Podalonia ebenina (SPINOLA)

Dollfuss, H., 2010, A Key to Wasps of the Genus Podalonia FERNALD 1927 (Hymenoptera: Apoidea: Sphecidae) of the Old World, Linzer biologische Beiträge 42 (2), pp. 1241-1291 : 1254

Podalonia ebenina (SPINOLA)

Ammophila ebenina SPINOLA 1839: 464 ,. Lectotype:, Egypt: no specific locality (MSNT), designated by de BEAUMONT 1952: 44.

Ammophila mandibulata W.F. KIRBY 1889: 134 ,. Holotype or syntypes:, Afghanistan: Harirud valley (BMNH). Syntype examined. New synonym.

Psammophila micipsa MORICE 1900: 66 , Syntypes:, Algeria: Biskra (OXUM).

R e c o g n i t i o n Podalonia ebenina has a glabrous propodeal enclosure, a black gaster and a small tooth on the claws near base. This basal tooth is reduced in some specimens.

In the female the forecoxa usually has a prominent spine or a conical tooth (in some specimens rudimentary). The anterior half of scutum, in some specimens, has fine longitudinal striae and the wings in fresh specimens are dark brown. In addition, the foretarsomeres are distinctly asymmetrical and have a rake of long spines. The collare and scutum are shiny and distictly but sparsely punctate. The mesopleuron is rugose-striate and punctate. The petiole is longer than hindtarsomere I in most specimens.

The sharp penis valve of the male of P. ebenina is as in P. caucasica and the petiole is as long as hindtarsomere I.

Podalonia ebenina differs from P. caucasica only by the black gaster and maybe P. caucasica is a synonym. Further research should be done.

G e o g r a p h i c d i s t r i b u t i o n:CentralAsia,Arabia,MediterraneanRegion.

S p e c i m e n s e x a m i n e d 86, 23.