Sphex hades, Dörfel & Ohl, 2022

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 : 65-66

Sphex hades sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:6F6FF34B-032A-457F-A32A-1B83A1337A51

Figs 62 (purple), 66

Differential diagnosis

What separates this species from all other African Sphex is the fact that its males have the appressed clypeal setae black. Regarding other characters, S. hades sp. nov. ( Fig. 66 ) resembles S. victoria sp. nov. ( Fig. 74 ) in having the hindtibia and a substantial part of the mandible ferruginous, and the erect mesosomal setae as well as the wings being dark.

Etymology

‘ Hades ’ is an Ancient Greek noun in apposition and the name of the mythological Greek god of the underworld.

Material examined

Holotype BURKINA FASO – Cascades Region • ♂; Tourni ; [10°46ʹ N, 5°09ʹ W]; 25 May 1968; J. Hamon leg.; MNHN.

Paratypes BENIN – Atakora Department • 1 ♂; Gorgoba ; [10°16ʹ3.2ʺ N, 1°39ʹ37.6ʺ E]; 13 Jul. 1969; J. Hamon leg.; MNHN .

BURKINA FASO – Cascades Region • 1 ♂; same collection data as for holotype; MNHN. – Centre- Ouest Region • 1 ♂; Tiaré ; [11°46ʹ N, 2°13ʹ W]; Jun. 1953; MNHN .

SENEGAL – Kaolack Region • 1 ♂; Saboya, Nioro ; [13°37ʹ10ʺ N, 16°04ʹ58ʺ W]; 1 Aug. 1967; MNHN .

Description

Female

Unknown.

Male

SIZE. 19.5–22.6 mm.

COLOR. Black except for the following, which are ferruginous: basal half of mandible and hindtibia. Wings fuscous, with cyan-violet iridescence.

VESTITURE. Appressed setae on clypeus, collar, scutum and propodeal enclosure black, on paraocular area silvery. Erect setae on clypeus, paraocular area, collar, scutum and propodeal enclosure black. Erect propodeal setae oriented perpendicularly, slightly curved towards anterior. Lower center of clypeus glabrous. Scutellum densely and coarsely pubescent.

STRUCTURE. Free clypeal margin medially with tooth emerging from inner side. Scutellum convex. Metanotum slightly raised, not notably bituberculate. 2 nd recurrent vein joins slightly 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 without conspicuous modifications. Petiole length 2.0–2.6 × its medial width. Flagellomere V with moderately broad placoid covering its proximal fourfifths, flagellomere VI with moderately broad placoid covering between its proximal fifth and its proximal two-thirds.

Variation

Unknown.

Distribution

Western Africa.

Figures

Figs 57–62. 57, 60–61. Sphex tomentosus Fabricius, 1787, ♂. 58. S. torridus F. Smith, 1873, habitus of ♀. 59. S. voeltzkowii Kohl, 1909, habitus of ♂. 57. Habitus. 60. Dorsal view of genitalia. 61. Lateral view of penis valvae. 62. Geographic distribution of S. voeltzkowii (red), S. caeruleanus Drury, 1773 (blue), S. mweruensis (Arnold, 1947) (yellow) and S. hades sp. nov. (purple).

Figs 63–71. 63, 67. Sphex caeruleanus Drury, 1773. 64–65, 68. S. mweruensis (Arnold, 1947). 66. S. hades sp. nov. 69–70. S. haemorrhoidalis Fabricius, 1781. 63–64, 69. Habitus of ♀. 65–66, 70. Habitus of ♂. 67–68. Frontal view of ♀. 71. Geographic distribution of S. haemorrhoidalis (red) and S. victoria sp. nov. (blue).

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).