Sphex staudingeri Gribodo, 1894

Doerfel, Thorleif H. & Ohl, Michael, 2015, A revision of the Australian digger wasps in the genus Sphex (Hymenoptera, Sphecidae), ZooKeys 521, pp. 1-104 : 64-66

Taxon classification Animalia Hymenoptera Sphecidae

Sphex staudingeri Gribodo, 1894

Sphex staudingeri Gribodo, 1894: 3, ♂ (as Staudingeri , incorrect original capitalization). Holotype or syntypes: ♂, New Guinea: no specific locality (Genova). Presumed holotype examined.

Material examined.

Holotype (presumed). ♂, [COUNTRY UNKNOWN]:[province unknown]: New Guinea [no specific locality] (MSNG).

Other material.

[COUNTRY UNKNOWN]:[province unknown]: New Guinea [no specific locality], 1♀ (ZMB), 1♂ (NHMW).

Diagnosis.

Sphex staudingeri is unique among the Australian Sphex in combining orange scapes, golden propodeal pubescence and the absence of tubercles on the metanotum. Sphex basilicus differs in having black scapes and a black metasoma, whereas the metasoma of Sphex staudingeri is orange, although sometimes in a very dark tone.

Description.

Wing veins brown. Appressed pubescence and erect setae on clypeus and frons golden. Pubescence on mesosoma golden, on scutum denser laterally. Scutellum convex, with shallow medial impression. Propodeal enclosure with sparse, erect, golden pubescence; sculpture completely visible. Length of petiole approximately 1.25 × length of flagellomere II. Tomentum dense on metasomal tergum I.

Female: Body length 29.0 mm. Body black, but the following are orange: mandible proximally, mouthparts, clypeus, scape, pedicel, scutellum, metanotum, metasoma, legs excluding coxa and proximal part of trochanter as well as claw teeth and distal half of claw. Wing membrane uniformly light brown. Forebasitarsal rake with nine long spines. Free clypeal margin with indistinct emarginations. Clypeus medioventrally with glabrous spot. Distance between hind- ocelli 0.8 × their shortest distance to compound eyes. Tomentum moderately dense on metasomal tergum II.

Male: Body length 27.2-28.2 mm. Body black, but the following are orange: mandible proximally, mouthparts, metasomal segment I at least partially, legs excluding coxa and trochanter as well as claw teeth and distal half of claw. Wing membrane with yellow tinge in cellular area and with slightly fuscous border at apex. Free clypeal margin truncate, concave towards center. Clypeus with narrow medial glabrous stripe. Distance between hind- ocelli slightly smaller than their shortest distance to compound eyes. Tomentum dense on metasomal tergum II. Metasomal terga V and VI with few golden bristles. Metasomal sterna II–IV mostly glabrous, V–VIII with few reddish-golden bristles laterally. Metasomal sternum VIII entire, slightly arched towards ventral side, truncate at apical margin, its lateral margin straight.

Geographical distribution.

Although this species is listed in the catalog of Australian Sphecidae (Cardale 1985), no indication of specimens actually collected within Australia was found; all examined individuals of Sphex staudingeri come from New Guinea, which is also the only country recorded by Hensen (1991). Berland (1928) records the species from Port Jackson, now part of Sydney, with reference to Dumont d’Urville as collector. This old record is likely to be inaccurate (see Discussion).