Sphex malagassus, de Saussure, 1890

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 : 148

Species of the malagassus group

The malagassus group contains the following two species: Sphex comorensis sp. nov. and S. malagassus .

The species in this group possess perpendicularly-oriented erect propodeal setae, and the scutellar vestiture is somewhat dense and can be fine or coarse. Therefore, members can be superficially similar to those of the meridionalis - and umtalicus groups. What reliably separates them from these groups is the fact that their metanotum is not raised at all, whereas members of the other two groups normally have it somewhat elevated towards its center, although without the distinct tubercles which are present in the argentatus group. In the malagassus group, the erect propodeal setae are straight instead of curved, and the wings are no more than slightly infuscate. Finally, both species are only known from Madagascar or the surrounding islands, repectively, whereas the members of the meridionalis - and umtalicus group seem to be restricted to the mainland.