Sphex occidentalis, 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 : 157-159

Sphex occidentalis sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:8E9952D5-7732-4DF4-92F3-534DD7774D47

Figs 123 (green), 127–128

Differential diagnosis

Both sexes of this species are easy to distinguish from other members of the group by having the collar, scutellum and metanotum, or at least their dorsal parts, ferruginous instead of black ( Figs 127–128 ).

Etymology

‘ Occidentalis ’ is a Latin adjective meaning ‘western’. It describes the geographic distribution of this species and also references the name of the closely related S. meridionalis .

Material examined

Holotype BURKINA FASO – Hauts-Bassins Region • ♀; Soumousso ; [11°00ʹ51.9ʺ N, 4°02ʹ42.9ʺ W]; 16 Oct. 1968; J. Hamon leg.; MNHN.

Paratypes GAMBIA – Banjul • 1 ♂; Banjul ; [13°27ʹ09ʺ N, 16°34ʹ40ʺ W]; 10–23 Nov. 1983; K.M. Guichard leg.; BMNH .

NIGERIA – Oyo State • 2 ♀♀; Fashola near Oyo; [7°54ʹ N, 3°47ʹ E]; Nov. 1974; J.T. Medler leg.; BMNH • 2 ♀♀; same collection data as for preceding but 15 Nov. 1975; USNM .

SENEGAL – Thiès Region • 3 ♂♂; Ft de Bandia ; [14°37ʹ25ʺ N, 17°01ʹ40ʺ W]; 15–17 Nov. 1967; M. Coruet leg.; MNHN .

Description

Female

SIZE. 20.1–23.9 mm.

COLOR. Black except for the following, which are ferruginous: basal half of mandible, scape, pedicel, flagellomeres I–V, clypeus, legs from trochanter onward excluding apical half of claw, collar dorsally, tegula, dorsal part of scutellum and metanotum, and apical segment of metasoma. Wings fuscous, forewing with conspicuous purple iridescence.

VESTITURE.Appressed and erect setae on clypeus, paraocular region, collar and scutum golden, appressed and erect setae on propodeal enclosure brown. Erect propodeal setae oriented perpendicularly, slightly curved towards anterior. Clypeus without glabrous spot. Scutellum densely and finely pubescent.

STRUCTURE. Free clypeal margin slightly stepped medially. Clypeus without indentation and carina. Scutellum convex. Metanotum not raised, not bituberculate. 2 nd recurrent vein joins sligthly proximal from interstitium between submarginal cells II and III. Propodeal enclosure with numerous very fine transversal ridges. Foretarsomere I 2.2–2.3× length of antepenultimate spine. Petiole length 1.2–1.4 × its medial width.

Male

SIZE. 17.1–20.1 mm.

COLOR. Black except for the following, which are ferruginous: basal half of mandible, clypeus excepting dorsolateral area, scape, pedicel, flagellomeres I–V, collar, prepectus, tegula, scutellum and occasionally metanotum dorsally, apical segment of metasoma, legs from trochanter onward excepting trochanters, and femora of mid- and hindlegs dorsally. Wings fuscous, with conspicuous purple iridescence.

VESTITURE. Appressed setae on clypeus and paraocular area silvery-golden, on collar, scutum and propodeal enclosure ferruginous-brown, on posterior margin of propodeum silvery. Erect setae on clypeus, paraocular region, collar, scutum and propodeal enclosure ferruginous-brown or black, on posterior margin of propodeum silvery. Erect propodeal setae oriented perpendicularly, slightly curved towards anterior. Lower part of clypeus glabrous. Scutellum densely and finely pubescent.

STRUCTURE. Free clypeal margin medially concave, very inconspicuously stepped medially. Scutellum convex. Metanotum raised, not notably bituberculate. 2 nd recurrent vein joins slightly 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 triangular. Penis valvae without conspicuous modifications. Petiole length 1.9× its medial width. Flagellomere V with narrow placoid covering almost its entire length.

Variation

Unknown.

Distribution

Western Africa.

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).

Figs 124–128. 124–125, 127. Habitus of ♀. 126, 128. Habitus of ♂. 124. Sphex meridionalis (Arnold, 1947). 125–126. S. nefrens sp. nov. 127–128. S. occidentalis sp. nov.