The wasp genus Sphex in Sub-Saharan Africa (Hymenoptera: Sphecidae) Dörfel, Thorleif H. Ohl, Michael European Journal of Taxonomy 2022 2022-02-23 796 1 1 170 Dörfel & Ohl, 2022 Dörfel & Ohl 2022 [623,866,959,986] Insecta Vespidae Sphex Animalia Hymenoptera 134 135 Arthropoda species schmideggeri sp. nov.   urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: EA676305-B0D0-492E-8270-485BEADA1E3B  Figs 108, 112(green)    Differential diagnosis This species ( Fig. 108) somewhat resembles  S. paulinierii( Fig. 39) in its color pattern, having the wings more or less yellowish with dark apices, and having the petiole, scutellum, metanotum and metasomal segment I ferruginous. However, both species are structurally very different, as  S. paulinieriiis much larger, has the erect setae on the propodeal enclosure very short and has the structure otherwise known as a spiracular groove modified in a way that it is disassociated from the spiracle; we therefore opted to place it in its own subgenus.  Sphex schmideggeri sp. nov., on the other hand, has the typical traits of a  gaulleigroup member, namely anteriorly-oriented erect propodeal setae and a convex scutellum. From the other members of the group, it is distinguished through its ferruginous petiole and metasomal base. Specifically, females differ from those of  S. decipiensand  S. pruinosus( Fig. 102) in having the clypeus nearly completely ferruginous and the appressed and erect facial setae golden. Those of  S. jansei( Fig. 106) and  S. gaullei( Fig. 104) are distinguishable through having the cellular forewing area hyaline without any tinge ( Fig. 29) and apically infuscate ( Fig. 31), whereas  S. schmideggeri sp. nov.has the cellular forewing area hyaline with a yellow tinge. Males are unique among those of the  gaulleigroup in their combination of having a largely ferruginous clypeus and silvery-white appressed and erect facial setae.    Etymology We dedicate this species to Dr Christian Schmid-Egger, who was very kind to provide us with specimens from his collection and their sequence data.    Material examined    Holotype YEMEN–  Dhale Governorate• ♀; Jebel Jihaf [Jabal Jiḩāf]; [ 13°45ʹ38ʺ N, 44°40ʹ35ʺ E];  12 Oct. 1937; H. Scottand E.B. Brittonleg.; BMNH.    Paratypes OMAN–  Dhofar Governorate• 1 ♂; Jabal Samhan,  13 kmN of Mirbat; 17°06ʹ40ʺ N, 54°42ʹ40ʺ E;  4 Sep. 2019; C. Schmid-Eggerleg.; BC-ZSM-HYM-30269-D08; coll. Schmid-Egger •  1 ♀; same collection data as for preceding; coll. Schmid-Egger.   YEMEN–  Dhale Governorate• 1 ♀; Wadi Dareija, SW of Dhala; [ 13°40ʹ45ʺ N, 44°42ʹ07ʺ E];  29–30 Sep. 1937; H. Scottand E.B. Brittonleg.; BMNH.    Description  Female SIZE. 18.4–22.9 mm. COLOR. Ferruginous except for the following, which are black: apical half of mandible, head except clypeus, scape, pedicel, flagellomeres VI–IX, posterior half of scutum, episternal sulcus, propodeal enclosure, apical half of claw and metanotum except segment I. Cellular wing area yellowish, apex infuscate. VESTITURE. Appressed and erect setae on clypeus, paraocular area, collar, scutum and propodeal enclosure rich or pale golden. Erect propodeal setae oriented anteriorly. Lower center of clypeus glabrous. Scutellum densely and finely pubescent. STRUCTURE. Free clypeal margin simple, stepped medially. Clypeus without indentation or carina. Scutellum convex. Metanotum raised slightly, not notably bituberculate. 2 ndrecurrent vein joins markedly proximal from interstitium between submarginal cells II and III. Propodeal enclosure with indistinct ridges. Foretarsomere I 1.8–2.0 × length of antepenultimate spine. Petiole length 2.3–2.4 × its medial width.  Male SIZE. 18.7 mm. COLOR. Black except for the following, which are ferruginous: clypeus except dorsolateral margin, basal half of mandible, scape, pedicel, base of flagellomere I, anterior part of pronotum, lower half of propoleuron, collar dorsally, prepectus, posterior half of pronotal lobe, tegula, scutellum, metanotum, petiole, metasomal segment I and legs excluding apical half of claw. Cellular wing area hyaline, with inconspicuous yellow tinge, apex infuscate. VESTITURE. Appressed and erect setae on clypeus, paraocular area, collar, scutum and propodeal enclosure silvery. Erect propodeal setae oriented anteriorly. Central and lower part of clypeus glabrous. Scutellum densely and finely pubescent. STRUCTURE. Free clypeal margin simple. Scutellum convex. Metanotum slightly raised, not bituberculate. 2 ndrecurrent vein joins markedly proximal from interstitium between submarginal cells II and III. Propodeal enclosure with indistinct ridges. Posterior margin of metasomal tergum VII convex. Posterior margin of metasomal sternum VII simple, of metasomal sternum VIII concavely emarginate. Penis valvae without conspicuous modifications. Petiole length 2.6× its medial width. Flagellomeres III + IV with narrow placoids covering their entire length.   Variation In females, the anterior half of the scutum and the ventral part of the mesopleuron can be black instead of ferruginous.    Distribution Southern and southeastern Arabian Peninsula. 3765279963 1937-10-12 BMNH H. Scott & E. B. Britton Yemen 13.760555 Dhale Governorate 21 44.67639 Jebel Jihaf [Jabal Ji haf] 134 135 1 1 holotype 3765279233 2019-09-04 C. Schmid-Egger & Schmid-Egger Oman 17.11111 Jabal Samhan 21 54.711113 135 136 BC-ZSM-HYM-30269-D 1 1 Dhofar Governorate paratype 3765280478 2019-09-04 Schmid-Egger. Oman 17.11111 Jabal Samhan 21 54.711113 135 136 1 1 Zufar paratype 3765279987 1937-09-29 1937-09-30 1937-09-29 BMNH H. Scott & E. B. Britton Yemen 13.679167 Dhale Governorate 21 44.701946 135 136 1 1 Ad Dali'