Paranysson quadridentatus (Cameron)

Figures 45-51.

Helioryctes quadridentatus Cameron, 1910:142, ♀. Holotype or syntypes: ♀, South Africa: Gauteng: Pretoria (TMP), not examined. – Brauns, 1917:242 (type in TMP). – As Paranysson quadridentatus: R. Turner, 1914:340 (new combination, in revision of Paranysson); Arnold, 1923:13 (in revision of African Paranysson), 1930:7 (in checklist of Afrotropical Sphecidae); Leclercq, 1968:91 (in revision of African Paranysson; Zambia, Democratic Republic of the Congo); R. Bohart and Menke, 1976:308 (in checklist of world Sphecidae); Radović, 1985:65 (sting apparatus analyzed).

SPECIES IDENTIFICATION. In his original description of P. quadridentatus, Cameron (1910) says that the hindcoxal spine is as long as three-fourths of the length of the coxa, which seems to point to the species later described as brevispinosus Arnold. Unfortunately, I was not able to examine the type material of P quadridentatus to verify its identity. Arnold (1929), who may have seen it, says that the hindcoxal spine in P. brevispinosus is much shorter and less slender than in P. quadridentatus, and I accept his interpretation, in agreement with Leclercq (1968).

RECOGNITION. The female of P. quadridentatus can be recognized by its thin and long hindcoxal spine (Fig. 47, at least as long as the hindcoxal venter, originating at about half midocellar diameter before the coxal hindmargin, whereas shorter (except in P. oscari) or absent in the other Paranysson . Paranysson oscari differs by several outstanding characters given under that species. The hindcoxal spine is a similar length in many P. melanopyrus, but it originates at about the hindcoxal midlength.

In the male, the hindcoxal venter has a semicircular carina next to its apex that delimits a concave, unsculptured, apical area (Fig. 49), a unique such character. Unlike P. melanopyrus, the clypeal free margin is gently arcuate mesally, at most with a pair of rudimentary teeth, and the dorsal length of flagellomere I is equal to 1.2-1.6 × that of flagellomere II (rather than 1.0-1.1 ×)

Subsidiary recognition feature of P. quadridentatus are: the longitudinal carina between propodeal side and posterior surface that is broadened at about two thirds of length, but not forming a tooth, the dorsal length of female flagellomere I is equal to 2.0-2.4 × its apical width, and the female pygidial plate is finely, sparsely punctate throughout.

DESCRIPTION. Clypeal lamella either with two teeth on each side, or teeth absent (Figs. 45, 46). Propodeal dorsum reticulate, in many specimens with predominant longitudinal or oblique ridges. Longitudinal carina between propodeal side and posterior surface broadened at about two thirds of length, but not forming tooth.

♀ – Ocellocular distance equal to 0.8-0.9 × distance between hindocelli; dorsal length of flagellomere I 2.0-2.4 × apical width, of apical flagellomere 1.8-1.9 × its basal width. Hindcoxal spine as long as the hindcoxal venter or longer (Fig. 47). Pygidial plate (Fig. 48) minutely, sparsely punctate throughout (a few punctures may be large). Length 12.9-14.0 mm.

♂ – Ocellocular distance equal to 0.7 × distance between hindocelli. Flagellomere I insignificantly concave ventrally, markedly longer than flagellomere II, its dorsal length 1.4-1.7 × apical width, of apical flagellomere 1.6 × its basal width. Hindcoxa apicoventrally with semicircular carina delimiting concave, unsculptured area (Fig. 49). Terga V-VII closely punctate. Male genitalia (Fig. 50) typical of most species except P. oscari . Length 9.6-12.4 mm.

GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION (Fig. 51). Burkina Faso to South Africa.

RECORDS. BURKINA FASO: Nahouri Province: 2 mi. W Pô at 11°11.0′N 1°09.5′W (1 ♂, CAS) .

BURUNDI: Rumonge Province: 6 mi. N Rumonge (1 ♂, CAS) .

DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO (localities followed by L are from Leclercq, 1968): Haut-Katanga Province: Kasenga (L). Haut-Lomami Province: Kafakumba (L), Katombe (L). Kasaï Province: Luebo (L), Kaolele (L) [province uncertain]. Kongo Central: Mayidi (L). Kwango Province: Ngowa (L). Lualaba Province: Kapanga (L), Tshibalaka (L), Tshibamba (L). Maniema Province: 14 mi. W Kibombo (1 ♀, CAS). Sankuru Province: 39 mi. NE Lusambo (1 ♀, CAS). Tanganika Province: Lukuga River basin (L), Nyunzu (L). MOZAMBIQUE: Manica Province: 35 km SW Chimoio at 19°08′S 33°09′E (9 ♀, 14 ♂, OÖLM) .

NAMIBIA: Kavango-East Region: Rundu (11 ♀, CAS; 4 ♀, OÖLM) .

SOUTH AFRICA: KwaZulu-Natal: Tembe Elephant Park at 27°02′S 32°23′E (2 ♀, OÖLM) . Limpopo: N Modimolle at 24°40′S 28°30′E (1 ♀, OÖLM, as Nylstroom), Thabazimbi (1 ♀, 1 ♂, OÖLM) , Waterberg Biosphere Reserve at 23°36′S 28°23′E (1 ♂, OÖLM) . Mpumalanga: 20 km SE Mbombela (2 ♂, CAS, as Nelspruit) .

TANZANIA: Iringa Region: 100 km NE Iringa at 7°37′S 36°17′E (1 ♀, OÖLM) . Morogoro Region: 62 road km SW Morogoro at 7°02.5′S 37°15.3′E (3 ♀, 2 ♂, CAS) . Singida Region: 20 mi. SW Itigi (1 (♀, CAS).

ZAMBIA: Muchinga Province: Chipoma Falls at 10°44′58ʺS 32°0′14ʺE (2 ♀, 1 ♂, OÖLM) . Northwestern Province: 150 km S Mwinilunga at 13°11′S 24°14′E (1 ♀, OÖLM) , 150 km W Solwezi at 12°18′S 25°10′E (2 ♀, 24 ♂, OÖLM) . Southern Province: 120 km S Lusaka (2 ♂, CAS; 1 ♀, 8 ♂, OÖLM) . Western Province: 15 km NW Kaoma (2 ♂, CAS) .

ZIMBABWE: Bulawayo Province: Bulawayo: Hillside at 20°12′S 28°37′E (3 ♂, CAS) . Manicaland: Mount Selinda (1 ♂, OÖLM) . Mashonaland Central Province: 25 km NE Shamva at Nyagui River (1 ♀, OÖLM) . Mashonaland West Province: 30 km W Harare (1 ♀, 25 ♂, OÖLM) , circa 80 km NE Kwekwe (1 ♀, OÖLM) . Masvingo Province: Mushandike National Park (1 ♀, 11 ♂, OÖLM) . Matabeleland North Province: Victoria Falls at 17°56′S 25°50′E (2 ♀, CAS; 2 ♂, USNM) . Midlands Province: 70 km SW Gweru (1 ♂, OÖLM) .