ZooKeys 521: A Revision of the Australian Digger Wasps in the Genus Sphex (Hymenoptera, Sphecidae)

About this book

Digger wasps of the genus Sphex (Hymenoptera, Sphecidae) occur on all continents, though their species diversity is greatest in the Australian and Oceanian region. Females are gregarious and construct ground nests that are then filled with paralyzed katydids as a food supply for the larvae. This monograph treats the 24 species of the genus that were previously known in Australia, as well as 11 new species from this region. All 35 species are described and overview photographs and detailed images of the most important diagnostic features are provided. Known geographic distributions and an identification key to males and females are included. This work vastly updates the previously scarce morphological data on this highly diverse insect group and offers new insights on its taxonomy.

Contents

Introduction   3
Methods   3
Sources of Material   3
Abbreviations of Australian states   4
Technical devices and programs   4
Taxonomy   5
Diagnosis of Sphex   5
Sexual dimorphism in Sphex   5
General remarks   6
Notes regarding descriptions and key to species   6
Key to species   7
Species descriptions   20
Species group of Sphex argentatus   20
Sphex argentatus Fabricius, 1787   20
Sphex carbonicolor van der Vecht, 1973   23
Sphex decoratus F. Smith, 1873   25
Sphex ephippium F. Smith, 1856   27
Sphex finschii Kohl, 1890   29
Sphex modestus F. Smith, 1856   31
Sphex sericeus (Fabricius, 1804)   34
Species group of Sphex resplendens   37
Sphex darwiniensis R. Turner, 1912   37
Sphex fumipennis F. Smith, 1856   39
Sphex gilberti R. Turner, 1908   42
Sphex gracilis sp. n.   42
Sphex imporcatus sp. n.   46
Sphex luctuosus F. Smith, 1856   48
Sphex mimulus R. Turner, 1910   50
Sphex resplendens Kohl, 1885   52
Sphex rhodosoma (R. Turner, 1915)   54
Sphex rugifer Kohl, 1890   56
Species Group of Sphex subtruncatus   58
Sphex ahasverus Kohl, 1890   58
Sphex argentatissimus sp. n.   60
Sphex basilicus (R. Turner, 1915)   62
Sphex bilobatus Kohl, 1890   64
Sphex brevipetiolus sp. n.   67
Sphex caelebs sp. n.   69
Sphex cognatus F. Smith, 1856   71
Sphex corporosus sp. n.   75
Sphex ermineus Kohl, 1890   78
Sphex flammeus sp. n.   80
Sphex formosellus van der Vecht, 1957   82
Sphex fortunatus sp. n.   84
Sphex jucundus sp. n.   86
Sphex latilobus sp. n.   89
Sphex pretiosus sp. n.   91
Sphex semifossulatus van der Vecht, 1973   93
Sphex staudingeri Gribodo, 1894   95
Sphex vestitus F. Smith, 1856   97
Discussion   99
Acknowledgements   102
References   102

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