Polistes (Aphanilopterus) apicalis de Saussure, 1858

Somavilla, Alexandre, Oliveira, Marcio Luiz, Andena, Sergio Ricardo & Carpenter, James Michael, 2018, An illustrated atlas for male genitalia of the New World Polistes Latreille, 1802 (Vespidae: Polistinae), Zootaxa 4504 (3), pp. 301-344 : 303-304

Polistes (Aphanilopterus) apicalis de Saussure

Paramere: (1) about three times longer than wide at the middle; (2) lateral groove deep; (3) parameral spine long (about 1/6 of the total length of the paramere), pointed apically with long and dense bristles, mainly on spine base; (4) paramere lobe not observed; (5) inferior portion of paramere narrow, about 2/3 the width at the middle portion. Aedeagus: slender; (1) apical portion with fine denticulation, extended only in apical portion, lateral margin straight; (2) penis valve weakly dilated and with a slight central entrance (about 1/4 of the total length of apical portion); (3) median expansion not observed; (4) lateral apodeme directed forward and almost the same size as the ventral process; (6) inferior portion of aedeagus curved in lateral view. Digitus: slender; (1) apical process developed, about twice longer than the digitus base, same width from the base to the apex, (2) apex rounded; (3) anteroventral lobe short and rounded apically; (4) punctation strong and forming a central band around the base of the digitus; (5) evanescente bristles. Cuspis: slender; (1) apex pointed and tapering abruptly to the end; (2) short and dense bristles on cuspis; (3) punctation restricted on the lateral lobe; (4) lower part weakly developed.

Remarks. Richards (1978: 512) described the teeth as obsolete on the ventral part, however, we observed denticulation only on the upper part of the aedeagus. The parameral spine also does not match Richards’ description, which characterized the parameral spine as “medially a little widened”, with hairs “rather less dense”. Unfortunately, Richards (1978: Fig. 142) depicted only the digitus.