Sphex umtalicus, Strand, 1916

Dörfel, Thorleif H. & Ohl, Michael, 2022, The wasp genus Sphex in Sub-Saharan Africa (Hymenoptera: Sphecidae), European Journal of Taxonomy 796 (1), pp. 1-170 : 59-60

Species of the umtalicus group

The umtalicus group contains the following six species: Sphex caeruleanus , S. hades sp. nov., S. haemorrhoidalis , S. mweruensis , S. umtalicus and S. victoria sp. nov.

The members of this group can be recognized mainly through a combination of the following two characters: The erect propodeal setae are oriented more or less perpendicularly or slightly curved toward anterior ( Fig. 3–4 ), and the scutellum (which is often markedly impressed) is always covered with coarse and dense appressed setae, in contrast to the fine setae that are characteristic for the meridionalis group, of which the members sport similarly oriented erect propodeal setae. Species of the malagassus group are somewhat similar in that their erect propodeal setae are perpendicular, but without curvature, and can be distinguished through their appressed silvery-golden setae on the scutum and metanotum. In addition, they only occur on Madagascar and the surrounding islands, respectively.

Males in the umtalicus group are additionally characterized by having a conspicuous process medially at the free clypeal margin. The only other species with a comparable structure are S. cinerascens and S. abyssinicus .

Species delimitation within the group is very difficult, since intraspecific variation is high and hybrid forms seem to be quite common, even though most of the taxa are apparently genetically distinct. Colorrelated characters are of greater diagnostic importance within this group, and the geographical origin of the specimen should always be taken into consideration to help with identification.

Figures

Figs 1–6. 1–3. Dorsal view of propodeal setae in different orientation. 4. Lateral view of thoracic dorsum. 5–6. Lateral view of scutellum and metanotum. 1. Sphex pseudopraedator sp. nov., ♀. 2. S. jansei Cameron, 1910, ♂. 3–4. S. umtalicus Strand, 1916, ♀. 5. S. rufoclypeatus sp. nov., ♀. 6. S. gaullei Berland, 1927, ♀.