Sphex formosellus van der Vecht, 1957

Doerfel, Thorleif H. & Ohl, Michael, 2015, A revision of the Australian digger wasps in the genus Sphex (Hymenoptera, Sphecidae), ZooKeys 521, pp. 1-104 : 57-58

Taxon classification Animalia Hymenoptera Sphecidae

Sphex formosellus van der Vecht, 1957

Sphex formosellus van der Vecht, 1957: 366, ♀, ♂. Holotype: ♀, Indonesia: Timor: no specific locality (RMNH). Not examined.

Material examined.

[COUNTRY UNKNOWN]:[state unknown]: [no specific locality], 2♀, 1♂ (ZMB). AUSTRALIA:NSW: Bumberry, 1♀, 30.12.1976, G. Daniels (AMS); Clarence, Blue Mountains, 1♀, 16.01.1983, N. W. Rodd (AMS); Mount Tomah, Blue Mountains, 1♂, 06.04.1982, N. W. Rodd (AMS); NT: Edith Falls, 38 km NNW Katherine, 14°1'1"S, 132°03'6"E, 1♂, 16.04.2008, G. Williams & W. Pulawski (AMS); QLD: Moorooka, 2♀, 3♂, Feb–Mar 44, E. F. Riek (ANIC); VIC: Gunbower, 1♂, 03.03.1933 (BMNH); Oakleigh, 1♀, 11.04.1917, C. French, junr. (ANIC); WA: Bunbury, 2♂, 01.01.1957, A. Snell (AMS), 1♂, 03.01.1957, A. Snell (AMS), 1♂, 09.01.1957, A. Snell (AMS), 1♂, 01.01.1961, A. Snell (AMS), 2♀, 10.-22.12.1958, A. Snell (AMS). INDONESIA:East Nusa Tenggara: Timor, 1♂ (ZMB).

Diagnosis.

Sphex formosellus differs from other members of the Sphex subtruncatus group in combining the following characters: the clypeus is entirely covered with dense pubescence, the pubescence on the propodeal enclosure is sparse enough to leave the sculpture visible, and the legs are black. In contrast, the legs of Sphex staudingeri and at least the foretibia of Sphex caelebs are bright orange.

Description.

Body length 18.2-21.0 mm. Body black. Wing membrane with slight fuscous band at apex. Appressed pubescence and erect setae on clypeus and frons golden. Clypeus entirely pubescent. Pubescence on scutum longer and denser laterally. Scutellum convex. Propodeal enclosure with sparse pubescence, sculpture clearly visible. Length of petiole twice length of flagellomere II.

Female: Membrane of cellular wing area yellow, remainder hyaline. Wing veins yellowish-orange, darker near apex. Forebasitarsal rake with nine long spines. Free clypeal margin with two lobes medially, distance between them less than 1/8 length of flagellomere II. Distance between hind- ocelli equal to their shortest distance to compound eyes. Pubescence on collar, scutum and propodeal enclosure silvery-golden. Scutellum without impressions. Tomentum dense on metasomal terga I and II.

Male: Wing membrane hyaline. Wing veins light brown. Free clypeal margin truncate. Distance between hind- ocelli 1.3 × their shortest distance to compound eyes. Pubescence on collar, scutum and propodeal enclosure silvery-white. Scutellum with medial impression. Tomentum very dense on metasomal tergum I and II. Metasomal terga V and VI covered with silvery-golden bristles. Metasomal sterna VI–VIII with fringes of silvery setae laterally, densest on sternum VII. Metasomal sternum VIII entire, its lateral margin concave.

Notes on type material.

The types of Sphex formosellus were not examined, because the character combination for females in the original description (black body, two lobes on free clypeal margin, wing membrane hyaline with yellow tinge, clypeus and propodeal enclosure with brassy pubescence, pubescence less dense than in Sphex cognatus ) is sufficient to unambiguously identify this species.