Sphex ephippium F. Smith, 1856

Doerfel, Thorleif H. & Ohl, Michael, 2015, A revision of the Australian digger wasps in the genus Sphex (Hymenoptera, Sphecidae), ZooKeys 521, pp. 1-104 : 18-19

Taxon classification Animalia Hymenoptera Sphecidae

Sphex ephippium F. Smith, 1856

Sphex ephippium F. Smith, 1856: 249, ♀, junior primary homonym of Sphex ephippius Linnaeus, 1767 (now in Sphecodes ). Holotype or syntypes: ♀, Australia: Northern Territory: Port Essington (BMNH). Not examined.

Material examined.

AUSTRALIA:[state unknown]: [no specific locality], 1♀ (BMNH); "North Australia", 1♀ (BMNH); NSW: North Beach, Bellinger R., 1♂, 15.01.1971, D. K. McAlpine (AMS); NT: 29 km NW Mataranka, 14°45.5'S, 132°51.1'E, 1♂, 05.04.2008, W. J. Pulawski & G. A. Williams (CAS); Dick Creek, 73 km WSW Timber Creek, 15°50'7"S, 129°54'5"E, 1♂, 12.04.2008, G. Williams & W. Pulawski (AMS); Groote Eylandt, 1♀, 28.01.1925, G. H. Wilkins (BMNH), 1♂, 12.02.1925, G. H. Wilkins (BMNH); 17 miles NNE of Newcastle Waters, 1♀, 13.03.1967, M. S. Upton (ANIC); Port Darwin, 1♂, Dec 02 (ANIC), 1♀ (BMNH); QLD: [no specific locality], 2♂, E. Saunders (BMNH); "Mid Queensland", 1♂ (BMNH); Bamaga, Cape York, 1♀, 26.03.1964, I. F. B. Common & M. S. Upton (ANIC); Brisbane, 1♂, Feb–Mar 43, E. F. Riek (ANIC); Bundaberg, 1♀, 01.02.1971, H. Frauca (ANIC); Byfield State Forest, 1♀, 05.01.1976, G. Daniels (AMS); Cairns, 1♂, 01.01.1902 (ANIC); Cape York, 1♀, 01.08.1986, N. W. Rodd (AMS), 1♂, 05.08.1986, N. W. Rodd (AMS), 1♀, 29.05.1991, N. W. Rodd (AMS); Chili Beach near Portland Roads, 2♂, 25.08.1983, N. W. Rodd (AMS), 1♀, 1♂, 26.08.1983, N. W. Rodd (AMS); Claudie River, 3 miles W of Mount Lamond, 1♀, 13.01.1972, D. K. McAlpine & G. A. Holloway (AMS); 8 km W of Cooktown, 1♀, 17.07.1982, N. W. Rodd (AMS);Dunk Island, 1♀, 31.12.1949-05.01.1950, G. B. (ANIC); Eidsvold, 1♂, 01.01.2023, Mackerras (AMS); Hammond Island, 1♀, 14.03.1963, R. J. Docherty (BMNH); Mackay, 1♀, 1947, A. Marriage (AMS); Prince of Wales Island, 1♀, 13.02.1975, Torres (AMS); Thursday Island, 1♀, 14.01.1939 (BMNH); Walkers Creek, 35 km NNE of Normanton, 1♀, 02.01.1990, M. S. & B. J. Moulds (AMS); SA: Adelaide, 1♀ (ZMB); WA: Bullsbrook, 1♂, 13.01.1966, O. W. Richards (BMNH); 3 km NWbyW of Millstream, 21°34'S, 117°03'E, 1♂, 05.04.1971, E. F. Riek (ANIC).

Diagnosis.

Sphex ephippium is unique in the combination of a tuberculate metanotum, appressed golden pubescence on the clypeus interspersed with longer dark setae, and long, silvery-white pubescence concealing the sculpture of the propodeal enclosure.

Description.

Body black. Wing membrane darkened at base, with fuscous band at apex. Wing veins dark brown. Appressed pubescence on clypeus and frons golden, erect setae on clypeus black and on frons golden. Clypeus with medial glabrous stripe. Pubescence on collar and scutum silvery, denser laterally and posteriorly on latter. Scutellum convex. Metanotum markedly raised, tubercles indistinct. Propodeal enclosure densely covered with long, silvery-white pubescence aligned anteriorly, mostly concealing sculpture. Tomentum moderately dense on metasomal tergum I and II.

Female: Body length 22.8-30.6 mm. Free clypeal margin slightly scoop-shaped, with indistinct emarginations. Distance between hind- ocelli slightly smaller than their shortest distance to compound eyes. Forebasitarsal rake with nine long spines. Scutellum without impression. Length of petiole 1.7 × length of flagellomere II. Tomentum absent on apical half of metasomal tergum II.

Male: Body length 21.2-24.6 mm. Free clypeal margin truncate, concave towards center. Distance between hind- ocelli 1.15 × their shortest distance to compound eyes. Scutellum with or without medial impression. Length of petiole almost twice length of flagellomere II. Metasomal terga V and VI covered with black bristles. Metasomal sterna II–V with a few erect black setae, VI–VIII more densely covered with silvery setae and brown ones with silvery tips. Metasomal sternum VIII entire, its lateral margin straight.

Notes on type material.

The type of Sphex ephippium was not examined, because the character combination in the original description (darker setae among the golden pubescence of the face, dense silvery pubescence on propodeal enclosure) is sufficient to unambiguously identify this species.