Pseudosphex deceptans Zerny 1912

deceptans Zerny, 1912

(Fig. 30)

Pseudosphex deceptans Zerny, 1912b: 121. Lectotype hereby designated, male, [BRAZIL], Santa Catarina, Blumenau, 1889 (Hetschko), with a printed label “Hetschko 89 Blumenau” and a handwritten label “ Pseudosphex deceptans Zerny Type ♂”. Seven paralectotypes, males, with the following labels: four specimens with exactly the same labels as the lectotype; one with type label and handwritten locality label “S. Katherine Funke 86”; another with three labels, type label, “S. Katharin Funke 86”, and “ Myrmecopsis polistes Hb. Det. Rebel ”, the last label with indecipherable words written in pencil and an “X”, also in pencil, indicating the incorrectness of the identification; last paralectotype with three labels, all handwritten “Blumenau Brasilien ”, “mim. Polybia fasciata [indecipherable handwriting] Lep.”, and type label.

Current combination. Myrmecopsis deceptans (Zerny, 1912).

Condition of the types. Lectotype. Perfect condition. Paralectotypes. Specimens collected by Hetschko: wings somewhat rubbed, antennae soiled with what appears to be fungal hyphae, one of them with both antennae missing. Specimen identified as Myrmecopsis polistes by Rebel with the abdomen kept in a gelatin vial. Last paralectotype with right forewing slightly wrinkled, otherwise in good condition.

Remarks. This species was described from the eight specimens mentioned above. It was revalidated from its synonymy under Pseudosphex melanogen Dyar, 1910 by Simmons and Weller (2006), who also placed both species in Myrmecopsis Newman, 1850. Simmons and Weller (2006) resurrected this genus to encompass several species previously placed in Pseudosphex Hübner, 1818.