Sphex nigrohirtus Kohl, 1895

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 : 93-98

Sphex nigrohirtus Kohl, 1895

Figs 13 , 78 (blue), 81–82, 84

Sphex nigrohirtus Kohl, 1895: 66 , ♂.

Sphex incomptus anonymus Leclercq, 1955: 12 , ♂. Syn. nov.

Differential diagnosis

Females of this taxon are easily recognizable, as they differ from all others in the group through having the mesosomal setae uniformly black ( Fig. 84 ). Those of S. camerunicus ( Fig. 83 ), S. incomptus ( Fig. 85 ) and S. pulawskii sp. nov. ( Fig. 86 ) have at least the appressed setae posteriorly on the collar and at a spot posterolaterally on the scutum silvery. Males of S. nigrohirtus can be more difficult to identify, as not all of them have uniformly black mesosomal setae. Those of S. camerunicus are distinguished through their dorsolaterally concave valvicepes ( Figs 79–80 ) and broad placoids on flagellomeres IV– VII, whereas S. nigrohirtus has the valvicepes dorsolaterally flat or convex ( Figs 81–82 ) and usually only a narrow placoid on flagellomere V. Sphex incomptus differs in having predominantly silvery propodeal setae and only slightly infuscate wings. Finally, males of S. pulawskii sp. nov. can be differentiated from this species through their conspicuous purple wing iridescence without a cyan tone ( Fig. 87 ), while S. nigrohirtus always has cyan iridescence, at least on the basal half of the forewing.

Material examined

Lectotype (designated here) TANZANIA – Tanga Region • ♂; “ Usambara and Bondei ”; Feb.–Mar. 1880; C.W. Schmidt leg.; ZMB.

Paralectotype TANZANIA • 1 ♂; same collection data as for lectotype; ZMB .

Other material

AFRICA • 2 ♂♂, 2 ♀♀; “ Afr. or. All. de ”; MNHN • 1 ♀; “ East Africa ”; IRSN • 1 ♂; Cap ; MNHN .

DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO – Haut-Katanga • 1♂; Elisabethville [now Lubumbashi] ; [11°40ʹ S, 27°29ʹ E]; Aug. 1949; Ch. Seydel leg.; MRAC • 1 ♂; same collection data as for preceding but 30 Sep. 1949; MRAC • 3 ♀♀; same collection data as for preceding but 24 Jun. 1951; MRAC • 2 ♀♀; same collection data as for preceding but 17 May 1953; MRAC • 1 ♀; same collection data as for preceding but May 1953; MRAC . – Haut-Lomami • 1 ♂, holotype of Sphex incomptus anonymus Leclercq, 1955 ; “ Upemba National Park, Kankunda ( rive dr. Lupiala )”; [8°30ʹ S, 26°30ʹ E]; alt. 1300 m; 13–27 Nov. 1947; G.F. de Witte leg.; MRAC . – Lualaba • 1 ♀; Kapanga ; [8°21ʹ S, 22°34ʹ E]; May 1933; F.G. Overlaet leg.; MRAC • 1 ♀; Lulua, Kanzenze ; [10°31ʹ12ʺ S, 25°12ʹ24ʺ E]; 1932; R.P. Lefebure leg.; MRAC .

ETHIOPIA – Oromia Region • 1 ♂; Hawash River , S of Adama; 7 Jun. 1946; K.M. Guichard leg.; BMNH • 1 ♀; near Wachile; 4°32ʹ N, 39°03ʹ E; 30–31 May 2015; J. Halada leg.; OÖLM . – Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples’ Region • 1 ♂; Dilla ; [6°25ʹ N, 38°19ʹ E]; Apr. 1948; K.M. Guichard leg.; BMNH .

KENYA • 3 ♀♀; Mogorr River ; May 1913; A.O. Luckman leg.; BMNH. – Homa Bay County • 1 ♀; Ungoye , ICIPE Field Station ; 0.61325° S, 34.8908° E; 13–27 Apr. 2006; R. Copeland leg.; ICIPE • 1 ♀♀; Ungoye , ICIPE Field Station , inside seasonally swampy forest; 0.61517° S, 34.9200° E; 22 Jun.–6 Jul. 2006; R. Copeland leg.; ICIPE. – Kajiado County • 1 ♀; Ngong ; [1°21ʹ09ʺ S, 36°40ʹ11ʺ E]; Apr. 1941; V.G.L. van Someren leg.; BMNH. – Kilifi County • 1 ♀; Gedi National Park ; [3°18ʹ33.84ʺ S, 40°01ʹ1.92ʺ E]; 2–6 Nov. 1972; M. Boulard leg.; MNHN • 1 ♀; Rabai ; [3°55ʹ54ʺ N, 39°34ʹ13ʺ E]; Apr. 1928; V.G.L. van Someren leg.; BMNH • 2 ♂♂, 1 ♀; same collection data as for preceding but Nov.–Dec. 1933; BMNH. – Kirinyaga County • 1 ♀; Njuki-ini Forest, near Forest station; 0.51660° S, 37.41843° E; 30 Jan.–12 Feb. 2007; R. Copeland leg.; ICIPE. – Kitui County • 1 ♀; Kasaala area ; 2.7836° S, 38.22517° E; 3–17 May 2016; R. Copeland leg.; ICIPE • 1 ♀; Ngaia Forest , bottom of forest; 0.32442° S, 38.5038° E; 24 Dec. 2011 – 7 Jan. 2012; R. Copeland leg.; ICIPE. – Kwale County • 1 ♂; Kwali Forest , 20 mi. W of Mombasa; [4°00ʹ34ʺ S, 39°18ʹ18ʺ E]; 1 Jun. 1948; M. Steele leg.; BMNH • 1 ♀; Muhaka Forest ; 4.32664° S, 39.52462° E; 18 May–1 Jun. 2016; R. Copeland leg.; ICIPE • 1 ♀; Shimba Hills ; 4°12.3ʹ S, 39°25.2ʹ E; 27 Jun. 1999; W.J. Pulawski and J.S. Schweikert leg.; CAS • 1 ♂, 1 ♀; same locality as for preceding; 15 Dec. 2003; W.J. Pulawski leg.; CAS. – Meru County • 1 ♀; Meru; [0°02ʹ46ʺ N, 37°39ʹ21ʺ E]; Sep. 1927; V.G.L. van Someren leg.; BMNH • 1 ♂; same collection data as for preceding but Jul. 1943; BMNH. – Muranga County • 3 ♂♂, 3 ♀♀; E foot and slopes of Aberdare Mts; [0°38ʹ21ʺ S, 36°47ʹ28ʺ E]; 24–27 Feb. 1911; S.A. Neave leg.; BMNH. – Nyeri County • 1 ♀; Nyeri; [0°25ʹ12ʺ S, 36°57ʹ E]; M. Steele leg.; BMNH. – Taita-Taveta County • 1 ♂; Kasigau ; [3°49ʹ S, 38°40ʹ E]; Nov. 1938; V.G.L. van Someren leg.; BMNH • 1 ♀; Mwatate area, below Bura Bluff, riverine forest ; 3.48444° S, 38.33251° E; 7–21 Feb. 2012; R. Copeland leg.; ICIPE • 1 ♀; Voi ; [3°23ʹ26ʺ S, 38°34ʹ37ʺ E]; 8–10 Feb. 1912; S.A. Neave leg.; BMNH • 3 ♂♂; same locality as for preceding; 16 May 2007; M. Halada leg.; OÖLM • 7 ♂♂; Wundanyi ; [3°23ʹ54ʺ S, 38°21ʹ37ʺ E]; 18–22 Mar. 1997; Ma. Halada leg.; OÖLM • 5 ♂♂, 2 ♀♀; Wundanyi ; [3°23ʹ54ʺ S, 38°21ʹ37ʺ E]; 5–10 Apr. 1997; Ma. Halada leg.; OÖLM. – Trans-Nzoia County • 1 ♀; Mt Elgon E side, Elgon Saw mill ; [1°05ʹ19.6ʺ N, 34°45ʹ15.5ʺ E]; 1932–1933; C. Arambourg, P.-A. Chappuis and R. Jeannel leg.; MNHN .

MALAWI – Central Region • 1 ♀; 53 mi. N of Blantyre; [14°59ʹ32ʺ S, 34°51ʹ55ʺ E]; 25 Feb. 1958; CAS • 1 ♂; Dedza, 85 km SE of Lilongwe; [14°20ʹ S, 34°20ʹ E]; 5–12 Jan. 2002; J. Halada leg.; OÖLM • 1 ♀; Nkhotakota; [12°56ʹ S, 34°18ʹ E]; 2 Jan. 2002; J. Halada leg.; OÖLM . – Northern Region • 1 ♀; Karonga; [9°56ʹ S, 33°56ʹ E]; 7–11 Jul. 1910; S.A. Neave leg.; BMNH . – Southern Region • 1 ♀; Btwn. Ft. Mangoche and Chikala Boma ; 20–25 Mar. 1910; S.A. Neave leg.; BMNH • 1 ♂; Mlanje ; [16°01ʹ53ʺ S, 35°30ʹ E]; 8–9 Feb. 1912; S.A. Neave leg.; BMNH • 1 ♀; same collection data as for preceding but 12 Feb. 1912; BMNH • 1 ♂; same collection data as for preceding but 23 Feb. 1912; BMNH • 1 ♀; same collection data as for preceding but 26 Feb. 1912; BMNH • 1 ♀; same collection data as for preceding but 3 Dec. 1912; BMNH • 1 ♂; same collection data as for preceding but 4 Dec. 1912; BMNH • 1 ♀; same collection data as for preceding but 14 Dec. 1912; BMNH • 2 ♀♀; same collection data as for preceding but 27 Dec. 1912; BMNH • 3 ♂♂; same collection data as for preceding but 6 Jan. 1913; BMNH • 1 ♀; same collection data as for preceding but 7 Jan. 1913; BMNH • 2 ♀♀; same collection data as for preceding but 15 Jan. 1913; BMNH • 1 ♀; same collection data as for preceding but 17 Jan. 1913; BMNH • 1 ♂; same collection data as for preceding but 21 Jan. 1913; BMNH • 1 ♀; same collection data as for preceding but 27 Jan. 1913; BMNH • 1 ♀; same collection data as for preceding but 1 Feb. 1913; BMNH • 1 ♀; same collection data as for preceding but 4 Feb. 1913; BMNH • 2 ♀♀; same collection data as for preceding but 11 Feb. 1913; BMNH • 1 ♀; same collection data as for preceding but 20 Feb. 1913; BMNH • 1 ♂; same collection data as for preceding but 22 Apr. 1913; BMNH • 1 ♂; same collection data as for preceding but 23 Apr. 1913; BMNH • 2 ♀♀; same collection data as for preceding but 5 Sep. 1913; BMNH • 1 ♂, 1 ♀; same collection data as for preceding but 7 Nov. 1913; BMNH • 1 ♂, 1 ♀; same collection data as for preceding but 6 Dec. 1913; BMNH • 1 ♀; same collection data as for preceding but 21 Dec. 1913; BMNH • 1 ♂; same collection data as for preceding but 10 Feb. 1914; BMNH • 1 ♂; same collection data as for preceding but 16 Feb. 1914; BMNH • 1 ♀; Mlanji Boma ; [16°01ʹ53ʺ S, 35°30ʹ E]; 26–30 Apr. and 3–5 May 1910; S.A. Neave leg.; BMNH • 1 ♀; Mt Mlanje ; [16°01ʹ53ʺ S, 35°30ʹ E]; 6 Dec. 1912; S.A. Neave leg.; BMNH • 1 ♀; Nantipwili 8 km SE of Limbe; 15°55ʹ S, 35°04ʹ E; 13 Sep. 1985; H. Hensen leg.; RMNH • 2 ♂♂; side of Mt Mlanje; [16°01ʹ53ʺ S, 35°30ʹ E]; 3 Dec. 1913; S.A. Neave leg.; BMNH • 1 ♀; Zomba; [15°23ʹ09ʺ S, 35°19ʹ07ʺ E]; Dec. 1894; BMNH .

MOZAMBIQUE • 1 ♂, 1 ♀; valley of Kola River , near E Mt Chiperone; 6 Apr. 1913; S.A. Neave leg.; BMNH • 1 ♂, 1 ♀; same collection data as for preceding but 21 Nov. 1913; BMNH. – Manica Province • 1 ♂; 30 km NW of Catandica; [17°51ʹ42.2ʺ S, 32°58ʹ18.7ʺ E]; 17–18 Dec. 2003; J. Halada leg.; OÖLM • 1 ♀; Zambezi, near Tambara, Cangare Lake ; [16°57ʹ36.67ʺ S, 34°05ʹ2.23ʺ E]; 3 May 1929; P. Lesne leg.; MNHN. – Sofala Province • 1 ♀; near Beira, Manga ; [19°50ʹ S, 34°51ʹ E]; 27 Jul. 1929; P. Lesne leg.; MNHN • 1 ♂; Salone ; [18°10ʹ S, 35°47ʹ E]; 25 Oct. 1957; AMG • 1 ♂; Zambesi, Caia ; [17°49ʹ13ʺ S, 35°20ʹ39ʺ E]; 18 Apr. 1912; H. Swale leg.; BMNH .

NAMIBIA – Otjozondjupa Region • 2 ♂♂; Waterberg ; 20°30ʹ S, 17°14ʹ E; 19 Dec. 1993; W. Mey leg.; ZMB .

SOUTH AFRICA – Eastern Cape • 1 ♂; 60 km W of Grahamstown; 33°19ʹ S, 25°57ʹ E; 6 Jan. 2010; J. Halada leg.; OÖLM • 1 ♂; Alexandria Forest ; [33°43ʹ S, 26°22ʹ E]; 15 Mar. 1981; D.W. and R.W. Gess leg.; AMG • 1 ♀; Algoa Bay ; [33°50ʹ S, 25°50ʹ E]; 18 Feb. 1896; H. Brauns leg.; TMP • 1 ♂; same collection data as for preceding but 23 Feb. 1896; TMP • 1 ♂; same collection data as for preceding; BMNH • 1 ♂; Cannonvale ; 33°40ʹ S, 25°47ʹ E; 18 Dec. 1987; A.J. Weaving leg.; AMG • 1 ♂; East London ; [32°59ʹ S, 27°52ʹ E]; H. Brauns leg.; TMP • 1 ♂; East London, Queenʹs Park ; [33°00ʹ55ʺ S, 27°54ʹ41ʺ E]; 21Mar.1914; G.B. Longstaff leg.; OUMNH • 1♀; Grahamstown, Belmont Valley ; [33°19ʹ S, 26°38ʹ E]; 23 Jan. 1970; F.W. Gess leg.; AMG • 1 ♂; Grahamstown, Hilton ; [33°15ʹ S, 26°20ʹ E]; 6 Jan. 1983; D.W. Gess leg.; AMG • 1 ♂; Pondoland, Port St Johns ; [31°37ʹ22ʺ S, 29°32ʹ41ʺ E]; Nov. 1923; R.E. Turner leg.; BMNH • 2 ♂♂; same collection data as for preceding but 6–25 Feb. 1924; BMNH . – KwaZulu-Natal • 1 ♀; Durban ; [29°53ʹ S, 31°03ʹ E]; BMNH • 1 ♂; Durban, Congella ; [29°53ʹ S, 31°03ʹ E]; 9 Nov. 1904; G.F. Leigh leg.; OUMNH • 1 ♂; False Bay ; 27°58ʹ S, 32°23ʹ E; 9–11 Mar. 1990; A.J. Weaving leg.; AMG • 1 ♂; Ithala Game Res., Savannah ; 27°30ʹ S, 31°20ʹ E; 4–10 Apr. 2001; F. Koch leg.; ZMB • 1 ♂; Kosi Bay Camp ; [27°00ʹ18.2ʺ S, 32°51ʹ31.2ʺ E]; 27 Jan. 2003; M. Snižek leg.; OÖLM • 3 ♂♂; Kosi Bay Nature Reserve ; 26°58ʹ S, 32°50ʹ E; 19 Apr. 1999; F. Koch leg.; ZMB • 1 ♀; Lake St Lucia, Fanies Island ; 28°06ʹ S, 32°26ʹ E; 21–25 Feb. 1987; A.J. Weaving leg.; AMG • 2 ♂♂; Maputaland , SW of Manguzi; [27°00ʹ48.5ʺ S, 32°43ʹ24.1ʺ E]; 29 Jan. 2003; M. Snižek leg.; OÖLM • 2 ♂♂; Ndumu Game Reserve ; 26°53ʹ S, 32°18ʹ E; 5 Oct. 1982; J.G.H. Londt leg.; AMG • 1 ♀; Pongola ; [27°22ʹ41ʺ S, 31°37ʹ08ʺ E]; 10 Apr. 1951; H.W. Bedford leg.; BMNH • 1 ♀; Sodwana Bay National Park ; 27°37ʹ S, 32°41ʹ E; 1 Feb. 1994; F. Koch leg.; ZMB • 1 ♂; same collection data as for preceding but 7–10 Apr. 2001; ZMB • 1 ♀; St Michaels ; 30°49ʹ121ʺ S, 30°24ʹ119ʺ E [sic]; 14 Jan. 1953; E. Mc.C. Callan leg.; AMG • 3 ♂♂; St. Lucia Park ( Charterʹs Creek ); 28°12ʹ S, 32°25ʹ E; 7 Feb. 1995; F. Koch leg.; ZMB • 1 ♂; near Tembe Elephant Park (Jozini); [27°25ʹ48ʺ S, 32°04ʹ1.2ʺ E]; 22 Jan. 2003; V. Krivan leg.; OÖLM • 1 ♂; Umlalazi River near Mtunzini; 28°56ʹ S, 31°15ʹ E; 2 Oct. 1982; J.G.H. Londt leg.; AMG . – Limpopo • 1 ♂; N of Nylstroom [now Modimolle]; 24°40ʹ S, 28°30ʹ E; 14 Jan. 2008; M. Halada leg.; THD-013-OOLM ; GenBank CO1 gene: MW538567 ; GenBank LWR gene: MW582293 ; OÖLM • 6 ♂♂, 2 ♀♀; same collection data as for preceding; OÖLM • 1 ♂; Thabazimbi , 40 km S of Koedoeskop; [24°35ʹ29ʺ N, 27°24ʹ41ʺ E]; 1–5 Mar. 1999; J. and R. Oehlke leg.; coll. Jacobs. – Mpumalanga • 1 ♂; Nwaswitshaka Camp, Kruger National Park ; [24°59ʹ45ʺ S, 31°35ʹ31ʺ E]; 21 Dec. 1994; C.L. Bellamy leg.; AMNH . – Western Cape • 2 ♀♀; George , 8 mi. E of Silver Kloof; [33°57ʹ46ʺ S, 22°27ʹ42ʺ E]; 28 Feb. 1914; G.B. Longstaff leg.; OUMNH • 1 ♀; Knysna, 14 mi. from road to George, Homtini Kloof ; [34°02ʹ10ʺ S, 23°02ʹ49ʺ E]; 24 Feb. 1914; G.B. Longstaff leg.; OUMNH .

TANZANIA • 1 ♀; “ East Africa ”; F. Stuhlmann leg.; ZMB • 1 ♀; “ German East Africa ”; E. Fischer leg.; ZMB • 1 ♀; Lake Rukwa , E of Ukimbu; 25–27 Aug. 1899; Glauning leg.; ZMB. – Arusha Region • 4 ♀♀; 5 mi. S of Momela Lodge; [3°18ʹ10ʺ S, 36°51ʹ51ʺ E]; 9 Jan. 1970; M.E. Irwin and E.S. Ross leg.; CAS • 1 ♀; Momela, Mt Meru ; 3°15ʹ S, 36°51ʹ E; 12–13 Jan. 1972; C.F. Huggins leg.; BMNH • 1 ♀; Momella Lakes, Mount Meru ; [3°18ʹ10ʺ S, 36°51ʹ51ʺ E]; 20–31 Jan. 1964; W. Forster leg.; CAS • 1 ♂; Mto wa Mbu , Lake Manyara National Park ; [3°21ʹ S, 35°51ʹ E]; 27 Nov. 1969; M.E. Irwin and E.S. Ross leg.; CAS. – Dar es Salaam Region • 1 ♀; Dar es Salaam; [6°48ʹ S, 39°17ʹ E]; Aug.–Sep. 1902; Meinhof leg.; ZMB. – Kilimanjaro Region • 1 ♀, paralectotype of Sphex kilimandjaroensis Cameron, 1908 ; Kilimanjaro, Kibonoto ; [3°05ʹ5.9ʺ S, 37°20ʹ38.5ʺ E]; alt. 1300–1900 m; 11 May 1905; Y. Sjöstedt leg.; BMNH • 1 ♂; same collection data as for preceding but 3 May; NRS • 1 ♂; Kihuiro [now Kihurio] ; [4°27ʹ53.5ʺ S, 38°04ʹ28.4ʺ E]; 15 Jan. 1906; Schröder leg.; ZMB. – Mbeya Region • 1 ♀; Langenburg [now Tukuyu] ; [9°15ʹ S, 33°39ʹ E]; 26 Jul.–8 Aug. 1898; F. Fülleborn leg.; ZMB • 2 ♀♀; same collection data as for preceding but 9–19 Aug. 1898; ZMB • 1 ♀; Manow ; [9°15ʹ S, 33°48ʹ E]; MNHN. – Mjini Magharibi Region • 1 ♂; Zanzibar; [6°08ʹ S, 39°20ʹ E]; ZMB. – Mwanza Region • 1 ♂, 1 ♀; Ukerewe Island ; [2°01ʹ45.48ʺ S, 33°00ʹ35.27ʺ E]; A. Conrads leg.; ZMB. – Pwani Region • 1 ♀; 15 km W of Kibiti; 7°47ʹ S, 38°49ʹ E; 15 Jan. 2007; J. Halada leg.; OÖLM. – Tanga Region • 1 ♀; Gierra leg.; MNHN • 1 ♀; Amani Research Institute ; [5°05ʹ S, 38°40ʹ E]; Nov. 1905; C. Schröder leg.; ZMB • 1 ♀; same locality as for preceding; Feb. 1908; J. Vosseler leg.; ZMB • 1 ♀; same collection data as for preceding but 20 Feb. 1908; ZMB • 1 ♂; Usambara, Nguela ( Ngwelo ); [5°04ʹ59ʺ S, 38°45ʹ59.5ʺ E]; Rolle leg.; ZMB .

UGANDA – Western Region • 1 ♂; Semliki Plains, near S shore of Lake Albert; [0°59ʹ17ʺ N, 30°30ʹ09ʺ E]; alt. 2200 ft; 25–27 Nov. 1911; S.A. Neave leg.; BMNH .

ZAMBIA – Central Province • 2 ♂♂, 6 ♀♀; 70 km NE of Kapiri Mposhi ; 13°41ʹ S, 29°18ʹ E; 21 Nov. 2005; M. Halada leg.; OÖLM • 3 ♂♂, 3 ♀♀; same locality as for preceding; [13°41ʹ S, 29°18ʹ E]; 21 Nov. 2005; M. Snižek leg.; OÖLM • 1 ♀; “ Mid. Luangwa Valley ”; alt. 1700 ft; 28 Feb. 1908; S.A. Neave leg.; OUMNH . – Eastern Province • 1 ♀; “ Up. Luangwa Valley ”; alt. 1800–2000 ft; 17 Mar. 1908; S.A. Neave leg.; OUMNH . – Muchinga Province • 2 ♀♀; “ L. Chambezi V. , Mpika distr. ”; alt. 3900 ft; 18 May 1908; S.A. Neave leg.; OUMNH • 1 ♀; “ Mid. Chambezi Valley, Chinsali distr. ”; alt. 4000 ft; 28 Apr. 1908; S.A. Neave leg.; OUMNH . – Northern Province • 1 ♀; “ High Plateau S Lake Tanganyika (dense forest) ”; alt. 4500 ft; 24–25 Aug. 1908; S.A. Neave leg.; OUMNH • 1 ♀; “ L. Chambezi V. , Kasama distr. ”; alt. 3900 ft; 12–13 May 1908; S.A. Neave leg.; OUMNH • 1 ♂, paratype of Sphex incomptus anonymus Leclercq, 1955 ; Abercorn [now Mbala] ; [8°50ʹ S, 31°28ʹ E]; Feb. 1943; IRSN • 1 ♀; same collection data as for preceding but Oct. 1943; IRSN • 1 ♀; E shore of Lake Bangweolo; alt. 3800 ft; 25 May 1908; S.A. Neave leg.; OUMNH . – North-Western Province • 1 ♀; 150 km S of Mwinilunga; 13°11ʹ S, 24°14ʹ E; 18 Oct. 2008; M. Halada leg.; OÖLM . – Southern Province • 1 ♀; Victoria Falls ; [17°51ʹ S, 25°52ʹ E]; 11 Nov. 1967; E.S. Ross and A.R. Stephen leg.; CAS .

ZIMBABWE – Manicaland • 1 ♀; Mt Chirinda, Melsetter [now Chimanimani District] ; [20°24ʹ36ʺ S, 32°40ʹ08ʺ E]; 6 Oct. 1905; G. Marshall leg.; OUMNH • 1 ♀; Mt Selinda ; [20°25ʹ23.3ʺ S, 32°42ʹ25.3ʺ E]; 24 Jan. 1998; Ma. Halada leg.; OÖLM • 1 ♀; Umtali [now Mutare] ; [18°58ʹ S, 32°38ʹ E]; 4 Apr. 1931; P.A. Sheppard leg.; TMP . – Mashonaland Central • 6 ♂♂; Mavhuradonha Saf. , 15 km SE of Muzarabani; [16°33ʹ33ʺ S, 31°14ʹ22.8ʺ E]; 17 Dec. 1998; J. Halada leg.; OÖLM . – Mashonaland West • 2 ♂♂; Kwekwe, Ngezi Recreational Park ; [18°41ʹ12.2ʺ S, 30°24ʹ2.2ʺ E]; 1 Dec. 1998; J. Halada leg.; OÖLM • 1 ♀; Lomagundi [now Makonde District] ; [16°37ʹ44ʺ S, 30°08ʹ25ʺ E]; 1 Mar. 1938; R.H.R. Stevenson leg.; RMNH . – Masvingo Province • 1 ♂; Mushandike National Park , Masvingo; [20°03ʹ45ʺ S, 30°49ʹ25ʺ E]; 10 Dec. 1998; J. Halada leg.; OÖLM . – Matabeleland South • 1 ♀; near Nalatale Ruins, 70 km SW of Gweru; [19°52ʹ57.5ʺ S, 29°31ʹ30.7ʺ E]; Dec. 2011; J. Halada leg.; OÖLM .

Description

Female

SIZE. 22.5–27.9 mm.

COLOR. Black except for the following, which are ferruginous: basal half of mandible, free clypeal margin and apical segment of metasoma. Forewing fuscous, with cyan-violet iridescence, hindwing slightly fuscous.

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 oriented posteriorly. Clypeus medially with broad vertical glabrous stripe. Scutellum densely and coarsely pubescent.

STRUCTURE. Free clypeal margin with broad, gently notched, shovel-like process medially, not markedly stepped above. Clypeus with notable indentation in lower center and longitudinal carina above. Scutellum convex. Metanotum not raised, not bituberculate. 2 nd recurrent vein joins markedly proximal from interstitium between submarginal cells II and III. Propodeal enclosure without any notable ridges. Foretarsomere I 2.5–3.2× length of antepenultimate spine. Petiole length 1.4–2.1× its medial width.

Male

SIZE. 15.2–24.1 mm.

COLOR. Black except for ferruginous stripe in center of mandible. Forewing fuscous, with cyan-violet iridescence, hindwing slightly fuscous.

VESTITURE.Appressed setae on clypeus, paraocular area, collar, posterolaterally on scutum and posteriorly of propodeal enclosure silvery, black on remainder of scutum and propodeal enclosure. Erect setae on clypeus, collar, scutum and propodeal enclosure black, uniformly black or intermixed with silvery ones on paraocular area and at posterior propodeal margin. Erect propodeal setae oriented posteriorly. Lower center of clypeus glabrous. Scutellum densely and coarsely pubescent. Metasomal sterna II–VII with increasingly dense fringes of black setae.

STRUCTURE. Free clypeal margin simple. Clypeus with notable carina in upper center. Scutellum convex. Metanotum not raised, not 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 gently notched. Posterior margin of metasomal sternum VII simple, of metasomal sternum VIII concavely emarginate. Penis valvae without conspicuous modifications. Petiole length 2.6–2.8 × its medial width. Flagellomere V with narrow placoid covering its proximal four-fifths, and tapering medially or distally.

Variation

In males, the color of the appressed setae posterolaterally on the collar, scutum and propodeum as well as the erect setae at the posterior propodeal margin varies between silvery and black.

Distribution

Eastern to southeastern Africa.

Remarks

As mentioned above in the Remarks on S. incomptus , the subspecies proposed by Leclercq in 1955, S. incomptus anonymus , is actually a synonym of S. nigrohirtus , which resulted from confusing statements by Arnold (1928).

Figures

Figs 13–18. Faces of females in frontal view. 13. Sphex nigrohirtus Kohl, 1895. 14. Sphex abbotti nivarius subsp. nov. 15. S. abbotti abbotti W. Fox, 1891. 16. S. stadelmanni stadelmanni Kohl, 1895. 17. S. abyssinicus (Arnold, 1928). 18. S. schoutedeni malawicus subsp. nov.

Figs 72–78. 72. Sphex umtalicus Strand, 1916. 73–74. S. victoria sp. nov. 75–76. S. ahasverus Kohl, 1890, male genitalia. 72–73. Habitus of ♀. 74. Habitus of ♂. 75. Dorsal view. 76. Lateral view. 77. Geographic distribution of S. umtalicus (red) and S. ahasverus (blue). 78. Geographic distribution of S. camerunicus Strand, 1916 (red) and S. nigrohirtus Kohl, 1895 (blue).

Figs 79–84. 79–80. Apical third of penis valvae in ♂♂ of Sphex camerunicus Strand, 1916. 81–82. Apical third of penis valvae in ♂ of S. nigrohirtus Kohl, 1895. 79, 81. Dorsal view. 80, 82. Lateral view. 83. S. camerunicus, habitus of ♀. 84. S. nigrohirtus, habitus of ♀.

Figs 85–92. 85–86. Habitus of ♀. 87–90. habitus of ♂. 85. Sphex incomptus Gerstaecker, 1871. 86– 87. S. pulawskii sp. nov. 88. S. abbotti abbotti W. Fox, 1891. 89. S. abbotti nivarius subsp. nov. 90. S. bohemanni Dahlbom, 1845. 91. Geographic distribution of S. incomptus (red) and S. pulawskii sp. nov. (blue). 92. Geographic distribution of S. a. abbotti (red), S. a. nivarius subsp. nov. (blue), S. abyssinicus (Arnold, 1928) (yellow) and S. bohemanni (purple).