New insights into the distribution of the obscure digger wasp Sphex optimus F. Smith, 1856 (Hymenoptera: Apoidea: Sphecidae)

Abstract

Until now, Sphex optimus F. SMITH, 1856 has been known from only the holotype which had presumably been collected in Western Africa. Here, new records of a taxon from Central America with phenotypic accordance are presented. Diagnostic characters of S. optimus and the Neotropical species are given and the equivalence of the two taxa is being postulated.