Sphex voeltzkowii Kohl, 1909

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 : 58-59

Sphex voeltzkowii Kohl, 1909

Figs 59, 62 (red)

Sphex umbrosus var. voeltzkowii Kohl, 1909: 370 , ♂, ♀.

Differential diagnosis

Within the argentatus group; both sexes of this species can be recognized through the combination of the erect setae on the clypeus and the propodeum being at least partially black and the wings being slightly yellowish and basally not infuscate ( Fig. 59 ). Similarly, S. taschenbergi and S. torridus have the erect clypeal and propodeal setae uniformly black, but the wings of S. taschenbergi are fuscous near the base and otherwise hyaline ( Fig. 52 ), whereas the cellular wing area of S. torridus is markedly ferruginousbrown ( Fig. 58 ). Females of S. voeltzkowii are furthermore unique within the argentatus group regarding their more or less distinct elevation near the dorsal clypeal margin.

Material examined

Lectotype (designated here) MADAGASCAR – Atsinanana Region • ♀; Tamatave [now Toamasina] ; [18°08ʹ57ʺ S, 49°24ʹ08ʺ E]; Nov. 1904; ZMB.

Paralectotype MADAGASCAR – Atsinanana Region • 1 ♂; same collection data as for lectotype; ZMB .

Other material AFRICA • 1 ♀; BMNH .

MADAGASCAR – Anosy Region • 2 ♀♀; Behara ; [24°57ʹ S, 46°23ʹ E]; Jan. 1938; A. Seyrig leg.; MNHN • 1 ♂, 1 ♀; same collection data as for preceding but Nov. 1938; MNHN .

Description

Female

SIZE. 25.7–26.8 mm.

COLOR. Black except for the following, which are ferruginous: basal half of mandible and hindfemur posterodorsally. Cellular wing area yellowish. Forewing with fuscous spot beyond marginal cell.

VESTITURE. Appressed setae on clypeus, paraocular area and collar silvery, on scutum and propodeal enclosure black. Erect setae on clypeus, paraocular area, collar, scutum and propodeal enclosure black. Erect propodeal setae crimped, oriented perpendicularly and slightly curved towards anterior. Clypeus without glabrous spot. Scutellum densely and finely pubescent.

STRUCTURE. Free clypeal margin with three notches medially, not stepped. Clypeus without indentation, with elevation near dorsal margin. Scutellum convex. Metanotum raised, notably bituberculate. 2 nd recurrent vein joins slightly proximal from interstitium between submarginal cells II and III. Propodeal enclosure without any notable ridges. Foretarsomere I 2.6–2.8× length of antepenultimate spine. Petiole length 1.6–2.0 × its medial width.

Male

SIZE. 22.1–23.5 mm.

COLOR. Black except for ferruginous stripe in center of mandible. Cellular wing area yellowish. Forewing with fuscous spot beyond marginal cell.

VESTITURE. Appressed setae on clypeus, paraocular area and collar silvery, on scutum silvery-golden, on propodeal enclosure brownish-golden. Erect setae on clypeus, scutum and propodeal enclosure black and brownish-golden, on paraocular area and collar black, brownish-golden and silvery. Erect propodeal setae crimped, oriented perpendicularly and slightly curved towards anterior. Clypeus with glabrous spot in lower center. Scutellum densely and finely pubescent.

STRUCTURE. Free clypeal margin simple. Scutellum convex. Metanotum raised, notably bituberculate. 2 nd recurrent vein nearly 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 2.0–2.5 × its medial width. Flagellomere II with or without broad placoid covering its proximal two-thirds, flagellomeres V + VI with broad placoids covering their proximal four-fifths.

Variation

Unknown.

Distribution

Madagascar.

Figures

Figs 57–62. 57, 60–61. Sphex tomentosus Fabricius, 1787, ♂. 58. S. torridus F. Smith, 1873, habitus of ♀. 59. S. voeltzkowii Kohl, 1909, habitus of ♂. 57. Habitus. 60. Dorsal view of genitalia. 61. Lateral view of penis valvae. 62. Geographic distribution of S. voeltzkowii (red), S. caeruleanus Drury, 1773 (blue), S. mweruensis (Arnold, 1947) (yellow) and S. hades sp. nov. (purple).

Figs 49–56. 49. Sphex fumicatus Christ, 1791, habitus of ♀. 50. S. lanatus Mocsáry, 1883, habitus of ♀. 51. S. rufinervis Pérez, 1895, habitus of ♂. 52. S. taschenbergi Magretti, 1884, habitus of ♀. 53. S. fumicatus, frontal view of ♀. 54. S. taschenbergi, frontal view of ♀. 55. Geographic distribution of S. lanatus (red), S. rufinervis (blue) and S. taschenbergi (yellow). 56. Geographic distribution of S. tomentosus Fabricius, 1787 (red) and S. torridus F. Smith, 1873 (blue).