Sphex satanas, Kohl, 1898

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 : 137

Species of the satanas group

The satanas group contains the following four species and one subspecies: Sphex pseudosatanas sp. nov., S. rufoclypeatus sp. nov., S. satanas , S. satanas memnon subsp. nov. and S. socotrensis sp. nov.

Females of this group are easy to recognize, as all of them have a very flat scutellum ( Fig. 5 ). All other female Sphex from the Afrotropical region have a more convex scutellum ( Fig. 6 ), the sole exception being S. paulinierii . However, its enormous size, conspicuous coloration and very short propodeal setae make that species unmistakable.

Males in the group are characterized by their uniformly black clypeus (excepting S. socotrensis sp. nov., which has the free margin ferruginous) combined with uniformly silvery setae on their entire body. Members of the gaullei group, which share the anteriorly-oriented erect propodeal setae, have a significant amount of the clypeus ferruginously-colored, or their erect setae are not silvery-white. The one exception with a black clypeus and uniformly silvery setae, S. pruinosus , is easily recognized by its long petiole, the length of which is greater than 3 times the medial width (see Introduction). In comparison, that ratio is at most 2.5 in all members of the satanas group.

Figures

Figs 1–6. 1–3. Dorsal view of propodeal setae in different orientation. 4. Lateral view of thoracic dorsum. 5–6. Lateral view of scutellum and metanotum. 1. Sphex pseudopraedator sp. nov., ♀. 2. S. jansei Cameron, 1910, ♂. 3–4. S. umtalicus Strand, 1916, ♀. 5. S. rufoclypeatus sp. nov., ♀. 6. S. gaullei Berland, 1927, ♀.