Sphex mweruensis ( Arnold, 1947 )

Dörfel, Thorleif H. & Ohl, Michael, 2022, The wasp genus Sphex in Sub-Saharan Africa (Hymenoptera: Sphecidae), European Journal of Taxonomy 796 (1), pp. 1-170 : 70-72

Sphex mweruensis ( Arnold, 1947)

Figs 62 (yellow), 64–65, 68

Chlorion haemorrhoidalis var. mweruensis Arnold, 1947: 146 , ♀, ♂.

Differential diagnosis

Females of this species are easy to recognize, as they are the only ones within the umtalicus group that have silvery erect setae on the posterior propodeal margin ( Fig. 64 ). In males, the extent of the dorsal silvery setae is greater, as they cover all of the propodeal enclosure and occasionally parts of the scutum as well ( Fig. 65 ). Males of S. haemorrhoidalis ( Fig. 70 ) can be very similar, but always have the free clypeal margin black and only slightly concave, and the appressed setae barely leave a glabrous spot on the clypeus. Those of S. mweruensis have a glabrous spot in the lower clypeal center, the free margin is often (though not always) ferruginous and has a gentle but conspicuous concave emargination on either side of the medial process, which is apically concave itself. Males of S. caeruleanus have the free clypeal margin and the process shaped similarly, but the process is approximately twice as wide. Moreover, they are easily distinguished through their uniformly black erect propodeal setae.

Material examined

Lectotype (designated here) ZAMBIA • ♀; “Seremani Mweru”; 27 Jan. 1944; IRSN.

Paralectotype ZAMBIA – Northern Province • 1 ♂; Mpulungu ; 2 May 1944; IRSN .

Other material

ANGOLA – Huambo Province • 1 ♀; Luimbale, Mt Moco ; [12°27ʹ43ʺ S, 15°10ʹ36ʺ E]; Mar. 1934; BMNH .

DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO • 1 ♀; “ Lulua ”; 1929; Walker leg.; MRAC • 2 ♂♂; “ Lulua : Juele River ”; 1929; Walker leg.; MRAC • 2 ♀♀; Kibombo ; Oct. 1930; H.J. Brédo leg.; MRAC. – Haut-Katanga • 1 ♀; Elisabethville [ now Lubumbashi ]; [11°40ʹ S, 27°29ʹ E]; Jan. 1938; H.-J. Brédo leg.; IRSN • 1 ♂; same collection data as for preceding but 10 Jan. 1938; IRSN • 1 ♀; same locality as for preceding; May 1949; Ch. Seydel leg.; MRAC • 1 ♀; Mwelushi ; [9°30ʹ S, 27°50ʹ E]; Feb. 1931; H.J. Brédo leg.; MRAC. – Haut-Lomami • 1 ♂; Kabongo ; [7°19ʹ S, 25°35ʹ E]; 5 Jan. 1953; Ch. Seydel leg.; MRAC • 1 ♀; Kamina ; [8°44ʹ S, 25°00ʹ E]; 27 Nov. 1925; Ch. Seydel leg.; MRAC. – Kasaï- Oriental • 2 ♂♂, 1 ♀; Gandajika ; [6°45ʹ S, 23°57ʹ E]; 1956; P. de Francquen leg.; MRAC • 1 ♂; Station de Gandajika ; [6°45ʹ S, 23°57ʹ E]; 1957; P. de Francquen leg.; MRAC. – Kongo Central • 1 ♂, 1 ♀; Kisantu ; [5°07ʹ29ʺ S, 15°04ʹ49ʺ E]; 1927; R.P. Vanderyst leg.; MRAC • 1 ♂; same collection data as for preceding but 1932; MRAC • 5 ♂♂, 6 ♀♀; Lemfu ; [5°17ʹ56ʺ S, 15°13ʹ21ʺ E]; Jan. 1945; P.L. De Beir leg.; MRAC • 1 ♀; same collection data as for preceding but May 1945; MRAC • 2 ♀♀; same collection data as for preceding but Jun. 1945; MRAC • 2 ♂♂, 5 ♀♀; same collection data as for preceding but Dec. 1945; MRAC. – Lomami • 1 ♂; Kambaye-Lupula ; [6°53ʹ S, 23°44ʹ E]; 1930; R. Collart leg.; IRSN • 1 ♂; Lomami , Kambaye; [6°52ʹ38ʺ S, 23°44ʹ09ʺ E]; Oct. 1930; P. Quarré leg.; MRAC. – Lualaba • 6 ♂♂; Ditanto ; [10°15ʹ S, 25°53ʹ E]; Oct. 1925; Ch. Seydel leg.; MRAC • 3 ♀♀; Kapanga ; [8°21ʹ S, 22°34ʹ E]; Oct. 1932; F.G. Overlaet leg.; MRAC • 1 ♂; same collection data as for preceding but Dec. 1932; MRAC .

MALAWI – Southern Region • 1 ♀; Mlanje ; [16°01ʹ53ʺ S, 35°30ʹ E]; 11 Dec. 1913; S.A. Neave leg.; BMNH .

ZAMBIA – Central Province • 1 ♂; “Mkushi env. E”; [13°37ʹ18.5ʺ S, 29°23ʹ41.9ʺ E]; 16–18 Dec. 2004; M. Snižek leg.; OÖLM . – Northern Province • 3 ♀♀; Kaputa ; [8°28ʹ S, 29°40ʹ E]; 8 Jan. 1944; IRSN . – North-Western Province • 1 ♂; 50 km E of Mwinilunga; 11°43ʹ S, 24°47ʹ E; 2 Nov. 2008; M. Halada leg.; THD-019-OOLM ; GenBank CO1 gene: MW538574 ; OÖLM .

Description

Female

SIZE. 22.2–24.5 mm.

COLOR. Black except for the following, which are ferruginous: basal half of mandible, clypeus, scape, pedicel, foreleg from apical half of femur, and mid- and hindlegs from femur onward excluding apical half of claw. Wings fuscous, with violet luster.

VESTITURE. Appressed setae on clypeus silvery-golden laterally, black otherwise, on paraocular area silvery, on collar, scutum and propodeal enclosure black. Erect setae on clypeus ferruginous laterally, black otherwise, on paraocular area, collar, scutum and propodeal enclosure black, on posterior margin of propodeum silvery. Erect propodeal setae oriented perpendicularly, slightly curved towards anterior. Central third of clypeus glabrous. Scutellum densely and coarsely pubescent.

STRUCTURE. Free clypeal margin medially with broad, notched tooth, slightly stepped above. Clypeus without indentation or carina. Scutellum convex. Metanotum slightly raised, not notably bituberculate. 2 nd recurrent vein nearly joins interstitium between submarginal cells II and III. Propodeal enclosure without any notable ridges. Foretarsomere I 2.7–3.4 × length of antepenultimate spine. Petiole length 1.9–2.8× its medial width.

Male

SIZE. 21.5–24.8 mm.

COLOR. Black except for the following, which are ferruginous: basal half of mandible, free clypeal margin, midtibia anteriorly, midtarsomere I, hindtibia, hindtarsomeres I–II and basal half of claw. Wings fuscous, forewing with violet luster.

VESTITURE. Appressed setae on clypeus and paraocular area silvery, on collar, scutum and propodeal enclosure black. Erect setae on clypeus, paraocular area and collar black, on scutum black or black and silvery, on propodeal enclosure silvery. Erect propodeal setae oriented perpendicularly, slightly curved towards anterior. Lower center of clypeus glabrous. Scutellum densely and coarsely pubescent.

STRUCTURE. Free clypeal margin medially with tooth emerging from inner side, and distinctly concave next to process. 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 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 2.1–2.5 × its medial width. Flagellomeres IV–VI with broad placoids covering their entire length.

Variation

In some males, the free margin can be black instead of ferruginous, the erect scutal setae can be uniformly black or partially silvery, and the propodeal enclosure can have erect black setae as well.

Distribution

Central Africa.

Remarks

The two specimens we consider part of the type series that are owned by the IRSN had both been labeled “ paratype ”. We believe the labels were added later, possibly by Leclercq, and do not constitute an official designation by Arnold. Since we could not locate any publication that designates a lectotype for either of these two species, we treat them as syntypes and designate a lectotype here.

Figures

Figs 57–62. 57, 60–61. Sphex tomentosus Fabricius, 1787, ♂. 58. S. torridus F. Smith, 1873, habitus of ♀. 59. S. voeltzkowii Kohl, 1909, habitus of ♂. 57. Habitus. 60. Dorsal view of genitalia. 61. Lateral view of penis valvae. 62. Geographic distribution of S. voeltzkowii (red), S. caeruleanus Drury, 1773 (blue), S. mweruensis (Arnold, 1947) (yellow) and S. hades sp. nov. (purple).

Figs 63–71. 63, 67. Sphex caeruleanus Drury, 1773. 64–65, 68. S. mweruensis (Arnold, 1947). 66. S. hades sp. nov. 69–70. S. haemorrhoidalis Fabricius, 1781. 63–64, 69. Habitus of ♀. 65–66, 70. Habitus of ♂. 67–68. Frontal view of ♀. 71. Geographic distribution of S. haemorrhoidalis (red) and S. victoria sp. nov. (blue).