Tachysphex conclusus Nurse 1903

Tachysphex conclusus Nurse

Tachysphex conclusus Nurse, 1903:517, , . [Lectotype: , India: Gujarat: Deesa (BMNH), present designation.].—Bohart and Menke, 1976:273 [listed].

DIAGNOSIS.—Tachysphex conclusus is one of the many species in which the labrum is convex and protruding beyond the clypeal free margin and the mouthparts are elongate (as in Figures 147–151). The female is characterized by an all black or partly reddish clypeus, the clypeal lip weakly sinuous or entire laterally, the propodeal side evenly microsculptured, and tergum V evenly microsculptured throughout (including the apical depression). Females of noar and many extralimital panzeri are identical, so that conclusus can be distinguished only by geographical distribution: it occurs in the Gujarat and Rajasthan States of India, whereas noar is known only from Sri Lanka. The male of conclusus can be recognized only by the shape of the volsella, which is similar (although not identical) to that of diadelus (compare Figures 158 and 197).

DESCRIPTION.—Clypeal middle section conspicuously convex. Labrum convex, protruding beyond clypeal free margin; galea longer than wide, densely punctate (except anteriorly). Punctures minute, about one diameter apart on scutum and mesothoracic venter, mesopleuron dull, microsculptured, impunctate. Episternal sulcus effaced anteroventrally. Propodeal dorsum and side evenly microsculptured, side not ridged. Hindcoxal dorsum: inner margin ecarinate. Apical tarsomeres without spines on venter or lateral margins, with a few thin, erect setae on venter.

Setae appressed on frons, vertex, scutum, mesopleuron, and midfemoral venter; subappressed between mandibular base and occipital carina; most setae of propodeal dorsum inclined obliquely anterad, but lateral setae inclined obliquely posterad and joining apicomesally. Mesopleural setae not concealing integument, the latter easily visible.

Head and thorax black, mandible yellowish red (except apically), clypeal bevel reddish in some females. Gaster and legs: see below. Wings hyaline or slightly infumate.

.—Clypeus: bevel about as long as basomedian area; lip arcuate, its free margin emarginate mesally, simple or minimally sinuate laterally (not incised). Vertex width 0.7–0.8 × length. Dorsal length of flagellomere I 2.6–3.0 × apical width. Foretibia densely, uniformly punctate and setose throughout, outer surface with one spine near midlength and one subapically. Forebasitarsus with eight or nine rake spines. Tergum V uniformly micropunctate throughout (including apical depression). Pygidial plate shallowly punctate, interspaces microsculptured, Length 9.0–9.5 mm.

Gaster red basally and apically, black preapically (black covering segments III–V in darkest specimens, terga IV and V in lightest). Femora black, tibiae black to largely red; tarsi brown to red. Terga I–IV silvery fasciate apically (fascia of tergum IV interrupted).

.—Clypeus:bevel not sharply delimited dorsally, about as long as basomedian area, delimited laterally by oblique carina that emerges from lip corner, lip arcuate, not emarginate or with rudimentary emargination mesally, angulate laterally; distance between corners 0.9–1.1 × distance between corner and orbit. Vertex width 0.7–0.9 × length. Dorsal length of flagellomere I 2.0–2.1 × apical width. Forefemoral notch setose, setae appressed. Outer margin of forebasitarsus with three to five preapical spines, length of apical spine 2.0–2.6 × apical basitarsus width; apical spine of foretarsomere II longer than tarsomere III. Sterna densely, evenly punctate, densely setose. Volsella: Figure 197. Length 7.0–8.8 mm.

Gastral segments I and II red, remainder black (also tergum III all or partly red in some specimens). Femora and tibiae black or foretibia reddish brown on inner surface; tarsi brown. Frontal setae golden. Terga I–III silvery fasciate apically.

GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION.—Known from two localities in northwestern India.

RECORDS.—INDIA (lectotype and paralectotypes): GUJARAT: Deesa (3, 5, BMNH; 1, 1, CAS). RAJASTHAN: Mount Abu (1, BMNH).