Polistes (Polistella) paco Nguyen, Kojima & Saito

Nguyen, Lien Thi Phuong, Kojima, Jun-Ichi & Saito, Fuki, 2011, Polistes (Polistella) wasps (Hymenoptera: Vespidae: Polistinae) from mountainous areas of northern Vietnam, with description of five new species, Zootaxa 3060, pp. 1-30 : 14

Polistes (Polistella) paco Nguyen, Kojima & Saito , sp. nov.

( Figs 42–46 )

Type material. HOLOTYPE: Ƥ ( IUNH, on long-term loan from the IEBR), labeled “ VIETNAM, Pa Co, Mai Chau, Hoa Binh, 1000 m, L.T.P. Nguyen & J. Kojima, 23.viii.2005 ”.

Diagnosis. This species can be distinguished from all other known species of subgenus Polistella by the following combination of characters: female clypeus convex; sctuellum strongly depressed medially; propodeum with weak striae; metasomal tergum 1 short and thick, about 0.8 × as long as its apical width, in lateral view abruptly swollen dorsally at base, then broadly convex dorsally; metasomal sternum 2 in lateral view abruptly swollen ventrally in anterior one-third, then ventral margin rounded into straight line.

Description. FEMALE. Body length about 9.5 mm; fore wing length about 9.5 mm (holotype)

Structure as in Polistes reliciniclypeus , but differing as follows: POD:OOD=1:2; POD about 1.3 × Od ( Fig. 42 ); inner eye margins less strongly convergent ventrally, about 1.1 × further apart from each other at vertex than at clypeus ( Fig. 43 ); interantennal space strongly raised; clypeus in frontal view as wide as high ( Fig. 43 ), in lateral view distinctly convex ( Fig. 44 ), lateral margin lying along inner eye margin slightly shorter than diameter of antennal socket; gena wider, in lateral view nearly as wide as eye ( Fig. 44 ); antennal flagellomere 1 about 2.5 × as long as its apical width ( Fig. 45 ); scutellum strongly depressed medially; propodeal orifice elongate, about 1.9 × as long as wide (measured at widest part), somewhat narrowed in dorsal half; metasomal tergum 1 about 0.8 × as long as its apical width, in lateral view abruptly swollen dorsally just behind basal slit for reception of propodeal suspensory ligament, then dorsal face broadly convex; corner between anterior and dorsal faces rounded ( Fig. 46 ); metasomal sternum 2 in lateral view basally abruptly swollen ventrally in anterior one-third, then ventral margin broadly rounded into straight line in posterior half of the sternum ( Fig. 46 ).

Body surface sculpture as in P. reliciniclypeus , but clypeus except margins with scattered deep large punctures, each of which bears a golden sharply pointed bristle, apical margin of metanotum smooth and without punctures, propodeum with weak transverse striation.

Color. As in P. reliciniclypeus .

MALE. Unknown.

Remark. This species is most similar to P. reliciniclypeus , but can be easily distinguished from the latter by having the female clypeus in lateral view evenly curved anteriorly, not prominently swollen anteriorly in upper part, the scutellum strongly depressed medially, the second metasomal sternum with the anteroventral corner broadly rounded, and the striation on propodeum much weaker.

Etymology. The specific name refers to the type locality, Pa Co in Hoa Binh Province of Vietnam.

Distribution. Known only from the type locality, northern Vietnam.

Figures

FIGURES 42 – 46. Polistes (Polistella) paco sp. nov., Ƥ. 42. Ocelli, eye and posterior margin of vertex. 43 – 44. Head. 43. Frontal view. 44. Lateral view. 45. Right antenna. 46. Metasomal segments 1 and 2, lateral view. Scale 1 mm.