Sphex camerunicus Strand, 1916

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 : 85-89

Sphex camerunicus Strand, 1916

Figs 78 (red), 79–80, 83

Sphex bohemanni var. camerunicus Strand, 1916: 105 , ♀.

Sphex conradti Berland, 1927: 145 , ♀. Syn. nov.

Differential diagnosis

Females can be recognized through a combination of having basally black mandibles, completely black erect propodeal setae and appressed silvery setae on the collar, as well as posterolaterally on the scutum ( Fig. 83 ). In contrast, those of S. incomptus , S. nigrohirtus and S. pulawskii sp. nov. usually have the basal mandible half and the free clypeal margin medially ferruginous. Female S. nigrohirtus have uniformly black setae on the collar, scutum and propodeal enclosure ( Fig. 84 ), whereas those of S. incomptus also have the majority of the propodeal setae silvery, in addition to the silvery appressed setae on the collar and the spot posterolaterally on the scutum ( Fig. 85 ). Females of S. pulawskii sp. nov. resemble those of S. camerunicus in the color of the setae on the collar, but they are distinguished through their silvery appressed and erect setae at the posterior propodeal margin ( Fig. 86 ). Female S. camerunicus are also considerably larger and have a deeper indentation on the clypeus.

Males of S. camerunicus differ in having broad placoids that completely cover flagellomeres IV–VII, and their clypeal indentation and carina are more pronounced as well. Excepting the unmistakable S. ahasverus , the other group members only have a narrow, often discontinuous placoid on flagellomere V. Furthermore, the valvicepes of S. camerunicus have a concave emargination dorsolaterally ( Figs 79– 80 ), while this structure is absent in S. nigrohirtus ( Figs 81–82 ), S. incomptus and S. pulawskii sp. nov.

Material examined

Holotype CAMEROON • ♀; L. Conradt leg.; DEI.

Other material

AFRICA • 2 ♀♀; “ Congo ”; MNHN • 1 ♂; Cap ; MNHN .

ANGOLA – Cuanza Sul Province • 1 ♀; 7 mi. W of Gabela; [10°51ʹ09ʺ S, 14°15ʹ40ʺ E]; 16–18 Mar. 1972; BMNH .

CAMEROON • 1♀; G.Valdau and K. Knutsson leg.; NRS.– Centre Region • 2♂♂; Leboudi ; [3°53ʹ53ʺ N, 11°27ʹ2.4ʺ E]; Sep. 1953; J.-P. Adam and J. Rageau leg.; MNHN • 3 ♂♂; Nkolbisson, Yaoundé ; [3°52ʹ N, 11°31ʹ E]; 21 Oct. 1967; L. Tsacas leg.; MNHN • 1 ♀; Yaoundé ; [3°52ʹ N, 11°31ʹ E]; Molez leg.; MNHN • 2 ♂♂; same collection data as for preceding; MNHN. – South Region • 1 ♀; Douma District ; [3°30ʹ N, 12°21ʹ E]; Schipper leg.; ZMB .

CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC • 1 ♀; 27 Apr. 1918; M. Boulard leg.; MNHN .

DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO • 1 ♀; “ Kwawa ( Bangala )”; 4 Nov. 1922; A. Collart leg.; MRAC • 1 ♀; “ Kwilu ”; Dec. 1913 – Jan. 1914; P. Vanderijst leg.; MRAC. – Bas-Uele • 1 ♀; Bambesa ; [3°28ʹ N, 25°43ʹ E]; Jan. 1933; H.J. Brédo leg.; MRAC • 1 ♀; same collection data as for preceding but 25 Sep. 1933; MRAC • 5 ♀♀; same collection data as for preceding but 20 Oct. 1933; MRAC • 3 ♀♀; same collection data as for preceding but 30 Oct. 1933; MRAC • 1 ♀; same collection data as for preceding but 1 Nov. 1933; MRAC • 2 ♂♂; same collection data as for preceding but Dec. 1933; MRAC • 1 ♀; same locality as for preceding; 14 Aug. 1937; J. Vrijdagh leg.; MRAC • 1 ♂; same collection data as for preceding but 17 Mar. 1939; IRSN • 1 ♀; same locality as for preceding; 9 May 1938; P. Henrard leg.; MRAC • 1 ♂; same locality as for preceding; Dec. 1934; J.V. Leroy leg.; MRAC • 1 ♀; Dingila ; [3°27ʹ N, 26°03ʹ E]; May 1933; H.J. Brédo leg.; MRAC • 1 ♀; Poko-Nala-Rungu ; Jan. 1912; Hutereau leg.; MRAC. – Haut-Katanga • 1 ♀; Mwera ; [10°57ʹ06ʺ S, 27°04ʹ55ʺ E] ; Jan. 1956; R.P. Th. de Caters leg.; MRAC. – Ituri Province • 1 ♀; Nduye-Makara ; [1°51ʹ33ʺ N, 29°00ʹ57ʺ E]; Sep.–Oct. 1921; A. Pilette leg.; MRAC • 1 ♂; Penge ; [1°20ʹ N, 28°09ʹ E] ; 21 Feb. 1919; J. Bequaert leg.; MRAC. – Kasaï-Central • 1 ♀; Kamponde ; [6°41ʹ53ʺ S, 22°55ʹ44ʺ E]; 1945; MRAC. – Kongo Central • 1 ♂; Mangembo ; [4°35ʹ04ʺ S, 14°16ʹ20ʺ E]; 1932; Zwolakowski leg.; MRAC • 1 ♀; Mayumbe ; [4°30ʹ S, 12°30ʹ E]; 1917; R. Mayné leg.; MRAC. – Kwango • 1 ♂, 1 ♀; Kingunda ; [6°34ʹ S, 16°58ʹ E]; 17 Jan. 1939; Mevr. Bequaert leg.; MRAC. – Lualaba • 1 ♂; Kapanga; [8°21ʹ S, 22°34ʹ E]; May 1933; F.G. Overlaet leg.; MRAC. – Maniema • 1 ♂; Lubutu ; [0°44ʹ S, 26°35ʹ E] ; 22 Jan. 1915; J. Bequaert leg.; MRAC. – Mongala Province • 1 ♀; Lisala ; [2°09ʹ N, 21°30ʹ E]; 1940; Leontowitch leg.; MRAC. – North Kivu • 3 ♂♂, 6 ♀♀; Parc National de Virungas, Oycha region ; Apr.–May 1950; J. de Wilde leg.; MRAC • 1 ♀; Rwankwi , N of Lake Kivu; [1°19ʹ12ʺ S, 29°19ʹ12ʺ E]; 15 Aug. 1951; J.V. Leroy leg.; MRAC. – Province of Équateur • 1 ♀; Eala ; [0°02ʹ30ʺ N, 18°20ʹ06ʺ E]; Apr. 1932; H.J. Brédo leg.; MRAC • 1 ♀; same collection data as for preceding but 30 Oct. 1933; MRAC • 2 ♀♀; same locality as for preceding; Apr. 1933; A. Corbisier leg.; MRAC • 1 ♀; same locality as for preceding; Apr. 1935; J. Ghesquière leg.; MRAC • 1 ♂; same collection data as for preceding but Oct. 1935; MRAC. – South Kivu • 1 ♀; Kavumu à Kabunga km82 (Mingazi); [2°01ʹ S, 28°31ʹ E]; 1951; H. Bomans leg.; MRAC • 1 ♀; Lubongola near Shabunda; [2°34ʹ32ʺ S, 27°53ʹ36ʺ E]; 1939; Hautmann leg.; MRAC • 1 ♀; Mulungu ; [2°53ʹ S, 27°07ʹ E] ; 26 Sep. 1938; Hendrickx leg.; MRAC. – Tshopo • 1 ♀; Stanleyville [now Kisangani] ; [0°30ʹ55ʺ N, 25°11ʹ27ʺ E]; Apr. 1915; J. Bequaert leg.; MRAC • 1 ♂; same locality as for preceding; Jun. 1932; J. Vrydagh leg.; MRAC • 1 ♂; same locality as for preceding; 10–13 Sep. 1928; A. Collart leg.; MRAC • 1 ♀; Yangambi ; [0°46ʹ N, 24°27ʹ E]; 1940; MRAC .

EQUATORIAL GUINEA • 1 ♀; “ Bénito ”; MNHN • 1 ♀, lectotype of Sphex conradti Berland, 1927 (designated by Menke in Bohart & Menke 1976: 115); Fernando-Po [ Bioko ]; [3°30ʹ N, 8°42ʹ E]; 1901; L. Conradt leg.; MNHN • 2 ♀♀, paralectotypes of Sphex conradti Berland, 1927 ; same collection data as for lectotype of Sphex conradti Berland, 1927 ; MNHN. – Centro Sur • 1 ♀; Monte Alén, Benito River ; [1°31ʹ48ʺ N, 10°06ʹ36ʺ E]; 16–30 Sep. 1906; G. Tessmann leg.; ZMB • 1 ♀; Uelleburg ; [1°49ʹ N, 10°36ʹ E]; 15–31 Jan. 1907; G. Tessmann leg.; ZMB • 1 ♀; same collection data as for preceding but 15–28 Feb. 1907; ZMB • 1 ♀; same collection data as for preceding but Jun.–Aug. 1908; ZMB • 1 ♀; same collection data as for preceding; ZMB.

GHANA – Ashanti Region • 1 ♀; Tafo ; [6°43ʹ53ʺ N, 1°36ʹ49ʺ W]; 26 Oct. 1970; B. Bolton leg.; BMNH . – Eastern Region • 1 ♂; Aburi ; [5°50ʹ52ʺ N, 0°10ʹ28ʺ W]; 1912–1913; W.H. Patterson leg.; BMNH • 1 ♀; same locality as for preceding; Dec. 1941; K.M. Guichard leg.; BMNH .

GUINEA – Nzérékoré Region • 1 ♀; Mt Nimba ; [7°36ʹ09ʺ N, 8°28ʹ5.6ʺ W]; alt. 1000 m; 2 Jun. 1942; M. Lamotte leg.; MNHN • 1 ♀; Nion, Mt Nimba ; [7°36ʹ09ʺ N, 8°28ʹ5.6ʺ W]; 2 Jun. 1942; M. Lamotte leg.; MNHN .

LIBERIA – Lofa County • 1 ♀; 20 mi. [sic.] Voinjama; 13 Aug. 1966; E.S. Ross and K. Lorenzen leg.; CAS .

REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO – Lékoumou Department • 1 ♂; Mbouloupambou ; [2°32ʹ26.16ʺ S, 13°32ʹ45.96ʺ E]; 11 Feb. 1980; C. Morin leg.; MNHN .

SIERRA LEONE • 1 ♀; A. Mocquerys leg.; IRSN • 1 ♀; W.G. Clements leg.; BMNH. – Eastern Province • 1 ♀; Bomaru ; [8°00ʹ47ʺ N, 10°37ʹ36ʺ W]; 8 Aug. 1912; J.J. Simpson leg.; BMNH. – Western Area • 1 ♀; Freetown ; [8°29ʹ04ʺ N, 13°14ʹ04ʺ W]; E.E. Austen leg.; BMNH .

TANZANIA – Kagera Region • 6 ♀♀; Bukoba ; [1°19ʹ54ʺ S, 31°48ʹ44ʺ E]; 9–11 Jun. 1912; C.C. Gowdey leg.; BMNH .

TOGO – Centrale Region • 1 ♀; Bismarckburg [near Yégué] ; [8°10ʹ32.74ʺ N, 0°41ʹ09.42ʺ E]; 23–26 Nov. 1892; L. Conradt leg.; ZMB • 1 ♀; same collection data as for preceding but 28 May–12 Jun 1893; ZMB • 1 ♀; same locality as for preceding; R. Büttner leg.; ZMB .

UGANDA • 1 ♂, 1 ♀; Toro, Daro or Durro Forest ; 25–29 Oct. 1911; S.A. Neave leg.; BMNH. – Central Region • 1 ♂; “ Entebbe, Forest within 4 mi. of Kitabi Hill ”; 20–25 May 1912; C.A. Wiggins leg.; OUMNH • 1 ♀; same collection data as for preceding but 29 Jun. 1912; OUMNH • 1 ♀; same collection data as for preceding but Sep. 1913; OUMNH • 1 ♀; same collection data as for preceding but Oct. 1913; OUMNH • 1 ♀; Bweya ; [0°11ʹ39ʺ N, 32°32ʹ59ʺ E]; 10 May 1913; C.C. Gowdey leg.; BMNH • 1 ♂; Entebbe ; [0°03ʹ N, 32°27ʹ36ʺ E]; 22 Feb. 1911; C.C. Gowdey leg.; BMNH • 1 ♀; same collection data as for preceding but 26 Aug. 1911; BMNH • 1 ♂, 4 ♀♀; same collection data as for preceding but 14–25 May 1912; BMNH • 1 ♀; same collection data as for preceding but 30–31 May 1912; BMNH • 1 ♂; same collection data as for preceding but Sep. 1912; BMNH • 1 ♀; same locality as for preceding; 10 Apr. 1912; C.A. Wiggins leg.; OUMNH • 1 ♂; same collection data as for preceding but 11 Apr. 1912; OUMNH • 2 ♀♀; same collection data as for preceding but 26 May 1912; OUMNH • 1 ♀; Mabira ; [0°29ʹ03ʺ N, 32°59ʹ05ʺ E]; 15 Sep. 1910; C.C. Gowdey leg.; BMNH • 1 ♂, 2 ♀♀; same collection data as for preceding but 20 Sep. 1910; BMNH • 1 ♂, 1 ♀; Mawakota ; [0°30ʹ N, 32°15ʹ E]; Jul. 1928; V.G.L. van Someren leg.; BMNH • 1 ♀; Mpanga Forest , Mpigi; [0°12ʹ33ʺ N, 32°17ʹ44ʺ E]; 25–30 Nov. 2014; W. Mey leg.; ZMB • 3 ♂♂; NW shores of Victoria Nyanza; [0°25ʹ S, 31°40ʹ E]; 12–15 Sep. 1911; S.A. Neave leg.; BMNH • 1 ♀; Tero Forest ; [0°50ʹ S, 31°40ʹ E]; Jul. 1912; C.C. Gowdey leg.; BMNH • 1 ♀; Tero Forest, SE of Buddo; [0°50ʹ S, 31°40ʹ E]; 26–30 Sep. 1911; S.A. Neave leg.; BMNH. – Western Region • 1 ♀; 20–50 km NEE of Fort Portal; [0°42ʹ29.4ʺ N, 30°35ʹ13.1ʺ E]; 26 Nov. 2001; M. Snižek leg.; THD-023-OOLM ; GenBank CO1 gene: MW538563 ; OÖLM • 5 ♀♀; Unyoro, Budongo Forest ; [1°47ʹ N, 31°34ʹ E]; 11–15 Dec. 1911; S.A. Neave leg.; BMNH .

ZAMBIA – Luapula Province • 1 ♂; Lake Bangweolo, Chishi Island ; [11°04ʹ36ʺ S, 29°51ʹ38ʺ E]; 23–25 Jun. 1908; S.A. Neave leg.; OUMNH .

Description

Female

SIZE. 28.1–32.2 mm.

COLOR. Black except for dark ferruginous stripe in center of mandible. Wings fuscous, with violet luster. VESTITURE. Appressed setae on clypeus, paraocular area and collar silvery, on scutum and propodeal enclosure black. Erect setae on clypeus, paraocular area, collar, scutum and propodeal enclosure black. Erect propodeal setae oriented posteriorly. Central third of clypeus glabrous. Scutellum densely and coarsely pubescent.

STRUCTURE. Free clypeal margin with broad, shovel-like process medially, slightly stepped above. Clypeus with notable indentation in lower center and longitudinal carina above. Scutellum convex. Metanotum not raised, not bituberculate. 2 nd recurrent vein joins markedly proximal from interstitium between submarginal cells II and III. Propodeal enclosure without any notable ridges. Foretarsomere I 2.9–3.2× length of antepenultimate spine. Petiole length 1.9–2.3× its medial width.

Male

SIZE. 25.3–30.9 mm.

COLOR. Black except for ferruginous stripe in center of mandible. Wings fuscous, with violet luster.

VESTITURE. Appressed setae on clypeus, paraocular area and collar silvery, on scutum and propodeal enclosure black. Erect setae on clypeus, paraocular area, collar, scutum and propodeal enclosure black, on paraocular area intermixed with silvery ones. Erect propodeal setae oriented posteriorly. Central third of clypeus glabrous. Scutellum densely and coarsely pubescent. Metasomal sterna III–VI with increasingly dense fringes of black setae.

STRUCTURE. Free clypeal margin simple. Scutellum convex. Metanotum not raised, not bituberculate. 2 nd recurrent vein joins markedly proximal from interstitium between submarginal cells II and III. Propodeal enclosure without any notable ridges. Posterior margin of metasomal tergum VII convex. Posterior margin of metasomal sternum VII simple, of metasomal sternum VIII triangular. Penis valvae fused, inner margin flattened and dorsally raised in its apical fourth, outer margin more broadly raised. Petiole length 2.0–2.3 × its medial width. Flagellomeres IV–VII with broad placoids covering their entire length.

Variation

Unknown.

Distribution

Western and central Africa.

Remarks

This species and its synonym S. conradti were incorrectly synonymized with S. nigrohirtus by Arnold (1928, 1951) and Berland (1952). Our study of the types revealed that S. camerunicus is actually a valid species. The corresponding male is described here for the first time.

Figures

Figs 72–78. 72. Sphex umtalicus Strand, 1916. 73–74. S. victoria sp. nov. 75–76. S. ahasverus Kohl, 1890, male genitalia. 72–73. Habitus of ♀. 74. Habitus of ♂. 75. Dorsal view. 76. Lateral view. 77. Geographic distribution of S. umtalicus (red) and S. ahasverus (blue). 78. Geographic distribution of S. camerunicus Strand, 1916 (red) and S. nigrohirtus Kohl, 1895 (blue).

Figs 79–84. 79–80. Apical third of penis valvae in ♂♂ of Sphex camerunicus Strand, 1916. 81–82. Apical third of penis valvae in ♂ of S. nigrohirtus Kohl, 1895. 79, 81. Dorsal view. 80, 82. Lateral view. 83. S. camerunicus, habitus of ♀. 84. S. nigrohirtus, habitus of ♀.

Figs 85–92. 85–86. Habitus of ♀. 87–90. habitus of ♂. 85. Sphex incomptus Gerstaecker, 1871. 86– 87. S. pulawskii sp. nov. 88. S. abbotti abbotti W. Fox, 1891. 89. S. abbotti nivarius subsp. nov. 90. S. bohemanni Dahlbom, 1845. 91. Geographic distribution of S. incomptus (red) and S. pulawskii sp. nov. (blue). 92. Geographic distribution of S. a. abbotti (red), S. a. nivarius subsp. nov. (blue), S. abyssinicus (Arnold, 1928) (yellow) and S. bohemanni (purple).