Polistes (Aphanilopterus) ridleyi Kirby, 1894

Somavilla, Alexandre, Oliveira, Marcio Luiz, Andena, Sergio Ricardo & Carpenter, James Michael, 2018, An illustrated atlas for male genitalia of the New World Polistes Latreille, 1802 (Vespidae: Polistinae), Zootaxa 4504 (3), pp. 301-344 : 318

Polistes (Aphanilopterus) ridleyi Kirby

Paramere ( Fig. 18A ): (1) about three times longer than wide at the middle; (2) lateral groove deep and narrow; (3) parameral spine very long (about 1/5 the total length of paramere), pointed apically with long and sparse bristles; (4) paramere lobe developed and pointed; (5) inferior portion of paramere narrow, about half the width at the middle portion. Aedeagus ( Fig. 18B, C ): slender; (1) apical portion with fine and serrated denticulation, extended on the apical portion to the end of the median expansion, lateral margin straight; (2) penis valve weakly dilated and with a slight central entrance (about 1/3 of the total length of apical portion); (3) median expansion weakly developed, rounded apex; (4) lateral apodeme directed forward with a weak central projection and shorter than the ventral process, (5) ventral process rounded; (6) inferior portion of aedeagus curved, in lateral view. Digitus ( Fig. 18D ): slender; (1) apical process developed, about twice longer than the digitus base, slightly dilated in apex, (2) apex rounded; (3) anteroventral lobe short and rounded apically; (4) punctation weak and forming a central band around the base of the digitus; (5) evanescent bristles. Cuspis ( Fig. 18E ): slender; (1) apex pointed and tapering abruptly to the end; (2) short and sparse bristles; (3) punctation reduced and restricted on the lateral lobe; (4) lower part developed and more membranous.

Remarks. Richards (1978: 516) did not describe the male genitalia of this species, although he characterized it as “scarcely different from P. versicolor ”; his Fig. 145 shows the digitus.

Figures

FIGURE 18. Male genitalia of Polistes (Aphanilopterus) ridleyi—A= paramere, lateral view; B= aedeagus, ventral view; C= aedeagus, lateral view; D= digitus, lateral view; E= cuspis, lateral view. Scale bar = 1.0 mm.