Tachysphex bengalensis Cameron 1889

Tachysphex bengalensis Cameron

Tachysphex bengalensis Cameron, 1889:144, . [Lectotype: , India: “Bengal: Tirhoot” = Bihar: Muzalfarpur (OXFORD), designated by Pulawski, 1975:311, examined].—R. Turner, 1917b:198 [Bingham, 1897, incorrectly interpreted the species].—Nec following authors [= Tachysphex morosus]: Bingham, 1897:193; Williams, 1928:92; Krombein, 1949:393].—Tsuneki, 1963:7; 1967:49.—Iwata, 1964:369: Haneda, 1971:30.—Nec Yasumatsu, 1940:97 [= Tachysphex nigricolor].

Tachysphex brevitarsis Kohl, 1901:783, . [Syntypes: Sri Lanka: Badureliya (NHMW), examined. Synonymized with Tachysphex bengalensis by Pulawski, 1975:311].

DIAGNOSIS.—Tachysphex bengalensis closely resembles the Australian species mackayensis R. Turner. Both have sinuous setae on the head and thorax (setal length 0.5 × basal mandibular width on vertex and 0.3–0.4 on scutal disk), the labrum is flat, emarginate apically, the female tarsi are of the obscuripennis type, and the female forebasitarsus has no fewer than eight rake spines; also, the episternal sulcus is complete in bengalensis and some mackayensis. The mesopleural punctures, however, are large and conspicuous in bengalensis and fine to evanescent in mackayensis. Furthermore, the male of bengalensis has a subapical cluster of minute spines on the venter of the apical tarsomeres, while only one or two relatively long spines are present in mackayensis.

DESCRIPTION (see also xanthoptesimus, page 50).—Scutal punctation varying, but at least a few punctures about two diameters apart; in some specimens most discal punctures several diameters apart. Mesopleural punctures varying from less than one to about two diameters apart at center. Episternal sulcus complete. Propodeal dorsum rugose or irregularly ridged longitudinally. Hindcoxal dorsum: inner margin obtusely angulate basally.

Setae sinuous on head, thorax, forefemur, and midfemoral venter. Setal length expressed as fraction of basal mandibular width: 0.5 on vertex and along hypostomal carina, 0.3–0.4 on scutal disk, 0.6 on propodeal dorsum, 0.4–0.5 on midfemoral venter. Setae appressed on scape, inclined posterad on propodeal dorsum.

Body black, including mandibles and tarsi. Tegula yellow brown, humeral plate of forewing dark brown. Wings slightly infumate, veins dark brown. Terga I–III silvery fasciate apically, also tergum IV in some individuals. Frontal and clypeal vestiture silvery, with golden tinge in some males.

—Labrum emarginate mesally. Clypeus (Figures 129, 131): bevel ill defined, about as long as basomedian area; lip emarginate mesally, with two shallow, ill-defined lateral incisions on each side. Vertex width 1.1–1.2 × length. Dorsal length of flagellomere I 2.4–2.6 × apical width. Punctures averaging about two diameters apart on vertex and scutal disk, about one diameter on mesopleuron beneath scrobe (interspaces uneven). Forefemoral venter shiny, punctures many diameters apart. Forebasitarsus with ten rake spines. Tarsomeres V: lateral margins with row of minute spines near base. Length 9.5–10.0 mm.

.—Clypeus (Figures 130, 132): lip arcuate, distance between lip comers equal to 0.5–0.6 of distance between comer and orbit. Vertex width 1.2–1.3 × length. Dorsal length of flagellomere I 1.7–1.8 × apical width, about 0.7 of II. Punctures more than one diameter apart on vertex and scutal disk, about one diameter apart to nearly contiguous on mesopleuron below scrobe. Bottom of forefemoral notch finely setose (Figures 135, 137, 138). Venter of apical tarsomere with median cluster of minute spines, but without such spines on lateral margins (Figure 136). Stema III–VI with large, sparse punctures. Length 6.0–9.0 mm. Volsella: Figure 133. Penis valve: Figure 134.

COLLECTING PERIOD.—January through June, November.

HABITAT.—Tachysphex bengalensis has a wide distribution in Sri Lanka and occurs in all three ecological zones where the average annual rainfall ranges from 1000 to 4000 mm, mostly at low altitudes, although one specimen was taken at an altitude of 900 m (Figure 139).

GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION.—India, Sri Lanka.

RECORDS.—INDIA: BIHAR: Muzalfarpur (lectotype and paralectotype of bengalensis). MAHARASHTRA: Krishnagiri Upawan National Park, 12 air km NNW Bombay International Airport (1, CAS). TAMIL NADU: Anamalai Hills, Cinchona (1, OSU).

SRI LANKA: ANURADHAPURA DISTRICT: Ritigala Natural Reserve (5, USNM). COLOMBO DISTRICT: Henaratgoda (1, 3, USNM), Ratmalana (1, 1, USNM). JAFFNA DISTRICT: Kilinochchi (1, USNM). KALUTARA DISTRICT: Badureliya (Kohl, 1901, as brevitarsis). KANDY DISTRICT: Kandy, Udawattakele (1, USNM). KURUNEGALA DISTRICT: Kurunegala, Badegamuwa Jungle (3, USNM). MANNAR DISTRICT: 0.5 mi (0.8 km) NE Kokmotte in Wilpattu National Park (2, USNM), Silavathurai, Kondachchi (1, 1, USNM); Marichchukkaddi (1, NMC). MATARA DISTRICT: Paraduwa (1, CAS). PUTTALAM DISTRICT: Panikka Villu Bungalow in Wilpattu National Park (1, USNM). RATNAPURA DISTRICT: Deerwood, Kuruwita, 6 mi (9.6 km) NNW Ratnapura (1, LUND); Bulutota Pass, 3000 ft (1, USNM); Uggalkaltota (2, CAS, USNM). TRINCOMALEE DISTRICT: Trincomalee, China Bay Ridge Bungalow (1, USNM).