Scolia (Discolia) superciliaris de Saussure & Sichel, 1864

Taylor, Christopher & Barthélémy, Christophe, 2021, A review of the digger wasps (Insecta: Hymenoptera: Scoliidae) of Hong Kong, with description of one new species and a key to known species, European Journal of Taxonomy 786 (1), pp. 1-92 : 38-43

publication ID	https://doi.org/ 10.5852/ejt.2021.786.1607
publication LSID	lsid:zoobank.org:pub:B9A13F3D-9383-4319-90B2-F59A66071601
DOI	https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.5846271
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/F41087BA-7466-FFB8-6DC4-FE68FA90FCFB
treatment provided by	Felipe
scientific name	Scolia (Discolia) superciliaris de Saussure & Sichel, 1864
status

Treatment

Figs 3A–B View Fig , 8E View Fig , 10G View Fig , 12E View Fig , 14G View Fig , 16E View Fig , 18G View Fig , 20E View Fig , 22G View Fig , 24E View Fig , 26G View Fig , 28E View Fig , 30G View Fig , 32E View Fig , 34G View Fig , 36E View Fig , 38G View Fig , 39M View Fig , 40M View Fig , 41M View Fig , 42M View Fig

Scolia (Discolia) superciliaris de Saussure & Sichel, 1864: 322 (holotype ZMB, ♂, type locality = Shanghai, China).

Scolia (Scolia) sauteri Betrem, 1928: 277 (holotype ♀, type locality = Dalin, Taiwan).

Scolia (Scolia) sauteri staudingeri Betrem, 1928: 278 (holotype ♀, type locality = Assam).

Scolia (Scolia) sauteri kreyenbergensis Betrem, 1941: 137 (nomen nudum).

Scolia (Scolia) superciliaris – Betrem 1941: 136.

Scolia (Scolia) superciliaris sauteri – Betrem 1941: 137.

Material examined

CHINA – Hong Kong • 1 ♀; Pak Sha O ; 22°26′59″ N, 114°19′04″ E; alt. 70 m; 12–28 Jul. 2014; C.Barthélémy leg.; Malaise trap, ref.: PSO-M167.C.Hy.2 ; CBC GoogleMaps • 1 ♂; Tai Tam ; 22°14′45”N, 114°13′23″E; 28 Jun.–12 Jul. 2018; Malaise trap; C. Taylor and Cheung Shun Chi leg.; HKBM GoogleMaps • 1 ♀; no locality or date; ref.: IIE 21973, CSK, Lau leg.; TLFES • 1 ♂; Kwan Tei ; 22°30′40″ N, 114°09′33″ E; alt. 15 m; 27 Jun. 2007; C. Barthélémy leg.; hand net, ref.: 0265.U.Hy.5 ; CBC GoogleMaps • 1 ♂; Pak Sha O ; 22°26′59″ N, 114°19′04″ E; alt. 70 m; 29 Jun.–6 Jul. 2008; C. Barthélémy leg.; Malaise trap, ref.: M048.C.Hy.4 ; CBC GoogleMaps • 1 ♂; same collection data as for preceding; 31 May–6 Jun. 2004; C. Barthélémy leg.; Malaise trap, ref.: M017.C.Hy.19 ; CBC GoogleMaps • 1 ♂; Ping Shan Chai ; 22°29′14″ N, 114°11′06″ E; alt. 140 m; C. Barthélémy leg.; Malaise trap, ref.: M044.A.Hy.3 ; CBC GoogleMaps .

Description

Female

STANDARD RATIOS (n = 1). L: 21.5 mm; CR: 1.19; OOR: 0.61; CLR: 0.41; MER: 1.27; OMR: 1.04; FRR: 2.02; MSR: 0.77; TER: 1.60.

HEAD. Head mostly impunctate except on frontal lamina and scrobe; frontal spatium not well defined dorsally ( Figs 16E View Fig , 20E View Fig ); frontal fissura present from anterior of frontal spatium to anterior ocellus ( Fig. 16E View Fig ).

MESOSOMA. Dorsum of mesosoma densely and strongly punctate on scapula, mesoscutum (slightly less so dorsomedially on disc) and scutellum ( Fig. 24E View Fig ); metanotum mostly sparsely punctate, punctures on median area ( Fig. 28E View Fig ); dorsum of propodeum with numerous but small punctures, many of them separated by more than their own diameter ( Fig. 28E View Fig ). Mesopleuron densely punctate medially, broadly impunctate posteriorly and laterally; upper panel of metapleuron densely punctate dorsally, impunctate ventrally; lower panel of metapleuron with numerous faint punctures mostly effaced by vestiture; lateral panel of pronotum sparsely, minutely punctate. Scutellum and metanotum without median longitudinal carina ( Fig. 28E View Fig ). Dorso-median area of propodeum without distinct tubercule medially ( Fig. 28E View Fig ).

METASOMA. Metasoma with weak division between anterior and ventral faces of S 2 in lateral view ( Fig. 32E View Fig ); tergites mostly uniformly but not very densely punctate, T2 with paired round impunctate areas laterally ( Figs 32E View Fig , 36E View Fig ). T2 without basal elevation (gradulus) ( Fig. 36E View Fig ).

WINGS. Fore wing with two submarginal cells and one recurrent vein. Costal, first submarginal and marginal cells with short setae.

COLOUR AND VESTITURE. Head red on antennae, frons above frontal spatium, vertex except for ocellar triangle, and behind upper lobe of eye ( Figs 16E View Fig , 20E View Fig ); remainder of body black ( Fig. 8E View Fig ). Vestiture pale on front of head (albeit almost absent above frontal spatium), darker brown on occiput, black on mesosoma and metasoma with dense, appressed, white pile present posterolaterally on mesosoma. Wings dark brown with purple reflections.

Male

STANDARD RATIOS (n = 4). L: 14.8–18.0 mm (mean = 16.9 mm); CR: 1.07–1.13 (mean = 1.10); OOR: 1.62–1.83 (mean = 1.71); CLR: 0.61–0.76 (mean = 0.67); MER: 1.27–1.33 (mean = 1.30); OMR: 0.93– 1.03 (mean = 0.97); FRR: 1.73–2.04 (mean = 1.86); MSR: 0.79–0.85 (mean = 0.82); TER: 1.45–1.54 (mean = 1.50).

HEAD. Head densely punctate on frontal area and spatium, frons and vertex moderately but shallowly punctate ( Figs 18G View Fig , 22G View Fig ).

MESOSOMA. Dorsum of mesosoma more or less densely punctate, punctures becoming sparser and/or shallower on dorsum of propodeum ( Fig. 26G View Fig ). Lateral panels of mesosoma as for female. Scutellum and metanotum without median longitudinal carina ( Fig. 30G View Fig ). Dorso-median area of propodeum without distinct tubercule medially ( Fig. 30G View Fig ).

METASOMA. Metasoma with weak division between anterior and ventral faces of S 2 in lateral view ( Fig. 33G View Fig ); tergites uniformly and densely punctate ( Figs 34G View Fig , 38G View Fig ). T2 without basal elevation (gradulus) ( Fig. 38G View Fig ).

WINGS. Same as female.

COLOUR AND VESTITURE. Antennal flagellum brown/red to varying extent ( Fig. 10G View Fig ); head yellow on frons above frontal spatium, vertex except spot of varying size around ocellar triangle, and behind upper lobe of eye ( Figs 18G View Fig , 22G View Fig ); remainder of body black. Vestiture pale (whitish or yellow) on head, mesosoma and T1–T3 with black apical fringe on T4–T6 ( Fig. 10G View Fig ). Wings dark brown with bronze reflections.

GENITALIA. Ventral side of paramere sparsely setose ( Fig. 40M View Fig ), dorsal side with sparse long setae on most of its surface ( Fig. 39M View Fig ); volsella with a few long setae apically, cuspis volsellaris with a few hairs apically and a row/cluster of long hairs basally ( Fig. 42M View Fig ); volsella bearing sparse sensory cones on its external margin and a very narrow lamella on its internal margin ( Figs 39M View Fig , 40M View Fig ). External margin of paramere subparallel, rounded apically ( Figs 39M View Fig , 40M View Fig ); aedeagus with nine teeth, the last apical one much reduced ( Fig. 42M View Fig ), serrated margin straight and sharply flattened apically ( Fig. 42M View Fig ).

Distribution ( Fig. 3A–B View Fig )

China (Fujian, * Hong Kong, Hunan, Guangdong, Shandong, Shanxi, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Taiwan, Zhejiang); Vietnam (South); India (Assam, Meghalaya, Uttarakhand); Nepal; Vietnam; Thailand, Myanmar. [ Betrem 1928, 1941; Wang 1992; Gupta & Jonathan 2003; TIGER project 2008; Liu et al. 2021b].

Notes

This species is most reliably distinguished in Hong Kong by the punctation on the dorsomedian area of the propodeum which is notably faint and/or sparse when compared to other Scolia species. The uniform absence of red coloration on the mesosoma and metasoma may also distinguish it from Sc. binotata and Sc. clypeata . The female of Sc. superciliaris is also much larger than other Scolia females we have seen from the region. Subspecies of Sc. superciliaris have been distinguished on the basis of the amount of red vs black coloration on the male antennae (Chinese Sc. s. superciliaris is supposed to have the antennae almost entirely black), but Hong Kong specimens range from having the flagellum almost entirely black to almost entirely red. Recognition of separate subspecies is therefore probably not warranted.

Identification key

Their striking appearance has made scoliids a popular subject for photographers, both amateur and professional. With this in mind, we have attempted to arrange this key with a focus on features likely to be visible in photographs of live specimens. Unfortunately, this has not always been feasible; some species will simply not be readily distinguishable without close examination under a microscope. Groups of particular concern in this regard include the red-fronted Scolia species ( Sc. clypeata , Sc. superciliaris , Sc. pakshaoensis sp. nov. and some colour variants of Sc. binotata Fabricius, 1804 as well as Carinoscolia junnanensis ( Betrem, 1928)) and male Campsomerini .

Photographs taken in Hong Kong and uploaded to the iNaturalist website (www.inaturalist.org/observations/42073499; www.inaturalist.org/observations/42444275; and, www.inaturalist.org/observations/72987049) show an unidentified species of Scolia . It may be Sc. formosicola Betrem, 1928 but confirmation of identity would require examination of specimens. It should be distinguishable from other scoliids in the region by its coloration: T2 mostly yellow with the remainder of the body predominantly black. Another photograph uploaded on the same website (https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/73932862) shows a male Scolia that we have not examined, it comes closest to Sc. clypeata pseudovollenhoveni Betrem, 1933 but confirmation would also require examination of specimens.

1. Fore wing with one recurrent vein or with second recurrent vein merging with first before reaching submarginal cell ( Fig. 5F View Fig ); mesopleural crest directed towards fore wing and forming distinct large horizontal area dorsally; fore wing invariably dark with bronze or purple reflections; metasoma always lacking transverse apical yellow bands on tergites (brighter coloration, if present, as lateral spots or covering most of tergite[s]) .......................................................... 2, Scoliini Latreille, 1802

– Fore wing with two recurrent veins reaching submarginal cell ( Fig 5E View Fig ); mesopleural crest directed towards posterior corner of pronotum and not forming large horizontal area dorsally; fore wing often pale yellowish or hyaline, more rarely dark; metasoma with or without prominent yellow bands .... ....................................................................................................... 15, Campsomerini Betrem, 1972

2. Fore wing with two discal cells (1M and 2M) ( Fig. 5F View Fig ) ..... Liacos erythrosoma ( Burmeister, 1854)

– Fore wing with one discal cell (1M) ................................................................................................. 3

3. Forewing with three submarginal cells ( Fig. 5F View Fig ) .............................................................................. 4

– Forewing with two submarginal cells ( Fig. 5E View Fig ) ............................................................................... 5

4. Large wasp (30–36 mm in females, 25–26 mm in males), T1 with a conspicuous tubercule before slope ( Fig. 35H View Fig ); apical metasomal tergites red (T1 always black), with prominent fringes of dense orange/red setae ( Figs 7H View Fig , 10C View Fig ) ................................................... Megascolia azurea ( Christ, 1791)

– Smaller wasp (23 mm max. in females, no males recorded), tubercule on T1 much reduced ( Fig. 35E View Fig ); metasomal tergites entirely black, with apical tergites fringed with short black setae ( Fig. 7E View Fig ) ....... ................................................................................................... Austroscolia ruficeps ( Smith, 1855)

5. Males, antenna with 13 segments; metasoma with seven visible tergites ........................................ 6

– Females, antenna with 12 segments; metasoma with six visible tergites ........................................11

6. Frons with transverse ridge (carina) basad from mid ocellus ( Figs 18A View Fig , 22A View Fig ) ................................. .......................................................................................... Carinoscolia junnanensis ( Betrem, 1928)

– Frons without transverse ridge (carina) basad from mid ocellus ................ 7, Scolia Fabricius, 1775 View in CoL

7. Medial area of mesoscutum with punctures separated by their own diameter or more ( Fig. 26D View Fig ) .... ................................................................................................................ Sc. binotata Fabricius, 1804

– Medial area of mesoscutum with punctures denser, mostly separated by less than their own diameter ( Fig. 26E–G View Fig ) ..................................................................................................................................... 8

8. Scapulae marked with red; T1–T3 with differentiated band of much smaller, finer punctation posteriorly ( Fig. 36C View Fig ) ............................................. Sc. clypeata pseudovollenhoveni Betrem, 1933

– Mesosoma entirely black; T1–T3 without clear posterior band of differentiated punctation ........... 9

9. Dorsomedian area of propodeum with a few punctures, diameter of punctures much smaller than the distance between them ( Fig. 28E View Fig ) ............................... Sc. superciliaris de Saussure & Sichel, 1864

– Dorsomedian area of propodeum with heavy punctures, diameter of punctures greater than the distance between them ( Fig. 28D View Fig ) .................................................................................................. 10

10. Frons with scattered punctures medially; frontal fissura short, stopping at level with dorsal end of frontal lamina ( Fig. 16D View Fig ); frons and vertex mostly red/orange ................. Sc. pakshaoensis sp. nov.

– Frons impunctate except for few punctures around ocelli; frontal fissura well developed, extending to anterior ocellus; head entirely black ...................................................... Sc. laeviceps Smith, 1855

11. Frons and vertex with numerous large punctures mostly separated by less than their own diameter ( Figs 15F View Fig , 19F View Fig ); head red/orange except clypeus, ocular sinuses, frontal area and large maculae over ocellar triangle reaching eye ............................................ Carinoscolia junnanensis ( Betrem, 1928)

– Frons and/or vertex mostly sparsely punctured with broad areas impunctate or with punctures separated by more than their own diameter ( Fig. 16A–E View Fig ); head black or variously red/orange ........ ................................................................................................................... 12, Scolia Fabricius, 1775 View in CoL

12. Disc of clypeus red ( Fig. 16C View Fig ); T2–T3 with small orange maculae mediolaterally ( Fig. 36C View Fig ); scapulae orange/red ( Fig. 24C View Fig ); vertex, pronotum, anterior part of mesopleuron and dorsal part of femurs bearing dense erect yellow/orange setae ( Fig. 8C View Fig ); T1–T3 with differentiated band of much smaller, finer punctation posteriorly ( Fig. 36C View Fig ) ...... Sc. clypeata pseudovollenhoveni Betrem, 1933

– Clypeus entirely black ( Fig. 16A–B, D–E View Fig ); T2–T3 without orange maculae; scapulae black; vestiture variable in length and density but always black; T1–T3 without clear posterior band of differentiated punctation ....................................................................................................................................... 13

13. Medial area of mesoscutum broadly impunctate ( Fig. 24A View Fig ) ................. Sc. binotata Fabricius, 1804

– Medial area of mesoscutum with punctures separated by their own diameter or less .................... 14

14. Dorsomedian area of propodeum with weak, shallow punctures, punctures well separated from each other ( Fig. 30G View Fig ) ........................................................... Sc. superciliaris de Saussure & Sichel, 1864

– Dorsomedian area of propodeum with strong, deep punctures, edges of many punctures closely abutting ( Fig. 30E–F View Fig ) ...................................................................................................................... 15

15. Frontal fissura short, stopping at level with dorsal end of frontal lamina ( Fig. 18F View Fig ); disc of clypeus uniformly punctate, punctures separated by less than their own diameter; frons and vertex mostly red/orange .................................................................................................. Sc. pakshaoensis sp. nov.

– Frontal fissura well developed, extending to anterior ocellus; disc of clypeus sparsely punctate, punctures separated by greater than their own diameter, head entirely black .................................... .................................................................................................................... Sc. laeviceps Smith, 1855

16. Antennae twelve-segmented, shorter than head and thorax combined, usually held in a close coil; metasoma with six visible tergites (females) .................................................................................. 17

– Antennae thirteen-segmented, longer than head and thorax combined, usually held in long arc; metasoma with seven visible tergites (males) ................................................................................. 22

17. Upper panel of metapleuron with uppermost dorsal section separated from lateral section by strong angle marked by a sharp carina; lateral carina of propodeum not or barely extending beyond spiracle; metasomal integument entirely black ............................................................................................. 18

– Upper panel of metapleuron with transition between uppermost dorsal section and lateral section often gradual, never marked by a sharp carina; lateral carina of propodeum extending well beyond spiracle; metasomal tergites may bear yellow spots or bands ........................................................ 19

18. Wings dark brown with blue or purple reflections; dense white erect setae on dorsum of pronotum; vestiture of metasoma black ........................................... Campsomeriella collaris ( Fabricius, 1775)

– Wings yellowish basally, fore wing darker brown with purple reflections apically; sparse white setae on dorsolateral sides of pronotum; vestiture of metasoma pale ......................................................... ...................................................................... Campsomeriella annulata annulata ( Fabricius, 1793)

19. Apical fringes of metasomal tergites 1–4 black; upper panel of metapleuron with transition between uppermost dorsal and lateral sections sharp (albeit not marked by a carina) ..................................... .......... Sericocampsomeris Betrem, 1941 (see comments under Sericocampsomeris flavomaculata )

– Apical fringes of metasomal tergites 1–4 pale; upper panel of metapleuron with transition between uppermost dorsal and lateral sections more or less gradual ........................................................... 20

20. Fore wing mostly yellow with round subapical spot near anterior margin; legs with tibia and tarsi mostly reddish-brown; frons with cluster of deep punctures immediately in front of anterior ocellus ( Fig 15D View Fig ), mesoscutum largely punctate (small round impunctate area on disc), scutellum deeply punctate ........................................................ Phalerimeris phalerata phalerata ( de Saussure, 1858)

– Fore wing apically infuscate but said infuscation not forming round spot; legs entirely black; frons largely smooth in front of anterior ocellus, mesoscutum with large rectangular impunctate area medially, scutellum impunctate on median area ............................................................................. 21

21. T1–T2 with evanescent lateroapical yellow bands interrupted medially, T3–T6 black ( Fig. 31C View Fig ) .... .................................................................. Megacampsomeris formosensis chinensis Betrem, 1941

– Metasoma entirely black ............................................. Megacampsomeris prismatica ( Smith, 1855)

22. Clypeus entirely black ( Fig. 17G View Fig ); apical yellow bands on T1–T3 very broad laterally, medially widely interrupted on T1 and narrowing considerably on T2 and T3 ( Fig. 37G View Fig ) .............................. ............................................................. Sericocampsomeris flavomaculata Gupta & Jonathan, 1989

– Clypeus in part yellow; apical yellow bands complete on T1 and T2 ............................................ 23

23. Head 1.17–1.18 × wider than high; anterior plate of fore coxa black ............................................ 24

– Head 1.08 × wider than high; anterior plate of fore coxa yellow ................................................... 25

24. Scutellum and metanotum entirely black ( Figs 9B View Fig , 13B View Fig ); S6 and S7 with long, dense setae forming copulatory brushes, external margin of paramere strongly angled ( Fig. 39B View Fig ), cuspis volsellaris with dense setae ( Fig. 42B View Fig ) ........................................ Campsomeriella collaris collaris ( Fabricius, 1775)

– Scutellum and metanotum broadly marked with yellow ( Figs 9A View Fig , 13A View Fig ); apical sternites without copulatory brushes, external margins of paramere not strongly angled (straight) ( Fig. 39A View Fig ), cuspis volsellaris with sparse setae ( Fig. 42A View Fig ) ....... Campsomeriella annulata annulata ( Fabricius, 1793)

25. Gena with distinct yellow stripe ( Fig. 9F View Fig ); metasoma with division between anterior and ventral faces of S 2 in lateral view relatively weak .. Phalerimeris phalerata phalerata ( de Saussure, 1858)

– Gena entirely black; metasoma with distinct division between anterior and ventral faces of S 2 in lateral view ...................................................................................................................................... 26

26. S2 without anteromedian tubercle; S2 and S3 with broad, medially interrupted yellow apical bands ( Fig. 33D View Fig ); paramere broadly ovate, outer distal margin convex ( Figs 39D View Fig , 40D View Fig ) ............................ .................................................................. Megacampsomeris formosensis chinensis Betrem, 1941

– S2 often with distinct anteriomedian tubercle; yellow apical bands on S2 and S3 restricted to small lateral triangles ( Fig. 33E View Fig ; paramere narrowly trapezoidal, outer distal margin straight to concave ( Figs 39E View Fig , 40E View Fig ) ........................................................... Megacampsomeris prismatica ( Smith, 1855)