Tachysphex nigripennis (Spinola, 1808), restored from synonymy

Straka, Jakub, 2016, Tachysphexaustriacus Kohl, 1892 and T. pompiliformis (Panzer, 1804) (Hymenoptera, Crabronidae) are a complex of fourteen species in Europe and Turkey, ZooKeys 577, pp. 63-123 : 87-89

Taxon classification Animalia Hymenoptera Crabronidae

Tachysphex nigripennis (Spinola, 1808), restored from synonymy Figs 6, 18, 32, 46, 66, 89, 98, 103

Tachytes nigripennis Spinola, 1808 (p. 260), ♀. Holotype or syntypes: Italy: "prope Genuam". Type material lost (de Beaumont 1952, 44).

Type material.

Neotypus: ♀, Czech Republic: "CZ, Mor.mer. 30.vii.2008 / sandpit Bzenec-Přívoz I. / Bzenec env.; EtOH 96% [in bold] / Jakub Straka lgt. // ♀ Tachysphex / nigripennis / Spinola / Jakub Straka det. 2014 // ZSM / HYM 23693". Neotype in ZSM, present designation.

Additional material examined.

Czech Republic: Boh. bor., Počerady, ash coal deposit from power station, 1 ♀, 27. vi. 2010, 1 ♀, 1. viii. 2010, R. Tropek lgt., JSPC; Střimická waste dump, Most env., 1 ♀, 30. vii. 2004, P. Tyrner lgt., JSPC; Boh. occ., Starý lom, ash coal deposit from Prunéřov power station, 1 ♂, 26. vi. 2010, R. Tropek lgt., JSPC; Mor. mer., Bratčice env., 1 ♂, 2 ♀♀, 21. vi. 2012, M. Halada lgt., JSPC; Bzenec-Přívoz, Bzenec env., sandpit, 1 ♀, 28. vi. 2012, M. Halada lgt., JSPC; France: Collias, W Pont du Gard, 16 km NE Nîmes, 1 ♀, 31. vii. 2003, J. v. d. Smissen lgt., USMB; Dieulefit (D547), 25 km E Montélimar, 1 ♂, 23. v. 2000, J. v. d. Smissen lgt., USMB; Prades 38km SW, Pyrénées Orient., 1 ♂, 22. vii. 2011, J. Halada lgt., JSPC; Germany: Speyer, sandy dune, Rhineland-Palatinate prov., 1 ♀, 26. vi. 2008, Reder lgt. et coll.; Hungary: Pusztavacs, sand dune, 3 ♂♂, 8. vi. 2015, 1 ♂, 1 ♀, 26. vi. 2015, M. Halada lgt., JSPC, OLML; Italy: St. Pierre, Valle d’Aosta prov., 1 ♂, 1. viii. 1997, Ch. Schmid-Egger lgt., CSE; Kyrgyzstan: Kashkasu env., Ala-Archa, 1 ♀, vii. 2000, 3 ♂♂, 7 ♀♀, vii. 2002, V. Gurko lgt., OLML; Malinovka, Ala-Archa riv., 1 ♂, 1 ♀, vii. 2000, V. Gurko lgt., JSPC; Ooru-say env., Ala-Archa, 1 ♀, vii. 2000, 1 ♀, vii. 2002, V. Gurko lgt., OLML; Poland: Toruń-Glinki, 1 ♀, 5. vii. 2011, P. Olszewski lgt., JSPC; Slovakia: Chotín, 1 ♂, 15. vii. 1967, A. Strejčková lgt., OLML; Turkey: Erzurum E, Erzurum prov., 1 ♂, 6. vii. 2000, M. Halada lgt., OLML; Hakkari env., 1 ♀, 17. ix. 1983, Ch. Schmid-Egger lgt., CSE; Mt. Gilo, Hakkari prov., 1 ♂, 15. viii. 1972, Kaniss lgt., ZSM.

Diagnosis.

Tachysphex nigripennis (Spinola) is easily recognizable from the other species of the Tachysphex pompiliformis and Tachysphex austriacus species subgroups. It is generally dark and coarsely punctate, and thus resembles Tachysphex opacus Morawitz and Tachysphex pompiliformis (Panzer). Tachysphex nigripennis (Spinola) is relatively well characterized species. It possesses an inconspicuous gena. The vertex is distinctly wider than long. The metasoma is coarsely punctate with densely micropunctate apical depressions. The mesopleuron is coarsely sculptured, rugose, or coarsely punctate, and the hypoepimeral area has more or less distinct longitudinal ridges. The metasoma has terga I-II dark red and a black sternum II. In females, the basomedian area of the clypeus is sparsely punctate; the pygidium is exceptionaly narrow, bright shiny and with inconspicuous lateral marginal carina. In males, the mandibular inner margin possesses one distinct rectangular tooth and a distinct furrow next to the tooth distally; the clypeal lip is distinctly arcuate, longest medially; the forefemoral notch is dark red but black in some specimens, with a shiny, nearly unsculptured surface; the dorsal process of volsella is larger than in species from the Tachysphex pompiliformis species subgroup.

Description of female

(neotype). Body length: 8.9 mm.

Head. Clypeus distinctly convex, top at clypeal midlength; basomedian area relatively large, as sparsely punctate as lateral section, punctures small, ill-defined, interspaces variable, one to less than half diameter apart, shiny; bevel large, distinctly convex, triangular, with sparse large punctures, not reaching base of clypeus, shiny; lip distinctly sinuate, long medially, with poorly developed lateral incision, lip separate from bevel by punctate groove, WML:LCL = 1.7, WCL:WML = 1.8. Supraclypeal area flat, finely, sparsely punctate, punctures ill-defined, interspaces microsculptured, slightly shiny. Supraantennal tubercle small, slightly elevated on inner side. Antenna relatively short, LA3:WA3 = 2.5, LA5:WA5 = 3.1. Frons uniformly punctate, punctures well defined, less than one diameter apart, interspaces variable in size, microsculptured, slightly shiny; frontal median line distinct, narrow, finely impressed. Vertex finely, densely punctate, punctures well defined, one to less than half diameter apart, interspaces variable in size, coarsely microsculptured, slightly shiny. Vertex setae short, semierect medially, but nearly erect close to inner eye margin, less than 1 × MOD, postocellar impression distinct, shallow, open widely Y-shaped; vertex distinctly wider than long; WV:LV = 1.6. Gena dorsally short, converging directly behind eyes.

Mesosoma. Scutum without distinct anterior impression; scutum and scutellum densely punctate, punctures well defined, less than one diameter apart, interspaces variable in size, microsculptured, slightly shiny, setae about 1.0 × MOD or less. Mesopleuron rugose, posteriorly coarsely microsculptured, without distinct punctures; hypoepimeral area iregularly rugose with indistinct irregular longitudinal ridges, impunctate; ventral part of mesopleuron sparsely punctate, punctures ill defined, one diameter apart, slightly shiny. Propodeal dorsum relatively regularly rugose, without longitudinal ridges, dull; propodeal side irregularly longitudinally ridged, microsculptured, dull; posteromedial margin of propodeal dorsum elevated, slightly produced between marginal ridges, marginal ridges positioned nearly horizontally above groove on posterior side. Legs densely punctate, punctures small; forebasitarsal rake dark reddish, with two apical spines, one preapical spin and one or two additional spines. Wings distinctly infumate, light brown, with brown veins.

Metasoma. Terga I-III with distinct but sparse silvery, apical faciae. Terga I-III densely micropunctate, with very large, but superficial, sparse punctures, micropunctures ill-defined, evanescent in micosculpture, faint, interspaces microsculptured, slightly shiny; apical depressions well developed, with distinct micropunctures; sculpture of terga III-V distinctly coarser than other terga, also more densely punctate; tergum V coarsely punctate, punctures ill defined, but large, half to one diameter apart, interspaces microsculptured, apical depression of tergum V distinctly, densely finely punctate. Pygidium distinctly narrower than in other related species, integument sparsely punctate, large and small punctures intermixed, punctures ill defined, interspaces nearly unsculptured, bright shiny. Central part of sternum II with several large punctures, interspaces microsculptured, shiny; lateral part slightly shiny, densely micropunctate; remaining sterna with uniform sculpture similar to that on sternum II, but more or less reduced laterally.

Coloration. Central part of mandibles, terga I-II and distal tarsomeres dark red. Tegulae brown translucent. Apical parts of terga I-III slightly translucent. Remaining body parts all black.

Variation of females: Body length: 7.0-10.1 mm. WML:LCL = 1.5-1.7, WCL:WML = 1.8-1.9. WV:LV = 1.5-1.6.

Description of male.

Body length: 6.4-7.9 mm.

Head. Mandibular inner margin with one distinct rectangular tooth and distinct furrow next to tooth distally. Clypeus convex, slightly elevated, distinctly declining apically, top variably located between apical third and midlength; basomedian area large, sparsely punctate, more sparsely punctate medially in some specimens; bevel convex, decreasing toward clypeal lip, variable in size, reaching base of clypeus in most specimens, shiny, with several large punctures; lip distinctly sinuate, conspicuously produced medially, with more or less distinct lateral corner, lip separated from bevel by groove; WML:LCL = 1.2-1.3, WCL:WML = 2.3-2.4. Supraclypeal area slightly concave, distinctly punctate, punctures ill-defined, interspaces between punctures coarsely microsculptured, slightly shiny to dull. Supraantennal tubercle small, slightly elevated on inner side, shiny. Antenna relatively short, LA3:WA3 = 1.5-1.6, LA5:WA5 = 1.9-2.1. Frons uniformly punctate, punctures well defined, less than one diameter apart, interspaces variable in size; frontal median line distinct, narrow, finely impressed, or indistinct. Vertex uniformly, finely and densely punctate, punctures well defined, one to less than half diameter apart, interspaces variable in size, coarsely microsculptured, slightly shiny to dull. Vertex setae short, erect medially, but semierect close to inner eye margin, less than 1 × MOD, postocellar impression large, but shallow, open widely V to Y-shaped, densely punctate, punctures relatively small; vertex distinctly wider than long; WV:LV = 1.6. Gena dorsally inconspicuous.

Mesosoma. Scutum with shallow anterior impression, densely punctate, punctures well defined, most punctures less than half diameter apart, interspaces distinct, microsculptured, slightly shiny to dull, setae about 1.0 × MOD or less; scutellum slightly more sparsely punctate than scutum, punctures well defined, most punctures half to less than one diameter apart, interspaces shiny to slightly shiny. Mesopleuron rugose to densely punctate, most punctures in ventral half well defined, interspaces coarsely microsculptured to rugose, dull; hypoepimeral area coarsely rugose, without distinct punctures, with distinct longitudinal ridges in most specimens, dull; ventral part of mesopleuron with small ill-defined punctures, interspaces finely microsculptured, slightly shiny. Propodeal dorsum coarsely sculptured, irregularly areolate to irregularly coarsely ridged, without longitudinal ridges except at very base; propodeal side longitudinally ridged, ridges well developed, ill defined in small specimens, interspaces microsculptured, dull; posteromedial margin of propodeal dorsum slightly elevated or not elevated, marginal ridges on posterior surface well developed, horizontal, or slightly directed toward propodeal groove medially. Legs micropunctate, punctures small; forefemoral notch large, deep, semicircular, about as long as distance that separates it from forefemoral base or slightly longer, proximal margin obtuse, not elevated over distal margin, central part of notch inconspicuously elevated, anterior and posterior margin lined by nearly indistinct ledge, notch surface without distinct setae, unsculptured, or very finely microsculptured, shiny. Wings infumate, with brown veins.

Metasoma. Silvery apical fasciae of terga I-III distinctly developed, but fasciae brown in specimens from eastern Turkey. Apical depressions of all terga shallow, densely micropunctate, nearly as densely as on tergal disk. Terga I-III densely and distinctly micropunctate, punctures ill defined, interspaces microsculptured, slightly shiny; terga IV-VII more coarsely and more densely punctate than previous terga. Sterna uniformly punctate nearly like terga.

Coloration. Apical part of mandibles red; terga I and II dark red; apex of sternum I and base of sternum II dark red in some specimens; distal tarsomeres dark red on ventral side; forefemoral notch dark red in most specimens, but black in some. Tegulae brown translucent. Apical parts of terga slightly translucent. Remaining body parts all black.

Geographic Distribution.

Czech Republic, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Kyrgyzstan, Poland, Slovakie and Turkey.