Sphex occidentalis, Dörfel & Ohl, 2022

Dörfel, Thorleif H. & Ohl, Michael, 2022, The wasp genus Sphex in Sub-Saharan Africa (Hymenoptera: Sphecidae), European Journal of Taxonomy 796 (1), pp. 1-170 : 157-159

publication ID

https://doi.org/ 10.5852/ejt.2022.796.1665

publication LSID

lsid:zoobank.org:pub:76C5C9C4-C6C1-4EDC-8FF8-9828A6EF2040

DOI

https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6535938

persistent identifier

https://treatment.plazi.org/id/8E9952D5-7732-4DF4-92F3-534DD7774D47

taxon LSID

lsid:zoobank.org:act:8E9952D5-7732-4DF4-92F3-534DD7774D47

treatment provided by

Felipe

scientific name

Sphex occidentalis
status

sp. nov.

Sphex occidentalis sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:8E9952D5-7732-4DF4-92F3-534DD7774D47

Figs 123 View Figs 119–123. 119–120 (green), 127–128

Differential diagnosis

Both sexes of this species are easy to distinguish from other members of the group by having the collar, scutellum and metanotum, or at least their dorsal parts, ferruginous instead of black ( Figs 127–128 View Figs 124–128. 124–125, 127 ).

Etymology

Occidentalis ’ is a Latin adjective meaning ‘western’. It describes the geographic distribution of this species and also references the name of the closely related S. meridionalis .

Material examined

Holotype BURKINA FASO – Hauts-Bassins Region • ♀; Soumousso ; [11°00ʹ51.9ʺ N, 4°02ʹ42.9ʺ W]; 16 Oct. 1968; J. Hamon leg.; MNHN. GoogleMaps

Paratypes GAMBIA – Banjul • 1 ♂; Banjul ; [13°27ʹ09ʺ N, 16°34ʹ40ʺ W]; 10–23 Nov. 1983; K.M. Guichard leg.; BMNH GoogleMaps .

NIGERIA – Oyo State • 2 ♀♀; Fashola near Oyo; [7°54ʹ N, 3°47ʹ E]; Nov. 1974; J.T. Medler leg.; BMNH GoogleMaps 2 ♀♀; same collection data as for preceding but 15 Nov. 1975; USNM GoogleMaps .

SENEGAL – Thiès Region • 3 ♂♂; Ft de Bandia ; [14°37ʹ25ʺ N, 17°01ʹ40ʺ W]; 15–17 Nov. 1967; M. Coruet leg.; MNHN GoogleMaps .

Description

Female

SIZE. 20.1–23.9 mm.

COLOR. Black except for the following, which are ferruginous: basal half of mandible, scape, pedicel, flagellomeres I–V, clypeus, legs from trochanter onward excluding apical half of claw, collar dorsally, tegula, dorsal part of scutellum and metanotum, and apical segment of metasoma. Wings fuscous, forewing with conspicuous purple iridescence.

VESTITURE.Appressed and erect setae on clypeus, paraocular region, collar and scutum golden, appressed and erect setae on propodeal enclosure brown. Erect propodeal setae oriented perpendicularly, slightly curved towards anterior. Clypeus without glabrous spot. Scutellum densely and finely pubescent.

STRUCTURE. Free clypeal margin slightly stepped medially. Clypeus without indentation and carina. Scutellum convex. Metanotum not raised, not bituberculate. 2 nd recurrent vein joins sligthly proximal from interstitium between submarginal cells II and III. Propodeal enclosure with numerous very fine transversal ridges. Foretarsomere I 2.2–2.3× length of antepenultimate spine. Petiole length 1.2–1.4 × its medial width.

Male

SIZE. 17.1–20.1 mm.

COLOR. Black except for the following, which are ferruginous: basal half of mandible, clypeus excepting dorsolateral area, scape, pedicel, flagellomeres I–V, collar, prepectus, tegula, scutellum and occasionally metanotum dorsally, apical segment of metasoma, legs from trochanter onward excepting trochanters, and femora of mid- and hindlegs dorsally. Wings fuscous, with conspicuous purple iridescence.

VESTITURE. Appressed setae on clypeus and paraocular area silvery-golden, on collar, scutum and propodeal enclosure ferruginous-brown, on posterior margin of propodeum silvery. Erect setae on clypeus, paraocular region, collar, scutum and propodeal enclosure ferruginous-brown or black, on posterior margin of propodeum silvery. Erect propodeal setae oriented perpendicularly, slightly curved towards anterior. Lower part of clypeus glabrous. Scutellum densely and finely pubescent.

STRUCTURE. Free clypeal margin medially concave, very inconspicuously stepped medially. Scutellum convex. Metanotum raised, not notably bituberculate. 2 nd recurrent vein joins slightly proximal from interstitium between submarginal cells II and III. Propodeal enclosure without any notable ridges. Posterior margin of metasomal tergum VII convex. Posterior margin of metasomal sternum VII simple, of metasomal sternum VIII triangular. Penis valvae without conspicuous modifications. Petiole length 1.9× its medial width. Flagellomere V with narrow placoid covering almost its entire length.

Variation

Unknown.

Distribution

Western Africa.

USNM

USA, Washington D.C., National Museum of Natural History, [formerly, United States National Museum]

USNM

Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of Natural History

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Arthropoda

Class

Insecta

Order

Hymenoptera

Family

Vespidae

Genus

Sphex

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