First contribution to the sawflies and woodwasps of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (Hymenoptera: Symphyta), with the description of a new species of Orussidae

ABSTRACT In the present study, sawflies and woodwasps (Symphyta) are recorded for the first time from Saudi Arabia. The study identifies seven species across four different families: Orussus arabicus Gadallah and Soliman, sp. nov. and Pseudoryssus niehuisorum Kraus (Fam: Orussidae); Athalia vollenhoveni Gribodo (Fam: Athaliidae); Corynis citrina (Pérez) (Fam: Cimbicidae); Taxonus terminalis (Say), Tenthredo (Elinora) cf. baetica dominquei (Konow) and T. (E.) flaveola Gmelin (Fam: Tenthredinidae). Only two of the species recorded here previously reported from the Arabian Peninsula: Athalia vollenhoveni from Yemen, and Corynis citrina from Bahrain. Here we provide detailed illustrations and diagnoses of the species based on specimens recorded from Saudi fauna and also a map representing distribution of species in the Arabian Peninsula.