Sphex taschenbergi Magretti, 1884

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 : 48-50

Sphex taschenbergi Magretti, 1884

Figs 52, 54, 55 (yellow)

Sphex taschenbergi Magretti, 1884: 581 , ♀ (syntypes: Ethiopia, Amhara Region, Metemma, [12°57ʹ17ʺ N, 36°09ʹ19ʺ E], MSNG, not examined).

Differential diagnosis

This species ( Fig. 52 ) shares many characteristics with S. fumicatus , like black erect propodeal setae and basally infuscate but otherwise hyaline forewings. Among the African argentatus group members, this combination is found only in those two. From S. fumicatus , S. taschenbergi is distinguished through having uniformly black erect clypeal setae ( Fig. 54 ) instead of silvery ones ( Fig. 53 ) in both sexes.

Material examined

CHAD – Lac Region • 1 ♀; “ N’Gouri , distr. de Kanem ”; [13°38ʹ11ʺ N, 15°22ʹ06ʺ E]; Sep. 1958; P. Renaud leg.; MRAC . – Tibesti Region • 1 ♂; Zouarke ; [20°25ʹ N, 16°05ʹ E]; 1 Apr. 1953; K.M. Guichard leg.; BMNH .

ETHIOPIA – Oromia Region • 2 ♀♀; Lake Langano ; [7°36ʹ N, 38°43ʹ E]; 29–30 Apr. 2007; J. Halada leg.; OÖLM .

KENYA – Kitui County • 1 ♀; E of Mwingi; [0°56ʹ S, 38°03ʹ E]; 14 May 2007; M. Halada leg.; OÖLM . – Taita-Taveta County • 2 ♂♂, 2 ♀♀; Voi ; [3°23ʹ26ʺ S, 38°34ʹ37ʺ E]; 16 May 2007; M. Halada leg.; OÖLM • 1 ♀; near Voi (Tsavo); [3°23ʹ26ʺ S, 38°34ʹ37ʺ E]; 8–18 Nov. 1996; Mi. Halada leg.; OÖLM • 1 ♀; same collection data as for preceding but 22 Nov.–2 Dec. 1996; OÖLM • 1 ♂; Voi River ; [3°23ʹ26ʺ S, 38°34ʹ37ʺ E]; 14 Apr. 2007; M. Halada leg.; OÖLM .

MALAWI. – Southern Region • 1 ♂; Monkey Bay ; [14°05ʹ S, 34°55ʹ E]; 23 Mar. 1975; H.R. Feijen leg.; RMNH .

MALI – Mopti Region • 1 ♀; 5 km E of Hombori; [15°17ʹ4.4ʺ N, 1°39ʹ2.1ʺ W]; 17 Aug. 1991; M. Schwarz leg.; OÖLM .

NAMIBIA – Hardap Region • 1 ♂; 15 km N of Kalkrand; [23°56ʹ4.8ʺ S, 17°35ʹ22.6ʺ E]; 13 Feb. 1990; M. Schwarz leg.; OÖLM . – Otjozondjupa Region • 1 ♀; Waterberg, Okatijikona ; 20°24ʹ S, 17°24ʹ E; 27–28 Feb. 2010; F. Koch leg.; THD-004-ZMB ; GenBank CO1 gene: MW538576 ; GenBank EF-1α gene: MW558244 ; GenBank LWR gene: MW582283 ; ZMB • 1 ♀; same collection data as for preceding but 13–14 Mar. 2010; ZMB .

OMAN • 1 ♂; Barelmi; Feb.–Mar. 1943; D.V. Fitzgerald leg.; BMNH. – Dhofar Governorate • 1 ♂; “ Aim Arzat“ [Ayn Razat] ; [17°07ʹ47ʺ N, 54°14ʹ11ʺ E]; 18 Aug. 1981; A.R. Pittaway leg.; BMNH .

SUDAN – Khartoum State • 2 ♂♂; Omdurman ; 4 Apr. 1901; NRS .

TANZANIA – Morogoro Region • 1 ♀; 50 km SW of Morogoro; 6°50ʹ S, 37°15ʹ E; 12 Jan. 2007; J. Halada leg.; OÖLM .

YEMEN – Abyan Governorate • 1 ♂; Lodar [Lawdar] ; [13°52ʹ58ʺ N, 45°52ʹ06ʺ E]; 16 May 1967; K.M. Guichard leg.; BMNH .

ZIMBABWE • 1 ♂; C. Tyler leg.; USNM • 1 ♂; Victoria Falls ; Feb. 1935; NRS .

Description

Female

SIZE. 22.7–28.1 mm.

COLOR. Black, femora and tibia dark ferruginous. Cellular wing area hyaline, base of fore- and hindwing infuscate. Forewing with fuscous spot beyond marginal cell.

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

STRUCTURE. Free clypeal margin simple, not stepped medially. Clypeus without indentation and carina. Scutellum convex. Metanotum raised, notably bituberculate. 2 nd recurrent vein joins markedly proximal from interstitium between submarginal cells II and III. Propodeal enclosure without any notable ridges. Foretarsomere I 2.1–2.3× length of antepenultimate spine. Petiole length 1.8–2.1 × its medial width.

Male

SIZE. 18.9–22.6 mm.

COLOR. Black. Cellular wing area hyaline, base of fore- and hindwing infuscate. 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. Clypeus without glabrous stripe. Scutellum densely and finely pubescent.

STRUCTURE. Free clypeal margin simple. Scutellum convex. Metanotum raised, notably bituberculate. 2 nd recurrent vein joins 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 triangular. Penis valvae without conspicuous modifications. Petiole length 2.1–2.3× its medial width. Flagellomere II with or without broad placoid covering its proximal two-thirds, flagellomeres III–VI with broad placoid covering their entire length.

Variation

In some specimens, the legs are dark ferruginous to a varying degree.

Distribution

Chad, Ethiopia, Kenya, Mali, Namibia, Oman, Sudan, Tanzania, Yemen, Zimbabwe.

Figures

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).