Protopolybia sedula, : Richards, 1978

Dos Santos Junior, José N. A., Silveira, Orlando T. & Carpenter, James M., 2018, Taxonomic revision of the Protopolybia sedula species-group (Hymenoptera, Vespidae, Polistinae), with an new identification key to species, Zootaxa 4403 (1), pp. 87-98 : 96

Key to species of the Protopolybia sedula species-group

1. Mesoscutum and scutellum with strong and dense micropunctation and shallow mesopunctation ( Fig. 28 ); color brown, richly marked with yellow to whitish spots (Figs. 10 and 12), metanotum triangular, metanotal process elongate (Fig. 11); pronotal fovea distinct, preceded by anterior prominence relatively distant from the pronotal carina ( Fig. 21 )....................................................................................................... P. weyrauchi Bequaert

- Mesoscutum and scutellum with moderate micropunctation and shallow mesopunctation ( Fig. 25–27 ); scutellum with more sparse mesopunctation; color variable, not brown; metanotal process not elongate ( Fig. 1 and 4 ); anterior prominence in front of the pronotal fovea extending above and close to pronotal carina, nearly collinear with fovea ( Fig. 22–24 ).............. 2

2. Pronotal carina weakly lamellate, little extended below ( Fig. 23 ); petiole of T1 narrow, without wing-like processes; species almost entirely black (form dark) or black moderately marked with yellow spots (form sedula ) (Fig. 7 and 9); front with two small yellow spots (Fig. 8)................................................... Protopolybia sedula (de Saussure)

- Pronotal carina blunt, non-lamellate, distinctly extending downwards at side ( Fig. 22 and 24 ); petiole of T1 reduced, wing-like processes not very sharp ( Fig. 3 ).......................................................................... 3

3. Species yellow, with light ferruginous and very few black markings, commonly on mesoscutum; pronotal fovea distinct and deep, metanotal lobe with apex pointed ( Fig.4–6 )................................... Protopolybia amarella Bequaert

- Species black, richly marked with yellow spots; front with extensive Y-shaped mark ( Fig. 2 ); pronotal fovea distinct, but shallow; metanotal lobe with apex slightly rounded ( Fig. 1 )........................... Protopolybia acutiscutis (Cameron)

Figures

FIGURES25–28.25.Protopolybiaacutiscutis, mososcutum, dorsalview;26.P.amarella; 27. P.sedula; 28.P.weyrauchi. Red arrows, micropunctation and mesopunctation.

FIGURES 21–24. 21.Protopolybia acutiscutis, pronotum, lateral view; 22.P.amarella; 23. P.sedula; 24. P.weyrauchi.

FIGURES 1–6. 1, 2, 3. Protopolybia acutiscutis. wp, wing-like processes; 4, 5, 6. Protopolybia amarella.