Polistes (Polistella) tenuipunctatus Selis, 2018

Selis, Marco, 2018, Revision of the genus Polistes Latreille (Hymenoptera: Vespidae: Polistinae) in the Philippine Islands, Zootaxa 4531 (4), pp. 507-531 : 525-528

Polistes (Polistella) tenuipunctatus Selis , sp. nov.

( Figs. 54–62 )

Diagnosis. This species can be easily recognized by the sparse punctation on mesosoma, with interspaces distinctly wider than punctures diameter; the light red coloration with extensive yellow markings ( Figs. 54–55 ), T1 thick and as long as apically wide, and S7 of the male with and oblique cut-off semicircular area margined by short bristles ( Fig. 61 ).

Material examined. HOLOTYPE: ♀, labeled “ Philippines, Samar, Marabut / VI.2015 / Leg. local collector” ( OLML) . PARATYPES: PHILIPPINES: SAMAR: Lope de Vega, V.2016, 1 ♂ 1♀ ( MSVI); Lope de Vega , VI.2016, 2 ♀ (1♀ MSVI; 1♀ OLML) ; Lope de Vega , VII.2016, 2 ♀ ( MSNVE). OTHER MATERIAL: Luzon: Aurora, Sierra Madre, III.2012, 1 ♀ ( MSVI); Isabela, Dindin, X.2014, 1 ♀ ( MSVI) .

Description. FEMALE. Body length 12–14 mm; fore wing length 11–13 mm.

Head in frontal view about 1.12× as wide as high ( Fig. 56 ); in dorsal view weakly swollen behind eyes, then narrowed posteriorly. Vertex very weakly raised in area among ocelli, almost flattened behind posterior ocelli. Gena in lateral view about 0.7× as wide as eye; occipital carina fine and well distinct, absent in ventral third of gena. Inner eye margins weakly convergent ventrally. Antennal sockets almost as close to inner eye margin as to each other; interantennal space weakly raised and forming a rounded tubercle. Clypeus in frontal view about as wide as high; apical margins converging to a slightly truncated apex; free apical part 0.22× as long as basal part; in lateral view weakly convex; length of lateral margin of clypeus lying along inner eye margin shorter than diameter of antennal socket and about 0.7× as long as the length of malar space. Antennal scape about 3.1× as long as its maximum width; F1 about 2.8× as long as its maximum width; F2–F4 longer than wide; F5 about as long as wide; F6–F9 becoming progressively shorter than wide; F10 bullet-shaped ( Fig. 57 ).

Pronotal carina translucent and slightly elevated; sharper on lateral side of pronotum, less evident on dorsal face. Mesoscutum weakly convex, 1.12× as long as wide between tegulae; anterior margin broadly rounded. Scutellum flattened, anterior margin strongly convex and above level of mesoscutum. Disc of metanotum flat, in lateral view smoothly passing from posterior margin of scutellum to posterior face of propodeum. Posterior face of propodeum widely and shallowly excavated medially, transiction from posterior to lateral face indistinct and broadly rounded.

T1 short and thick, about as long as its apical width, in lateral view perpendicularly elevated just behind basal slit for reception of propodeal suspensory ligament, then angled and weakly convex on dorsal face. T 2 in dorsal view with lateral margins divergent posteriorly in basal half, then parallel sided in posterior half. S 2 in lateral view entirely convex from base to apex ( Fig. 58 ).

Clypeus densely micropunctate, with deep small punctures on basal third and larger punctures apically, each point bearing a golden bristle; golden tomentum restricted to basal two fifths. Mandible with scattered medium sized punctures. Frons up to anterior ocellus dull and covered with small flat bottomed punctures, interspaces equal to or larger than punctures diameter; ocular sinus dull with some small punctures. Vertex and gena nearly impunctate, with some indistinct punctures. Malar space smooth and shiny with some oblique medium sized punctures. Pronotum with dense flat bottomed punctures, but interspaces equal to or wider than punctures diameter, some punctures forming series. Mesoscutum dull and punctured on lateral thirds only, punctures very shallow and almost indistinct. Scutellum with shallow oblique punctures, interspaces equal to punctures diameter. Metanotum nearly impunctate, some very fine punctures barely visible. Mesepisternum punctured like pronotum laterally, sparsely punctured on antero-ventral side. Dorsal plate of metaepisternum with striae and some medium sized punctures; ventral plate of metaepisternum nearly impunctate, some very fine punctures barely visible. Propodeum densely and finely transversely striated, striae stronger on dorsal face and on transiction between posterior and lateral face, barely visible on antero-lateral margins. T1–T6 and S2–S6 very densely micropunctate and without distinct larger punctures; S1 with fine and dense transverse striae. Head, pronotum, mesoscutum and scutellum with dense golden tomentum; propodeum and lateral side of mesosoma with dense silvery tomentum. Frons with long golden bristles; gena, pronotum, mesoscutum, scutellum and metaepisternum with short golden bristles, those on mesoscutum bent toward median line; metanotum and mesepisternum with long silvery bristles apically bent at right angle; propodeum with some sparse silvery setae, becoming longer toward apex. All terga with very dense reddish-golden tomentum; all sterna with tomentum similar to terga, but yellowish-silver; some short silvery setae on whole S2 and at apex of T3–T6 and S3–S6.

Color. Red; following parts yellow: U-shaped marking on clypeus, inner eye margin up to ocular sinus, oblique line between eye and posterior ocellus, posterior eye margin from gena to vertex, squarish spot at base of mandible, band along pronotal carina, posterior margin of pronotum, broad longitudinal bands on mesoscutum merging behind, margins of scutellum, metanotum except posterior margin, posterior face of propodeum except median fusiform band, triangular spot on lateral face of propodeum, median margin of propleura, band on posterior and dorsal margin of mesepisternum, dorsal spot on upper plate of metaepisternum, postero-dorsal margin of ventral plate of metaepisternum, margins of T1–T5, small lateral spot on T1, whole S1, sinous apical bands on S2–S5, anterior face of fore coxa, lateral lines on mid and hind coxae, apical spot on fore and mid femora; following parts black: trapezoidal spot on vertex and frons including ocellar triangle, anterior vertical face of pronotum, indistinct markings on mesoscutum, median line and angles of propodeum, propleura, ventral part of mesepisternum, mesepimeron except anterior margin, ventral margin of ventral plate of metaepisternum, basal triangular marking on T1, basal band on T2–T6, basal margin of S2, basal band on S3–S6, posterior face of fore coxa, ventral face of all femora; antennae darker dorsally. Wings brownish hyaline; venations brown-reddish.

MALE. Body length 12 mm; fore wing length 13 mm.

Like female, except head about 1.25× as wide as high in frontal view; eye swollen, ventral lobe greatly larger than dorsal lobe; clypeus in frontal view as wide as high, truncated apically, with a translucent ventral margin in the middle ( Fig. 59 ), weakly convex basally, then flattened to the apex; scape shorter and more bulging, about 2.6× as long as wide; flagellum longer, F1 longer than length of F2–F3 combined; F2–F10 longer than wide; F11 not dissimilar to last flagellomere of female, slightly longer and weakly concave below, 1.75× as long as basally wide ( Fig. 60 ); temples in dorsal view strongly convergent behind; apical margin of S7 with a semicircular area obliquely cut off, semicircular area margined by short thick bristles ( Fig. 61 ).

Coloration as in the female, but with following differences: mandible, clypeus and frons up to ocular sinus entirely yellow, antero-ventral face of mesepisternum entirely yellow, all terga and sterna with apical yellow band, posterior margin of S7 with semicircular yellow marking; longitudinal bands on mesoscutum absent; other yellow markings reduced but still clearly visible and well defined.

Etymology. The specific name is from the Latin tenuis (= faint) and punctatus (= punctate), in reference to the faint punctation of this species.

Distribution. Philippine Islands: Luzon, Samar.

Remarks. The coloration of the specimens from Samar is remarkably constant, with only some variations in the extent of yellow on mesoscutum, propodeum, and T1. The two specimens from Luzon instead show dark coloration ( Fig. 62 ), with yellow markings confined to extremely narrow lines on the inner eye margin, anterior and posterior margin of pronotum, T1–T4, S2–S4, and, in one specimen, on the anterior margin of the metanotum. Due to the great differences in coloration, the different provenance, and some morphological differences, these two specimens are not included in the typical series, as the absence of males from Luzon doesn’t allow me to clarify if they represent a simple local form or a distinct species.

Figures

FIGURES 53–56. 53, Polistes (Polistella) strigosus mimus Bequaert, 1940. 54–56, Polistes (Polistella) tenuipunctatus Selis, sp. nov. 54, 56, ♀. 53, 55, ♂. 53, S7 in ventral view. 54, Habitus of holotype. 55, Habitus of male paratype. 56, Head in frontal view.

FIGURES 57–62. Polistes (Polistella) tenuipunctatus Selis, sp. nov. 57–58, 62, ♀. 59–61, ♂. 57, 60, Antenna in lateral view. 58, S2 in lateral view. 59, Head in frontal view. 61, S7 in ventral view. 62, Habitus of female from Luzon.