Venanides caspius sp. nov. from Iran, the first species of Venanides (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) described from the Palaearctic Region

The genus Venanides Mason, 1981 (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Microgastrinae) is recorded from Iran for the first time, and a new species, Venanides caspicus Abdoli, Fernandez-Triana & Talebi sp. nov., is described and illustrated. This new species is characterized by its long metasomal tergite 1, that is narrowing towards the posterior end; scutoscutellar sulcus very narrow, obliterated or weakly crenulate; wing veins pale or almost transparent. The newly described taxon is the first representative of Venanidesin the Palaearctic Region identified to the species level