Sphex pruinosus Germar, 1817

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 : 133-135

publication ID

https://doi.org/ 10.5852/ejt.2022.796.1665

publication LSID

lsid:zoobank.org:pub:76C5C9C4-C6C1-4EDC-8FF8-9828A6EF2040

DOI

https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6535902

persistent identifier

https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03C20928-FF15-FF25-424F-1609384D0FFA

treatment provided by

Felipe

scientific name

Sphex pruinosus Germar, 1817
status

 

Sphex pruinosus Germar, 1817

Figs 102–103 View Figs 100–105. 100–101 , 112 View Figs 106–112. 106–107 (blue)

Sphex pruinosus Germar, 1817: 261 , ♂ (as S. pruinosa , incorrect original termination).

Sphex scioensis Gribodo, 1879: 343 , ♀ (as S. Scioensis , incorrect original capitalization) (holotype not examined). Synonymized with Sphex pruinosus by Kohl 1890: 391.

Differential diagnosis

Among the African Sphex , this species is easily recognized. Both sexes have a very long petiole ( Figs 102–103 View Figs 100–105. 100–101 ), its length usually being more than three times its medial width. The only other species with a comparably long petiole is S. cinerascens ( Fig. 38 View Figs 33–40. 33–37 ), both sexes of which have a conspicuous process medially on the free clypeal margin, similar to the one present in males of the umtalicus group. Sphex cinerascens has a yellow tinge on the basal half of the forewing, and its metasoma is completely black, whereas S. pruinosus lacks the yellow tinge and, in females, often has the anterior half of the metasoma somewhat ferruginous.

Material examined

Holotype or syntype CROATIA – Split-Dalmatia County • ♂; Spalatro [now Split] ; ZMB .

Other material

AFRICA • 1 ♂; “ Africa ”; DEI .

ETHIOPIA – Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples’ Region • 1 ♀; 10 km SE of Konso; [5°18ʹ N, 37°28ʹ E]; 17 Apr. 2007; J. Halada leg.; OÖLM GoogleMaps 1 ♂; 20 km SE of Konso; 5°15ʹ N, 37°32ʹ E; 11–13 May 2015; J. Halada leg.; OÖLM GoogleMaps .

OMAN – Ad Dakhiliyah Governorate • 1 ♂; wadi near Al Ghul, S of Nizwa; 22°53.4ʹ N, 57°31.12ʹ E; 10 Dec. 2003; M. Ohl leg.; THD-036-ZMB ; GenBank EF-1α gene: MW558236 View Materials ; GenBank LWR gene: MW582275 View Materials ; ZMB GoogleMaps .

SOMALIA – Woqooyi Galbeed • 6 ♂♂; Berbera ; [10°26ʹ22ʺ N, 45°00ʹ51ʺ E]; 12 Mar. 1949; K.M. Guichard leg.; BMNH GoogleMaps .

SUDAN – Khartoum State • 1 ♀; Khartoum ; [15°30ʹ02ʺ N, 32°33ʹ36ʺ E]; 4 Apr. 1964; L. Razoux Schulz leg.; RMNH GoogleMaps 2 ♂♂; same collection data as for preceding but 5 Oct. 1964; RMNH GoogleMaps 1 ♀; same locality as for preceding; 18 Nov. 1986; G.G.M. Schulten leg.; RMNH GoogleMaps 1 ♀; same collection data as for preceding but 4 Dec. 1991; RMNH GoogleMaps .

Description

Female

SIZE. 21.3–23.2 mm.

COLOR. Black except for the following, which are ferruginous: basal half of mandible, scape, tegula, legs from femora onward and metasoma. Wings hyaline, apical margin of forewing fuscous.

VESTITURE. Appressed and erect setae on clypeus, paraocular area, collar, scutum and propodeal enclosure silvery. Erect propodeal setae oriented anteriorly. Clypeus without glabrous spot. Scutellum densely and finely pubescent.

STRUCTURE. Free clypeal margin with small notch medially, not stepped above. Clypeus without indentation and carina. Scutellum convex. Metanotum slightly raised, not notably bituberculate. 2 nd recurrent vein joins markedly proximal from interstitium between submarginal cells II and III. Propodeal enclosure with 5–8 transversal ridges. Foretarsomere I 1.4–2.0 × length of antepenultimate spine. Petiole length 3.2–3.3 × its medial width.

Male

SIZE. 15.6–18.2 mm.

COLOR. Black except for ferruginous stripe in center of mandible. Wings hyaline, apical margin of forewing fuscous.

VESTITURE. Appressed and erect setae on clypeus, paraocular area, collar, scutum and propodeal enclosure silvery. Erect propodeal setae oriented anteriorly. Clypeus usually without glabrous spot. Scutellum densely and finely pubescent.

STRUCTURE. Free clypeal margin simple. Scutellum convex. Metanotum slightly raised, not notably bituberculate. 2 nd recurrent vein joins markedly proximal from interstitium between submarginal cells II and III. Propodeal enclosure with 3–5 indistinct transversal ridges. Posterior margin of metasomal tergum VII convex. Posterior margin of metasomal sternum VII simple, of metasomal sternum VIII concavely emarginate. Petiole length 3.0–3.8 × its medial width. Flagellomeres III–VI with broad placoids covering their entire length.

Variation

Unknown.

Distribution

Northeastern Africa, Mediterranean region, Arabian Peninsula to India.

ZMB

Germany, Berlin, Museum fuer Naturkunde der Humboldt-Universitaet

DEI

Germany, Muencheberg, Deutsches Entomologisches Institut im ZALF

ZMB

Museum für Naturkunde Berlin (Zoological Collections)

DEI

Senckenberg Deutsches Entomologisches Institut

RMNH

National Museum of Natural History, Naturalis

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Arthropoda

Class

Insecta

Order

Hymenoptera

Family

Vespidae

Genus

Sphex

Loc

Sphex pruinosus Germar, 1817

Dörfel, Thorleif H. & Ohl, Michael 2022
2022
Loc

Sphex scioensis

Kohl F. F. 1890: 391
Gribodo G. 1879: 343
1879
Loc

Sphex pruinosus

Germar E. F. 1817: 261
1817
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