Palmodes mandarinius (F. Smith, 1856 )

Danilov, Yuriy N. & Byvaltsev, Alexander M., 2020, The digger wasps of the genus Palmodes Kohl, 1890 in Central Asia (Hymenoptera Sphecidae: Prionychini), Zootaxa 4803 (3), pp. 401-434 : 410-413

Palmodes mandarinius (F. Smith, 1856) , status resurrected

( Figs 3c , 4c , 7 , 8 , 22, 23 )

Sphex mandarinius F. Smith, 1856:256 (as Mandarinia), ♀. Holotype, ♀, “N. China. 54.8 // mandarinia Type Sm // B.M. TYPE HYM. 21. 643 // Type [circle with a red edge] // China: Shanghai Coll. Mr Fortune purch. Mr Stevens BMNH(E) 1854-8 // ♀ SYNTYPE Sphex mandarinius Smith F. 1856: 256 // BMNH(E) #969435” [ China: Shanghai] (BMNH), a photograph examined. Synonymized with Sphex occitanicus by Piel 1935:295.

Sphex montanus F. Morawitz, 1889:128 , ♀. Holotype, ♀, “M. Jan-Myn-Guan. 18.VII.[18]84 Potanin // к. Ф Моравица [cyril- lic] // Sphex montanus ♀ F. Morawitz // HOLOTYPE ♀ Sphex montanus F. Morawitz, 1889 [red label]” [ China: Shanxi, Xinzhou prefecture, Daixian, Yanmenguan] (ZISP), examined. Synonymized with Sphex occitanicus by Kohl 1890:317, synonymy confirmed in 1895:45. New Synonymy.— F. Morawitz 1891b:235.

Diagnosis. The male of P. mandarinius closely resembles P. occitanicus , P. strigulosus and P. orientalis . It differs from P. occitanicus in having the middle clypeal lobe distinctly longer than lateral one, in lacking the lateral clypeal emargination, and in having the mesopleuron dull, finely punctate and rugose ( P. occitanicus has the middle clypeal lobe slightly longer than lateral one, the lateral clypeal emargination moderately to distinctly defined, and the mesopleuron slightly shiny, coarsely areolate-rugose). Unlike P. strigulosus and P. orientalis it has the scutum finely microareolate-rugose and indistinctly punctate with fine, sparse, inconspicuous, semiappressed, brownish setae ( P. strigulosus and P. orientalis have the scutum distinctly, densely micropunctate and finely rugose with fine, conspicuous, semiappressed, goldish or pale setae). It differs from P. orientalis by the shape of the clypeus whose middle lobe is moderately elongated ( P. orientalis has the middle clypeal lobe distinctly elongated). It is similar to P. hissaricus in having the metasoma reddish basally, but differs in having the clypeus with moderately defined lateral lobe ( P. hissaricus has a semicircular clypeus with a slightly defined lateral lobe). The melanistic male of P. mandarinius resembles P. minor by coloration, but differs by the shape of the clypeus whose middle lobe is moderately elongated, not narrow anteriorly, and the scutum slightly shine or dull, densely microareolate-rugose ( P. minor has the middle clypeal lobe distinctly elongated, distinctly narrow anteriorly, and the scutum shiny, punctatorugose with an impunctate interspaces).

The female of P. mandarinius (typical and melanistic form) closely resembles P. occitanicus and P. hissaricus by the coloration. It differs from P. occitanicus in having lateral clypeal emargination distinctly defined, the clypeus with dense, appressed, silvery setae, concealing integument, and the mesopleuron dull, finely rugose and punctate ( P. occitanicus has the lateral clypeal emargination slightly defined, the clypeus with sparse, appressed, brownish setae, not concealing integument, and the mesopleuron slightly shiny, coarsely areolate-rugose and punctate ventrally). Unlike P. hissaricus it has the lateral clypeal lobe with a rounded anterior margin and the scutum dull, microsculptured ( P. hissaricus has the lateral clypeal lobe moderately acuminate and the scutum shiny, punctate). It is similar to P. minor in the mesosoma sculpture and coloration, but differs in having the clypeus broad: 2.1–2.3 × as wide as its height, and in having black legs ( P. minor has the clypeus less than 2.0 × as wide as it height, and partly reddish legs). The melanistic female of P. mandarinius resembles P. orientalis , but differs in having the scutum with sparse, inconspicuous, appressed, pale setae, and in lesser body length—up to 22 mm ( P. orientalis has the scutum with conspicuous, appressed, pale setae, moderately concealing integument, and the body length more than 23 mm).

Description. Male ( Fig. 7c ). Body length 12–17 mm. Head. Clypeus nearly semicircular; middle lobe moderately elongated, slightly emarginate apically; lateral lobe moderately defined; lateral emargination not defined ( Fig. 3c ). Clypeus, subantennal sclerite and paraocular area with dense, appressed, silvery setae ( Fig. 8d ). Frons dull, punctate. Vertex, occiput and gena slightly shiny, microsculptured, punctate. Mandible and palpi black. Erect setae dense, black, as long as, or longer than scape. Mesosoma . Pronotum and scutum slightly shiny or dull, finely microareolate-rugose and indistinctly punctate with fine, sparse, inconspicuous, semiappressed, brownish setae ( Fig. 8e ). Mesopleuron microsculptured, slightly shiny, finely punctatorugose ( Fig. 8f ). Metapleuron and propodeum slightly shiny, obliquely rugose. Propodeal enclosure dull, finely, transversely ridged, rugose anteriorly, with fine, pale setae. Erect setae dense, black, as long as, or longer than scape. Wings slightly smoky; veins brown. Legs black, with black spines. Metasoma black with following red: T1, T2 anterolaterally (T2 entirely in some specimens), petiole posteroventrally, S2; entirely black in melanistic specimens. S8 rectangular emarginate apically.

Female ( Fig. 7b ). Body length 16–22 mm. Head. Middle clypeal lobe slightly longer and slightly wider than lateral one, slightly emarginate; lateral lobe with rounded anterior margin; lateral emargination distinctly defined ( Fig. 4c ). Clypeus, subantennal sclerite and paraocular area with dense, appressed, silvery setae, concealing integument ( Fig. 8a ). Frons with sparse, appressed, silvery setae. Vertex, occiput and gena microsculptured, with scattered punctures and sparse, inconspicuous, appressed, pale setae. Mandible and palpi black. Erect setae dense, black, as long as, or longer than scape. Mesosoma . Pronotum and scutum slightly shiny, finely micropunctate (punctures about 1.0–2.0 diameters apart) and sparsely punctate (punctures about 3.0–5.0 diameters apart), with sparse, inconspicuous, appressed, pale setae ( Fig. 8b ). Mesopleuron dull, microsculptured, sparsely punctate (punctures about 2.0–3.0 diameters apart) ( Fig. 8c ). Metapleuron and propodeum slightly shiny, obliquely rugose. Propodeal enclosure slightly shiny, finely transversely striate with fine, inconspicuous, pale setae. Erect setae dense, black, as long as, or longer than scape. Wings moderately smoky; veins brown. Legs black, with black spines. Metasoma black with following red: T1-T2, petiole posteroventrally, S2; entirely black in melanistic specimens.

Material examined ( Fig. 7a ). CHINA. Neimenggu: Greater Khingan Range , no specific locality, [47°0′N, 120°3′E], 13.VIII.1927, P. Pavlov, (1 ♀, ZISP) ; Shanghai, [31°12′N, 121°30′E], (1 ♀, holotype of Sphex mandarinius , BMNH ( Fig. 22 )) ; Shanxi: Xinzhou prefecture, Daixian, Yanmenguan , [39°11′N, 112°52′E], 18.VII.1884, G. Potanin, (1 ♀, holotype of Sphex montanus , ZISP ( Fig. 23 )) . KAZAKHSTAN. Aktobe Province: Mugalzhar District, Kokzhide Sands , [48°20′N, 57°12′E], 18.VI.1908, D. Borodin, B. Uvarov, (1 ♀, ZISP) ; 20.VI.1908, (1 ♀, ZISP) ; Kostanay Province: Karasu District, Kunduzda , [52°21′N, 65°2′E], 7.VI.1900, Balykleyskiy (1 ♀, ZISP) ; Karasu , [52°39′N, 65°29′E], VII.1905, Piotrovskij, (1 ♀, ZISP) ; Akmola Province: Kokshetau Mountains , [53°05’N, 70°16’E], VI.1957, V. Tobias, (1 ♀, ZISP) ; Arshaly District , [52°43′N, 61°8′E], 30.VI.1899, Balyklejskij, (1 ♀, ZISP) ; Shchuchinsk , [52°56′N, 70°12′E], 17.VII.1932, V. Popov, (1 ♀, ZISP) ; East Kazakhstan Province: Katonkaragay District, Ulken Naryn , [49°12′N, 84°30′E], 28.VI.1906, A. Jakobson, (1 ♀, ZISP) ; Zaysan , [47°28′N, 84°52′E], 13.VI.1910, B. Karavaev, (1 ♂, 1 ♀, ZISP) ; 12.VI.1961, V. Tobias, (1 ♀, ZISP) ; Almaty Province: Sarkand District, near Sarkand , [45°11′N, 80°12′E], 22.VI.1957, Kerzhner (1 ♀, ZISP) . KYRGYZSTAN. Talas Province: Manas District, Pokrovka , [42°40′N, 71°30′E], 29.VI.1922, Kuznetsov, (1 ♀ [melanistic], ZMMU) . MON- GOLIA. Arkhangai Province: Tüvshrüülekh , [47°22′N, 101°54′E], 30.VII.1971, A. Dubeshko, (1 ♂, SZMN) ; Sükhbaatar Province: Dariganga , [45°20′N, 114°00′E], 21.VII.1976, M. Kozlov, (1 ♂, ZISP) . RUSSIA. Saratov Province: Pugachov , [52°01′N, 48°48′E], 23.VI.1911, V. Bostanzhoglo, (1 ♀, ZISP) ; Tomsk Province: Tomsk, [56°30′N, 84°58′E], 23.VII.2003, R. Baghirov, (1 ♂, TSU) ; Altai Republic: Kosh-Agachsky District, Kuray , [50°13′N, 87°55′E], 24.VII.1963, Volkovitch, (1 ♀, SZMN) ; Kosh-Agachsky District, near Kuray , [50°11’N, 88° 07’E], 29.VI–3.VII.2016, V. Loktionov, M. Proshchalykin, (1 ♂, 5 ♀, SZMN) ; Khakass Republic: Shirinsky District, Itkul’ Lake , [54°27′N, 90°5′E], 30.VII.1897, Yu. Vagner, (2 ♀, ZISP) ; Tuva Republic: Piy-Khemsky District, near Turan , [52°08’N, 93°42’E], 31.VII.2009, S. Belokobylskij, (1 ♀, ZISP) ; Ulug-Khemsky District , [51°24’N, 92°41’E], 25.VII.1949, A. Tscherepanov, (1 ♀, SZMN) ; Irkutsk Province: Lake Baikal, Olkhon Island , [53°9′N, 107°23′E], 30.VII.1902, V. Sovinskij, (1 ♀, ZISP) ; 10–12.VIII.1927, Soldatov, (1 ♀, ZISP) ; Buryat Republic: Barguzinsky District, Bodon , [53°42′N, 110°05′E], 26.VI.1914, Doppelmayer, (1 ♀, ZISP) ; Kyakhta , [50°21′N, 106°27′E], 1.VII.1912, Maskova, (1 ♀, ZISP) ; 28.VII.1977, Ler, (1 ♀, FSCV) ; Yakutsk Republic: Olyokminsk , [60°22′N, 120°25′E], 31.VII.1974, Yu. Pesenko, (1 ♀, FSCV) ; Zabaikalskii Territory: Borzinsky District, Zun-Torey Lake , [50°04′N, 116°00′E], 12.VII.1996, V. Dubatolov, O. Kosterin, (1 ♀, SZMN) ; Chita , [52°03′N, 113°28′E], 4.VII.1912, Vorontsov-Velyaminov, (1 ♀, ZISP) ; 5.VIII.1912, Gubernik, (1 ♀, ZISP) ; VII.1912, Pisarewskih, (1 ♂, ZISP) ; Duldurginsky District, Balzino , [51°2’N, 113°35’E], 28.VI.1927, R. Vulfson, (1 ♂, ZISP) ; Lake Ivan near Chita , [52°14′N, 113°0′E], 17–19.VII.1925, Vinogradov, (1 ♂, 1 ♀, ZISP) ; Ononsky District, Nizhny Tsasuchey , [50°30′N, 115°7′E], 2–3.VII.1996, V. Dubatolov, O. Kosterin, (2 ♂, SZMN) ; Amur Province: Arkharinsky District, Novopokrovka , [48°54′N, 130°12′E], 1908, A. Yakovlev, (1 ♀, ZISP) . TAJIKISTAN. Region of Republican Subordination: Varzob District, near Kalon , [39°03’N, 68°52’E], 1–4.VII.2017, A. Barkalov, (1 ♂ [melanistic], SZMN) .

Distribution. * Russia (Saratov Province, Tomsk Province, Altai Republic, Khakass Republic, Tuva Republic, Irkutsk Province, Buryat Republic, Yakutsk Republic, Zabaikalskii Territory, Amur Province), * Tajikistan, * Kazakhstan, * Mongolia, China (* Neimenggu, Shanghai, Shanxi).

Figures

FIGURE 3. Male clypeus: a—Palmodes melanarius (Mocsáry), b—Palmodes hissaricus Danilov, sp. nov., c—Palmodes mandarinius (F. Smith), d—Palmodes minor (F. Morawitz), e—Palmodes occitanicus (Lepeletier et Serville), f—Palmodes orientalis (Mocsáry), g—Palmodes strigulosus (A. Costa).

FIGURE 4. Female clypeus: a—Palmodes melanarius (Mocsáry), b—Palmodes hissaricus Danilov, sp. nov., c—Palmodes mandarinius (F. Smith), d—Palmodes minor (F. Morawitz), e—Palmodes occitanicus (Lepeletier et Serville), f—Palmodes orientalis (Mocsáry), g—Palmodes strigulosus (A. Costa).

FIGURE 7. Palmodes mandarinius (F. Smith, 1856): a—collecting localities, b—female, general view, c—male, general view.

FIGURE 8. Palmodes mandarinius (F. Smith, 1856). Female: a—clypeus, b—scutum, c—mesopleuron. Male: d—clypeus, e—scutum, f—mesopleuron, g—genitalia in ventral view.

FIGURES 19–24. Type specimens of Palmodes. Face: 19. General view, labels: 20–24. 19—Sphex palmetorum Roth, 1963, Holotype; 20—Sphex pusillus Gussakovskij, 1930, Holotype; 21—Palmodes hissaricus Danilov, sp. nov., Holotype; 22—Sphex mandarinius F. Smith, 1856, Holotype, photo by David Notton (Natural History Museum, London); 23—Sphex montanus F. Morawitz, 1889, Holotype; 24—Sphex minor F. Morawitz, 1890, Lectotype.