Scolia (Discolia) clypeata pseudovollenhoveni Betrem, 1933

Figs 3A–B, 5A, 8C, 12C, 16C, 20C, 24C, 28C, 32C, 36C

Scolia (Scolia) clypeata pseudovollenhoveni Betrem, 1933: 258–259 (holotype HNHM, ♀, type locality = Kaohshiung, Taiwan).

Scolia (Scolia) clypeata f. horaiensis Uchida, 1934: 250 (holotype ♀, type locality = Taipei, Taiwan).

Scolia (Scolia) clypeata f. sonani Uchida, 1934: 250 (holotype ♀, type locality = Orchid Island, Taiwan).

Scolia kanoi Yasumatsu, 1937: 123 (type locality = Orchid Island, Taiwan).

Scolia (Scolia) clypeata pdeudovollenhoveni – Betrem 1941: 145 (lapsus for S. clypeata pseudovollenhoveni).

Scolia (Scolia) clypeata pseudovollenhoveni var. horaiensis – Betrem 1941: 145.

Scolia (Discolia) clypeata pseudovollenhoveni – Tsuneki 1972: 36.

Material examined

CHINA – Hong Kong • 1 ♀; Pak Sha O; 22°26′59″ N, 114°19′04″ E; alt. 70 m; 4–18 May 2013; C. Barthélémy leg.; Malaise trap, ref.: M130.C.Hy.2; CBC • 1 ♀; Mang Kung Wo; 22°22′06″ N, 114°15′12″ E; alt. 60 m; 11–25 Apr. 2020; C. Barthélémy leg.; Malaise trap, ref.: M483.C.Hy.6; CBC • 1 ♀; same collection data as for preceding; 20 Apr. 2020; C. Barthélémy leg.; hand net, ref.: 0713.A.Hy.1; CBC • 1 ♀; same collection data as for preceding; 26 Apr. 2020; C. Barthélémy leg.; hand net, ref.: 0714.A.Hy.1; CBC .

Description

Female

STANDARD RATIOS (n = 4). L: 19.1–22.0 mm (mean = 20.4 mm); CR: 1.10–1.17 (mean = 1.13); OOR: 0.58–0.76 (mean = 0.66); CLR: 0.39–0.42 (mean = 0.40); MER: 1.15–1.33 (mean = 1.21); OMR: 0.99– 1.05 (mean = 1.03); FRR: 1.86–2.12 (mean = 2.05); MSR: 0.76–0.87 (mean = 0.83); TER: 1.63–1.73 (mean = 1.69).

HEAD. Head more or less impunctate on disc of clypeus and across vertex behind posterior ocelli; remainder of head extensively but not deeply punctate; frontal spatium not defined posteriorly (Figs 16C, 20C); frontal fissura present on frontal spatium only (Fig. 16C).

MESOSOMA. Dorsum of mesosoma more or less strongly punctate (Fig. 24C), subcontiguously so on metanotum and dorsum of propodeum(Fig.28C).Mesopleuron mostly densely punctate except impunctate posteriorly; upper panel of metapleuron densely punctate dorsally, impunctate ventrally; lower panel of metapleuron densely but shallowly punctate anteroventrally, broadly impunctate posterodorsally; lateral panel of propodeum densely punctate. Scutellum and metanotum without median longitudinal carina (Fig. 28C). Dorso-median area of propodeum without distinct tubercule medially (Fig. 28C).

METASOMA. Metasoma with moderately strong angle between anterior and ventral faces of S 2 in lateral view (Fig. 32C); basal tergites with differentiated apical bands of dense, minute punctures contrasting with less densely punctate remainder of tergite; apical tergites densely punctate. T2 with basal elevation distinct (gradulus) (Fig. 36C).

WINGS. Fore wing with two submarginal cells and one recurrent vein. Fore wings uniformly covered in short setae.

COLOUR AND VESTITURE. Head red on disc of clypeus, frons including frontal spatium, and behind eye (Fig. 32C); mesosoma with scapula mostly red (Fig. 24C); metasoma with obscure pair of lateral red spots on each of T2 and T3 (Fig. 36C); remainder of body black. Vestiture pale on head and mesosoma (yellow on head, grading to grey on propodeum), grey and black on basal metasomal segments and black on apical metasomal segments; vestiture on sides of mesosoma and on metasoma semi-decumbent, giving distinctly ‘shaggy’ appearance (Fig. 8C). Wings dark brown with bronze reflections.

Distribution (Fig. 3A–B)

China (Fujian, * Hong Kong, Jiangsu, Taiwan, Sichuan). [Betrem 1933, 1941; Uchida 1934].

Notes

This species is variable in coloration and was consequently divided into a number of subspecies and varieties by Betrem (1941). The specimens we have seen from Hong Kong correspond in their possession of red spots on the metasoma to Betrem’s (1941) concept of Scolia clypeata pseudovollenhoveni var. horaiensis Uchida, 1933 . This variant overlaps in range with S. c. pseudovollenhoveni sensu stricto (Betrem 1941) which differs only in the absence of the metasomal spots and so does not warrant distinct recognition. The scapulae marked with orange/red will distinguish this species from most other scoliids in Hong Kong except Carinoscolia junnanensis and some individuals of Scolia binotata . It may be distinguished from these species by the distribution of punctures on the metasomal tergites which possess a distinct band of dense, minute punctures towards the apical margin. The female of S. clypeata that we have seen from Hong Kong possesses a pair of very obscure reddish spots on each of T2 and T3 and it is possible that other females of this species may possess more distinct metasomal spots like those seen in S. binotata .