Sphex ahasverus Kohl, 1890

Figs 75–76, 77 (blue)

Sphex ahasverus Kohl, 1890: 397, ♀.

Sphex observabilis R. Turner, 1918: 360, ♀. Syn. nov.

Differential diagnosis

Males and females of this species are unmistakable within their species group, as they have uniformly golden vestiture covering the pleurae and propodeum, which completely obscures the propodeal sculpture.

Material examined

Holotype or syntype AFRICA • ♀; “South Australia”, but actually Africa; NHMW.

Other material

CAMEROON – Southwest Region • 1 ♀; “Johann-Albrechts-Höhe” [Government Station Johann Albrecht Mountain]; [4°40ʹ N, 9°24ʹ E]; 14 May 1896; L. Conradt leg.; ZMB • 1 ♀; Barombi Station; [4°40ʹ N, 9°24ʹ E]; P. Preuss leg.; ZMB.

DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO • 1 ♀; “ Kasaï ”; May 1922; Van Risseghem leg.; MRAC • 1 ♀; “ Sankuru ”; 1910; Abrassart leg.; MRAC. – Lomami • 1 ♂; Tshofa; [5°14ʹ S, 25°15ʹ E]; Dec. 1934; Gillardin leg.; MRAC. – Province of Équateur • 1 ♂; Eala; [0°02ʹ30ʺ N, 18°20ʹ06ʺ E]; Jan. 1936; J. Ghesquière leg.; MRAC • 1 ♂; same collection data as for preceding but Aug. 1936; MRAC. – South Kivu • 1 ♀; Kavumu to Kabunga, km 82 (Mingazi); [2°01ʹ S, 28°31ʹ E]; 1951; H. Bomans leg.; MRAC. – Tshuapa • 2 ♀♀; Moma; [1°05ʹ S, 23°23ʹ E]; 1933; M. Molin leg.; MRAC • 1 ♀; same locality as for preceding; Jun. 1925; J. Ghesquière leg.; MRAC.

REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO – Plateaux Department • 1 ♀; Abala; [2°26ʹ59ʺ S, 14°42ʹ59ʺ E]; 13 Sep. 1951; MNHN.

UGANDA – Central Region • 1 ♀, holotype or syntype of Sphex observabilis R. Turner, 1918; Tero Forest; [0°50ʹ S, 31°40ʹ E]; 26–30 Sep. 1911; S.A. Neave leg.; BMNH. – Western Region • 1 ♂; Kabarole Kibale Forest National Park, Kanyawara (MUBFS); 0°33ʹ N, 30°21ʹ E; 23 Aug. 1997; C. Häuser leg.; THD-011-ZMB; GenBank CO1 gene: MW538553; GenBank LWR gene: MW582291; ZMB • 1 ♂; same collection data as for preceding; ZMB.

Description

Female

SIZE. 29.4–32.8 mm.

VESTITURE AND STRUCTURE.A redescription based on the holotype has already been published (Dörfel & Ohl 2015). Some additional important characters of the species are treated here. Erect propodeal setae oriented posteriorly. Free clypeal margin slightly stepped medially, clypeus with slight indentation in lower center, without carina. 2 nd recurrent vein joins markedly proximal from interstitium between submarginal cells II and III. Foretarsomere I 2.6–2.9 × length of antepenultimate spine. Petiole length 1.4–1.6× its medial width.

Male

SIZE. 27.0– 29.1 mm.

COLOR. Black except for ferruginous stripe in center of mandible. Forewing slightly fuscous, hindwing mostly hyaline.

VESTITURE. Appressed setae on clypeus, paraocular area, collar and propodeal enclosure silverygolden, on scutum black. Erect setae on clypeus and paraocular area black intermixed with silvery ones, on scutum black, on collar and propodeal enclosure silvery-golden. Erect propodeal setae oriented posteriorly. Free clypeal margin glabrous. Scutellum densely and coarsely pubescent. Metasomal sterna II–V with decreasingly dense, VI–VII with increasingly dense fringes of black setae.

STRUCTURE. Free clypeal margin simple. Scutellum convex. Metanotum slightly raised, not bituberculate. 2 nd recurrent vein joins markedly proximal from interstitium between submarginal cells II and III. Propodeal enclosure without any notable ridges. Posterior margin of metasomal tergum VII very gently notched. Posterior margin of metasomal sternum VII simple, of metasomal sternum VIII slightly concavely emarginate. Penis valvae fused, inner margin flattened and conspicuously raised, dorsally broadened. Petiole length 1.35–1.45 × its medial width. Flagellomeres IV–VII with broad placoids covering their entire length.

Variation

Unknown.

Distribution

Central Africa.

Remarks

Members of Sphex observabilis are indistinguishable from the type of S. ahasverus, allegedly from South Australia, which leads us to the conclusion that both species are synonymous. However, we do not believe that there are morphologically identical populations of the species in both Uganda and South Australia. The specimens Kohl (1890) described as S. ahasverus were apparently part of a batch which the Vienna Natural History Museum had received in 1804 from Leopold von Fichtel. A locality error is therefore conceivable, since a large part of the material came from Africa (Rogenhofer 1889). Even though R. Turner treated S. ahasverus in his key to the Australian Sphecini (1910) and described S. observabilis in 1918, he likely failed to notice the connection between the two. Thus, observabilis should become an invalid name, while ahasverus is to be used for the species even though it is most likely restricted to Africa in its geographical distribution.