Sphex pseudopraedator, Dörfel & Ohl, 2022

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 : 109-114

Sphex pseudopraedator sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:12625520-0846-455C-9F27-1DF41BBC53C8

Figs 1 , 93, 98

Differential diagnosis

Sphex pseudopraedator sp. nov. ( Fig. 93 ) can easily be distinguished from other members of the group through its yellow-tinged cellular wing area.

Etymology

Pseudo- is a prefix derived from the Greek adjective ‘pseudḗs’ meaning ‘false’, ‘ pseudopraedator ’ thus refers to the fact that this species has been incorrectly identified in the past as the Oriental S. luteipennis Mocsáry, 1883 , which is a synonym of S. praedator F. Smith, 1858 .

Material examined

Holotype ZAMBIA – Copperbelt Province • ♀; 50 km W of Chingola; [12°25ʹ06.3ʺ S, 27°23ʹ50.9ʺ E]; 1–2 Jan. 2003; J. Halada; OÖLM.

Paratypes AFRICA • 1 ♂; “ Baulen ” [?]; 1949; Albens leg.; MRAC • 1 ♂; “ Tweene ” [?]; Feb. 1949; MRAC • 2 ♀♀; Cape of Good Hope ; MNHN .

ANGOLA – Huíla Province • 1 ♀; 5 mi. NE of Negola; [14°04ʹ55ʺ S, 14°32ʹ52ʺ E]; 25 Mar. 1972; BMNH .

CAMEROON – Centre Region • 1 ♂; Yaoundé ; [3°52ʹ N, 11°31ʹ E]; Sep. 1953; J.-P. Adam and J. Rageau leg.; MNHN • 1 ♂, 1 ♀; same collection data as for preceding; MNHN .

CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC – Kémo • 1 ♀; Sibut ; [5°44ʹ16ʺ N, 19°05ʹ12ʺ E]; MNHN .

DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO • 1 ♀; Katanga , N’Zenke ; Mar. 1925; Ch. Seydel leg.; MRAC. – Bas-Uele • 1 ♂; Bambesa ; [3°28ʹ N, 25°43ʹ E]; Aug. 1933; H.J. Brédo leg.; MRAC • 1 ♀; same collection data as for preceding but 10 Sep. 1933; MRAC • 1 ♀; same collection data as for preceding but 15 Sep. 1933; MRAC • 1 ♂, 2 ♀♀; same collection data as for preceding but 20 Sep. 1933; MRAC • 1 ♀; same collection data as for preceding but 25 Sep. 1933; MRAC • 1 ♂; same collection data as for preceding but 30 Oct. 1933; MRAC • 2 ♂♂; same locality as for preceding; 30 Aug. 1933; J.V. Leroy leg.; MRAC • 4 ♀♀; same collection data as for preceding but 10 Oct. 1933; MRAC • 1 ♀; same collection data as for preceding but Dec. 1934; MRAC • 1 ♂; same locality as for preceding; Jun. 1937; J. Vrijdagh leg.; MRAC. – Haut-Katanga • 1 ♀; Elisabethville [now Lubumbashi] ; [11°40ʹ S, 27°29ʹ E]; Oct. 1924; Ch. Seydel leg.; MRAC • 1 ♀; same collection data as for preceding but 12 Jun. 1949; USNM • 1 ♂; same collection data as for preceding but 21 Jun. 1949; USNM • 1 ♂; same collection data as for preceding but 5 Feb. 1953; MRAC. – Haut-Uele • 1 ♀; Doruma ; [4°43ʹ N, 27°41ʹ E]; 1934; R.P. De Graer leg.; MRAC. – Ituri Province • 1 ♀; Mahagi-Niarembe ; [2°14ʹ49ʺ N, 31°06ʹ41ʺ E]; Sep. 1935; Ch. Scops leg.; MRAC • 1 ♂; Mahagi-Port ; [2°08ʹ16ʺ N, 31°14ʹ18ʺ E]; Oct. 1934; H.J. Brédo leg.; MRAC. – Kwango • 1 ♂; Kimuanga ; 27 Jan. 1930; Mevr. Bequaert leg.; MRAC. – Lualaba • 1 ♀; Kolwezi ; [10°43ʹ S, 25°28ʹ E]; 5 Feb. 1953; L. Gilbert leg.; MRAC. – South Kivu • 4 ♂♂; Kadjudju ; [2°09ʹ S, 28°54ʹ E]; 1932; G. Babault leg.; MNHN.

KENYA – Embu County • 1 ♂; Kirimiri Forest ; 0.42563° S, 37.54660° E; 28 Apr.–12 May 2011; R. Copeland leg.; ICIPE . – Kisii County • 1 ♂; Kisii District, S of Kavirondo; [0°40ʹ S, 34°45ʹ E]; 9–12 May 1911; S.A. Neave leg.; BMNH . – Trans-Nzoia County • 1 ♀; Kitale ; [1°01ʹ N, 35°00ʹ E]; 1932–1933; C. Arambourg, P.-A. Chappuis and R. Jeannel leg.; MNHN .

LESOTHO – Berea District • 1 ♂; Mamathes ; [29°08ʹ S, 27°51ʹ E]; 9 Jan. 1952; C.F. Jacot-Guillarmod leg.; BMNH . – Leribe • 1 ♀; 3 Jan. 1932; C. Jacot-Guillarmod leg.; TMP .

MALAWI – Northern Region • 1 ♂; Nykia Plateau ; 10°35ʹ S, 33°48ʹ E; 26 Feb.–2 Mar. 2001; F. Koch leg.; ZMB . – Southern Region • 1 ♂; Mlanje ; [16°01ʹ53ʺ S, 35°30ʹ E]; 17 Mar. 1913; S.A. Neave leg.; BMNH • 7 ♂♂, 1 ♀; Mt Mulanje ; 15°55ʹ S, 35°32ʹ E; 6–11 Mar. 2001; F. Koch leg.; ZMB .

MOZAMBIQUE – Manica Province • 1 ♂; near Andrada, Valee du Revoué ; [18°53ʹ41ʺ S, 32°51ʹ16ʺ E]; 1905; G. Vasse leg.; MNHN. – Manicaland • 1 ♀; Vumba ; [19°06ʹ S, 32°47ʹ E]; 20 Feb. 1931; P.A. Sheppard leg.; TMP .

NIGERIA – Gombe State • 1 ♀; Kenne ; [10°40ʹ08ʺ N, 11°27ʹ33ʺ E]; Sep. 1974; J.T. Medler leg.; BMNH . – Kaduna State • 1 ♂; 10 mi. SE of Soba; [10°52ʹ34ʺ N, 8°09ʹ27ʺ E]; 14 Sep. 1966; E.S. Ross and K. Lorenzen leg.; CAS . – Taraba State • 1 ♂; Gashaka Gumti National Park , 30 km SE of Serti; 7°21ʹ N, 11°32ʹ E; 24 Apr.–8 May 2011; J. Halada leg.; RMNH .

REPUBLIC OF CÔTE D’IVOIRE – Abidjan District • 2 ♀♀; Banco National Park ; [5°23ʹ N, 4°03ʹ W]; R. Paulian and C. Delamare leg.; MNHN .

RWANDA – Western Province • 1 ♀; Ishwa, Lake Albert ; [2°23ʹ04ʺ S, 28°55ʹ58ʺ E]; Sep. 1935; H.J. Brédo leg.; MRAC .

SIERRA LEONE – Western Area • 1 ♂; Freetown ; [8°29ʹ04ʺ N, 13°14ʹ04ʺ W]; 29 Oct. 1989; G.G.M. Schulten leg.; RMNH • 3 ♂♂, 2 ♀♀; same collection data as for preceding but 2 Nov. 1991; RMNH • 1 ♂; swamp near York; [8°20ʹ N, 13°04ʹ W]; 27 Oct. 1991; G.G.M. Schulten leg.; RMNH .

SOUTH AFRICA • 1 ♂; Transvaal ; 1906; A.J. Cholmley leg.; BMNH. – Eastern Cape • 1 ♂; 5 km NE of Mount Frere, roadside ; [30°51ʹ32ʺ S, 29°01ʹ31.7ʺ E]; 13 Feb. 1974; A.B. Gurney leg.; USNM • 1 ♂; Algoa Bay ; [33°50ʹ S, 25°50ʹ E]; 20 Mar. 1898; H. Brauns leg.; TMP • 1 ♂; Willowmore ; [33°17ʹ S, 23°29ʹ E]; Dec. 1919; H. Brauns leg.; TMP. – Gauteng • 2 ♂♂; E of Johannesburg; [26°12ʹ16ʺ S, 28°02ʹ44ʺ E]; Jan. 1951; H. Pinkney leg.; USNM • 1 ♂; Johannesburg ; [26°12ʹ16ʺ S, 28°02ʹ44ʺ E]; Jan. 1906; G. Kobrow leg.; TMP • 1 ♂, 1 ♀; same collection data as for preceding; TMP • 1 ♀; same collection data as for preceding; ZMB • 1 ♂; Mogale’s Gate Biodiversity Centre ; 25°56ʹ S, 27°28ʹ E; 15 Feb. 2012; M. Ströhle leg.; OÖLM • 1 ♀; near Johannesburg; [26°12ʹ16ʺ S, 28°02ʹ44ʺ E]; 1906; A.J. Cholmley leg.; BMNH • 1 ♂, 1 ♀; Pretoria City ; [25°43ʹ32ʺ S, 28°14ʹ38ʺ E]; 12 Feb. 2000; J. Halada leg.; OÖLM. – KwaZulu-Natal • 1 ♀; “ Natal ”; v. Stuckrad leg.; ZMB • 6 ♂♂; 20 km S of Bergville; [28°54ʹ49.2ʺ S, 29°21ʹ10.7ʺ E]; 5 Feb. 2001; M. Snižek leg.; OÖLM • 1 ♂; 20 km W of Port Shepstone; [30°46ʹ50.9ʺ S, 30°12ʹ38ʺ E]; 2 Feb. 2000; J. Halada leg.; OÖLM • 1 ♀; Camperdown ; [29°44ʹ S, 30°32ʹ E]; 10 Mar. 1908; G.F. Leigh leg.; TMP • 1 ♂; Drakensberge, Royal Natal National Park ; 28°43ʹ S, 28°53ʹ E; 9 Feb. 1994; F. Koch leg.; THD-000-ZMB ; GenBank CO1 gene: MW538560 ; ZMB • 1 ♂; same collection data as for preceding; THD-027-ZMB ; GenBank LWR gene: MW582290 ; ZMB • 1 ♂; same collection data as for preceding; ZMB • 1 ♀; Durban, Yellowwood Park ; [28°55ʹ S, 30°56ʹ E]; 7 Mar. 1976; F.J. Herbst leg.; AMG • 1 ♂; near Eshowe; [28°53ʹ18ʺ S, 31°26ʹ54ʺ E]; 5–6 Jan. 2000; J. Halada leg.; OÖLM • 1 ♂; Hilton ; [29°33ʹ S, 30°18ʹ E]; 3 Mar. 1966; J.S. Taylor leg.; USNM • 2 ♂♂; Hluhluwe Game Reserve ; 28°02ʹ S, 32°05ʹ E; 10 Feb. 1995; F. Koch leg.; ZMB • 1 ♀; same collection data as for preceding but 9–12 Feb. 1995; ZMB • 1 ♂; Pinetown ; [29°49ʹ S, 30°51ʹ E]; 24 Jan. 1909; G.F. Leigh leg.; TMP • 1 ♀; Port Natal [now Durban] ; [29°53ʹ S, 31°03ʹ E]; NRS • 1 ♀; Richmond, Indaleni ; [29°54ʹ S, 30°15ʹ E]; 16 Jan. 1953; J.W. Hunt leg.; MRAC • 1 ♀; same locality as for preceding; J.W. Hunt leg.; MRAC • 1 ♂; St Lucia Park ( Charter’s Creek ); 28°12ʹ S, 32°25ʹ E; 7 Feb. 1995; F. Koch leg.; ZMB. – Limpopo • 1 ♀; Lekgalameetse Nature Reserve ; 24°12ʹ S, 30°20ʹ E; 26 Mar.–1 Apr. 2001; F. Koch leg.; ZMB • 1 ♀; Louis Trichardt ; [23°02ʹ37ʺ S, 29°54ʹ11ʺ E]; Apr. 1932; A. Mackie leg.; BMNH. – Mpumalanga • 6 ♂♂; 10 km SE of Middleburg; [25°50ʹ57.1ʺ S, 29°32ʹ51.7ʺ E]; 29 Jan. 2010; J. Halada leg.; RMNH • 1 ♀; Lydenburg [now Mashishing] ; [25°05ʹ45.6ʺ S, 30°26ʹ45.6ʺ E]; F. Wilms leg.; ZMB • 1 ♂; Waterval Boven ; [25°39ʹ S, 30°20ʹ E]; 10–11 Feb. 2000; J. Halada leg.; OÖLM. – North West • 1 ♂; 5 km S of Brits; [25°41ʹ21.4ʺ S, 27°49ʹ32.8ʺ E]; 20 Jan. 2000; J. Halada leg.; OÖLM. – Western Cape • 1 ♂; Cape Town ; [33°55ʹ S, 18°25ʹ E]; Oct. 1949; S. Straw leg.; MRAC .

TANZANIA – Kilimanjaro Region • 1 ♂, 1 ♀; Kilimanjaro, Kibonoto Kulturzone ; [3°05ʹ5.9ʺ S, 37°20ʹ38.5ʺ E]; 7 May 1905; Y. Sjöstedt leg.; NRS • 1 ♀; same collection data as for preceding but 12 May 1905; BMNH • 1 ♀; same collection data as for preceding; NRS • 1 ♀; same collection data as for preceding but 18 May 1905; NRS . – Ruvuma Region • 1 ♂; Kigonsera ; [10°48ʹ S, 35°04ʹ E]; Konow leg.; DEI .

TOGO – Centrale Region • 1 ♀; Bismarckburg [near Yégué] ; [8°10ʹ32.74ʺ N, 0°41ʹ09.42ʺ E]; 30 Jun.–3 Jul. 1893; L. Conradt leg.; ZMB .

UGANDA – Central Region • 1 ♀; Bweya ; [0°11ʹ39ʺ N, 32°32ʹ59ʺ E]; 22 May 1913; C.C. Gowdey leg.; BMNH • 1 ♀; Entebbe ; [0°03ʹ N, 32°27ʹ36ʺ E]; 30 May 1913; C.C. Gowdey leg.; BMNH . – Eastern Region • 1 ♀; 10 mi. NW of Soroti; [1°50ʹ15ʺ N, 33°29ʹ44ʺ E]; 13 Oct. 1957; CAS .

ZAMBIA – Copperbelt Province • 1 ♀; same collection data as for holotype; OÖLM. – Lusaka Province • 1 ♀; 25 km E of Lusaka; 15°21ʹ S, 28°30ʹ E; 3 Mar. 1995; W.J. Pulawski leg.; CAS • 1 ♀; Lusaka International Airport ; 15°19ʹ S, 28°27ʹ E; 26 Mar. 1998; W.J. Pulawski leg.; CAS. – Northern Province • 1 ♂; Senga Hill 40 mi. S of Abercorn; [9°21ʹ S, 31°13ʹ E]; 12 Feb. 1958; CAS. – North- Western Province • 1 ♂; 60 km W of Solwezi ; [12°17ʹ17.3ʺ S, 25°49ʹ06.2ʺ E]; 4–6 Jan. 2003; J. Halada leg.; OÖLM. – Western Province • 1 ♂; Lealui ; [15°13ʹ50ʺ S, 23°01ʹ40ʺ E]; 1919; V. Ellenberger leg.; MNHN .

ZIMBABWE • 1 ♂, 1 ♀; Sanyati Valley ; Sep.–Dec. 1925; R.H.R. Stevenson leg.; TMP • 1 ♀; Vumba Mountains ; 29 Feb. 1938; NRS. – Bulawayo • 1 ♂; Bulawayo; [20°10ʹ12ʺ S, 28°34ʹ48ʺ E]; 14 Feb. 1924; R.H.R. Stevenson leg.; USNM. – Bulawayo Province • 1 ♂; Feb. 1924; R.H.R. Stevenson leg.; TMP. – Harare Province • 1 ♂; near Harare; [17°49ʹ45ʺ S, 31°03ʹ08ʺ E]; 20 Jan. 1998; Ma. Halada leg.; OÖLM • 1 ♀; Salisbury [now Harare] ; [17°49ʹ45ʺ S, 31°03ʹ08ʺ E]; 1915; O’Neil leg.; TMP • 1 ♂; same locality as for preceding; Feb. 1978; A. Watsham leg.; BMNH. – Manicaland • 1 ♂; Mount Selinda ; [20°27ʹ S, 32°43ʹ E]; Marshall leg.; TMP. – Mashonaland East • 1 ♀; Chishawasha, near Salisbury [now Harare]; [17°46ʹ14ʺ S, 31°15ʹ11ʺ E]; Mar. 1978; A. Watsham leg.; BMNH • 1 ♀; same collection data as for preceding but Mar. 1982; BMNH .

Description

Female

SIZE. 25.1–28.9 mm.

COLOR. Black except for ferruginous stripe in center of mandible. Cellular wing area yellowish, apical margin of forewing fuscous.

VESTITURE. Appressed and erect setae on clypeus, paraocular area, collar and scutum black, appressed setae on propodeum black. Erect setae on propodeal enclosure black interspersed with golden ones, on posterior propodeal margin golden. Erect propodeal setae oriented posteriorly. Lower center of clypeus glabrous. Scutellum densely and coarsely pubescent.

STRUCTURE. Free clypeal margin with two notches near borders of approximate central third of clypeus. Free margin not stepped medially, clypeus with slight indentation in lower center, without carina. Scutellum convex. Metanotum not raised, not bituberculate. 2 nd recurrent vein joins slightly proximal from interstitium between submarginal cells II and III. Propodeal enclosure without any notable ridges. Foretarsomere I 3.1–3.5× length of antepenultimate spine. Petiole length 2.2–2.4 × its medial width.

Male

SIZE. 22.7–28.1 mm.

COLOR. Black except for ferruginous stripe in center of mandible. Cellular wing area of yellowish, apical margin of forewing fuscous.

VESTITURE. Appressed setae on clypeus and paraocular area silvery, on collar, scutum and propodeal enclosure black. Erect setae on clypeus, paraocular area, collar, scutum and propodeal enclosure black, erect setae towards posterior margin of propodeum golden or silvery. Erect propodeal setae oriented posteriorly. Lower center of clypeus glabrous. Scutellum densely and coarsely pubescent. Metasomal sterna III–VII with increasingly dense fringes of black setae.

STRUCTURE. Free clypeal margin medially slightly emarginate. Scutellum convex. Metanotum not raised, not bituberculate. 2 nd recurrent vein joins markedly proximal from interstitium between submarginal cells II and III. Propodeal enclosure without any notable ridges. Posterior margin of metasomal tergum VII convex. Posterior margin of metasomal sternum VII simple, of metasomal sternum VIII very slightly concavely emarginate. Petiole length 2.3–2.7 × its medial width. Flagellomeres IV–VI with broad placoids covering their entire length.

Variation

In males, the color of the erect mesosomal setae ranges from almost uniformly black with only a few golden ones at the posterior propodeal margin to the erect propodeal setae being predominantly silverygolden with a few darker ones in between and the erect setae on the collar, scutum, scutellum and metanotum being partially or mostly silvery as well.

Distribution

Widespread in Africa.

Remarks

This species’ female is similar to S. praedator , and its members have been repeatedly misidentified as S. luteipennis , a synonym of S. pradedator ( Hensen 1991) . However, as noted first by van der Vecht (1973), and later by Bohart & Menke (1976) and Dollfuss (2008), the specimens from Africa must be of a different species. Our study of the holotype of S. praedator and several specimens showed that they can be easily distinguished: in S. pseudopraedator sp. nov., the erect propodeal setae are uniformly oriented posteriorly and mostly straight, while in S. praedator , they are perpendicular or oriented slightly anteriorly, and the tips are often curved towards the anterior. This can best be seen on the anterior third of the propodeum. Moreover, the males of both species are very conspicuously different in their wing color, with S. pradedator having the wings markedly fuscous with a greenish iridescence, whereas those of S. pseudopraedator sp. nov. have a similar coloration as in the female, with the cellular area yellowish.

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, ♀.

Figure 93–99. 93, 96. Habitus of ♀. 94–95, 97. Habitus of ♂. 93. Sphex pseudopraedator sp. nov. 94. S. schoutedeni schoutedeni Kohl, 1913. 95. S. stadelmanni stadelmanni Kohl, 1895. 96– 97. S. stadelmanni rufus subsp. nov. 98. Geographic distribution of S. pseudopraedator sp. nov. 99. Geographic distribution of S. schoutedeni schoutedeni (red); S. schoutedeni malawicus subsp. nov. (blue); S. stadelmanni stadelmanni (yellow); S. stadelmanni rufus subsp. nov. (purple).