Sphex fortunatus, Doerfel, Thorleif H. & Ohl, Michael, 2015

Doerfel, Thorleif H. & Ohl, Michael, 2015, A revision of the Australian digger wasps in the genus Sphex (Hymenoptera, Sphecidae), ZooKeys 521, pp. 1-104 : 58-60

Taxon classification Animalia Hymenoptera Sphecidae

Sphex fortunatus sp. n.

Material examined.

Holotype. ♂, AUSTRALIA:QLD: "North Queensland" (BMNH).

Diagnosis.

This species differs from other members of the Sphex subtruncatus group mainly in the color of the wing membrane, which is markedly fuscous near the base and around the subcosta as well as below the submedial cell. This seems to be the only character that differentiates the species from Sphex jucundus , which has the wing mem brane hyaline in this area. The absence of tubercles on the metanotum and the lack of erect dark setae on the clypeus distinguish Sphex fortunatus from Sphex finschii in the Sphex argentatus group, which has similar wing coloration.

Description.

♀. Unknown.

Male: Body length 20.6 mm. Body black, mandible dark ferruginous in center, femora maroon. Wing membrane light brown, markedly fuscous around subcosta and below submedial cell. Wing veins dark brown to black, cellular area around veins on forewing fuscous. Free clypeal margin slightly concave towards center, with minute lobe there. Appressed pubescence and erect setae on clypeus and frons silvery. Clypeus glabrous ventrally and with narrow glabrous stripe medially. Distance between hind- ocelli slightly smaller than their shortest distance to compound eyes. Pubescence on mesosoma silvery-white, on scutum longer and denser laterally and posteriorly. Scutellum convex, with shallow medial impression. Pubescence on propodeal enclosure sparse, sculpture completely visible. Length of petiole 1.5 × length of flagellomere II. Tomentum moderately dense on metasomal tergum I, sparse on tergum II. Metasomal terga V and VI with few bristles. Metasomal sterna II–VI mostly glabrous, VII and VIII with moderately sparse silvery pubescence. Metasomal sternum VIII entire, its lateral margin concave.

Geographic distribution.

Only one specimen of Sphex fortunatus could be studied, and no specific geographic information is available. Its origin is given as "North Queensland".

Discussion.

There are seven species in the Sphex subtruncatus group of which males are yet unknown or where matching of males and females was first proposed in this study. Sphex fortunatus can theoretically be the male of one of them. Two of them have a petiole that is markedly shorter than flagellomere II, while two others differ in having pubescence on the propodeal enclosure that is dense enough to conceal the sculpture. One of the three remaining species ( Sphex flammeus ) is mostly orange in its body color, and another one ( Sphex pretiosus ) has a mix of golden and silvery pubescence on the propodeum and wing veins that are bright orange in the basal wing half. The last species, Sphex jucundus , differs, as already mentioned, in having wings that are completely hyaline except near the apex.

Etymology.

Fortunatus is a Latin adjective, meaning “happy” or “lucky”. The name was chosen in reference to Sphex jucundus , which is very similar in appearance.