Ammophila menkei DOLLFUSS, 2013

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 : 456-457

Ammophila menkei DOLLFUSS nov. sp. ( Figs 199 , 269 , 334 , 392 , 455 , 574 )

R e c o r d s: Holotype: 3, Tunisia: 56 km S Tataouine, 11. IV.1994, leg. J. Gusenleitner ( OÖLM).

N a m e d e r i v a t i o n: In honor of Dr. Arnold S. Menke, Bisbee, Arizona, USA, an outstanding specialist on Sphecidae .

R e c o g n i t i o n The male of Ammophila menkei is characterized by a clypeus distinctly elongate ( Fig. 199 ), the ventral half of the clypeal disk concave and the dorsal half convex ( Fig. 334 ). Additionally, the inner margin of the mandible has a basal tooth and the genitalia are characteristically shaped ( Figs 392 , 455 , 574 ). The males of A. horni and A. strumosa share with A. menkei the elongate and anteriorly truncate clypeus, but differ conspicuously in having a differently shaped penis valve and gonostyle. The male of A. insignis differs from A. menkei in having the mesopleuron without dense appressed silvery setae, the scutum distinctly transversely ridged and differently shaped genitalia ( A. menkei has the mesopleuron with appressed silvery setae and the scutum punctate). The male of A. guichardi differs from A. menkei in having the clypeal disk all convex and differently shaped genitalia.

D e s c r i p t i o n 3: 18.5 mm. Black, with following yellowish-brown: mandible (except apex), scape ventrally, tegula, fore- and midlegs (except coxae), hindfemur (dorsally black), hindtibia (apically darkened), petiole, tergum I (dorsally black) and gastral segments II-IV. Apical terga black, without metallic shine, wings hyaline. Head (except vertex), thorax and propodeum laterally covered with appressed silvery setae; erect setae whitish. Inner margin of mandible with subapical tooth and short basal tooth; supra-antennal lamellate projection absent. Clypeus elongate, truncate apically ( Fig. 199 ), disk concave on ventral half, distinctly convex on dorsal half ( Fig. 334 ). Pronotal collar sparsely punctate dorsally, scutum distinctly punctate, admedian line poorly developed; scutellum longitudinally striate and punctate. Mesopleuron, metapleuron and propodeum laterally covered with appressed silvery setae that obscure underlying sculpture. Propodeal enclosure irregularly transversely ridged, sparsely covered with appressed setae and silvery-white erect setae. Episternal sulcus extending to anteroventral margin of pleuron, mesothoracic venter anteriorly not prominent, arolia well developed, claws without basal tooth. Gonostyle laterally: Fig. 392 ; penis valve laterally: Fig. 455 , apically: Fig. 574 . Flagellomere I: II=1.4; length of petiole = hindtarsomeres I+II+0.3×III.

♀: unknown.

G e o g r a p h i c a l d i s t r i b u t i o n: Tunisia.

Figures

Figs 198-205: male clypeus.

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

Figs 332-356: male clypeus in lateral view.

Figs 390-397: male genitalia: gonostyle in lateral view.

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

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