Polistes (Epicnemius) occipitalis Ducke, 1904

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 : 326-327

Polistes (Epicnemius) occipitalis Ducke

Paramere ( Fig. 28A ): (1) about three times longer than wide at the middle; (2) lateral groove deep; (3) parameral spine short, (about 1/10 the total length of paramere), pointed apically with long and sparse bristles; (4) paramere lobe developed and pointed; (5) inferior portion of paramere narrow, about half the width at the middle portion. Aedeagus ( Fig. 28B, C ): slender; (1) apical portion with fine and serrated denticulation, extended the apex of the apical portion to the median expansion, lateral margin straight; (2) penis valve weakly dilated and with a slight central entrance (about 1/3 of the total length of apical portion); (3) median expansion developed and weakly pointed apex; (4) lateral apodeme directed forward and almost the same size than the ventral process, (5) ventral process rounded and slightly expanded in apex; (6) inferior portion of aedeagus weakly curved, almost straight in lateral view. Digitus ( Fig. 28D ): slender; (1) apical process developed, about twice longer than the digitus base, and very slender, (2) apex pointed; (3) anteroventral lobe short and widely rounded apically; (4) punctation weak, larger on the side of the base; (5) evanescent bristles. Cuspis ( Fig. 28E ): slender; (1) apex pointed and tapering abruptly to the end; (2) very short and sparse bristles on cuspis; (3) punctation restricted on the lateral lobe and very reduced; (4) lower part developed.

Remarks. Richards (1978: 542) commented about the denticulation as small with 32 teeth on the aedeagus; “digitus as in P. subsericeus but distal process narrower in side view”. Unfortunately, Richards did not draw the genitalia.

Figures

FIGURE 28. Male genitalia of Polistes (Epicnemius) occipitalis—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.