Sphex abyssinicus ( Arnold, 1928 )
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publication ID |
https://doi.org/ 10.5852/ejt.2022.796.1665 |
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publication LSID |
lsid:zoobank.org:pub:76C5C9C4-C6C1-4EDC-8FF8-9828A6EF2040 |
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DOI |
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6535880 |
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persistent identifier |
https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03C20928-FFF8-FFC8-427F-14F33D650E3A |
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treatment provided by |
Felipe |
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scientific name |
Sphex abyssinicus ( Arnold, 1928 ) |
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Sphex abyssinicus ( Arnold, 1928)
Figs 17 View Figs 13–18 , 25–26 View Figs 25–32. 25–26 , 92 View Figs 85–92. 85–86 (yellow)
Chlorion abyssinicum Arnold, 1928: 372 View in CoL , ♂.
Differential diagnosis
The male of this species can easily be identified through its uniquely rectangular-shaped eighth sternum ( Fig. 25 View Figs 25–32. 25–26 ) and enlarged valviceps ( Fig. 26 View Figs 25–32. 25–26 ). Females have been undescribed until now, but we were able to tentatively assign four female specimens to S. abyssinicus based on morphological considerations and geographical distribution. As is the case with many female members of the bohemanni group, they are hard to distinguish from closely related species, but the color of the luster of the appressed facial setae is a useful diagnostic. In this species, it is ferruginous, as well as golden laterally on the clypeus and the paraocular area ( Fig. 17 View Figs 13–18 ), which separates it from most others. Females of S. abbotti abbotti can look very similar ( Fig. 15 View Figs 13–18 ), but their facial setae lack a golden shimmer, whereas those of S. schoutedeni malawicus subsp. nov. possess it ( Fig. 18 View Figs 13–18 ), but are not known to occur north of Zambia.
Material examined
Holotype ETHIOPIA • ♂; 1911; R.E. Turner leg.; BMNH.
Paratype ETHIOPIA • 1 ♂; same collection data as for holotype; BMNH .
Other material
ETHIOPIA • 1 ♂; same collection data as for holotype; BMNH. – Harari Region • 1 ♂; Harrar ; [9°18ʹ49ʺ N, 42°07ʹ05ʺ E]; 1912; R.E. Turner leg.; BMNH GoogleMaps • 1 ♂; Mulata Mts ; [9°27ʹ11ʺ N, 41°45ʹ25.4ʺ E]; 22 Oct. 1925; AMNH. – GoogleMaps Oromia Region • 1 ♀; 23 km NW of Mena; 6°35ʹ N, 39°44ʹ E; 28 May 2015; J. Halada leg.; OÖLM. – GoogleMaps Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples’ Region • 1 ♀; Nera Dorze ; 6°10ʹ8.4ʺ N, 37°34ʹ7.9ʺ E; Apr. 2013; M. Ströhle leg.; OÖLM GoogleMaps • 1 ♀; same collection data as for preceding; THD-033-OOLM ; GenBank LWR gene: MW582276 View Materials ; OÖLM GoogleMaps .
Description
Female
SIZE. 24.5–30.2 mm.
COLOR. Black, except for ferruginous stripe in center of mandible. Wings uniformly fuscous, with turquoise luster.
VESTITURE. Appressed setae on clypeus, paraocular area, collar, scutum and propodeal enclosure black, on clypeus and paraocular area with ferruginous-golden luster. Erect setae on clypeus, paraocular area, collar, scutum and propodeal enclosure black. Erect propodeal setae oriented posteriorly. Lower center of clypeus glabrous. Scutellum densely and coarsely pubescent.
STRUCTURE. Free clypeal margin medially with two broad, indistinct processes, stepped above. Clypeus with indentation in lower center, without longitudinal carina. Scutellum convex. Metanotum not raised, not 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 2.8–2× length of antepenultimate spine. Petiole length 1.4–1.7× its medial width.
Male
SIZE. 30.9 mm.
COLOR. Black except for basal half of mandible, which is ferruginous. Wings slightly fuscous, with violet iridescence.
VESTITURE. Appressed setae on clypeus and paraocular area brassy, on collar, scutum and propodeal enclosure black. Erect setae on clypeus, paraocular area, collar, scutum and propodeal enclosure black. 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 medially with short, broad process emanating from inferior part. Scutellum convex. Metanotum slightly 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 convex. Posterior margin of metasomal sternum VII simple, of metasomal sternum VIII concavely emarginate and broadly truncated apically. Penis valvae fused, inner margin flattened and dorsally markedly raised, outer margin bulging near apex. Petiole length 1.3–1.4 × its medial width. Flagellomeres IV–VI with broad placoids covering their entire length.
Variation
Unknown.
Distribution
Ethiopia.
No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.
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Sphex |
Sphex abyssinicus ( Arnold, 1928 )
| Dörfel, Thorleif H. & Ohl, Michael 2022 |
Chlorion abyssinicum
| Arnold G. 1928: 372 |