Ammophila rubripes SPINOLA, 1839

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 : 480-481

Ammophila rubripes SPINOLA ( Figs 37 , 85 , 179 , 220 , 378 , 448 , 513 , 567 )

Ammophila rubripes SPINOLA 1839: 465 , ♀. Lectotype: ♀, Egypt: no specific locality (TORINO), designated by DE BEAUMONT 1952: 45, photograph examined.

Ammophila propinqua TASCHENBERG 1869: 433 , 3. Holotype or Syntypes: 3, Sudan: Khartum (HALLE). Synonymized with Ammophila rubripes by GUIGLIA 1948: 32, synonymy confirmed by DE BEAUMONT 1952: 45.

Ammophila syriaca MOCSÁRY 1883: 30 , ♀. Holotype: ♀, Syria: no specific locality (TMB). Synonymized with Ammophila propinqua by KOHL 1906: 363, not examined.

Ammophila dantoni ROTH in NADIG 1933: 101, ♀ only. Paratype: ♀, Morocco: Marrakech (ZÜRICH), examined, new synonym.

M a t e r i a l e x a m i n e d: lectotype photograph ♀ (TORINO). 32♀♀, 3233 (OÖLM), 20♀♀, 733 (NHMW), 3♀♀, 1033 (coll. Schmid-Egger).

N o t e: The male described by ROTH in NADIG (1933: 101) as Ammophila dantoni is

conspecific with Ammophila erminea KOHL 1901 .

R e c o g n i t i o n Ammophila rubripes has the gastral apex black without metallic shine, but in most specimens pruinose, the mesothoracic venter not prominent anteriorly and the episternal sulcus extending to the anteroventral margin of the pleuron. Additionally, the scutum is transversely striate and punctate and the head, the thorax and the propodeum are covered with appressed silvery setae. The female is similar to A. erminea but differs in having the scutum with transverse striae and punctures between them and a pronotal collar in many specimens all or partly yellowish-brown. The female of A. heydeni differs from A. rubripes in having the metapleuron not covered or distinctly less covered with appressed silvery setae than the mesopleuron. The male of A. rubripes is similar to A. erminea but differs in having the scutum transversely striate and the penis valve distinctly narrowed basally in apical view ( Fig. 567 ) ( A. erminea has the scutum punctate and the penis valve not distinctly narrowed in apical view). The male of A. guichardi differs from A. rubripes in having the scutum punctate and differently shaped genitalia. The male of A. heydeni is similar to A. rubripes but differs in having the metapleuron with no or extremely sparse appressed, silvery setae and the penis valve basally not narrowed in apical view (fig. 565).

D e s c r i p t i o n: Gastral apex black, without metallic shine, but in most specimens pruinose, mesothoracic venter not prominent anteriorly, episternal sulcus extending to anteroventral margin of pleuron, arolia distinct, claws without basal tooth. Scutum transversely striate and punctate.

♀: 17.5-23.5 mm. Black, with following extremely variable yellowish-brown: mandible (except apex), ventral half of clypeus, scape, pronotal collar (varying from all yellowishbrown to all black), pronotal lobe, tegula, petiole (partly darkened), tergum I (in some specimens with dorsal black stripe), terga II-III (variable), sterna II-V, legs (variable). Head, thorax, propodeum and hindcoxa dorsally covered with appressed silvery setae; setae sparser on pronotal collar, scutum and pronotal enclosure; erect setae silvery-white. Clypeus elongate ( Fig. 37 ), ventral one-third not covered with appressed silvery setae, sparsely punctate, disk distinctly convex ( Fig. 85 ). Pronotal collar sparsely, finely punctate; scutellum slightly longitudinally striate and punctate. Propodeal enclosure transversely striate and all covered with long, white, erect setae, mesopleuron and metapleuron punctato-rugose. Pronotal collar laterally: Fig. 179 . Flagellomere I: II=1.6- 1.9; length of petiole = hindtarsomeres I+0.5×II to I+II+0.5×III.

3: 17.5-22 mm. Black, with yellowish-brown color extremely variable, as in females. Head (except vetex), thorax and propodeum uniformely covered with appressed silvery setae that in most specimens do not obscure underlying sculpture; erect setae white. Clypeus elongate and median lobe straight ( Fig. 220 ), disk convex. Pronotal collar sparsely punctate; scutellum longitudinally striate and punctate. Propodeal enclosure transversely rugose and covered with sparse, appressed setae and silvery-white erect setae. Genitalia: penis valve laterally: Fig. 448 , ventrally: Fig. 513 , apically distinctly narrowed basally: Fig. 567 , gonostyle broad basally but sharply narrowing to form acute apical end: Fig. 378 . Flagellomere I: II=1.4-1.5; length of petiole = hindtarsomeres I+II+0.5×III 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: Jordan, Israel, Egypt, Syria, Arabian Peninsula, Africa.

Figures

Figs 36-43: clypeus of female.

Figs 85-109: clypeus of female in lateral 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.