Vespidae

Genaro, Julio A., 2011, Vespidae (Insecta: Hymenoptera) of Puerto Rico, West Indies, Insecta Mundi 2011 (202), pp. 1-35 : 3-5

Key to the species of Vespidae occurring in Greater Puerto Rico

1. Scutum with parategula, a flattened lobe projecting from posterolateral corner ( Fig. 1 , 21, 23 ); claws bifid (cleft at tip; Fig. 5 ); clypeus ventrally emarginate or truncate ( Fig. 6 ); solitary wasps ................................................................................................ Subfamily Eumeninae , 2

— Scutum without parategula, with vertical lamella along posterolateral edge (Fig. 8, 34�35); claws simple ( Fig. 9 �10); clypeus ventrally pointed or rounded ( Fig. 7 ); eusocial wasps.......... .......................................................................................................... Subfamily Polistinae , 16

2(1). Metasoma petiolate: width of segment I in dorsal view half or less that of II, and more than twice as long as wide ( Fig. 4 )...................................................................................................... 3

— Metasoma not petiolate: width of segment I more than half that of II, much less than twice as long as wide ( Fig. 14 �15, 25, 27)................................................................................................. 5

3(2). Propodeal orifice narrowly acute dorsally ( Fig. 19 ); propodeal valvula enlarged, free posteriorly from submarginal carina, extending posteriorly as a rectangular lamella ( Fig. 19 ). Mona; Puerto Rico; Culebra; St. Thomas............................................ Zethus rufinodus (Latreille)

— Propodeal orifice broadly rounded dorsally ( Fig. 13 ); propodeal valvula rounded and not extending posteriorly ( Fig. 3 )....................................................................................................................... 4

4(3). Pronotum with partial oblique humeral carina ( Fig. 2 ), with complete pretegular carina ( Fig. 2 , 29, 30 ). Puerto Rico; St. Thomas; St. Croix. ............................. Zeta abdominale (Drury)

— Pronotum without oblique humeral carina ( Fig. 18 ), without pretegular carina ( Fig. 18 , 29 ). Puerto Rico............................................... Omicron aridum Carpenter and Genaro n. sp.

5(2). Anterior face of pronotum with two small, close set, deeply impressed medial foveae ( Fig. 20 ); tegula abruptly expanded and broadly rounded posterolaterally ( Fig. 21, 23 )......................... ...................................................................................................... Genus Parancistrocerus , 6

— Anterior face of pronotum without two close set, deeply impressed foveae ( Fig. 16 ); tegula longer than broad ( Fig. 17 ). ................................................................................................................... 8

6(5). Pronotal carina absent; scutum without posteromesal yellow spot; legs black and yellow; punctation on disc of second metasomal tergum sparse with many punctures separated by more than a puncture diameter. Puerto Rico.......... Parancistrocerus obliquus (Cresson)

— Pronotal carina present, even if interrupted; scutum with or without posteromesal yellow spot; legs reddish or black and yellow; punctation on disc of second metasomal tergum sparse or dense............................................................................................................................................ 7

7(6). Pronotal carina continuous; scutum without posteromesal yellow spot ( Fig. 21 ); legs reddish and yellow ( Fig. 22 ); punctation on disc of second metasomal tergum dense, with many punctures closer than a puncture diameter. Puerto Rico........ Parancistrocerus bacu (de Saussure)

— Pronotal carina medially interrupted; scutum with posteromesal yellow spot ( Fig. 23 ); legs black and yellow ( Fig. 24 ); punctation on disc of second metasomal tergum sparse with many punctures separated by more than a puncture diameter. Puerto Rico; Culebra. ..................... .................................................................................... Parancistrocerus dejectus (Cresson)

8(5). Pronotum with complete oblique humeral carina ( Fig. 30 ); male antenna with apical two flagellomeres not hooked, greatly reduced, buttonlike, fused ( Fig. 31 ). ................................... ............................................................................................................ Genus Pachodynerus , 9

— Pronotum without oblique humeral carina ( Fig. 29 ); male antenna with apical two flagellomeres hooked, not greatly reduced and buttonlike ( Fig. 28 )............................................................. 13

9(8). First metasomal tergum with transverse carina at crest of anterior declivity ( Fig. 15 , 25 �26).. ................................................................................................................................................... 10

— First metasomal tergum without transverse carina ( Fig. 14 , 27 ). ............................................ 11

10(9). Shiny black; punctation fine, sparse, punctures separated by their diameter, or more; first metasomal tergum carina conspicuous, distinct; forewing weakly infuscate along costal margin; male clypeus yellow, at least medially. Puerto Rico; Culebra; Vieques; St. Thomas; St. John; Guana; Virgin Gorda; Anegada..................................... Pachodynerus atratus (Fabricius)

— Dull black; punctation dense, coalescent in part; first metasomal tergum carina inconspicuous, irregular; wings deeply infuscate, with violaceous shine; male clypeus black. St. Croix; St. Thomas................................................................... Pachodynerus cinerascens (Fabricius)

11(9). First metasomal tergum without apical yellow band; inner margins of posterior ocelli ridged, forming a more or less deep longitudinal groove in the ocellar area. Puerto Rico; Culebra; St. Thomas. ......................................................................... Pachodynerus nasidens (Latreille)

— First metasomal tergum with transverse apical yellow band; ocellar area without ridges or groove ........................................................................................................................................ 12

12(10). Pronotum with anterior and posterior yellow bands, or wholly yellow; posterolateral angles of propodeum not projecting; scrobal apophysis of mesopleuron finger-shaped. Puerto Rico. ..... ........................................................................ Pachodynerus guadulpensis (de Saussure)

— Dorsum of pronotum with anterior yellow band only; posterolateral angles of propodeum projecting into wedge-shaped process; scrobal apophysis of mesopleuron not finger-shaped. Mona ........................................................................... Pachodynerus tibialis (de Saussure)

13(8). First metasomal tergum with transverse carina at crest of anterior declivity ( Fig. 25 �26). Puerto Rico. ............................................................................... Ancistrocerus isla Carpenter n. sp.

— First metasomal tergum without transverse carina ( Fig. 27 ). .................................................. 14

14(13). Axillary fossa extremely narrow, slitlike; prestigma as long as pterostigma (measured along posterior border); second metasomal sternum without basomedian longitudinal sulcus. Puerto Rico. ................................................................................. Monobia puertoricensis Bequaert

— Axillary fossa broad, not slitlike; prestigma little more than half the length of pterostigma; second metasomal sternum with basomedian longitudinal sulcus............................................ .............................................................................................................. Genus Euodynerus , 15

15(14). Clypeus wider than long; second metasomal tergum punctate throughout. Mona ...................... .............................................................................................. Euodynerus apicalis (Cresson)

— Clypeus as wide as long; second metasomal tergum punctate only apically. Mona. ................... ............................................................... Euodynerus jeitita Carpenter and Genaro n. sp.

16(1). First metasomal segment in dorsal view petiolate, longer than wide ( Fig. 11 ); propodeum with orifice rounded dorsally ( Fig. 13 ); pronotum with dorsal carina not extending into ventral angle ( Fig. 12 ). ............................................................................... Genus Mischocyttarus , 17

— First metasomal segment subsessile: evenly conical in dorsal view ( Fig. 37 �38, 40); propodeum with orifice dorsally acute ( Fig. 32 ); pronotum with dorsal carina extending into ventral angle ( Fig. 33 ). ........................................................................................................ Genus Polistes ,18

17(16). Hind tarsi with inner claw only slightly longer and thicker than outer claw ( Fig. 9 ); first metasomal segment largely black. Mona; Puerto Rico; Virgin Is. ............................................. ................................................................................. Mischocyttarus phthisicus (Fabricius)

— Hind tarsi with inner claw longer and much thicker than outer claw ( Fig. 10 ); metasoma ferruginous and yellow. Mona?; Puerto Rico............................................................................... ................................................................... Mischocyttarus mexicanus cubicola Richards

18(16). First metasomal segment about as broad apically as long ( Fig. 40 ), anteriorly nearly angular in profile ( Fig. 39 ). Desecheo; Puerto Rico................... Polistes major Palisot de Beauvois

— First metasomal segment longer than broad apically ( Fig. 37-38 ), smoothly sloping in profile ( Fig. 36 ). .................................................................................................................................... 19

19(18). Scutum black or with ferruginous spots ( Fig. 34 ); metasomal terga with narrow apical yellow bands. Mona; Desecheo; Puerto Rico; Culebra; Vieques; St. Thomas; St. Croix; St. John; Tortola; Guana; Anegada.............................................................................. Polistes crinitus (Felton)

— Scutum ferruginous ( Fig. 35 ); metasomal terga with very wide apical yellow bands, covering most of terga. Puerto Rico. ........................................... Polistes minor Palisot de Beauvois

Figures

Figures 1-5. Zeta abdominale (Drury). 1) Mesosoma in dorsal view. 2) Pronotum in oblique lateral view. 3) Propodeum in oblique posterior view. 4) First metasomal tergum in dorsal view. 5) Claws. Scale bars = 1 mm.

Figures 20-24. Parancistrocerus. 20-22) P. bacu (de Saussure).20) Pronotum in antero�dorsal view.21) Mesosoma in dorsal view. 22) Leg. 23-24) P. dejectus (Cresson). 23) Mesosoma in dorsal view. 24) Leg. Scale bars = 1 mm.

Figures 6-7. Head in frontal view. 6) Zeta abdominale (Drury). 7) Polistes crinitus (Felton). 8) Polistes minor Palisot de Beauvois, mesosoma in dorsal view. Scale bars = 1 mm.

Figures 9-13. Mischocyttarus. 9-10) Claws. 9) M. phthisicus (Fabricius). 10) M. mexicanus cubicola Richards. 11) M. phthisicus, first metasomal tergum in dorsal view. 12-13) M. mexicanus cubicola. 12) Pronotum in oblique lateral view. 13) Propodeum in oblique posterior view. Scale bars = 1 mm.

Figures 14-19. Eumeninae.14-15) First metasomal tergum in dorsal view.14) Pachodynerus nasidens (Latreille). 15) P. atratus (Fabricius). 16-17) Pachodynerus nasidens. 16) Pronotum in antero�dorsal view. 17) Tegula. 18) Omicron vexatum Giordani Soika, pronotum in oblique lateral view. 19) Zethus rufinodus (Latreille). Scale bars = 1 mm.

Figures 25-31. Eumeninae. 25-26) Ancistrocerus isla Carpenter, n. sp. 25) Metasoma in dorsal view. 26) First metasomal tergum in lateral view. 27-29) Monobia proeta (Cresson). 27) First metasomal tergum in dorsal view. 28) Male antenna. 29) Pronotum in oblique lateral view. 30-31) Pachodynerus nasidens (Latreille). 30) Pronotum in oblique lateral view. 31) Male antenna. Scale bars = 1 mm.

Figures 32-40. Polistes. 32) P. minor Palisot de Beauvois, propodeum in oblique posterior view. 33) P. crinitus (Felton), pronotum in oblique lateral view. 34-35) Mesosoma in dorsal view. 34) P. crinitus (Felton). 35) P. minor Palisot de Beauvois. 36-37) P. crinitus. 36) First metasomal tergum in lateral view. 37) First metasomal tergum in dorsal view. 38) P. minor, first metasomal tergum in dorsal view. 39-40) P. major Palisot de Beauvois. 39) First metasomal tergum in lateral view. 40) First metasomal tergum in dorsal view. Scale bars = 1 mm.