Sphex carbonicolor van der Vecht, 1973

Doerfel, Thorleif H. & Ohl, Michael, 2015, A revision of the Australian digger wasps in the genus Sphex (Hymenoptera, Sphecidae), ZooKeys 521, pp. 1-104 : 15-16

Taxon classification Animalia Hymenoptera Sphecidae

Sphex carbonicolor van der Vecht, 1973

Sphex carbonarius F. Smith, 1856: 247, ♀ (as carbonaria , incorrect original termination), junior primary homonym of Sphex carbonarius Scopoli, 1763. Holotype or syntypes: ♀, Australia: Sydney (BMNH). Not examined.

Sphex carbonicolor van der Vecht, 1973: 342 Substitute name for Sphex carbonarius F. Smith.

Material examined.

[COUNTRY UNKNOWN]:[state unknown]: [no specific locality], 2♀ (AMS). AUSTRALIA:NSW: Barraba, 1♀, March 37, M. Showers (AMS); Blue Mountains, 1♂, 08.01.1983, N. W. Rodd (AMS); Caldwell, 1♀, 1♂, 12.01.1952, V. Robb (AMS); Casula, 1♂, 11.02.1958, M. I. Nikitin (BMNH), 1♂, 24.02.1958, M. I. Nikitin (BMNH); 40 km E of Coonabarabran, 1♀, 18.11.1990, N. W. Rodd (AMS); Glen Innes, 1♀, 26.12.1979, A. W. Cameron (AMS); Tamarama near Sydney, 1♀, 19.12.2003 (AMS); NT: Central Australia, 1♀, 23.06.1927, G. Horns (ANIC); Finke Gorge National Park, Alice Springs, 1♀, 20.10.1973, G. Griffin (ANIC); QLD: Blackdown Tableland Expedition Range, 1♂, 08.01.1976, G. Daniels (AMS); Burnett River, 1♀, 1891/1892, R. Lennon (BMNH); Cairo Station, 1♀, 15.01.-31.01.1954, C. Mc.C. (ANIC); Captain Billy Landing, Cape York, 11°38'S, 142°51'E, 1♂, 11.03.1992, G. Daniels & M. A. Schneider (ANIC); Charters Towers, 1♀, 20.07.1902, W. W. Froggatt (ANIC); Division of Dawson, 1♀, Rothschild & Bequest (BMNH); Kensington Downs, 2♀ (AMS); Rockhampton, 1♀ (ZMB); SA: Adelaide, 1♀, 08.01.1988, A. D. Austin (BMNH), 1♀, 1♂ (ZMB); Urrbrae, 1♀, 1944 (ANIC); Wilpena Pound Resort, Flinders Ranges, 1♂, 24.01.1995, L. Packer (ZMB); WA: 30 km N of Carnavon, Blow Holes Road, 1♂, 21.07.1978, G. A. Holloway (AMS); Carnarvon, 1♀, 01.08.1953, A. Snell (ANIC); Geraldton, 1♂, 1917, J. Clark (ANIC); Glen Forrest, 1♂, 11.12.1949, I. M. (ANIC); Lyndon Station, NW Basin, 1♀, 01.07.1950, G. Thomas (ANIC); Marloo Station, 1♂, 01.01.1935, Gebr. Goerling (ZMB), 1♂, 02.03.1935, A. Goerling (ZMB), 1♂, 01.02.1937, Gebr. Goerling (ZMB); Ongerup, 33°57.9'S, 118°28.8'E, 1♂, 28.11.2008, D. M. Bray & W. J. Pulawski (CAS).

Diagnosis.

This species differs from other members of the Sphex argentatus group in having distinct tubercles on the metanotum, combined with completely hyaline wings except for a slight brown tinge at the apical margin of the forewing in some specimens. Specimens of Sphex sericeus that may have the same color pattern are identifiable by the conspicuous transverse ridges on their propodeum, which are lacking in Sphex carbonicolor . Sphex argentatus and Sphex finschii have a darkened wing base, while Sphex decoratus differs by having orange legs (which are dark brown or black in Sphex carbonicolor ).

Description.

Body length 27.6-35.6 mm. Body black. Wing membrane hyaline, forewing with fuscous spot beyond marginal cell. Wing veins brown. Clypeus bulging directly above free margin. Appressed pubescence and erect setae on clypeus and frons silvery. Clypeus with medial glabrous stripe. Distance between hind- ocelli nearly equal to their shortest distance to compound eyes. Pubescence on collar and scutum silvery, on scutum denser laterally than medially. Scutellum slightly convex, with medial impression. Tubercles on metanotum distinct. Propodeal enclosure densely covered with long, erect silvery-white setae, leaving sculpture visible. Length of petiole 1.1 × length of flagellomere II. Tomentum moderately dense on metasomal tergum I and II, but very short.

Female: Foretarsal rake with 12 long spines. Free clypeal margin with small notch medially.

Male: Free clypeal margin entire. Metasomal sterna II–VII mostly glabrous. Metasomal terga V and VI with few bristles. Metasomal sternum VIII notched apically, its lateral margin straight.

Notes on type material.

The type of Sphex carbonicolor was not examined, because the character combination listed in the original description (black body, a glabrous area on the clypeus, a bituberculate metanotum, hyaline wings) is almost unique. Sphex ephippium , which shares these features, is sufficiently differentiated by its character combination (see below).