Sphex torridus F. Smith, 1873

Figs 56 (blue), 58

Sphex torridus F. Smith, 1873: 291, ♀.

Differential diagnosis

Within the argentatus group, this species (Fig. 58) can be recognized through its ferruginous or yellowbrownish wings and the erect setae on the face and propodeum being uniformly black. Females of S. voeltzkowii also have black erect facial and propodeal setae, but their wings are hyaline with a yellow tinge, and the coloration of the wing apices is different as well: forewing and hindwing margins are completely infuscate in S. torridus, whereas S. voeltzkowii only has a fuscous spot on the anterior part of the forewing apex, with the apical hindwing margin being hyaline. Additionally, males of S. voeltzkowii (Fig. 59) have a significant portion of the erect setae on the clypeus and paraocular area silvery or silvery-golden, while these are uniformly black in males of S. torridus . Sphex taschenbergi also has erect clypeal and propodeal setae that are black (Figs 52, 54), but its wings are basally infuscate and otherwise hyaline.

Material examined

Syntypes

MADAGASCAR • 2 ♀♀; BMNH .

Other material

FRANCE – Mayotte • 1 ♀; Tsoundzou, 7 km S of Mamoudzou; [12°46ʹ50.16ʺ S, 45°13ʹ408ʺ E]; Sep. 1986; R. and A. Viossat leg.; MNHN. – Mozambique Channel • 2 ♂♂, 1 ♀; Europa Island; [22°22ʹ06ʺ S, 40°21ʹ48ʺ E]; 22 Jul. 1967; Brunhes leg.; MNHN • 8 ♂♂; Europa Island; [22°22ʹ06ʺ S, 40°21ʹ48ʺ E]; A. Voeltzkow leg.; ZMB .

MADAGASCAR • 1 ♂, 2 ♀♀; ZMB. – Anosy Region • 1 ♀; 9 km NE of Pt Dauphin, Forêt de Mandena; 24°57ʹ S, 47°00ʹ E; Feb. 2004; P. Bulirsh leg.; OÖLM • 1 ♀; Mt Belomotra 22 km NE of Esira; 24°13ʹ S, 46°53ʹ E; Feb. 2004; P. Bulirsh leg.; OÖLM. – Atsimo-Andrefana Region • 1 ♀; Beza Mahafaly Reserve, Parcelle I near research station; 23°41.19ʹ S, 44°35.46ʹ E; 20–24 Dec. 2002; R. Harin’Hala leg.; AMNH. – Atsinanana Region • 1 ♂; Toamasina; [18°09ʹ S, 49°25ʹ E]; DEI. – Boeny Region • 1 ♀; 40 km S of Marovoay; [16°28ʹ17.2ʺ S, 46°39ʹ21.5ʺ E]; 12 Mar. 1963; E.D. Cashatt leg.; USNM. – Diana Region • 1 ♀; Amber Mountain National Park; 12°31.13ʹ S, 49°10.45ʹ E; 29 Jan.–11 Feb. 2001; M. Irwin and R. Harin’Hala leg.; AMNH • 1 ♀; same collection data as for preceding; MNHN • 1 ♀; near Ambodidimaka, E of Ambanja; [13°45ʹ S, 48°29ʹ E]; 16 Dec. 2002; J. Jeniš leg.; OÖLM • 1 ♀; Beraty, Base du Manongarivo; [14°01ʹ S, 48°15ʹ E]; Feb. 1960; P. Griveaud leg.; MNHN • 1 ♀; Marovato village, Sambirano River; [25°32ʹ S, 45°16ʹ E]; 5–12 Dec. 2001; J. Horák leg.; OÖLM • 6 ♂♂, 3 ♀♀; Moravato, 30 km E of Ambanja; [13°40ʹ1.7ʺ S, 48°43ʹ50.9ʺ E]; 1 Dec. 2001; Pljushich leg.; OÖLM • 1 ♂; same collection data as for preceding; THD-017-OOLM; GenBank CO1 gene: MW538577; OÖLM. – Ihorombe Region • 2 ♂♂; near Isalo National Park, in dry wash E of Interpretive Center; 22°37.60ʹ S, 45°21.49ʹ E; 6–14 Dec. 2002; M. Irwin and R. Harin’Hala leg.; AMNH. – Melaky Region • 1 ♀; Antsingy Nature Reserve, Antsalova; [18°38ʹ S, 48°54ʹ E]; 9 Jan. 1975; A. Peyrieras leg.; MNHN . – Sava Region • 1 ♀; Marojejy, Res nat int. XII, Anjanaharibe N; [14°27ʹ S, 49°42ʹ E]; Feb. 1960; P. Soga leg.; MNHN . – Vatovavy-Fitovinany Region • 1 ♀; Manakara, Ifaho; [22°01ʹ S, 47°53ʹ E]; 1969; Brunhes leg.; MNHN • 6 ♂♂, 3 ♀♀; same collection data as for preceding but 1970; MNHN • 1 ♀; Ranomafana (km 402); [21°15ʹ S, 47°27ʹ E]; alt. 650 m; 26 Mar.–1 Apr. 1955; H. de Toulgoët leg.; MNHN .

REPUBLIC OF SEYCHELLES – Outer Islands • 1 ♂, 3 ♀♀; Aldabra, Picard; [9°22ʹ58ʺ S, 46°13ʹ02ʺ E]; 13 Apr. 1977; N. Waloff leg.; BMNH • 1 ♂; Aldabra, South Island, Dune Jean-Louis; [9°26ʹ43ʺ S, 46°23ʹ21.5ʺ E]; 13–20 Mar. 1968; B. Cogan and A. Hutson leg.; BMNH • 1 ♀; Aldabra, West Island, near settlement; [9°22ʹ58ʺ S, 46°13ʹ02ʺ E]; 7–12 Mar. 1968; B. Cogan and A. Hutson leg.; BMNH • 1 ♀; Assumption Island; [9°43ʹ43ʺ S, 46°30ʹ58ʺ E]; 1907; P.R. Dupont leg.; BMNH • 1 ♀; Astove Island; [10°06ʹ S, 47°45ʹ E]; 1907; P.R. Dupont leg.; BMNH .

UNION OF THE COMOROS – Grande Comore • 3 ♀♀; Chomoni; [11°38ʹ35ʺ S, 43°23ʹ09ʺ E]; 23 Apr.–3 May 1991; K.M. Guichard leg.; BMNH • 2 ♂♂, 6 ♀♀; Itsandra H.; [11°40ʹ16ʺ S, 43°15ʹ17ʺ E]; 23 Apr.–3 May 1991; K.M. Guichard leg.; BMNH .

Description

Female

SIZE. 18.5–28.3 mm.

COLOR. Black except for basal half of mandible, which is ferruginous. Cellular wing area ferruginousbrown, apical margin fuscous.

VESTITURE. Appressed setae on clypeus, paraocular area and collar silvery, on scutum and propodeal enclosure black. Erect setae on clypeus, paraocular area, collar and scutum black, on propodeal enclosure brown or black. Erect propodeal setae oriented anteriorly. Clypeus without glabrous spot. Scutellum densely and finely pubescent.

STRUCTURE. Free clypeal margin slightly notched medially, not stepped above. Clypeus without indentation or carina. Scutellum convex. Metanotum raised, notably bituberculate. Propodeal enclosure finely transversely carinate. 2 nd recurrent vein joins slightly proximal from interstitium between submarginal cells II and III. Propodeal enclosure without any notable ridges. Foretarsomere I 2.1–2.2 × length of antepenultimate spine. Petiole length 1.7–2.0 × its medial width.

Male

SIZE. 22.0– 25.5 mm.

COLOR. Black, except for ferruginous stripe in center of mandible. Cellular wing area yellowish-brown, base of fore- and hindwing infuscate. Forewing with fuscous spot beyond marginal cell.

brown or black. Erect propodeal setae oriented anteriorly. Clypeus without glabrous spot. Scutellum densely and finely pubescent.

STRUCTURE. Free clypeal margin simple. Scutellum convex. Metanotum raised, notably bituberculate. Propodeal enclosure finely transversely carinate. 2 nd recurrent vein joins slightly 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 2.7–3.0 × its medial width. Flagellomeres V + VI with broad placoids covering their entire length.

Variation

Unknown.

Distribution

Comoros, Europa Island, Madagascar, Seychelles.