Sphex 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. paulinierii is 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 gaullei group 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. decipiens and 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 gaullei group 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. Scott and E.B. Britton leg.; BMNH.

Paratypes OMAN – Dhofar Governorate • 1 ♂; Jabal Samhan, 13 km N of Mirbat; 17°06ʹ40ʺ N, 54°42ʹ40ʺ E; 4 Sep. 2019; C. Schmid-Egger leg.; BC-ZSM-HYM-30269-D 08; 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. Scott and E.B. Britton leg.; 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 nd recurrent 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 nd recurrent 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.