New species of Ceramius Latreille (Hymenoptera, Vespoidea) allied to Ceramius lusitanicus Klug

When I had dealt with Ceramius lusitanicus and its allies in my book (Richards, 1962, pp. 112-115) I was still not altogether satisfied, particularly as the late Dr. H. Bischoff had recognised at least one more species amongst his Spanish material. Recently, Dr. J. van der Vecht sent me a long series of Spanish specimens which he had separated into three species. I agree with him that what I called C. lusitanicus consists of three closely allied species, fairly easily separable by the male genitalia (best examined dry) but less easily in the females. I suspect that with still longer series from more localities the females might be even more difficult to distinguish. The three species may all occur together, as at Las Correderas, prov. Jaén. Dr. van der Vecht has also provided the first flower-records for European Ceramius. Ceramius vechti sp. n. ♂. Sculpture of gaster visible on tergite 1 and even on tergite 2 visible as minute excessively close punctures. Gastral sternite 8 with end straight truncate, disk not much longitudinally depressed. Apex of paramere (fig. 1) somewhat obliquely truncate, passing smoothly into the lamina, in side view quite thick, finger-shaped. Volsella with an outer membranous portion attached to the paramere and an inner stout portion of which the inner side is darkened. Aedeagus with no dorsal depression before apex. Length 14.018.0, mean 15.7 mm, length fore wing 10.0-11.0, mean 10.7 mm, hamuli 24-29, mean 25.9. Pale markings of head white. Antennae more orange, segment 4 beneath and apical third of 3 beneath, orange. Fore coxa with a large white or yellow spot (9 specimens) or dot (1 specimen) or black (1 specimen). Hind trochanter with an anteroventral yellow spot. Hind femur with a yellow spot at