Sphex gaullei Berland, 1927

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 : 127-129

Sphex gaullei Berland, 1927

Figs 6 , 31–32 , 104–105 , 112 (yellow)

Sphex gaullei Berland, 1927: 151 , ♀, ♂.

Sphex rufiscutis laevigatus Arnold, 1951: 145 , ♀. Junior primary homonym of Sphex laevigatus Rossi, 1794 . Syn. nov.

Differential diagnosis

This species is very similar to S. jansei and has frequently been mistaken for it in the past, as until now there were no identification keys that featured both species. The morphological differences between the two are subtle, but undeniable.

Females of S. jansei ( Fig. 106 ) and S. gaullei ( Fig. 104 ) are characterized through their ferruginous clypeus with golden setae, their convex, sparsely pubescent, ferruginous scutellum, and their almost completely black scutum, petiole and metasoma. Sphex schmideggeri sp. nov. ( Fig. 108 ) is similar, but has the scutum, petiole and metasomal tergum I predominantly ferruginous. The main characters that distinguish S. gaullei from S. jansei are the color of the erect propodeal setae, which is brownish-gray in S. gaullei and silvery-white in S. jansei , and the extent of the reddish coloration on the body. Sphex jansei has the pronotal lobe mostly black, with the posterior margin ferruginous at most, and some specimens also have a black collar. In S. gaullei , the collar and pronotal lobe are predominantly ferruginous.

Regarding males, S. jansei ( Fig. 107 ) and S. gaullei ( Fig. 105 ) both have approximately the lower half of the clypeus ferruginous and the remainder black, with the erect propodeal setae being silvery. What separates them is the fact that S. gaullei has the distal half of the fore- and hindwing notably infuscate ( Fig. 32 ). In contrast, the wings of S. jansei are hyaline in the cellular area and only the apical margin is fuscous ( Fig. 30 ). Both species have the erect facial setae golden, whereas male S. schmideggeri sp. nov. have them silvery.

Material examined

Lectotype (designated here) CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC – Nana-Grébizi • ♀; Fort-Crampel [now Kaga-Bandoro] ; MNHN.

Paralectotypes CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC – Nana-Grébizi • 1 ♂; same collection data as for holotype; MNHN • 1 ♀; same collection data as for holotype; BMNH .

Other material

BURKINA FASO – Cascades Region • 1 ♀; Tingréla, Banfora ; [10°38ʹ31.7ʺ N, 4°49ʹ50.9ʺ W]; 20 Dec. 1967; J. Hamon leg.; MNHN . – Hauts-Bassins Region • 1 ♂; Bobo-Dioulasso ; [11°11ʹ N, 4°17ʹ W]; 10 Nov. 1967; J. Hamon leg.; MNHN • 1 ♂; Koro ; [11°09ʹ N, 4°12ʹ W]; 10 Dec. 1967; J. Hamon leg.; MNHN • 1 ♂; same collection data as for preceding but 13 Dec. 1967; MNHN.

DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO – Nord-Ubangi • 2 ♀♀; Yakoma ; [4°05ʹ53ʺ N, 22°26ʹ45ʺ E]; 12 Feb. 1932; H.J. Brédo leg.; MRAC • 6 ♀♀; same collection data as for preceding but 17 Feb. 1932; MRAC .

ETHIOPIA • 1♂, 1 ♀; 1882; Raffray leg.; MNHN .

GHANA – Savannah Region • 1 ♀; Yapi [Yapei]; [9°09ʹ08ʺ N, 1°08ʹ52ʺ W]; J.J. Simpson leg.; BMNH .

MALI – Bamako Region • 1 ♀; Barainba , NE of Bamako; [12°39ʹ N, 8°00ʹ W]; Aug. 1991; G. Popov leg.; BMNH . – Mopti Region • 1 ♀, holotype of Sphex rufiscutis laevigatus Arnold, 1951 ; near Sofara; [14°01ʹ N, 4°14ʹ W]; 3 Sep. 1944; K.M. Guichard leg.; BMNH .

NIGERIA • 1 ♀; Michika-Bama; 6 Dec. 1979; G. Popov leg.; BMNH. – Oyo State • 1 ♀; Fashola near Oyo; [7°54ʹ N, 3°47ʹ E]; 15 Nov. 1975; J.T. Medler leg.; USNM .

REPUBLIC OF CÔTE D’IVOIRE – Vallée du Bandama District • 1 ♂; Bouaké ; [7°41ʹ N, 5°01ʹ W]; 1977; P.M. Elsen leg.; MRAC .

RWANDA – Western Province • 1 ♀; Ishwa, Lake Albert ; [2°23ʹ04ʺ S, 28°55ʹ58ʺ E]; Sep. 1935; H.J. Brédo leg.; MRAC .

SENEGAL • 1 ♂; “ Between Tambacounda and Kaffrine ”; 27–30 Dec. 1967; M. Coruet leg.; MNHN .

SUDAN – South Kordofan • 1 ♀; Talodi, Nouzi, Nuba Mountains ; [10°37ʹ56ʺ N, 30°22ʹ46ʺ E]; Nov. 1921; F. Moysey leg.; BMNH .

Description

Female

SIZE. 19.7–23.1 mm.

COLOR. Black except for the following, which are ferruginous: basal half of mandible, labrum, clypeus, scape, pedicel, flagellomeres I–V, collar, tegula, pronotal lobe, prepectus, scutellum, metanotum, forecoxa and legs from trochanter onward, except apical half of claw. Basal wing half often with yellow tinge, apical half fuscous with violet iridescence.

VESTITURE. Appressed setae on clypeus, paraocular area and scutum golden, on propodeal enclosure silvery-golden. Erect setae on clypeus and paraocular area ferruginous-golden, on collar and scutum ferruginous, on propodeal enclosure brownish-gray. Erect propodeal setae oriented anteriorly. Lower center of clypeus glabrous. Scutellum densely and finely pubescent.

STRUCTURE. Free clypeal margin slightly notched medially, stepped above. 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 eight to twelve sharply distinct transversal ridges. Foretarsomere I 1.7–1.8× length of antepenultimate spine. Petiole length 2.0–2.4 × its medial width.

Male

SIZE. 17.0– 21.2 mm.

COLOR. Black except for the following, which are ferruginous: basal half of mandible, labrum, scape, pedicel ventrally, proximal third of flagellomere I ventrally, lower half of clypeus, legs from femur or

tibia onward up to tarsomere II, collar, tegula and dorsal part of scutellum. Basal wing half hyaline, apical half fuscous with violet iridescence.

VESTITURE. Appressed setae on clypeus, paraocular area, collar, scutum and propodeal enclosure silvery. Erect setae on clypeus and paraocular area golden, on collar ferruginous-golden, on scutum and propodeal enclosure silvery. Erect propodeal setae oriented anteriorly. Lower part of clypeus glabrous. Scutellum densely and finely pubescent.

STRUCTURE. Free clypeal margin simple. Scutellum convex. Metanotum raised, slightly bituberculate. 2 nd recurrent vein joins markedly proximal from interstitium between submarginal cells II and III. Propodeal enclosure with indistinct ridges. Posterior margin of metasomal tergum VII convex. Posterior margin of metasomal sternum VII simple, of metasomal sternum VIII concavely emarginate. Penis valvae without conspicuous modifications. Petiole length 2.2–2.4 × its medial width. Flagellomeres III + IV with narrow placoids covering their entire length.

Variation

Unknown.

Distribution

Western to central Africa.

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, ♀.

Figs 25–32. 25–26. Ventral and lateral view of sternum VIII and genitalia in male of Sphex abyssinicus (Arnold, 1928). 27–28. Frontal view of free clypeal margin in males. 29–32. Dorsal view of fore- and hindwing in males and females of thegaullei group. 27. S. umtalicus Strand, 1916. 28. S. decipiens Kohl, 1895. 29. S. jansei Cameron, 1910, ♀. 30. S. jansei, ♂. 31. S. gaullei Berland, 1927, ♀. 32. S. gaullei, ♂.

Figs 100–105. 100–101. Sphex decipiens Kohl, 1895. 102–103. S. pruinosus Germar, 1817. 104– 105. S. gaullei Berland, 1927. 100, 103, 105. Habitus of ♂. 101. Frontal view of ♀. 102, 104. Habitus of ♀.

Figs 106–112. 106–107. Sphex jansei Cameron, 1910. 108. S. schmideggeri sp. nov. 109. S. pseudosatanas sp. nov. 110–111. S. rufoclypeatus sp. nov. 106, 108–110. Habitus of ♀. 107, 111. Habitus of ♂. 112. Geographic distribution of S. decipiens Kohl, 1895 (red), S. pruinosus Germar, 1817 (blue), S. gaullei Berland, 1927 (yellow), S. jansei (purple) and S. schmideggeri sp. nov. (green).