Polistes (Polistella), 1904

Selis, Marco, 2018, Revision of the genus Polistes Latreille (Hymenoptera: Vespidae: Polistinae) in the Philippine Islands, Zootaxa 4531 (4), pp. 507-531 : 522

Polistes (Polistella) stigma ( Fabricius, 1793)

( Figs. 43–46 )

Vespa stigma Fabricius 1793: 275 —“ India orientali” (type depository unknown).

Polistes stigma alagari Petersen 1987: 246, ♀ —“ Philippines, TAWI TAWI: … Tarawakan” (holotype ZMUC). Syn. nov. Polistes dubius de Saussure 1867: 20 , fig. 15—“Manile” (lectotype NMW) . Syn. nov.

Polistes manillensis de Saussure 1854: 70 , ♂ —“Les Philippines ” (holotype BMNH). Syn. nov.

Diagnosis. This species can be differentiated by its small size and the dark spot on the marginal cell of the fore wing ( Fig. 46 ).

Material examined. PHILIPPINES: GREAT SANTA CRUZ ISLAND: 27. VI.1974, 1 ♀ ( MSVI) ; LUZON: Zambales , Subic, I.2015, 4 ♀ ( MSVI) ; MINDANAO: Cabanglasan , V.2014, 1 ♀ ( MSVI) ; MINDORO: San Jose , 23. VI.1974, 1 ♂ ( MSVI) ; Baco , III.2015, 1 ♀ ( MSVI) ; Baco , V.2015, 1 ♂ 2♀ ( MSVI) ; NEGROS: Don Salvador , Benedicto, II.2016, 3 ♂, leg. Ismael Lumawig ( LDMLC) ; Don Salvador , Benedicto, III.2016, 2 ♂ ( MSVI) ; Dumaguete , IX.2014, 1 ♀ ( MSVI) ; PANAY: Antique , Libertad, VIII.2014, 1 ♀ ( MSVI) .

Distribution. Thailand; Malaysia; Singapore; India; Sri Lanka; Taiwan; Indonesia; Vietnam; Admiralty Islands; Bismarck Islands; Solomon Islands; Duke of York; New Ireland; New Guinea; Australia; Society Islands; Hermit Islands; Philippine Islands: Calicoan, Great Santa Cruz Island*, Leyte, Luzon, Mindanao*, Mindoro*, Negros*, Palawan, Panay*, Tawitawi ( Carpenter 1996b; Petersen 1987).

Remarks. Polistes (Polistella) stigma is a widespread species with almost 20 subspecies recognized, which had been revised by Petersen (1987). As stated by Carpenter (1996b), the subspecies category has no place in a phylogenetic system and taxa currently recognized as subspecies should be revised and recognized as synonyms or distinct species. The three subspecies described from the Philippine Islands, P. s. alagari Petersen, 1987 ( Fig. 43 ), P. s. dubius de Saussure, 1867 ( Fig. 44 ) and P. s. manillensis de Saussure, 1854 ( Fig. 45 ), are, according to Petersen (1987), differentiated by color characters only. Examining specimens from various localities in the Archipelago, I found specimens that show intermediate forms between the three subspecies. Comparing them with the typical subspecies from continental Asia, no morphological characters were found to differentiate the Philippine forms, which are therefore synonymized.

Figures

FIGURES 43–46. Polistes (Polistella) stigma (Fabricius, 1793). 45, ♂. 43–44, 46, ♀. 43, Habitus of form alagari Petersen, 1987. 44, Habitus of form dubius de Saussure, 1867. 45, Habitus of form manillensis de Saussure, 1854. 46, Wings.