Sphex victoria, 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 : 80-83

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.6535864

persistent identifier

https://treatment.plazi.org/id/DDA85F4D-70BE-49E5-BA6E-5F9A97D64760

taxon LSID

lsid:zoobank.org:act:DDA85F4D-70BE-49E5-BA6E-5F9A97D64760

treatment provided by

Felipe

scientific name

Sphex victoria
status

sp. nov.

Sphex victoria sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:DDA85F4D-70BE-49E5-BA6E-5F9A97D64760

Figs 71 View Figs 63–71. 63, 67 (blue), 73–74

Differential diagnosis

Females of S. haemorrhoidalis ( Fig. 69 View Figs 63–71. 63, 67 ) and S. victoria sp. nov. ( Fig. 73 View Figs 72–78. 72 ) cannot always be distinguished satisfactorily. Especially in specimens from central Africa, where their populations overlap, it is often difficult to decide what color the luster of the appressed paraocular and clypeal setae is, which is one of the only useful diagnostics. The coloration of the legs can also be somewhat helpful, but is variable as well. Thus, the character states mentioned represent the more distinct manifestations that occur mostly in eastern and western Africa for S. victoria sp. nov. and S. haemorrhoidalis , respectively.

In the female of S. haemorrhoidalis , the appressed setae laterally on the clypeus and on the paraocular area have a ferruginous luster ( Fig. 34 View Figs 33–40. 33–37 ). In contrast, it has a silvery luster in S. victoria sp. nov. ( Fig. 35 View Figs 33–40. 33–37 ). Furthermore, S. victoria sp. nov. has at least the apical half of the hindfemora ferruginous, whereas in S. haemorrhoidalis the hindfemora are predominantly black. Females of S. mweruensis are distinguishable through having the erect setae at the posterior propodeal margin silvery ( Fig. 64 View Figs 63–71. 63, 67 ), while those of S. umtalicus have the clypeus ( Fig. 33 View Figs 33–40. 33–37 ) and most of the body black ( Fig. 72 View Figs 72–78. 72 ), and both sexes of S. caeruleanus can be recognized though their very distinctly green wing iridescence ( Fig. 63 View Figs 63–71. 63, 67 ).

Males ( Fig. 74 View Figs 72–78. 72 ) are identifiable through the combination of having uniformly black setae on the thoracical dorsum, the mandibular base brightly ferruginous and the hindtibia at least partially ferruginous. Those of S. haemorrhoidalis ( Fig. 70 View Figs 63–71. 63, 67 ) and S. mweruensis ( Fig. 65 View Figs 63–71. 63, 67 ) have a substantial number of erect mesanotal setae silvery, and S. umtalicus has the legs uniformly black.

Etymology

This species was named after Lake Victoria, as most of the material was collected in its vicinity.

Material examined

Holotype UGANDA – Central Region • ♀; Kampala, [0°18ʹ58ʺ N, 32°34ʹ55ʺ E]; 17 Apr. 1913; C.C. Gowdey leg.; BMNH. GoogleMaps

Paratypes AFRICA • 1 ♀; “ British East Africa ”; 1906; Maurice de Rothschild leg.; MNHN .

BENIN – Atakora Department • 1 ♀; Tiakalakou, Natitingou ; [10°18ʹ N, 1°22ʹ E]; 16 Jul. 1969; J. Hamon leg.; MNHN GoogleMaps .

CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC – Ouham-Pendé • 1 ♂, 1 ♀; Bozoum ; [6°19ʹ02ʺ N, 16°22ʹ42ʺ E]; 1–10 Jun. 1914; G. Tessmann leg.; ZMB GoogleMaps 1 ♀; same collection data as for preceding but 11–20 Jun. 1914; ZMB GoogleMaps .

DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO – Haut-Katanga • 1 ♀; “ Basse Pande ”; 15 Apr. 1944; IRSN 1 ♀; 4 mi. S of Sampwe; [9°23ʹ54ʺ S, 27°24ʹ17ʺ E]; 20 Jan. 1958; E.S. Ross and R.E. Leech leg.; CAS GoogleMaps 1 ♀; Elisabethville [now Lubumbashi] ; [11°40ʹ S, 27°29ʹ E]; Dec. 1925; Van Saceghem leg.; MRAC GoogleMaps 1 ♀; Kakontwe ; [10°59ʹ S, 26°40ʹ E]; 6 Jun. 1965; Coussement leg.; DEI GoogleMaps 1 ♀; Kambove ; [10°52ʹ S, 26°38ʹ E]; 13 Feb. 1907; BMNH GoogleMaps . – Haut-Uele • 1 ♂; Garamba National Park ; 4°10ʹ N, 29°40ʹ E; Jun.–Jul. 1912; Lang and Chapin leg.; AMNH GoogleMaps 1 ♂, 4 ♀♀; same collection data as for preceding but Jul. 1912; AMNH GoogleMaps . – Kongo Central • 1 ♀; Boma ; 6°00ʹ S, 13°00ʹ E; 17 Jun. 1915; Lang and Chapin leg.; AMNH GoogleMaps . – North Kivu • 1 ♂; Beni ; [0°29ʹ N, 29°28ʹ E]; Feb. 1931; L. Lebrun leg.; MRAC GoogleMaps . – South Kivu • 1 ♀; Kadjudju ; [2°09ʹ S, 28°54ʹ E]; 1931; G. Babault leg.; MNHN GoogleMaps .

KENYA • 3 ♀♀; Kakumga [Kakamega] Forest ; [0°17ʹ30ʺ N, 34°51ʹ22ʺ E]; 21–28 May 1911; S.A. Neave leg.; MNHN GoogleMaps 1 ♀; Kisima to Mumias Road; Aug. 1912; A.D. Milne leg.; MNHN 1 ♀; Mogorr River ; May 1913; A.O. Luckman leg.; BMNH 2 ♀♀; Upper Kuja Valley ; S of Kavirondo; alt. 4200 ft; 5–8 May 1911; S.A. Neave leg.; BMNH 8 ♂♂, 13 ♀♀; Yala River , S edge of Kakumga [Kakamega] Forest; 21–28 May 1911; S.A. Neave leg.; BMNH. – Bungoma County • 3 ♀♀; S foot and slopes of Mt Elgon; [0°47ʹ46ʺ N, 34°35ʹ57ʺ E]; 8–13 Jun. 1911; S.A. Neave leg.; BMNH. – GoogleMaps Kakamega County • 10 ♀♀; Maramas Dist., Ilala , 14 mi. E of Mumias; [0°20ʹ13ʺ N, 34°41ʹ31ʺ E]; 18–21 Jun. 1911; S.A. Neave leg.; BMNH GoogleMaps 2 ♀♀; Mumias ; [0°20ʹ05ʺ N, 34°29ʹ16ʺ E]; 15 Jun. 1911; S.A. Neave leg.; BMNH. – GoogleMaps Kisii County • 1 ♀; Kisii District, S Kavirondo; [0°40ʹ S, 34°45ʹ E]; 9–12 May 1911; S.A. Neave leg.; BMNH GoogleMaps .

TANZANIA • 1 ♂; Kidichi-Zanzibar ; [6°05ʹ S, 39°14ʹ E]; Nov. 1960; B.H. Hyde-Wyatt leg.; BMNH. – GoogleMaps Kagera Region • 2 ♀♀; Bukoba ; [1°19ʹ54ʺ S, 31°48ʹ44ʺ E]; 9–11 Jun. 1912; C.C. Gowdey leg.; BMNH GoogleMaps .

UGANDA • 1 ♂; Banks of Nile near Kakindu; alt. 3400 ft; 24–25 Aug. 1911; S.A. Neave leg.; BMNH 2 ♀♀; Eastern Mbale District, S of Mt Elgon; 2–5 Aug. 1911; S.A. Neave leg.; BMNH 1 ♂, 3 ♀♀; Milgana; 30 Apr. 1911; C.C. Gowdey leg.; BMNH. – Central Region • 1 ♀; 3–4 mi. NE of Entebbe; [0°06ʹ14ʺ N, 32°30ʹ34ʺ E]; 25 Jun. 1912; C.A. Wiggins leg.; OUMNH GoogleMaps 1 ♂, 4 ♀♀; Bweya ; [0°11ʹ39ʺ N, 32°32ʹ59ʺ E]; 10 May 1913; C.C. Gowdey leg.; BMNH GoogleMaps 3 ♀♀; same collection data as for preceding but 17 May 1913; BMNH GoogleMaps 2 ♀♀; same collection data as for preceding but 22 May 1913; BMNH GoogleMaps 1 ♀; Entebbe ; [0°03ʹ N, 32°27ʹ36ʺ E]; 13 May 1909; C.C. Gowdey leg.; BMNH GoogleMaps 3 ♂♂, 2 ♀♀; same collection data as for preceding but 14–25 May 1912; BMNH GoogleMaps 1 ♂, 7 ♀♀; same collection data as for preceding but 30–31 May 1912; BMNH GoogleMaps 1 ♀; same collection data as for preceding but 15–22 Jun. 1912; BMNH GoogleMaps 2 ♀♀; same collection data as for preceding but Aug. 1912; BMNH GoogleMaps 3 ♀♀; same collection data as for preceding but 24–25 May 1913; BMNH GoogleMaps 2 ♀♀; same collection data as for preceding but 30 May 1913; BMNH GoogleMaps 1 ♀; same collection data as for preceding but 12 Jun. 1913; BMNH GoogleMaps 1 ♀; same collection data as for preceding but 17 Jun. 1913; BMNH GoogleMaps 1 ♀; same locality as for preceding; 29 May 1909; C.A. Wiggins leg.; OUMNH GoogleMaps 1 ♂; same collection data as for preceding but 5 Jul.–7 Aug. 1909; OUMNH GoogleMaps 1 ♂; same collection data as for preceding but 6–13 May 1912; BMNH GoogleMaps 1 ♀; same locality as for preceding; May 1906; Maurice de Rothschild leg.; MNHN GoogleMaps 4 ♀♀; same collection data as for holotype; BMNH GoogleMaps 3 ♀♀; Mabira Forest ; [0°29ʹ03ʺ N, 32°59ʹ05ʺ E]; 2 Jul. 1913; C.C. Gowdey leg.; BMNH GoogleMaps 1 ♀; Mabira Forest, Chagwe ; [0°29ʹ03ʺ N, 32°59ʹ05ʺ E]; 16–25 Jul. 1911; S.A. Neave leg.; BMNH GoogleMaps 2 ♀♀; Msozi ; [0°51ʹ S, 31°42ʹ E]; Feb. 1903; D. Radcliffe leg.; BMNH GoogleMaps 1 ♀; Mwera; [0°27ʹ47ʺ N, 32°19ʹ56ʺ E]; 2 Aug. 1913; C.C. Gowdey leg.; BMNH. – GoogleMaps Eastern Region • 4 ♀♀; Between Jinja and Busia or Mbwago’s E Busora (Some Forest); [0°15ʹ44ʺ N, 33°35ʹ17ʺ E]; 28 Jul.–1 Aug. 1911; S.A. Neave leg.; BMNH GoogleMaps 1 ♀; Between Kumi and NE shore of Lake Kioga; [1°32ʹ09ʺ N, 33°49ʹ37ʺ E]; alt. 3400–3600 ft; 18–20 Aug. 1911; S.A. Neave leg.; BMNH GoogleMaps 1 ♂, 1 ♀; Jinja; [0°26ʹ20ʺ N, 33°12ʹ11ʺ E]; Aug. 1928; V.G.L. van Someren leg.; BMNH GoogleMaps 1 ♂, 2 ♀♀; Mbale–Kumi Road, 3700 ft S of Lake Salisbury; [1°33ʹ33ʺ N, 33°57ʹ15ʺ E]; 15–17 Aug. 1911; S.A. Neave leg.; BMNH GoogleMaps 1 ♂; SE shore of Lake Kioga; [1°12ʹ43ʺ N, 33°26ʹ09ʺ E]; alt. 3400 ft; 21 Aug. 1911; S.A. Neave leg.; BMNH. – GoogleMaps Western Region • 1 ♀; Fort Portal Road, Mbarara, Southern Toro ; [0°36ʹ48ʺ S, 30°38ʹ54ʺ E]; 22–24 Oct. 1911; S.A. Neave leg.; BMNH GoogleMaps 4 ♂♂, 2 ♀♀; SE of Ankole; 4–8 Oct. 1911; S.A. Neave leg.; BMNH .

Description

Female

SIZE. 23.0–25.0 mm.

COLOR. Black except for the following, which are ferruginous: basal half of mandible, clypeus, scape, pedicel and legs from apical half of femur onward, excluding apical half of claw. Wings fuscous, with cyan-violet iridescence.

VESTITURE. Appressed setae on clypeus and paraocular area silvery, on collar, scutum and propodeal enclosure black. Erect setae on clypeus ferruginous, black towards dorsal margin, on 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 broad, notched tooth, stepped above. Clypeus without indentation or carina. Scutellum convex. Metanotum slightly raised, not notably bituberculate. 2 nd recurrent vein nearly joins interstitium between submarginal cells II and III. Propodeal enclosure without any notable ridges. Foretarsomere I 2.7–3.2 × length of antepenultimate spine. Petiole length 1.6–2.2× its medial width.

Male

SIZE. 23.2–23.7 mm.

COLOR. Black except for the following, which are ferruginous: basal half of mandible and hindleg from tibia onward, excepting apical half of claw. Wings fuscous, with cyan-violet iridescence.

VESTITURE. Appressed setae on clypeus and paraocular area silvery, on collar, scutum and propodeal enclosure black. 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 concave, with tooth emerging from inner side. Scutellum convex. Metanotum slightly raised, not notably bituberculate. 2 nd recurrent vein nearly joins 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 2.1–2.4 × its medial width. Flagellomeres IV–VI with broad placoids covering their entire length.

Variation

Unknown.

Distribution

Eastern to central Africa.

MNHN

France, Paris, Museum National d'Histoire Naturelle

IRSN

Belgium, Brussels, Institut Royal des Sciences Naturelles de Belgique

CAS

USA, California, San Francisco, California Academy of Sciences

MRAC

Belgium, Tervuren, Musee Royal de l'Afrique Centrale

DEI

Germany, Muencheberg, Deutsches Entomologisches Institut im ZALF

AMNH

USA, New York, New York, American Museum of Natural History

OUMNH

United Kingdom, Oxford, University Museum of Natural History

ZMB

Museum für Naturkunde Berlin (Zoological Collections)

IRSN

Institut Royal des Sciences Naturelles de Belgique

CAS

California Academy of Sciences

MRAC

Musée Royal de l’Afrique Centrale

DEI

Senckenberg Deutsches Entomologisches Institut

AMNH

American Museum of Natural History

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Arthropoda

Class

Insecta

Order

Hymenoptera

Family

Vespidae

Genus

Sphex

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