Palmodes occitanicus ( Lepeletier de Saint Fargeau et Audinet-Serville, 1828 )

Danilov, Yuriy N. & Byvaltsev, Alexander M., 2020, The digger wasps of the genus Palmodes Kohl, 1890 in Central Asia (Hymenoptera Sphecidae: Prionychini), Zootaxa 4803 (3), pp. 401-434 : 419-422

Palmodes occitanicus ( Lepeletier de Saint Fargeau et Audinet-Serville, 1828)

( Figs 3e , 4e , 13 , 14 , 19 )

Sphex occitanicus Lepeletier de Saint Fargeau et Audinet-Serville, 1828:462 (as occitanica), ♂. Syntypes, ♂, France: Hérault: Montpellier area (MRSN).— Kohl 1885:176; 1890:317; F. Morawitz 1891a:204; 1893:405; 1894:339; Dalla Torre 1897:434; Kokujev 1927:71; Gussakovskij 1930:211; 1934:2; 1935:412; 1938:2; Myartseva 1963:59; Roth 1963:158; Myartseva 1965:83; Kazenas 1969:21; Tsuneki 1971a:140; 1971b:1; Kazenas 1972:110; 1978:43; Pulawski 1978:184.— As Palmodes occitanicus: Bohart & Menke 1976:127 ; Esenbekova & Kazenas 2000:8; Kazenas 1980:81; Nemkov 1986:92; Kazenas & Nasyrova 1991:38; Nemkov, Kazenas, Budrys & Antropov 1995:384; Kazenas 1998:101; Nazarova 1998:40; Kazenas 2001:14; Kazenas & Esenbekova 2001:133; Kazenas 2002:27; Shkuratov 2002:383; Shorenko 2003:97; Kazenas 2004:98; Nazarova 2004:104; Shkuratov 2004:73; Shorenko 2005a:162; 2005b:97; Kazenas 2007:89; Danilov 2008:347; Dollfuss 2008:1405; Kazenas 2008:111; Nemkov 2008:17; Danilov 2009:53; Nemkov 2009:45; Danilov 2010:44; Baghirov 2011:139; Danilov 2011:201; 2013:49; 2014a:424; 2014b:514; Ebrahimi 2014:16; Kazenas 2014a:131; Mokrousov & Popov 2016:563; Danilov 2017:214; Jahantigh, Rakhshani, Mokhtari & Ramroodi 2017:24; Danilov & Mokrousov 2017:109; Pulawski 2019.

Sphex proditor Lepeletier de Saint Fargeau, 1845:354 , ♀. Holotype, ♀, France: Corse (no specific locality) (MRSN). Synony- mized with Sphex occitanicus by Kohl 1890:317.

Sphex confinis Dahlbom, 1845:437 , ♀. Lectotype, ♀, Dalmatia, no specific locality [now coastal Croatia and Montenegro], designated by de Beaumont 1953:195 (MZLU). Synonymized with Sphex argyrius by Kohl 1885:179, and with Sphex occitanicus by de Beaumont 1953:195.

Sphex solieri Lepeletier de Saint Fargeau, 1845:354 (as Solieri), ♀. Holotype, ♀, origin unknown (depository unknown), tenta- tively synonymized with Sphex occitanicus by F. Smith 1856:256.

Sphex perplexus F. Smith, 1856:255 (as perplexa), ♂. Holotype, ♂, “N. China. 54.8 // perplexa Type Sm // B.M. TYPE HYM. 21. 650 // Type [circle with a red edge] // China: Shanghai Coll. Mr Fortune purch. Mr Stevens BMNH(E) 1854-8 // ♂ SYNTYPE Sphex perplexus Smith. 1856: 25 // BMNH(E) #969434” [ China: Shanghai] (BMNH), a photograph examined. Synonymized with Sphex occitanicus by Piel 1935:294.

Sphex syriacus Mocsáry, 1881:237 (as Syriaca), ♀, ♂. Syntypes, ♀, ♂, Lebanon: Beirut (TMB), examined 1 ♀. Synony- mized with Sphex occitanicus by Kohl 1890:317.— Tsuneki 1971a:140.— As Sphex occitanicus var. syriacus: Ed. André 1888:146 ; Dalla Torre 1897:435; Gussakovskij 1933:271; Myartseva 1972:83.— As Palmodes occitanicus syriacus: Bohart & Menke 1976:127 ; Ljubomirov & Yildirim 2008:24; Yildirim 2014:30; Pulawski 2019.

Sphex puncticollis Kohl, 1888:151 , ♀, ♂. Syntypes, ♀, ♂, Turkmenistan: Krasnovodsk [now Turkmenbashi] (NHMW), ex- amined 1 ♀, 1 ♂. Synonymized with Sphex occitanicus by Roth 1963:171.— Kohl 1890:319; F. Morawitz 1893:405; Dalla Torre 1897:438; Yasumatsu 1940:31.— As Sphex occitanicus puncticollis: Roth 1963:171 ; Kazenas 1978:43.— As Palmodes occitanicus puncticollis: Kazenas 1969:21 ; 2001:14; 2002:27; Danilov 2012:161; 2013:49; Yildirim 2014:30; Pulawski 2019.

Sphex cyrenaicus Gribodo, 1924:263 (as cyrenaica), ♂. Lectotype, ♂, Libya: Cyrenaica: Benghazi, designated by Menke in Bohart & Menke 1976:127 (MZUB). Synonymized with Sphex occitanicus by Roth 1963:169.

Sphex occitanicus barbarus Roth, 1963:166 , ♀, ♂. Syntypes, ♀, ♂, Morocco, Algeria (MNHN), 2 ♀ examined.

Sphex occitanicus gaetulus Roth, 1963:169 , ♀, ♂. Syntypes, ♀, ♂, Algeria, Tunisia (MNHN), 5 ♂, 2 ♀ examined.

Sphex occitanicus ibericus Roth, 1963:168 , ♀, ♂. Syntypes, ♀, ♂, Spain, Portugal (MNCN, MCNB).

Sphex palmetorum Roth, 1963:175 , ♀, ♂. Holotype, ♀, “Museum Paris / EY8843 // Algérie / Laghouat // Museum Paris / 1934 / L. Chopard // S. puncticollis Kohl / L. Berland det. 1934 // Sphex (Palmodes) / palmetorum / n. sp. ♀ / P. Roth det. 1958 // HOLOTYPE [red label]” [ Algeria: Laghouat] (MNHN), examined. New synonymy.

Diagnosis. The male of P. occitanicus differs from all other Palearctic Palmodes by the shape of the clypeus: the lateral lobe is distinctly defined; the middle lobe is slightly elongate, not or slightly longer than the lateral one; the lateral emargination is moderately defined.

The female of P. occitanicus differs from all other Palearctic species of the genus by the shape of the clypeus: the middle lobe is distinctly longer than the lateral one; the anterior margin of the lateral lobe is nearly parallel to the anterior margin of the middle lobe; the lateral emargination is not or slightly defined.

Description. Male ( Fig. 13 d–e). Body length 13–22 mm. Head. Clypeus nearly trapeziform; middle lobe slightly elongate, not or slightly longer than lateral one, slightly emarginate apically; lateral lobe distinctly defined; lateral emargination moderately defined ( Fig. 3e ). Clypeus, subantennal sclerite and paraocular area with dense, appressed, silvery setae ( Fig. 14d ). Frons dull, punctate. Vertex, occiput and gena slightly shiny, microsculptured, punctate. Mandible and palpi black. Erect setae dense, black. Mesosoma . Pronotum slightly shiny, micropunctate with scattered punctures and inconspicuous, appressed, pale setae. Scutum slightly shiny, micropunctate (punctures about 2.0–5.0 diameters apart), punctate (punctures about 1.0–2.0 diameters apart) and finely rugose ( Fig. 14e ). Mesopleuron slightly shiny, coarsely areolate-rugose ( Fig. 14f ). Metapleuron and propodeum slightly shiny, obliquely rugose. Propodeal enclosure dull, transversely rugose, with fine, pale setae. Erect setae dense, black. Wings slightly smoky or moderately smoky in melanistic specimens; veins brown. Legs black, with black spines. Metasoma black with following red: T1, T2 anterolaterally (T2 entirely and T3 anterolaterally in some specimens), petiole posteroventrally, S2 partly or entirely. In some specimens only T1 reddish basally. Entirely black in melanistic specimens. S8 rectangular emarginate apically.

Female ( Fig. 13 b–c). Body length 19–28 mm. Head. Middle clypeal lobe distinctly longer than lateral one, slightly emarginate; anterior margin of lateral lobe nearly parallel to anterior margin of middle lobe; lateral emargination absent or insignificant ( Fig. 4e ). Clypeus, subantennal sclerite and paraocular area with fine, sparse, appressed, brownish setae, not concealing integument (in some specimens with sparse, silvery setae, moderately concealing integument) ( Fig. 14a ). Frons, vertex, occiput and gena microsculptured, with scattered punctures and sparse, inconspicuous, appressed, brownish setae. Mandible and palpi black. Erect setae black. Mesosoma . Pronotum microsculptured, punctate, with fine, inconspicuous, semiappressed, brownish setae. Scutum shiny, finely, sparsely micropunctate (punctures about 3.0–6.0 diameters apart) and with scattered punctures (punctures about 1.0–5.0 diameters apart) ( Fig. 14b ). Mesopleuron slightly shiny, coarsely areolate-rugose ( Fig. 14c ). Metapleuron and propodeum shiny, obliquely rugose. Propodeal enclosure dull, transversely striate with fine, pale setae. Erect setae black. Wings moderately smoky; veins brown. Legs black, with black spines. Metasoma black with following red: T1-T2, T3 partly or entirely, petiole posteroventrally, S2-S3, S4 basally (in some specimens); entirely black in melanistic specimens.

Justification of new synonymy. The holotype of Sphex palmetorum Roth differs from the typical female of P. occitanicus only in slight differences in the shape of the clypeus ( Fig. 19 ), but as these features readily fit the limits of variation of P. occitanicus , we synonymize the two names.

Material examined ( Fig. 13a ). TYPICAL FORM. CHINA. Xinjiang: Ürümqi , [43°49′N, 87°36′E], 2– 5.VII.1889, G. Grumm-Grzhimaylo, (1 ♂, ZISP) . KAZAKHSTAN. West Kazakhstan Province: Akzhaik District, Mergenevo , [49°56′N, 51°18′E], 8.VII.1950, D. Steinberg, (1 ♂, ZISP) ; Akzhaik District, Shabdarzhap , [48°44′N, 51°49′E], 2.VI.1951, Rudolf, (2 ♂, ZISP) ; Oral , [51°14′N, 51°22′E], (1 ♀, ZISP) ; Aktobe Province: Shalkar District, Berchogur , [48°25’N, 58°43’E], 20.VI.1909, N. Androssow, (1 ♂, ZISP) ; Kostanay Province: Karasu District, Kunduzda , [52°21′N, 65°2′E], 23.VI.1900, Balykleyskiy, (1 ♀, ZISP) ; Akmola Province: Kokshetau Mountains , [53°05’N, 70°16’E], VI.1957, V. Tobias, (1 ♂, ZISP) ; Karagandy Province: Ak-Tau , [50°14′N, 73°03′E], 19.VII.1959, M. Kozlov (1 ♀, ZISP) ; East Kazakhstan Province: Semey , [50°26′N, 80°16′E], (1 ♂, ZISP) ; Zaysan , [47°28′N, 84°52′E], (1 ♂, ZISP) . MONGOLIA. Khovd Province: Khovd, [48°00′N, 91°38′E], 4–5.VII.1966, (1 ♀, ZISP) ; Bayankhongor Province: Shinejinst, Tsagaan Bogd Uul Mount , [42°52′N, 98°49′E], 25–30.VI.1973, G. Medvedev, (2 ♀, ZISP) ; Ömnögovi Province: Gurvan tes, Tost-Uul Mountain , [43°13′N, 100°41′E], 19– 20.VIII.1969, M. Kozlov, (1 ♀, ZISP) .

MELANISTIC FORM. CHINA. Neimenggu: Alxa, Alxa Left Banner, Bayanhaotezhen , [38°50′N, 105°42′E], 12–13.VI.1908, P. Kozlov, (1 ♀, ZISP) ; Alxa, Ejin , [41°44′N, 100°19′E], 21.VII.1909, P. Kozlov, (1 ♂, ZISP) . IRAN. Gilan Province: Shahrood River , [36°40′N, 49°24′E], 26.V.1914, Kirichenko, (1 ♂, ZISP) ; Kerman Province: Kerman, [30°17′N, 57°05′E], 19–23.II.1901, N. Zarudnyi, (1 ♀, ZISP) , 8–9.VI.1901, (1 ♀, ZISP) ; Semnan Province: Damghan, Darvar , [36°00′N, 53°54′E], 21.VII.1899, collector unknown, (1 ♀, ZISP) ; Golestan Province: Bandar Torkaman, Ashuradeh island in Caspian Sea , [36°56′N, 54°01′E], 22–24.V.1913, Solovkin, (10 ♂, 8 ♀, ZISP) ; Gorgan , [36°50′N, 54°26′E], 17–18.VI.1908, Filippovich, (1 ♂, ZISP) ; Razavi Khorasan Province: near Sabzevar , [36°23’N, 57°34’E], 17.VI.2010, A. Timokhov, (2 ♀, SZMN) . KAZAKHSTAN. Kyzylorda Province: Kyzylorda, Karaozjok [45°02′N, 65°16′E], 15.VI.1916, N. Pulikovskaya, (3 ♀, ZISP) ; near Kyzylorda , [44°47′N, 65°45′E], 8.VI.2015, K. Fadeev, (1 ♂, PCKF) ; Shieli District, Baygekum , [44°18′N, 66°28′E], 11.V.1913, Kozhan- chikov, (1 ♀, ZISP) ; 21–25.V.1913, (4 ♂, 3 ♀, ZISP) ; Karagandy Province: Balkhash sity, Gulshat , [46°38′N, 74°21′E], 3.VI.2009, Yu. Danilov, (1 ♀, SZMN) ; near Balkhash sity, [47°24′N, 74°4′E], 10.VI.2009, Yu. Danilov, (1 ♂, SZMN) ; South Kazakhstan Province: Sozak District, Sholakespe , [45°11′N, 68°08′E], VII.1936, collector un- known, (1 ♀, ZISP) ; Almaty Province: Enbekshikazakh District, Chilik river near Bartogai , [43°26′N, 78°24′E], (1 ♀, ZMMU) . KYRGYZSTAN. Osh Province: Aravan District, Aravan , [40°29′N, 72°33′E], 13.VII.2003, V. Duba- tolov, E. Nikolaeva, V. Zinchenko, R. Dudko (1 ♂, SZMN) ; 11.VII.2005, D. Milko, (1 ♂, SZMN) ; Jalal-Abad Province: Chatkal District, Kara-Kasmak river , [42°07′N, 71°33′E], 1.VII.2001, V. Dubatolov, (1 ♂, SZMN) ; Nooken District, near Kurulush, Ters river , [41°34′N, 70°43′E], 7.VIII.2001, V. Dubatolov, (1 ♂, SZMN) ; Lake Sary-Chelek , [41°54′N, 71°57′E], 2.VII.1963, Pek, (1 ♀, ZISP) ; Nooken District, Kochkor-Ata , [41°01′N, 72°29′E], 24.VI.1936, unknown collector, (1 ♂, ZISP) ; Issyk Kul Province: near Kadzhi-Saj , [42°09′N, 77°18′E], 18.VIII.2004, D. Milko, (1 ♀, SZMN) . MONGOLIA. Bayankhongor Province: near Shinejinst , [44°32’N, 99°16’E], 18.VII.1985, A. Gorohov, (1 ♀, ZISP) ; Övörkhangai Province: Khairkhandulaan , [45°57′N, 102°3′E], 13–14.VII. 1926, P. Kozlov, (1 ♂, 4 ♀, ZISP) ; near Arvaikheer , [46°11′N, 102°11′E], 16.VIII.1926, P. Kozlov, (1 ♀, ZISP) ; Ömnögovi Province: Khongoryn Els Sands , [43°46′N, 102°13′E], 30–31.VII.1967, Emelyanov, (1 ♀, ZISP) ; Bayandalai, Dund Sayhni Nuru Mountain , [43°38′N, 103°46′E], 3–13.VII.1909, P. Kozlov, (1 ♂, 2 ♀, ZISP) ; Gurvan tes, Tost-Uul Mountain , [43°13′N, 100°41′E], 19–20.VIII.1969, M. Kozlov, (1 ♀, ZISP) ; Dornogovi Province: near Sainshand , [45°07’N, 110°40’E], 2.VII.1971, M. Kozlov, (1 ♂, ZISP) ; Erdene , [44°26′N, 111°5′E], 17.VII.1928, A. Ivanov, (1 ♂, ZISP) ; Sükhbaatar Province: near Dariganga [45°17’N, 113°52’E], 8.VII.1971, M. Kozlov, (1 ♂, ZISP) ; 100 km SSW Baruun-Urt , [46°08’N, 112°20’E], 30.VII.2007, M. Kadlecova, (1 ♀, OLBL) ; 200 km SSE Baruun-Urt , [45°39’N, 115°40’E], 27.VII.2007, J. Halada, (1 ♀, OLBL) . TAJIKISTAN. Sughd province: Mastchoh District, Karamazar , [40°38’N, 69°49’E], 2.VII.1931, collector unknown, (1 ♂, ZISP) ; Ayni District, Ayni , [39°23′N, 68°32′E], VIII.1929, Glasunov, (1 ♀, ZISP) ; Ayni District, Rabot , [39°11′N, 68°35′E], VII.1912, collector unknown, (1 ♀, ZISP) ; Region of Republican Subordination: Hisor District, Almosi pass., [38°41’N, 68°36’E], 28.VII.2012, Sh. Nazarova, (2 ♂, SZMN) ; Varzob District, Kondara , [38°48’N, 68°48’E], 27.VI.1931, N. Fursov, (1 ♀, ZISP) ; 25.VII.1938, V. Gus- sakovskij, (1 ♂, ZISP) ; 13–25.VII.1939, (3 ♂, ZISP) ; Varzob District, Varzob , [38°46’N, 68°49’E], 3.VIII.1930, E. Kuznetsova, (1 ♂, ZISP) ; Dushanbe, [38°32′N, 68°46′E], 7.VI.1944, D. Stackelberg, (1 ♀, ZISP) ; 27.VIII.1937, V. Gussakovskij, (1 ♂, ZISP) ; 22.IX.1937, (1 ♀, ZISP) ; Khatlon Region: Khovaling District, Yakhsu river , [38°25′N, 70°10′E], 5.IX.1964, V. Zaitsev, (1 ♀, ZISP) ; Shuro-obod District, Dashti-Jum , [38°1′N, 70°12′E], 24.IX.1936, V. Gussakovskij, (1 ♀, ZISP) ; near Qabodiyon , [37°24′N, 68°11′E], 29.VI.1934, V. Gussakovskij, (1 ♀, ZISP) ; Khu- roson District, kishlak Toshbulok [38°14’N, 68°43’E], 1–4.VI.2016, Yu. Danilov, (5 ♂, SZMN) ; Gorno-Badakhshan Province: Darvoz District, Qal’ai Khumb , [38°27′N, 70°47′E], 22–23.VIII.1943, D. Stackelberg, (2 ♀, ZISP) ; Khorugh , [37°29′N, 71°33′E], 25.IX.1943, D. Stackelberg, (1 ♂, 1 ♀, ZISP) . TURKMENISTAN. Ashgabat, Archabil , [37°54′N, 58°5′E], 16–18.V.1928, V. Gussakovskij, (2 ♂, ZISP) ; Balkan Province: Turkmenbashi , [40°01′N, 52°58′E], 14–15.VI.1928, V. Gussakovskij, (1 ♂, 1 ♀, ZISP) ; Balkanabat , [39°37′N, 54°13′E], 4.VI.1934, V. Popov, (1 ♀, ZISP) ; Bereket , [39°20’N, 55°10’E], 4.VI.1988, A. Lelej, (1 ♀, FSCV) ; Magtymguly District, Yarty-Kala , [38°09′N, 56°12′E], 12.VIII.1934, V. Popov, (1 ♂, ZISP) ; Uly Balkan, [39°40′N, 54°33′E], 4–5.VI.1953, Stein- berg, Odintsova, (3 ♀, ZISP) ; near Garrygala , [38°26′N, 56°17′E], 5.VII.1953, E. Arens, (1 ♂, ZISP) ; near Aydere , [38°24′N, 56°45′E], 21.VI.1977, Pek, (1 ♀, ZISP) ; Akhal Province: Gokdepe , [38°9′N, 57°57′E], 12.VII.1933, Petrischeva, (1 ♀, ZISP) ; Mary Province: Tashkepri , [36°16′N, 62°39′E], 6.VI.1954, V. Tobias, (1 ♂, ZISP) ; Lebap Province: Repetek Biosphere State Reserve [38°34’N, 63°10’E], 1.V.1913, Golbek, (1 ♂, ZISP) . UZBEKISTAN. Samarqand Province: Urgut District, Aman-Kutan , [39°19′N, 66°57′E], (1 ♀, ZMMU) ; 13.VI.1932, V. Gussa- kovskij, (1 ♂, ZISP) ; Tashkent Province: Bostanliq District, Khumsan , [41°39′N, 69°57′E], 6.VII.1922, Kuznetsov, (1 ♀, ZISP) ; Tashkent , [41°16′N, 69°13′E], 27.VII.1924, O. Martynova, (1 ♀, ZISP) .

Distribution. Portugal, Spain, Italy, France, Hungary, Croatia, Montenegro, Macedonia, Albania, Romania, Greece, Cyprus, Slovakia, Ukraine, Russia (Yaroslavl Province, Saratov Province, Rostov Province, Volgograd Province, Kalmyk Republic, Astrakhan Province, Krasnodar Territory, Dagestan Republic, Crimea Republic, Orenburg Province, Altai Territory, Tuva Republic), Morocco, Algeria, Libya, Azerbaijan, Turkey, Syria, Israel, Iran, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, China (Neimenggu, Xinjiang, Shanghai, Zhejiang).

Figures

FIGURE 3. Male clypeus: a—Palmodes melanarius (Mocsáry), b—Palmodes hissaricus Danilov, sp. nov., c—Palmodes mandarinius (F. Smith), d—Palmodes minor (F. Morawitz), e—Palmodes occitanicus (Lepeletier et Serville), f—Palmodes orientalis (Mocsáry), g—Palmodes strigulosus (A. Costa).

FIGURE 4. Female clypeus: a—Palmodes melanarius (Mocsáry), b—Palmodes hissaricus Danilov, sp. nov., c—Palmodes mandarinius (F. Smith), d—Palmodes minor (F. Morawitz), e—Palmodes occitanicus (Lepeletier et Serville), f—Palmodes orientalis (Mocsáry), g—Palmodes strigulosus (A. Costa).

FIGURE 13. Palmodes occitanicus (Lepeletier de Saint Fargeau et Audinet-Serville, 1828): a—collecting localities, b—female, general view of typical form, c—female, general view of melanistic form, d—male, general view of typical form, e—male, general view of melanistic form.

FIGURE 14. Palmodes occitanicus (Lepeletier de Saint Fargeau et Audinet-Serville, 1828). Female: a—clypeus, b—scutum, c—mesopleuron. Male: d—clypeus, e—scutum, f—mesopleuron, g—genitalia in ventral view.

FIGURES 19–24. Type specimens of Palmodes. Face: 19. General view, labels: 20–24. 19—Sphex palmetorum Roth, 1963, Holotype; 20—Sphex pusillus Gussakovskij, 1930, Holotype; 21—Palmodes hissaricus Danilov, sp. nov., Holotype; 22—Sphex mandarinius F. Smith, 1856, Holotype, photo by David Notton (Natural History Museum, London); 23—Sphex montanus F. Morawitz, 1889, Holotype; 24—Sphex minor F. Morawitz, 1890, Lectotype.