Ammoplanus (Ammoplanus) transcaspicus, Gussakovskij, 1931

Boucïek, Zdenek, 2001, Palaearctic species of Ammoplanus (Hymenoptera: Sphecidae), Journal of Natural History 35, pp. 849-929 : 916

A. (Ammoplanus) transcaspicus Gussakovskij

Ammoplanus transcaspicus Gussakovskij, 1931: 454 -455 . Turkmenistan: Uch-Adzhi, SW of Chardzhou. Lectotype female, by subsequent designation ( Marshakov, 1976: 679); in ZMAS (not examined).

Addition to diagnostic features

Male. Marshakov described (1978: 368) the facial mask as`pale yellow’ but a male from Mongolia sent to me on loan from ZMAS has the mask white (as well as the mandibles in females); in an Israeli specimen pale yellow—apparently an intraspeci fi c variation. Clypeus very short (fi gure 128), almost fl at, without median tooth but in its place with a tiny arcuate swelling. Labrum almost twice as long as clypeus, with sides converging, at apex with two rounded lobes. Palpi slender, rather long. Occipital carina distinct but fi ne. Pronotal collar rounded, shiny. Hind basitarsus distinctly but only gradually expanded near middle (fi gure 52). Distal half of sternite 4 and whole surface of sternites 5 and 6 with short pilosity, combed towards sides where becoming longer, in particular in hind corners, forming distinct though loose tufts on sternite 4 and less distinct ones on sternite 5; sternite 6 with longer and slightly denser hair on sides and at the slightly raised apex. For apex of aedeagal gonostyle see fi gure 53.

Female. Head slightly higher than broad, in lateral view twice as long as stout. Clypeus with very small median tooth in form of a black tubercle, lower than broad, not reaching base of labrum (in all examined females of same size). Mandibles very slightly widened in two-thirds of length, then inner margin slightly emarginate; base very broad (fi gure 128). Underside of head in anterior half barely convex, with sparse short hairs; oral fossa almost U-shaped, margined by fi ne carina. Flagellar segments very slightly transverse, apical segment slightly asymmetric. Upper frons, and mesoscutum shiny, with weak but detectable microreticulation, on temples and upper mesepimeron with traces of striation; on frons punctures very small and sparse. Dorsal part of propodeum regularly moderately convex, usually more than two-thirds as long as broad in middle, with almost straight median carina and fi ne rugulose reticulation, sides with fi ne diagonal striation becoming vertical posteriorly. See also Marshakov (1978: 368).

Comment. Very similar to the west Mediterranean A. kohlii with which it is compared in the key above.

Material examined. Turkmenistan: Berzengi nr Ashkhabad, 1♀, 28 April 1991 (Kazenas) . Kazakhstan (W.): 5 km SW of Tansyk at Tansyk River , 1♀, 28 April 1986 (Kazenas); (S., Qizilqum): 50 km SW of settlement Bairkum, 11♀, 14 May 1992 (Janokmen, det. Kazenas; most BMNH) . Mongolia ( Eastern Aimak ): River Numregin Gol 32 km SE of Salkhit, 1♀, 8 April 1976 (Kozlov); (Sühbaatar Aymak): 25 km NW of Bayan-Delger, 1, 19 April 1975 (Kozlov; both Marshakov det., ZMAS) .

Distribution. Kazakhstan, Mongolia.