Podalonia canescens (DAHLBOM)

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 : 1252-1253

Podalonia canescens (DAHLBOM) Figs 28, 52, 77, 111, 117, 122

Psammophila canescens DAHLBOM 1843: 21 ,. Holotype or syntypes:, South Africa: Cape Province: Cape Town area (Lund).

Ammophila longipilosella CAMERON 1908 a: 267 ,. Holotype or syntypes:, Tanzania: Mt. Kilimanjaro: Kibonoto (NRS).

R e c o g n i t i o n Podalonia canescens has a propodeal enclosure with erect setae, the gaster is red basally and the clypeus and frons are covered with appressed silver setae.

The female of this species differs from P. hirsuta in having distinct arolia. In addition, it differs from the similar species P. tydei and the European species P. luffii in having a petiole that is longer than hindtarsomere I. In addition, P. canescens differs from the African species P. erythropus in having black legs, a black petiole and a black clypeus. The female of P. canescens differs from the African species P. sheffieldi in having whitish erect setae on the head and thorax.

The male has a broadly produced clypeus with a free margin that is slightly concave (fig. 122). The penis valve has a large thorn apicoventrally in lateral view (fig 52); the penis valve in ventral view: fig. 28, in dorsal view: fig. 77 and in apical view: fig. 111; gonostyle laterally: fig. 117. It differs from the male of P. tydei in having a more produced clypeus, a coarsely and densely punctate scutum nearly without appressed silver setae, a mesopleuron only with sparse appressed silver setae, and terga I and II of gaster with dark spots.

Note: the petiole is shortened in stylopized specimens.

G e o g r a p h i c d i s t r i b u t i o n:sub-SaharanAfrica.

S p e c i m e n s e x a m i n e d 226, 177.