Tachysphex hungaricus, Straka, Jakub, 2016

Straka, Jakub, 2016, Tachysphexaustriacus Kohl, 1892 and T. pompiliformis (Panzer, 1804) (Hymenoptera, Crabronidae) are a complex of fourteen species in Europe and Turkey, ZooKeys 577, pp. 63-123 : 65-68

Taxon classification Animalia Hymenoptera Crabronidae

Tachysphex hungaricus sp. n. Figs 13, 36, 42, 54, 78, 79

Type material.

Holotype: ♀, Hungary: "HU; Hungary, 8.vii.2006 / Örkeny, / 50km SE Budapest / J. Straka lgt., EtOH 96% // ZSM / HYM 23722". Holotype in NMPC. Paratype: Hungary: Pákozd env., pasture stepe, 1 ♀, 10. vi. 2015, M. Halada lgt., JSPC.

Diagnosis.

The female of Tachysphex hungaricus sp. n. resembles Tachysphex austriacus Kohl, Tachysphex prismaticus Straka and Tachysphex smissenae sp. n. and also Tachysphex jokischianus Panzer and Tachysphex punctipleuris sp. n. from the Tachysphex pompiliformis species subgroup in the sculptures and shape of the clypeus. This new species is the most similar to Tachysphex prismaticus . They share a characteristic form of the clypeus with nearly angulated transition between the basomedian area and a nearly flat bevel; vertex punctures without interspaces medially and at least one diameter apart laterally; very short setae of frons, vertex and scutum, about 0.3 × MOD; and uniform microareolate sculpture of propodeal dorsum with longitudinal ridges all over. Tachysphex hungaricus sp. n. differs from Tachysphex prismaticus in its much denser punctation all over the body; its scutum, trochanters and terga are not sparsely punctate. Females of the Tachysphex hungaricus thus resemble species of the Tachysphex pompiliformis species subgroup, but differ from them in having the characters, which were specified as synapomorphies with Tachysphex prismaticus in their comparison. It is the form of clypeus, sculpture of vertex and propodeum and length of vertex setae.

Description of female (holotype).

Body length: 8.2 mm.

Head. Clypeus conspicuously convex, highly elevated, its nearly angular top located slightly dorsally from clypeal midlength; basomedian area well developed, as densely and finely punctate as lateral section, with intermixed large punctures; bevel nearly flat, conspicuously declining, with few large punctures, much longer medially than laterally, but not reaching base of clypeus, bright shiny; lip very slightly arcuate to nearly straight, with median emargination and well developed lateral incisions, separated from bevel by distinct punctate groove, WML:LCL = 1.8, WCL:WML = 1.7. Supraclypeal area flat, finely, densely punctate, punctures ill-defined, interspaces between punctures finely microsculptured, dull. Supraantennal tubercle small, slightly elevated on inner side. Antenna relatively short, LA3:WA3 = 2.2, LA5:WA5 = 2.7. Frons irregularly, very densely punctate, punctures well defined, about half diameter apart, interspaces variable in size, slightly shiny; frontal median line ill defined, not impressed; frontal setae very short, about 0.3 × MOD. Vertex punctate, most punctures well defined, punctures without interspaces medially, but about one diameter apart laterally, punctures laterally slightly larger than medially, interspaces unsculptured, bright shiny. Vertex setae very short, semierect to apressed, about 0.3 × MOD; postocellar impression well developed, widely Y-shaped; vertex slightly wider than long; WV:LV = 1.3. Gena dorsally well developed.

Mesosoma. Scutum without distinct anterior impression; scutum and scutellum with well defined punctures variable in size, less than one diameter apart, interspaces variable in size, shiny, setae gold-brown, about 0.5 × MOD or less. Mesopleuron coarsely microsculptured, with indistinct punctures evanescent in microsculpture; hypoepimeral area finely rugose to coarsely microsculptured, impunctate; ventral part of mesopleuron, with ill-defined punctures, one to less than one diameter apart, interspaces well developed, slightly shiny. Propodeal dorsum uniformly sculptured, very finely areolate with fine irregular longitudinal ridges on entire surface, dull; propodeal side regularly longitudinally ridged, ridges fine, but evenly developed all along, microsculptured, slightly shiny; posteromedial margin of dorsum elevated, produced above marginal ridges, marginal ridges positioned nearly horizontally above groove on posterior side. Legs, including trochanters, densely punctate, punctures small; forebasitarsal rake pale yellowish, with three apical spines, one preapical spin and two other additional spines. Wings slightly infumate, yellowish, with brown veins.

Metasoma. Terga I-III with slightly developed, but distinct silvery apical fasciae, densely, very finely micropunctate, punctures ill-defined, evanescent in microsculpture, interspaces aciculate, slightly shiny; apical depressions shallow with indistinct micropunctures; sculpture of terga VI-V distinctly coarser than on previous terga, punctures denser, ill-defined, but large, one to less than half diameter apart, interspaces microsculptured, apical depression of tergum V coarsely microsculptured, with few scattered punctures. Pygidium of usual size, sparsely punctate, large and minute punctures intermixed, ill defined, but large punctures deep, interspaces nearly unsculptured, shiny. Central part of sternum II with several larger punctures, interspaces microsculptured, shiny; lateral part slightly shiny, densely micropunctate; remaining sterna with uniform sculpture similar to that on sternum II, but more or less reduced laterally.

Coloration. Large area in center of mandibles, terga and sterna I-III and base of tergum and sternum IV red. Distal tarsomeres, apex of pronotal lobe, ventral part of distal antennal segments, apex of clypeal bevel and tip of pygidium dark red. Tegulae reddish translucent. Apical parts of terga I-III slightly translucent. Remaining body parts all black.

Geographic distribution.

Known only from Hungary.

Note.

Male unknown.

Name derivation.

The species is named after the country of origin.