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 bohemanni group The bohemanni group contains the following six species and three subspecies: Sphex abbotti , S. abbotti nivarius subsp. nov., S. abyssinicus , S. bohemanni , S. pseudopraedator sp. nov. , S. schoutedeni , S. schoutedeni malawicus subsp. nov., S. stadelmanni and S. stadelmanni rufus subsp. nov. Members are characterized by posteriorly-oriented erect propodeal setae ( Fig. 1 ), which they share with the species of the nigrohirtus group. The most prominent attributes that separate them are found on the female clypeus. In the bohemanni group, its appressed setae are brown or black (with a golden or brassy luster in some species, but not extending all the way to the clypeal center) ( Figs 14–18 ), and the clypeus itself has an inconspicuous indentation at most and lacks a notable longitudinal carina. In contrast, females of the nigrohirtus group have entirely silvery appressed setae on the clypeus, a marked indentation in the lower center and a short but notable longitudinal carina in the upper center ( Fig. 13 ); or their entire clypeus and paraocular area is covered densely with appressed rich golden setae in the case of S. ahasverus . Male specimens of the nigrohirtus group can be recognized through their smaller size and slender stature, as well as the more or less concavely emarginate posterior margin of sternum VIII, whereas males of the bohemanni group are built more stoutly and have the posterior half of sternum VIII usually entire and often shaped like a semicircle ( Fig. 20 ). Notably, all male members of this group, except S. pseudopraedator sp. nov. , are distinguishable to species level (but not to subspecies level) through a combination of the structure of sternum VII ( Figs 19–20 ) and the genitalia, more specifically that of the pensivalvae ( Figs 21–26 ). In the other groups, these have no easily discernible differences in the majority of members. With the exception of S. pseudopraedator sp. nov. , males of this group also have an extremely short (in the case of S. abyssinicus longer and acute), but very broad process emerging medially from the inner side of the free clypeal margin. Sphex ahasverus of the nigrohirtus group also possesses this feature. It is often very inconspicuous and not to be confused with the distinctly visible, less broad, tooth-like process present in males of the umtalicus group ( Fig. 27 ).