Tachysphex opacus F. Morawitz, 1893

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 : 94

Taxon classification Animalia Hymenoptera Crabronidae

Tachysphex opacus F. Morawitz, 1893 Figs 10, 11, 25, 34, 67, 74, 100

Material examined.

Iran: Kherameh, Fars prov., 1 ♀, 24. i. 2013, E. Izadi lgt., IBER; Neyriz-Jaafarabad, Fars prov., ira-fa01, 1 ♂, 2 ♀♀, 7. ix. 2012, M. Khosroabadi lgt., CSE; Kazakhstan: Mangismlak, Kamysta (90 km Etaoutchik), 1 ♂, 8. v. 1962, Malkovskii, ZIN; Kyrgyzstan: Dzahal-Abad area, 2 ♂♂, 1 ♀, vi. 2000, V. Gurko lgt., JSPC, OLML; Kaltabulak road gorge, Transalai Mt. r., Alay prov., 1 ♀, 15. vii. 1998, I. Makogonova lgt., OLML; Kirghiz-Ata grg., Kitchik-Alai Mt., Nookat distr., 1 ♂, 25. vi. 1996, S. L. Zonstein lgt., JSPC; Tajikistan: Dushanbe env., 1 ♂, 15. vi. 1966, K. Deneš lgt., OLML; Gušari ( Chuš-er), Gissar., 1 ♂, 26. vii. 1937, Gussakovskii, ZIN; Rushan 30 km N, Pamir Mts., 1 ♀, vii. 2000, V. Gurko lgt., JSPC; Turkey: Ahlat, near Van lake, Van prov., 1 ♀, 14. vii. 1996, P. Tyrner, Voříšek lgt., PTLC; Muradye 40km N, Van prov., 1 ♂, 5. vii. 2000, M. Halada lgt., OLML; Uzbekistan: Aman-Kutan pass., Zerevshan Mt., w. part, Samarkand prov., 1 ♀, 8. vi. 1995, S. L. Zonstein lgt., OLML; Bashkyzylsai river canyon, Tchatkal Mts., Parkent distr., 1 ♀, 5. viii. 1999, S. L. Zonstein lgt., OLML; Czirczik, Yangiyul District, 1 ♀, 28. v. 1994, J. Halada lgt., JSPC; Dzhizak vil., Douba 5km S, Turkest. Khrebet, Zaamin distr., 1 ♂, 13. vi. 1997, H. & R. Rausch lgt., OLML; Kainarsai, Ugam Mt. r., Bostanlik distr., 1 ♀, 24. vii. 1996, S. L. Zonstein lgt., OLML. Specimens determined as Tachysphex opacus aff.: Jordan: Petra 10km N, 1 ♂, 3. v. 1996, M. Halada lgt., OLML; Kazakhstan: Fabritchny, 40 km E Almaty, Zhambyl distr., 1 ♂, 9. vii. 1992, Jirousek lgt., JSPC; Ushtagan, Sauskan sands, Aktau 120km E, 1 ♀, 15. v. 2000, J. Matleuski lgt., JSPC; Syria: Damascus 40km NE, 2 ♂♂, 13. v. 1996, Mi. Halada lgt., OLML; Dibbin, Suwayda 30km S, 2 ♂♂, 17. v. 1996, Mi. Halada lgt., OLML; Homs 50km S, 1 ♀, 24. v. 1996, Mi. Halada lgt., OLML; Khabab, Damascus 60km S, 1 ♂, 14. v. 1996, Mi. Halada lgt., OLML; Marbij env., 1 ♂, 9. v. 1996, Mi. Halada lgt., OLML; Turkey: Çaykavak, Ulukışla, Niğde prov., 1 ♂, 30. v. 2001, M. Snížek lgt., OLML; Gürün 20km E, Malatya prov., 1 ♂, 10. vii. 1997, M. Halada lgt., OLML; Kengerlidüz, Hatay, 1 ♂, 17. v. 2008, M. F. Gürbüz lgt., IBER; Ürgüp 10km W, Nevşehir prov., 3 ♂♂, 15. vi. 1998, M. Halada lgt., OLML.

Diagnosis.

Tachysphex opacus Morawitz is easily recognizable from other species of the Tachysphex pompiliformis and Tachysphex austriacus species subgroups. This species is generally dark and has coarsely sculptured mesopleuron and terga. Based on this characteristic, Tachysphex opacus resembles Tachysphex nigripennis (Spinola) and Tachysphex pompiliformis (Panzer). It differs from Tachysphex pompiliformis (Panzer) in having the gena inconspicuous and a sparsely punctate clypeal basomedian area. In the females, the metasoma has dark red terga I-II and a black sternum II, and the vertex is nearly as wide as long. In the males, the body is black, the mandibular inner margin is shallowly emarginated distally from inner tooth, with no furrow, the clypeal lip is nearly straight, the vertex is distinctly wider than long. In addition to the mentioned characters, the females of Tachysphex opacus Morawitz differ from Tachysphex nigripennis (Spinola) in having normal sized pygidium with microsculpture and lacking a bright shine. The males differ in having a forefemoral notch microsculptured, dull, and the dorsal process of the volsella narrow.

Geographic distribution.

China, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkey, and Uzbekistan. It is probably also distributed in Jordan, Lebanon and Syria.

Note.

Holotype came from China (Uighur region). Type material not examined. The species was redescribed by Pulawski (1971).