Sphex cognatus 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 : 49-52

Taxon classification Animalia Hymenoptera Sphecidae

Sphex cognatus F. Smith, 1856

Sphex cognatus F. Smith, 1856: 248, ♀ (as cognata , incorrect original termination). Holotype or syntypes: Australia: no specific locality (BMNH). Not examined.

Sphex formosus F. Smith, 1856: 254 (as formosa , incorrect original termination). Holotype or syntypes: ♂, Indonesia: Seram: no specific locality (BMNH). Synonymized with Sphex cognatus by Turner (1910a: 345). Not examined.

Material examined.

[COUNTRY UNKNOWN]:[state unknown]: [no specific locality], 2♀, 2♂ (AMS). AUSTRALIA:[state unknown]: [no specific locality], 1♀, 1♂ (BMNH); "Coopers Pk", 1♂, 21.02.1965, J. Varley (AMS); NSW: Ashcroft, 1♂, 01.01.1977, S. Brousek (AMS); Ballina, 1♀, 16.12.1930, C. E. Chadwick (AMS), 1♀, 07.12.1989, D. J. Scambler (AMS); Bill Weiley Bridge, Esk River near Fluka, 2♀, 31.12.1978, B. J. Day (AMS); Bilpin near Kurrajong, 1♀, 2♂, 28.01.1981, N. W. Rodd (AMS), 1♂, 03.02.1981, N. W. Rodd (AMS); 6 km NE of Bilpin, Blue Mountains, 1♀, 20.01.1983, N. W. Rodd (AMS), 1♀, 06.04.1984, N. W. Rodd (AMS); Brushgrove, 1♂, 04.04.1973, G. A. Holloway (AMS); Cabramatta, 1♀, 01.12.1962, M. I. Nikitin (BMNH); Cheltenham, 1♂, 14.01.1951 (AMS); 3-5 km NE of Harrington, 1♂, 02.02.1991, G. Williams (AMS); Kensington, 1♀, 19.02.1976, Fluhoelhower (AMS), 1♀, 20.02.1976, Fluhoelhower (AMS), 1♀ (AMS); Lane Cove, 1♂, 05.02.1944 (AMS), 1♀, 21.01.1945 (AMS); Lennox Head, 1♀, 04.04.2001, M. Elliott (AMS); McKanes Bridge, Coxs Road, 2♀, 26.01.1991, R. de Keyzer & G. A. Clark (AMS); Middle Pocket, 1♀, 12.01.1929, C. E. Chadwick (AMS); North Narrabeen, 1♂, 28.02.1954, M. I. Nikitin (BMNH); Pearl Beach, 1♀, 16.03.1974, D. Feughelman (AMS), 1♀, 28.01.1989, C. A. P. Urquhart (AMS), 1♂, 29.01.1989, C. A. P. Urquhart (AMS); Randwick, 1♀, 08.01.1965, J. Varley (AMS); 16 km W of South Grafton, 1♀, 05.01.1978, G. Daniels (AMS); Woronora, 1♂, 22.01.1982, M. L. Bason (AMS); NT: Groote Eylandt, 1♀, 06.02.1925, G. H. Wilkins (BMNH); Litchfield National Park: Wangi Falls, 13°09.7'S, 130°40.9'E, 1♂, 21.04.2008, W. J. Pulawski & G. A. Williams (CAS); 29 km NW Mataranka, 14°45.5'S, 132°51.1'E, 1♂, 05.04.2008, W. J. Pulawski & G. A. Williams (CAS); Port Darwin, 1♂ (BMNH); QLD: [no specific locality], 2♂ (BMNH); "Mid Queensland", 2♂ (BMNH); "North Queensland", 1♂ (BMNH); Agnes Water, 40 km E of Miriam Vale, 1♂, 04.01.1984, N. W. Rodd (AMS), 1♀, 04.11.1984, N. W. Rodd (AMS); Archer River crossing Coen Cape York Road, 1♂, 30.10.1974, M. S. Moulds (AMS); Ball Bay near Cape Hillsborough, 1♀, 26.06.1985, N. W. Rodd (AMS); Ball Bay near Mackay, 1♀, 09.10.1984, N. W. Rodd (AMS); Bertie Creek, 11°46'S, 142°36'E, 1♀, 21.03.1992, S. F. McEvey (AMS); Bloomfield, 1♀, 01.12.1980, T. M. Moulds (AMS); Brisbane, 1♀, 2♂, 09.09.1953, F. G. T. Smith (BMNH); Byfield State Forest, 1♀, 31.12.1975, G. Daniels (AMS); Cairns, 1♀, 09.-30.12.1962, E. C. Corbet (BMNH); Cape York, 1♂, 28.05.1991, N. W. Rodd (AMS); Cape York Peninsula, Iron Range, 1♀, 20.05.1974, M. Walford-Huggins (AMS); Claudie River near Mount Lamond, 1♀, 21.12.1971, D. K. McAlpine & G. A. Holloway (AMS); Middle Claudie River, Iron Range, 1♀, 23.09.1974, M. S. Moulds (AMS), 1♂, 07.10.1974, G. Daniels (AMS); Clermont, 1♂, K. K. Spence (AMS); Clohesy River, Kuranda, 1♂, 09.11.1972, O. W. Richards (BMNH); near Dalga, 24°31'39.1"S, 151°28'15.6"E, 1♂, 13.04.2006, D. R. Britton & J. R. Weiner (AMS); Iron Range, 1♂, 16.10.1974, M. S. Moulds (AMS), 1♂, 20.04.1975, M. S. Moulds (AMS); Lizard Island, NNE of Cooktown, 1♂, 17.11.1974, M. S. & B. J. Moulds (AMS), 1♀, 18.11.1974, M. S. & B. J. Moulds (AMS); Mackay, 1♂, 1947, A. Marriage (AMS); Moore Park, Bundaberg, 1♀, 20.04.1973 (AMS); Murray Island, 1♀, Aug-Oct 1907, Hedley & McCullock (AMS); 11 km from Portland Roads on Iron Range Road, 1♀, 21.09.1974, M. S. Moulds (AMS); Proserpine, 1♀, 08.12.1971, D. K. McAlpine & G. A. Holloway (AMS); Redlynch, 1♂, Dec 38, R. F. Sternitzky (BMNH); Walsh River, Kuranda, 1♂, 14.11.1972, O. W. Richards (BMNH); Wondecla near Herberton, 1♂, 06.01.1990, M. S. & B. J. Moulds (AMS); Woodgate, 35 km E of Childers, 1♀, 06.11.1984, N. W. Rodd (AMS); Yeppoon, 3♀, 17.11.1978, R. Eastwood (AMS); SA: Adelaide, 1♀, 20.05.1898 (ZMB). INDONESIA:Maluku Province: Ambon Island, 1♂ (ZMB); Jilo, Seram Island, 1♂, 1884, C. Rubbe (ZMB); North Maluku Province: Sanana Island, 1♂, Doherty (ZMB); Papua: 30 km S Nabire, 1♀, 26.07.1998, Balke (NHMW); Yerelua, 2♀, 26.07.1998, Balke & Konyorah (NHMW); West Papua Province: Wondiwoi Mountains, Wasior, 1♂, 01.07.1926, E. Mayr (ZMB), 1♀, 01.07.1928, E. Mayr (ZMB). PAPUA NEW GUINEA:[province unknown]: [no specific locality], 1♀, 1896, Biró (ZMB), 1♂, 29.06.1899, Ramu Expedition (ZMB), 1♀, 1♂, Ramu Expedition (ZMB); East New Britain Province: Mutupit, 10 km W Warangoi, 4°29'S, 152°07'E, 2♂, 06.06.2003, T. Osten (ZMB); "Queen Emmas Bath", 5 km W Kokopo, 4°28'S, 152°19'E, 1♂, 09.-10.06.2003, T. Osten (ZMB); Rabaul, 1♂, May 1902, H. Schoede (ZMB), 1♀, 2♂, May 1905, H. Schoede (ZMB); Ralum, 1♂, 14.05.1886, F. Dahl (ZMB), 3♀, 2♂, 14.05.1896, F. Dahl (ZMB), 2♀, 5♂, 1896-1897, F. Dahl (ZMB), 1♀, 23.05.1891, F. Dahl (ZMB), 1♀, 1♂, F. Dahl (ZMB); Vudanplata, 15 km W Keravat, 4°12'S, 152°00'E, 1♀, 05.-13.06.2003, T. Osten (ZMB); Vunabaur, 30 km S Kokopo, 4°28'S, 152°19'E, 4♂, 07.-12.06.2003, T. Osten (ZMB); Maluku Province: around Tehoru, Seram Island, 1♀, 23.02.1989, Schillhammer (ZMB); Morobe Province: Finschhafen, 1♂, 1910, Hertle (ZMB); Sialum, 2♀, Nov-Dec 1909, Neuhauss (ZMB); Oro Province: Mount Lamington, 1♂, 1927, C. T. McNamara (AMS), 1♂, 01.07.1927, C. T. McNamara (AMS); West New Britain Province: 5 km E Kimbe, 5°32'S, 150°10'E, 2♀, 1♂, 18.-27.06.2003, T. Osten (ZMB), Lamavoro, 10 km S Hoskins, 5°28'S, 150°26'E, 1♂, 21.06.2003, T. Osten (ZMB), Makasili, 20 km E Hoskins, 5°28'S, 150°26'E, 1♂, 19.-24.06.2003, T. Osten (ZMB), Namundo Mill, 20 km W Kimbe, 5°30'S, 150°00'E, 1♀, 22.-25.06.2003, T. Osten (ZMB);3 km S Mosa, 5°38'S, 150°14'E, 1♀, 17.-20.06.2003, T. Osten (ZMB). SOLOMON ISLANDS:Guadalcanal: Lavoro Plantation, 1♂, 1925, C. E. Hart (AMS), 1♂, 07.11.1923, C. E. Hart (AMS), 1♂, 1926-1927, C. E. Hart (AMS); Western Province: Gizo, 1♀, 01.01.1974, N. L. H. Krauss (BMNH).

The collecting localities are shown in Fig. 40C.

Diagnosis.

Males of Sphex cognatus differ from all other Australian Sphex in combining the following features: two lobes emerge from the center of the free clypeal margin, the entire clypeus is densely covered with pubescence, and the pubescence on the propodeum conceals the sculpture. Females are distinguished from those of similar species by the same characters and additionally in having hyaline wings that are at least partially yellow tinged. By contrast, Sphex ahasverus possesses uniformly darkened wings, and the females of Sphex argentatissimus have no hint of yellow on their wings. Also, the similar Sphex vestitus has a longitudinal impression with slightly raised borders on the posterior half of its scutum, whereas Sphex cognatus has an even scutum.

Description.

Body length 21.8-27.6 mm. Body black. Forewing with rather distinct, hindwing with fainter fuscous band at apex. Free clypeal margin medially with two lobes, distance between them less than 1/8 length of flagellomere II. Appressed pubescence and erect setae on clypeus and frons golden. Clypeus entirely pubescent. Distance between hind- ocelli 1.1 × their shortest distance to compound eyes. Pubes cence on collar and scutum golden, the latter with denser, brighter pubescence laterally. Scutellum markedly convex. Propodeal enclosure with dense appressed and more sparse, erect, either golden or silvery pubescence, sculpture almost completely concealed. Length of petiole 1.6 × length of flagellomere II. Tomentum quite dense on metasomal tergum I and II, but very short.

Female: Fore- and hindwing membrane yellowish, sometimes only inconspicuously. Wing veins brown, sometimes partially orange. Lobes on free clypeal margin in same plane as clypeal surface. Forebasitarsal rake with 8-10 long spines. Scutellum without impression.

Male: Forewing membrane hyaline or with slight yellow tinge, hindwing membrane hyaline. Wing veins brown. Lobes on free clypeal margin emerge slightly posteriorly of clypeal surface. Scutellum with shallow medial impression. Metasomal tergum V with few, tergum VI with considerable number of silvery-golden bristles. Metasomal sterna IV–VIII each with increasingly dense brown pubescence apically. Apical margin of metasomal sternum VIII arcuate, its lateral margin concave.

Notes on type material.

The types of Sphex cognatus and its synonyms were not examined, because the character combination in the redescription of the type of its synonym Sphex formosus F. Smith, 1856 by Kohl (1890) (black body, golden pubescence on face and propodeum, convex scutellum, wing membrane sometimes yellowish), which was synonymized with Sphex cognatus by Turner (1910), is sufficient to unambiguously identify this species.