Sphex taschenbergi Magretti, 1884: 581 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 Magretti, 1884 Magretti 1884 [584,1003,1457,1484] Insecta Vespidae Sphex Animalia Hymenoptera 47 48 Arthropoda species taschenbergi   Figs 52, 54, 55(yellow)      Sphex taschenbergi Magretti, 1884: 581, ♀( syntypes: Ethiopia, Amhara Region, Metemma, [ 12°57ʹ17ʺ N, 36°09ʹ19ʺ E], MSNG, not examined).    Differential diagnosis This species ( Fig. 52) shares many characteristics with  S. fumicatus, like black erect propodeal setae and basally infuscate but otherwise hyaline forewings. Among the African  argentatusgroup members, this combination is found only in those two. From  S. fumicatus,  S. taschenbergiis distinguished through having uniformly black erect clypeal setae ( Fig. 54) instead of silvery ones ( Fig. 53) in both sexes.    Material examined   CHAD–  Lac Region• 1 ♀; “ N’Gouri, distr. de Kanem”; [ 13°38ʹ11ʺ N, 15°22ʹ06ʺ E];  Sep. 1958; P. Renaudleg.; MRAC. –   Tibesti Region• 1 ♂; Zouarke; [ 20°25ʹ N, 16°05ʹ E];  1 Apr. 1953; K.M. Guichardleg.; BMNH.   ETHIOPIA–  Oromia Region• 2 ♀♀; Lake Langano; [ 7°36ʹ N, 38°43ʹ E];  29–30 Apr. 2007; J. Haladaleg.; OÖLM.   KENYA–  Kitui County• 1 ♀; E of Mwingi; [ 0°56ʹ S, 38°03ʹ E];  14 May 2007; M. Haladaleg.; OÖLM. –   Taita-Taveta County• 2 ♂♂, 2 ♀♀; Voi; [ 3°23ʹ26ʺ S, 38°34ʹ37ʺ E];  16 May 2007; M. Haladaleg.; OÖLM•  1 ♀; near Voi (Tsavo); [ 3°23ʹ26ʺ S, 38°34ʹ37ʺ E];  8–18 Nov. 1996; Mi. Haladaleg.; OÖLM•  1 ♀; same collection data as for preceding but  22 Nov.–2 Dec. 1996; OÖLM•  1 ♂; Voi River; [ 3°23ʹ26ʺ S, 38°34ʹ37ʺ E];  14 Apr. 2007; M. Haladaleg.; OÖLM.   MALAWI. –  Southern Region• 1 ♂; Monkey Bay; [ 14°05ʹ S, 34°55ʹ E];  23 Mar. 1975; H.R. Feijenleg.; RMNH.   MALI–  Mopti Region• 1 ♀;  5 kmE of Hombori; [ 15°17ʹ4.4ʺ N, 1°39ʹ2.1ʺ W];  17 Aug. 1991; M. Schwarzleg.; OÖLM.   NAMIBIA–  Hardap Region• 1 ♂;  15 kmN of Kalkrand; [ 23°56ʹ4.8ʺ S, 17°35ʹ22.6ʺ E];  13 Feb. 1990; M. Schwarzleg.; OÖLM. –   Otjozondjupa Region• 1 ♀; Waterberg, Okatijikona; 20°24ʹ S, 17°24ʹ E;  27–28 Feb. 2010; F. Kochleg.; THD-004-ZMB; GenBank CO1 gene: MW538576; GenBank EF-1α gene: MW558244; GenBank LWR gene: MW582283; ZMB •  1 ♀; same collection data as for preceding but  13–14 Mar. 2010; ZMB.   OMAN• 1 ♂; Barelmi;  Feb.–Mar. 1943; D.V. Fitzgeraldleg.; BMNH. –   Dhofar Governorate• 1 ♂; “ Aim Arzat“ [Ayn Razat]; [ 17°07ʹ47ʺ N, 54°14ʹ11ʺ E];  18 Aug. 1981; A.R. Pittawayleg.; BMNH.   SUDAN–  Khartoum State• 2 ♂♂; Omdurman;  4 Apr. 1901; NRS.   TANZANIA–  Morogoro Region• 1 ♀;  50 kmSW of Morogoro; 6°50ʹ S, 37°15ʹ E;  12 Jan. 2007; J. Haladaleg.; OÖLM.   YEMEN–  Abyan Governorate• 1 ♂; Lodar [Lawdar]; [ 13°52ʹ58ʺ N, 45°52ʹ06ʺ E];  16 May 1967; K.M. Guichardleg.; BMNH.   ZIMBABWE• 1 ♂; C. Tylerleg.; USNM•  1 ♂; Victoria Falls;  Feb. 1935; NRS.    Description  Female SIZE. 22.7–28.1 mm. COLOR. Black, femora and tibia dark ferruginous. Cellular wing area hyaline, base of fore- and hindwing infuscate. Forewing with fuscous spot beyond marginal cell. VESTITURE. Appressed setae on clypeus and paraocular area silvery, on collar, scutum and propodeal enclosure black. Erect setae on clypeus, paraocular area, collar, scutum and propodeal enclosure black. Erect propodeal setae crimped, oriented perpendicularly. Clypeus without glabrous stripe. Scutellum densely and finely pubescent. STRUCTURE. Free clypeal margin simple, not stepped medially. Clypeus without indentation and carina. Scutellum convex. Metanotum raised, notably bituberculate. 2 ndrecurrent vein joins markedly proximal from interstitium between submarginal cells II and III. Propodeal enclosure without any notable ridges. Foretarsomere I 2.1–2.3× length of antepenultimate spine. Petiole length 1.8–2.1 × its medial width.  Male SIZE. 18.9–22.6 mm. COLOR. Black. Cellular wing area hyaline, base of fore- and hindwing infuscate. Forewing with fuscous spot beyond marginal cell. VESTITURE. Appressed setae on clypeus, paraocular area and collar silvery, on scutum and propodeal enclosure black. Erect setae on clypeus, paraocular area, collar, scutum and propodeal enclosure black. Erect propodeal setae crimped, oriented perpendicularly. Clypeus without glabrous stripe. Scutellum densely and finely pubescent. STRUCTURE. Free clypeal margin simple. Scutellum convex. Metanotum raised, notably bituberculate. 2 ndrecurrent vein joins markedly proximal from interstitium between submarginal cells II and III. Propodeal enclosure without any notable ridges. Posterior margin of metasomal tergum VII convex. Posterior margin of metasomal sternum VII simple, of metasomal sternum VIII triangular. Penis valvae without conspicuous modifications. Petiole length 2.1–2.3× its medial width. Flagellomere II with or without broad placoid covering its proximal two-thirds, flagellomeres III–VI with broad placoid covering their entire length.   Variation In some specimens, the legs are dark ferruginous to a varying degree.    Distribution  Chad, Ethiopia, Kenya, Mali, Namibia, Oman, Sudan, Tanzania, Yemen, Zimbabwe. 3765280260 1958-09 MRAC P. Renaud Chad 13.636389 N'Gouri 21 15.368334 47 48 1 1 Lac Region 3765279719 1953-04-01 BMNH K. M. Guichard Chad 20.416666 Zouarke 1268 16.083334 47 48 1 1 Tibesti Region 3765278472 2007-04-29 2007-04-30 2007-04-29 OOLM J. Halada Ethiopia 7.6 Lake Langano 1303 38.716667 48 49 2 2 Oromia Region 3765279693 [189,1393,356,387] 2007-05-14 OOLM M. Halada Kenya -0.93333334 Kitui County 1308 38.05 48 49 1 1 Kitui County 3765279779 2007-05-16 OOLM M. Halada Kenya -3.3905554 Voi 21 38.576942 48 49 4 2 2 Taita-Taveta County 3765278688 1996-11-08 1996-11-18 1996-11-08 OOLM Mi. Halada Kenya -3.3905554 Tsavo 21 38.576942 Voi 48 49 1 1 Taita-Taveta County 3765279398 [300,1195,463,492] 1996-11-22 1996-12-02 1996-11-22 OOLM Mi. Halada Kenya -3.3905554 Tsavo 21 38.576942 Voi 48 49 1 1 Taita-Taveta County 3765279762 2007-04-14 OOLM M. Halada Kenya -3.3905554 Voi River 21 38.576942 48 49 1 1 Taita-Taveta County 3765278314 1975-03-23 RMNH H. R. Feijen Malawi -14.083333 Monkey Bay 1289 34.916668 48 49 1 1 Southern Region 3765280227 1991-08-17 OOLM M. Schwarz Serbia 15.284556 Mopti Region 1 -1.6505833 48 49 1 1 Mopti Region 3765279459 1990-02-13 OOLM M. Schwarz Namibia -23.934666 Hardap Region 1 17.589611 48 49 1 1 Hardap Region 3765279961 MW538576, MW558244, MW582283 2010-02-27 2010-02-28 2010-02-27 ZMB F. Koch Namibia -20.4 Okatijikona 1268 17.4 Waterberg 48 49 THD-004-ZMB 1 1 Otjozondjupa Region 3765279131 MW538576, MW558244, MW582283 2010-03-13 2010-03-14 2010-03-13 ZMB F. Koch & GenBank CO & GenBank Namibia -20.4 Okatijikona 1268 17.4 Waterberg 48 49 1 1 Otjozondjupa 3765279316 [189,1052,941,968] 1943-02 1943-03-31 1943-02 BMNH Barelmi & D. V. Fitzgerald Oman OMAN 48 49 1 1 Zufar 3765279130 1981-08-18 1943-03-31 1943-02 BMNH A. R. Pittaway Oman 17.129723 Aim Arzat " [Ayn Razat] 21 54.23639 48 49 1 1 Dhofar Governorate 3765280496 [189,992,1034,1061] 1901-04-04 NRS Sudan Omdurman 48 49 2 2 Khartoum State 3765279349 2007-01-12 OOLM J. Halada Tanzania -6.8333335 Morogoro Region 1303 37.25 48 49 1 1 Morogoro Region 3765279709 1967-05-16 BMNH K. M. Guichard Yemen 13.882778 Lodar [Lawdar] 21 45.868332 48 49 1 1 Abyan Governorate 3765280568 [189,679,1279,1305] USNM C. Tyler Zimbabwe ZIMBABWE 48 49 1 1 3765278736 [704,1131,1278,1305] 1935-02 NRS Zimbabwe Victoria Falls 48 49 1 1