Ammophila holosericea (FABRICIUS)

Dollfuss, H., 2013, Revision of the Wasps Genus Ammophila KIRBY 1798 (Hymenoptera Apoidea Sphecidae) of the Palearctic Region and India, Linzer biologische Beiträge 45 (1), pp. 383-564 : 443-445

Ammophila holosericea (FABRICIUS) ( Figs 29 , 175 , 267 , 382 , 452 , 516 , 570 )

Sphex holosericeus FABRICIUS 1793: 205 , sex not indicated. Holotype or syntypes: "Barbaria" = North Africa (lost). Neotype: ♀, Morocco: 15 km SE Sefrou (OÖLM), present designation.

Ammophila sericea LEPELETIER DE SAINT FARGEAU & AUDINET- SERVILLE 1828: 453. Synonymized with Ammophila holosericea by KOHL 1906: 360.

M a t e r i a l e x a m i n e d: neotype ♀ (OÖLM); Algeria: Oran (233 NHMW). Morocco: 15 km SE Sefrou (2♀♀, 13 OÖLM), 10 km NW Sefrou Bhalil (1♀ OÖLM), 30 km E Sefrou El- Menzel (13 OÖLM), 40 km S Agadir Qued Massa Sidi Rbat (1♀ coll. Schmid-Egger), Mulay Idris (13 NHMW). Tunisia: Ksar Hadada (1♀ OÖLM), 15 km SW Medenine (1♀ OÖLM), 15 km W Matmata (1♀ OÖLM), Matmata SW Gabes (1♀ coll. Schmid-Egger), 10 km SE Matmata 33°30’N 10°01’E (233 coll. Schmid-Egger), no specific locality (1♀ NHMW) .

J. VAN DER VECHT (1961: 40) examined the types of Ammophila in the collection Fabricius and attempted to find the type of Ammophila holosericea . He writes the following: "The collection Fabricius contains one female (gaster lacking except for basal part of petiole), which I found to be different from KOHL’ S interpretation (1906: 360). Prof. DE BEAUMONT recognized it as a female of A. heydeni DAHLBOM , and pointed aut that this specimen does not agree with the original description, in which the apex of the abdomen is said to be bluish ("ano cyaneo"); A. heydeni has the apex of the abdomen black without metallic shine. This specimen is therefore not to be regarded as the type, and does not provide evidence to consider KOHL’ S interpretation incorrect. The true type appears to be lost".

I also think KOHL’ S interpretation is right and I have followed it in my key. The holotype is lost and a name bearing type is necessary to define this nominal taxon objectively. Therefore I have designated a neotype: ♀, Morocco: 15 km SE Sefrou, 26.-27. V.1995, leg. Mi. Halada.

R e c o g n i t i o n Ammophila holosericea has the gastral apex black with a metallic shine, the mesothoracic venter not prominent anteriorly, the supra-antennal lamellate projection at most slightly developed, as in A. sabulosa (Fig. 20). Additionally, the pronotal collar dorsally is punctate and the lateral lobe is transversely striate (in some specimens the pronotal collar dorsally is slightly transversely rugose and punctate). Both sexes of A. holosericea are similar to A. heydeni but differ in having a gaster apex with metallic shine. Both sexes of A. holosericea differ from A. dubia and A. poecilocnemis in having appressed silvery setae forming distinct spots on pronotal lobe, along the mesopleural suture and on the propodeum posterolaterally and a black petiole ( A. dubia and A. poecilocnemis have a yellowish-brown petiole).

D e s c r i p t i o n: Gastral apex black, with metallic shine, episternal sulcus extending to anteroventral margin of pleuron, mesothoracic venter not prominent anteriorly, supraantennal lamellate projection at most slightly developed, as in A. sabulosa (Fig. 20), arolia well developed and claws without basal tooth. Pronotal collar dorsally punctate, pronotum laterally transversely striate (in some specimens pronotal collar dorsally slightly transversely rugose and punctate). Propodeal enclosure coarsely, irregularly rugose and covered with whitish erect setae.

♀: 20-22 mm. Black, with following red: apical half of fore- and midfemora, fore- and midtibiae, tergum I (basally black) and gastral segments II, III. Appressed silvery setae forming spots on clypeus, frons, band along mesopleural suture, pronotal lobe and propodeum posterolaterally; erect setae whitish. Clypeus slightly elongate with distinct median lobe ( Fig. 29 ), disk distinctly convex. Scutum transversely punctato-rugose, scutellum longitudinally punctato-rugose. Pronotal collar laterally: Fig. 175 . Flagellomere I: II=1.4-1.8; length of petiole = hindtarsomeres I+0.3×II to I+II.

3: 19.5-20 mm. Black, with following red: apical half of fore- and midfemora, fore- and midtibiae, tergum I and gastral segments II, III (except for black dorsal stripe). Appressed silvery setae forming spots on clypeus, frons, pronotal lobe, along mesopleural suture and propodeum posterolaterally; erect setae whitish. Scutum coarsely punctato-rugose anteriorly, transversely rugose posteriorly, scutellum coarsely punctate and longitudinally ridged. Clypeus elongate, medially slightly emarginate, disk slightly convex. Pronotal collar laterally: Fig. 267 . Gonostyle laterally: Fig. 382 ; penis valve laterally: Fig. 452 , ventrally: Fig. 516 , apically: Fig. 570 . Flagellomere I: II=1.3-1.5; length of petiole = hindtarsomeres I+II to I+II+0.25×III.

G e o g r a p h i c a l d i s t r i b u t i o n Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia. (Note: Records from Europe probably refer to A. heydeni ).

Figures

Figs 26-35: clypeus of female.

Figs 172-182: pronotal collar of female in lateral view.

Figs 262-276: pronotal collar of male in lateral view.

Figs 374-389: male genitalia: gonostyle in lateral view.

Figs 444-460: male genitalia: penis valve in lateral view.

Figs 509-526: male genitalia: penis valve in ventral view.

Figs 563-596: male genitalia: penis valve in apical view.