Apoica (Apoica) albimacula (Fabricius, 1804)

PICKETT, KURT M. & WENZEL, JOHN W., 2007, Revision and Cladistic Analysis of the Nocturnal Social Wasp Genus, Apoica Lepeletier (Hymenoptera: Vespidae; Polistinae, Epiponini), American Museum Novitates 3562 (1), pp. 1-32 : 22

Apoica (Apoica) albimacula (F.)

Polistes albimacula Fabricius, 1804: 277 —‘‘America meridionali’’ (Kobenhavn).

Polybia albimaculata [!]; de Saussure, 1854: 212, species dubiae. Apoica virginea, de Saussure, 1854: 212 [partim].

Apoica pallida var. thoracica, du Buysson, 1906: 343 [partim].

Apoeca albimacula, Schulz, 1912: 84 . Unjustified emendation.

Apoica pallida var. albimacula ; Bequaert, 1943: 117. Apoica albimacula ; Richards, 1951, in Richards and Richards, 1951: 153; van der Vecht, 1972: 736. Richards, 1978: 262, 268.

DISTRIBUTION: Brazil: Amazonas, Pará; French Guiana; Guyana; Peru: Amazonas (new record), Suriname; Venezuela.

MATERIAL EXAMINED: 4 GUYANE: Massikiri- Oyapock, Nov 15 1969, ‘‘Balachowsky Gruner’’, det. J.v.d.Vecht, 1970 (3 females, MNHN); GUYANE, Itani, Ile de Touenke´, Sep 19–21 1975, M. Boulard, P. Jauffret, det. B. Sigwalt, 1984 (1 female, MNHN); GUYANE, Itani, Molokoimené ( Suriname), SEP 28 1975, M. Boulard P. Jauffret, ( MNHN); FRENCH GUYANA, SAINT-ELIE, AUG 30–SEP 2 1975, M. Boulard P. Pompanon ( MNHN); FRENCH GUYANA (‘‘Guyane Franc¸’’), Camopi, 1900, F. Geay, det. R. Du Buysson, 1906 as ‘‘ Apoica pallida var. thoracica’’ (mentioned in Richards, 1978: 268; see Pickett, 2003: 597 for discussion) (2 females, MNHN); Brazil, Pará, ‘‘Bujaru’’, 04.viii.1978, P. Nolasco, (1 female, BMNH); Brazil, Pará, ‘‘Bujaru’’, 04.viii.1978, P. Nolasco, ‘‘Colônia no. 406’’, (1 female, BMNH); Brazil, Amazonas, Manaus ‘‘Reserva Ducke’’,17/11/68, ‘‘caught at night’’ (1 female, 1 male, BMNH); Brit. Guiana, Moraballi Creek, 2-ix-29, ‘‘Oxf. Univ. Exp. Nest 1368’’, (2 females, BMNH); British Guiana, Esquito R. Moraballli Creek, 21.ix.29, ‘‘Oxf. Univ. Exp. N. 1368’’, (3 females, BMNH); N. Brazil: Pakaraima Mountains, 11–20.xi.32, C. V.- F.G. (2 females, BMNH [B.M. 1929-485]); SURINAME, Moengo, Boven ‘‘CotticaR’’, May 20, 1927, ‘‘Lot 760 Sub 68’’, det. J. C. Bequaert (as

4 In all Materials Examined sections, with the exception of italicized species names, label content is reported with the intent to represent it exactly as it appears (i.e., variations in capitalization, etc. are respected). Quotation marks around label data indicate commentary information as it appears on the label.

‘‘ Apoica pallida albimacula Fab. ’’) (1 male, CUIC). New record — Venezuela, Amazonas, Rio Mavaca Camp , 2 ° 2 9 N, 65 ° 06 9 W, 16–27/III/89, D. A. Grimaldi, ‘‘Phipps-FUDECI Exped. By Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist.’’ (1 female, AMNH) .

KMP has encountered some unusual specimens of Apoica ( PERU: Dept. Amazonas, 5 km N. Pomacocha on road to Bioja. 2000 m; 7–8.X.1964; coll. P. C. Hutchinson & J. K. Write [CAS, 27 females, 1 male]; PERU: Vale, Cosñipata, F. Woytkowski, ‘‘ex - col Weyrauch’’, Collection Inst. Fund. M. Lillo (4000) - S. M. Tucuman, Tucuman, Argentina [1 female]) that are very similar to A. albimacula , except the pronotal fovea does not sit as recessed as typical A. albimacula , and nearly every metasomal tergum is anteriorly pale-yellowish, rather than the typical pale coloration of A. albimacula , which is restricted to metasomal segments one and two. However, KMP has dissected the lone male from the CAS series, and its genitalia are quite similar to typical A. albimacula . Therefore, unless further information comes to light, these specimens should be treated as A. albimacula .