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 Key C: Species of the Sphex bohemanni group Females 1. Clypeus, trochanter, femora and tibiae largely ferruginous ( Fig. 96 ) .................................................. .......................................................................................................... S. stadelmanni rufus subsp. nov. – Clypeus and legs almost entirely black..........................................................................................2 2. Cellular wing area with yellow tinge ( Fig. 93 ) ................................ S. pseudopraedator sp. nov. – Cellular wing area more or less fuscous, without yellow tinge..................................................3 3. Appressed clypeal and paraocular setae black, without differently-colored luster ( Figs 15–16 ) .....................................................................................................................................................4 – Appressed lateroclypeal and paraocular setae with silvery, golden or ferruginous luster ( Figs 14, 17–18 )................................................................................................................................................5 4. Free clypeal margin black; mandible black with dark ferruginous stripe only in center ( Fig. 15 ) .......................................................................................................... S. abbotti abbotti W. Fox, 1891 – Free clypeal margin and basal half of mandible dark ferruginous ( Fig. 16 ) ..................................... ............................................................................................ S. stadelmanni stadelmanni Kohl, 1895 5. Erect propodeal setae completely black...........................................................................................6 – Erect propodeal setae partially or entirely silvery............................................................................7 6. Free clypeal margin black; mandible black with dark ferruginous stripe only in center ( Fig. 17 ) ........................................................................................................... S. abyssinicus ( Arnold, 1928 ) – Free clypeal margin and basal half of mandible dark ferruginous ( Fig. 18 ) ................................... ............................................................................................... S. schoutedeni malawicus subsp. nov. 7. Petiole length about 2× its medial width ....................................... S. abbotti nivarius subsp. nov. – Petiole length at most 1.7× its medial width ................. S. schoutedeni schoutedeni Kohl, 1913 Figs 13–18. Faces of females in frontal view. 13 . Sphex nigrohirtus Kohl, 1895 . 14 . Sphex abbotti nivarius subsp. nov. 15 . S. abbotti abbotti W. Fox, 1891 . 16 . S. stadelmanni stadelmanni Kohl, 1895 . 17 . S. abyssinicus ( Arnold, 1928 ) . 18 . S. schoutedeni malawicus subsp. nov. Males 1. Posterior margin of sternum VII with notable incision ( Figs 19–20 )............................................2 – Posterior margin of sternum VII without incision ( Fig. 25 )............................................................4 2. Depth of incision no more than half the visible part of sternum VII ( Fig. 19 ) ................................. ............................................................................................................. S. bohemanni Dahlbom, 1845 – Depth of incision nearly as long as visible part of sternum VII ( Fig. 20 ).....................................3 3. Appressed and erect propodeal setae completely black ( Fig. 88 ) ..... S. abbotti abbotti W. Fox, 1891 – Erect and sometimes appressed propodeal setae at least partially silvery ( Fig. 89 ) ........................ ............................................................................................................ S. abbotti nivarius subsp. nov. 4. Posterior margin of sternum VIII rectangularly truncate ( Fig. 25 ) ..... S. abyssinicus ( Arnold, 1928 ) – Posterior margin of sternum VIII rounded or laterally concave.....................................................5 5. Cellular wing area with yellow tinge ( Fig. 93 ) ..................................... S. pseudopraedator sp. nov. – Cellular wing area more or less fuscous, without yellow tinge.......................................................6 6. Fused penis valvae laterally widened and entire; valviceps oriented obliquely ( Figs 21–22 ).........7 – Fused penis valvae laterally not widened but notched; valviceps oriented perpendicularly ( Figs 23– 24 )...................................................................................................................................................8 7. Clypeus and legs mostly black ( Fig. 95 ); appressed facial setae silvery-white .............................. ............................................................................................ S. stadelmanni stadelmanni Kohl, 1895 – Lower clypeal center, trochanters, femora and tibiae largely ferruginous ( Fig. 97 ); appressed facial setae brassy .......................................................................... S. stadelmanni rufus subsp. nov. 8. Erect propodeal setae at least partially silvery near center ( Fig. 94 ) ............................................... ............................................................................................. S. schoutedeni schoutedeni Kohl, 1913 – Erect propodeal setae centrally black, golden at posterior margin ................................................... ............................................................................................... S. schoutedeni malawicus subsp. nov.