Sphex libycus, de Beaumont, 1956

Schmid-Egger, Christian, 2019, A review oI the Sphex flavipennis species group (Hymenoptera, Sphecidae) in northwest AIrica with description oI two new species and a discussion oI a species Irom Sardinia, Linzer biologische Beiträge 51 (1), pp. 459-471 : 464

Sphex libycus BEAUMONT, 1956 (figs 6, 16)

Sphex libycus de BEAUMONT, 1956:182, male, female. Holotype: female, Libya: Cyrenaica : Porto Bardia (Zürich).

M a t e r i a l e x a m i n e d: 1 male 20.vi.2007 Tunisia, Chenini (CSE).

D i s t r i b u t i o n: Sphex libycus is recorded from Egypt and Libya (MENKE & PULAWSKI 2000), and new to the fauna of Tunisia.

Sphex maroccanus SCHMID- EGGER nov.sp. (figs 7, 17)

Holotype: Morocco male 11.vi.2014 15 km SE Ait Baha, Seisid 30.04N 9.08W (barcoding voucher number BC ZSM HYM 22118, coll. ZSM) . Paratypes: Morocco: 1 male 1 female 16.vi.2014 20 km E Tiznit, Assaka 29.690N 9.530W ; male 12.iv.2015 Tata 29.778N 7.978W (barcoding voucher number BC ZSM HYM 24541), 1 female 15.vi.2014 Morocco, 30 km NNW Tazenakht, on route N10, 30.830N 7.288W ; male 12.iv.2015 Tata 29.778N 7.978W (barcoding voucher number BC ZSM HYM 24540) ; 5 females 30.iv.2018 18 km NE Sidi Ifni, Beach 29.516N 10.070W (barcoding voucher number of two females: BC-ZSM-HYM-29771-C09, BC-ZSM-HYM-29771-C10) (all leg. CSE, coll. CSE and ZSM) .

D i a g n o s i s: Sphex maroccanus is similar to S. funerarius and differs clearly genetically (fig. 1). The male has S8 right angled apically, whereas the angle is always acute in S. funerarius , and the apex is slightly pointed. AS 5-10 have placoids, whereas all examind males of S. funerarius from Tunisia lack placoid on AS 10. Females differ from Tunisian females by less extended red colour on leg. Mid- and hindtibia and tarsi are completely red in S. funerarius , whereas midtibia is partly and hindtibia all black in S. maroccanus . The red body colour (legs and abdomen) is orange red in S. funerarius , and dark red in S. maroccanus . So, both females are different in North Africa, but S. maroccanus resembles females from Europe in colour pattern. See also remark at S. funerarius .

D e s c r i p t i o n o f m a l e h o l o t y p e: Body length: 19.0 mm. Colour: Black, with the following parts red: Mandible medially, T 1-3 and S 1-3 (apart from black petiole), basal half of S4, T4 laterally. Long erect pilosity of head, mesosoma and petiole white. Wings greyish transparent, apex darker than remaining wing. Morphology: AS 5-10 with large placoids. Petiole 1,8x as long as maximum width. S8 with right angle apically. Similar to S. funerarius in all remaining characters. Male paratypes agree with holotype.

D e s c r i p t i o n o f f e m a l e: Body length 19.5-23.0 mm. Colour: Black, red are: basal half of mandible, tegula, T 1-3 and S 1-3 (apart from black petiole), basal half of S4, T4 laterally, underside and apex of forefemur, large apical spot on underside and apex of midfemur, apex of hindfemur, fore- and midtibia, tarsi. Hindtibia black with some red on underside. Wings greyish transparent with darker apex, with some yellow shimmer. Erect pubescence of head and mesosoma white. Petiole 1,8x as long as maximum width. Agree otherwise with S. funerarius .

G e o g r a p h i c d i s t r i b u t i o n: SouthernMorocco.

H a b i t a t: The species was found in semi-arid and steppe like habitats in southern Morocco. It was collected together with S. schlaeflei .

E t y m o l o g y: The species is named after the country of origin, Morocco.