Sphex comorensis, 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 : 148-149

Sphex comorensis sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:79F4CFD2-FBBC-41BD-AD25-4C526C3D01C6

Figs 119, 123 (red)

Differential diagnosis

Both sexes of this species lack the conspicuous ferruginous stripe which is present laterally on the mesosoma in most specimens of S. malagassus . Additionally, males ( Fig. 119 ) are recognizable through having the clypeus almost completely black, in contrast to the entirely ferruginous clypeus of S. malagassus . Furthermore, S. malagassus has the penis valvae modified in a very conspicuous way ( Figs 121–122 ), while those of S. comorensis sp. nov. have the same shape as in most African species of Sphex .

In females of S. comorensis sp. nov., the appressed setae on the head and mesosoma are rich golden, whereas those of S. malagassus are pale silvery.

Etymology

‘ Comorensis ’ is a Latinization meaning ‘from the Comoros’, as this archipelago is the only known location where the species occurs.

Material examined

Holotype UNION OF THE COMOROS – Mohéli • ♂; Châlet St Antoine ; [12°16ʹ56ʺ S, 43°39ʹ48ʺ E]; 11 Jan. 2003; U. Dall’Asta leg.; THD-030-MRAC ; GenBank CO1 gene: MW538557 ; MRAC.

Paratypes UNION OF THE COMOROS • 1 ♀; Anjouan; [12°15ʹ S, 44°25ʹ E]; 1922; R. Decary leg.; MNHN. – Grande Comore • 1 ♀; La Grille ; [11°27ʹ S, 43°20ʹ E]; 23 Apr.–3 May 1991; K.M. Guichard leg.; BMNH • 2 ♂♂, 1 ♀; Mitsoudjé ; [11°49ʹ S, 43°16ʹ E]; Dec. 1970; J. Brunhes leg.; RMNH • 1 ♂; same collection data as for preceding; ZMB .

Description

Female

SIZE. 16.7–22.3 mm.

COLOR. Black except for the following, which are ferruginous: basal half of mandible, labrum, lower half of clypeus, scape, pedicel ventrally, tegula, metasoma laterally, fore- and midfemur apically, fore- and midtibia, fore- and midtarsomeres I–IV and basal half of hindtibia. Wings slightly fuscous, basal half with inconspicuous brownish-yellow tinge, with violet iridescence.

VESTITURE.Appressed setae on clypeus, paraocular area, collar, scutum and propodeal enclosure golden. Erect setae on clypeus and paraocular area ferruginous, on scutum golden intermixed with black ones, on collar and propodeal enclosure golden. Erect propodeal setae oriented perpendicularly, slightly curved towards anterior. Clypeus medially with very narrow vertical glabrous stripe. Scutellum densely and coarsely pubescent.

STRUCTURE. Free clypeal margin with notched process medially, not stepped. Clypeus without indentation, with indistinct longitudinal carina in upper center. Scutellum flat. Metanotum not raised, not bituberculate. 2 nd recurrent vein joins interstitium between submarginal cells II and III. Propodeal enclosure without any notable ridges. Foretarsomere I 2.45× length of antepenultimate spine. Petiole length 1.7–2.0× its medial width.

Male

SIZE. 18.9–21.3 mm.

COLOR. Black except for the following, which are ferruginous: basal half of mandible, lower center of clypeus, scape, pedicel ventrally, tegula, fore- and midfemur apically, fore- and midtibia, and hindfemor and -tibia ventrally. Cellular wing area hyaline, basal half with inconspicuous brownish-yellow tinge, with violet iridescence, wing apices infuscate.

VESTITURE.Appressed setae on clypeus, paraocular area, collar, scutum and propodeal enclosure silverygolden. Erect setae on clypeus ferruginous-brown, on paraocular area, collar and propodeal enclosure golden, on scutum golden intermixed with black ones. Erect propodeal setae oriented perpendicularly, slightly curved towards anterior. Clypeus without glabrous spot. Scutellum densely and coarsely pubescent.

STRUCTURE. Free clypeal margin simple. Scutellum flat. Metanotum not raised, not bituberculate. 2 nd recurrent vein joins 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 triangular. Penis valvae without conspicuous modifications. Petiole length 2.5–2.8 × its medial width. Flagellomere IV with moderately broad placoid covering only small portions or up to its proximal four-fifths, flagellomere V with moderately broad placoid covering most of it, flagellomere VI with moderately broad placoid covering only small portions or up to its proximal four-fifths.

Variation

Unknown.

Distribution

Comoros.

Figures

Figs 119–123. 119–120. Habitus of ♂. 121. Dorsal view of male genitalia. 122. Lateral view of male genitalia. 119. Sphex comorensis sp. nov. 120–122. S. malagassus de Saussure, 1890. 123. Geographic distribution of S. comorensis sp. nov. (red), S. malagassus (blue), S. meridionalis (Arnold, 1947) (yellow), S. nefrens sp. nov. (purple) and S. occidentalis sp. nov. (green).