Euodynerus

Selis, Marco, 2024, Revision of the Afrotropical species of Euodynerus Dalla Torre (Hymenoptera: Vespidae: Eumeninae), Zootaxa 5399 (4), pp. 365-380 : 366-367

Key to the Afrotropical species of Euodynerus

1. Occipital carina strongly developed on gena and sides of vertex, forming a high translucent lamella; gena seen from above nearly straight and with projecting occipital carina. Outer margin of tegula strongly rounded. Dorsal carina of propodeum developed in a high translucent lamella and almost reaching posterolateral corners of propodeum. Small-sized species (body length 5.0–7.5 mm) richly marked with yellow on whole body, black background sometimes replaced with ferruginous......................................................................................... Euodynerus salzi (Giordani Soika)

-. Occipital carina normally developed on gena and sides of vertex, not lamellate; gena seen from above rounded and without markedly projecting occipital carina. Outer margin of tegula weakly rounded. Dorsal carina of propodeum not lamellate, if shortly lamellate then only visible near metanotum. Larger-sized species (body length 8.0–14.5 mm) not richly marked with yellow.................................................................................................... 2

2. Mandible narrow and elongate, in frontal view outer and dentate margins forming an angle of less than 45°. Mesosoma not depressed, mesoscutum and scutellum convex and not forming an even surface. Translucent margin of T1 sharply separated from rest of surface; T1–2 with deep and distinct punctures on whole surface. Male: F11 digitiform and weakly curved, not depressed … 3

-. Mandible robust and not elongate, in frontal view outer and dentate margins forming an angle of about 45°. Mesosoma depressed, mesoscutum and scutellum flattened and forming an even surface. Translucent margin of T1 not markedly separated from rest of surface; T1 and base of T2 with shallow and indistinct punctures, disc and apex of T2 with punctures progressively deeper and larger. Male: F11 bacilliform and nearly straight, depressed on dorsal face.................................... 5

3. T1–2 sparsely punctate, interspaces as wide as several puncture diameters. S2 strongly bulging basally, with a well-developed basal vertical face separated from the rest of the surface by a marked transverse ridge. Black with few whitish markings........................................................................ Euodynerus semiaethiopicus (Giordani Soika)

-. T1–2 densely punctate, interspaces at most slightly wider than puncture diameter. S2 not strongly bulging basally, evenly sloping towards basal furrow. Black with extensive orange-red markings............................................... 4

4. Occipital carina distinctly bent at level of ocular sinus. Pronotal carina angled on humeri; lateral face of pronotum strongly depressed and striate. T1–2 with coarser and deeper punctures, interspaces narrower than puncture diameter; T1 entirely orange-red, T2 black or with basolateral red spots only, following tergites entirely black............. Euodynerus niloticus (de Saussure)

-. Occipital carina evenly rounded at level of ocular sinus. Pronotal carina evenly rounded on humeri; lateral face of pronotum weakly depressed and not striate. T1–2 with finer punctures, interspaces at least as wide as puncture diameter; T1 orange-red with large basomedian black spot, T2 with large lateral markings fused with apical band, following tergites almost entirely orange................................................................................. Euodynerus socotrae (Kohl)

5. Head and mesosoma with dust-like pubescence and sparse, short pale setae. Posterior lobe of tegula long and acute, with very shallow punctures; outer margin of tegula very weakly curved, tegula about 2× as long as wide. Dorsal carina of propodeum indistinct, largely confused with coarse sculpture. Metasoma grayish-black, at most with suffused red spots at base and apex. Male: face mostly red, clypeus about as long as wide, apical emargination as wide as interantennal distance.................................................................................... Euodynerus histrionicus (Gerstäcker)

-. Head and mesosoma with dense, long golden setae and without dust-like pubescence. Posterior lobe of tegula short and blunt, with deep punctures; outer margin of tegula markedly curved, tegula about 1.7× as long as wide. Dorsal carina of propodeum distinct and sharp. Metasoma black with yellow longitudinal bands on sides. Male: face largely yellow, clypeus longer than wide, apical emargination narrower than interantennal distance....................................... Euodynerus gaya sp. nov.