Ammophila heydeni DAHLBOM

Dollfuss, H., 2013, Revision of the Wasps Genus Ammophila KIRBY 1798 (Hymenoptera Apoidea Sphecidae) of the Palearctic Region and India, Linzer biologische Beiträge 45 (1), pp. 383-564 : 442-443

Ammophila heydeni DAHLBOM ( Figs 36 , 111 , 178 , 218 , 376 , 446 , 511 , 565 )

Ammophila heydeni DAHLBOM 1845: 430 , sex not indicated. Holotype or syntypes: southern Europe : no specific locality (Lund), not examined.

Ammophila iberica Ed. ANDRÉ 1886: 69 , ♀, 3. Syntypes: Portugal: no specific locality (MNHN). Synonymized with Ammophila heydeni by KOHL 1889: 20, not examined.

Ammophila rubra RADOSZKOVSKI 1876: 132 , sex not indicated (authorship attributed to Sichel). Syntypes: Corsica, Caucasus, Egypt, and Kazakhstan (Kraków, ZMMU). Synonymized with Ammophila heydeni by KOHL 1906: 367, not examined.

Ammophila rubriventris A. COSTA 1864: 111 , sex not indicated. Syntypes: France: Corse: no specific locality (NAPOLI). Synonymized with Ammophila heydeni by KOHL 1906: 366, not examined.

Ammophila heydeni var. sarda KOHL 1906: 367 , ♀. Lectotype: ♀, Italy: Sardinia: no specifc locality (NHMW), examined, present designation. Synonymized with Ammophila heydeni rubriventris by PAGLIANO 1990: 60.

M a t e r i a l e x a m i n e d 383♀♀, 69333 (OÖLM), 5♀♀, 133 (BMNH), 3♀♀, 533 (ZMHU), 48♀♀, 6133 (coll. Schmid-Egger), 2♀♀, 733 (coll. Jacobs).

R e c o g n i t i o n Ammophila heydeni has the gasteral apex black without a metallic shine (in some specimens the gaster is all red and in some males nearly all black), in most specimens not pruinose. The supra-antennal lamellate projection is absent, the mesothoracic venter is not prominent anteriorly. The clypeus, frons, mesopleuron more or less and propodeum posterolaterally are covered with appressed silvery setae. Metapleuron without appressed silvery setae or in some specimens with sparse ones, but in all specimens distinctly sparser than on the mesopleuron. Propodeal enclosure all covered with erect setae. Scutum distinctly transversely ridged and more or less punctate. The female of A. rubripes is similar to A. heydeni but differs in having a thorax laterally uniformely covered with appressed silvery setae and the gastral apex distinctly pruinose. The female of A. laevigata differs from A. heydeni in having the propodeal enclosure along midline coarsely reticulate, covered with appressed silvery setae and white erect setae, laterally with coarse transverse rugae and glabrous. In addition, the scutum is smooth and sparsely irregularly punctate (punctures 0-3 diameters apart) and the mesopleuron densely punctate. The female of A. erminea differs from A. heydeni in having a punctate scutum and the thorax uniformely covered with appressed silvery setae. The female of A. roborowski differs from A. heydeni in having a punctate scutum and the thorax and propodeum (including propodeal enclosure) uniformely covered with appressed silvery setae. The male of A. rubripes is similar to A. heydeni but differs in having the mesopleuron, the metapleuron and the propodeum laterally all evenly covered with appressed silvery setae and a characteristically shaped penis valve in apical view ( Figs 567 ). The male of A. laevigata differs from A. heydeni in having a punctate scutum, the propodeal enclosure along midline coarsely rugose and covered with appressed silvery setae, laterally transversely ridged and glabrous, and in the shape of the penis valve ( Figs 447 , 512 ). The male of A. erminea differs from A. heydeni in having a punctate scutum and the mesopleuron, the metapleuron and the propodeum laterally all evenly covered with appressed silvery setae.

This common species is extremely variable, and further studies about its status should be conducted.

D e s c r i p t i o n: Gasteral apex black, without metallic shine (in some specimens gaster all red, in some males nearly all black), in most specimens not pruinose. Supraantennal lamellate projection absent, mesothoracic venter not prominent anteriorly, episternal sulcus extending to anteroventral margin of pleuron, arolia large, claws withoutbasal tooth. Clypeus, frons, pronotal lobe, mesopleuron more or less and propodeum posterolaterally covered with appressed silvery setae. Metapleuron without appressed silvery setae or in some specimens with sparse ones, but in all specimens distinctly sparser than on mesopleuron; erect setae silvery-white. Scutum distinctly transversely ridged and more or less punctate.

♀: 15-22(24) mm. Black, red parts extremely variable: in some specimens mandible (except apex), clypeus adjacent to free margin, tegula, scape, legs and gaster red, in other specimens only fore- and midlegs partly and gaster partly red. Clypeus slightly elongate with more or less distinct median lobe ( Fig. 36 ), disk more or less convex, sparsely punctate. Vertex dull and nearly impunctate, pronotal collar dull, sparsely punctate, dorsally without transverse rugae ( Figs 111 , 178 ). Scutellum longitudinally ridged, punctate, propodeal enclosure transversely rugose and all covered with erect silverywhite setae. Mesopleuron transversely punctato-rugose. Flagellomere I: II=1.6-1.8; length of petiole = hindtarsomeres I+II.

3: 14-20(22) mm. Black, following variably red: legs partly, tegula, terga I-III(IV) (exept for dorsal black stripe in most specimens) and sterna II-IV. Clypeus slightly elongate, ventral margin in the most specimens slightly emarginate ( Fig. 218 ), disk nearly flat. Pronotal collar smooth, shiny and sparsely punctate or in some specimens covered with fine appressed silvery setae. Scutellum and metanotum longitudinally ridged. Propodeal enclosure irregularly punctato-rugose, laterally slightly obliquely ridged and all covered with white erect setae. Mesopleuron and metapleuron coarsely punctato-rugose. Gonostyle laterally: Fig. 376 ; penis valve laterally: Fig. 446 , ventrally: Fig. 511 , apically: Fig. 565 . Flagellomere I: II=1.3-1.6; length of petiole = hindtarsomeres I+II to I+II+III.

G e o g r a p h i c a l d i s t r i b u t i o n Mediterranean Region, part of central Europe, Central Asia, India, Pakistan, Timor.

Figures

Figs 36-43: clypeus of female.

Figs 110-121: pronotal collar of female in dorsal view.

Figs 172-182: pronotal collar of female in lateral view.

Figs 216-226: male clypeus.

Figs 374-389: male genitalia: gonostyle in lateral view.

Figs 444-460: male genitalia: penis valve in lateral view.

Figs 509-526: male genitalia: penis valve in ventral view.

Figs 563-596: male genitalia: penis valve in apical view.