Tachysphex cretensis, 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 : 75

Taxon classification Animalia Hymenoptera Crabronidae

Tachysphex cretensis sp. n. Figs 3, 44, 94, 104

Type material.

Holotype: ♂, Greece, Crete: "GR,CRETE - SE / Kato Simi, ~ 1000m / 35°02'N, 27°29'E / Sauša lg., 6.-12.V.03". Holotype in NMPC. Paratype: 1 ♂, same data as holotype.

Diagnosis.

Tachysphex cretensis sp. n. is most similar to Tachysphex pompiliformis and Tachysphex opacus . They share a coarsely sculptured mesopleuron and the shape of the mandible is as in the latter species. The species is well recognizable by a coarsely sculptured dark body, four metasomal segments with silvery apical fasciae, the clypeal lip produced medially, the mandibular inner margin shallowly emarginated distally from the inner tooth, lacking any furrow, and a densely microsculptured forefemoral notch. The new species is probably endemic to the island of Crete, Greece.

Description of male (holotype).

Body length: 8.1 mm.

Head. Mandibular inner margin shallowly emarginated distally from inner tooth, with no furrow. Clypeus uniformly convex, slightly elevated, top at clypeal midlength; basomedian area large, sparsely punctate, with nearly impunctate line medially; bevel convex, decreasing to clypeal lip, shiny, with several larger punctures; lip distinctly sinuate, conspicuously produced medially, with distinct lateral corner, lip separated from bevel by punctate groove; WML:LCL = 1.2, WCL:WML = 2.4. Supraclypeal area concave, sparsely punctate, punctures ill-defined, interspaces microsculptured, dull. Supraantennal tubercle distinctly elevated on inner side, shiny. Antenna relatively short, LA3:WA3 = 1.5, LA5:WA5 = 2.1. Frons uniformly finely punctate, punctures well defined, less than one diameter apart, interspaces variable in size, shiny; frontal median line distinct, narrow and finely impressed. Vertex finely and uniformly punctate, punctures well defined, one to less than one diameter apart, interspaces slightly microsculptured, slightly shiny. Vertex setae short, semierect medially, but nearly erect close to inner eye margin, less than 1 × MOD, postocellar impression distinct, shallow, punctate like rest of vertex, Y-shaped; vertex moderately wider than long; WV:LV = 1.4. Gena dorsally well developed.

Mesosoma. Scutum without anterior impression; scutum and scutellum densely punctate, punctures well defined, most punctures less than half diameter apart, interspaces distinct, microsculptured, slightly shiny, setae about 1.0 × MOD or less. Mesopleuron rugose to densely punctate, most punctures in ventral half well defined, interspaces coarsely microsculptured to rugose, slightly shiny to dull; hypoepimeral area coarsely rugose, without distinct punctures, with irregular longitudinal ridges, dull; ventral part of mesopleuron with punctures large, relatively well defined, interspaces finely microsculptured, slightly shiny. Propodeal dorsum coarsely sculptured, with longitudinal ridges; side longitudinally ridged, ridges well developed, interspaces microsculptured, slightly shiny; posteromedial margin of dorsum insignificantly elevated, marginal ridges evanescent, directed ventromedially. Legs densely punctate, punctures small; forefemoral notch small but relatively deep, semicircular, shorter than distance that separates it from forefemoral base, proximal margin relatively sharp, but not distinctly elevated over distal margin; central part of notch slightly elevated, anterior and posterior margin lined by faint ledge, notch surface without distinct setae, coarsely microsculptured, dull. Wings moderately infumate, with brown veins.

Metasoma. Silvery apical faciae of terga I-IV distinctly developed. Apical depressions of all terga shallow, nearly as densely micropunctate as more anterior parts. Terga I-III densely and distinctly micropunctate, punctures ill defined, interspaces microsculptured, slightly shiny; sculpture of terga IV-VII coarser than on previous terga, also puncture denser. Sterna uniformly punctate, nearly like terga. Volsella brown, ventral setae pointing in various directions; apex with numerous setae; dorsal process about as wide as corpus.

Coloration. All body black, except central part of mandibles and terminal tarsomeres dark red. Tegulae brown translucent. Apical parts of all terga slightly translucent.

Geographic distribution.

Known only from the island of Crete, Greece.

Note.

Female unknown. Only two males have been collected so far.

Name derivation.

The species is named after the island of Crete, Greece, where the specimens were collected.