Polistes (Epicnemius) testaceicolor Bequaert, 1937

Somavilla, Alexandre, Oliveira, Marcio Luiz, Andena, Sergio Ricardo & Carpenter, James Michael, 2018, An illustrated atlas for male genitalia of the New World Polistes Latreille, 1802 (Vespidae: Polistinae), Zootaxa 4504 (3), pp. 301-344 : 328-330

Polistes (Epicnemius) testaceicolor Bequaert

Paramere ( Fig. 31A ): (1) about three times longer than wide at the middle; (2) lateral groove deep; (3) parameral spine damaged partially, with long and dense bristles on the part seen; (4) paramere lobe weakly developed and rounded; (5) inferior portion of paramere narrow, about 2/3 the width at the middle portion. Aedeagus ( Fig. 31B, C ): slender; (1) apical portion with fine and serrated denticulation, extended on the apical portion to the end of median expansion, lateral margin straight; (2) penis valve weakly dilated and with a slight central entrance (about 1/4 of the total length of apical portion); (3) median expansion weakly developed, rounded apex; (4) lateral apodeme directed forward and shorter than the ventral process, (5) ventral process rounded in apex and compressed in the base; (6) inferior portion of aedeagus weakly curved, almost straight in lateral view. Digitus ( Fig. 31D ): slender; (1) apical process developed, almost the same size than base, (2) apex weakly rounded; apical process very curved in side; (3) anteroventral lobe long and widely rounded apically; (4) punctation strong, forming a central band around the base of the digitus; (5) evanescent bristles. Cuspis ( Fig. 31E ): slender; (1) apex pointed and tapering abruptly to the end; (2) long and sparse bristles, more on lateral margin; (3) punctation reduced and restricted on the lateral lobe; (4) lower part developed and more membranous.

Remarks. Richards’ (1978: 537) comments are about the genitalia with “distal expansion of aedeagus subcircular, shaft moderately narrow, ventral teeth a little longer than in P. subsericeus ” and; “digitus similar to P. subsericeus but bare”. Unfortunately, Richards did not draw the genitalia.

Figures

FIGURE 31. Male genitalia of Polistes (Epicnemius) testaceicolor—A= paramere, lateral view; B= aedeagus, ventral view; C= aedeagus, lateral view; D= digitus, lateral view; E= cuspis, lateral view. Scale bar = 1.0 mm.