qaboosi nov.sp. also by a indistinct and very fine striation of propodeal declivity and propodeum laterally. They may represent transition forms to other species groups. Otherwise, they fulfill the above mentioned criteria what justifies to place them into this species group.