Sphex feijeni, 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 : 33-35

Sphex feijeni nom. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:41616206-05D1-429A-A33B-01189F6B71E7

Figs 43–44, 46, 47 (purple)

Sphex pruinosus var. haemorrhoidalis Magretti, 1898: 44 , ♀, junior primary honomym of Sphex haemorrhoidalis Fabricius, 1781 .

Differential diagnosis

Together with S. lanatus ( Fig. 50 ) and S. erythrinus ( Figs 41–42 ), this is one of three species in the argentatus group with uniformly silvery-white clypeal and propodeal setae in both sexes. Interestingly, the setae on the propodeum are very attrite in all studied female specimens, leaving large portions of the propodeal enclosure bare. In contrast, S. lanatus and S. erythrinus have much of the propodeal sculpture obscured by dense appressed setae. Furthermore, there are several distinct transversal ridges on the propodeal dorsum of S. feijeni nom. nov. ( Fig. 43 ), a characteristic that is unique among the African members of the argentatus group. What also separates it from the remainder of those species is the fact that in females, approximately the lower two-thirds of the clypeus are brightly ferruginous, whereas the others have it completely black.

The distinguishing characteristics of males ( Fig. 44 ) are more subtle. From S. lanatus , they differ in having a notably shorter petiole, the length of which (see Introduction to measurements) reaches no more than 2.5 times its medial width instead of almost 3 times. Sphex feijeni nom. nov. also has a distinct placoid pattern, with placoids that are half as wide as the segments covering flagellomeres III–V. The very similar S. erythrinus has the placoids nearly as wide as the segments and covering flagellomere VI in addition to III–V, while S. lanatus has only a partial, narrow placoid on flagellomere V. Finally, if genitalized, S. feijeni nom. nov. is easily distinguishable through its uniformly hyaline setae laterally on the gonostyles ( Fig. 46 ), as both of the other species have the stout lateral setae black or dark brown ( Fig. 45 ), with only the thin setae near the apex being silvery.

Etymology

The species name is dedicated to Dr Hans R. Feijen, who collected the majority of the specimens examined here.

Material examined

Holotype (photographs examined) SOMALIA • ♀; MSNG.

Other material

KENYA – Isiolo County • 2 ♂♂, 3 ♀♀; Buffalo Springs National Reserve ; [0°31ʹ17.32ʺ N, 37°37ʹ2.53ʺ E]; 15–18 Jul. 1987; H.R. Feijen leg.; RMNH • 1 ♂; same collection data as for preceding; ZMB . – Makueni County • 1 ♀; Makindu ; [2°16ʹ41ʺ S, 37°49ʹ07ʺ E]; 5–7 Apr. 1911; S.A. Neave leg.; BMNH .

TANZANIA – Manyara Region • 1 ♂; Angleheardt Bridge, Tarangire National Park ; 3°50ʹ S, 36°10ʹ E; 16 Mar. 1995; Lesio and Liseki leg.; AMNH . – Mbeya Region • 1 ♀; Langenburg [now Tukuyu] ; [9°15ʹ S, 33°39ʹ E]; 25 May 1899; F. Fülleborn leg.; ZMB . – Tanga Region • 1 ♂; 2 km NE of Mkomazi; 4°37.8ʹ S, 38°05.5ʹ E; 29–31 Dec. 2002; W.J. Pulawski leg.; CAS .

Description

Female

SIZE. 20.8–26.3 mm.

COLOR. Black except for the following, which are ferruginous: basal half of mandible, lower part of clypeus, scape, pedicel, basal half of flagellomere I anteriorly, legs from trochanter onward, terga V–VI and sterna V–VI. Cellular wing area hyaline, forewing with fuscous spot beyond marginal cell.

VESTITURE. Appressed and erect setae on clypeus, paraocular area, collar, scutum and propodeal enclosure silvery. Erect propodeal setae oriented anteriorly. Central third of clypeus glabrous. Scutellum densely and finely pubescent.

STRUCTURE. Free clypeal margin stepped. Clypeus without indentation or carina. Scutellum convex. Metanotum raised, slightly bituberculate. 2 nd recurrent vein joins markedly proximal from interstitium between submarginal cells II and III. Propodeal enclosure with approximately seven transversal ridges. Foretarsomere I 1.8–2.1× length of antepenultimate spine. Petiole length 1.8–2.0× its medial width.

Male

SIZE. 16.9–20.6 mm.

COLOR. Black except for ferruginous-brown stripe in center of mandible. Cellular wing area hyaline, forewing with fuscous spot beyond marginal cell.

VESTITURE. Appressed and erect setae on clypeus, paraocular area, collar, scutum and propodeal enclosure silvery. Erect propodeal setae oriented anteriorly. Clypeus medially with vertical glabrous stripe. Scutellum densely and finely pubescent.

STRUCTURE. Free clypeal margin slightly stepped medially. Scutellum convex. Metanotum raised, slightly bituberculate. 2 nd recurrent vein joins slightly to markedly 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 very slightly concavely emarginate. Penis valvae without conspicuous modifications. Petiole length 2.0–2.3× its medial width. Flagellomeres III–V with moderately broad placoids covering their entire length.

Variation

In the holotype, scutum and scutellum are ferruginous instead of black.

Distribution

Eastern Africa.

Remarks

Giordani Soika (1942) synonymised this species with S. rufiscutis (R. Turner, 1918) , which is a synonym of S. jansei Cameron, 1910 . The holotype of S. pruinosus var. haemorrhoidalis Magretti, 1898 is in poor condition, but several characters clearly contradict Giordani Soika’s assessment. Firstly, the type has the upper part of the clypeus black, the lower part ferruginous and the collar black, whereas female S. jansei have the entire clypeus as well as the collar ferruginous. Also, the free clypeal margin is largely straight in Magretti’s species, while it is notably convex in S. jansei . The transversal ridges on the propodeum of S. jansei are very faint, but those of S. pruinosus var. haemorrhoidalis are sharply distinct. Contrary to Magretti’s assumption, the species is not closely allied with S. pruinosus , as S. pruinosus var. haemorrhoidalis has a distinctly shorter and wider petiole and a large glabrous spot on the lower part of the clypeus. While the members of the gaullei group have a somewhat raised and bituberculate metanotum as well, the presence of a swelling anterior to the spiracular groove shows that S. pruinosus var. haemorrhoidalis is a member of the argentatus group. Since Magretti’s name is an invalid junior homonym of S. haemorrhoidalis Fabricius, 1781 , we propose feijeni nom. nov. as a replacement name.

Figures

Figs 41–48. 41–42, 45. Sphex erythrinus (Guiglia, 1939). 43–44, 46. Sphex feijeni nom. nov. 41, 43. Habitus of ♀. 42, 44. Habitus of ♂. 45–46. Male genitalia. 47. Geographic distribution of S. cinerascens Dahlbom, 1843 (red), S. paulinierii Guérin-Méneville, 1843 (blue),S. erythrinus (yellow) and S. feijeni nom. nov. (purple). 48. Geographic distribution of S. fumicatus Christ, 1791.

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).