Sphex bohemanni, Dahlbom, 1845

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 : 101

Species of the bohemanni group

The bohemanni group contains the following six species and three subspecies: Sphex abbotti , S. abbotti nivarius subsp. nov., S. abyssinicus , S. bohemanni , S. pseudopraedator sp. nov., S. schoutedeni , S. schoutedeni malawicus subsp. nov., S. stadelmanni and S. stadelmanni rufus subsp. nov.

Members are characterized by posteriorly-oriented erect propodeal setae ( Fig. 1 ), which they share with the species of the nigrohirtus group. The most prominent attributes that separate them are found on the female clypeus. In the bohemanni group, its appressed setae are brown or black (with a golden or brassy luster in some species, but not extending all the way to the clypeal center) ( Figs 14–18 ), and the clypeus itself has an inconspicuous indentation at most and lacks a notable longitudinal carina. In contrast, females of the nigrohirtus group have entirely silvery appressed setae on the clypeus, a marked indentation in the lower center and a short but notable longitudinal carina in the upper center ( Fig. 13 ); or their entire clypeus and paraocular area is covered densely with appressed rich golden setae in the case of S. ahasverus . Male specimens of the nigrohirtus group can be recognized through their smaller size and slender stature, as well as the more or less concavely emarginate posterior margin of sternum VIII, whereas males of the bohemanni group are built more stoutly and have the posterior half of sternum VIII usually entire and often shaped like a semicircle ( Fig. 20 ). Notably, all male members of this group, except S. pseudopraedator sp. nov., are distinguishable to species level (but not to subspecies level) through a combination of the structure of sternum VII ( Figs 19–20 ) and the genitalia, more specifically that of the pensivalvae ( Figs 21–26 ). In the other groups, these have no easily discernible differences in the majority of members.

With the exception of S. pseudopraedator sp. nov., males of this group also have an extremely short (in the case of S. abyssinicus longer and acute), but very broad process emerging medially from the inner side of the free clypeal margin. Sphex ahasverus of the nigrohirtus group also possesses this feature. It is often very inconspicuous and not to be confused with the distinctly visible, less broad, tooth-like process present in males of the umtalicus group ( Fig. 27 ).

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 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 19–24. 19–20. Ventral view of the two apical sterna in males of the bohemanni group. 21, 23. Dorsal view of apical third of penis valvae in males of the bohemanni group. 22, 24. Lateral view of penis valvae. 19. Sphex bohemanni Dahlbom, 1845. 20. S. abbotti abbotti W. Fox, 1891. 21– 22. S. stadelmanni stadelmanni Kohl, 1895. 23–24. S. schoutedeni s. lat.

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, ♂.