Sphex erythrinus ( Guiglia, 1939 )

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 : 31-33

Sphex erythrinus ( Guiglia, 1939)

Figs 41–42, 45, 47 (yellow)

Chlorion umbrosum var. erythrinum Guiglia, 1939: 201 , ♀, ♂ (authorship attributed to Magretti).

Differential diagnosis

Sphex erythrinus is similar to the other species of the argentatus group that have silvery mesosomal vestiture: Sphex feijeni nom. nov. ( Figs 43–44 ), S. lanatus ( Fig. 50 ) and S. rufinervis ( Fig. 51 ). However, females of S. erythrinus can easily be identified through their yellow-tinged wings ( Fig. 41 ). Regarding males, S. rufinervis is distinguished through its partially black erect facial setae, whereas S. lanatus has the glabrous hindtibial area ferruginous-brown, and only flagellomere V is partially covered by a placoid. In S. erythrinus and S. feijeni nom. nov., the integument of the legs is black (though, like in most Sphex , the setae on the inner part of the hindtibia are brighter), but the placoids of S. erythrinus cover flagellomeres III–VI and are almost as wide as them, whereas the placoids of S. feijeni nom. nov. are only half as wide as the flagellomeres and cover III–V.

Material examined

Syntypes (total series consists of 15 ♂♂, 7 ♀♀)

ERITREA – Northern Red Sea Region • 3 ♂♂, 3 ♀♀; Sabarguma [Sebar Guma]; [15°29ʹ37ʺ N, 39°07ʹ32ʺ E]; Mar. 1900; P. Magretti leg.; MSNG.

Other material

KENYA – Taita-Taveta County • 3 ♂♂; Voi ; 3°24ʹ S, 38°33.2ʹ E; 21–22 May 2000; V.F. Lee and W.J. Pulawski leg.; THD-024-CAS ; GenBank CO1 gene: MW538558 ; GenBank EF-1α gene: MW558242 ; GenBank LWR gene: MW582282 ; CAS • 2 ♂♂; same collection data as for preceding; CAS .

Description

Female

SIZE. 28.3–31.1 mm.

COLOR. Black except for basal half of mandible, which is dark ferruginous. Cellular wing area hyaline with yellow tinge, base of fore- and hindwing infuscate. Forewing with fuscous spot beyond marginal cell.

VESTITURE.Appressed and erect setae on clypeus, paraocular area, collar, scutum and propodeal enclosure silvery. Erect propodeal setae oriented anteriorly. Clypeus medially with vertical glabrous stripe.

STRUCTURE. Free clypeal margin medially with broad indistinct process, not stepped. Clypeus without indentation or carina. Scutellum convex. Metanotum raised, notably bituberculate. 2 nd recurrent vein joins slightly proximal from interstitium between submarginal cells II and III. Propodeal enclosure without any notable ridges. Foretarsomere I 2.7–2.9 × length of antepenultimate spine. Petiole length 1.4–1.6× its medial width.

Male

SIZE. 19.9–23.7 mm.

COLOR. Black. Wings hyaline, apical margin of forewing slightly infuscate.

VESTITURE. Appressed and erect setae on clypeus, paraocular area, collar, scutum and propodeal enclosure silvery. Erect propodeal setae crimped, oriented anteriorly. Free clypeal margin medially with longitudinal glabrous stripe. Scutellum densely and finely pubescent.

STRUCTURE. Free clypeal margin simple, medially gently notched. Scutellum convex. Metanotum raised, slightly bituberculate. 2 nd recurrent vein joins markedly 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 2.2× its medial width. Flagellomeres III–VI with broad placoids covering their entire length.

Variation

Unknown.

Distribution

Eastern Africa.

Figures

Figs 41–48. 41–42, 45. Sphex erythrinus (Guiglia, 1939). 43–44, 46. Sphex feijeni nom. nov. 41, 43. Habitus of ♀. 42, 44. Habitus of ♂. 45–46. Male genitalia. 47. Geographic distribution of S. cinerascens Dahlbom, 1843 (red), S. paulinierii Guérin-Méneville, 1843 (blue),S. erythrinus (yellow) and S. feijeni nom. nov. (purple). 48. Geographic distribution of S. fumicatus Christ, 1791.

Figs 49–56. 49. Sphex fumicatus Christ, 1791, habitus of ♀. 50. S. lanatus Mocsáry, 1883, habitus of ♀. 51. S. rufinervis Pérez, 1895, habitus of ♂. 52. S. taschenbergi Magretti, 1884, habitus of ♀. 53. S. fumicatus, frontal view of ♀. 54. S. taschenbergi, frontal view of ♀. 55. Geographic distribution of S. lanatus (red), S. rufinervis (blue) and S. taschenbergi (yellow). 56. Geographic distribution of S. tomentosus Fabricius, 1787 (red) and S. torridus F. Smith, 1873 (blue).