Ammophila sarekandana BALTHASAR

Dollfuss, H., 2013, Revision of the Wasps Genus Ammophila KIRBY 1798 (Hymenoptera Apoidea Sphecidae) of the Palearctic Region and India, Linzer biologische Beiträge 45 (1), pp. 383-564 : 483-484

Ammophila sarekandana BALTHASAR

Ammophila sarekandana BALTHASAR 1957: 192 , ♀. Holotype: ♀, Afghanistan: Badakhshan: Sarekanda (NMPC), examined.

Ammophila afghanica BALTHASAR 1957: 190 , 3 only. Allotype: 3, Afghanistan: Badakhshan: Sarekanda (NMPC), examined.

M a t e r i a l e x a m i n e d: Kyrgyzstan: Oshskaya Oblast District Dchon-Alaisky Alai Mountains 39°31’02’’N 71°40’57’’E, 2500-2800m (13 OÖLM), SW Slope Alai Ok-Su river(233 OÖLM), Sary-Tchelek reservate 1500m (1♀ OÖLM). Tajikistan: Rogun Surchob riv. Sigiry (13 OÖLM). Uzbekistan: Kugitangtau-Mt. 1500m Shalkan Gorge (13 coll. Jacobs).

N o t e: The male described by BALTHASAR (1957: 190) as Ammophila afghanica is conspecific with Ammophila sarekandana BALTHASAR 1957 .

R e c o g n i t i o n Ammophila sarekandana has the submarginal cell III petiolate, the gastral apex black without a metallic shine, the propodeum enclosure glabrous and the supra-antennal lamellate projection well developed. In addition, the mesothoracic venter is not prominent anteriorly and the episternal sulcus extends to the anteroventral margin of the pleuron. The petiole has no erect setae ventrally, the scutum is transversely striate and the mesopleuron has no appressed silvery setae. The female is similar to A. deserticola and shares with this species a well developed supra-antennal lamellate projection, but differs in having the scutum with distinct, transverse striae and the mesopleuron without a patch of appressed silvery setae. The female of A. pubescens differs from A. sarekandana in having the supra-antennal lamellate projection absent, the petiole with erect setae ventrally, the scutum dull, transversely microstriate and the propodeal enclosure obliquely striate and micropunctate. The female of A. campestris differs from A. sarekandana in having the supra-antennal lamellate projection absent, the mesopleuron covered with appressed silvery setae and brown erect setae on the head. The male of A. deserticola shares with A. sarekandana a well developed supra-antennal lamellate projection, but differs in having the scutum finely, transversely striate and nearly impunctate. The male of A. pubescens differs from A. sarekandana in having the supra-antennal lamellate projection absent, the scutum dull and transversely microstriate, a dorsal black stripe on terga I and II and the propodeal enclosure obliquely striate and micropunctate. The male of A. campestris differs from A. sarekandana in having the supra-antennal lamellate projection absent, the scutum dull and finely transversely striate and the mesopleuron with a patch of appressed silvery setae.

D e s c r i p t i o n: Submarginal cell III petiolate, gastral apex black, without metallic shine, propodeal enclosure glabrous and supra-antennal lamellate projection well developed. Mesothoracic venter not prominent anteriorly, episternal sulcus extending to anteroventral margin of pleuron, arolia well defined and claws without basal tooth.

♀: 14.5-16.5 mm. Black except tergum I, gastral segment II and basal half of III red. Propodeum posterolaterally covered with appressed silvery setae and hindcoxa pruinose. Erect setae on head black, on thorax and propodeum laterally brown to whitish. Clypeus slightly elongate, disk distinctly convex. Pronotal collar nearly impunctate dorsally, striate laterally. Scutum transversely striate on anterior half, obliquely striate on posterior half, admedian line well defined. Scutellum longitudinally striate and coarsely punctate. Mesopleuron irregularly, slightly, transversely rugose and distinctly punctate, metapleuron and propodeum laterally irregularly, obliquely rugose. Propodeal enclosure obliquely striate, shiny, glabrous. Petiole ventrally without erect setae. Flagellomere I: II=1.8; length of petiole = hindtarsomeres I+0.25×II.

3: 14-16.5 mm. Black except tergum I and gastral segment II red. Clypeus and frons covered with appressed, silvery setae, in some specimens also propodeum posterolaterally; erect setae brownish. Clypeus elongate, disk nearly flat. Pronotal collar dorsally sparsely, coarsely punctate, lateral lobes transversely striate. Scutum distinctly, transversely striate and coarsely punctate, on posterior half more obliquely striate, admedian linewell defined; scutellum longitudinally striate. Propodeal enclosure irregularly, obliquely striate, shiny and glabrous. Mesopleuron dull, coarsely punctate, in some specimens punctato-rugose, metapleuron and propodeum laterally punctato-rugose. Sterna VII and VIII covered with appressed brownish setae. Flagellomere I: II=1.5-1.7; length of petiole = hindtarsomeres I+0.75×II to I+II+0.5×III. Genitalia not examined.

G e o g r a p h i c a l d i s t r i b u t i o n: Afghanistan (3800m), Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan.