Sphex meridionalis (Arnold, 1947)

Figs 8, 36, 123 (yellow), 124

Chlorion decipiens meridionalis Arnold, 1947: 145, ♀ (types not examined).

Differential diagnosis

Females of this species are commonly misidentified as S. haemorrhoidalis, since both have clypeus and legs ferruginous, and they are identical in the orientation and coloration of their erect propodeal setae. However, S. haemorrhoidalis, like all members of the umtalicus group, is characterized by their dense and coarse scutellar vestiture (Figs 3–4). On the other hand, the scutellar vestiture in the meridonalis group is very fine and often only visible from an angle, and there are very few long erect setae centrally. Female S. meridionalis (Fig. 124) differ from those of S. nefrens sp. nov. (Fig. 125) in having the appressed facial setae ferruginous-golden (Fig. 36) instead of brassy (Fig. 37). Sphex occidentalis sp. nov. has the appressed facial setae in a less ferruginous tone of golden, and its collar, scutellum and metanotum are noticeably ferruginous (Fig. 127).

Male specimens of S. meridionalis and its presumed sister species, S. nefrens sp. nov. (Fig. 126), cannot yet be reliably distinguished based on morphology. They resemble those of S. decipiens (Fig. 100) and are most easily differentiated from that species by having a shorter, wider petiole, a ferruginous clypeal margin and a different placoid pattern. Males of S. occidentalis sp. nov. (Fig. 128) are recognizable through having part of their flagellum, legs and mesosomal dorsum ferruginous.

Material examined

DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO – Lomami • 1 ♀; Kabinda; [6°08ʹ S, 24°29ʹ E]; Schwetz leg.; MRAC . – Lualaba • 1 ♀; Kapanga; [8°21ʹ S, 22°34ʹ E]; May 1933; F.G. Overlaet leg.; MRAC .

MALAWI • 1 ♀; NW shore of Lake Nyasa, between Florence Bay and Karonga; 30 Jun.–6 Jul. 1910; S.A. Neave leg.; BMNH. – Northern Region • 1 ♀; Karonga; [9°56ʹ S, 33°56ʹ E]; 7–11 Jul. 1910; S.A. Neave leg.; BMNH • 1 ♀; same collection data as for preceding but 13 Jul. 1910; BMNH .

NAMIBIA – Kavango East • 1 ♂; Mahango Game Reserve; 18°17ʹ S, 21°43ʹ E; 4 Mar. 1997; F. Koch leg.; THD-026-ZMB; GenBank EF-1α gene: MW558240; GenBank LWR gene: MW582279; ZMB • 1 ♀; same collection data as for preceding; THD-003-ZMB; GenBank CO1 gene: MW538564; ZMB • 1 ♀; same collection data as for preceding but 2–5 Mar. 1994; ZMB .

SOUTH AFRICA – KwaZulu-Natal • 5 ♀♀; Mkuze Game Reserve; 27°37ʹ S, 32°14ʹ E; 8–12 Mar. 1987; A.J. Weaving leg.; AMG . – Mpumalanga • 1 ♀; Kruger N. Park, N’Watlinwambu, River-bank Skukuza; [24°59ʹ45ʺ S, 31°35ʹ31ʺ E]; 25 Mar. 1998; M. Generani and P.L. Scaramozzino leg.; CAS .

ZAMBIA – Eastern Province • 1 ♀; “ Up. Luangwa Valley ”; alt. 1800–2000 ft; 23–24 Mar. 1908; S.A. Neave leg.; OUMNH • 2 ♂♂; 31 km E of Petauke; 14°18ʹ S, 31°36ʹ E; 17 Mar. 1995; W.J. Pulawski leg.; CAS • 1 ♂; 32 km E of Petauke; 14°17ʹ S, 31°37ʹ E; 24–26 Mar. 1995; W.J. Pulawski leg.; CAS . – Lusaka Province • 1 ♀; Kafue; [15°46ʹ S, 28°11ʹ E]; 5 Apr. 1981; G.G.M. Schulten leg.; RMNH • 1 ♀; Lusaka International Airport; 15°19ʹ S, 28°27ʹ E; 26 Mar. 1998; W.J. Pulawski leg.; CAS . – Muchinga Province • 1 ♀; “ L. Chambezi V.; Mpika distr. ”; alt. 3900 ft; 16 May 1908; S.A. Neave leg.; OUMNH • 3 ♂♂; “ Mid. Chambezi Valley, Chinsali distr. ”; alt. 4000 ft; 25 Apr. 1908; S.A. Neave leg.; OUMNH • 1 ♀; same collection data as for preceding but 28 Apr. 1908; OUMNH . – Northern Province • 1 ♂, 1 ♀; “ L. Chambezi V.; Kasama distr. ”; alt. 3900 ft; 3 May 1908; S.A. Neave leg.; OUMNH • 1 ♀; same collection data as for preceding but 4–6 May 1908; OUMNH • 1 ♂, 1 ♀; same collection data as for preceding but 9 May 1908; OUMNH • 1 ♂; same collection data as for preceding but 14 May 1908; OUMNH .

Description

Female

SIZE. 18.8–25.9 mm.

COLOR. Black except for the following, which are ferruginous: basal half of mandible, scape, pedicel, flagellomeres I–IV, clypeus, trochanters ventrally and legs from femur onward excepting apical half of claw. Wings fuscous, forewing with violet iridescence.

VESTITURE.Appressed setae on clypeus and paraocular area rich golden, on collar, scutum and propodeal enclosure black. Erect setae on clypeus and paraocular area ferruginous to black, on collar, scutum

and propodeal enclosure black. Erect propodeal setae oriented perpendicularly, slightly curved towards anterior. Center of clypeus glabrous. Scutellum densely and finely pubescent.

STRUCTURE. Free clypeal margin medially with broad, notched tooth, stepped above. Clypeus with slight indentation in lower center, without carina. Scutellum convex. Metanotum raised, not notably bituberculate. 2 nd recurrent vein nearly joins proximal from interstitium between submarginal cells II and III. Propodeal enclosure with numerous very fine transversal ridges. Foretarsomere I 2.2–2.3× length of antepenultimate spine. Petiole length 1.4–1.5 × its medial width.

Male

SIZE. 18.4–22.0 mm.

COLOR. Black except for the following, which are ferruginous: basal half of mandible, free clypeal margin medially and apical segment of metasoma. Wings fuscous, with violet iridescence.

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 oriented perpendicularly, slightly curved towards anterior. Lower center of clypeus glabrous. Scutellum densely and finely pubescent.

STRUCTURE. Free clypeal margin medially concave. Scutellum convex. Metanotum slightly raised, not notably bituberculate. 2 nd recurrent vein joins slightly proximal from interstitium between submarginal cells II and III. Propodeal enclosure with numerous very fine transversal 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 1.6× its medial width. Flagellomere V with moderately broad placoid covering almost its entire length.

Variation

In some females, flagellomeres as well as mid- and hindlegs are largely black.

Distribution

Central to southeastern Africa.

Remarks

Despite the fact that we did not examine type material of this species, we are very certain that our interpretation of S. meridionalis is correct. Arnold’s description is quite helpful and mentions several characters like a ferruginous clypeus, brownish-golden facial setae and markedly infuscate wings. Their combination excludes all other African species of Sphex, and the geographic distribution fits as well.