Tachysphex sericeus (F. Smith 1856)

Tachysphex selectus Nurse

Tachysphex selectus Nurse, 1909:514, . [Holotype: , India: Bombay (BMNH)].—R. Turner, 1917b:198 [as synonym of Tachysphex sericeus (F. Smith)].—Bohart and Menke. 1976:276 [listed].

Tachysphex actaeon de Beaumont. 1960a:16, , . [Holotype: . Israel: Jerusalem (LAUSANNE). Synonymized with Tachysphex selectus by Pulawski, 1975:313.].—Pulawski, 1967:398 [Turkey]. 1971:412 [revision],—de Beaumont. Bytinski-Salz. and Pulawski, 1973:13 [Israel],

DIAGNOSIS.—Tachysphex selectus resembles the African species maidli and sericeus in having hindwing vein cu-a at least slightly inclined (anterior end closer to wing base than posterior end, see Figure 234); sternum I posteriorly with longitudinal, obtuse carina (as in Figure 236); setae sinuous along hypostomal carina, on mesopleuron anteriorly, and on propodeum; apical depressions of male stema III–V with erect or suberect setae that are longer than on remaining surface; and black gaster combined with red tibiae (all or partly). Unlike these species, the setal length in selectus is no more than one midocellar diameter on the vertex, interocellar area, and midfemoral venter. In the other two, the setae are longer than midocellar diameter on the vertex and also (except some males of sericeus) on the interocellar area and midfemoral venter. Furthermore, the male forefemoral notch is markedly deeper in selectus than in maidli, and not compressed laterally (compressed to form a longitudinal crest in sericeus).

DESCRIPTION.—Scutal punctures up to several diameters apart, interspaces microsculptured and dull to smooth and shiny. Mesopleuron dull; propodeal side ridged but ridges evanescent or absent in small individuals. Episternal sulcus incomplete. Hindwing (as in Figure 234): crossvein cu-a inclined, but only slightly so in some specimens; jugal lobe enlarged, jugal excision absent. Hindcoxal dorsum: inner margin not carinate or carinate only basally.

Setae appressed on interocellar area and scape; erect, about one midocellar diameter long on vertex; sinuous, about 0.4 × basal mandibular width; not obscuring thoracic integument; sinuous, 1.5 (female) to 2.0 (male) midocellar diameters on mesopleuron beneath pronotal lobe; on propodeal dorsum erect or inclined posterad, sinuous to nearly straight, about 0.4 × basal mandibular width; forecoxal setae sinuous in most specimens but straight in single male from Jabalpur.

Head, thorax and gaster black, mandible reddish mesally. Terga I–IV fasciate apically (I–III in some males).

.—Labrum emarginate mesally. Clypeus (Figures 160, 162): bevel shorter than basomedian area; free margin of lip variable, entire in some specimens, but shallowly notched mesally and with two lateral incisions on each side in others. Vertex width 1.1 × length. Dorsal length of flagellomere I 2.1–2.2 × apical width. Outer surface of foretibia with thin spines. Forebasitarsus with nine or ten rake spines divided into a basal and an apical group. Length of hindtarsomere IV about 1.1 × apical width, apical emargination acute. Apical tarsomeres (Figures 165, 166): lateral margins with one to three spines at midlength, venter with two basal and subapical spines. Pygidial plate not constricted preapically (Figure 164). Length 8.5–12.0 mm.

Forefemur black, midfemur largely red (black basally), hindfemur red except narrowly black basally. Tibiae and tarsi red.

.—Clypeus (Figures 161, 163): free margin of lobe arcuate, angulate laterally; distance between comers 1.2–1.3 × distance between comer and orbit. Vertex width 0.3–0.4 × length. Dorsal length of flagellomere I 1.7–2.0 × apical width. Forefemoral venter, between base and notch, with setae whose length is about 0.25 × midocellar diameter; notch not compressed, basally with a group of setae that are about 0.3 × midocellar diameter. Outer margin of forebasitarsus without preapical rake spines. Apical tarsomere with one preapical spine on venter. Apical depressions of stema III—VI with suberect setae that are not agglutinated except on sternum III apicomesally; setae markedly longer than those on remaining surface. Volsella as in erythropus (see Figure 235). Length 8.0–11.0 mm.

Femora black, tibiae all red or black dorsally and reddish ventrally. Tarsi red to dark brown.

RELATIONSHIPS.—Tachysphex selectus is a member of a monophyletic lineage, the fluctuatus group of de Beaumont, 1936a (renamed erythropus group by Pulawski, 1971). Most species of the lineage are characterized by the following unique combination of apomorphic structures: propodeal hindface intersecting dorsum at about right angle; hindwing vein cu-a inclined (anterior end closer to wing base than posterior end); sternum I posteriorly with longitudinal, obtuse carina; and apical depressions of male stema III–V with setae (suberect to subappressed) that are markedly longer than setae on remaining surface. However, some Sri Lankan selectus have an almost vertical vein cu-a. Nine species are included: costae (Destefani), erythropus (Spinola), grandissimus Gussakovskij, maidli de Beaumont, Osiris de Beaumont, schoenlandi Cameron, selectus Nurse, sericeus F. Smith, and sordidus (Dahlbom). Mantids, either immatures or small adults, are collected as prey. Ranges include Africa and the Mediterranean Basin, western Asia to Transcaspia, India, and Sri Lanka.

COLLECTING PERIOD.—12 May through 11 October.

HABITAT.—In Sri Lanka, this species was found in three localities at low altitudes in the Dry Zone where the average annual rainfall ranges from 1100 to 1700 mm (Figure 167).

GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION.—Turkey, Cyprus, Israel, Lebanon, Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka.

RECORDS (localities in Pulawski, 1971, under actaeon, are not repeated here).—INDIA: MADHYA PRADESH: Jabalpur (1 , BMNH). MAHARASHTRA: Bombay (holotype of selectus). TAMIL NADU: Coimbatore (3, CAS; 1, USNM), Karikal (1 , CAS), Dohnavur in Tirunelveli (= Tinnevelley) District (1 , BMNH), Karikal (1, CAS).

PAKISTAN: Hazarganji Chiltan National Park, 20 km SW Quetta (1, CAS).

SRI LANKA: MONARAGALA DISTRICT: Mau Ara, 10 mi (16 km) E Uda Walawe (1, USNM). PUTTALAM DISTRICT: Kali Villu in Wilpattu National Park (1, USNM). TRINCOMALEE DISTRICT: Trincomalee, China Bay (2, USNM), China Bay Ridge Bungalow (5, 20, USNM; 1, 1, CAS).