Sphex luctuosus F. Smith, 1856

Doerfel, Thorleif H. & Ohl, Michael, 2015, A revision of the Australian digger wasps in the genus Sphex (Hymenoptera, Sphecidae), ZooKeys 521, pp. 1-104 : 34-35

Taxon classification Animalia Hymenoptera Sphecidae

Sphex luctuosus F. Smith, 1856

Sphex luctuosus F. Smith, 1856: 250, ♀, ♂ (as luctuosa , incorrect original termination). Syntypes: Australia: Western Australia: Swan River (BMNH). One syntype examined.

Material examined.

Syntype. ♀, AUSTRALIA:WA: Swan River (BMNH).

Other material.

[COUNTRY UNKNOWN]:[state unknown]: [no specific locality], 1♂, 20.11.1927 (ANIC). AUSTRALIA:[state unknown]: [no specific locality], 4♀, 4♂ (BMNH); NSW: " National Park", 1♀, 20.12.1914, C. Gibbons (AMS); Berowra, 1♂, 11.12.1923, Nicholson (AMS); 6 km NE of Bilpin, Blue Mountains, 1♂, 12.11.1980, N. W. Rodd (AMS); Heathcote, 1♀, 1♂, 03.01.1947 (AMS); Lorien Wildlife Refuge, 3 km N of Lansdowne, 1♀, 27.12.1991, G. Williams (AMS); Sydney, 3♀, 1♂, C. Gibbons (AMS); Woy Woy, 1♂, 08.03.1924, Nicholson (AMS); QLD: Brisbane, 1♀, 07.02.1923, A. N. Burns (ANIC); Caloundra, 1♂, 17.12.1955, J. Keir (ANIC); Cape York, 1♀, 1904, Elgner (ANIC); Halliday Bay, 50 km NE of Mackay, 1♀, 19.09.1983, N. W. Rodd (AMS); 40 km E of Miriam Vale, 1♂, 03.11.1984, N. W. Rodd (AMS); VIC: Rye, 1♀, 07.02.1954, A. N. Burns (ANIC); WA: Hamelin Telegraph Station, 26°23.9'S, 114°09.9'E, 1♀, 10.11.2008, V. Ahrens & W. J. Pulawski (CAS); 20 km WNW of Israelite Bay, 1♂, 29.12.1990, M. S. & B. J. Moulds (AMS); Lyndon Station, NW Basin, 1♀, 01.07.1950, G. Thomas (ANIC).

Diagnosis.

Sphex luctuosus differs from all other species in the Sphex resplendens group in having wings for the most part hyaline and lacking a yellow tinge, but darkened basally. Sphex gracilis also has hyaline wings, but not fuscous basally.

Description.

Body black. Appressed pubescence on clypeus and frons silvery, erect setae on clypeus and frons black. Wing membrane darkened basally, forewing with dark costal and marginal cell and a fuscous band at apex. Hindwing membrane hyaline except basally. Clypeus with small glabrous spot medioventrally. Pubescence on top of collar silvery, long lateral setae black. Pubescence on scutum denser laterally. Pubescence on propodeal enclosure silvery-white, thin and sparse enough to leave sculpture completely visible, interspersed with few black setae near posterior end.

Female: Body length 24.6-32.4 mm. Wing veins brown to light brown. Forebasitarsal rake with 9-11 long spines. Free clypeal margin with two distinct lobes medially, bulging slightly above; distance between lobes less than 1/8 length of flagellomere II. Distance between hind- ocelli approximately 0.8 × their shortest distance to compound eyes. Anterior half of scutum covered with silvery pubescence. Scutellum flat, without impressions. Length of petiole almost equal to flagellomere II. Tomentum sparse on metasomal tergum I, absent on tergum II.

Male: Body length 23.2-26.8 mm. Wing veins dark brown. Free clypeal margin truncate, slightly concave medially. Distance between hind- ocelli 1.25 × their shortest distance to compound eyes. Anterior half of scutum covered with black pubescence. Scutellum convex, with shallow medial impression. Length of petiole 1.4 × length of flagellomere II. Tomentum moderately dense on metasomal terga I and II. Metasomal terga V and VI with few black bristles. Metasomal sterna II–VI largely glabrous, sternum VII covered with erect black setae, sternum VIII with dense fringe of silvery setae medially. Metasomal sternum VIII entire, its lateral margin straight.