The wasp genus Sphex in Sub-Saharan Africa (Hymenoptera: Sphecidae) Author Dörfel, Thorleif H. 11B5C093-23D5-417C-AB64-65764FC2AF05 Museum für Naturkunde, Invalidenstrasse 43, 10115 Berlin, Germany. thorleif.doerfel@mfn.berlin Author Ohl, Michael 878259F2-C3C6-4264-B04A-C397E01E5C8E Museum für Naturkunde, Invalidenstrasse 43, 10115 Berlin, Germany. michael.ohl@mfn.berlin text European Journal of Taxonomy 2022 2022-02-23 796 1 1 170 http://dx.doi.org/10.5852/ejt.2022.796.1665 journal article 55605 10.5852/ejt.2022.796.1665 9c3fa32d-4320-4170-83e3-a5c045a4ba68 2118-9773 6299440 76C5C9C4-C6C1-4EDC-8FF8-9828A6EF2040 Species of the meridionalis group The meridionalis group contains the following three species: Sphex meridionalis , S. nefrens sp. nov. and S. occidentalis sp. nov. Members are characterized through their black, more or less perpendicularly-oriented erect propodeal setae which are slightly curved towards the anterior ( Figs 3–4 ), and therefore closely resemble some species of the umtalicus group. Nonetheless, several characters unequivocally separate the two groups. Firstly, females of the meridionalis group ( Fig. 8 ) lack the coarse scutellar vestiture present in those of the umtalicus group ( Figs 3–4 ). As this can be difficult to assess without practice, a useful indicator is the presence or absence of long erect setae, of similar quality to those on the metanotum, near the scutellar center. Females of the meridionalis group only have long erect scutellar setae near the posterolateral margin of the scutellum, whereas those of the umtalicus group usually also have some near the center. Secondly, male specimens of the umtalicus group always have a conspicuous tooth-like process that emerges from below the free clypeal margin ( Fig. 27 ). This structure is absent in members of the meridionalis group.