Polistes (Epicnemius) pacificus Fabricius, 1804

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 : 327

Polistes (Epicnemius) pacificus Fabricius

Paramere ( Fig. 29A ): (1) about three times longer than wide at the middle; (2) lateral groove shallow; (3) parameral spine very long (about 1/5 the total length of paramere), more rounded apically with long and dense bristles; (4) paramere lobe developed and widely rounded; (5) inferior portion of paramere narrow, about 2/3 the width at the middle portion. Aedeagus ( Fig. 29B, C ): slender; (1) apical portion with fine and serrated denticulation, extended the apex of the apical portion to the median expansion, lateral margin straight; (2) penis valve weakly dilated and with a slight central entrance (about 1/3 of the total length of apical portion); (3) median expansion developed and rounded apex; (4) lateral apodeme directed forward and shorter than the ventral process, (5) ventral process rounded and slightly expanded in apex; (6) inferior portion of aedeagus weakly curved, almost straight in lateral view. Digitus ( Fig. 29D ): slender; (1) apical process developed, about twice longer than the digitus base, and slightly dilated in apex, (2) apex rounded; (3) anteroventral lobe short and rounded apically; (4) punctation larger on the side of the base; (5) long and dense bristles in the base and short and sparse in the apical process. Cuspis ( Fig. 29E ): slender; (1) apex pointed and tapering abruptly to the end; (2) long and sparse bristles on cuspis, more on the lateral margin; (3) punctation restricted on the lateral lobe; (4) lower part weakly developed. Remarks. In Richards (1978: 547–550) P. pacificus was divided into five subspecies, all now synonyms. One of his comments (p. 547) was about denticulation small with 20 teeth on aedeagus, and digitus narrow with numerous hairs but distal half more or less bare. Unfortunately, Richards did not draw the genitalia.

Figures

FIGURE 29. Male genitalia of Polistes (Epicnemius) pacificus—A= paramere, lateral view; B= aedeagus, ventral view; C= aedeagus, lateral view; D= digitus, lateral view; E= cuspis, lateral view. Scale bar = 1.0 mm.