Protopolybia chartergoides, Carpenter & Van der Vecht, 1991

Dos Santos Junior, José N. A., Silveira, Orlando T. & Carpenter, James M., 2020, Taxonomic revision of the P. chartergoides species-group of the genus Protopolybia Ducke, 1905 (Hymenoptera: Vespidae, Polistinae), Zootaxa 4858 (4), pp. 542-554 : 551-552

Key to the species of the Protopolybia chartergoides species-group.

1. Eyes with long bristles. Gena wide. Pronotal carina weak and obtuse ( Fig. 5 ); prominence in front of pronotal fovea poorly developed, low ( Fig. 5 ). Posterior region of metanotum and propodeum almost without punctures. Metanotal process very short and with apex distinctly rounded ( Fig. 6 ); propodeal valves wide posteriorly. Color black with few yellow marks.................................................................................. .. Protopolybia duckeianus Richards

– Eyes glabrous or with minute bristles. Gena narrow. Pronotal carina strongly developed...............................2

2. Occipital carina developed only on upper quarter of the head ( Fig. 29 ); prominence in front of the pronotal fovea developed, high ( Fig. 3 ); pronotal carina laterally very developed, angular ( Fig. 3 ); pronotal fovea distinct, wide and deep; mesoscutum without conspicuous bristles. Metanotum short, metanotal process with apex narrowly rounded. Apical angle of paramere narrow (Fig. 15), apex of aedeagus approximately truncated in dorsal view (Fig. 17).............. Protopolybia fuscata (Fox)

– Occipital carina developed on more than upper quarter of the head............................................... 3

3. Color black, richly marked with yellow spots; pronotum almost completely; mesoscutum without distinct yellow stripes; scutellum, usually, almost entirely yellow. Pronotal carina developed, oblique and produced ventrally in lateral view; propodeum deeply excavated above the valve............................................... Protopolybia isthmensis Richards

– Color black, moderately or poorly marked with yellow spots................................................... 4

4. Propodeal valves narrow ( Fig. 10 ); prominence in front of the pronotal fovea developed, short ( Fig. 9 ); pronotal fovea distinct, wide and deep ( Fig. 9 ); mesoscutum without conspicuous bristles. Metanotum short, metanotal process with apex narrowly rounded; edeagus with apex approximately truncated in dorsal view.............. Protopolybia pallidibalteatus (Cameron)

– Propodeal valves markedly enlarged; mesoscutum with remarkable bristles........................................5

5. Metanotal process with apex rounded ( Fig. 2 ); scrobal groove obsolete; color black, with few yellow spots; propodeal angles projected posteriorly. Ventral process of aedeagus narrow and projected laterally. Apex rounded in dorsal view (Fig. 13)........................................................................... Protopolybia chartergoides (Gribodo)

– Metanotal process with apex almost pointed; propodeal angles not projected posteriorly; posterior margin of pronotum and prominence in front of the pronotal fovea with a mark; scutellum and metanotum with extensive yellow marks.................................................................................. Protopolybia panamensis (Zavattari)

Figures

FIGURES 1–6. 1, 2. Protopolybia chartergoides; 3, 4. Protopolybia fuscata; 5, 6. Protopolybia duckeianus. pc= pronotal carina; mp= metanotal process; white setae= pronotal fovea.

FIGURES 23–40. 23. Protopolybia diligens; 24. P. amarella; 25. P. duckeianus; 26. P. picteti; 27. P. nitida; 28. P. palidibalteatus; 29. P. fuscata; 30. P. fulvotincta; 31. P.nitida; 32. P. acutiscutis; 33. P. chartergoides; 34, 35. P. chartergoides; 36. P. diligens; 37. P. nitida. 38. P. chatergoides; 39. P. duckeianus; 40. P. panamensis. Scale 1.0 mm. mg= median groove; dm= distal margin; pv= propodeal valve; black setae= occipital carina; red setae= spiracles tending to face forward

FIGURES 7–10. 7, 8. Protopolybia isthmensis; 9, 10. Protopolybia pallidibalteatus.