Metapolybia pseudodocilis Cortes, 2024

Cortes, Gustavo B., Noll, Fernando B., Carpenter, James M. & Andena, Sergio R., 2024, Five new species of Metapolybia Ducke, 1905, with the description of the male genitalia of seven species of the genus (Hymenoptera, Vespidae, Polistinae), Journal of Hymenoptera Research 97, pp. 781-805 : 781-805

Metapolybia pseudodocilis Cortes sp. nov.

Figs 6 , 7 , 8 , 9

Diagnosis.

Brownish species, head blackish. Very similar to the reddish form of M. docilis which can be separated by its broader and more strongly striated propodeal concavity and the lateral pronotal carina more raised and acute. Also, this species is similar in color to M. rufata , M. encantata , M. suffusa and M. carpenteriana but with a strong sculpture overall, especially on mesosoma and propodeum, and the yellow markings reduced compared to the latter two.

Description.

Female. Size: 6.6 mm. Length of fore wing 4.5 mm.

Color: Brownish species, head blackish with yellow markings as follows: spot on dorsal margin of mandibles, near base; band on apical margin of clypeus, almost reaching the yellow lateral lobes; spots on inner orbits; antennae reddish brown dorsally and yellowish beneath; small spot on inferior end of anterior margin of pronotum; lateral pronotal carina entirely yellow; band on posterior dorsal margin of pronotum, reaching both tegulae; lamellae behind pretegular carina yellow; sometimes small spot on metapleura by the dorsal end of scrobal furrow; two lateral, sometimes evanescent, yellow spots on scutellum and metanotum; propodeum with two spots on posterior margin near the yellow propodeal valves; legs reddish; wings hyaline, venation white brown; metasoma with yellow bands on tergum I – II and sternum I – II, and evanescent bands on tergum III and sternum III. Body covered with a whitish tomentum. Wings hyaline, venation brown.

Head: (1) clypeus 1.5 times wider than longer, punctures dense, separated by 1.0 diameter or less; (2) inter-antennal prominence raised and acute, with a marked medial furrow; (3) frons and vertex with dense punctures, separated by less than 1.0 diameter (4) gena 0.90–0.95 wider than width of eyes, strongly narrowing to mandibular condyle; punctures dense and coarse; (5) tempora slightly narrowing to vertex; (6) posterior region of head rounded, moderately emarginated.

Mesosoma: (1) lateral pronotal carina raised, subacute; (2) humeri not produced at all in front of tegula; (3) pretegular carina rounded on upper region, curved, not interrupted; (4) scutum 1.3 times wider than longer with punctures small, moderately deep, separated by about 1–2 diameters; (5) mesopleuron with dense and coarse punctures, separated by 1.0 diameter or less; (6) scutellum with deep punctures, spaced, moderately concave posteriorly, medial line raised anteriorly, vanishing posteriorly; (7) metanotum strongly concave; (8) metapleuron with scattered and shallow punctures, upper plate rugose, 1.5 times longer than wide; (9) propodeum strongly punctured with short and scattered hairs; (10) propodeal concavity broad and deep, weakly developed anteriorly, striation very strong, extending laterally; (11) prestigma as long as wide, tip rounded.

Metasoma: (1) first metasomal tergum filiform, widening little after the prominent spiracles; posteriorly convex in lateral view, strongly prominent; (2) second metasomal tergum 1.8 times wider than longer, coriaceous, finely punctured on posterior fifth; (3) terga three to six brownish, densely punctured.

Variation: One paratype with more extensive yellow markings. Lateral spots on scutellum and metanotum are brighter and bigger, scutellum with an additional small spot on the center. Spots on propodeum are larger, reaching half of posterior face length.

Male. Unknown.

Nest.

Unknown.

Distribution.

Bolivia: La Paz.

Type material.

Holotype: Bolivia • female; La Paz, Tumupasa ; Dec.; W. M. Mann; Mulford Biol. Expl. 1921-22 ( AMNH).

Paratype: Bolivia • 3 females; same locality as holotype .

Etymology.

Due to the similarities of this species with M. docilis , the prefix pseudo means ‘ false’ docilis .

Figures

Figure 6. Metapolybia pseudodocilis A lateral View B dorsal view. Scale bars: 1.0 mm.

Figure 7. Metapolybia pseudodocilis A head, frontal view B pronotum, lateral view, Scale bars: 1.0 mm (A); 0.5 mm (B).

Figure 8. Metapolybia pseudodocilis. Propodeum, dorsal view. Scale bar: 0.5 mm.

Figure 9. Metapolybia pseudodocilis A tergum I, lateral view B tergum I, dorsal view. Scale bars: 0.5 mm.