Ammophila assimilis KOHL

Dollfuss, H., 2013, Revision of the Wasps Genus Ammophila KIRBY 1798 (Hymenoptera Apoidea Sphecidae) of the Palearctic Region and India, Linzer biologische Beiträge 45 (1), pp. 383-564 : 411-412

Ammophila assimilis KOHL ( Figs 57 , 127 , 152 , 231 , 415 , 477 , 535 )

Ammophila assimilis KOHL 1901: 150 , ♀, 3. Lectotype: ♀: Syria: no specific locality (NHMW),

examined, present designation. M a t e r i a l e x a m i n e d: Lectotype (♀ HMW); (1♀ NHMW), (66♀♀, 2233 OÖLM), (13

coll. Schmid-Egger).

R e c o g n i t i o n Ammophila assimilis has the gastral apex black without a metallic shine, the petiole is black, the propodeal enclosure with erect setae and the supraantennal lamellate projection is absent. The female is similar to A. modesta but differs in having the pronotal collar smooth and shiny and the scutum shiny, coarsely punctate and transversely striate laterally ( A. modesta has the pronotal collar and scutum dull and coriaceous). It differs from A. sabulosa in having the gastral apex black without metallic shine, a pronotal collar smooth and shiny and the scutum shiny with distinct transverse striae laterally ( A. sabulosa has the pronotal collar and the scutum dull). The female of the Indian species A. brevipennis differs from A. assilimis in having a red petiole, black erect setae and an arcuate free margin of the clypeus ( Fig. 56 ). Both sexes of A. mitlaensis differ from A. assimilis in having a red petiole. The male of A. modesta is similar to A. assimilis but differs in having the pronotal collar dull, coriaceous and sparsely punctate, the scutum dull coriaceous and transversely microstriate ( A. assimilis has the pronotal collar and the scutum shiny). The male of A. sabulosa differs from A. assimilis in having a gasteral apex with blue metallic shine and the mesopleuron without a distinct patch of appressed silvery setae. The male of A. sareptana differs from A. assimilis in having a characteristically shaped gonostyle ( Fig. 425 ) and penis valve ( Fig. 491 ) and a glabrous propodeal enclosure.

D e s c r i p t i o n: Gastral apex black, without metallic shine, supra-antennal lamellate projection absent and mesothoracic venter not prominent anteriorly. Episternal sulcus extending to anteroventral margin of pleuron, arolia developed and claws without basal tooth.

♀: 16.5-20 mm. Black, with following red: tergum I, gastral segment II and basal half of III, in some specimens these dorsally black. Pronotal lobe and propodeum posterolaterally covered with appressed silvery setae. Propodeal enclosure irregularly rugose and covered with erect setae along midline, more regularly transversely rugose and glabrous laterally. Erect setae whitish (except brownish on head). Clypeus slightly elongate, with distinct median lobe ( Fig. 57 ), disk convex. Pronotal collar smooth, shiny and sparsely punctate dorsally ( Fig. 127 ), lateral lobes transversely striate ( Fig. 152 ). Scutum shiny, coarsely punctate and laterally transversely striate; scutellum smooth, shiny and sparsely punctate on anterior half, longitudinally striate on posterior half. Mesopleuron, metapleuron and propodeum laterally punctato-rugose. Flagellomere I: II=1.6-1.8; length of the petiole = hindtarsomeres I+0.5×II to I+II.

Variation: In many females the clypeus, the frons, the pronotal lobe, a patch along

mesopleural suture on mesopleuron and the propodeum posterolaterally are covered with appressed silvery setae.

3: 13-18 mm. Black, with following red: tergum I, gastral segments II and basal half of III (all dorsally with black stripe). Appressed silvery setae forming spots on clypeus, frons, pronotal lobe, mesopleuron along mesopleural suture (in some specimens reduced) and propodeum posterolaterally; erect setae whitish. Pronotal collar smooth, shiny, irregularly punctate dorsally, lateral lobes slightly transversely striate. Scutum shiny, coarsely punctate and transversely striate. In most specimens anterior half of scutellum smooth, shiny and coarsely punctate, posterior half longitudinally striate. Clypeus: Fig. 231 ; gonostyle laterally: Fig. 415 ; penis valve laterally: Fig. 477 , ventrally: Fig. 535 . Flagellomere I: II=1.3-1.6; length of petiole = hindtarsomeres I+0.75×II to I+II.

G e o g r a p h i c a l d i s t r i b u t i o n: Afghanistan, Turkey, Israel, Jordan, Syria.

Figures

Figs 55-65: clypeus of female.

Figs 122-130: pronotal collar of female in dorsal view.

Figs 149-160: pronotal collar of female in lateral view.

Figs 227-239: male clypeus.

Figs 414-429: male genitalia: gonostyle in lateral view.

Figs 471-490: male genitalia: penis valve in lateral view.

Figs 527-545: male genitalia: penis valve in ventral view.

Figs 491-508: male genitalia: penis valve in lateral view.