The distribution of the genus Sphecodes Latreille (Hymenoptera, Halictidae) of the Arabian Peninsula and surrounding countries with description of hitherto unknown female of S. atlanticus Warncke, 1992 and male of S. dathei Schwarz, 2010 Author Astafurova, Yulia V. Author Proshchalykin, Maxim Yu. Author Schwarz, Maximilian text ZooKeys 2019 872 13 40 http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.872.35361 journal article http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.872.35361 1313-2970-872-13 DCDEFCB1E33D476F90D7178BC08C311A Sphecodes marginatus Hagens, 1882 Sphecodes marginatus Hagens, 1882: 223, Fig. 18 , ♂ (syntypes: 2 ♂, Germany: Cleve;? Dominican monastery, Venlo, Nederland). Sphecodes atratus Hagens, 1882; S. nigritulus Hagens, 1882; S. biskrensis Perez , 1903 (Synonyms). Diagnosis. This species belongs to the miniatus species group ( S. creticus Warncke, 1992, S. haladai Warncke, 1992, S. larochei Warncke, 1992, S. marginatus Hagens, 1882, S. miniatus Hagens, 1882, S. nomioidis Pesenko, 1979, S. schawrzi Astafurova & Proshchalykin, 2014, and S. sandykachis Astafurova & Proshchalykin, 2018), with the same length and transverse F1-F3 in females. Among species of this group S. marginatus is most close to S. miniatus and S. nomioidis as they have a similar sculpture and structure of the body. Hence females of the three species are challenging to distinguish, but the male differs from the other two species by smaller triangular gonostylus. Differences between these three species are outlined by Bogusch and Straka (2012) and between females of this species group by Astafurova et al. (2018c) . Material examined. ISRAEL: 1 ♀, 1 ♂, Jerusalim, 18.VI.1930; 1 ♂, idem, 10.VI.1931, S. Bodenheimer [det. Bluethgen ] (MNHB); JORDAN: 1 ♀, W Jordan Valey, Mubalath, 27.IV.1996, M.Halada (OLBL/PCMS); 1 ♀, n. Shuna, 20-22.IV.1996, M. Halada(OLBL/PCMS); 2 ♂♂, NW of Ailun, 850 m, 20.V.2007, Z. Kejval (ZISP); 1 ♀, Jericho (Wadi Quilt), 250 m, 6.III.1975, K.M. Guichard (NHMUK 1975-154, 013380467). Published records. Schwarz 2010 : 486 (United Arab Emirates); Ascher and Pickering 2019 (United Arab Emirates). Distribution. United Arab Emirates, *Israel, *Jordan; North Africa, Europe (north to Germany and Denmark, east to Belarus).