Sphex Linnaeus, 1758

Dörfel, Thorleif H. & Ohl, Michael, 2022, The wasp genus Sphex in Sub-Saharan Africa (Hymenoptera: Sphecidae), European Journal of Taxonomy 796 (1), pp. 1-170 : 12-13

publication ID	https://doi.org/ 10.5852/ejt.2022.796.1665
publication LSID	lsid:zoobank.org:pub:76C5C9C4-C6C1-4EDC-8FF8-9828A6EF2040
DOI	https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6359731
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03C20928-FF9A-FFAF-40C5-14B3393B0BA1
treatment provided by	Felipe
scientific name	Sphex Linnaeus, 1758
status

Treatment

Key to species groups and ungrouped species of Sphex Linnaeus, 1758 View in CoL View at ENA

1. Erect setae medially on propodeal enclosure extremely short (≤ 0.2 mm); fore- and hindwing yellow with fuscous margin, scutellum and propodeal enclosure ferruginous ( Fig. 39 View Figs 33–40. 33–37 ). Body length greater than 25 mm ......... S. paulinierii Guérin-Méneville, 1843 (subgenus Menkeella subgen. nov.)

– Length of most erect setae medially on propodeal enclosure at least 0.5 mm; color combination different..............................................................................................................................................2

2. Metanotum markedly raised, usually with distinct median impression ( Fig. 7 View Figs 7–12. 7–8 ). Area between metapleural sulcus and upper spiracular groove concave, with bulge anterior to the spiracular groove ( Fig. 9 View Figs 7–12. 7–8 ) ........................................................................................ argentatus group (Key A)

– Metanotum not strongly raised, with indistinct impression or not impressed ( Fig. 8 View Figs 7–12. 7–8 ), or area between metapleural sulcus and upper spiracular groove convex or plane and not bulging ( Fig. 10 View Figs 7–12. 7–8 ) 1 ......................................................................................................................................................3

3. Erect propodeal setae oriented posteriorly ( Fig. 1 View Figs 1–6. 1–3 )........................................................................4

– Erect propodeal setae oriented anteriorly or perpendicularly ( Figs 2–4 View Figs 1–6. 1–3 )......................................5

4. Female: appressed setae on face uniformly silvery ( Fig. 13 View Figs 13–18 ) or rich golden. Male: cellular wing area without yellow tinge; sternum VIII posterolaterally concavely emarginate .............................. .................................................................................................................. nigrohirtus group (Key B)

– Female: appressed setae on clypeus at least medially dark brown ( Figs 14–18 View Figs 13–18 ). Male: apical part of sternum VIII semicircular ( Fig. 20 View Figs 19–24. 19–20 ) or rectangular ( Fig. 25 View Figs 25–32. 25–26 ), if concavely emarginate then cellular wing area with conspicuous yellow tinge ( Fig. 93 View Figure 93–99. 93, 96 ) ................................ bohemanni group (Key C)

5. Petiole length more than 3 × its medial width; basal half of forewing with yellow tinge and yellowish veins ( Fig. 38 View Figs 33–40. 33–37 )....................................................................................................................6

– Petiole much shorter, its length at most 2.8 × its medial width. If longer, then wings without yellow tinge and wing veins dark brown ( Fig. 100 View Figs 100–105. 100–101 )........................................................................7

6. Free clypeal margin in both sexes medially with distinct tooth-like process. Male: placoids on flagellomeres IV–VI, covering their entire length. Western Africa ...... S. cinerascens Dahlbom, 1843

– Process at free clypeal margin broad and very short or absent. Male: placoids on flagellomeres V and VI, covering only their basal third. South and central Asia, Arabian Peninsula ...... ................................................................................................................ S. obscurus Fabricius, 1804

7. Erect propodeal setae oriented anteriorly, especially laterally on propodeal enclosure ( Fig. 2 View Figs 1–6. 1–3 )....8

– Erect propodeal setae oriented perpendicularly ( Figs 3–4 View Figs 1–6. 1–3 )..............................................................9

8. Female: scutellum and metanotum markedly flat ( Fig. 5 View Figs 1–6. 1–3 ). Male: clypeus uniformly black or at most free margin ferruginous; erect clypeal setae silvery; petiole length less than 3× its medial width ............................................................................................................... satanas group (Key D)

– Female: scutellum and metanotum convex ( Fig. 6 View Figs 1–6. 1–3 ). Male: clypeus uniformly black or lower third or half ferruginous ( Fig. 28 View Figs 25–32. 25–26 ); erect clypeal setae silvery, golden or black; petiole length in one species more than 3× its medial width ( Fig. 100 View Figs 100–105. 100–101 ) ............................... gaullei group (Key E)

9. Metanotum not raised medially, with silvery-golden vestiture ( Figs 119–120 View Figs 119–123. 119–120 ). Longest erect setae in anterior center of propodeal enclosure at least 0.75 mm. Madagascar and surrounding islands .................................................................................................... malagassus group (Key F)

– Metanotum raised medially, with black vestiture ( Figs 3–4 View Figs 1–6. 1–3 ). Longest erect setae in anterior half of propodeal enclosure no more than 0.65 mm. Continental Africa............................................10

10. Female: scutellar vestiture coarse and dense ( Figs 3–4 View Figs 1–6. 1–3 ); usually some erect setae (similar length as the long erect metanotal setae) present near scutellar center; propodeal sculpture discontinuously rugose; outer side of midtibial apex with distinctly curved spine. Male: free clypeal margin medially with distinct tooth-like process ( Fig. 27 View Figs 25–32. 25–26 ) ..................................... umtalicus group (Key G)

– Female: scutellar vestiture fine and less dense ( Fig. 8 View Figs 7–12. 7–8 ); scutellar center without any long erect setae like the ones on the metanotum (with long erect setae only being present near posterolateral scutellar margin); propodeal sculpture with fine transverse continuous carinae; spines on outer side of midtibial apex straight. Male: free clypeal margin without tooth-like process ( Fig. 28 View Figs 25–32. 25–26 )......11

11. Female: clypeus black except for ferruginous free margin ( Fig. 101 View Figs 100–105. 100–101 ). Male: appressed facial setae silvery; free clypeal margin largely black, lower clypeal center sometims ferruginous; basal half of mandible black with only a ferruginous stripe medially on mandible ( Fig. 28 View Figs 25–32. 25–26 ) ............................ ....................................................................................................................... S. decipiens Kohl, 1895

– Female: clypeus completely ferruginous ( Figs 36–37 View Figs 33–40. 33–37 ). Male: appressed facial setae brassy or golden; free clypeal margin and basal half of mandible largely ferruginous ..... meridionalis group (Key H)