Polistinae, Lepeletier de Saint Fargeau, 1836

Dvořák, Libor, Roberts, Stuart P. M., Pla, Šumava Np and & Caer, 2006, Key to the paper and social wasps of Central Europe (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), Acta Entomologica Musei Nationalis Pragae 46, pp. 221-244 : 222-226

Key to the paper wasps ( Polistinae )

Paper wasps can be easily distinguished from social wasps by having tergum 1 convergent.

1 Mandibles with prominent depression on outer surface ( Fig. 1 ). Parasitic species. ...... 2

– Mandibles convex on outer surface ( Fig. 3 ). Social species. ......................................... 3

2 Mandibular depression approximately flat-bottomed, bounded proximally and distally by distinct ridges ( Fig. 1 ). Male mandibles mainly yellow. ............................................. ............................................................................... Polistes sulcifer Zimmermann, 1930

– Mandibular depression round-bottomed and shallow, not bounded by distinct ridges ( Fig. 2 ). Male mandibles mainly black. ........... Polistes atrimandibularis Zimmermann, 1930

3 Mesoscutum with long erect hairs, almost twice as long as width of costal vein of forewing ( Fig. 4 ). .......................................................................................................................... 4

– Mesoscutum with shorter erect hairs, about as long as width of costal vein of forewing ( Fig. 11 ). ........................................................................................................................ 5

4 Females: Epicnemial carina on mesopleura absent or very shallow ( Fig. 5 ). Hairs on mesoscutum a little shorter than in following species. Males: Clypeus convergent below ( Fig. 6 ). Temples strongly convergent behind eyes ( Fig. 7 ). ............................................ .................................................................................. Polistes bischoffi Weyrauch, 1937

– Females: Epicnemial carina on mesopleura deep and distinct ( Fig. 8 ). Hairs on mesoscutum a little longer than in previous species. Males: Clypeus approximately parallel-sided ( Fig. 9 ). Temples strongly convex, parallel-sided behind eyes and then partly convergent ( Fig. 10 ). .................................................................. Polistes biglumis (Linnaeus, 1758)

5 Females (12 antennal segments). ................................................................................... 6

– Males (13 antennal segments). ....................................................................................... 9

6 Mandibles yellow or with yellow spot, genae and temples black ( Fig. 12 ). Last sternum entirely or almost entirely black. Light form – yellow temples, genae, and mandibles, last sternum with black markings. .................................... Polistes gallicus (Linnaeus, 1767)

– Mandibles black, genae yellow ( Fig. 15 ). Last sternum black or yellow. ...................... 7

7 Last sternum entirely or at least partly yellow ( Fig. 16 ). Light form – yellow temples, genae, and mandibles, last sternum entirely yellow. ........................................................ ................................................................................... Polistes dominulus (Christ, 1791)

– Last sternum dark, usually without yellow markings, at most with yellow apical spot ( Figs 19, 21 ). .................................................................................................................. 8

8 Last sternum black or with small yellow and/or reddish apical spot ( Fig. 19 ). Clypeus usually with transverse black stripe. ............................. Polistes nimphus (Christ, 1791)

– Last sternum reddish-brown with lighter apical spot ( Fig. 21 ). Clypeus as in previous species but in Central European populations often with black markings only in centre of clypeus. .............................................................................. Polistes associus Kohl, 1898

9 Clypeus approximately parallel-sided ( Fig. 17 ). Temples strongly convex, parallel-sided behind eyes and then partly convergent ( Fig. 18 ). Mandibles robust ( Fig. 17 ). .......... 10

– Sides of clypeus convergent below ( Fig. 13 ). Temples strongly convergent behind eyes ( Fig. 14 ). Mandibles not robust ( Fig. 13 ). .................................................................... 11

10 Keel between antennae with wide and deep longitudinal groove. Each lateral margin of clypeus with distinct longitudinal ridge ( Fig. 20 ). Antennae distinctly darkened above. ...................................................................................... Polistes nimphus (Christ, 1791)

– Keel between antennae almost within groove. Lateral margins of clypeus without ridges ( Fig. 17 ). Antennae orange-yellow above beyond segment 3. ......................................... ................................................................................... Polistes dominulus (Christ, 1791)

11 Keel between antennae with wide and deep longitudinal groove. Each lateral margin of clypeus with distinct longitudinal ridge ( Fig. 22 ). Antennae distinctly darkened above. ........................................................................................... Polistes associus Kohl, 1898

– Keel between antennae almost without groove. Lateral margins of clypeus without ridges ( Fig. 13 ). Antennae orange-yellow above beyond segment 3. ......................................... ................................................................................... Polistes gallicus (Linnaeus, 1767)

Figures

Figs. 1-10. 1 – Polistes sulcifer Zimmermann, 1930, female mandible. 2 – P. atrimandibularis Zimmermann, 1930, male mandible. 3-7 – P. bischoffi Weyrauch, 1937. 3 – female mandible; 4 – hairs on mesonotum; 5 – epicnemial carina on mesopleura; 6 – male clypeus; 7 – male head, top view. 8-10 – P. biglumis (Linnaeus, 1758). 8 – epicnemial carina on mesopleura; 9 – male clypeus; 10 – male head, top view. Obr. 1-10. 1 – Polistes sulcifer Zimmermann, 1930, kusadlo samice. 2 – P. atrimandibularis Zimmermann, 1930, kusadlo samce. 3-7 – P. bischoffi Weyrauch, 1937. 3 – kusadlo samice; 4 – ochlupení mesonota; 5 – epicnemiální rýha na mesopleuře; 6 – klypeus samce; 7 – hlava samce, pohled svrchu. 8-10 – P. biglumis (Linnaeus, 1758). 8 – epicnemiální rýha na mesopleuře; 9 – klypeus samce; 10 – hlava samce, pohled svrchu.

Figs. 11-18. 11-14 – Polistes gallicus (Linnaeus, 1767). 11 – hairs on mesonotum; 12 – female mandibles and genae; 13 – male clypeus; 14 – male head, top view. 15-18 – P. dominulus (Christ, 1791). 15 – female mandibles and genae; 16 – female last sternum; 17 – male clypeus; 18 – male head, top view. Obr. 11-18. 11-14 – Polistes gallicus (Linnaeus, 1767). 11 – ochlupení mesonota; 12 – kusadla a líce samice; 13 – klypeus samce; 14 – hlava samce, pohled svrchu. 15-18 – P. dominulus (Christ, 1791). 15 – kusadla a líce samice; 16 – poslední sternit samice; 17 – klypeus samce; 18 – hlava samce, pohled svrchu.

Figs. 19-22. 19-20 – Polistes nimphus (Christ, 1791). 19 – female last sternum; 20 – male clypeus. 21-22 – P. associus Kohl, 1898. 21 – female last sternum; 22 – male clypeus. Obr. 19-22. 19-20 – Polistes nimphus (Christ, 1791). 19 – poslední sternit samice; 20 – klypeus samce. 21-22 – P. associus Kohl, 1898. 21 – poslední sternit samice; 22 – klypeus samce.