Harpactopus F. Smith, 1856

Odintsev, Yuriy N. Danilov Oleg A. & Kobets, Anastasia S., 2024, A taxonomic study on the genus Prionyx Vander Linden, 1827 (Hymenoptera: Sphecidae: Prionychini). Subgenus Harpactopus F. Smith, 1856, Zootaxa 5551 (2), pp. 263-298 : 266

Subgenus Harpactopus F. Smith, 1856

Harpactopus F. Smith 1856:264 .

Type species: Harpactopus crudelis F. Smith, 1856 , by subsequent designation of Patton 1880:384. Junior subjective synonym of Sphex Linnaeus, 1758 according to Kohl 1890:106 and Prionyx Vander Linden, 1827 by Bohart & Menke 1976:39. Resurrected to subgeneric status by Danilov & Odintsev 2023:430.

Gastrosphaeria A. Costa 1858:10 .

Type species: Gastrosphaeria anthracina A. Costa, 1858 [= Sphex subfuscatus Dahlbom, 1845 ], by monotypy. Junior subjective synonym of Sphex Linnaeus, 1758 according to Kohl 1890:106 and Prionyx Vander Linden, 1827 according to Bohart & Menke 1976:39. Junior subjective synonym of Harpactopus F. Smith, 1856 ( type species of Gastrosphaeria belongs to the same species group as type species of Harpactopus ).

Group of crudelis of Bohart & Menke 1963.

Groups of subfuscatus and macula of de Beaumont 1968.

Group of globosus of Bohart & Menke 1963.

Diagnosis. The subgenus Harpactopus F. Smith is characterized by the claws with two ventral teeth, male antennae with distinct placoids, female clypeus entire or with U-shaped median notch, metapleuron channel-like, and metasoma wholly black.

Distribution. Arid and semi-arid areas of the Old World and Australasia.