Ammophila afghanica BALTHASAR

Dollfuss, H., 2013, Revision of the Wasps Genus Ammophila KIRBY 1798 (Hymenoptera Apoidea Sphecidae) of the Palearctic Region and India, Linzer biologische Beiträge 45 (1), pp. 383-564 : 406-407

Ammophila afghanica BALTHASAR ( Figs 79 , 101 , 250 , 305 , 437 , 498 )

Ammophila afghanica BALTHASAR 1957: 190 , ♀ only. Holotype: ♀, Afghanistan: Badakhshan: Sarekanda (NMPC), not examined. Paratype: ♀, Afghanistan: Nuristan: Akhmede Dewane (NMPC), examined.

M a t e r i a l e x a m i n e d: Paratype (♀ NMPC). Paratype: W-Pakistan: Chitral: Tirich Valley, c. 3550m, 5.-11. VIII.1984, leg. Budenberg (13BMNH), 2♀♀ from the same locality (BMNH).

N o t e: The true male of Ammophila afghanica was hitherto unknown. The male

described by BALTHASAR 1957: 190 as A. afghanica is actually this of A. sarekandana

BALTHASAR 1957: 192.

R e c o g n i t i o n Ammophila afghanica has the gastral apex black, without a metallic shine, a submarginal cell III petiolate, the propodeal enclosure glabrous and the supra-antennal lamellate projection absent. Additionally, the mesothoracic venter is not prominent anteriorly, the episternal sulcus is extending to the anteroventral margin of the pleuron, the arolia are well defined and the claws have no basal tooth. In addition, the female has a petiole with long, erect setae ventrally. The female is similar to A. pubescens but differs in having silvery-white erect setae on the head, a scutum shiny and distinctly transversely striate and the clypeus and the frons covered with distinctly appressed silvery setae. The female of A. campestris differs from A. afghanica in having a petiole without erect setae ventrally, the clypeus in most specimens without appressed silvery setae and the propodeal enclosure transversely striate and shiny. The male of A. afghanica differs from A. pubescens in having a shiny scutum distinctly transversely striate and the mesopleuron covered with dense, appressed silvery setae ( A. pubescens has a dull scutum and the mesopleuron is at most pruinose). The males of A. sarekandana and A. deserticola differ from A. afghanica in having the supra-antennal lamellate projection well developed.

D e s c r i p t i o n: Submarginal cell III petiolate, propodeal enclosure glabrous, supraantennal lamellate projection absent. Mesothoracic venter not prominent anteriorly, episternal sulcus extending to anteroventral margin of pleuron, gastral apex black, without metallic shine. Arolia well defined, claws without basal tooth.

♀: 16-17 mm. Black except tergum I, gastral segments II, III and one-third of IV laterally red. Clypeus, frons, pronotal lobe, mesopleuron, and propodeum posterolaterally covered with appressed silvery setae; erect setae silvery-white. Clypeus slightly elongate, with disk distinctly convex. Pronotal collar shiny, sparsely punctate dorsally; scutum finely transversely striate on anterior half, with arcuate striae and punctate on posterior half; scutellum longitudinally ridged, punctate. Mesopleuron punctate, metapleuron longitudinally striate, propodeal enclosure obliquely striate, micropunctate between the striae, glabrous. Petiole with long erect setae ventrally. Flagellomere I: II=1.8; length of petiole = hindtarsomeresI+0.5×II to I+II.

3: 15 mm. Black except tergum I, gastral segments II and III (all with dorsal black stripe), and sterna IV and V basally red. Clypeus, frons, pronotal lobe, mesopleuron, and propodeum posterolaterally covered with dense, appressed silvery setae; propodeum laterally and legs pruinose; erect setae long, silvery-white. Clypeus elongate ( Fig. 250 ), disk nearly flat. Pronotal collar shiny, finely punctate dorsally, finely transversely striate laterally. Scutum shiny, distinctly transversely striate and punctate on anterior half, obliquely striate on posterior half, admedian line distinct. Mesopleuron, metapleuron, and propodeum laterally punctato-rugose. Propodeal enclosure glabrous, obliquely striate, shiny. Pronotal collar laterally: Fig. 305 . Gonostyle laterally: Fig. 437 ; penis valve laterally: Fig. 498 , ventrally: Fig. 555 . Flagellomere I: II=1.7; length of petiole = hindtarsomeres I+II.

G e o g r a p h i c a l d i s t r i b u t i o n: East Afghanistan (Nuristan 2700 m), West Pakistan (Chitral 3550 m).

Figures

Figs 74-84: clypeus of female.

Figs 85-109: clypeus of female in lateral view.

Figs 240-252: male clypeus.

Figs 292-306: pronotal collar of male in lateral view.

Figs 430-443: male genitalia: gonostyle in lateral view.

Figs 491-508: male genitalia: penis valve in lateral view.

Figs 546-562: male genitalia: penis valve in ventral view.