Polistes (Gyrostoma) tenebricosus Lepeletier, 1836

(Fig. 23)

Polistes tenebricosa Lepeletier 1836: 529 (type, Java,?lost).

Polistes sulcatus Smith 1852: 38 (♀, ♂, near Ningpo, China, deposited in BMNH, London). Synonymized under tenebricosus Lepeletier 1836 by Saito et al. 2005: 107.

Polistes hoplites de Saussure 1854: 255 (unjustified emendation)

Polistes hoplitus de Saussure 1853: 55 (♀, Indes Orientales, deposited in Muséum d'Histoire Naturelle, Genève). Synonymized under tenebricosus Lepeletier, 1836 by Saito et al. 2005: 107.

Polistes rugifrons Cameron 1900: 6: 412 (Khasi Hills, Meghalaya, India).

Polistes varicornis Cameron 1905: 67 (type, ♂, deposited in Zoölogisch Museum, Amsterdam).

Polistes javanicus Cameron 1905: 68 (lectotype, ♀, Tjandi near Semarang, Java, deposited in Zoölogisch Museum, Amsterdam).

Polistes tenebricosus var. leopoldi Bequaert 1934: 9 . Synonymized under tenebricosus Lepeletier, 1836 by Saito et al. 2005: 107.

Polistes tenebricosus var. nigrosericans Bequaert 1940: 266 . Synonymized under tenebricosus Lepeletier, 1836 by Saito et al. 2005: 107.

Polistes tenebricosus var. sibuyanensis Bequaert 1940: 266 . Synonymized under tenebricosus Lepeletier, 1836 by Saito et al. 2005: 107.

Material examined. China: 1♂, 1♀, Museum Paris, Chine, S. Stevens, 1852, 1♀, with a yellow handwritten label: P. tenebricosus Lepel. (MNHN); 10♂, 5♀, Mt. Tianmu, Lin’an, Zhejiang, 25.viii.2013, JL Tan (NWUM); 2♀, Pan'an City, Hue Xi (28˚59'N 120˚30E), Zhejiang, China, 19.vi.2012, c 600m, C v. Achterberg (RMNH); 1♀, West Mt. Tianmu, Zhejiang, China, 4.vi.1994, 941484, YL Lin, labelled Polistes gigas Kirby, det. He, 16.xi.2000 (ZJUH); 1♀, Mt. Tianmu, Zhejiang, 7.vii.2000, no. 200103814, XX Chen (ZJUH); 1♀, Mt. Dapan, Pan’a, Zhejiang, 17–20.vii.2012, YJ Wang (ZJUH); 2♀, Mt. Tianmu, Zhejiang, 3.vii.2010, JL Tan (ZJUH); 2♀, Mt. Tianmu, Zhejiang, 1–3.vii.2010, LF Hu, 5.vii.2013, FZ Ying (ZJUH); 2♀, Mt. Gutian, Kaihua, Zhejiang, 1– 3.vii.2005, no. 200604254, -04158, XX Chen (ZJUH); 1♀, Mt. Jiulong, Huishui, Guizhou, 11.vi.2010, JL Tan (ZJUH); 1♀, Buyun, Shanghang, Fujian, 22–24.vii.1988, no.885340, Y Ma (ZJUH); 2♀, Kuatun (27.4˚N, 117.40˚E), Fujian, 10.iv.1938 (Fukien), J. Klaperich, each with a label: Polistes tenebricosus sulcatus Sm. det. J.v.d. Vecht, 1964 (RMNH); 1♀, Ningpo, China, Felder (hangwriting round label) with a handwritten label:? sulcatus Smith (RMNH); 1♀, Grihedo, Ngan-Hoei (Anhui) (RMNH); 2♀, Mt. Jiufeng, Ningbo, 4.viii.2010, JL Tan (NWUM); 8♂, 4♀, Jinsi Gorage LuohuaValley, Shangnan, Shaanxi, 33˚22'37.22˝, E 110˚33'16.98˝, 708 m, 24.vii.2013, JL Tan (NWUM); 1♀, Laifeng, Enshi, Hubei, 15.viii.2013, H Xiang (NWUM); 1♀, Mt. Baxian, Heping, Taizhong, Taiwan, 24˚11' N 121˚ E, 4–5.vi.2011, P Tang (ZJUH); 1♀, Hoozan, Formosa, ix.1910, H Sauter, with a label “ P. s u l c a t u s, Schulthess det. 1913” Hym-00603 (SDEI); 1♀, Jianfenling Nature Reserve (18˚44'38½N 108˚50'36½E), Hainan, 980–1150 m, 13–14.vii.2013, C van Achterberg (RMNH).

Remarks. Liu (1937) included two varieties Polistes tenebricosus var. sulcatus Smith and P. t. var. hoplites de Saussure. Bequaert (1940) recorded typical P. tenebricosus from Formosa and P. t. var. sulcatus from southern China. We accept the view of Saito et al. (2005); they synonymized these varieties as colour varieties of P. tenebricosus . The colour pattern of the examined specimens from China is as follows: body brownish-black to ferruginous, or predominantly black; the pronotum varies from mainly black with margin narrowly reddish brown, dorsal half reddish brown in lateral view to entirely reddish brown; the mesoscutum varies from entirely black, with four irregular russet stripes to entirely or mostly dark reddish brown (Fig. 23 A–F); but specimens from Hainan black with milky yellow blotches (Fig. 23 G–J). No specimens with the colour pattern of var. hoplites (second metasomal tergite mostly or entirely orange-yellow) were available from China.

Distribution. China (Anhui, Fujian, Guizhou, Hubei, Shaanxi, Zhejiang, Hainan, Taiwan); India; Nepal; Vietnam; Myanmar; Indonesia; Philippines. (Carpenter 1996b update to 2006)