Systematic revision of the spider wasp genus Sphictostethus Kohl (Hymenoptera: Pompilidae: Pepsinae)in Australia with description of nine new species

Abstract

The Australian members of the genus Sphictostethus Kohl, 1884 are revised. Previously this genus was only known to occur in Australia from two species, both restricted to Tasmania. Here we recognize 13 species from the continent. Nine species are described as new, viz. S. dorrigoensis, S. gadali, S. geevestoni, S. haoae, S. insularis, S. montanus, S. picadillycircus, S. walteri, and S. yidyam n. spp. Two species are here transferred to the genus, S. infandus (Smith) n. comb. and S. connectens (Turner) n. comb., while S. aliciae (Turner) and S. Xanthochrous (Turner) are redescribed. Australian Sphictostethus species are distributed throughout the tropical and temperate wet forests along the east coast of the mainland and also show a signifi cant radiation in the cool temperate forests of Tasmania, where six species are recorded. Sphictostethus insularis n. sp. is described from Lord Howe Island, where it is apparently endemic and represents only the second described pompilid species from this small and isolated volcanic landmass. The distribution of the genus Sphictostethus and its putative Gondwanan origin are briefly discussed with reference to the new findings.