identifier	taxonID	type	CVterm	format	language	title	description	additionalInformationURL	UsageTerms	rights	Owner	contributor	creator	bibliographicCitation
4F5987BAE851FF8EFF11F9C3743B9CBE.text	4F5987BAE851FF8EFF11F9C3743B9CBE.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Ropalidia acuminata Polasek 2025	<div><p>Ropalidia acuminata Polašek sp. nov.</p><p>urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 207A6FE8-7C9C-4A8E-9ECE-40D615B0A018</p><p>Type specimens.   Holotype:  Chingola, 25 km W, Zambia, 1♀ (OLM.0272)  .   Paratypes:  Kikwit, DR Congo, 2♀♀ (RMCA);  Kamina, DR Congo, 9♀♀ (RMCA);  Kapona, 27 mi S, DR Congo, 5♀♀ (CAS); NW Tanzania, Tanzania, 3♀♀ (NMW);  Sumbawanga,  Ufipa, Tanzania, 1♀ (MSNV);  Sumbawanga, 32 mi SE, Tanzania, 1♀ (CAS);  Kapiri, Zambia, 1♀ (RMCA);  Kasempa, 27 km N, Zambia, 2♀♀ (OLM);  Chisasa, Zambia, 2♀♀ (OLM);  Kapiri Mposhi, 100 km N, Zambia, 1♀ (OLM);  Chingola, 25 km W, Zambia, 1♀ (OLM);  Mutumbwe, Zambia, 1♀ (OLM);  Abercorn (Mbala), Zambia, 2♀♀ (NHM); Abercorn (Mbala), Zambia, 1♀ (MSNV). The total number of examined specimens: 33♀♀  .</p><p>Diagnosis.A larger member of the capensis- group, characterized by a black and brown-reddish body colouration, transparent wings and yellowish stigma, very deep juxtamandibular excavations, projecting and convex clypeus, and large and shallow clypeus punctures in females.</p><p>Description. Females. Wing length 6.2–7.8 mm. Colour. Basal colour dark reddish and black (Figure 3b). Clypeus variably coloured; yellow with trident-shaped brown basal spot, larger brown spot, entirely brown or even entirely black (Figure 2a). Frons basally black, with reddish lines along inner orbit extending to vertex. Gena and tempora reddish, area under occipital carina black (Figure 3a). Mandible variably coloured, ranging from yellow with brown basal spot, reddish spot, to completely brown. Posterior surface of head black. Pronotum reddish (varying from lightly reddish to dark reddish with posterodorsal black area), propleuron black, mesopleuron black or black with central elongated reddish area, scutellum and metanotum reddish, mesonotum, metapleuron and propodeum black (Figure 3b). T1 and S1 basally black, sometimes with brownish or reddish posterior area. T2 dark-brown or black, sometimes with dark-red posterior band (Figure 3b). Coxa and proximal half of femur black, distal part of femur and entire tibia reddish-ferruginous; coxa I and/or II can have medially located smaller yellow markings. Tarsus dark-brown or black, sometimes terminal segment slightly lighter (Figure 3b). Scape and pedicel ferruginous, AF1 ferruginous or distally black from above, remaining flagellomeres black dorsally; distal segments sometimes orange underneath. Wings lightly yellowish, nervature light brown, apical spot barely visible, stigma brownish-yellow and semi-transparent (Figure 3b).</p><p>Head. Clypeus with strongly convex centre, prominent apex and deep juxtamandibular excavations (Figure 2a). Clypeus about as long as wide. Upes straight, forming strong oculo-clypeal angle. Clypeus base and centre coarsely and shallowly punctate; entire clypeal surface covered by golden or silvery setae, longer apically. Inner orbit depressed, especially behind and lateral to antennal socket; few punctures can be present in this area, but there is always impunctate zone adjacent to inner eye margin (Figure 3a). Head frontally triangular (in contrast to a more rounded head with wider frons in  R. ophuzi sp. nov.; Figure 2a, b). Gena thinner, not wider than eye (Figure 3a). Frons coarsely and distinctively punctate, punctures less than diameter apart, covered by whitish setae with forwardly bent tips of nearly equal length as forward ocellus width. Gena strongly punctate, with sparse and defined punctures in posterior third (as opposed to  R. ophuzi sp. nov., which has shiny and impunctate posterior area close to occipital carina; Figure 3a, 3 aa). Occipital carina slightly sinuate. Ocellar triangle with substantially wider base. Eyes covered by very short setae or asetose. Scape longer than AF1 (about as long as pedicel+AF1); pedicel about 1.5 times as long as wide, AF2 slightly longer than wide (1.0–1.3).</p><p>Mesosoma. Mesosoma covered by shorter yellowish pubescence that turns to longer setae at posterior part of propodeum; entire mesosoma coarsely and densely punctate, especially pronotum and mesopleuron (Figure 3b). Tegula laterally punctate. Mesonotum deeply and densely punctate. Scutellum with coarser punctures than mesonotum, metanotum with similar punctures in proximal half and shiny posterior impunctate area. Metapleuron with retained punctures near anterior margin, impunctate centre and coarser punctures towards propodeum. Propodeal excavation rounded, narrower than metanotum width, covered by fine striae and occasional puncture. Lateral propodeal area strongly striated, superior carina weak, inferior propodeal carina elevated without hyaline rim.</p><p>Metasoma. T1 dorsally triangular, rounded posteriorly and sparsely punctate. T2 elongated, with long parallel contour and minimal narrowing towards lamella. T2/S2 suture strongly developed, commonly visible along entire segment length. T2 lamella variable in colour, commonly semi-transparent; lamellar notch visible and obtuse. T2 covered by shallow directional punctures, which turns to superficial punctures dorsally; T2 longer than S2, yielding oblique segment contour. T2 covered by short yellowish setae, those on S2 longer, finer and whitish.</p><p>Male. Unknown.</p><p>Distribution. Zambia, DR Congo, SW Tanzania.</p><p>Etymology. The name comes from the Latin adjective acuminatus, meaning “sharp, acute, pointed”, and refers to the very sharply pointed female clypeus of this species.</p><p>Nest. One nest was examined in the early stage of the colony cycle (without meconium openings at the cell bottoms). The nest has a discoid shape with 12 cells. Cell walls are bicolorous, made of dense material. The pedicel is located on the primary cell and rests on the top of the nest. The nest is located on a twig.</p><p>Similar species. This species is similar to  R. ophuzi sp. nov., separated by gena punctures and colour pattern. The general appearance of females may sometimes resemble  R. nigrocerasina sp. nov., which can easily be separated by the shape of clypeus.</p><p>Genetics. A single specimen was successfully genotyped (BOLD: ADN 9351), suggesting a basal position within the  capensis -group. The sister BIN belongs to  R. ophuzi sp. nov. (BOLD:ADO0894), and these two species form a cluster that is sister to all other members of the  capensis -group.</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/4F5987BAE851FF8EFF11F9C3743B9CBE	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		MagnoliaPress via Plazi	Polašek, Ozren;Onah, Ikechukwu;Kehinde, Tope;Rojo, Veronica;Noort, Simon Van;Carpenter, James M.	Polašek, Ozren, Onah, Ikechukwu, Kehinde, Tope, Rojo, Veronica, Noort, Simon Van, Carpenter, James M. (2025): Revision of the mainland African species of the Old World social wasp genus Ropalidia Guérin-Méneville 1831 (Hymenoptera; Vespidae). Zootaxa 5626 (1): 1-142, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5626.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5626.1.1
4F5987BAE853FF89FF11FF7974559AEA.text	4F5987BAE853FF89FF11FF7974559AEA.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Ropalidia aethiopica (DU BUYSSON 1906) Bequaret 1918	<div><p>Ropalidia aethiopica (DU BUYSSON 1906)</p><p>Icaria aethiopica DU BUYSSON 1906</p><p>Ropalidia aethiopica ssp. bimaculata GIORDANI SOIKA 1981,  syn. nov.</p><p>Type material. Nominal form.  A male and a female specimen are deposited in the MNHN. The species description does not describe the exact type status, leading Carpenter to consider them as syntypes (J. M. Carpenter, 1999); the type designation was later made by Kojima (J. Kojima, 2001), who assigned the male status as lectotype and female status as paralectotype. Both specimens are in good condition .</p><p>Subspecies.   Giordani Soika described  ssp. bimaculata based on two females and a male deposited in the ZSM. The main features include extensive yellow colour markings, especially a thick yellow line on the pronotum, a thicker band on T2 and a large bilateral yellow spot on propodeum, without any trace of the inferior propodeal carina (Figure 36 cc). The examination of the entire series of specimens based on genetics suggests that the yellow spots are occurring in three separate genetic lineages (BOLD: ADR6945, ACH1101 and ADR2619).  Additionally, two specimens from these BINs do not have any trace of yellow markings on the propodeum.  Lastly, a few members of the other BINs of this cluster also have yellow spots on the propodeum (smaller, but present, even smaller yellow spots under substantially developed inferior carina). Three series of specimens from Kenya with the same collection data include specimens with or without yellow spots, suggesting that this feature might not have taxonomic value and represent a variation of the colour pattern. Finally, the sympatric occurrence of nominal form and subspecies is not possible, leading to the decision to refer the subspecies to the nominal form  .</p><p>Comments. This is a complex of multiple genetic and morphologic clusters, which show some overlap among themselves, but also with  R. puncta (FABRICIUS) stat. rev. The key features of both taxa include the lack of inner orbit punctures, developed median carina of scutellum and a dark apical spot in contrast to the more lightly coloured stigma. These two species show an interesting sympatric-allopatric disagreement; specimens from the allopatric regions of their distribution do not provide substantial problems in separation. However, the overlap zone between them is marked by numerous combinations and a challenging situation, causing substantial separation problems in some specimens.</p><p>Analysis of the puncta-aethiopica-complex. Morphological features and colour patterns suggest four colour clusters of  R. aethiopica (DU BUYSSON):</p><p>a) Nominal cluster; the typical colour form, characterized by the brown-greyish basal colour, silvery pubescence on the frons, moderately developed or undeveloped inferior propodeal carina, black antenna and black tarsi. Specimens from Western Africa can have a reduced amount of black on the antenna and tarsi, resembling  R. guttatipennis (DE SAUSSURE) . In contrast, specimens from Zambia to Kenya have more developed inferior propodeal carina (Figure 31 bb), a feature shared with the pale cluster (see later). Genetic analysis revealed that this cluster includes five separate BINs (BOLD:ADN2737, ADO5117, ADO2809, ACH1224 and ADR2619) and two more lineage clusters without BIN assignment (Supplementary Figure 24).</p><p>b) Red cluster; basal body colour is reddish, and the markings on the body are whitish in both males and females. This cluster was recorded from Uganda; all examined specimens were older, therefore, no sequencing was attempted. Also, specimens from this cluster were substantially smaller than the nominal cluster on average (Supplementary Figure 25).</p><p>c) “ bimaculata ” cluster, a former subspecies cluster, is characterized by more yellow markings on the body (thick yellow line on pronotum, thick band on T2 and two spots on propodeum). This cluster is sympatric to both nominal and pale clusters, in the most diverse region for this entire species, Southern Kenya and Northern Tanzania. Specimens from this cluster belong to three genetic lineages (BOLD:ACH1101, BOLD:ADR2619 and ADR6945).</p><p>d) Pale cluster, characterized by the black upper side of the antenna, intermediately developed inferior propodeal carina and ferruginous tarsi; markings on the body are pale whitish, and females have more yellow on the head (brown spot on clypeus is almost entirely bordered by yellow). This cluster is present from Kenya to South Africa and shares genetic lineage with the “bimaculata” cluster (BOLD:ADR6945).</p><p>In addition, there were three clusters of a very similar species,  R. puncta (FABRICIUS) stat. rev. The first is characterized by the wider head and mesosoma, yellowish basal body colour, longer golden pubescence and a mainly yellow face in females (similar to the nominal form). This cluster is the commonest  Ropalidia species in South Africa and extends north towards Zimbabwe and Malawi. The second cluster has shorter pubescence, a leaner body and a darker basal colour, with most examined specimens coming from the Eastern parts of the South Africa. These two clusters share genetic lineages (BOLD:ADN4162, ADO2931). Finally, a third cluster corresponds to the former taxon  R. cariniscutis, from Kenya and Tanzania (Supplementary Figure 24). The general appearance of this cluster is similar, with a darker antenna (but still not black) and traces of silvery setae on the frons, especially in males. This cluster is also present in Zanzibar, where it is sympatric with the nominal form of  R. aethiopica (DU BUYSSON) .</p><p>One of the most interesting features of the entire distribution of these two species is a substantial similarity of male morphology, especially in the anatomical parts that are commonly species-specific, such as the shape of the clypeus and the terminal flagellomere. The second important problem is the nested position of all three genetic  R. puncta (FABRICIUS) stat. rev. genetic lineages within  R. aethiopica (DU BUYSSON) . This might suggest a degree of hybridization in the sympatric regions. Such events would have to be more prevalent in the contact regions, and morphological similarities do seem to follow this pattern. The extreme distribution area of both species (western parts of South Africa vs Yemen) have relatively uniform populations of either species, without specimens that could cause taxonomic problems. The areas between them, from Namibia, Zambia to Kenya and Tanzania, seem to be where hybridization might occur, introducing much greater diversity and causing taxonomic uncertainties. The definitive answer requires further confirmation through more detailed sequencing with multiple genetic markers.</p><p>Nest. Several nests were seen on iNat; all seem somewhat irregular, with an intermediate size of both the nest and the colony. Cell wall colouring varies from relatively light greyish-brown to darker grey (iNat:14682014, 40119082, 41128729). Two nests with male and female wasps collected confirmed this: an irregular shape, uneven cell length, and light-greyish opercula with or without nodules.</p><p>Similar species. Some specimens of  R. aethiopica (DU BUYSSON) have a very shallow propodeal excavation, in which case they may resemble  R. africana (CAMERON) stat. rev.; separation of these two species can be made by observing the shape of clypeus in females, which is elongated and pentagonal, with straight upes in  R. africana (CAMERON) stat. rev. Specimens of  R. aethiopica (DU BUYSSON) from Western Africa (Cote d’Ivoire to Cameroon) have another peculiar feature. Females from this region are similar to  R. guttatipennis (DE SAUSSURE), primarily reflected in an almost identical body colouration pattern. Their wings have a brownish apical spot (instead of black), yellow markings on the body become intensely yellow, and the basal body colour becomes browner (as opposed to greyish in most other specimens). This pattern was seen on specimens from two museum collections, suggesting it is not an artefact of specimen preservation. In one of these, genotyping has confirmed the existence of two genetic lineages in otherwise very similar morphological specimens. In this situation, the only reliable separation feature is the inner orbit punctures in females, despite an uncannily similar colour pattern. Additional support may arise from the basal body colour—it always has a greyish tone in  R. aethiopica (DU BUYSSON), while  R. guttatipennis (DE SAUSSURE) has either brownish or even dark brown basal colour (close to black), without greyish tone to it, while the pattern of yellow markings on the body becomes completely similar in both species. Finally, there were some interesting differences in males; those from the central parts of Africa had fine punctures of entirely yellow clypeus (Figure 78a), while those from Yemen had coarse punctures and traces of basal brownish spot (Figure 78b).</p><p>Distribution. Nearly the entire Sub-Saharan Africa.In addition to mainland Africa, this species is also distributed in Yemen. One photograph suggests it might also be present in São Tome (iNat:33195567).</p><p>Genetics. In addition to the 8 BINs assigned to COI gene sequences, we sequenced several specimens with 28s rDNA. The mPTP clustering results suggested the existence of three clusters with relatively weak support; although these distances might have suggested the possibility of separating these taxa, the overall amount of evidence prohibited us from making further conclusions. Therefore, despite the fair extent of genetic diversity encountered, we retained all the examined specimens as a single species.</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/4F5987BAE853FF89FF11FF7974559AEA	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		MagnoliaPress via Plazi	Polašek, Ozren;Onah, Ikechukwu;Kehinde, Tope;Rojo, Veronica;Noort, Simon Van;Carpenter, James M.	Polašek, Ozren, Onah, Ikechukwu, Kehinde, Tope, Rojo, Veronica, Noort, Simon Van, Carpenter, James M. (2025): Revision of the mainland African species of the Old World social wasp genus Ropalidia Guérin-Méneville 1831 (Hymenoptera; Vespidae). Zootaxa 5626 (1): 1-142, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5626.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5626.1.1
4F5987BAE855FF8AFF11FE3475689E86.text	4F5987BAE855FF8AFF11FE3475689E86.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Ropalidia africana (CAMERON 1910) Polašek & Onah & Kehinde & Rojo & Noort & Carpenter 2025	<div><p>Ropalidia africana (CAMERON 1910) stat. rev.</p><p>Icaria africana CAMERON 1910</p><p>Type material. Two females in the NHRS collection, labelled as NHRS-HEVA 000007511 (holotype) and NHRS-HEVA 000007512 (paratype; photographs examined; notably, both specimens have the additional small red labels “37” [printed] and “75” [hand-written] in the following line on the holotype, and “38” and “75” in paratype). Unfortunately, the species description (Cameron, 1910) does not provide a good account of the specimens; the pterostigma and nervature colour disagree (suggesting that both are black, while the examined photos show that both are brown).Additionally, the key to species in the paper is flawed, suggesting that this species has developed scutellar carina (in the species description) or that it is not developed (the key to species on the same page). Unfortunately, Cameron focused on metasoma’s colour and shape in his paper (Cameron, 1910). This was already challenged by Bequaert, who stated that the shape of T 1 is of “little practical use due to extensive degree of variation, even within the same colony ” (Bequaret, 1918), and by Meade-Waldo, who claimed that Cameron was “evidently misled by the fact that the metasomas of his two types hang at different angles from the median segment ” (Meade-Waldo, 1913).</p><p>Another two specimens from the expedition were recovered during this revision in the NHM, with similar labels but indicating different altitudes above the sea level (the holotype suggests 1000–1200 m, paratype 1000–1300 m, while the two more specimens originate from 1000–1200 m and 1300–1900 m) .</p><p>Comments. This is a very variable species, with numerous morphological and colour combinations that were recorded in the examined specimens. The general description of this species is based on a very shallow propodeal excavation that is usually covered by weakly developed and fine striae, the variably developed propodeal carina, the almost impunctate metapleuron and elongated T1 (which has posterior constriction). The female clypeus shape is usually pentagonal, although even the type series specimens show a substantial degree of shape variation; the clypeus can be pentagonal with OCA nearly missing or broader, with curved upes and a strongly projecting apex. The pronotum colour is a helpful determination feature; most specimens have a complete yellow line underneath the pronotal carina, extending onto the postero-inferior pronotal margin (Figure 31c). In addition, the type specimens and most of the examined females have yellow markings on coxa II and III, which are uncommon in females of other species. These markings commonly originate on the lateral margin; coxa II and II may be completely yellow (in one examined specimen) or without yellow markings (in two examined specimens). An additional helpful feature is the elongated T1, similar to  R. amanhii sp. nov. (Figure 31b). The most diverse, and in this sense, the most problematic feature is the antenna colour: the type series specimens all have the antenna ferruginous, while all other examined females have the antenna darkened or even black dorsally.</p><p>Males of this species are described here for the first time.</p><p>Material.   Diani Beach, Kenya, 1♂ (SNM); Baraka, DR Congo, 1♂ (NHM); Deti, DR Congo, 1♂ (NHM); Ikelenge, Zambia, 1♂ (NHM); Muheza, Tanzania, 1♂ (SNM). The total number of examined specimens: 5♂♂  .</p><p>Diagnosis. Males of this species are characterized by a shallow propodeal excavation, rounded terminal flagellomere and somewhat elongated antenna.</p><p>Description. Males. Wing length 8.6–10.1 mm. Colour. Basal colour dark brown. Clypeus yellow, inner orbit, interantennal area and lower part of eye sinus yellow, gena with small elongated yellow spot (Figure 70a). Mandible yellow, with minor brownish triangular area; frons brown, area around ocelli dark brown or black (Figure 70a). Mesosoma dark brown with variable reddish and yellow areas. Yellow areas include thin line underneath pronotal carina, anterior surface of mesopleuron, coxa I and II, femur I and II with irregular yellow patches, femur III often with reddish markings; tibia brown, tarsi brown or dark brown. Reddish areas of mesosoma may include mesopleuron, scutellum and metanotum. T1 without posterior yellow band, T2 with thin yellow band extending to thinner yellow band on S2; remaining metasomal segment equal to the basal body colour or darker. Antenna darkened or black dorsally, brown or yellowish underneath (Figure 70a). Fore wing apical spot brown to dark brown, wings mostly transparent or slightly yellowish in some specimens.</p><p>Head. Clypeus convex, wider than long, with curved upes and no OCA; apex subacute, slightly projecting, lateral margins angled (Figure 70a). Basal half sparsely and weakly punctate and covered by fine silvery setae of equal length basally and apically. Mandible matt with occasional puncture. Gena and tempora weakly punctate with more than half of posterior surface impunctate. Gena about 0.6–0.8 times as wide as eye. Frons weakly and shallowly punctate, with gradually diminishing punctures definition towards occipital carina. Ocellar triangle acute forward. AF1 longer than scape (about 1.2–1.4 times), AF2 about 1.8–2.1 times as long as wide. Tyloids flat and matt or slightly shiny, originate on AF1. Terminal flagellomere elongated and curved (Figure 70b).</p><p>Mesosoma. Pronotum and mesonotum with large, defined and coarse punctures, most coarsely developed on scutellum. Metapleuron impunctate or with only few poorly defined punctures.</p><p>Metasoma. Terminal sternum flattened or weakly concave.</p><p>Male-female pairing strength: low. Pairing is based on the propodeal features and similarity of the clypeal shape (however, males were not successfully genotyped, nor were there any nest series that would provide stronger pairing strength). The closest genetic link is a male in a separate BIN from the rest of the females (although this is the closest possible match in terms of genetic distances).</p><p>Similar species. Some confusion is possible with  R. tenuipilosa sp. nov. (males of that species do not have a developed median scutellar carina) and  R. aethiopica (DU BUYSSON), especially in specimens of that species that have less developed propodeal striations.</p><p>Taxonomic status. This taxon has been the most commonly synonymized of all African  Ropalidia species. It was suggested as a synonym of  R. distigma GERSTAECKER (=  R. puncta FABRICIUS) (Meade-Waldo, 1913),  R. cincta (LEPELETIER) with black pterostigma (von Schulthess-Rechberg, 1913), leading Bequaert to consider it as a very doubtful species, suggesting that this was a possible synonym of  R. aethiopica (DU BUYSSON) (Bequaret, 1918) . The confusion is caused by varying morphological features of the examined specimens. However, the combination of morphological features and genetic analysis was considered sufficient for re-establishing this taxon at the species level. The male’s identity remains somewhat questionable, as the only genetically confirmed male belongs to a separate BIN cluster (see under Genetics). The extent of phenotypic and genetic differences from other species was considered sufficient to restore the status of this taxon and consider it as a species.</p><p>Distribution. Gabon to Mozambique.</p><p>Genetics. Five specimens were successfully genotyped, belonging to three BINs; a single male from Zambia (BOLD:ADR2417), a female from Kenya, in the same cluster with  R. mangoflava sp. nov. (BOLD:ACK8399), while the remaining specimens were clustered into the third cluster, distributed in Kenya, Malawi and Mozambique (BOLD:ADM2240). The analysis of the COI gene suggested proximity to  R. tomentosa (GERSTAECKER) and the Asian-Australian cluster of species. 28s rDNA confirmed homogenous and specific clustering, with sequence shared only with  R. mangoflava sp. nov.</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/4F5987BAE855FF8AFF11FE3475689E86	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		MagnoliaPress via Plazi	Polašek, Ozren;Onah, Ikechukwu;Kehinde, Tope;Rojo, Veronica;Noort, Simon Van;Carpenter, James M.	Polašek, Ozren, Onah, Ikechukwu, Kehinde, Tope, Rojo, Veronica, Noort, Simon Van, Carpenter, James M. (2025): Revision of the mainland African species of the Old World social wasp genus Ropalidia Guérin-Méneville 1831 (Hymenoptera; Vespidae). Zootaxa 5626 (1): 1-142, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5626.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5626.1.1
4F5987BAE856FF8BFF11F9D874DA9C12.text	4F5987BAE856FF8BFF11F9D874DA9C12.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Ropalidia amanhii Polasek 2025	<div><p>Ropalidia amanhii Polašek,  sp. nov.</p><p>urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 128E49A5-D5EB-4596-A1D8-601B91299E15</p><p>Type specimens.   Holotype:  Chake Chake, Pemba Island, Tanzania, 1♀ (OLM. VA342)  .   Paratype:  Kwamgumi forest, Tanzania, 1♀ (SNM). The total number of examined specimens: 2♀♀  .</p><p>Diagnosis. The defining characteristics include non-clavate antenna, rounded and shallow propodeal excavation, weakly developed upper propodeal carina, weak or intermediate striations and moderately developed inferior propodeal carina, in combination with elongated T1 and wide clypeus.</p><p>Description. Female. Wing length: 8.4–8.8 mm. Colour. Basal colour brown or dark brown. Clypeus yellow with transverse dark brown line or brown with apical yellow line. Inner orbit with large yellow areas (Figure 32 bb) or reduced to a small yellow triangle close to clypeus (Figure 79a). Vertex darker than frons, mandible with yellow antero-basal spot, gena brown, or with small yellow spot. Pronotum basally reddish-brown, with thin yellow line underneath carina and thinner yellow line at posterior margin (similar to Figure 31c). Mesonotum darker with two thin reddish lines (Figure 79c). Mesopleuron dark brown to black (with yellow patch in holotype), metapleuron dark brown to black. Scutellum and metanotum brown-reddish, propodeum black with reddish line along lateral margin (Figure 32 aa). Legs brown, in holotype with gradually smaller yellow markings on coxa; femur and tibia brown, tarsi darker, almost black (Figure 79b). T1 brownish, T2 with yellow(-whitish) posterior band (Figure 79b). Wings transparent, anterior portion yellowish, stigma bicolorous, anterior half brown and opaque, posterior yellowish and semi-transparent (Figure 79c). Antenna black dorsally, underside of scape and pedicel (as far as AF1) ferruginous, terminal few flagellomeres reddish ventrally.</p><p>Head. Clypeus about as wide as long or slightly wider (Figure 32 bb, Figure 79a), upes straight, enclosing variably wide inner orbit area (wider in holotype, narrower in paratype), oculo-clypeal angle developed, but obtuse; clypeal apex longer. Juxtamandibular lobes less developed (Figure 32 bb). Clypeus base with defined punctures, apical half with larger craters with less defined edges. Inner orbit impunctate, with strong surface depression towards antennal socket. Frons punctate and covered by straight yellowish-golden setae, shorter than ocelli diameter (as opposed to  R. tomentosa GERSTAECKER). Gena covered by gradually shallowing punctures, retained even in posterior part as poorly defined craters, in contrast to  R. africana (CAMERON) stat. rev., which has shiny and impunctate posterior half of gena). Occipital carina weakly sinuate, almost straight. Ocellar triangle equidistant. Head covered by whitish or yellowish pubescence and protruding setae. Eyes covered by intermediate-length setae (Figure 32 bb). Scape about equally long or somewhat longer than AF1; AF2 about 1.2–1.4 times as long as wide, compared to 1.5–1.9 in  R. africana (CAMERON) stat. rev.</p><p>Mesosoma. Pronotum with large and shallow punctures, which merge and create network close to inferior pronotal angle. Mesonotum with small and shallow punctures, lateral mesopleuron with large and shallow ones. Metapleuron with small and scattered punctures close to anterior edge, central and posterior part impunctate. Scutellum flattened, with intermediate-sized punctures and weakly developed median carina that reaches about half of its length. Metanotum rounded, without median tooth. Propodeal excavation shallow, without strong margins or carina (Figure 32 aa). Striations of propodeal excavation weak, but stronger than in  R. africana (CAMERON) stat. rev. Inferior propodeal carina developed, thick, without translucent apical hyaline rim (Figure 32 aa).</p><p>Metasoma. T1 elongated and slender, dorsally mildly swollen (similar to Figure 31b); proximal half with weak and small punctures, distal with larger and more defined punctures. T2 shorter, rounded in dorsal view, almost without parallel sides. T2 and S2 with directional punctures, which turn to regular punctures close to lamella. T2/S2 suture of variable length (varying from third of T2 length to nearly entire length), T2 lamellar notch either poorly developed or not visible at all. T2 lamella of intermediate length, with developed or very well developed interdigitations.</p><p>Male. Unknown.</p><p>Etymology. The species is named after the AMANHI research grant of the World Health Organization, which funded the trip during which the holotype specimen was collected.</p><p>Distribution. North-Eastern Tanzania.</p><p>Similar species.  R. africana (CAMERON) stat. rev.,  R. tomentosa (GERSTAECKER) and possibly even an occasional specimen of  R. aethiopica (DU BUYSSON) with less developed propodeal striations. The separation features include metapleuron punctures (nearly impunctate in  R. africana), ocellar triangle (acute anteriorly in  R. africana) and longer eye setae (very short or absent in  R. africana), and shorter general pubescence pattern (as opposed to long in  R. tomentosa GERSTAECKER). Problems can be expected in separation from  R. aethiopica (DU BUYSSON); inferior propodeal carina of  R. amanhii sp. nov. is more developed, with an underlying tissue elevation (as opposed to acute and sharp inferior propodeal carina in  R. aethiopica). In addition, the area lateral to parapsidal furrows is reddish in  R. amanhii sp. nov., and almost uniquely of similar colour to the rest of mesonotum in  R. aethiopica (DU BUYSSON) .</p><p>Genetics. Both the holotype and paratype were successfully genotyped, suggesting proximity of the mainland and island populations, yielding a single BIN (BOLD:ADM2228). The position of this species was relatively basal, close to  R. nobilis GERSTAECKER,  R. unidentata GIORDANI SOIKA and  R. fita sp. nov. 28s rDNA suggested a separate cluster, confirming proximity to the previously mentioned three species.</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/4F5987BAE856FF8BFF11F9D874DA9C12	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		MagnoliaPress via Plazi	Polašek, Ozren;Onah, Ikechukwu;Kehinde, Tope;Rojo, Veronica;Noort, Simon Van;Carpenter, James M.	Polašek, Ozren, Onah, Ikechukwu, Kehinde, Tope, Rojo, Veronica, Noort, Simon Van, Carpenter, James M. (2025): Revision of the mainland African species of the Old World social wasp genus Ropalidia Guérin-Méneville 1831 (Hymenoptera; Vespidae). Zootaxa 5626 (1): 1-142, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5626.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5626.1.1
4F5987BAE828FFF5FF11FAF576689F72.text	4F5987BAE828FFF5FF11FAF576689F72.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Ropalidia antennata (DE SAUSSURE 1890)	<div><p>Ropalidia antennata (DE SAUSSURE 1890)</p><p>Icaria antennata DE SAUSSURE 1890</p><p>Icaria ambigua GRIBODO 1894</p><p>Type material. The original species description is partial, as a footnote in the description of  Icaria (=  Ropalidia) bicincta (H. de Saussure, 1890). The description suggests the coast of Mozambique as a location and describes a reddish species with three black spots on the mesonotum. He also described a male, with more yellow markings and strongly developed male tyloids with an elongated terminal flagellomere. Notably, his description of  R. capensis did not mention males, suggesting that he did not examine a male of  R. capensis at the time of description of the male of  R. antennata (H. de Saussure, 1862) . Furthermore, the description does not mention the exact number of specimens or a depository, prompting Kojima to assign the lectotype status of  R. antennata (DE SAUSSURE) to a specimen at MHNG (J. Kojima, 2001). The specimen has a Mosamb label, which is common in MFNB, suggesting a likely German (speaking) collector. Unfortunately, no other type specimens were identified in either the MFNB or the CENAK collection.</p><p>Ropalidia ambigua (GRIBODO) . Gribodo described this species, and photos of the type were seen (the specimen is deposited in Dipartimento di Scienze Biologiche, Geologiche e Ambientali, Bologna, Italy), suggesting that this taxon is conspecific with  R. antennata (DE SAUSSURE) . Previous authors suggested that it might be another synonym of  R. capensis (DE SAUSSURE); one specimen from the ETH collection bears a determination label by Schulthess as “  I. antennata =  I. ambigua det. Schulthess 928” (Supplementary Figure 17), supporting a similar proposal by Bequaert (Bequaret, 1918).</p><p>Comments. The main features of females include the more or less curved clypeal upes, horizontal or downward directing setae in the mid-section of propodeal excavation and parallel-sided mandibles. Some problems are likely in separation from  R. capensis (DE SAUSSURE); although the general pattern may resemble the two species, the colour of propodeum was reliable in the separation of these two species. The propodeum of  R. antennata (DE SAUSSURE) is very variable, ranging from entirely light brown to a combination of black and brown, but no examined specimen had completely black propodeum. In contrast, all examined  R. capensis (DE SAUSSURE) had completely black propodeum. In addition, the general colour pattern is more unified in  R. antennata (DE SAUSSURE), with mostly similarly coloured mesonotum and pronotum (Figure 80a) and more contrasting in  R. capensis (DE SAUSSURE), with dissimilar mesonotum and pronotum (Figure 80b). This feature is helpful in the entire distribution range, but becomes less reliable in the sympatric area, eastern parts of the South Africa, where some specimens might require genetic analysis for confirmation.</p><p>Nest. Several nests were examined, with confirmed males and females collected with them. The general pattern is bicellular and elongated, sometimes expanded to multiple cells with up to five cells in width in larger nests (Supplementary material). Cells are of equal length, without shorter accessory cells at the outer nest rim (which is present in  R. valentula sp. nov.). Cell wall colour is mainly grey, with occasional brownish or whitish streaks. Confirmed nests were mainly observed on twigs, while a few nests from iNat were seen on leaves and other plant material (iNat:35606319, 40227561, 24785286).</p><p>Distribution. Widely distributed across almost entire Sub-Saharan Africa, ranging from Senegal to Kenya, as far as South Africa.</p><p>Genetics. Three separate COI lineages were recorded for this species, with sufficient support for a BIN assignment. Darker specimens, which resemble  R. capensis (DE SAUSSURE) were recorded in Mozambique (BOLD: ADR5502). Specimens from the remaining two clusters were widely distributed, and seemed to express a substantial degree of overlap, occurring in the South Africa and Botswana (BOLD:ADR4815) or South Africa, Zambia and Mozambique (BOLD:ADN9354). All examined specimens from Western Africa were older, so no genotyping was attempted.</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/4F5987BAE828FFF5FF11FAF576689F72	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		MagnoliaPress via Plazi	Polašek, Ozren;Onah, Ikechukwu;Kehinde, Tope;Rojo, Veronica;Noort, Simon Van;Carpenter, James M.	Polašek, Ozren, Onah, Ikechukwu, Kehinde, Tope, Rojo, Veronica, Noort, Simon Van, Carpenter, James M. (2025): Revision of the mainland African species of the Old World social wasp genus Ropalidia Guérin-Méneville 1831 (Hymenoptera; Vespidae). Zootaxa 5626 (1): 1-142, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5626.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5626.1.1
4F5987BAE82AFFF6FF11FF79725A9C98.text	4F5987BAE82AFFF6FF11FF79725A9C98.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Ropalidia aulaeum Polasek 2025	<div><p>Ropalidia aulaeum Polašek sp. nov.</p><p>urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 654582D2-EBAC-45FE-AB03-CB3638AB295E</p><p>Type specimens.  Holotype: La Maboke (M’baiki), Central African Republic, 1♀ (MNHN) .   Paratypes:  Kama, DR Congo, 4♀♀ (CAS);  Lualuaba, DR Congo, 4♀♀ (RMCA);  Brazzaville, Republic of the Congo, 1♀ (MNHN);  Brazzaville, Republic of the Congo, 1♀ (MSNV); Dimonika, Republic of the Congo, 1♀ (MNHN). The total number of examined specimens: 12♀♀  .</p><p>Diagnosis. Large species that substantially resembles  R. brazzai (DU BUYSSON); this species is characterized by very strong punctures, reticulate propodeal excavation, long setae on the body with asetose eyes and very developed propodeal carina. However, in contrast to the similar  R. brazzai (DU BUYSSON),  R. auleum sp. nov. has medially directed arched superior propodeal carina, which encloses an area that resembles a theatre curtain.</p><p>Description. Female. Wing length: 10.4–12.1 mm. Colour. Basal colour dark-brown or blackish (Figure 81a, b). Thin yellowish lines can be present along inner eye margin, gena, clypeus and mandible, and underneath pronotal carina (Figure 20 aa). One paratype has reddish T1, reddish line at posterior scutellum margin and reddish markings on femur I and II. Remaining terga in the basal body colour, terminal two commonly reddish. Legs somewhat darker the basal body colour; tibia and tarsi dark brown or black (Figure 81a). Wings slightly yellowish, densely trichose; trichomes long (Figure 81b). Stigma dark brown, opaque. Apical spot faintly brownish, rounded, does not reach stigma (Figure 81a, b). Antenna dark-brown to blackish, equally coloured on both sides, scape reddish underneath (Figure 20 aa).</p><p>Head. Clypeus wider than long (Figure 20 aa). Upes straight, OCA weakly developed, juxtamandibular lobe developed, its excavation of intermediate depth (Figure 20 aa). Clypeus largely and shallowly punctate at base. Frons coarsely punctate, with punctures less a diameter apart; punctures are diminished towards occipital carina. Gena thicker than eye (Figure 20 bb). Occipital carina complete (in contrast to some specimens of  R. brazzai DU BUYSSON, which have evanescing occipital carina close to mandible). Clypeus and frons covered by long whitish-yellowish setae, those on vertex with bent tips. Setae on gena longer, with evenly bent tips towards mandible (Figure 20 aa). Eye setae very short or absent (as opposed to very long and dense in  R. brazzai DU BUYSSON). Ocellar triangle slightly acute forward. Scape about as long as AF1, pedicel longer than wide, AF2 1.2–1.4 times as long as wide (Figure 20 aa) and covered by longer straight protruding setae.</p><p>Mesosoma. Mesosoma slightly narrower than head width, coarsely punctate. Pronotal carina strong and sinuate. Mesonotum with large and shallow punctures, with occasional conflux between them; parapsidal furrows not developed or barely visible in changed punctures surface. Mesopleuron equally coarsely punctate. Metapleuron with shallow and sparse punctures, denser in postero-dorsal half. Median scutellar carina barely developed, only party visible. Metanotum wide, covered by coarse punctures with very small posterior impunctate shiny triangle. Median tooth developed, intermediate in size; postero-lateral angles rounded (Figure 19b). Propodeum characteristic (Figure 19b); main features include very strongly developed superior and inferior carina, merged with inferior propodeal carina and forming very long hyaline margins of propodeal excavation. In contrast to  R. brazzai (DU BUYSSON), which has straight carina, this species has medially directed arches at top, which resemble theatre curtain. Propodeal excavation reticulated and covered by longer setae. Tegula with sparse and less defined punctures, with lateral half impunctate (in contrast to  R. brazzai DU BUYSSON, which has strongly punctate tegula). Entire mesosoma covered by long and dense whitish setae.</p><p>Metasoma. Metasoma covered by setae of similar length, including T1 petiole. T1 with pronounced dorsal bulging and equally long apical and posterior parts; posterior part has shallow and long depression. T1 dorsally pyriform, with slight posterior constriction (Figure 81b). T2 longer, with more than half of contour parallel. T2 with smaller, shallower and dense directional punctures, denser than that on S2. T2/S2 suture visible for about half of segment length; lamellar notch either extremely fine or inexistent at all; lamella short, brownish, originates directly from T2 surface, without visible sulcus between them.</p><p>Male. Unknown.</p><p>Distribution. The Central African Republic, DR Congo, Republic of the Congo.</p><p>Etymology. The name comes from the Latin noun  aulaeum, “theatre curtain”, used as a noun in apposition, based on the shape of the superior propodeal carina that resembles a theatre curtain contour.</p><p>Similar species:  R. brazzai (DU BUYSSON), differing in several morphological characters listed in the key and discussed above. Males are unknown in both species.</p><p>Genetics. No sequencing was attempted since all three examined specimens were older than 40 years.</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/4F5987BAE82AFFF6FF11FF79725A9C98	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		MagnoliaPress via Plazi	Polašek, Ozren;Onah, Ikechukwu;Kehinde, Tope;Rojo, Veronica;Noort, Simon Van;Carpenter, James M.	Polašek, Ozren, Onah, Ikechukwu, Kehinde, Tope, Rojo, Veronica, Noort, Simon Van, Carpenter, James M. (2025): Revision of the mainland African species of the Old World social wasp genus Ropalidia Guérin-Méneville 1831 (Hymenoptera; Vespidae). Zootaxa 5626 (1): 1-142, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5626.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5626.1.1
4F5987BAE82BFFF1FF11FC5B73399B9A.text	4F5987BAE82BFFF1FF11FC5B73399B9A.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Ropalidia baki Polasek and Onah 2025	<div><p>Ropalidia baki Polašek and Onah sp. nov.</p><p>urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 2D001DC3-1974-4379-B6BC-9000A1076D6E</p><p>Type specimens.   Holotype:  Alor Uno, Nigeria, 1♀ (OLM. IKN11)  .   Paratypes:  Lamto (Toumodi), Cote d’Ivoire, 2♀♀ (MNHN);  Eala, DR Congo, 2♀♀, 1♂ (RMCA); Brazzaville, Republic of the Congo, 1♂ (MNHN). The total number of examined specimens: 5♀♀, 2♂♂  .</p><p>Diagnosis. A dark species, characterized by reddish markings on mesosoma and metasoma, coarse punctures, short pubescence and specifically punctate male clypeus.</p><p>Description. Female.Wing length 8.4–9.2mm (substantially smaller than females of  R.tomentosa GERSTAECKER).</p><p>Colour. Basal colour dark brown to black, with only handful of yellow markings (Figure 35b). Yellow areas include thin apical line of clypeus, antero-basal spot on mandible, inner orbit and sometimes small yellow area on gena (Figure 35b). Mesosoma and metasoma without yellow markings. Reddish areas elongated spot on tempora, most of mandible, anterior part and inferior angle of pronotum, tegula, occasionally posterior line on scutellum, coxa I and II (sometimes even III), femur and tibia; tarsi black. T1 always reddish or brownish, even in anterior half (Figure 35b). Remaining metasomal segments in basal body colour. Antenna black dorsally, including scape and pedicel; underside sometimes reddish (Figure 35a). Wings transparent or slightly yellowish anteriorly, stigma brown, apical spot brown or grey-brown (Figure 35b).</p><p>Head. Clypeus wider than long, convex, with moderately developed juxtamandibular lobes; upes weakly curved, longer than lateral clypeal margin, oculo-clypeal angle very wide (Figure 35a). Clypeus with intermediate-sized shallow punctures at base, apical third with less defined craters. Inner orbit impunctate. Gena slightly narrower than eye, occipital carina well developed, with strong hyaline rim and more sinuate close to mandible base. Anterior half of gena with shallow and large punctures, which diminish towards to few retained punctures near occipital carina. Frons covered by yellowish pubescence and longer protruding setae, equally curved along their entire length (Figure 35a). Ocellar triangle acute forwards. Eyes asetose or covered by very short setae (Figure 35a). Scape about as long as AF1 or slightly shorter, AF2 1.0–1.3 times as long as wide.</p><p>Mesosoma. Mesosoma covered by yellowish pubescence and longer protruding setae, equally curved along their entire length (Figure 35a, b). Pronotum and mesonotum with large and shallow punctures. Scutellum elevated centrally, with strongly developed median carina, often with scattered punctures close to its surface. Metanotum coarsely punctate in lateral thirds, centre impunctate; median tooth absent. Metapleuron with few poorly defined punctures anteriorly, almost entirely impunctate elsewhere. Propodeum strongly striate laterally, superior carina weakly developed, not continuing towards inferior propodeal carina and broken down by oblique striae. Propodeal excavation narrowing distally but retaining relatively wide profile, compared to other species (narrower than  R. excavata GIORDANI SOIKA and  R. salebrosa sp. nov.). Coxa II and III and proximal halves of femur II and III with whitish underlying pubescence and longer protruding setae.</p><p>Metasoma. T1 pyriform, shorter (conspicuously shorter than in  R. tomentosa GERSTAECKER). T2 shorter, finely punctate. Entire surface of T2 covered by equally curved yellowish setae of intermediate length, which are mostly following its contour and do not stand out as they do in  R. tomentosa (GERSTAECKER) . T2 lamella brown.</p><p>Males. Wing length: 8.7–9.1 mm. Colour. Basal colour dark brown (Figure 71a). Clypeus yellow (Figure 72 aa) or yellow with central black spot (Figure 82a). Mandible entirely yellow, inner orbit and scape merged in yellow, smaller yellow area on gena (Figure 72 aa), coxa I and II complete yellow, coxa III ferruginous; femur I and II with long yellow line, femur III ferruginous (Figure 71a). Antenna black from above, yellow underneath (Figure 71a).</p><p>Head. Clypeus slightly wider than long, with projecting apex; basal half covered by large and shallow punctures, apical half impunctate (Figure 72 aa). Scape weakly widened, about as long as AF1, AF2 about 1.2 times as long as wide. Tyloids originate on AF1, terminal three flagellomeres have most of inner surface occupied by matt tyloids (Figure72 bb). Terminal flagellomere elongated, its tip rounded (Figure 82b).</p><p>Mesosoma. Tarsal I spur not developed.</p><p>Metasoma. Terminal sternum with concave surface.</p><p>Male-female pairing strength. High, confirmed by DNA.</p><p>Distribution. Cote d’Ivoire, Nigeria, Republic of the Congo.</p><p>Etymology. The name originates from the Hausa word for “black”,  baki, referring to the general black basal body colour pattern; the name is treated as indeclinable.</p><p>Similar species. Both males and females are similar to  R. tomentosa (GERSTAECKER), and separation can be challenging across the entire distribution range of  R. baki sp. nov. The key criterion for the female separation is the developed antero-basal yellow spot on mandibles in  R. baki sp. nov., while females of  R. tomentosa (GERSTAECKER) from Western Africa have brownish or reddish mandibles, at most with only a hint of minor yellow antero-basal spot (females of  R. tomentosa GERSTAECKER in Eastern Africa often have yellow markings on mandible). Several more features can be useful, including posterior half of gena, which is impunctate or scarcely punctate in  R. baki sp. nov., while punctures are commonly retained in  R. tomentosa (GERSTAECKER), scarcely punctate mandibular surface, with no more than five punctures in the basal half of mandible, vs always more than five punctures in  R. tomentosa (GERSTAECKER), and general pubescence pattern, with frons setae equally bent along entire length, while in  R. tomentosa (GERSTAECKER) setae are straight with bent distal quarter. Separation of males is less complicated, as  R. baki sp. nov. males have completely impunctate apical half of clypeus. Interestingly, males of both species can have a central black spot on clypeus, which is uncommon in most African species. Additionally, there may be some confusion with  R. excavata GIORDANI SOIKA; the scutellum is elevated with strong median carina in  R. baki sp. nov., as opposed to flattened in  R. excavata GIORDANI SOIKA.</p><p>Genetics. One specimen was genotyped, and the genetic sequence of the second one was obtained from another study; both show a relatively low level of diversity and seem to be in a sister position with  R. fita sp. nov. and  R. unidentata GIORDANI SOIKA. The corresponding BIN assignment is BOLD:AEA6543.</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/4F5987BAE82BFFF1FF11FC5B73399B9A	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		MagnoliaPress via Plazi	Polašek, Ozren;Onah, Ikechukwu;Kehinde, Tope;Rojo, Veronica;Noort, Simon Van;Carpenter, James M.	Polašek, Ozren, Onah, Ikechukwu, Kehinde, Tope, Rojo, Veronica, Noort, Simon Van, Carpenter, James M. (2025): Revision of the mainland African species of the Old World social wasp genus Ropalidia Guérin-Méneville 1831 (Hymenoptera; Vespidae). Zootaxa 5626 (1): 1-142, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5626.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5626.1.1
4F5987BAE82DFFF2FF11FEA4759D9992.text	4F5987BAE82DFFF2FF11FEA4759D9992.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Ropalidia barbata Polasek 2025	<div><p>Ropalidia barbata Polašek sp. nov.</p><p>urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 7D816B66-CBEC-4CEB-8EB5-E949BB8E1F54</p><p>Type specimens.   Holotype: Banankeledaga,  Burkina Faso, 1♂ (MSNV.107)  .   Paratype: Koro,  Burkina Faso, 1♀ (MSNV). The total number of examined specimens: 1♂, 1♀  .</p><p>Diagnosis. A member of the  capensis -group, which is so far only known from Western Africa ( Burkina Faso). Morphological features include a very wide clypeus in females, a specific pattern of clypeal pubescence in both sexes, a darker apical spot of the fore wing, and rounded male head, with curved terminal flagellomere and weak tyloids.</p><p>Description. Females. Wing length: 6.9 mm. Colour. Basal colour brown. Yellow areas include clypeus (except small triangular brown area), inner orbit, mandible (except central, elongated, irregular brown line; Figure 10a), slightly thickened line underneath pronotal carina (Figure 83a), two postero-lateral suffused spots on metanotum, entire ventral surface of coxa I, lateral lines on coxa II and III, thicker band on T2 and disproportionally thinner band on S2, and additional yellow band on T3 and corresponding short lateral triangles on S3 (Figure 83a). Remaining metasomal segments light brownish, more lightly coloured than most T2 surface. Wings transparent, stigma and nervature brown, apical spot brown and well developed (Figure 10c). Legs brown, tarsi II and III slightly darker (Figure 83a). Antenna brownish, infuscated dorsally, orange ventrally (Figure 10a, b).</p><p>Head. Clypeus very wide, about 1.4 times as wide as long (Figure 10a). Upes straight, oculo-clypeal angle acute, apex longer, juxtamandibular lobes weakly developed. Basal clypeus surface covered by small, sparse and poorly defined punctures that turns to poorly defined craters towards the apex (Figure 10a). Clypeus base covered by short, brightly silvery pubescence, which becomes longer at juxtamandibular lobe where it creates specific tuft (Figure 10b). Inner orbit impunctate, covered by short, bright-silvery pubescence that becomes golden on the frons and vertex; frons and vertex covered by small and shallow punctures, barely discernible underneath pubescence. Tempora thin, more coarsely punctate. Gena very thin, about 0.5 time as wide as eye, covered by intermediate-sized, deeper and well-defined punctures even close to occipital carina; it is covered by similarly bright-silvery pubescence. Mandible with stronger base and stronger basal excavation. Scape longer than AF1, AF2 about as long as wide (Figure 52a).</p><p>Mesosoma. Mesosoma covered by short yellowish pubescence, somewhat longer towards distal part of propodeum. Parapsidal furrow and median suture of mesonotum developed, scutellum without median sulcus, metanotum with wide impunctate area. Propodeal excavation rounded, inferior propodeal carina not developed.</p><p>Metasoma. T1 pyriform and globular, with sparse and well-defined punctures posteriorly; T1 covered by short yellowish pubescence and some longer protruding setae. T2 elongated, with less parallel sides, covered by small, shallow and regular punctures; those on S2 less dense. T2 lamella yellow, transparent; T2/S2 notch wide and obtuse, T2/S2 suture visible almost along entire segment length (Figure 83a).</p><p>Males resemble females. Wing length: 6.8 mm. Colour. Basal colour and markings correspond to females, except for more overall yellow: clypeus, interantennal area, inner orbit and mandibles yellow (Figure 52a). Coxa yellow (including markings on coxa II and III), anterior surface of mesopleuron with yellow spot. T1 with three yellow triangular markings correspond to remnants of posterior yellow band (Figure 83b). Antenna ferruginous from above, orange-yellowish underneath; scape yellow underneath (Figure 52a).</p><p>Head. Clypeus specifically shaped; wider than long (about 1.4 times as wide as long), with elongated and curved upes, obtuse OC angle, somewhat projecting apex, with mildly obtuse tip and deeper juxtamandibular notches (Figure 52a). Basal surface of clypeus covered by sparse and very weakly defined punctures, apex nearly impunctate. Mandible somewhat widened but without basal sulcus (as seen in  R. valentula sp. nov. or  R. luculenta sp. nov.). Gena about 0.6 times of eye width, covered by large and intermediately developed punctures that gradually dissipates towards vertex; frons with sparse and intermediately developed punctures, covered by yellowish pubescence and longer yellowish setae, with forwardly bent tips. Clypeal apex covered by specific silvery pubescence, slightly longer and denser in juxtamandibular notch area; similar pubescence extends onwards to gena, giving males an overall “bearded” appearance (Figure 52a). Scape about as long as pedicel+AF1, AF2 about 1.2 times as long as wide. Tyloids very narrow, underdeveloped (least developed of all  capensis -group species males), originate from distal third of AF1, gradually widening on more distal flagellomeres, where they occupy at most one third of inner surface (Figure 52b). Tyloids almost similar in proximal-distal direction, as opposed to  R. antennata (DE SAUSSURE), with asymmetrical shape of tyloids. In addition, tyloids are aligned with flagellomere axis. Terminal flagellomere substantially narrower than AF10, unevenly curved, tip subacute; overall, tyloids less prominent (Figure 52b). Eyes asetose (Figure 52a).</p><p>Mesosoma. Tarsal spur I with moderately developed fang. Femur II and III with few, barely protruding setae (in contrast to numerous protruding setae present in  R. antennata DE SAUSSURE males).</p><p>Metasoma. S7 flattened, not concave.</p><p>Distribution.  Burkina Faso.</p><p>Etymology. The name is the Latin adjective barbatus -a -um (“bearded”), in reference to the pubescence of clypeus and gena.</p><p>Similar species. Both females and males have sufficient morphological features that allow easy separation from other species. Only one more species from the  capensis -group is present in this region,  R. antennata (DE SAUSSURE) .</p><p>Genetics. Not attempted due to old specimen age.</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/4F5987BAE82DFFF2FF11FEA4759D9992	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		MagnoliaPress via Plazi	Polašek, Ozren;Onah, Ikechukwu;Kehinde, Tope;Rojo, Veronica;Noort, Simon Van;Carpenter, James M.	Polašek, Ozren, Onah, Ikechukwu, Kehinde, Tope, Rojo, Veronica, Noort, Simon Van, Carpenter, James M. (2025): Revision of the mainland African species of the Old World social wasp genus Ropalidia Guérin-Méneville 1831 (Hymenoptera; Vespidae). Zootaxa 5626 (1): 1-142, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5626.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5626.1.1
4F5987BAE82EFFF3FF11F9D776D59A96.text	4F5987BAE82EFFF3FF11F9D776D59A96.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Ropalidia brazzai (DU BUYSSON 1906)	<div><p>Ropalidia brazzai (DU BUYSSON 1906)</p><p>Icaria brazzai DU BUYSSON 1906</p><p>Type material. The original description is based on an unknown number of specimens (du Buysson, 1906), with a single note of the Leketi location. The type series specimens are deposited in MNHN, consisting of three accounted female specimens .</p><p>Comments. This unique  Ropalidia species (Giordani Soika, 1977), forms a cluster with  R. aulaeum sp. nov.; both species are characterized by the very strong punctures, extremely developed propodeal carina and inferior propodeal carina, reticulation in propodeal excavation and long white setae on the basally dark body. The key features of this species include very long and dense eye setae (conspicuously longer than the anterior ocellus diameter), elongated and parallel propodeal carina (that extend from the metanotal angles through to very developed and pointed inferior propodeal carina), very developed metanotum (with a median tooth, and strong postero-lateral angles) and incomplete occipital carina (which is not known in any other African mainland species). Interestingly, Bequaert (Bequaret, 1918) considered this species as a probable synonym of  R. guttatipennis (DE SAUSSURE) . Notably, his understanding of  R. guttatipennis (DE SAUSSURE) probably refers to  R. kuficha sp. nov., which has a more similar basal colour to  R. brazzai (DU BUYSSON) . Giordani Soika re-instated it to a valid species status (Giordani Soika, 1977). Males are unknown.</p><p>Distribution. Republic of the Congo, Cameroon. Holotype location remains somewhat uncertain, with label suggesting “ Cameroon —1949–50, Lok. RFN/57?, J.B.-S. J.D.”.</p><p>Genetics. Genotyping was attempted in one previously broken specimen, but it was too old and failed at the PCR amplification stage.</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/4F5987BAE82EFFF3FF11F9D776D59A96	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		MagnoliaPress via Plazi	Polašek, Ozren;Onah, Ikechukwu;Kehinde, Tope;Rojo, Veronica;Noort, Simon Van;Carpenter, James M.	Polašek, Ozren, Onah, Ikechukwu, Kehinde, Tope, Rojo, Veronica, Noort, Simon Van, Carpenter, James M. (2025): Revision of the mainland African species of the Old World social wasp genus Ropalidia Guérin-Méneville 1831 (Hymenoptera; Vespidae). Zootaxa 5626 (1): 1-142, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5626.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5626.1.1
4F5987BAE82FFFFCFF11FDA8739A988E.text	4F5987BAE82FFFFCFF11FDA8739A988E.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Ropalidia caesariata Polasek 2025	<div><p>Ropalidia caesariata Polašek sp. nov.</p><p>urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 7FC383BE-EF96-4D7E-84E9-5A5A7AECC3AC</p><p>Type specimens.   Holotype:  Emanguzi, Natal, South Africa, 1♀ (OLM.0822)  .   Paratypes: Cape  Vidal, South Africa, 1♀ (MFNB); Beira, Mozambique, 1♂ (SAM. A027740). The total number of examined specimens: 2♀♀, 1♂  .</p><p>Diagnosis. Large species, with basally ferruginous-brown body colour with thin yellow markings, and very developed inferior propodeal carina. Males have a characteristic shape of clypeus, covered by long and dense silvery pubescence, in combination with bell-shaped T2.</p><p>Description. Female. Wing length: 10.6–10.9 mm. Colour. Basal colour ferruginous-brown, with thin yellow markings (Figure 38b, c, Figure 84a, b). Yellow areas include apical line on clypeus, yellow line along inner eye margin, lower half of antennal socket, small antero-basal yellow spot on mandible (Figure 38c), thin line underneath pronotal carina (Figure 84a, b; absent in paratype), thin posterior band on T2 and corresponding two short spots on S2. Wings yellowish, nervature brown, stigma yellowish and semi-transparent, apical spot dark grey-brown (Figure 84b). Antenna ferruginous, infuscated dorsally, orange-yellowish underneath (Figure 38c, Figure 84b).</p><p>Head. Clypeus longer than wide, convex, with projecting apex and slightly curved upes (Figure 38c). Clypeus covered by dense, small and poorly defined punctures, which become less defined wide craters apically. Entire clypeus covered by golden pubescence and longer protruding golden-yellowish setae, about twice longer apically than basally. Frons covered by coarser and more defined punctures, which extend further to tempora and gena, where those are retained only close to eye; posterior part of gena and tempora with less defined punctures or impunctate. Gena thicker than eye, lower part of gena is widest (as opposed to other species, which have higher part of gena widest). Occipital carina well developed, very mildly sinuate (Figure 84b). Eye setae sparse and intermediately long (Figure 38c). Ocellar triangle slightly acute forward. Scape about as long as AF1, pedicel longer than wide, AF2 about 1.5 times as long as wide.</p><p>Mesosoma. Mesosoma covered by large and shallow, poorly defined punctures, yellowish pubescence and some longer protruding setae. Infero-lateral pronotal angle elongated, very acute. Mesonotum with large and very shallow punctures, both median and parapsidal furrows well developed. Lateral mesopleuron with very large punctures, which can be merged and somewhat irregular. Tegula with very poorly defined punctures (only uneven cuticular surface remains instead puncta), their medial part covered by yellowish setae that almost entirely obscure underlying punctures. Scutellum with flattened surface, coarse and shallow punctures, and well-developed median carina extend almost to its end. Metanotum with very large impunctate triangular area; median tooth not developed (Figure 38a). Metapleuron with very scattered, shallow and poorly defined punctures; central part of metapleuron impunctate. Striations of propodeum regular and strong in lateral surface and excavation, upper carina not developed, but inferior propodeal carina strongly developed, elevated above propodeum surface (Figure 38a).</p><p>Metasoma. Metasoma covered by short yellowish setae (Figure 84a, b). T1 pyriform, narrow (Figure 84b). T2 bell-shaped, shorter, with oblique (non-parallel) sides, its surface covered by shallow, small and directional punctures (Figure 38b). T2 lamella brown, opaque, without visible T2/S2 notch (Figure 84b). Lamellar cut-out more or less even, T2 slightly longer than S2.</p><p>Males. Wing length: 10.5 mm. Males resemble females in general appearance. Colour. Clypeus, mandibles, anterior part of gena, inner orbit, interantennal area and eye sinuses yellow-whitish; frons brown (Figure 69a). Pronotum with yellow inferior angle, and some suffused yellow areas along mesonotal and mesopleuronl margin. Mesopleuron largely yellow anteriorly, brown laterally. All coxa yellow anteriorly and brown posteriorly, similarly to femur; tibia brown with irregular yellow markings on tibia I. Tarsi darker.</p><p>Head. Clypeus longer than wide, with projecting and depressed apex, nearly parallel sides and curved upes; shallow punctures are hardly discernible by long silvery pubescence of equal length basally and apically (Figure 69b). Gena about 0.7 times as wide as eye. Mandible matt, with occasional shallow puncture. Scape slightly thickened (not more than 1.5 times of the AF1 width), pedicel wider than long, AF1 conspicuously longer than scape (about 1.4 times). Tyloids matt, starting on AF1 (visible along its entire length), occupying most of inner surface in more distal segments. Terminal flagellomere very elongated and curved with obtuse tip (Figure 69b).</p><p>Mesosoma. Tarsal spur I not developed.</p><p>Metasoma. S7 with concave surface.</p><p>Male-female pairing strength: Moderate; based on morphological similarity of propodeum, body size and general colour pattern, and distribution pattern.</p><p>Distribution. Mozambique, South Africa (Northern Kwazulu-Natal).</p><p>Etymology. The name is the Latin adjective caesariatus -a -um, “longhaired”, referring to the hairy male clypeus.</p><p>Similar species:  R. dondo sp. nov. and  R. puncta (FABRICIUS) stat. rev., both of which have less developed inferior propodeal carina. Notably, there might be some difficulties in the separation of oddly coloured  R. dondo sp. nov. specimens (without yellow markings), but in these cases, punctures of coxa II and III provide separation features, alongside the shape of T2 (much larger and primarily parallel-sided in  R. dondo sp. nov.). Very oddly coloured  R. puncta can be separated based on the shape of T2, primarily parallel-sided in  R. puncta, more slender T1 (bulkier in  R. puncta) and brown coxa pair I (usually entirely yellow in  R. puncta). Males are easily separated from all other species by clypeus shape and pubescence and terminal flagellomere shape.</p><p>Genetics.   A single (holotype) specimen was COI genotyped, suggesting an isolated lineage, with some basal relatedness to  R. africana (CAMERON) stat. rev. The only COI cluster belonged to BOLD: ADN  4684.</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/4F5987BAE82FFFFCFF11FDA8739A988E	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		MagnoliaPress via Plazi	Polašek, Ozren;Onah, Ikechukwu;Kehinde, Tope;Rojo, Veronica;Noort, Simon Van;Carpenter, James M.	Polašek, Ozren, Onah, Ikechukwu, Kehinde, Tope, Rojo, Veronica, Noort, Simon Van, Carpenter, James M. (2025): Revision of the mainland African species of the Old World social wasp genus Ropalidia Guérin-Méneville 1831 (Hymenoptera; Vespidae). Zootaxa 5626 (1): 1-142, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5626.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5626.1.1
4F5987BAE821FFFDFF11FF7975BB9C95.text	4F5987BAE821FFFDFF11FF7975BB9C95.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Ropalidia capensis (DE SAUSSURE 1862)	<div><p>Ropalidia capensis (DE SAUSSURE 1862)</p><p>Icaria capensis DE SAUSSURE 1862</p><p>Type material.   A female specimen (RMNH. INS 108877; NNM), with a label “ Pr.B.Sp. ”, denoting Cape of Good Hope, is currently labelled as the holotype specimen.  One label on the type states “ TYPUS  Ropalidia capensis ♀ Sauss ”, which is confusing as de Saussure used the genus name  Icaria, suggesting that this label might have been added later on. This was already concluded by Kojima and van Achterberg (J. Kojima &amp; Van Achterberg, 1997), who reported not finding any more type specimens and assigned lectotype status to this specimen  .</p><p>The lectotype is a very lightly coloured specimen of this taxon, which shares several features with another very similar species,  R. antennata (DE SAUSSURE) . The split between these two taxa was already discussed before by Kojima, who considered them as separate species, but misidentified them (J. Kojima, 2001). The final decision in this study was based on analysis of morphology, colour pattern and genetic data, enabling the separation of two closely related and similar taxa.</p><p>Comments. This is the largest member of the  capensis -group, which seems to be geographically confined to South Africa and Namibia. The main features of females include elongated and straighter upes, horizontal or downward directing setae in the mid-section of the propodeal excavation and parallel-sided mandible; in addition to an overall darker and more diverse colour pattern, propodeum is always black. Taxonomic problems are very likely in separation from  R. antennata (DE SAUSSURE), especially in central and eastern parts of South Africa, where these two species are allopatric. Males are easy to separate based on the antennal morphology, the origin and shape of tyloids, and the terminal flagellomere shape.</p><p>Distribution. South Africa, Namibia. The distribution pattern of the entire  capensis -group is interesting, primarily reflecting a lack of substantial overlap. The only exception to this is  R. antennata (DE SAUSSURE), which seems to span a large region and therefore is in contact with many species. The remaining species seem to have much narrower distributions, in some cases very narrow, suggesting likely ecological competition between them.</p><p>Genetics. The use of the COI gene had shown an interesting and somewhat complex situation. Four separate lineages were identified, three neighbouring and a more distant fourth one. This result suggests a somewhat complex situation that did not closely follow the geographical distribution. Furthermore, there were only minor colour differences between specimens from these clusters, further adding to the complexity of this situation. Despite these differences, all clusters were retained as a single species due to the lack of reliable morphological features.</p><p>When the entire  capensis -group genetic data are analysed, three large clusters emerge, with two more lineages that consist of one or two species (Supplementary Figure 23). The first large cluster includes five species ( R. capensis DE SAUSSURE,  R. antennata DE SAUSSURE,  R. luculenta sp. nov.,  R. nubila sp. nov. and  R. tajiri sp. nov.). Shared morphological features are primarily seen in females, with the upward direction of setae of propodeal excavation, thinner mandibles, and slightly curved upes. Males do not seem to share morphological features, especially in comparison of  R. luculenta sp. nov. with the remaining members of this cluster; males of this species by far resemble  R. valentula sp. nov. Therefore, the genetic cluster membership seems to be primarily driven by female morphology, a previously reported finding for Palearctic  Polistes (Schmid-Egger, van Achterberg, Neumeyer, Moriniere, &amp; Schmidt, 2017) .</p><p>The second cluster corresponds to three newly described species,  R. valentula sp. nov.,  R. nigrocerasina sp. nov. and  R. retromaculata sp. nov. This cluster is characterized by substantial similarity in females (with limited morphological differences except the colour pattern), and minimal differences in males. The third cluster comprises four species, with  R. kitui sp. nov. having a more basal and separate membership, while three more species seem to be more closely related to one another;  R. novissima GIORDANI SOIKA,  R. macloutsie sp. nov. and  R. mosichi sp. nov. While  R. kitui sp. nov. seems to be a morphological outlier indeed (with female clypeus and propodeum morphology providing sufficient elements for reliable determination), the remaining three species share numerous morphological similarities that confirm their relatedness (weakly develop juxtamandibular lobe in females and elongated antenna in both sexes). Lastly, two clusters remain;  R. acuminata sp. nov. and  R. ophuzi sp. nov. share membership, which corresponds well with their morphology (deep juxtamandibular excavations in females; males are unknown). Finally, isolated membership remains for  R. makore sp. nov., which morphologically seems hard to compare, as it has features that cannot be easily attributed to any of these clusters, nor can it be aligned to any other species. Primarily, this is due to the strongly developed apical spot of the fore wing, weakly developed juxtamandibular lobes, elongated T1 and short AF2.</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/4F5987BAE821FFFDFF11FF7975BB9C95	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		MagnoliaPress via Plazi	Polašek, Ozren;Onah, Ikechukwu;Kehinde, Tope;Rojo, Veronica;Noort, Simon Van;Carpenter, James M.	Polašek, Ozren, Onah, Ikechukwu, Kehinde, Tope, Rojo, Veronica, Noort, Simon Van, Carpenter, James M. (2025): Revision of the mainland African species of the Old World social wasp genus Ropalidia Guérin-Méneville 1831 (Hymenoptera; Vespidae). Zootaxa 5626 (1): 1-142, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5626.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5626.1.1
4F5987BAE822FFFFFF11FF7977959A7E.text	4F5987BAE822FFFFFF11FF7977959A7E.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Ropalidia clepsydra Polasek 2025	<div><p>Ropalidia clepsydra Polašek sp. nov.</p><p>urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: C227B8A2-DCB0-4BC9-94AF-2672F6D9D176</p><p>Type specimens.   Holotype:  Solwezi, Zambia, 1♀ (OLM.1382)  .   Paratypes:  Cooperbelt,  Chingola, 25 km W, Zambia, 1♀ (OLM); Kaoma, Zambia, 2♀♀ (OLM); Kasama, Zambia, 1♀ (OLM ;   Mpita, 82 km NWW, Zambia, 2♀♀ (OLM); Mwinilunga, 150 km S, Zambia, 3♀♀ (OLM); Mwinilunga, 50 km E, Zambia, 1♀ (OLM); Serenje, SW, Zambia, 1♀ (OLM); Solwezi, 90 km NW, Zambia, 2♀♀ (OLM); Masanga, Karoi, Zimbabwe, 4♀♀ (OLM). The total number of examined specimens: 18♀♀  .</p><p>Diagnosis. Larger species characterized by coarse punctures of inner orbit and metapleuron, developed inferior and superior propodeal carina, giving propodeal excavation water clock contour, with two inversely stacked triangles.</p><p>Description. Female. Wing length: 9.8–11.6 mm. Colour. Basic colour brown-reddish or brown (Figure 85a). Yellow colouration usually confined to head, with thin and suffused yellow lines along the apical clypeal rim, inner eye margin, gena and mandible (Figure 34 bb). Some specimens have faint yellow line underneath pronotal carina. Mesosoma underside usually darker (Figure 85a). Tarsi ferruginous, even in melanic specimens (occasionally, terminal segment may be lighter). T1/S1 and T2/S2 brownish, in some specimens with faintly reddish posterior band at T2. Wings tinted yellow, stigma yellowish and transparent (Figure 85a). Antenna specifically coloured; in more lightly specimens completely ferruginous (Figure 44c), in melanic specimens distal segments darkened or even black dorsally (Figure 1 aa); notably, AF1–AF3 are always ferruginous dorsally. Interestingly, specimens with dorsally ferruginous antenna have similar colour ventrally, while those with dorsally darker antenna have yellowish underside. Four specimens from Zimbabwe have more xanthic appearance, with suffused yellow areas on pronotum and more developed posterior band on T2 (Figure 85b).</p><p>Head. Clypeus wider than long, with slightly curved upes and no distinguishable oculo-clypeal angle (Figure 34 bb). Clypeal surface coarsely punctate. Inner orbit with large and well-defined punctures even close to eye margin (Figure 44a; in contrast to similar species,  R. perovici sp. nov. has impunctate zone next to eye). Frons, vertex and tempora coarsely punctate; gena usually more minutely punctate, even more sparse and less defined towards occipital carina. Ocellar triangle smaller, acute forward or equidistant. Eye setae very short or absent (Figure 34 bb). Entire body covered by shorter whitish-yellow pubescence; clypeus, legs and metasoma with equally coloured, longer protruding setae. Scape about as long as AF1 or somewhat shorter, AF2 about 1.2 times as long as wide (Figure 34 bb).</p><p>Mesosoma. Pronotum, mesonotum and mesopleuron coarsely punctate; area lateral to parapsidal furrows with sparser punctures. Metapleuron shallowly and coarsely punctate (Figure 44b). Scutellum with median carina; proximal part black, distal brownish. Metanotum with posterior impunctate triangular area, usually without or with weakly developed median tooth. Propodeum provides sufficient determination criteria, with developed upper carina connected to inferior carina (Figure 21 aa). Overall appearance of propodeal excavation resembles two inverted triangles, where upper one (downwards directed) is longer, while lower one (upwards directed) is defined by inferior propodeal carina (Figure 21 aa). Propodeum strongly striate. Coxa II and III often punctate, but not as strongly as in  R. dondo sp. nov.</p><p>Metasoma. First metasomal segment similar to  R. guttatipennis (DE SAUSSURE), although slightly more globular, especially in larger specimens. Posterior part with intermediate-sized punctures, larger closer to T1 lamina. T2 elongated, with nearly two thirds of length parallel.</p><p>Male. Unknown.</p><p>Distribution. Zambia, Zimbabwe.</p><p>Etymology. From the Latin noun  clepsydra, used in apposition, refers to the shape of the propodeal excavation, which resembles a water clock (with a large upper downward-pointing triangle and an upward-pointing triangle below).</p><p>Similar species.  R. perovici sp. nov., which has a similar appearance, but differs in the punctures of inner orbit and metapleuron ( R. perovici sp. nov. has a less punctate inner orbit, with an impunctate zone next to eye and more scattered punctures of metapleuron). In addition, female antenna colour is different, with  R. clepsydra sp. nov. having distally darkened flagellomeres, while AF1–5 are commonly ferruginous; in contrast,  R. perovici sp. nov. commonly has AF1 darkened or black from above (sometimes it may also be ferruginous, but then AF2 is darkened or black), while AF3–12 are always darkened or black dorsally. Overall colour pattern may sometimes resemble  R. tomentosa (GERSTAECKER), separated based on the propodeum contour.</p><p>Genetic data.   Eight specimens were successfully genotyped for the COI gene, suggesting a somewhat diverse population, belonging to two BINs (BOLD: ADN0766 from Zambia, and BOLD: ADN8565 from Zimbabwe). 28s rDNA suggested a similarity to  R. guttatipennis (DE SAUSSURE) and other closely related species of this cluster of species  .</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/4F5987BAE822FFFFFF11FF7977959A7E	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		MagnoliaPress via Plazi	Polašek, Ozren;Onah, Ikechukwu;Kehinde, Tope;Rojo, Veronica;Noort, Simon Van;Carpenter, James M.	Polašek, Ozren, Onah, Ikechukwu, Kehinde, Tope, Rojo, Veronica, Noort, Simon Van, Carpenter, James M. (2025): Revision of the mainland African species of the Old World social wasp genus Ropalidia Guérin-Méneville 1831 (Hymenoptera; Vespidae). Zootaxa 5626 (1): 1-142, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5626.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5626.1.1
4F5987BAE823FFF8FF11FC78720A9D16.text	4F5987BAE823FFF8FF11FC78720A9D16.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Ropalidia copelandi Polasek 2025	<div><p>Ropalidia copelandi Polašek sp. nov.</p><p>urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 4D97FF7A-DFD2-4D0A-A840-F1C550A053B5</p><p>Type specimens.   Holotype:  Kasaala, Kenya (ICIPE.17)  .   Paratypes [81♀♀, 1♂.];  Ukasi hills, Kenya, 3♀♀ (ICIPE.14, ICIPE.14b, ICIPE.14c) ;   Timbwani beach, Mombasa, Kenya, 1♀ (SNMB35) ;   Voi (Tsavo), Kenya, 33 ♀♀ (OLM) ;   Mwingi, Kenya, 22♀♀ (OLM) ;   Caschei, Ethiopia, 3♀♀ (MSNV.095-7) ;   Baidoa, Somalia, 1♀ (MSNV.098) ;  Taita hills, Kenya, 4♀♀ (CAS);   Isioko, Kenya, 1♀ (CAS) ;   Korogwe, Tanzania, 3♀♀ (CAS) ;   Voi (Tsavo), Kenya, 1♂ (OLM.0152)  .   The total number of examined specimens: 82♀♀, 1♂  .</p><p>Diagnosis. Very lightly coloured species with numerous yellow markings on the body, including predominantly yellow pronotum, thick posterior yellow band on T2, and large yellow markings on scutellum and metanotum.</p><p>Description. Females. Wing length: 9.2–10.9 mm. Colour. Basal colour ferruginous, with plenty of yellow colour on the body (Figure 29a). Yellow areas on head include clypeus (rarely with bilateral ferruginous basal spot), proximal half of mandibles, most of frons (except two perpendicular ferruginous lines), large spot on interantennal area, gena on both external and internal surface and occasionally two small accessory patches lateral and behind posterior ocelli (Figure 30a). Yellow markings on the mesosoma include most of the pronotum (sometimes with bilateral dorsal remaining ferruginous area), large yellow spot on mesopleuron laterally, mesopleuron anteriorly, medial half of tegula, scutellum and metanotum yellow (Figure 86a). Coxa I almost entirely yellow, median half of anterior mesopleuron surface yellow, coxa II with postero-lateral quadrant yellow; femur and tibia I and II with variable yellow patches (Figure 86b). Metasoma with numerous yellow markings; posterior bands on T1–6 and S2–6 (Figure 29a); notably, females often have bilateral yellow triangular spots on S6. T2 with two additional yellow diamond-shaped spots that are often merged with posterior band (Figure 86a). Wings transparent, nervature brown, stigma yellow, apical spot greyish (Figure 29a). Antenna ferruginous above, yellowish underneath; scape yellow underneath, ferruginous above (Figure 30a).</p><p>Head. Clypeus conspicuously wider than long, upes curved, OCA present, but rather obtuse (Figure 30a). Clypeal punctures very weak, barely visible basally. Inner orbit with poorly defined, sparse punctures close to eye margin. Frons and vertex with poorly defined shallow punctures, tempora with more defined, gena with large, well-defined, shallow punctures. Posterior half of gena with less defined and sparse punctures. Gena slightly wider than eye. Ocellar triangle equidistant. Eye setae very short or absent. Scape about as long as AF1, AF2 about as long as wide or slightly wider.</p><p>Mesosoma. Mesosoma finely punctate; mesopleuron with smaller puncture sizes, more than one radius apart. Mesosoma covered by short yellowish pubescence. Punctures on mesonotum shallow, sparser lateral to parapsidal furrow. Metapleuron sparsely and shallowly punctate. Scutellum rounded, with weakly developed median carina, sometimes reduced to brown line that does not even protrude from scutellum surface. Metanotum with posterior impunctate area and somewhat developed median tooth (reduced in some specimens). Propodeum resembles  R. guttatipennis in general appearance; superior carina less developed (or occasionally almost missing); striations very fine, somewhat stronger on lateral surface. Inferior propodeal carina usually not developed (or barely visible as minute enlargement of one of terminal propodeal striae; Figure 86a).</p><p>Metasoma. Tergum 1 similar to  R. guttatipennis, but commonly slightly wider (Figure 86a); posterior edge with few larger puncta. T2 with parallel side and minimal or no posterior constriction (Figure 86a); T2/S2 suture usually shorter than half of the segment length. T2 lamella shorter, whitish or yellowish, with visible interdigitations and an uneven cut-out that is more excavated ventrally.</p><p>Males resemble females in colour pattern. Wing length: 8.6 mm. Colour. Face predominantly yellow, gena yellow; tempora, frons and vertex ferruginous (Figure 62a). Mesosoma similarly coloured to females, but with more yellow—entire anterior surface of mesopleuron yellow, merged with spot lateral on mesopleuron (Figure 86c). Coxa I and II yellow, III with yellow patched; femur I and II anteriorly yellow, femur III with yellow patches; tibia I and II with yellow patches (Figure 86c). All metasomal segments with yellow bands, except S7, which is ferruginous with bilateral yellow spots. Antenna similarly coloured to  R. guttatipennis (DE SAUSSURE): basal colour dorsally ferruginous, distal segments (AF5–AF10) blackened from above, terminal flagellomere bicolorous, proximally black, distally yellow (Figure 61a). Entire underside yellow, tyloids orange (Figure 61b).</p><p>Head. Clypeus broader than long, with strongly convex central surface. Upes curved, OCA not developed (Figure 62a). Clypeal punctures very weak, obscured by fine silvery pubescence and short protruding setae. Inner orbit with poorly defined, sparse punctures close to eye margin. Frons and vertex with poorly defined shallow punctures, tempora with more defined, gena with a few large, well-defined punctures. Gena about 0.8 times of eye width. Ocellar triangle equidistant. Eyes asetose (Figure 62a). Scape widened, slightly shorter than AF1, AF2 slightly wider than long (Figure 62a). Tyloid barely visible on AF1, but already very wide on AF2; their surface matt, and they occupy most of inner segment surface for AF2–AF10. Terminal flagellomere about 1.5 times as long as AF10, equally curved (Figure 61a).</p><p>Mesosoma. Tarsal I spur not developed.</p><p>Metasoma. S7 weakly concave (Figure 86c).</p><p>Distribution. Kenya; several specimens were also recorded in Ethiopia (three specimens), Tanzania (one specimen), and Somalia (one specimen).</p><p>Etymology. The name is the Latin genitive of the surname Copeland, and refers to Robert Copeland, from ICIPE in Nairobi, Kenya, who collected the holotype specimen, approved the first loan and provided critical support at the earliest stage of this revision.</p><p>Similar species. No other African species has a similar colour pattern, so determination is straightforward. The closest match may be  R. mangoflava sp. nov., which is endemic and does not present a problem in determination due to morphological and colour pattern differences.</p><p>Colour pattern. This species appears to be involved in Mullerian mimicry with an undescribed species of  Polistes from Somalia (Supplementary material).</p><p>Genetic data.   Three specimens were successfully genotyped, alongside four more obtained from the BOLD database (that originate from the same ICIPE collection). All specimens are genetically very homogenous, corresponding to a single COI cluster (BOLD: ACH0946). The use of 28s rDNA also supports the notion of a homogenous population, which is in both accounts within the broader sense of  guttatipennis cluster of species  .</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/4F5987BAE823FFF8FF11FC78720A9D16	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		MagnoliaPress via Plazi	Polašek, Ozren;Onah, Ikechukwu;Kehinde, Tope;Rojo, Veronica;Noort, Simon Van;Carpenter, James M.	Polašek, Ozren, Onah, Ikechukwu, Kehinde, Tope, Rojo, Veronica, Noort, Simon Van, Carpenter, James M. (2025): Revision of the mainland African species of the Old World social wasp genus Ropalidia Guérin-Méneville 1831 (Hymenoptera; Vespidae). Zootaxa 5626 (1): 1-142, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5626.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5626.1.1
4F5987BAE825FFFAFF11FBAA72699876.text	4F5987BAE825FFFAFF11FBAA72699876.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Ropalidia crassipunctata GIORDANI SOIKA 1981	<div><p>Ropalidia crassipunctata GIORDANI SOIKA 1981</p><p>Type material.   Ekododo, Equatorial Guinea, 1♀ [holotype ZSM-HYM-00769]. The original species description refers to two female specimens (Giordani Soika, 1981). In addition, three females and two males with the same labels (one with an additional smaller label marked as “No. 274”) were recovered from the MFNB, with one male among them, enabling the possibility to describe the male of this species  .</p><p>Comments. An interesting species of the  capensis -group, defined by coarsely punctate T2. This species also seems to show a relatively wide colour pattern variability, ranging from more than half of the body in yellow to nearly no yellow markings on the body (except the head), while at the same time with varying combinations of black and reddish colour.A very useful feature for separation from other species is thin gena in females (Figure 6a). Males are described here for the first time.</p><p>Males. Material examined.   Ekododo, Equatorial Guinea, 2♂♂ (MFNB.09, MFNB.10) ;   N’Gomo, Ogoue, Gabon, 1♂ (PA045)  .   The total number of examined specimens: 3♂♂  .</p><p>Description. Wing length 5.4–6.7 mm. Colour. Very variable; overall darker appearance. Clypeus entirely yellow, with brown or black basal spot (Figure 51a); mandible yellow with triangular basal brown or blackish spot. Gena and tempora with yellow markings anteriorly, posteriorll black or ferruginous, vertex black (Figure 51a). Mesosoma brown with variable reddish markings; mesonotum, mesopleuron and metapleuron black; pronotum, scutellum and metanotum usually reddish (sometimes with thin yellowish line underneath pronotal carina). Scutellum and metanotum with bilateral reddish or yellowish spots. All three coxa pairs yellow ventrally, brown dorsally. Femur and tibia coloured in ventro-dorsal gradient: ventrally ferruginous, dorsally brown or dark brown. Tarsi brown, terminal segment somewhat more lightly coloured. T1 same colour as propodeum, with posterior yellow-reddish line or remaining three patches (one dorsally and two laterally). T2 somewhat lighter brown basally, with wider posterior band (that can sometimes be thin, but always extends across entire T2/S2 circumference). Wings translucent, nervature and stigma brown. Antenna darkened or even black from above; scape and entire antennal flagellum yellow or yellowish underneath (Figure 51a).</p><p>Head. Clypeus wider than long with almost parallel sides (Figure 51a). Upes evenly curved, OCA weak (Figure 51a). Clypeus medio-basally with few intermediate-sized punctures, centrally impunctate, apically with less defined craters (Figure 51a). Frons, gena and tempora with large and shallow punctures; inner orbit impunctate (Figure 51a). Occipital carina almost straight, well developed. Ocellar triangle wider basally. Eye setae very short and sparse or completely absent. Scape at most about 1.5 times as wide as AF1 base width (Figure 51a), AF1 shorter than scape, AF2 about as wide as long. Tyloids not strongly developed, thin, shiny, and slightly projecting above flagellomere surface, originating at AF4 (Figure 51b). Tyloids evenly rounded and similarly sided. Terminal flagellomere short, beak-like, evenly curved, with well-developed tyloid along inner surface (Figure 51b).</p><p>Mesosoma. Mesosoma covered by large and shallow punctures; metapleuron finely and sparsely punctate. Mesonotum with sparser punctures, especially anteriorly (Figure 87a). Scutellum of quadratic shape, with rounded edges; median furrow developed, but not deep. Metanotum with large punctures, except posteriorly. Propodeum covered by fine striae and pubescence, upper carina and inferior propodeal carina weakly developed (similar to other species of  capensis -group). Tarsal I spur very weak and thin, without hyaline extension (Figure 87b).</p><p>Metasoma. T2 and S2 with very coarse and large puncture. Terminal sternum concave and shiny, with weakly defined punctures, especially laterally.</p><p>Distribution. Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, DR Congo, Republic of the Congo (deviation from the species description; the type series specimen label points to Ekododo, Cameroon, which was in the German Cameroon, and today it is in Equatorial Guinea).</p><p>Genetics. We did not attempt to sequence any of the specimens, as they were older than 30 years.</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/4F5987BAE825FFFAFF11FBAA72699876	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		MagnoliaPress via Plazi	Polašek, Ozren;Onah, Ikechukwu;Kehinde, Tope;Rojo, Veronica;Noort, Simon Van;Carpenter, James M.	Polašek, Ozren, Onah, Ikechukwu, Kehinde, Tope, Rojo, Veronica, Noort, Simon Van, Carpenter, James M. (2025): Revision of the mainland African species of the Old World social wasp genus Ropalidia Guérin-Méneville 1831 (Hymenoptera; Vespidae). Zootaxa 5626 (1): 1-142, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5626.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5626.1.1
4F5987BAE826FFE4FF11F94D76E19E36.text	4F5987BAE826FFE4FF11F94D76E19E36.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Ropalidia dondo Polasek 2025	<div><p>Ropalidia dondo Polašek sp. nov.</p><p>urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 6F21EBAE-6643-460B-8760-B5E3A1A840B0</p><p>Type specimens.   Holotype:  Dondo Forest, Mozambique, 1♀ (SAM. A007890)  .  Paratypes: Kasungu, Malawi, 1♀ (OLM);  Mlanje, Malawi, 3♀♀, 2♂♂ F (NHM);  Mulanje, Malawi, 1♀ (OLM);  Ntchisi, Malawi, 1♀ (OLM);   Catandica, 30 km NW, Mozambique, 1♀ (OLM) ;  Chimoio, Mozambique, 1♀ (OLM);  Chimoio, 40 km W, Mozambique, 1♀ (OLM);   Mancala,  30 km NW of Catandica, Mozambique, 1♀ (OLM) ;  Miombo, Gorongosa NP, Mozambique, 1♀ (SAM);  Gorongosa NP, Mozambique, 1♀ (SAM);  Sofala, Mozambique, 1♀ (OLM);   Sofala,  100 km N of Save, Mozambique, 1♀ (OLM) ;  Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, 1♀ (ZSM); Kahama,  Shinyanga, Tanzania,</p><p>4♀♀ (OLM);  Kagoma, Tanzania ,   1♀ (OLM);  Nungwi, Tanzania ,   1♂ (OLM);  Chibombo, Zambia ,   1♀ (OLM);  Chimola, 65 km S to Mpika, Zambia ,   1♀ (OLM);  Chingola-Solwezi, Zambia ,   2♀♀, 1♂ (OLM);  Kapiri Mposhi, 140 NE, Zambia ,   1♀ (OLM);  Kapiri Mposhi, 20 km S, Zambia ,   2♂♂ (OLM);  Luwingu, Zambia ,   1♀ (OLM);  Mkushi, Zambia ,   6♀♀ (OLM);  Mkushi env, E, Zambia ,   3♀♀ (OLM);  Serenje, SW, Zambia ,   1♀ (OLM);  Solwezi, Zambia ,   1♀ (OLM);  Solwezi, 150 km SW, Zambia ,   1♀ (OLM);  Solwezi, 80 km SSW, Zambia ,   3♀♀ (OLM).  The total number of examined specimens : 42♀♀, 6♂♂.</p><p>Diagnosis. Large species, characterized by punctate inner orbits, absent inferior propodeal carina, longer pubescence and basal brown colour, with strong colour-based cline (increasingly more yellow markings in Mozambique and Malawi, including two spots on pronotum, scutellum and a spot high on mesopleuron, intermediate pattern in Zambia, smaller yellow markings on these body parts, and nearly complete lack of yellow markings on mesosoma and metasoma in Tanzania). Males are recognized by bicolorous terminal flagellomere, somewhat longer than  R. guttatipennis (DE SAUSSURE), alongside longer pubescence and bilateral yellow markings on S7.</p><p>Description. Female. Wing length: 8.9–11.3 mm. Colour. Basal colour ferruginous-brown, with marked colour pattern cline; females colour pattern ranging from completely brown mesosoma and metasoma in Tanzania and Zambia (Figure 88a, b), gradual appearance of yellow markings on mesopleuron and scutellum, to population in Mozambique, which additionally has thick yellow line on pronotum and thick posterior yellow band on T2 (Figure 29 bb, Figure 46a). Clypeus entirely brown in Tanzania (sometimes even with black suffused area), further South with two thin apical lines that merge and create thicker yellow apical line in specimens from Mozambique (Figure 34 aa). Mandible colour follows this pattern, ranging from entirely brown to brown with large yellow basal spot. Gena brown or with small yellow spot under eye, vertex and tempora brown. Mesosoma brown; metapleuron sometimes darker. More xanthic colour pattern includes thick yellow line on pronotum, two large spots on scutellum, bilateral spot on mesopleuron and yellow markings on tegula (Figure 46a). Coxa I commonly without yellow markings, less frequently with suffused yellow margins, rarely with yellow spot. Metasoma basally brown, with posterior yellow band on T2 (sometimes reddish or completely reduced). Legs evenly brown, wings yellowish, with brown nervature, yellowish stigma and light brown apical spot. Antenna ferruginous or darkened from above, orange underneath (Figure 34 aa).</p><p>Head. Clypeus wider than long, similar in shape to  R. guttatipennis (DE SAUSSURE); upes rounded, OC angle weak (Figure 34 aa). Clypeal punctures intermediate in size, larger centrally, craters apically. Inner orbit punctate, but less coarsely than in  R. guttatipennis (DE SAUSSURE) . Frons punctures shallow, dense and intermediate in diameter. Tempora with intermediate-sized and well-defined punctures. Gena close to eye covered by sparse and very large punctures that almost completely dissipate towards posterior margin. Ocellar triangle acute forwards. Eye setae very short or absent. Entire head covered by yellowish-golden pubescence and longer protruding setae that are either straight or equally curved; setae length to ocellus diameter. Scape about as long as AF1, AF2 about 1.3–1.4 times as long as wide.</p><p>Mesosoma. Mesosoma covered by golden pubescence and setae of intermediate length; underlying pubescence on mesonotum denser. Punctures small and shallow, often obscured by pubescence. Mesonotum with intermediate-sized punctures, area lateral to parapsidal furrows with just slightly sparser punctures. Metapleuron with smaller and shallow punctures that can be absent centrally. Scutellum with developed median carina. Metanotum with moderately developed median tooth (weaker in specimens from Tanzania) and larger impunctate area. This area inversely proportional to yellow colour; it occupies no more than half of metanotum height in completely brown specimens from Tanzania (Figure 46b), while it can occupy entire metanotum height in specimens from Mozambique with more yellow colour markings; this is one of separation features for specimens that have similar colour pattern as  R. guttatipennis (DE SAUSSURE) . Propodeum with rounded sides, with weak or moderately developed upper carina, moderately developed striations and absent inferior propodeal carina, resembling  R. guttatipennis (DE SAUSSURE) . Coxa II and III punctate laterally, punctures small and scattered.</p><p>Metasoma. T1 wide and globular, with developed posterior constriction (Figure 88a, b). T2 mostly parallel-sided, for more than half of its length (Figure 88a). T2/S2 suture well developed, in some specimens visible as far as T2 lamella, but without indents in it. Lamella comparatively short, translucent and yellowish. Posterior T2 margin with obliquely cut out in relation to T2/S2 suture, giving it much longer dorsal than ventral surface. T2/S2 lamella without S2 side excavation, linear along its outer surface. Protruding setae on T2 longer, about as long as the base of hind tarsal I segment; this feature is very useful in separating from  R. guttatipennis (DE SAUSSURE) females.</p><p>Males resemble females in general colour patterns, including the North-South gradient (Figure 88a, b). Wing length: 9.2–11.0 mm. Colour. Face predominantly yellow, gena with thin yellow line along eye; remaining parts of gena, tempora, frons and vertex ferruginous (Figure 63a). Mandible yellow with basal bark brown or black triangular spot, useful in separation from  R. guttatipennis (DE SAUSSURE) males (Figure 63a). Mesosoma similarly coloured to females, but with more yellow—entire anterior surface of mesopleuron yellow (Figure 62 bb). Specimens from Tanzania can have black mesosoma underside. Coxa I and II yellow, femur I and II (sometimes and III) with yellow markings. Metasoma variable; T1 either without yellow markings or with bilateral remnants of posterior band, T2 with posterior band or without it, remaining segments in basal body colour. Scape, pedicel and AF1 ferruginous from above (AF1 distally darkened from above), remaining segments also darkened from above; underside centrally yellow, marginally orange, tyloids orange (Figure 63a).</p><p>Head. Morphologically hardly distinguishable from  R. guttatipennis (DE SAUSSURE) males. Clypeus broader than long, upes curved, no OCA (Figure 63a). Clypeal punctures basally coarse, apically less defined and wider. Inner orbit commonly with few well-defined puncta, barely visible in some specimens. Gena about 0.7–1.0 times of eye width. Ocellar triangle equidistant or acute forward. Eyes commonly asetose. Scape widened, shorter than AF1, AF2 slightly longer than wide (about 1.2 times as long as wide). Tyloids barely visible on AF1, gradually widening and reaching approximately full width at AF8; their surface matt. Terminal flagellomere elongated, with evenly curved sides (Figure 63b), in contrast to  R. guttatipennis (DE SAUSSURE), whose males have unevenly curved sides (Figure 63 bb).</p><p>Mesosoma. Tarsal I spur absent.</p><p>Metasoma. S7 strongly concave.</p><p>Similar species: No taxonomic problems are expected in southern populations (Mozambique and Malawi), where this species is allopatric to  R. guttatipennis (DE SAUSSURE) . In these regions, colour pattern alone is sufficient. However, specimens from Zambia and Tanzania may present certain taxonomic problems, where misidentification with  R. guttatipennis (DE SAUSSURE) is more likely.</p><p>Distribution. Zambia (50%), Mozambique (19%), Malawi (17%), Tanzania (15%).</p><p>Etymology. The holotype specimen was collected in the Dondo forest of Mozambique; the name is to be treated as a noun in apposition.</p><p>Genetics. Due to variable colour pattern and phenotypic uncertainties, 16 specimens were genotyped, supporting an interesting situation, with two branches with two lineages, attributing to four separate lineages (only three BINs were assigned).The first two lineages belong to specimens from Tanzania (BOLD:ADN4199 and BOLD:ADO4145). Both lineages are darker than the holotype, with even black mesosoma underside in a few of the examined specimens. Due to problems in separating this species from  R. guttatipennis (DE SAUSSURE), we retained these as  R. dondo sp. nov., and did not elevate this cluster to a different species. The remaining two lineages comprise the single specimen from Malawi (BIN not assigned) and all the other remaining specimens, from Zambia and Mozambique (BOLD: ADO1867). The 28S rDNA suggests that this species is closely related to  R. guttatipennis,  R. copelandi sp. nov. and  R. clepsydra sp. nov.</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/4F5987BAE826FFE4FF11F94D76E19E36	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		MagnoliaPress via Plazi	Polašek, Ozren;Onah, Ikechukwu;Kehinde, Tope;Rojo, Veronica;Noort, Simon Van;Carpenter, James M.	Polašek, Ozren, Onah, Ikechukwu, Kehinde, Tope, Rojo, Veronica, Noort, Simon Van, Carpenter, James M. (2025): Revision of the mainland African species of the Old World social wasp genus Ropalidia Guérin-Méneville 1831 (Hymenoptera; Vespidae). Zootaxa 5626 (1): 1-142, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5626.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5626.1.1
4F5987BAE838FFE6FF11F8A674D29A22.text	4F5987BAE838FFE6FF11F8A674D29A22.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Ropalidia excavata GIORDANI SOIKA. Juxtamandibular 1977	<div><p>Ropalidia excavata GIORDANI SOIKA 1977</p><p>Type material. In contrast to the species description, the examined holotype and one more paratype are males, very likely diploid males (Supplementary Figures 8 and 9). Nevertheless, the species-defining features are visible on the holotype, therefore, we retained its status.</p><p>Comments. A dark species with deep juxtamandibular excavations in females (Figure 22 bb), and a characteristic quadratic shape of propodeal excavation, covered by very fine striae (Figure 19 bb). In contrast to  R. salebrosa sp. nov.,  R. excavata GIORDANI SOIKA has pyriform and posteriorly punctate T1, which is comparatively wider distally than most mainland African  Ropalidia species (Figure 22 aa). Notably, the comparison of the type series with other examined specimens suggested a somewhat variable group in terms of clypeus morphology in females (ranging from very deep and developed juxtamandibular excavations to moderately developed), varying densities of forewing trichomes and, finally, even varying shape of T1. Males are described here for the first time.</p><p>Males.</p><p>Material examined.  La Maboke, Central African Republic, 1♂ (MNHN.22) .</p><p>Diagnosis. The defining characteristics of this species include wide and finely striate propodeal excavation, developed inferior carina, heavy wings trichome, coarsely punctate dorsal parts of mesosoma and obtuse terminal flagellomere in males.</p><p>Description. Wing length 7.8 mm. Colour. Basal colour dark brown to black (Figure 89a). Clypeus, inner orbit, interantennal area and lower part of eye sinus yellow (Figure 64a). Mandible yellow, gena lightly brown-reddish, tempora, frons and vertex dark brown to blackish (Figure 64a). Mesosoma dark brown, except following yellow areas: thin line underneath pronotal carina, anterior mesopleuron, coxa I–III; femora with diminishing size of anterior yellow patch; tibia light brown, tarsi darker to almost black; faint reddish-yellowish median posterior spot on metanotum (Figure 89a). Wings yellowish, nervature brown, apical spot light brown, stigma dark brown; trichome very dense (Figure 89a). Metasomal segments without yellow markings, T1 with posterior reddish band, T3–7 and S3–7 ferruginous (Figure 89a).</p><p>Head. Clypeus mildly convex, juxtamandibular lobe weak, apex subacute, lateral sides more or less parallel, upes evenly curved (Figure 64a). Basal half of clypeus sparsely and coarsely punctate. Entire clypeus covered by fine silvery setae of similar length basally and apically. Base of mandibles matt, with occasional poorly developed puncture. Gena and tempora punctate, punctures gradually shallowing close to occipital carina. Frons desnely punctate, punctures less than a radius apart. Ocellar triangle acute forward. AF1 longer than scape, AF2 about 1.6 times as long as wide. Tyloids hardly discernible; careful inspection reveals traces on AF1–AF3, those on AF4 conspicuous, flat and matt. Terminal flagellomere slightly elongated, flattened, tip rounded (Figure 64b).</p><p>Mesosoma. Pronotum and mesonotum with large, defined and coarse punctures; scutellum flattened, median carina not developed. Setae on propodeal excavation very fine (Figure 19 bb), as opposed to  R. baki sp. nov. and  R. kuficha sp. nov., which have longer and more developed setae (Figure 43a).</p><p>Metasoma. S7 weakly concave.</p><p>Male-female pairing strength: high; based on the similarity of the only examined specimen to a paratype; in addition, defining features include the morphology of scutellum, propodeal excavation and wing similarities.</p><p>Distribution. Species description and type series provide the initial distribution information (Giordani Soika, 1977), while a subsequent paper refers to newly described  R. kuficha sp. nov. (Henshaw, Woller-Skar, &amp; Pence, 2014), based on the examined specimens from AMNH and NMK. The distribution range includes Cameroon, Gabon, Central African Republic, Republic of the Congo, DR Congo and one specimen from Cote d’Ivoire (the last specimen has more striated propodeal excavation and more brownish overall appearance; in the absence of further specimens and more evidence, here we consider it to be an odd specimen of this species).</p><p>Similar species. Morphologically closest species is  R. salebrosa sp. nov., which is easily separated by the T1 and S1 morphology. There can be some problems in separation from  R. baki sp. nov. females; in these cases, the defining criteria include entirely black or brown tempora, inferior pronotal angle and the dorsal surface of T1 (reddish in  R. baki sp. nov.), black coxa I with an apical yellow spot in (entirely reddish in  R. baki sp. nov. females), and punctate inner orbit (impunctate in  R. baki sp. nov.). Females of  R. kuficha sp. nov. can be separated based on the propodeal excavation, which is broad, finely striated and covered by very fine pubescence in  R. excavata GIORDANI SOIKA, in contrast to distally narrowing propodeal excavation, covered by stronger striae and longer setae in  R. kuficha sp. nov. Other useful features include broader and more globular T1, which is about 0.5–0.6 times as wide as T2 (more slender in  R. kuficha sp. nov., about 0.4 times as wide as T2) and coxa I with yellow markings originating from the ventral tip (lateral margin in  R. kuficha sp. nov.). In addition,  R. excavata GIORDANI SOIKA has weak or undeveloped median scutellar carina, which is more developed in both  R. baki sp. nov. and  R. kuficha sp. nov. Some problems may arise in separating the d cluster of  R. guttatipennis (DE SAUSSURE), prevalent in Cameroun and Gabon; this suggests that these two species possibly occupy similar ecological niches, with strong selection pressure towards darker basal body colour. The defining features, in this case, include the shape of clypeus, with stronger juxtamandibular excavations (Figure 22 bb, Figure 64a), the shape of T1 (Figure 22 aa), and the shape of scutellum, which is flattened and without median carina in  R. excavata GIORDANI SOIKA (Figure 19 bb), while it is rounded with developed median carina in  R. guttatipennis (DE SAUSSURE) .</p><p>Genetics. All of the examined specimens were older than 30 years.</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/4F5987BAE838FFE6FF11F8A674D29A22	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		MagnoliaPress via Plazi	Polašek, Ozren;Onah, Ikechukwu;Kehinde, Tope;Rojo, Veronica;Noort, Simon Van;Carpenter, James M.	Polašek, Ozren, Onah, Ikechukwu, Kehinde, Tope, Rojo, Veronica, Noort, Simon Van, Carpenter, James M. (2025): Revision of the mainland African species of the Old World social wasp genus Ropalidia Guérin-Méneville 1831 (Hymenoptera; Vespidae). Zootaxa 5626 (1): 1-142, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5626.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5626.1.1
4F5987BAE83AFFE0FF11FBB173269F1E.text	4F5987BAE83AFFE0FF11FBB173269F1E.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Ropalidia fita Polasek 2025	<div><p>Ropalidia fita Polašek sp. nov.</p><p>urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 9CD7C613-F758-4522-BC2A-8C822E147A87</p><p>Type specimens.   Holotype:  Lumwana, Zambia, 1♀ (OLM.0570). Lumwana, Mwinilunga, Zambia, 1♀ (OLM.0570)  .   Paratypes:  Kamina, DR Congo, 8♀♀ (RMCA) ;   Upemba, DR Congo, 1♀ (CAS) ;   Vlongne, Mozambique, 1♀ (OLM) ;  Iringa, Tanzania, 1♀ (OLM);   Iringua, 100 km NE, Tanzania, 1♀ (OLM) ;   Mikindani, Tanzania, 1♂ (MFNB) ;   Mikindani, Tanzania, 1♀ (MFNB) ;   Chimola, Mpika, Zambia, 4♀♀ (OLM) ;   Chingola, 40 km W, Zambia, 1♂ (OLM) ;   Kapiri Mposhi, 60 km NW, Zambia, 1♀ (OLM) ;   Kasempa, Zambia, 1♀ (OLM) ;   Kasempa, Zambia, 1♀, 2♂♂ (OLM) ;   Kasempa, 27 km N, Zambia, 1♀ (OLM) ;   Kasempa, Mutumbwe, Zambia, 6♀♀, 1♂ (OLM) ;   Kitwe, 60 km SE, Zambia, 3♀♀, 2♂♂ (OLM) ;   Mkushi, Zambia, 1♀ (OLM) ;   Mwinilunga, Zambia, 2♀♀ (OLM) ;   Mwinilunga, 50 km E, Zambia, 7♀♀ (OLM) ;   Ntambu, Zambia, 3♀♀ (OLM) ;   Ntambu, Solwezi, Zambia, 6♀♀ (OLM) ;   Serenje, 100 km SW, Zambia, 3♀♀ (OLM) ;   Serenje, SW, Zambia, 1♀ (OLM) ;   Solwezi, Zambia, 2♀♀ (OLM) ;   Solwezi, 100 km W, Zambia, 2♀♀ (OLM) ;   Solwezi, 150 km SW, Zambia, 1♀ (OLM) ;   Solwezi, 27 km E, Zambia, 1♀ (OLM) ;   Solwezi, 60 km W, Zambia, 1♀ (OLM) ;   Solwezi, W, Zambia, 8♀♀ (OLM) ;   Sungala, Zambia, 1♀ (OLM) ;   Kenmaur, Zimbabwe, 1♀ (OLM) ;   Nyagui, Zimbabwe, 1♀ (OLM)  .</p><p>The total number of examined specimens: 71♀♀, 7♂♂.</p><p>Diagnosis. Large species, similar to  R. tomentosa (GERSTAECKER), characterized by long pubescence and black tarsi, posteriorly constricted and globular T1; in contrast to  R. tomentosa (GERSTAECKER), this species has yellowish wings and weakly developed apical spot, brown or ferruginous scape dorsally in females and brown tip of terminal flagellomeres in males.</p><p>Description. Females. Wing length 9.4–12.3 mm. Colour. Basic colour brown to dark brown (Figure 26 aa). Clypeus brown or dark brown, with thin apical yellow line (Figure 26 bb, Figure 90a). Inner orbit with suffused yellow line that can be reduced or almost missing in some specimens. Mandible brown, sometimes with darker basal triangular spot, commonly with suffused yellow antero-basal spot or patch (Figure 90a). Frons, tempora and gena brown; sometimes gena with smaller yellow area; some specimens have black area around ocelli, which occasionally extends to gena. Mesosoma with combinations of brown and ferruginous, or in melanic specimens black and brown areas; mesosoma rarely with yellow markings, metasoma never (Figure 25a). Pronotum brown with lighter area underneath pronotal carina, completely brown or even dark brown-reddish. Mesonotum, mesopleuron and metapleuron brown or dark brown, sometimes black (Figure 25a). Area lateral to parapsidal furrows often reddish, sometimes faintly yellow. Scutellum and metanotum brown (less commonly ferruginous), sometimes with light brown posterior line. Propodeum dark brown or almost black (Figure 25a). All three coxa pairs variably coloured, but commonly coxa pairs I and II lightly coloured, coxa III dark brown. Femur and tibia brown or ferruginous, tarsi distally black (Figure 26 aa; tarsi are brownish in one specimen from Tanzania). T1 and T2 ferruginous, brown or dark brown, remaining segments equally coloured or occasionally terminal two or three segments somewhat lighter (Figure 26 aa). Wings yellowish, nervature light brown, stigma light brown, apical spot less developed (Figure 26 aa). Scape, pedicel, and proximal third to half of AF1 ferruginous or brown, distal part of AF1 black, remaining flagellomeres black (Figure 26 bb, Figure 90a).</p><p>Head. Clypeus wider than long, with comparatively stronger projecting apex, slightly curved upes and almost continuous transition of upes to lateral sides (OCA not developed; Figure 90a). Clypeus covered by large and evenly spaced punctures, shallower in more xanthic specimens. Entire clypeus covered by whitish underlying pubescence and longer protruding setae, shorter basally and longer apically, but less so than in  R. tomentosa (GERSTAECKER), which has about twice longer apical setae. Frons with well-defined, intermediately sized and evenly spaced punctures, retained on tempora and gena, except for impunctate area close to occipital carina. Frons, tempora and gena covered by protruding whitish setae, longer than ocellus diameter and commonly bent at upper quarter (similarly shaped as those in Figure 25b). Occipital carina strong and sinuate, gena about as wide as eye. Ocelli equidistant or barely acute forwards. Eye setae sparse and of intermediate length. Scape shorter than AF1, pedicel longer than wide, AF2 about 1.3–1.6 times as long as wide (Figure 90a).</p><p>Mesosoma. Mesosoma covered by long protruding whitish-yellowish setae, especially on mesonotum, scutellum and metanotum. Punctures large, shallow and well-defined, across entire mesosoma, including mesonotum and median half of tegulae. Scutellar carina developed, reaching about half or slightly more of scutellar length. Scutellum covered by longer setae with bent tips (Figure 25b). Metanotum commonly with well-developed median tooth, poorly developed in some specimens. Posterior impunctate triangle of metanotum very small, usually does not reach more than half of metanotum height, comparatively narrower than in other species. Metapleuron with impunctate centre. Propodeum variable; superior carina moderately developed or completely missing, inferior propodeal carina ranging from almost completely missing to well-developed, but never with translucent rim. Propodeal excavation with rather dull margins and straight lateral surface (Figure 25a).</p><p>Metasoma. T1 very widened centrally, even more than in  R. tomentosa (GERSTAECKER), with stronger posterior constriction (Figure 25a). Both T1/S1 and T2/S2 covered by very long protruding setae, protruding well beyond T2 lamella. T1 and T2 finely punctate, punctures more than diameter apart. T2 lamella brownish, without T2/S2 notch. Lamellar cut-out very uneven, T2 longer than S2, in contrast to symmetric second contour in  R. tomentosa (GERSTAECKER) . T2 elongated, with over half of length parallel, in contrast to less than half of segment parallel in  R. tomentosa (GERSTAECKER) .</p><p>Males. Wing length: 9.6–11.9 mm. Colour. Clypeus yellow, inner orbit and interantennal area merged in yellow, thin line in eye sinus; mandible black-brown, with antero-basal yellow area (reduced in some specimens; Figure 68 aa). Gena usually with small yellow triangular area. Frons brown, area around ocelli dark brown to black. Mesosoma with dark brown basal colour; pronotum with reddish or even suffused yellow line underneath pronotal carina, which occupies inferior pronotal angle almost entirely in more lightly coloured specimens. Mesonotum dark brown, with ferruginous markings lateral to parapsidal furrows. Mesopleuron dark brown with yellow area anteriorly, reddish area superiorly. Scutellum and metanotum dark brown (sometimes with posterior reddish line), propodeum dark brown. Coxa I and II usually yellow, III less commonly. Scape, pedicel and AF1 proximally brown, distal part of AF1 and remaining flagellomeres black dorsally; terminal flagellomere with somewhat brownish tip (Figure 61 bb). Antennal underside completely yellow; margin between brown upper side and yellow underside of scape in frontal view wide and gradual (Figure 68 aa), in contrast to  R. tomentosa (GERSTAECKER), with sharp margin (Figure 68a).</p><p>Head. Clypeus pentagonal, shallowly punctate (Figure 68 aa); lateral clypeal margins angled (opposed to mainly parallel in  R. tomentosa GERSTAECKER). Frons with large and well-defined punctures; gena about half of eye width. Scape broadened, over two times wider than AF1 base (Figure 68 aa). AF1 longer than scape, AF2 1.4–1.9 times as long as wide. Tyloids originate at AF2 (or even AF1, as a thin hyaline line), with a maximum at AF7–9, where they occupy less than half of inner segment surface; their surfacematt. Terminal flagellomere long, tip obtuse, base with some pubescence (Figure 61 bb).</p><p>Mesosoma. Tarsal I spur not developed.</p><p>Metasoma. S7 weakly concave.</p><p>Male-female pairing strength: excellent, confirmed by the DNA analysis.</p><p>Nest. A single nest was observed on iNat (iNat:44166088). It has about 30 cells, with five female /workers, suggesting a comparatively smaller colony size. A few of the cells are longer than most, giving a nest somewhat uneven appearance. The cell wall is bicolored, with greyish and reddish layers. The opercula are greyish, with reddish nodules, without the free cell wall, and moderately arched above the cell margin. The nest is located on a twig.</p><p>Distribution. Most of the specimens originated from Zambia (86%), while several specimens were recorded from Zimbabwe, DR Congo, Tanzania and Mozambique.</p><p>Etymology. The name originates from Bemba, the commonest language in Zambia, denoting the root word for “dark”,  fita, referring to the overall dark pattern of body colour; the name is treated as indeclinable.</p><p>Similar species.  R. tomentosa (GERSTAECKER); the extent of morphological and colour differences in males and females usually does not present a determination problem. Some specimens of  R. fita sp. nov. may resemble  R. dondo sp. nov., in which case the defining features include pubescence (shorter in  R. dondo sp. nov.), while males are much easier to separate based on numerous morphological differences of clypeus and antenna shape. Some specimens may resemble  R. perovici sp. nov. in general colour pattern; these two species are easily separated based on frons setae, which are longer and apically bent in  R. fita sp. nov., while they are shorter and straight or evenly curved in  R. perovici sp. nov.</p><p>Genetics. As many as 11 specimens were genotyped, suggesting a single genetic cluster (BOLD: ADN 9069), corresponding to a rather narrow geographical distribution of the examined specimens. The reason for such a large number of genotyped specimens was their very high success rate (while other species have often failed to sequence multiple specimens, this one managed to provide the usable result for almost all of the attempts). In addition, the separation of this species was doubtful in relation to  R. dondo sp. nov. and  R. guttatipennis (DE SAUSSURE), alongside several specimens that were phenotypically similar to  R. tomentosa (GERSTAECKER) .</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/4F5987BAE83AFFE0FF11FBB173269F1E	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		MagnoliaPress via Plazi	Polašek, Ozren;Onah, Ikechukwu;Kehinde, Tope;Rojo, Veronica;Noort, Simon Van;Carpenter, James M.	Polašek, Ozren, Onah, Ikechukwu, Kehinde, Tope, Rojo, Veronica, Noort, Simon Van, Carpenter, James M. (2025): Revision of the mainland African species of the Old World social wasp genus Ropalidia Guérin-Méneville 1831 (Hymenoptera; Vespidae). Zootaxa 5626 (1): 1-142, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5626.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5626.1.1
4F5987BAE83DFFE2FF11FF79720D9AEA.text	4F5987BAE83DFFE2FF11FF79720D9AEA.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Ropalidia flavoscutellata Polasek 2025	<div><p>Ropalidia flavoscutellata Polašek sp. nov.</p><p>urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 2AE8E5B5-4650-4E42-A41D-E60CB8D6DBAB</p><p>Type specimens.   Holotype:  Uelleburg, Equatorial Guinea, 1♀ (MFNB.06)  .   Paratypes: 2♀♀ with the same collection data as the holotype (MFN);  Ruwensori Fuss, DR Congo ,   1♀ (MFNB);  Buamba, Uganda ,   1♀ (NHM);  Bambesa, DR Congo ,   1♀ (RMCA);  Likete, DR Congo ,   1♀ (RMCA);  Abumombazi, DR Congo ,   1♀ (RMCA);  Akoupe, DR Congo ,   2♀♀ (RMCA);  Yangambi, DR Congo ,  1♀ (RMCA); Congo Belge,   1♀ (NMW);  Eala, DR Congo ,   2♀♀, 1♂ (RMCA);  Dzanga-Sangha, Central African Republic ,   1♂ (AMNH _IZC_00179519); RÉserve  Spéciale de Forét Dense de Dzanga-Sangha, Central African Republic ,   1♂ (SAM. A026699);  Dzanga-Ndoki, Central African Republic ,   1♂ (AMNH _IZC_00179520);  Eala (Mbandaka), DR Congo ,   1♂ (OLM).  The total number of examined specimens : 15♀♀, 4♂♂.</p><p>Diagnosis. Defining features of this species include developed inferior propodeal carina with yellow rhomboid patch underneath, combined with weak superior propodeal carina and very trichose wings. In contrast to similar  R. haladaorum sp. nov., this species has more yellow markings on the body, including almost entirely yellow scutellum and generally weaker punctures, especially on metapleuron and gena.</p><p>Description. Female. Wing length: 9.4–11.6 mm. Colour. Basal colour brown, with numerous yellow markings: clypeus (except basal brown line or bilateral brown spots), large spot on mandible base or entire mandible, inner orbit, interantennal area, large spot on gena (Figure 24b); large dorso-medial spot on pronotum or entire pronotum, mesonotum dark brown (sometimes with two reddish lines that can be merged into quadratic area), one or two large yellow spots on mesopleuron (Figure 24a), large area on metapleuron or entire metapleuron, two merged spots on scutellum (scutellum reddish in one specimen) and two diamond-shaped yellow spots underneath inferior propodeal carina (Figure 23a). All three coxa pairs yellow, all three femora pairs with irregular yellow patches (Figure 91a). Tibia ferruginous, tarsi darker, terminal tarsal segment ferruginous. Wings yellowish, stigma brown, semi-transparent (Figure 23b). Metasoma with numerous yellow markings, including bilateral triangular spot on lateral side of T1 (merged medio-dorsally in one specimen), posterior band on T2 (sometimes be expanded into over half of tergum in yellow), posterior band on S2 (Figure 91a). Antenna dark brown from above, scape yellow underneath, flagellomeres orange underneath (Figure 24a).</p><p>Head. Clypeus pentagonal, with angled and almost straight lateral sides (oculo-clypeal angle very weak or missing; Figure 24b). Clypeus base with hardly discernible punctures that change into craters apically. Inner orbit with occasional poorly defined puncture, usually impunctate. Gena slightly thinner than eye (Figure 24a), mostly shiny, with only small and poorly defined punctures close to inferior eye margin; posterior half of gena almost entirely impunctate. Frons with large and shallow punctures; ocelli acute forward, eye setae very short. Scape about as long as AF1, AF2 1.3–1.4 times as long as wide.</p><p>Mesosoma. Mesosoma with large and shallow punctures, especially posterior half of mesopleuron. Mesonotum with large, poorly defined and very shallow punctures; area lateral to parapsidal furrows with slightly sparser punctures. Metapleuron impunctate. Scutellum rounded, elevated, with median carina that usually extends along its entire length. Metanotum with very large shiny impunctate area, and only some punctures in upper lateral angles; median tooth not developed. Propodeum regularly striate, upper carina weak (Figure 23a). Inferior propodeal carina triangular, well developed, and usually with hyaline rim (Figure 23a). Wings densely trichose, with numerous overlapping black or brown setae (Figure 23b).</p><p>Metasoma. T1 comparatively slender and elongated, with developed posterior constriction (Figure 91a). T2 bell-shaped, with minimal terminal constriction. T2/S2 suture comparatively underdeveloped, not reaching more than third of segment length; T2 lamella whitish or yellowish, semi-transparent.</p><p>Males. Wing length: 10.4–10.7 mm. Colour. More yellow than females; clypeus, inner orbit and interantennal area completely yellow; gena with large yellow spot, tempora, frons and vertex brown (Figure 59a). Mesosoma underside, including coxa I–III yellow (Figure 59a). Scutellum yellow, metanotum either with bilateral yellow spot or completely yellow.</p><p>Head. Clypeus pentagonal, with rounded angles and slightly protruding apex; upes curved, OC angle not developed; clypeus with minute punctures, hardly discernible underneath pubescence (Figure 60a). Gena about half of eye width, more coarsely punctate. Scape thicker than AF1, AF2 about 1.6–1.8 times as long as wide (Figure 59b). AF1–11 with progressively broader matt tyloids. Terminal flagellomere long, curved and with obtuse apex (Figure 59b).</p><p>Mesosoma. Tarsal I spur not developed.</p><p>Metasoma. S7 mildly concave.</p><p>Distribution. The Central African Republic, Equatorial Guinea, DR Congo, Uganda.</p><p>Etymology. The name is a combination of the Latin words flavus -a -um (“yellow”) and scutellum, with an adjectival ending, and refers to the yellow colour of the scutellum.</p><p>Similar species.  R. haladaorum sp. nov., separated by numerous differences listed in the key to species.</p><p>Genetics. One specimen was partly genotyped, but the sequence was insufficient for the BIN assignment.</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/4F5987BAE83DFFE2FF11FF79720D9AEA	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		MagnoliaPress via Plazi	Polašek, Ozren;Onah, Ikechukwu;Kehinde, Tope;Rojo, Veronica;Noort, Simon Van;Carpenter, James M.	Polašek, Ozren, Onah, Ikechukwu, Kehinde, Tope, Rojo, Veronica, Noort, Simon Van, Carpenter, James M. (2025): Revision of the mainland African species of the Old World social wasp genus Ropalidia Guérin-Méneville 1831 (Hymenoptera; Vespidae). Zootaxa 5626 (1): 1-142, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5626.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5626.1.1
4F5987BAE83EFFECFF11FA50743A9876.text	4F5987BAE83EFFECFF11FA50743A9876.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Ropalidia guttatipennis (DE SAUSSURE 1853) Bequaret 1918	<div><p>Ropalidia guttatipennis (DE SAUSSURE) 1853</p><p>Icaria guttatipennis DE SAUSSURE, 1853</p><p>Icaria politica DE SAUSSURE, 1854</p><p>Icaria tricinctella GRIBODO, 1895 [loc typ. Maputo, Mozambique], syn. nov.</p><p>Type material.  Four females from Senegal (deposited in MNHN) were treated as syntypes (J. M. Carpenter, 1999). Another specimen with a similar label type from MHNG was assigned a lectotype status, while the four MNHN specimens were assigned a status of paralectotypes (J. Kojima, 2001) .</p><p>Icaria politica DE SAUSSURE. The species description is partial, and de Saussure himself stated that “ I would not be surprised if this was a variety of  Icaria guttatipennis” (H. De Saussure, 1853), which was also mentioned by Bequaert (Bequaret, 1918). The examination of the types from NHM indeed supports this claim; the type is conspecific with  R. guttatipennis (DE SAUSSURE), specifically the TT cluster.</p><p>Icaria tricinctella GRIBODO. Gribodo described  Icaria tricinctella from Mozambique, which agrees with the redescription of  I. cincta by de Saussure; mainly yellow pronotum, large yellow spot on the mandible and thick yellow band on T2 (Gribodo, 1895). He also mentioned bicolorous terminal antennal article in males (Gribodo, 1895), which is reported in another of de Saussure’s papers (description of  R. cincta male) (H. De Saussure, 1863), but missing from Bequaert; Bequaert mentions this taxon as the synonym of  R. cincta (Bequaret, 1918) . The examination of the type photos of  Icaria tricinctella GRIBODO shows that it is conspecific with  R. guttatipennis (DE SAUSSURE), TT cluster.</p><p>Comments. This is the most variable African  Ropalidia species, which should be treated as a species complex based on the combination of the phenotypic and genetic differences. It is characterized by the moderately developed superior propodeal carina, distally narrowing propodeum and complete lack of or weakly developed inferior carina; in addition, females have strongly punctate inner orbit, while males have almost a clavate antenna and bicolorous terminal flagellomere dorsally. The scope of colour variation in females includes almost the entire scope of colour variation of the non-  capensis -group. Due to extreme variation, numerous problems may arise in the separation of several species.</p><p>Morphology and variation. The overall morphological features of this species are relatively constant, with moderate variability of the T1 and propodeum shape.We defined eight clusters of this species based on morphological, colour, and genetic features.</p><p>1) n colour cluster (  nominal form, Figure 92a). Holotype colour pattern, characterized by the reddish-brown basal colour with yellow colour confined to the head in females, or with a thin yellow line on pronotum and, at most, a thin yellow band on T2.  This cluster is common in the West to central Africa (Senegal to the Central African Republic).</p><p>2) tT cluster (Figure 92b).   This cluster is characterized by the thin yellow line on pronotum and a wider posterior yellow band on T2 (therefore, tT). Two specimens from this cluster have an extremely thick yellow band on T2, which occupies more than half of the entire segment surface, prompting  Giordani Soika to consider a new subspecies, which he labelled as  R. cincta ssp. villersi . Both specimens were labelled, but the name was not published, therefore remaining invalid. This cluster is present from Guinea  to Uganda.</p><p>3) TT cluster (Figure 92c). This cluster has the most yellow colour on the body, including a thick band on T2 with a predominantly yellow pronotum or a thick yellow line on the pronotum. This cluster is a predominant colour form in the South Africa and Mozambique, although it occurs across entire Sub-Saharan Africa. This form was commonly referred to as  R. cincta (LEPELETIER) in previous papers and museum collections.</p><p>4) b cluster (Figure 92d). This cluster is characterized by the dark brown or even black basal body (abbreviated from black), including an entirely black antenna from above, black tarsi and strong blackening of the anterior part of the fore wing. This cluster is common in Benin and Cameroon.</p><p>5) d cluster (Figure 92e). This is a likely cline of the b cluster towards South, with a mainly darker colour (abbreviated from the dark); specimens from this cluster have dark brown basal colour, but lightly coloured antenna, gena and tarsi. This cluster is predominant in Angola.</p><p>6) sm cluster (Figure 92f). Brown basal colour, but with interestingly coloured antenna; female antenna resemble males, as they are blackened from above, but terminal flagellomere is more lightly coloured dorsally, while males have entirely black antenna from above (in contrast to the nominal form, whose males have ferruginous scape-AF4 from above and blackened remaining segments).Also, the average size of these specimens is substantially smaller than the nominal form, up to nearly half of the body size of specimens from Senegal (abbreviated from smaller). This cluster also has a separate 28s rDNA sequence, suggesting that this might be the most distinctive cluster and could be regarded as a separate taxon if additional support is gained through larger-scale genetics analysis. This cluster is common from Cote d’Ivoire to Nigeria.</p><p>7) e cluster. This cluster is represented by a single examined specimen from Ethiopia. Morphologically, it is a mix of  R. guttatipennis (DE SAUSSURE) and  R. dondo sp. nov., with predominantly brown body colour and reduced yellow markings. Although the COI gene analysis suggests that this is a separate lineage more closely related to  R. dondo sp. nov. than  R. guttatipennis (DE SAUSSURE), the pubescence of this specimen is short and silvery, which is in direct opposition to  R. dondo sp. nov. In addition, the specimen shares the same 28s rDNA sequence as the main cluster of  R. guttatipennis (DE SAUSSURE) .</p><p>8) r cluster.   This is by far the most complex cluster, based on only four genetically verified and remote specimens (abbreviated from remote). The common feature of these specimens is their abundant yellow area (present in three of four specimens), but they seem to form a very distant genetic group, separated substantially from the nominal form (by at least a few more separate and sufficiently distinctive species). The main morphological problem of this cluster is the inconsistency of inner orbit punctures, since two specimens have punctures, one has poorly defined and barely visible punctures, while one specimen has impunctate inner orbit. Furthermore, not even the geographical information provides a consistent pattern, since the three mostly yellow specimens (that would resemble the TT cluster; equivalent to Figure 92c) are from Tanzania and Kenya, while the last specimen (with less yellow colour) is from the Gambia. Finally, one of these specimens (from the  Island of Pemba in Tanzania) has a different 28s rDNA sequence, suggesting a separate lineage from most other specimens of this species.  Arguably, this cluster might satisfy the support towards elevation to an independent species, but with the absence of males and more specimens, we retained it as  R. guttatipennis (DE SAUSSURE) .</p><p>Genetics. This species was the most frequently sequenced among all examined specimens; 35 sequences were used in the analysis. The results of the COI analysis had indicated numerous distinctive clusters, suggesting an extreme pattern of genetic variability of this species. In addition, we assigned two remote clusters to the same morphospecies; notably, this is not an ideal situation, but in the absence of more data, there was not enough support to resolve this issue any further. Comparing genetic data and observed colour patterns did not suggest any meaningful and reliable pattern. The most complicated situation in this entire diversity was the analysis of 28s rDNA, which was nearly wholly invariable for this entire cluster. Two small separate clusters were recorded, one belonging to the sm cluster, while the second belonged to an island population from Tanzania, within the r cluster (this sequence did not seem to represent a separate lineage aligned with the COI gene). One of the most interesting findings was the sympatric occurrence of multiple clusters in the same micro-location, suggesting a very complex population structure and possibly hybridization between different lineages.</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/4F5987BAE83EFFECFF11FA50743A9876	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		MagnoliaPress via Plazi	Polašek, Ozren;Onah, Ikechukwu;Kehinde, Tope;Rojo, Veronica;Noort, Simon Van;Carpenter, James M.	Polašek, Ozren, Onah, Ikechukwu, Kehinde, Tope, Rojo, Veronica, Noort, Simon Van, Carpenter, James M. (2025): Revision of the mainland African species of the Old World social wasp genus Ropalidia Guérin-Méneville 1831 (Hymenoptera; Vespidae). Zootaxa 5626 (1): 1-142, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5626.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5626.1.1
4F5987BAE831FFEEFF11FF79748A99CA.text	4F5987BAE831FFEEFF11FF79748A99CA.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Ropalidia haladaorum Polasek 2025	<div><p>Ropalidia haladaorum Polašek sp. nov.</p><p>urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: AF5FA431-8B57-492A-85E7-F1FAD5CC51F5</p><p>Type specimens.  Holotype: Bangui, Central African Republic, 1♀ (OLM.0259) .   Paratypes: Ogoue, Gabon, 1♀ (MNHN); Kibale NP, Uganda, 1♀ (ZFMK); Sangmelima, Cameroon, 1♀ (NHRS-HEVA0008441);  Mount Richard Moland, Guinea, 1♀ (MSNV);  Dzanga Ndoki, Central African Republic, 1♀ (AMNH _ IZC00179521);  Alcu, Equatorial Guinea, 1♂ (ETH).  The total number of examined specimens: 6♀♀, 1♂  .</p><p>Diagnosis. Intermediate-size species, with strongly developed, dorsally projecting inferior propodeal carina, coarse metapleuron punctures, and overall darker colour pattern than another similar species,  R. flavoscutellata sp. nov. Males are easily separated from other species by the shape of clypeus and terminal flagellomere.</p><p>Description. Females. Wing length 8.2–11.7 mm. Colour. Basic colour brown or dark brown (Figure 24 aa). Clypeus with large basal brown spot or completely light-brown (Figure 24 bb). Inner orbit with short, triangular yellow area, suffused with reddish area on frons (Figure 24 bb). Gena with small triangular yellow spot, missing in melanic specimens. Mandible with antero-basal yellow spot (Figure 24 bb). Pronotum brownish, sometimes with thin yellow line under pronotal carina (Figure 24 aa). Mesoscutum darker, brown or even blackish. Mesopleuron brown or black in varying amounts, without yellow markings (Figure 24 aa). Scutellum brown (sometimes with reddish posterior margin), metanotum dark brown or black. Propodeum with yellow rhomboid patch underneath inferior propodeal carina (Figure 93a). T1 brown, T2/S2 with thin posterior yellow band or completely ferruginous/ brown (Figure 24 aa). Coxa I (sometimes including II and III) with yellow markings (Figure 24 aa). Femur brown or dark brown, occasionally with reddish lines or even hints of yellow; distal end of femur commonly with yellowish or reddish area (Figure 24 aa). Tibia and tarsi variable: dark brown, brown or even lightly reddish (tarsi never black; Figure 24 aa). Antenna ferruginous, darkened or even black from above; ferruginous or orange-yellowish underneath (Figure 24 aa). Scape yellow or suffused yellowish underneath (Figure 24 bb). Wings translucent or yellowish, nervature and stigma brown, apical spot comparatively lighter (Figure 24 aa); trichome very dense, of intermediate or longer length (similar to Figure 23b).</p><p>Head. Clypeus as long as wide or slightly wider, upes very slightly curved, with weak or absent oculo-clypeal angle; clypeus resembles pentagonal shape (Figure 24 bb). Juxtamandibular lobe and excavation of intermediate size. Clypeus shallowly punctate basally, inner orbit impunctate, frons densely and shallowly punctate (Figure 24 bb). Gena comparatively thicker than in  R. flavoscutellata sp. nov., with shallow and poorly defined punctures, except closer to eye where punctures can be more defined. Upper two thirds of clypeus covered by silvery pubescence and longer yellowish setae towards clypeal apex. Frons covered by longer setae with somewhat bent tips, which are about as long as ocelli diameter. Eyes covered by short setae. Ocelli comparatively larger, forming acute angle forward. AF1 about as long as scape, AF2 1.5 times as long as wide (Figure 24 bb).</p><p>Mesosoma. Mesosoma as wide as head, coarsely and shallowly punctate. Parapsidal furrows conspicuously developed. Scutellum long, with rounded edges and slightly excavated posterior margin. Median carina of scutellum well developed, extends to more than half its length. Metanotum with superior crescent-shaped margin and larger impunctate triangle. Median tooth of metanotum absent. Scattered punctures on metapleuron anteriorly (Figure 93a; in contrast to  R. flavoscutellata sp. nov., with shiny metapleuron). Propodeum with strongly developed inferior carina, placed at angle in relation to superior carina direction. Superior propodeal carina usually absent, with just poorly defined ridge in its place. Lateral surface of propodeum covered by very weak and scarce punctures (Figure 93a). Mesosoma covered by comparatively shorter setae. Mesoscutum pubescence silvery or golden.</p><p>Metasoma. T1 pyriform and elongated, proximally impunctate, distally coarsely punctate. T2 elongated, with fine and shallow directional punctures. T2 lamella comparatively long, translucent (less so in melanic specimens). T2 lamella cut-out linear, with shallower depression medially on S2 side.</p><p>Males. Wing length 9.2 mm. Colour. Males have more yellow than females; most of frons and clypeus yellow, mandible and yellow line along eye margin (Figure 60 bb). Pronotum with thick yellow line underneath carina, frontal surface of mesopleuron yellow, all coxa yellow, all femora with yellow line on anterior surface, large yellow rhomboid spots underneath inferior propodeal carina; T1 with triangular yellow areas that almost meet medially and create yellow posterior band; T2 with complete and somewhat thicker yellow band that continues on S2 as thin line that nearly dissipates medially. Remaining metasomal segments lighter than basal colour. Antenna black from above, scape yellow underneath, flagellum orange-yellow underneath. Terminal flagellomere unicolorous (Figure 93b).</p><p>Head. Male clypeus pentagonal, with flattened apex, with obtuse or mildly acute tip (Figure 60a). Oculo-clypeal angle not developed (upes continues into lateral clypeal margin in nearly straight line). Clypeus surface somewhat convex, densely punctate. Gena about 0.7 times of eye width. Scape somewhat thicker, shorter than AF1, AF2 about 1.6 times as long as wide. Tyloids least developed of all African mainland  Ropalidia species, barely visible, except in terminal flagellomere. Terminal flagellomere elongated, curved, with mildly obtuse tip (Figure 93b).</p><p>Mesosoma. Tarsal I spur not developed.</p><p>Metasoma. S7 barely concave.</p><p>Distribution. Cameroon, Central African Republic, DR Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Guinea, Uganda, Kenya (photograph only).</p><p>Etymology. The name is the Latin plural genitive of the surname Halada, and refers to Milan and Jiri Halada, who substantially contributed to the OLM collection and collected the holotype specimen.</p><p>Similar species.  R. flavoscutellata sp. nov., with differences listed in the key.</p><p>Genetics. One specimen was successfully genotyped (BOLD:ADO6988). The position of this cluster suggests a rather deep lineage, sister to a large cluster comprising of  R. guttatipennis,  R. copelandi sp. nov.,  R. soikae sp. nov.,  R. dondo sp. nov. and  R. clepsydra sp. nov. 28s genotyping had failed.</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/4F5987BAE831FFEEFF11FF79748A99CA	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		MagnoliaPress via Plazi	Polašek, Ozren;Onah, Ikechukwu;Kehinde, Tope;Rojo, Veronica;Noort, Simon Van;Carpenter, James M.	Polašek, Ozren, Onah, Ikechukwu, Kehinde, Tope, Rojo, Veronica, Noort, Simon Van, Carpenter, James M. (2025): Revision of the mainland African species of the Old World social wasp genus Ropalidia Guérin-Méneville 1831 (Hymenoptera; Vespidae). Zootaxa 5626 (1): 1-142, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5626.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5626.1.1
4F5987BAE832FFEFFF11FA2672499E6E.text	4F5987BAE832FFEFFF11FA2672499E6E.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Ropalidia hastata Polasek 2025	<div><p>Ropalidia hastata Polašek sp. nov.</p><p>urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 1B1972A4-602A-4721-9F08-69E9C7CC2FE8</p><p>Type specimen.   Holotype:  Okahandja, Namibia, 1♂ (NHM.26). The total number of examined specimens: 1♂.</p><p>Diagnosis. Member of  capensis -group, characterized by specific clypeus shape, basal clypeal spot and antenna morphology; only one male was examined.</p><p>Description. Females are unknown. One possible explanation for the lack of females of this species is that this could be the male of  R. mosichi sp. nov. Although both taxa were recorded from Namibia, several morphological features are in disagreement (although some of these are difficult to assess, since the pubescence of the  R. hastata sp. nov. holotype is covered in greasy liquid and inaccessible). In addition, males of two closely related species,  R. novissima GIORDANI SOIKA and  R. macloutsie sp. nov., have differently shaped clypeus and antenna morphology, including tyloids and terminal flagellomere shape.</p><p>Male. Wing length 6.8 mm (approximated, since both fore wings are broken and missing tip). Colour. Basic colour dark brown and black (Figure 94a). Clypeus yellow with elongated dark brown basal spot (Figure 55a). Inner orbit entirely yellow to eye sinus, interantennal area with detached yellow spot. Mandible entirely yellow (Figure 55a). Gena brownish, anteriorly with yellow line along eye margin. Tempora reddish, vertex and frons dark brown to black. Mesosoma basally black, with reddish and yellow markings (Figure 94a). Yellow line underneath pronotal carina, coxa I and II (possibly even minute yellow mediobasal spot on coxa III), and two minute yellow spots on metanotum. Posterior and dorsal margin of pronotum with reddish line, scutellum suffused reddish, metanotum with posterior reddish line (Figure 94a). Legs brown. Wings mostly transparent (only some minor yellowish areas towards anterior margin), nervature and stigma brown (Figure 94a). Apical spot not developed. Metasoma brown, with thick yellow line on T2 and corresponding uneven line on S2 (thicker laterally and medially, and with bilateral excavation between these thicker parts). T3 and T4 with suffused yellow bands. Antenna ferruginous and slightly infuscated dorsally, yellowish underneath (Figure 94a).</p><p>Head. Clypeus with projecting and acute apex, slightly curved upes, wide inner orbit and narrower clypeal base (Figure 55a). Clypeal surface with sparse and intermediately sized punctures basally, which turn to smaller and less defined craters apically. Pubescence obstructed from view. Gena about 0.4 times as wide as eye. Mandible with parallel sides and flattened surface (as opposed to  R. nigrocerasina sp. nov. and  R. valentula sp. nov., whose males have more robust and basally strongly excavated and tortuous mandibles). Ocellar triangle wider basally. Scape not substantially widened (no more than 1.3 times as wide as AF1 base), AF1 about as long as scape, AF2 about 1.3 times as long as wide. Tyloids weak, originating on AF2, with traces of tyloid present on AF1 (Figure 55b). Tyloids low, thin and somewhat shiny, but always oriented in antero-posterior axis of flagellomere (Figure 55b). Distal segments have gradually stronger tyloids, which are most strongly developed in last two flagellomeres, but comparatively weaker than in  R. capensis (DE SAUSSURE), as only terminal few rise above flagellomere surface. Terminal flagellomere short, basally wide and beak-like, with medially facing acute tip and almost equally rounded lateral margin (Figure 55c).</p><p>Mesosoma and metasoma. Specimen in poor condition, preventing proper assessment of mesosoma and metasoma. Tarsal I spur very well developed. Postero-dorsal surface of pronotum with large, sparse and shallow punctures. T1 triangular and globular, T2 elongated and mostly parallel-sided. T2 lamella yellow, elongated, with obtuse T2/S2 notch and uneven cut-out (lamella narrower ventrally). T2 with shallow, sparse and regular punctures (Figure 94a).</p><p>Distribution: Namibia.</p><p>Etymology. From the Latin adjective hastatus -a -um (“with a spear”), referring to the elongated, spear-like spot on clypeus.</p><p>Similar species.  R. nigrocerasina sp. nov. and  R. valentula sp. nov. Clypeus shape and colour, with tyloid and terminal flagellomere shape are sufficient for separation from these species.</p><p>Genetics. Not attempted due to old age of the only examined specimen (which is in poor condition).</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/4F5987BAE832FFEFFF11FA2672499E6E	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		MagnoliaPress via Plazi	Polašek, Ozren;Onah, Ikechukwu;Kehinde, Tope;Rojo, Veronica;Noort, Simon Van;Carpenter, James M.	Polašek, Ozren, Onah, Ikechukwu, Kehinde, Tope, Rojo, Veronica, Noort, Simon Van, Carpenter, James M. (2025): Revision of the mainland African species of the Old World social wasp genus Ropalidia Guérin-Méneville 1831 (Hymenoptera; Vespidae). Zootaxa 5626 (1): 1-142, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5626.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5626.1.1
4F5987BAE834FFE9FF11FF7975D599CA.text	4F5987BAE834FFE9FF11FF7975D599CA.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Ropalidia irrequieta (KOHL 1906)	<div><p>Ropalidia irrequieta (KOHL 1906)</p><p>Icaria irrequieta KOHL 1906</p><p>Type material.  The species description is based on a single female from Ras Faltak, nowadays Yemen, deposited in NMW. The description fits the examined specimen well, including lacking a fore wing apical spot (Kohl, 1906)  .</p><p>Comments. This species is characterized by numerous yellow markings on the body (most notably on the pronotum; Figure 29 aa), lacking an apical spot of the fore wing, impunctate inner orbit in females and rather specific morphology in males.</p><p>This species shows an interesting skipping variability pattern, across three geographical regions where it occurs, namely (a) Yemen, (b) Oman and (c) mainland Africa (Eritrea, Djibouti, Somalia, Sudan). Specimens from Yemen are most melanic, with a reduced amount of yellow colour on the body (with just a thin apical line or in some specimens, almost entirely brown clypeus; Figure 37c). The same cluster is also characterized by the brown mesopleua, rarely with a smaller yellow spot. Specimens from the second cluster, from Oman, have more yellow colour on clypeus, inner orbit and mandible. This cluster frequently has a bilateral yellow spot on propodeum, yellow markings on coxa I, while remaining coxa pairs remain without those. The third cluster originates from mainland Africa, and it is characterized by the small yellow spot on mesopleuron, obligatory entirely yellow coxa I, postero-lateral yellow quadrant on coxa II (sometimes merged with the basal yellow spot, almost entirely occupying the coxa surface), thick band on T1, T2 and suffused yellow markings on the remaining terga. Also, this cluster often has more yellow on clypeus, most commonly with just a basally attached brown spot (Figure 37b), which is almost completely gone in some specimens, yielding nearly entirely yellow clypeus.</p><p>Some separation problems may arise in the mainland African species, namely  R. guttatipennis (DE SAUSSURE), while specimens from the Arabian Peninsula are easily separated from the only other known  Ropalidia species that occurs there,  R. aethiopica (DU BUYSSON) . Notably, reports of  R. cincta (LEPELETIER) from Djibouti, neighbouring countries and Yemen (Madl, 2018) are probably a misclassification, as already pointed out (James M. Carpenter &amp; Gadallah, 2020), and these records are very likely  R. irrequieta (KOHL) .</p><p>Males are described here for the first time.</p><p>Material examined.   Assab, Eritrea, 6♂♂ (HNHM); Gibdo, Djibouti, 2♂♂ (HNHM); Taiz, Yemen, 1♂ (HNHM); Wabi Zaid, Yemen, 1♂ (HNHM); The total number of examined specimens: 10♂♂  .</p><p>Diagnosis. This species is characterized by numerous yellow markings on basally brown body, unicolorous terminal flagellomere and the lack of apical spot of the fore wing.</p><p>Description. Wing length 7.7–9.1 mm. Colour. African mainland colour pattern (Figure 95a). Basal colour light brown, with yellow-whitish markings on clypeus, mandible, most of face (except frons), elongated yellow line on gena. Frons brown, area around ocelli black. Pronotum with thick yellow area, anterior surface of mesopleuron (commonly without lateral spot high on mesopleuron), all coxa pairs and all femora with yellow markings. Mesonotum, lateral surface of propodeum and sometimes even lateral surface of mesopleuron darker brown. Tarsi light brown. Antenna ferruginous from above, yellow-whitish underneath (Figure 95a). Arabian Peninsula colour pattern (Figure 95b): Basal colour brown, with yellow areas: clypeus (sometimes with faintly brownish spot centrally), mandible (except triangular brown basal area), interantennal area and inner orbit, minute spot on gena, thickened area on pronotum and commonly spot on mesopleuron. Frons and vertex uniformly brown. Anterior surface of mesopleuron entirely yellow, coxa pairs I and II (sometimes and III) with yellow markings, femur I and II (sometimes and III) with yellow patches anteriorly. Tarsi ferruginous or lightly brown. Antenna ferruginous from above, just slightly less dark underneath.</p><p>Head. Clypeus slightly wider than long or equally long as wide; upes curved, apex strongly projecting and acute (Figure 73a). Clypeus surface weakly convex, with shallow and poorly developed punctures, obscured by very fine silvery pubescence. Inner orbit can have few poorly defined puncta, commonly impunctate. Gena covered by large and shallow punctures; gena 0.8–1.0 times as wide as eye. Ocellar triangle acute forward. Eye setae very short and sparse in Arabian Peninsula, more abundant and longer in mainland African population. Scape shorter than AF1, AF2 1.2–1.4 times as long as wide (Figure 2b). Tyloids orange, shiny, originate as AF1 as thin line, become wider at AF4, and occupy more than half of inner surface of segment AF7–AF11. Terminal flagellomere curved and acute (Figure 47 aa; somewhat shorter in mainland Africa population).</p><p>Mesosoma. Mesosoma with large, shallow and dense punctures, especially mesonotum (Figure 37a); metapleuron with smaller and sparse punctures. Scutellum with long and developed median carina, metanotum with or without median tooth. Propodeum wide, especially lateral surface, with moderately developed upper carina, shallow excavation and moderately developed striae; inferior propodeal carina not developed at all. Tarsal I spur absent.</p><p>Metasoma. T1 rounded and broad in Arabian Peninsula, narrower in mainland Africa; in all cases, T1 has comparatively shorter stem than other African  Ropalidia . S7 flattened or mildly concave.</p><p>Male-female pairing strength: high; more than half of all examined males originate from nest series with confirmed females.</p><p>Distribution. Most of the 204 examined specimens originated from several nest series from Eritrea (62%), followed by specimens from Djibouti (28%), while the remaining specimens originated from Oman, Yemen, Sudan and Somalia. The distribution pattern seems to include Arabian Peninsula and neighbouring mainland African region, where it seems to be allopatric to  R. guttatipennis (DE SAUSSURE) .</p><p>Genetics.   After numerous attempts, three specimens were successfully genotyped for the COI gene, suggesting a basal lineage close to the  R. puncta-aethiopica complex and  R. nigrofemorata (CAMERON) . All three specimens belong to the identical BIN (BOLD: ADR5497)  .</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/4F5987BAE834FFE9FF11FF7975D599CA	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		MagnoliaPress via Plazi	Polašek, Ozren;Onah, Ikechukwu;Kehinde, Tope;Rojo, Veronica;Noort, Simon Van;Carpenter, James M.	Polašek, Ozren, Onah, Ikechukwu, Kehinde, Tope, Rojo, Veronica, Noort, Simon Van, Carpenter, James M. (2025): Revision of the mainland African species of the Old World social wasp genus Ropalidia Guérin-Méneville 1831 (Hymenoptera; Vespidae). Zootaxa 5626 (1): 1-142, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5626.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5626.1.1
4F5987BAE835FFEBFF11FB0D76CF9A06.text	4F5987BAE835FFEBFF11FB0D76CF9A06.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Ropalidia kitui Polasek 2025	<div><p>Ropalidia kitui Polašek sp. nov.</p><p>urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: CE0735DC-CFA0-4DCA-AB34-C44A4EF176C4</p><p>Type specimens.   Holotype:  Mwingi, Kenya, 1♀ (OLM.0273)  .   Paratypes:  Nguni, Kenya (OLM); Voi, Kenya (OLM). The total number of examined specimens: 4♀♀  .</p><p>Diagnosis. Member of  capensis -group, easily separated from other species by weakly developed punctures, continuous yellow line across metanotum, pentagonal female clypeus and specific triangular excavation on propodeum just above valvula.</p><p>Description. Females. Wing length 6.4–8.2 mm. Colour. Basic colour brown or reddish-brown. Yellow areas include clypeus (except rhomboid or triangular basal brown spot), lines along inner eye margin, interantennal area, mandible (except central lightly brown or brown spot), gena (sometimes extending further and including tempora; Figure 5b). Yellow markings also include a thickened line underneath pronotal carina and variable patches on mesopleuron (Figure 96a, b). Mesonotum dark brown or black, with two reddish lines (Figure 96b). Tegula with postero(-medial) yellow area. Xanthic specimens can have two lateral spots on scutellum, while commonly scutellum is reddish-brown. Broad yellow line on anterior margin of metanotum (Figure 5a) is useful in separation from  R. tajiri sp. nov. (yellow line on posterior margin of metanotum). All three coxa pairs with yellow marks, femur I–II (or even I–III) with long yellow line on their infero-lateral edge, sometimes broken down into series of yellow spots that form line (Figure 96a). T1 always with yellow markings, either forming complete posterior line or reduced to two small lateral yellow spots. T2 and 3 (sometimes and 4) with a posterior yellow line, S2 (sometimes also 3) with either complete yellow line or reduced to two lateral yellow spots (Figure 96a). More lightly coloured specimens can have two lateral suffused yellow spots on basal part of T2, common in Asian and Malagasy species, and virtually absent in other African mainland species. Antenna darkly ferruginous, tinted darker towards distal parts, with darkest area on segments 9–11 (Figure 96a). Wings transparent, nervature brown, stigma dark brown and opaque, apical spot absent (Figure 96b).</p><p>Head. Clypeus with narrow base and discrete inter-ocular angle, giving it overall pentagonal shape; clypeus about as long as broad or somewhat longer (Figure 5b). Clypeus base nearly impunctate (rarely with a few poorly defined punctures), apex with poorly defined craters. Entire clypeus surface covered by short silvery-golden pubescence, apical third with somewhat longer setae. Inner orbit impunctate, covered by very short silvery pubescence; similar pubescence extends onto frons, which also bears longer golden setae with bent tips. Frons and vertex covered by minute, scarce and shallow punctures, more than a radius apart. Tempora and gena thin; gena no more than 0.6 times as wide as eye); gena with scarce, small and poorly defined punctures (Figure 96a). Occipital carina developed, minimally sinuate or not sinuate at all. Ocellar triangle with substantially wider base. Eyes covered by very short setae or entirely asetose. Scape about as long as pedicel and AF1 together; pedicel 1.5 times as long as wide, AF2 about as long as wide.</p><p>Mesosoma. Mesosoma covered by short golden pubescence (Figure 5a). Punctures on mesosoma small, shallow and often obscured by pubescence. Parapsidal furrows developed, punctures sparser. Scutellum flattened, without median carina. Metanotum with very weak punctures, barely discernible under pubescence (Figure 5a). Propodeum with broad and deep excavation, with moderately developed inferior propodeal carina; this species has strongest inferior propodeal carina in entire  capensis -group. Triangular excavation at the lowest section of propodeal excavation is specific for this species (Figure 5a). Wings translucent, trichome very short; stigma and nervature brown (Figure 96b).</p><p>Metasoma. T1 triangular and rounded (Figure 96b); impunctate, except some shallow distal punctures. T2 long, with long parallel contour and minimal narrowing towards lamella. T2/S2 suture strongly developed, commonly visible along entire segment length (Figure 96a). T2 lamellar notch visible and obtuse. T2 lamella brown or dark brown. T2 covered by shallow regular punctures, which have somewhat sparser pattern on S2. T2 covered by short yellowish setae, which do not protrude beyond lamella.</p><p>Male unknown.</p><p>Distribution: South-Eastern Kenya.</p><p>Etymology. The holotype and two paratypes were collected in the Kitui county of Kenya; the name is to be treated as a noun in apposition.</p><p>Similar species: None of the African  Ropalidia mainland species has a propodeal triangular excavation, making this an excellent diagnostic feature.</p><p>Genetics.  Two specimens were successfully genotyped, with a single BIN cluster (BOLD: ADN 6868) and a relatively basal position .</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/4F5987BAE835FFEBFF11FB0D76CF9A06	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		MagnoliaPress via Plazi	Polašek, Ozren;Onah, Ikechukwu;Kehinde, Tope;Rojo, Veronica;Noort, Simon Van;Carpenter, James M.	Polašek, Ozren, Onah, Ikechukwu, Kehinde, Tope, Rojo, Veronica, Noort, Simon Van, Carpenter, James M. (2025): Revision of the mainland African species of the Old World social wasp genus Ropalidia Guérin-Méneville 1831 (Hymenoptera; Vespidae). Zootaxa 5626 (1): 1-142, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5626.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5626.1.1
4F5987BAE837FFD5FF11FE58749B985A.text	4F5987BAE837FFD5FF11FE58749B985A.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Ropalidia kuficha Polasek 2025	<div><p>Ropalidia kuficha Polašek sp. nov.</p><p>urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: CA30B833-AC33-4B8F-A1D9-8806FAA8F4F9</p><p>Type specimens. Dimonika, Congo,  Republic of the  Congo, 1♀ (MSNV);  Doli lodge, Central African Republic, 1♂ (AMNH);  Congo Belge, DR Congo, 1♀ (NMW);  Eala, DR Congo, 2♀♀, 1♂ (RMCA);  Irangi Luhoho, DR Congo, 1♂ (CAS);  Leopoldville, DR Congo, 1♀ (RMCA);  Lokandu, DR Congo, 1♀ (RMCA);  Sankuru, DR Congo, 1♀ (RMCA);  Stanleyville, DR Congo, 3♂♂ (RMCA);  Ubangi, DR Congo, 1♀ (MNHN);  Gomo, Gabon, 1♀ (MNHN);  Petit-Okano, Gabon, 3♀♀ (MSNV);  Talagouga, Gabon, 1♀ (MNHN);  Nyanza, Kakamega, Kenya, 1♀ (AMNH);  Brazzaville, Republic of the Congo, 7♀♀ (MNHN);  Dimonika, Congo, Republic of the Congo, 2♀♀, 2♂♂ (MNHN);  Pounga Matin, Republic of the Congo, 1♀ (MNHN);  Kintele, Congo,  Republic of the Congo, 1♀ (MSNV);  Tero forest, Uganda, 1♀ (NHM).  The total number of examined specimens: 25♀♀, 9♂♂  .</p><p>Diagnosis. This species is characterized by basally blackish or brownish body colour, with thin yellow markings in females, posteriorly narrowing propodeum with developed inferior propodeal carina and strong lateral striations of propodeum, and comparatively more projecting clypeus apex in males.</p><p>Description. Female. Wing length 8.6–9.7 mm. Colour. Basal colour dark brown, almost black (Figure 43a); three specimens from Kenya and one from Cote d’Ivoire have more brownish basal colour (Figure 45 aa). Yellow areas include thin apical yellow line on clypeus (sometimes broken medially), inner orbit and antero-basal yellow spot on mandible (Figure 43b). Clypeus sometimes with lateral or basal yellowish-reddish areas, in most lightly coloured specimens with two accessory brownish central spots. Frons, gena and tempora brown or brownish (Figure 43a, Figure 44 aa). Mesosoma dark brown, except thin yellow line underneath pronotal carina (Figure 43a), and occasionaly yellow markings on coxa I (Figure 97a). Some specimens can have ventral third of coxa I entirely yellow, while very xanthic specimens from Kenya have entire coxa I yellow and smaller markings on coxa II (Figure 45 aa). Legs dark brown, tarsi brown or even black. First two metasomal segments match basal body colour (T2 and S2 sometimes with thin terminal yellow band), T3–6 ferruginous (Figure 97b). Wings transparent, apical spot grey to dark grey, stigma yellowish, semi-transparent, and commonly darkened proximal third. Antenna dorsally black, terminal few flagellomeres reddish ventrally, or yellowish in very xanthic specimens (Figure 97a).</p><p>Head. Clypeus about as long as wide, convex and with projecting subacute apex; upes slightly curved, oculo-clypeal angle weak or missing (Figure 43b). Clypeus coarsely punctate basally and centrally, which turns into shallow craters towards apex. Inner orbit punctate, punctures large and shallow. Gena about as wide as eye, occipital carina well developed. Anterior half of gena with shallow and large punctures, that diminishes towards and converts into poorly defined punctures near occipital carina. Frons covered by yellowish-white pubescence and equally coloured straight protruding setae, about as long as ocellar diameter. Ocellar triangle acute forwards. Eyes covered by sparse intermediate setae (Figure 43b). Scape about as long as AF1, AF2 1.4–1.5 times as long as wide.</p><p>Mesosoma. Mesosoma covered by whitish-golden pubescence and longer protruding setae. Pronotum punctures coarse, large and shallow, less than a diameter apart. Mesonotum shallowly punctate. Scutellum rectangular, more coarsely punctate (Figure 43a). Median carina of scutellum developed, usually reaches more than half of scutellar length (Figure 43a). Metanotum covered by larger and shallow punctures, posterior shiny triangle variable, ranging from entire metanotum height to only occupying posterior half. Metapleuron with large and shallow punctures, especially anteriorly (central part frequently impunctate; specimens from Kenya have weaker punctures). Propodeum posteriorly narrowing towards valvula (Figure 43a). Superior propodeal carina more developed. Propodeal excavation shallow, narrowing distally, covered by intermediate or weak regular striae. Inferior propodeal carina always developed (Figure 43a).</p><p>Metasoma. T1 pyriform, with longer posterior half and stronger dorsal depression (Figure 97b). T2 with shallow, intermediate and dense directional punctures; T2/S2 suture visible up to third of total segment length. T2 lamella of intermediate length, brownish and semi-translucent (Figure 97b).</p><p>Males resemble females, but have more yellow markings. Wing length: 8.4–9.1 mm. Colour. Basal colour dark brown to almost black. Clypeus and mandible entirely yellow, inner orbit to scape merged in yellow, smaller area on gena (rest of gena brownish; Figure 72b), pronotum with thin yellow line underneath carina (Figure 72a), coxa I and II completely yellow, coxa III variable (commonly brown or dark brown, sometimes with smaller yellow patch). Anterior surface of femur I and II yellow, femur III commonly with smaller yellow patches. Tibia brown, tarsi dark brown. Antenna black from above (sometimes scape and pedicel can be dark brown); all flagellomeres yellow(- greyish) from underneath, occasionally few distal segments can be orange.</p><p>Head. Male clypeus broader than long, with short upes; apex projecting, with sub-acute tip; basal half of clypeus coarsely and shallowly punctate, obscured by dense underlying of silvery pubescence and some longer protruding setae (Figure 72b). Gena about 0.6 times as wide as eye, with large and shallow punctures that dissipate close to occipital carina. Mandible base with few scattered puncta. Scape not widened strongly (Figure 72b), shorter than AF1. AF2 about 1.6–1.7 times as long as wide. Tyloids visible along entire length of AF1 as thin line, gradually widened at AF2 and more distal flagellomeres; tyloid surface shiny (Figure 72c). Terminal flagellomere slightly elongated, evenly curved, tip obtuse.</p><p>Mesosoma. Tarsal I spur not developed.</p><p>Metasoma. Terminal sternum flattened.</p><p>Distribution. Republic of the Congo (52% of examined specimens), Gabon (19%), Kenya (11%), Cote d’Ivoire, DR Congo, Central African Republic, Uganda.</p><p>Etymology. The name comes from the Swahili verb  kuficha (“to hide”), and refers to the obscure nature of this taxon and the difficulties in its separation from a few similar taxa; the name is treated as indeclinable.</p><p>Similar species. Similarities may arise compared to  R. aethiopica (DU BUYSSON), separated by the lack of the inner orbit punctures in females. Males of  R. aethiopica (DU BUYSSON) can be separated by the more projecting clypeal apex (Figure 72b), and longer setae on the clypeus and mesosoma. Some difficulties may arise in separating females from the darker clusters of  R. guttatipennis (DE SAUSSURE) . A useful feature, in this case, is the presence of inferior propodeal carina, which are virtually absent in  R. guttatipennis (DE SAUSSURE) . Problems may arise in separation from  R. baki sp. nov.; colour is enough in these cases, since yellow markings on mesosoma and metasoma are absent in  R. baki sp. nov. Finally, most problems may arise in separation from  R. excavata GIORDANI SOIKA. The primary feature in this comparison is the propodeum excavation shape. However, this feature may be variable, and therefore not reliable. In these instances, several more features may be used.  R. kuficha sp. nov. has a more elevated scutellum surface and developed median carina (Figure 97c). In contrast, the scutellum is flattened and without median carina in  R. excavata GIORDANI SOIKA. Juxtamandibular excavation in females is much stronger in  R. excavata GIORDANI SOIKA, compared to  R. kuficha n. However, this feature does not seem to be discriminative and reliable enough in all the examined specimens.  R. excavata GIORDANI SOIKA has broader and more globular T1, while  R. kuficha sp. nov. has it in narrower; finally, while  R. excavata GIORDANI SOIKA has very short or absent eye setae,  R. kuficha sp. nov. has medium eye setae length (Figure 43b). Coxa colour is also useful in separation from  R. excavata GIORDANI SOIKA; females of that species tend to have larger yellow spot on coxa I, which originates from ventral margin and occupies varying amounts of coxa I. In contrast,  R. kuficha sp. nov. tends to have thin yellow line on outer coxa margin (Figure 97a).</p><p>Genetics. Not attempted due to the older age of the examined specimens.</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/4F5987BAE837FFD5FF11FE58749B985A	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		MagnoliaPress via Plazi	Polašek, Ozren;Onah, Ikechukwu;Kehinde, Tope;Rojo, Veronica;Noort, Simon Van;Carpenter, James M.	Polašek, Ozren, Onah, Ikechukwu, Kehinde, Tope, Rojo, Veronica, Noort, Simon Van, Carpenter, James M. (2025): Revision of the mainland African species of the Old World social wasp genus Ropalidia Guérin-Méneville 1831 (Hymenoptera; Vespidae). Zootaxa 5626 (1): 1-142, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5626.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5626.1.1
4F5987BAE809FFD6FF11FC6473D19D6A.text	4F5987BAE809FFD6FF11FC6473D19D6A.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Ropalidia luculenta Polasek 2025	<div><p>Ropalidia luculenta Polašek sp. nov.</p><p>urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 10680B24-8544-446A-8F01-AD40D5357CED</p><p>Type specimens.   Holotype:  Voi, Kenya, 1♀ (OLM.0034)  .  Paratypes: all with same collection information, 6♀♀ and 1♂ (OLM). The total number of examined specimens: 7♀♀, 1♂ .</p><p>Diagnosis. A member of the  capensis -group, easily distinguishable from all other species by numerous yellow markings on body, wide triangular T1 and lacking fore leg tarsal spur in males.</p><p>Diagnosis. Females. Wing length 6.3–6.9 mm. Colour. Basic colour ferruginous, with substantial amount of yellow markings. Clypeus completely yellow or yellow with basal brown suffused central spot; more melanic specimens have larger longitudinally extended spot (Figure 4a). Thick yellow lines along eye sinuses often in conflux with yellow on interantennal area, mandible (entirely yellow or yellow with central brown spot), thick yellow spot on gena and thin line on tempora (merged with yellow on gena in xanthic specimens; Figure 4c). Mesosoma with numerous yellow markings: pronotum predominantly yellow (commonly with small postero-dorsal brown area or thick frontal line that originates underneath pronotal carina and extends posteriorly; Figure 4b, c). Mesoscutum darker-brown, with two or four ferruginous longitudinal lines; lateral side of mesosoma commonly with yellow spot on upper mesopleuron. Tegula yellow, with just small postero-lateral ferruginous area (Figure 4b). Both scutellum and metanotum with two yellow spots; these spots never show signs of conflux, even in very xanthic specimens (Figure 4b). Propodeum ferruginous, without yellow markings in all examined specimens. Coxa with yellow marks, femur with long yellow lines, in melanic reduced to faint yellow spot on femur III (while those on femur I and II are retained; Figure 4c). T1 with wide posterior yellow band, T2–7 with posterior bands, S2–5(6) with thinner yellow band, sometimes broken down into several yellow patches along posterior margin. Antenna ferruginous-orange, tinted darker towards distal parts, with darkest area in AF7–AF9; scape yellow underneath (Figure 4a, c).</p><p>Head. Clypeus about as long as broad, with convex surface, evenly curved upes, protruding apex and well developed juxtamandibular excavation (Figure 4a); shape of clypeus mostly resembles females of  R. antennata (DE SAUSSURE) . Clypeus with poorly defined punctures, laterally impunctate, covered by very short pubescence and scattered protruding whitish-yellowish setae, longer and denser towards apex. Inner orbit impunctate (Figure 4a). Frons with intermediate and spaced punctures, similar to tempora, vertex with gradually diminishing punctures evanescing towards occipital carina. Gena shallowly punctate, posteriorly impunctate and shiny. Frons, tempora and gena covered by short setae of equal length. Gena as wide as eye or slightly narrower. Scape barely longer than AF1, AF2 about as wide as long, varying from 0.8–1.1 times as wide as long (Figure 4a).</p><p>Mesosoma. Mesosoma covered by short whitish-golden setae. Punctures of mesosoma weak and shallow, especially on mesopleuron. Tegula with just few poorly defined punctures, often obscured by pubescence and hardly discernible. Mesonotum median suture weak, parapsidal furrows stronger. Scutellum punctures weak and poorly defined, metanotum more coarsely punctate, with large posterior impunctate area. Metapleuron with scattered punctures posteriorly, impunctate anteriorly. Propodeal excavation with obtuse margins; entire propodeum surface even, with hardly discernible punctures and almost entirely without striations, covered by short medially directing setae. Setae in mid-section of propodeal excavation directed medially or posteriorly, resembling  R. antennata (DE SAUSSURE) . Wings translucent, covered by very short setae (Figure 4b, c). Nervature brown, stigma brownish, apical spot not developed (except minimal yellowing in distal part of median cell; Figure 4b).</p><p>Metasoma. T1 specific, triangular and rounded (Figure 4b), with more developed dorsal curvature (Figure 4c). T2 elongated and parallel. T2/S2 suture less developed, visible only in proximal half of segment. T2 lamella very long, transparent; lamellar margin uneven, shallower sternally, with visible and obtuse T2/S2 suture nick. T2 covered by short yellowish setae, S2 covered by whitish pubescence and longer protruding setae; remaining segments covered by longer protruding setae.</p><p>Males resemble females in overall appearance, with more yellow. Wing length: 6.4 mm. Colour. Clypeus entirely yellow, frons predominantly yellow (Figure 50a); scutellum and metanotum with smaller yellow spots. Terminal metasomal bands reduced, broken into yellow patches alongside their posterior edges. Antenna orange, with just few distal flagellomeres slightly darkened dorsally (Figure 50b).</p><p>Head. Male clypeus resembles that or  R. valentula sp. nov. in shape, with curved upes, strong juxtamandibular lobes and correspondingly deep excavation (Figure 50a). Clypeal surface strongly convex, the apex not substantially depressed; entire surface of clypeus minutely punctate. Mandible strongly developed, with broader base and strong tortuous excavation (Figure 50a). Gena thicker, about 0.8 times as wide as eye. Scape thin, AF1 shorter than scape (about 0.7 times), AF2 slightly wider than long. Tyloids originating at AF2, weakly developed and symmetrical in proximal-distal direction; terminal flagellomere short, rounded and obtuse, with elongated tyloid and obtuse tip (Figure 50b).</p><p>Mesosoma. Tarsal I spur not developed. Several morphological features of males of this species seem to resemble  R. valentula sp. nov., which also has underdeveloped tibial spur (alongside similarly shaped clypeus, mandible and terminal flagellomere).</p><p>Metasoma. S7 with flattened surface.</p><p>Male-female pairing strength: high; male is a part of the type nest series.</p><p>Distribution: South-Eastern Kenya.</p><p>Etymology. From the Latin adjective luculentus -a -um, “bright”, referring to the numerous bright yellow areas on the body.</p><p>Genetics.After several failures, a single specimen was successfully genotyped (BOLD:ADR2389). This species seems to be most closely related to  R. tajiri sp. nov., followed by  R. antennata (DE SAUSSURE) . Interestingly, this species seems to show an interesting pattern previously described in the Palearctic  Polistes (Schmid-Egger et al., 2017), with disagreement between genetics and male-female morphology. In this case, male head morphological features of  R. luculenta sp. nov. strongly resemble the  R. valentula sp. nov.,  R. nigrocerasina sp. nov. and  R. retromaculata sp. nov., but genetics suggests that this species is more closely related to  R. antennata (DE SAUSSURE) and  R. tajiri sp. nov. Networking analysis methods provided a possible solution, suggesting that this species is located between two other species, explaining genetic closeness and morphological similarity.</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/4F5987BAE809FFD6FF11FC6473D19D6A	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		MagnoliaPress via Plazi	Polašek, Ozren;Onah, Ikechukwu;Kehinde, Tope;Rojo, Veronica;Noort, Simon Van;Carpenter, James M.	Polašek, Ozren, Onah, Ikechukwu, Kehinde, Tope, Rojo, Veronica, Noort, Simon Van, Carpenter, James M. (2025): Revision of the mainland African species of the Old World social wasp genus Ropalidia Guérin-Méneville 1831 (Hymenoptera; Vespidae). Zootaxa 5626 (1): 1-142, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5626.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5626.1.1
4F5987BAE80AFFD7FF11F9B473C99F3A.text	4F5987BAE80AFFD7FF11F9B473C99F3A.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Ropalidia mabawa Polasek 2025	<div><p>Ropalidia mabawa Polašek sp. nov.</p><p>urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 7361DA01-F4DC-4989-9D5B-2EF8A855C3A5</p><p>Type specimen:   Holotype:  Dodwe stream, Tanzania, 1♀ (SNM.29). The total number of examined specimens: 1♀.</p><p>Diagnosis. Very distinct species, with slender body, shallow punctures and darker tip of forewing.</p><p>Description. Female. Wing length 10.6 mm. Colour. Uniformly ferruginous body, metasoma and legs slightly darker (Figure 18a). Antenna ferruginous, terminal segments slightly lighter underneath (Figure 18c). Wings yellowish, nervature and stigma yellowish, apical spot brownish (Figure 18a). In addition to apical spot, this species also has an additional greyish darkening of wing tip that extends into 3 rd discoidal cell and partly into 2 nd brachial cell (Figure 18a).</p><p>Head. Clypeus elongated, pentagonal, longer than wide; upes slightly bent, oculo-clypeal angle not developed (Figure 18c). Clypeus minutely and weakly punctate, barely visible in basal two thirds due to silvery pubescence; few shallow craters close to clypeal apex. Inner orbit impunctate. Frons covered by weak, large and shallow punctures, gena and tempora similarly punctate; posterior three quarters of gena surface impunctate, few punctures visible close to mandible base. Gena slightly narrower than eye. Ocelli large, ocellar triangle smaller, slightly acute forward. Occipital carina complete, barely sinuate. Eyes covered by longer setae. Scape about as long as AF1, pedicel longer than wide, AF2 about 1.3 times as long as wide.</p><p>Mesosoma. Mesosoma shallowly and minutely punctate, punctures larger on mesopleuron and lateral parts of pronotum. Metapleuron impunctate, only with fine cuticular surface and some striae. Entire mesosoma covered by white pubescence and longer protruding setae. Scutellum rounded, largely and shallowly punctate; median carina developed, reaches half of scutellar length. Metanotum with more developed large punctures; posterior triangle with cuticular surface, moderately shining, tooth not developed. Propodeum very rounded, without upper carina; entire surface covered by fine striations (Figure 18b). Inferior propodeal carina visible among striae, but very weak. Median propodeal suture expanded into spindle-like structure, with fine and regular striations across (Figure 18b). Legs slender, terminal tarsal segment III thin, tarsal claws smaller and shorter than other  Ropalidia species (Figure 18a).</p><p>Metasoma. T1 very elongated, twice as long as wide (Figure 18a). Dorsal surface impunctate. T2 smaller, bell-shaped, with gradual widening and some posterior narrowing, with less than half of tergum with parallel sides (Figure 18a). T2 with very shallow directional punctures. T2 lamella of intermediate length. Entire metasoma covered by silvery pubescence and some longer protruding setae.</p><p>Males are unknown.</p><p>Distribution: Tanzania.</p><p>Etymology. After the Swahili word  mabawa (“wings”), referring to the apical darkening that is unique among the African species; the name is to be treated as indeclinable</p><p>Similar species: none, this is the only known African  Ropalidia that has a darkened tip of the wing (excluding apical spot).</p><p>Genetic data. Genotyping failed on multiple primers, most likely due to specimen’s age.</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/4F5987BAE80AFFD7FF11F9B473C99F3A	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		MagnoliaPress via Plazi	Polašek, Ozren;Onah, Ikechukwu;Kehinde, Tope;Rojo, Veronica;Noort, Simon Van;Carpenter, James M.	Polašek, Ozren, Onah, Ikechukwu, Kehinde, Tope, Rojo, Veronica, Noort, Simon Van, Carpenter, James M. (2025): Revision of the mainland African species of the Old World social wasp genus Ropalidia Guérin-Méneville 1831 (Hymenoptera; Vespidae). Zootaxa 5626 (1): 1-142, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5626.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5626.1.1
4F5987BAE80BFFD0FF11FB44753E9C2E.text	4F5987BAE80BFFD0FF11FB44753E9C2E.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Ropalidia macloutsie Polasek 2025	<div><p>Ropalidia macloutsie Polašek sp. nov.</p><p>urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 1F84261B-9FAA-4C37-BFC6-57AA937D0ADD</p><p>Type specimens:   Holotype:  Macloutsie Sid, Botswana, 1♀ (SAM. A007904.20)  .   Paratypes: 1♀ with the same collection data (SAM. A007904.21);  Maun, Botswana ,   1♀ (OLM);  Hluhluwe, South Africa ,   2♀♀ (MFNB);  Ellisras, South Africa ,   1♀ (MSNV.108);  Bruco, Angola ,   1♀ (NHM);  Manicala, Mozambique ,  1♀ (OLM.0031); Masvingo, Zimbabwe,   1♀ (OLM);  Mount Selinda, Zimbabwe ,   1♀ (OLM); paratypes / allotypes [3♂♂], all with the same collection data as the holotype (SAM. A007904.22, SAM. A007904.23, SAM. A007904.24).  The total number of examined specimens : 11♀♀, 3♂♂.</p><p>Diagnosis. A member of  capensis -group, characterized by straight upes, weak juxtamandibular lobe, transparent fore wing and elongated antenna in females; males have a specific shape of the terminal flagellomere.</p><p>Description. Females. Wing length: 6.2–7.3 mm. Colour. Basal colour dark brown, darker than  R. novissima GIORDANI SOIKA (Figure 9 aa). Clypeus yellow with basal brown or brown-black spot that occupies over half of area (Figure 9 aa). Inner orbit with thicker yellow line, interantennal area with smaller suffused yellow spot (sometimes reduced or missing). Gena usually brown (sometimes with smaller yellow spot). Mandible yellow, usually with complete brown line that spans from base and merges with yellow area underneath the teeth (sometimes slightly reduced, but almost always reaching more than half of mandible length). Pronotum with thin yellow line underneath carina and frequently with a suffused yellow marking in postero-dorsal angle (Figure 8 bb). Metanotum commonly with two large yellow spots. Coxa I mainly yellow, coxa II often with lateral yellow line, coxa III with yellow markings (most common pattern includes entirely yellow coxa I and lateral lines on coxa II and III; Figure 98a). T1 brown (exceptionally with small bilateral yellow spot). T2 with posterior yellow band, S2 band thinner, complete or broken down into three sections. Remaining metasomal segments brown. Legs brown, tarsi often darker. Wings transparent, nervature and stigma brown, apical spot not developed (Figure 98a). Antenna dark brown from above, yellowish-orange underneath; scape ferruginous-brown underneath (Figure 9 aa).</p><p>Head. Clypeus resembling of  R. novissima GIORDANI SOIKA, with straight and elongated upes and weakly developed juxtamandibular lobe and excavation; its surface somewhat convex, as opposed to most species in  capensis -group (Figure 9 aa). Clypeus basally sparsely punctate, covered by silvery pubescence and some protruding setae of similar length across entire clypeus. Inner orbit impunctate, frons with dense and shallow punctures (Figure 9 aa). Gena 0.6 times as wide as eye, tempora thinner, about half of gena width. Occipital carina straight, reaches mandible. Ocellar triangle wider basally. Scape longer than AF1, pedicel longer than wide, AF2 about 1.2–1.4 times as long as wide.</p><p>Mesosoma. Mesosoma weakly punctate, pronotum with small and shallow, mesonotum with larger but very shallow punctures. Mesopleuron largely and shallowly punctate, metapleuron almost impunctate. Scutellum sparsely punctate, metanotum with small impunctate area. Propodeum with weakly developed upper and inferior propodeal carina, excavation mainly with downward directing setae.</p><p>Metasoma. T1 globular, with sparse and well-defined punctures posteriorly; T1 covered by yellow-golden pubescence and some longer protruding setae. T2 with longer section with parallel sides, covered by intermediate-sized regular punctures. T2 lamella yellowish, transparent; T2/S2 notch wide and obtuse, T2/S2 suture short.</p><p>Males. Wing length: 6.1–6.8 mm. Colour. Resembles females, but with more yellow markings—clypeus entirely yellow or with faint, light brown, basal spot; mandible entirely yellow, inner orbit and interantennal area merged in yellow, gena predominantly yellow (Figure 49 aa). Yellow line underneath pronotal carina, anterior surface of mesopleuron, bilateral spot on metanotum (that can be reduced to reddish spots), coxa I (sometimes coxa II), femur I with yellow line. T2 and S2 with posterior yellow band, T3 and S3 with suffused yellow line that can be broken into remaining lateral spots on T3.</p><p>Head. Clypeus similarly shaped to  R. novissima GIORDANI SOIKA; lateral margin straight, OC angle strong and acute, upes straight, apex flattened, not projecting beyond weakly developed juxtamandibular lobes (Figure 49 aa). Clypeal base and centre with larger, but poorly defined punctures. Clypeus, mandible, gena and inner orbit covered by very fine, silvery pubescence. Antenna stockier and less elongated—AF2 about twice as long as wide. Scape slightly widened, AF7–10 wider than long. Tyloids more developed, originate already at AF1 (as thin hyaline line on inner surface), somewhat asymmetrical, with more acute distal than proximal margin; more developed in distal segments. Terminal flagellomere elongated, less curved, not approaching right angle (Figure 49 bb).</p><p>Mesosoma. Tarsal spur I very well developed.</p><p>Metasoma. S7 flattened, without central concave area.</p><p>Male-female pairing strength. High, males are part of the type series, originating from the same colony.</p><p>Distribution. Botswana (78% of examined specimens), South Africa (13%), Zimbabwe, Angola, Mozambique.</p><p>Etymology. The name is given after the farm in which the holotype was collected, Macloutsie farm, Botswana, and is to be treated as a noun in apposition.</p><p>Similar species. This species is similar to  R. mosichi sp. nov. and  R. novissima GIORDANI SOIKA), with defining criteria listed in the key to species. The distribution pattern of the three mentioned species is seemingly allopatric, with  R. macloutsie sp. nov. spanning across the largest areal (Botswana, South Africa, Mozambique and Angola), while the remaining two species are restricted to one or two countries only.</p><p>Females may resemble  R. makore sp. nov., in which cases defining features include lack of apical spot (present in  R. makore sp. nov.) and overall flattened clypeus (more convex in  R. makore sp. nov.). Two females from Zimbabwe present a challenge, as they correspond to  R. novissima GIORDANI SOIKA colour pattern. Unfortunately, their sequencing was unsuccessful, so their taxonomic status remains questionable; we consider them as uncommonly coloured  R. macloutsie sp. nov.</p><p>Genetics. Two specimens were successfully genotyped, yielding two BIN designations (BOLD:ADR6228 from the South Africa and BOLD:ADR4353 from Mozambique). The position of this cluster is sister to  R. macloutsie sp. nov. and  R. novissima GIORDANI SOIKA branch. The phylogenetic relationship, corroborated by the morphological features, suggests that  R. macloutsie sp. nov. and  R. novissima GIORDANI SOIKA are more closely related, while  R. mosichi sp. nov. is a more distant taxon.</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/4F5987BAE80BFFD0FF11FB44753E9C2E	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		MagnoliaPress via Plazi	Polašek, Ozren;Onah, Ikechukwu;Kehinde, Tope;Rojo, Veronica;Noort, Simon Van;Carpenter, James M.	Polašek, Ozren, Onah, Ikechukwu, Kehinde, Tope, Rojo, Veronica, Noort, Simon Van, Carpenter, James M. (2025): Revision of the mainland African species of the Old World social wasp genus Ropalidia Guérin-Méneville 1831 (Hymenoptera; Vespidae). Zootaxa 5626 (1): 1-142, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5626.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5626.1.1
4F5987BAE80DFFD2FF11FC6077949F56.text	4F5987BAE80DFFD2FF11FC6077949F56.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Ropalidia makore Polasek 2025	<div><p>Ropalidia makore Polašek sp. nov.</p><p>urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: DB8F09C3-37E0-4C91-B146-1006D6271768</p><p>Type specimens.   Holotype:  Chimolo, Manica, Mozambique, 1♀ (OLM.0033)  .  Paratype, the same location data, 1♀ (OLM). The total number of examined specimens: 2♀♀ .</p><p>Diagnosis. An interesting  capensis -group member, with dark apical spot of the fore wing, slender T1 and weakly developed juxtamandibular lobes in females; males are unknown.</p><p>Description. Females. Wing length 6.2–6.8 mm. Colour. Basal colour brown (Figure 7 bb), not differing substantially from more melanic specimens of  R. antennata (DE SAUSSURE) . Yellow markings include clypeus (except large brown circular spot; Figure 14a), inner orbit and mandible (except the longitudinal brown line that connects mandibular base and teeth; this pattern is uncommon in  R. antenatta DE SAUSSURE). Gena and tempora brown, frons brown with black streaks, vertex black or brown (Figure 7 bb). Mesosoma more or less uniformly brown-reddish, with some yellow markings underneath pronotal carina (thin yellow line), suffused thin yellow line on scutellum and two minute yellow spots on metanotum. Coxa I with lateral yellow line, coxa II and III with suffused yellowish tip (females of  R. antenatta DE SAUSSURE have entirely yellow coxa I and lateral yellow lines on coxa II and III); femur, tibia and tarsi brownish. Metasomal segments brown with thin posterior yellow band on T2 and S2 (suffused yellow band on T 3 in paratype; Figure 7 bb). Antenna basally brown, flagellum distally darkening, several terminal segments blackish or black from above; underside yellowish or orange (Figure 7 bb). Wings transparent, nervature and stigma brown, opaque, with dark apical spot, occupying most of radial cell (Figure 7 bb).</p><p>Head. Clypeus pentagonal, with slightly curved and long upes, weakly projecting apex and very shallow juxtamandibular notches (Figure 14a). Clypeal base finely punctate, with increasing punctures size that converts to poorly defined craters towards apex. Clypeal base covered by short yellowish pubescence, with gradually elongating projecting setae towards apex. Inner orbit impunctate, frons with gradually appearing, intermediate-sized and shallow punctures, extending backwards onto vertex. Gena about 0.7 times as wide as eye, covered by large and poorly defined punctures that dissipate towards occipital carina. Mandible more robust than in  R. antennata (DE SAUSSURE), but not as wide as in  R. valentula sp. nov. Ocellar triangle equidistant (in contrast to  R. antenatta DE SAUSSURE, which has wider base). Eyes covered by very short and very fine setae. Scape longer than AF1, pedicel about 1.5 times as long as wide, AF2 about as long as wide.</p><p>Mesosoma. Mesosoma covered by shorter yellowish-golden pubescence, which turns to somewhat longer setae on propodeum; entire mesosoma surface sparsely punctate, with poor puncture definitions. Metanotum shiny posterior impunctate area that reaches about half of its height. Metapleuron with few punctures, hardly discernible due to pubescence. Propodeal excavation rounded, narrower than metanotum width, covered by fine striae and occasional poorly defined puncture. Inferior propodeal carina slightly stronger than in other species of  capensis - group.</p><p>Metasoma. T1 elongated and narrow, with intermediate-sized punctures posteriorly and laterally (Figure 14b). T2 with long parallel contour and minimal narrowing towards lamella. T2/S2 suture weak, visible in proximal third. T2 lamellar notch visible and obtuse. T2 lamella brown or light brown. T2 covered by shallow directional punctures laterally and very shallow punctures dorsally; T2 longer than S2, yielding oblique segment cut-out. T2 covered by short yellowish setae, those on S2 longer and whitish. Remaining segments covered by whitish pubescence and longer whitish protruding setae.</p><p>Male. Unknown.</p><p>Distribution: Mozambique.</p><p>Etymology. The name comes from the word  makore, translated as “cloudy” in the commonest language in the region, Shona; the name is treated as an adjective, in the feminine gender.</p><p>Similar species.  R. antennata (DE SAUSSURE), which shows a substantial overlap variability and distribution. The apical spot of the fore wing may be slightly developed in some specimens of  R. antennata (DE SAUSSURE), which can make determination more complicated. Another feature is the scape to AF1 ratio; AF1 is shorter than the scape in  R. makore sp. nov., while they are similarly long in  R. antennata (DE SAUSSURE) . Finally, mandible colour may provide another useful character, but the final determination may be only obtained through genetic analysis in some specimens. Notably, one specimen of  R. antennata (DE SAUSSURE), as confirmed by the COI sequence, from the exact collection location is morphologically almost entirely similar to the type specimens of this species, except lack of the apical spot (suggesting that genetics might be required in the separation of some specimens from Mozambique). Some similarities existing in relation to the  R. novissima GIORDANI SOIKA,  R. mosichi sp. nov. and  R. macloutsie sp. nov.; these species have transparent fore wings and more slender antenna.</p><p>Genetics. One specimen was successfully genotyped, suggesting a basal position within the capensis- group, belonging to a single BIN (BOLD:ADR4213). The closest species to this one were  R. kitui sp. nov., and  R. valentula sp. nov.</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/4F5987BAE80DFFD2FF11FC6077949F56	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		MagnoliaPress via Plazi	Polašek, Ozren;Onah, Ikechukwu;Kehinde, Tope;Rojo, Veronica;Noort, Simon Van;Carpenter, James M.	Polašek, Ozren, Onah, Ikechukwu, Kehinde, Tope, Rojo, Veronica, Noort, Simon Van, Carpenter, James M. (2025): Revision of the mainland African species of the Old World social wasp genus Ropalidia Guérin-Méneville 1831 (Hymenoptera; Vespidae). Zootaxa 5626 (1): 1-142, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5626.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5626.1.1
4F5987BAE80EFFD3FF11FB68743E9E6E.text	4F5987BAE80EFFD3FF11FB68743E9E6E.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Ropalidia mangoflava Polasek 2025	<div><p>Ropalidia mangoflava Polašek sp. nov.</p><p>urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 4228AB30-24F3-4192-B925-75708DCFF8FA</p><p>Type specimens.   Holotype:  Wumawimbi, Pemba Island, Tanzania, 1♀ (OLM. VA397). The total number of examined specimens: 1♀.</p><p>Diagnosis. An endemic species known only from a single specimen from Pemba Island of the Zanzibar archipelago in Tanzania. It is characterized by a lightly ferruginous basal colour and numerous yellow markings in females, black antenna and dark tarsi, with substantial morphological similarities to  R. africana (CAMERON) stat. rev.</p><p>Description. Females. Wing length 8.9 mm. Colour. Basic colour lightly ferruginous, with extensive yellow markings (Figure 30 aa). Clypeus yellow with bilateral remaining ferruginous patches, inner orbit and interantennal area with large yellow markings. Mandible basally ferruginous, with large yellow area and only remaining ferruginous-dark brown area close to teeth (Figure 30 aa). Gena and tempora yellow, two yellow nicks behind posterior ocelli (Figure 29b). Pronotum predominantly yellow, with dorsal ferruginous patch; mesonotum ferruginous, area lateral to parapsidal furrows yellow (Supplementary Figure 12). Scutellum with two yellow spots, metanotum with merged spots into a line with postero-medial notch (Supplementary Figure 11). Mesopleuron ferruginous with central median apical area and postero-inferior yellow area (Figure 29b). Propodeum with two large yellow areas. All three coxa pairs yellow, all three femora pairs with yellow patches, tibia ferruginous, tarsi distally darkened, terminal tarsal segment black. T1 with extensive yellow colour, T2 with thick posterior band and extension along T2/S2 margin. T3–T4 and S3 with suffused yellow posterior bands, remaining metasomal segments ferruginous. Wings transparent, nervature and stigma brown, apical spot well developed. Scape and pedicel brown from above, remaining segments darkened from above; terminal five segments yellowish underneath, scape yellow from underneath (Supplementary Figure 10).</p><p>Head. Clypeus longer than wide, with strongly projecting apex, slightly curved upes and weak but visible oculo-clypeal angle (Figure 30 aa). Clypeus finely punctate basaly, apically punctures turn to poorly defined craters. Frons shallowly punctate, covered by yellowish pubescence and protruding yellowish setae, about as long as ocellus diameter. Gena finely punctate with weak punctures definition; posterior part of gena nearly impunctate. Ocelli strongly acute forwards. Gena about 0.8 times as wide as eye, occipital carina weakly sinuate. Eye setae sparse and short, barely visible. Scape shorter than AF1, AF2 about 1.5 times as long as wide (Supplementary Figure 10).</p><p>Mesosoma. Mesosoma covered by yellowish pubescence and protruding setae. Mesosoma weakly punctate; mesonotum with very shallow punctures, metapleuron shiny and almost impunctate, with just occasional poorly defined craters. Scutellum and metanotum largely and shallowly punctate; scutellar median carina well developed, reaches more than three quarters of scutellum length. Metanotum impunctate triangle covers about half of surface. Upper propodeal carina not developed, propodeal excavation covered by very weak striae, inferior propodeal carina weakly developed.</p><p>Metasoma. T1 elongated; dorsal and lateral surface almost impunctate (with only occasional, poorly defined puncture), and posterior cluster of large and elongated punctures. Ventral surface of T1 covered by very thin, whitish setae. T1 extends laterally and ventrally encloses entire circumference, completely covering S1 (Figure 101a). T2 short and rounded, almost with no parallel sides. T2 and S2 finely punctate. T2 lamella short, yellowish and semi-transparent.</p><p>Males are unknown.</p><p>Distribution. Pemba Island, Tanzania.</p><p>Etymology. From the Latin adjective flavus -a -um, “yellow”, referring to the numerous bright yellow areas on the body, and the fact that the holotype specimen was collected on a mango tree.</p><p>Similar species.  R. africana (CAMERON) stat. rev.</p><p>Note. The only examined specimen was probably collected soon after hatching; the original yellow colour swiftly changed to whitish-yellow. Therefore, the recent photos after collection are provided in Supplementary material to better show the colour pattern of fresh specimen.</p><p>Genetics. Despite conspicuous differences from the closely related  R. africana (CAMERON) stat. rev., both COI and 28S DNA suggest a very high molecular resemblance to that species. Furthermore, the diversity of  R. africana (CAMERON) stat. rev. is greater than the difference of one of the lineages of  R. africana (CAMERON) stat. rev. with  R. mangoflava sp. nov. This would suggest that neither COI nor 28S are appropriate for the molecular separation of these species. Consequently,  R. mangoflava sp. nov. is classified as a member of the  R. africana (CAMERON) stat. rev. BIN (BOLD: ACK 8399). The final summary of the morphologic and genetic data suggest that  R. mangoflava sp. nov. is probably undergoing a swift speciation process, probably propelled by the geographic isolation, while retaining genetic similarity to  R. africana (CAMERON) stat. rev.</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/4F5987BAE80EFFD3FF11FB68743E9E6E	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		MagnoliaPress via Plazi	Polašek, Ozren;Onah, Ikechukwu;Kehinde, Tope;Rojo, Veronica;Noort, Simon Van;Carpenter, James M.	Polašek, Ozren, Onah, Ikechukwu, Kehinde, Tope, Rojo, Veronica, Noort, Simon Van, Carpenter, James M. (2025): Revision of the mainland African species of the Old World social wasp genus Ropalidia Guérin-Méneville 1831 (Hymenoptera; Vespidae). Zootaxa 5626 (1): 1-142, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5626.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5626.1.1
4F5987BAE80FFFDCFF11FAB073269FC2.text	4F5987BAE80FFFDCFF11FAB073269FC2.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Ropalidia mosichi Polasek 2025	<div><p>Ropalidia mosichi Polašek sp. nov.</p><p>urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 148CBDC9-3E5A-4C4E-B621-9015A78660B1</p><p>Type specimens:   Holotype:  Mosich farm, Mt Erongo, Namibia, 1♀ (MFNB.27)  .   Paratypes: Erongo  Mountains, Namibia, 1♀ (OLM);  Gobiswater farm, Namibia, 1♀ (NHM); Fransfontein, Namibia, 1♀ (MSNV). The total number of examined specimens: 4♀♀  .</p><p>Diagnosis. A member of  capensis -group, morphologically similar to  R. novissima GIORDANI SOIKA and  R. macloutsie sp. nov., with several defining morphological and colour pattern features, including silvery pubescence, coarser pronotum punctures, yellow markings on gena and more clavate female antenna; males are unknown.</p><p>Description. Females. Wing length: 6.3–6.9 mm. Colour. Basal colour dark brown, with more yellow colour than  R. novissima GIORDANI SOIKA: clypeus yellow with basal detached light-brown spot (that can be very reduced), gena with large yellow area that continues to posterior side (Figure 7b), tempora with faint yellowish continuation of yellow area from gena, inner orbit with broad yellow line, interantennal area and lower halves of antennal sockets yellow (Figure 8a). Mandible yellow with central elongated brown spot that almost reaches the mandible tip (Figure 8a). Pronotum with thicker yellow line underneath carina (Figure 8c), scutellum with posterior reddish-yellow line (even with lateral edges with traces of yellow in one specimen), metanotum with two yellow spots (merged in one specimen). Coxa I and II (rarely coxa III) with yellow markings. Legs brownish, corresponding to basal body colour. T1 commonly brown (Figure 7b) or with minor bilateral yellow spot, T2 with thicker posterior band extending onto S2 (Figure 8b). T3–T5 with suffused yellow posterior bands, S3–S4 (S5) have complete or incomplete posterior yellow bands. Wings transparent or just slightly yellowish, nervature and stigma brown; apical spot of fore wing absent (Figure 7b). Antenna dark brown dorsally, orange ventrally; scape ferruginous-brown ventrally (Figure 8a).</p><p>Head. Clypeus resembles  R. novissima GIORDANI SOIKA, with straight and elongated upes and weakly developed juxtamandibular lobe and excavation (Figure 8a). Clypeus basally coarsely and shallowly punctate, punctures less defined and denser towards apex. Clypeus covered by silvery pubescence and some protruding setae of similar length basally and apically. Mandible slightly widened basally. Inner orbit impunctate, frons with dense and shallow punctures that continue on tempora close to eye and dissipate on gena, especially in yellow areas. Gena at most about 0.6 times as wide as eye (Figure 8c). Occipital carina straight, reaches mandible. Ocellar triangle wider basally. Antenna more clavate than in  R. novissima GIORDANI SOIKA and  R. macloutsie sp. nov.; scape longer than AF1, AF2 about as wide as long. Entire head covered by silvery pubescence, with some yellowish tint on vertex.</p><p>Mesosoma. Entire mesosoma covered by short silvery pubescence; mesosoma with coarser punctures, especially pronotum dorsally, close to mesonotum (Figure 8d). Mesonotum covered by sparse, large and shallow punctures. Mesopleuron with large and shallow punctures, metapleuron almost impunctate, with traces of punctures obscured by silvery pubescence. Scutellum coarsely punctate, metanotum with smaller posterior impunctate area. Propodeum with weak upper and inferior propodeal carina, excavation mainly with downward directing setae.</p><p>Metasoma. T1 pyriform and globular, with sparse and well-defined punctures posteriorly and laterally; T1 covered by silvery pubescence and some longer protruding setae. T2 shorter, more rounded, with intermediate-sized regular punctures. T2 lamella yellow, transparent; T2/S2 notch wide and obtuse, T2/S2 suture short.</p><p>Males are not known.</p><p>Distribution. Namibia.</p><p>Etymology. The name is given after the farm where the holotype was collected, Mosich farm, Namibia, as an adjective, in the masculine gender.</p><p>Similar species. This species is similar to both  R. macloutsie sp. nov. and  R. novissima GIORDANI SOIKA; the defining features are provided in the key to species.</p><p>Genetics. A single specimen was successfully genotyped, yielding a BIN designation (BOLD:ADR2457). The position of this cluster is sister to  R. macloutsie sp. nov. and  R. novissima GIORDANI SOIKA branch. The phylogenetic relationship, corroborated by the morphological features, suggests that  R. macloutsie sp. nov. and  R. novissima GIORDANI SOIKA are more closely related, while  R. mosichi sp. nov. is more distant.</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/4F5987BAE80FFFDCFF11FAB073269FC2	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		MagnoliaPress via Plazi	Polašek, Ozren;Onah, Ikechukwu;Kehinde, Tope;Rojo, Veronica;Noort, Simon Van;Carpenter, James M.	Polašek, Ozren, Onah, Ikechukwu, Kehinde, Tope, Rojo, Veronica, Noort, Simon Van, Carpenter, James M. (2025): Revision of the mainland African species of the Old World social wasp genus Ropalidia Guérin-Méneville 1831 (Hymenoptera; Vespidae). Zootaxa 5626 (1): 1-142, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5626.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5626.1.1
4F5987BAE800FFDEFF11FB1C74C49A06.text	4F5987BAE800FFDEFF11FB1C74C49A06.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Ropalidia nigrocerasina Polasek 2025	<div><p>Ropalidia nigrocerasina Polašek sp. nov.</p><p>urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 9D44FDDC-A3BC-4E54-A7ED-2008C32D102D</p><p>Type specimens.   Holotype:  Abercorn (Mbala), Zambia, 1♂ (MSNV.101)  .   Paratypes: 1 ♀ and 3♂♂ with the same collection data as the holotype (MSNV);  Tenke, Katanga DR Congo ,   1♀ (NHM);  Katanga, DR Congo ,   1♀ (MSNV);  Mwinilunga, 50 km E, Zambia ,   1♀ (OLM);  Kanzenze, DR Congo ,   1♀ (RMCA);  Khombe, Malawi ,   1♀ (RMCA).  The total number of examined specimens : 6♂♂, 4♀♀.</p><p>Diagnosis. Member of  capensis -group, characterized by black mesosoma underside, black coxa, upwardly directed setae in propodeal excavation, punctate pronotal collar and short pubescence high on tempora. Males darker, with coarsely punctate clypeus base, tyloids originating from AF(4)5, developed tyloid on terminal flagellomere and yellowish wings.</p><p>Description. Females. Wing length 5.9–6.6 mm. Colour. Basic colour dark brown with dark reddish markings, commonly without any yellow markings on mesosoma and metasoma (Figure 4 aa). Clypeus yellow with large basal brown or dark brown-black spot attached to base (Figure 12b; one examined specimen has completely brown clypeus). Inner orbit with thin yellow line, interantennal area with smaller yellow patch or completely without yellow markings (Figure 12b). Mandible yellow with complete median brown band (Figure 99). Gena and tempora reddish-brown, vertex black (Figure 12b). Mesosoma and metasoma without yellow markings (Figure 4 aa). Pronotum, scutellum and metanotum reddish, mesonotum and propodeum black (in one specimen with bilateral reddish spot), mesopleuron black (Figure 4 aa), sometimes with a small reddish area. Mesosoma underside black, coxa and proximal part of femur black, distal part of femur, tibia and tarsi ferruginous-brown; terminal tarsal segment equally coloured tibia (Figure 4 aa). T1 reddish, T2 and S2 with posterior reddish band (Figure 4 aa). Wings transparent, anterioly yellowish; apical spot faintly yellowish (Figure 4 aa). Stigma lightly brown or yellowish. Antenna basally brown, flagellomeres blackened dorsally, ventrally black or yellow-orange near tip (Figure 12b).</p><p>Head. Morphologically not substantially different from  R. valentula sp. nov.; clypeus about as wide as long, upes straight or slightly curved, juxtamandibular lobe well developed, apex moderately protruding (Figure 12b). Clypeus base with occasional and poorly defined puncture. Frons and tempora with larger and shallow punctures. Eyes covered by short setae or entirely asetose (Figure 12b, b). Frons covered by protruding setae that are about 0.7–0.8 times as long as ocellus diameter (Figure 12a), as opposed to longer setae in  R. valentula sp. nov. and  R. retromaculata sp. nov. Setae on gena and tempora of similar length (as opposed to longer setae on tempora in  R. valentula sp. nov. and  R. retromaculata sp. nov.). Ocelli with substantially broader base than sides. Mandible wider proximally than distally. Scape longer than AF1, AF2 about as long as broad or somewhat broader (Figure 12b).</p><p>Mesosoma. Mesosoma covered by denser silvery-whitish pubescence (Figure 12a); pubescence on mesonotum can be somewhat yellowish. Punctures on mesosoma large; mesonotum sparsely and shallowly punctate, median suture and parapsidal furrows less developed. Pronotal collar punctate in ventral half (Figure 12a), as opposed to impunctate in  R. valentula sp. nov. and  R. retromaculata sp. nov. Scutellum without median carina. Propodeum similar to other members of  capensis -group.</p><p>Metasoma. T1 pyriform, somewhat broader than in  R. retromaculata sp. nov., but narrower than  R. valentula sp. nov. T2 of intermediate length, with shorter section with parallel margins. T2 lamella with shallow T2/S2 nick (Figure 12a). T2 with intermediate and shallow, poorly defined punctures, S2 with more defined punctures, distal part directionally punctate.</p><p>Males resemble females in general, with more yellow (Figure 54a). Wing length 5.8–6.3 mm. Colour. Clypeus yellow with smaller or intermediate-sized brown or blackish basal area (Figure 54b). Mandible yellow with large triangular basal black spot (about twice larger than that in  R. valentula sp. nov. males), small yellow spot on gena, interantennal area and inner orbit with yellow areas (Figure 54b). Mesosoma and metasoma without yellow markings, with black and red skipping pattern: pronotum, scutellum, and metanotum reddish, mesonotum, mesopleuron, metapleuron and propodeum black (Figure 54a). Metasomal segments brown, sometimes with suffused posterior reddish band, terminal three segments often more lightly coloured (Figure 54a). Antenna variably coloured; scape ferruginous (with ferruginous or yellow colour underneath), AF1 ferruginous or proximally ferruginous and distally black, remaining segments ferruginous, darkened or black from above, ferruginous or orange underneath (Figure 54a). Coxa brown or dark brown, femur usually brown (proximally black in specimens with black coxa), tibia and tarsi brown (Figure 54a).</p><p>Head. Clypeus substantially wider than long (1.1–1.3 times as wide as long; Figure 54b), unlike  R. valentula sp. nov., whose males have clypeus about as long as wide. Upes slightly curved, OCA visible but weak, apex depressed inwards, tip acute (Figure 54b). Clypeus with intermediate and poorly defined punctures basally, centre and area towards apex with dissipating craters or almost impunctate. Inner orbit impunctate, frons and vertex with well-defined punctures. Gena broad, about 0.8–1.1 times as wide as eye (Figure 54a). Mandible robust, with wide base and tortuous excavation, similar to  R. valentula sp. nov. Scape not substantially widened, about as long or somewhat longer than AF1, AF2 as long as wide or slightly wider (Figure 54b). Tyloids less developed, symmetrical in proximal-distal direction (Figure 54c). Tyloids originate on AF(4)5 (Figure 99b). Terminal flagellomere acute, with developed tyloid that reaches the very tip (Figure 54c).</p><p>Mesosoma. Fore tarsal spur I weak.</p><p>Metasoma. S7 flattened.</p><p>Male-female pairing strength: excellent; type series specimens originate from the same nest (labelled as nest 1462). Notably, this species has a very high share of examined males, with as much as 42% of all examined specimens.</p><p>Distribution. Zambia, DR Congo, Malawi.</p><p>Etymology. The name is based on the Latin nigro -ra -rum (“to be black”) and cerasinus -a -um (cherrycoloured), and refers to the black and reddish body of this species.</p><p>Similar species.  R. valentula sp. nov. and  R. retromaculata sp. nov.; separating criteria are provided in the key to species. Females can sometimes resemble  R. acuminata sp. nov., with the shape of clypeus providing sufficient determination feature. Males resemble  R. valentula sp. nov., but they are easily separated by the criteria in the key to species.</p><p>Genetics. The group of the three similar species ( R. valentula sp. nov.,  R. retromaculata sp. nov. and  R. nigrocerasina sp. nov.) was initially considered a colour variation of the same species. However, after the completion of genetic analysis and after the males of  R. nigrocerasina sp. nov. were identified, it became evident that they are morphologically separate from  R. valentula sp. nov. Based on the genetic distance of these three groups, all were elevated to the species level. The genetics of  R. nigrocerasina sp. nov. suggests a nested position within the  R. valentula sp. nov. lineages, while  R. retromaculata sp. nov. seems to be a sister group to both of these species.  R. nigrocerasina sp. nov. was assigned a single BIN, BOLD: ADN 6541.</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/4F5987BAE800FFDEFF11FB1C74C49A06	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		MagnoliaPress via Plazi	Polašek, Ozren;Onah, Ikechukwu;Kehinde, Tope;Rojo, Veronica;Noort, Simon Van;Carpenter, James M.	Polašek, Ozren, Onah, Ikechukwu, Kehinde, Tope, Rojo, Veronica, Noort, Simon Van, Carpenter, James M. (2025): Revision of the mainland African species of the Old World social wasp genus Ropalidia Guérin-Méneville 1831 (Hymenoptera; Vespidae). Zootaxa 5626 (1): 1-142, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5626.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5626.1.1
4F5987BAE802FFDFFF11FB6275089E52.text	4F5987BAE802FFDFFF11FB6275089E52.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Ropalidia nigrofemorata (CAMERON 1910)	<div><p>Ropalidia nigrofemorata (CAMERON 1910)</p><p>Icaria nigrofemorata CAMERON 1910</p><p>Type material. One female, labelled “  Usambara ”, “ Sjöstedt ”, “  Icaria nigrofemorata Cam. Type ”, the red label “ 44 ” with another handwritten number “ 75 ”, labelled as NHRS-HEVA 000007510 (photograph examined). The specimen has a detached metasoma, which was considered lost and the type unusable (Schulthess Rechberg, 1913). The metasoma has been recovered in the meantime, and it is available in a separate tube next to the specimen. The specimen does not fit the species description adequately. The description suggests no yellow colour on the clypeus (the holotype has a yellow clypeal apex); mandibles are supposedly fuscous-black (the holotype has yellow markings on the mandibular base), coxa, trochanter and femora are described as black (they are brown). These inconsistencies in the colour pattern could be a consequence of the poor illumination of the microscope at that time. Bequaert considered it as a doubtful species, but did not provide any synonymy or additional taxonomic note (Bequaret, 1918).</p><p>Comments. Comparatively smaller species, with weak or absent scutellar median carina. It forms a cluster of darkly coloured and smaller species, with  R. tenebrica sp. nov. and  R. tenuipilosa sp. nov. The defining criteria for this species include dense golden pubescence of the mesonotum and T2, and darker femur compared to the tibia. Males were previously unknown and are described here for the first time.</p><p>Males.</p><p>Material.   Arabuko-Sokoke forest, Kenya, 1♂ (ICIPE.07) ;   Tiwi beaches, Kenya, 2♂♂ (SNM.038, SNM.075) ;  Busia, Uganda, 1♂ (NHM.710) .   The total number of examined specimens: 4♂♂  .</p><p>Description. Wing length: 8.0– 8.6 mm. Colour. Colour pattern resembles females, with more yellow on head and mesosoma (Figure 76 bb). Clypeus, inner orbit, interantennal area and mandible yellow, except postero-basal dark brown triangle on mandible (Figure 76 bb); gena with smaller, elongated yellow area. Frons, vertex and tempora brown. Mesosoma dorsally brown, underneath with numerous yellow markings; anterior surface of mesopleuron, coxa I and II, femur I and II ventrally completely yellow (in one specimen even coxa and femur III have yellow markings). General leg colour pattern similar to females; femur dark brown, tibia light brown, tarsi similar to femur. Wings translucent, apical spot dark or black, stigma yellowish and transparent (Figure 41 aa). Metasoma with predominantly basal colour; T2 with thin posterior ochre or reddish line (Figure 74 dd). Scape dark brown dorsally, pedicel and AF1 ferruginous-brown (including distal part of AF1), AF2–11 black from above, AF11 with faintly brownish tip (Figure 74 bb); entire underside of antenna yellow.</p><p>Head. Clypeus with evenly and strongly curved upes, similarly curved juxtamandibular excavation and moderately projecting, slightly depressed, obtuse apex (Figure 76 bb). Basal third or a half largely punctate; entire surface covered by silvery-whitish pubescence. Similar pubescence extends onwards to frons, with yellowish longer protruding setae. Gena shallowly punctate, covered by short whitish pubescence. Ocelli acute forwards. Scape about as long as AF1, AF2 1.3–1.5 times as long as wide. Tyloids very shiny (Figure 77a), originate on AF4. Terminal flagellomere elongated, curved, tip obtuse or subacute (Figure 74 bb).</p><p>Mesosoma. Pronotal carina laterally and dorsally almost equally wide (Figure 74 aa). Tarsal I spur not developed.</p><p>Metasoma. Terminal sternum concave.</p><p>Male-female pairing strength: high, confirmed by the mt DNA.</p><p>Distribution. Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda.</p><p>Genetics. There are five different clusters when three related species are considered (Supplementary Figure 26). The first and the most distant cluster belongs to  R. nigrofemorata (CAMERON), with a BIN assignment BOLD: ADM2242. There were two sequenced specimens in this cluster, both collected in Kenya (notably, these two specimens have a separate 28s rDNA sequence). The second cluster of  R. nigrofemorata (CAMERON) is present in the Western parts of Tanzania (Kiberashi region). It is characterized by a high degree of similarity with the first cluster, but with a less dense golden pubescence layer on mesonotum and T2, which can even be silvery in a few examined specimens. This cluster was given a separate BIN assignment, BOLD:ADR2755. The third cluster belongs to  R. tenuipilosa sp. nov., with BIN BOLD:AEA4654. The fourth one is attributable to  R. tenebrica sp. nov., designated as BOLD:ADR2309. Finally, the fifth cluster, BOLD:ADN5333, comprises four genotyped specimens, among which there are three specimens of  R. tenuipilosa sp. nov. and one of  R. tenebrica sp. nov. This cluster has multiple problems since the four specimens originated from the same location. Possibly the most parsimonious solution is that this is phenotypically deviant  R. tenuipilosa sp. nov. However, this solution contradicts the specimen, which has silvery pubescence. In addition, there are several specimens of  R. tenebrica sp. nov. from Namibia with different colour (more brown on the body, light-grey apical spot of the fore wing), suggesting that this entire cluster likely contains more currently undescribed taxa.</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/4F5987BAE802FFDFFF11FB6275089E52	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		MagnoliaPress via Plazi	Polašek, Ozren;Onah, Ikechukwu;Kehinde, Tope;Rojo, Veronica;Noort, Simon Van;Carpenter, James M.	Polašek, Ozren, Onah, Ikechukwu, Kehinde, Tope, Rojo, Veronica, Noort, Simon Van, Carpenter, James M. (2025): Revision of the mainland African species of the Old World social wasp genus Ropalidia Guérin-Méneville 1831 (Hymenoptera; Vespidae). Zootaxa 5626 (1): 1-142, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5626.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5626.1.1
4F5987BAE803FFDFFF11FA6C76C39C96.text	4F5987BAE803FFDFFF11FA6C76C39C96.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Ropalidia nobilis (GERSTAECKER 1857)	<div><p>Ropalidia nobilis (GERSTAECKER 1857)</p><p>Icaria nobilis GERSTAECKER 1857</p><p>Type material.   Four females, deposited in MFNB; all four are labelled as originating from Mozambique, collected by “  Peters S ”.  The species description does not mention the exact number of specimens (Gerstaecker, 1857). Therefore ,   one specimen was selected as the lectotype (specimen with an additional label “ 3548 ”, MFNB designation 5c8584), and three remaining specimens are therefore considered paralectotypes.  The label shows the location as “ Tette ”, but it was crossed out, so the exact location remains uncertain  .</p><p>Comments. Dark-reddish basal colour, with a specific colour pattern of yellow or reddish spots in the more Southern part of its distribution areal, including scutellum and mesopleuron, while mesonotum is commonly without yellow markings, in contrast to  R. unidentata GIORDANI SOIKA.</p><p>Distribution. Most examined specimens originated from Malawi (35%), followed by Tanzania (21%) and South Africa (12%), with additional specimens extending from DR Congo, Kenya, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.</p><p>Genetics. Three BINs were assigned to this species. Two genotyped specimens from Tanzania and one from Malawi were members of the first BIN (BOLD:ADO5729), while the specimens from the two remaining BINs were collected in Mozambique (BOLD:ADN8566) and the South Africa (BOLD:ADO6948). 28S rDNA was sufficient for species delimitation.</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/4F5987BAE803FFDFFF11FA6C76C39C96	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		MagnoliaPress via Plazi	Polašek, Ozren;Onah, Ikechukwu;Kehinde, Tope;Rojo, Veronica;Noort, Simon Van;Carpenter, James M.	Polašek, Ozren, Onah, Ikechukwu, Kehinde, Tope, Rojo, Veronica, Noort, Simon Van, Carpenter, James M. (2025): Revision of the mainland African species of the Old World social wasp genus Ropalidia Guérin-Méneville 1831 (Hymenoptera; Vespidae). Zootaxa 5626 (1): 1-142, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5626.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5626.1.1
4F5987BAE804FFD8FF11FF7972F59C11.text	4F5987BAE804FFD8FF11FF7972F59C11.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Ropalidia novissima GIORDANI SOIKA 1944	<div><p>Ropalidia novissima GIORDANI SOIKA 1944</p><p>Type material.  A single holotype female at MSNV. However, the species description suggests Banno as the type specimen location, while the specimen bears the label Miss E Zavattari Sagan-Omo A. O. I., followed by the handwritten Caschei, 8-VIII 1929. Therefore, the loc. typ. changes slightly, by about 60 km to the West. The exact location map is provided in another publication related to the Sagan-Omo collection (Chiovenda, 1951), which provided a map and revealed the location of the holotype specimen collection .</p><p>Comments. A member of the  capensis -group, characterized by the elongated antenna in both females and males. This species forms a group, with  R. mosichi sp. nov. and  R. macloutsie sp. nov., characterized by the weakly developed juxtamandibular lobe, straight, longer upes and almost entirely transparent wings. Males are described for the first time.</p><p>Males.</p><p>Material.   Sof Omar, Ethiopia, 2♂♂ (OLM). The total number of examined specimens: 2♂♂  .</p><p>Diagnosis. Males of this species have the most slender and very elongated antenna, (comparable only to  R. macloutsie sp. nov.), in combination with flattened apical margin of finely punctate clypeus, specific tyloids shape, origin of tyloids on AF5 and strongly curved terminal flagellomere.</p><p>Description. Wing length: 5.4–6.7 mm. Colour. Similar to females, but more yellow; clypeus, inner orbit, interantennal area, mandible and thin line on gena (Figure 48a). Pronotum brown-reddish with yellow line underneath carina, mesonotum dark brown or black (Figure 48b), scutellum reddish, metanotum basally dark brown with two large yellow spots; mesopleuron forwardly with yellow patches and reddish, laterally brown; metapleuron and propodeum progressively darker, almost black. Coxa I ventrally yellow, coxa pair II yellow with longitudinal brown line, coxa pair III just with lateral yellow line, median half brown (Figure 48b). Femur I with small yellow line. Wings transparent, apical spot absent, nervature brown, stigma dark brown, opaque. Antenna dark brown from above, terminal segment light brown, entire underneath yellow-orange (Figure 48b, c).</p><p>Head. Clypeus flattened with obtuse apex, parallel sides and straight and elongated upes (Figure 48a). Clypeal base coarsely punctate, apical part with less defined punctures (Figure 48a); entire clypeal surface covered by short silvery pubescence, denser apically. Mandible elongated, with slightly tortuous surface; posterior margin with silvery pubescence. Gena coarsely punctate and thin, only about 0.3 times as wide as eye. Tempora no wider than AF1 base. Frons finely punctate, punctures evanescing towards occipital carina (Figure 48a). Frons covered by yellowish pubescence and longer silvery, extremely fine and thin setae with bent tips. AF1 about as long as the scape, AF2 about three times as long as wide (Figure 48b). Tyloids shiny, originate on AF4, triangular and weakly projecting above flagellomere surface (Figure 48c). Terminal flagellomere very elongated, about twice as long as AF10 width; tip strongly curved, close to right angle, covered by conspicuous pubescence (Figure 48c).</p><p>Mesosoma. Mesosoma densely punctate, with intermediate size of punctures, covered by yellowish-silvery pubescence. Mesonotum with well-defined punctures, strong median suture and developed parapsidal furrows. Scutellum with larger and shallow punctures, similar to that on metanotum; distal half of metanotum impunctate. Propodeum similar to other males of  capensis -group. Femora covered by silvery pubescence and occasional protruding longer straight setae. Tarsal I spur very developed, at least twice as wide as tarsal segment base (Figure 48b).</p><p>Metasoma. T1 posteriorly pyriform, with strong dorsal curvature. T2 elongated, with more than half of its length with parallel sides; T2 lamella yellowish, T2/S2 notch visible, T2/S2 suture reached about half of the segment length. T2 covered by dense and intermediate directional punctures, sparser on S2. T2 covered by short yellowish pubescence; remaining segments with longer whitish protruding setae.</p><p>Male-female pairing strength: high; confirmed by the mt DNA.</p><p>Distribution. Ethiopia, Kenya.</p><p>Genetics.   Three specimens were genotyped, suggesting a single BIN (BOLD: ADN 9352). One of the specimens was a male, therefore offering excellent support to male-female pair.  The position of  R. novissima GIORDANI SOIKA is sister to the other two members of this group, which have a less clear relationship between them. A single specimen yielded a successful 28s rDNA sequence, which suggested a central position within the capensis- group  .</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/4F5987BAE804FFD8FF11FF7972F59C11	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		MagnoliaPress via Plazi	Polašek, Ozren;Onah, Ikechukwu;Kehinde, Tope;Rojo, Veronica;Noort, Simon Van;Carpenter, James M.	Polašek, Ozren, Onah, Ikechukwu, Kehinde, Tope, Rojo, Veronica, Noort, Simon Van, Carpenter, James M. (2025): Revision of the mainland African species of the Old World social wasp genus Ropalidia Guérin-Méneville 1831 (Hymenoptera; Vespidae). Zootaxa 5626 (1): 1-142, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5626.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5626.1.1
4F5987BAE805FFDAFF11FF7974509902.text	4F5987BAE805FFDAFF11FF7974509902.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Ropalidia nubila Polasek 2025	<div><p>Ropalidia nubila Polašek sp. nov.</p><p>urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: C485670B-D37A-498A-AA72-B9FEE8ACD24A</p><p>Type specimens:   Holotype:  Upington, South Africa, 1♀ (AMNH _ IZC00179591)  .   Paratypes: 18 ♀♀ with same collection data as holotype;  Keimoes, South Africa ,   3♀♀ (AMNH);  Fish river canyon, Namibia ,  1♀ (MFNB); paratype / allotypes [4♂♂]:   2♂♂ with same collection data as holotype;  Keimoes, South Africa ,   1♂ (AMNH _ IZC00179614);  Kimberly Ritchie, South Africa ,   1♂ (OLM).  The total number of examined specimens : 23♀♀, 4♂♂.</p><p>Diagnosis. An interesting member of the  capensis -group, with light brown basal body colour, distinct whitish-yellow markings and a developed fore wing apical spot. Females are morphologically very similar to  R. antennata (DE SAUSSURE), while males have specific clypeus and antenna morphology, sufficient for the species determination.</p><p>Description. Females. Wing length: 6.3–7.1 mm. Colour. One of the least variable African  Ropalidia, with minimal morphological and colour differences across all examined specimens. Basal colour light brown, with yellowish-white markings (Figure 15b). Clypeus yellow with large light brown spot attached basally, yielding equally broad yellow encircling line (Figure 15a). Inner orbit with thicker yellow line, interantennal area without any yellow. Gena brown with small yellow spot; mandible yellow with lightly brown centre. Frons, vertex and tempora lightly brown, area around ocelli black. Whitish-yellow areas of mesosoma include line underneath pronotal carina, postero-dorsal angle on pronotum, postero-medial quadrant of tegulae, postero-lateral angle of scutellum (sometimes suffused and nearly gone), bilateral spot on metanotum and all three coxa pairs (coxa I entirely yellow, coxa II and III with a lateral yellow line; Figure 15b). Darker brown streaks on mesonotum (Figure 100a). Streaks of suffused black colour may be seen on the posterior half of mesopleuron, metapleuron and sometimes very slightly on propodeum. T1 with bilateral yellow spot, T2/S2 with a wide posterior yellow band, T3–T5 and S3–S4 with suffused posterior yellow band (Figure 15b). Legs uniformly brown, tarsi darker. Wings transparent, nervature light brown, stigma brown. Apical spot developed, lightly brown (Figure 15b). Antenna ferruginous or slightly tinted darker from above (darker than the basal body colour), orange underneath (Figure 15b).</p><p>Head. Clypeus resembling that of  R. antennata (DE SAUSSURE), with straight upes and developed OCA; its surface finely punctate, covered by short golden-whitish setae (Figure 15a). Mandible barely widened basally. Inner orbit impunctate, frons densely and finely punctate. Gena 0.7 times as wide as eye, tempora thinner, about half of gena width. Occipital carina developed, reaches mandible. Ocellar triangle wider basally. Scape longer than AF1, AF2 about 1.2–1.4 times as wide as long (Figure 15a).</p><p>Mesosoma. Mesosoma shallowly punctate, punctures on pronotum larger. Entire mesosoma covered by short yellowish pubescence, with whitish traces on propleura, mesopleuron and dorsal pronotal margin. Mesonotum shallowly punctate, obscured by short pubescence. Parapsidal furrows strongly developed (Figure 100a). Scutellum with sparse punctures and moderately developed central furrow, metanotum with larger posterior impunctate area. Inferior propodeal carina weak, striae weak. Propodeal excavation with dense golden setae, commonly directed downwards, but some specimens may even have horizontal setae direction.</p><p>Metasoma. T1 pyriform, evenly curved (in lateral view), with sparse and shallow punctures distally (Figure 15b); T1 covered by yellow-golden pubescence, S1 covered by silvery pubescence of equal length. T2 with longer section with parallel sides, covered by shallow directional punctures (Figure 15b). T2 lamella whitish-yellow, transparent; T2/S2 notch wide and obtuse, T2/S2 suture developed.</p><p>Males. Wing length: 6.2–6.9 mm. Colour. Mainly resembles females, but with more yellow on head and more back on mesosoma underside. Clypeus, mandibles, inner orbit and interantennal area merged in yellow; gena with yellow spot (Figure 56a). Head with more black than females; black markings can be as reduced to small area surrounding ocelli, extending to very melanic specimens that have streaks of black areas from ocelli to antennal socket. Line underneath pronotal carina, anterior surface of mesopleuron, bilateral spot on metanotum, anterior surface of all coxa pairs (dorsal surface brown, or sometimes even yellow in coxa I), femur I and II (sometimes and III) with a proximal suffused yellow line, tibia brown, tarsi somewhat darker than the tibia and femur (Figure 100b). T1 with bilateral yellow spot, T2/S2 with a continuous posterior yellow band, T3–T5, S3–S4 with suffused yellow bands.</p><p>Head. Clypeus wider than long, with mildly projecting and rounded apex, upes short (Figure 56a). Clypeal surface very finely punctate, hardly discenrible underneath layer of short and dense silvery pubescence that extends on mandible, gena and inner orbits. Antenna very clavate, comparable to  R. capensis (DE SAUSSURE); scape twice wider than AF1 base, conspicuously longer than AF1, AF2 broader than long. Tyloids very developed, originating on AF2 (Figure 56b). Terminal flagellomere elongated and curved, similar to  R. capensis (DE SAUSSURE) .</p><p>Mesosoma. Tarsal spur I very well developed.</p><p>Metasoma. S7 with small central concave area.</p><p>Male-female pairing strength. High, males are part of type series.</p><p>Distribution. South Africa (Northern Cape), southern Namibia.</p><p>Etymology. The name is the Latin adjective nubilus -a -um (“cloudy”), and refers to the faint but developed apical spot of the fore wing.</p><p>Similar species. Females may resemble lightly coloured  R. antennata (DE SAUSSURE) . Males are easily separated from other species by morphology of clypeus and dense pubescence that obscures punctures.</p><p>Genetics.A single genotyped specimen yielded a somewhat confusing phylogenetic position (see the  R. capensis DE SAUSSURE section for additional discussion). However, the quality and distinctiveness of the submitted sequence were sufficient for a BIN identification (BOLD:ADR2390).</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/4F5987BAE805FFDAFF11FF7974509902	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		MagnoliaPress via Plazi	Polašek, Ozren;Onah, Ikechukwu;Kehinde, Tope;Rojo, Veronica;Noort, Simon Van;Carpenter, James M.	Polašek, Ozren, Onah, Ikechukwu, Kehinde, Tope, Rojo, Veronica, Noort, Simon Van, Carpenter, James M. (2025): Revision of the mainland African species of the Old World social wasp genus Ropalidia Guérin-Méneville 1831 (Hymenoptera; Vespidae). Zootaxa 5626 (1): 1-142, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5626.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5626.1.1
4F5987BAE806FFC4FF11F9D4761F99CA.text	4F5987BAE806FFC4FF11F9D4761F99CA.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Ropalidia ophuzi Polasek 2025	<div><p>Ropalidia ophuzi Polašek sp. nov.</p><p>urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 57535CEC-B084-439B-95F3-A94090F2B1AD</p><p>Type specimens.   Holotype:  Phongolo Bush Nature Reserve, South Africa, 1♀ (SAM. A027345.14)  .   Paratypes: 1♀ with the same collection data as the holotype (SAM. A027344.13);  Shilouvane, South Africa ,   3♀♀ (ETH);  Waterval, Mpumalanga, South Africa ,   1♀ (OLM).  The total number of examined specimens : 6♀♀.</p><p>Diagnosis. Larger member of  capensis -group, similar to  R. acuminata sp. nov., characterized by very developed juxtamandibular excavations, punctate clypeus base and centre, more lightly coloured body with yellow posterior band on T2, wide gena with less developed punctures, and rounded head.</p><p>Description. Females. Wing length 6.4–8.4 mm. Colour. Basal colour brown.Yellow markings include clypeal apex (ranging from wide yellow area that occupies lower third of clypeus to entirely brown clypeus), inner orbit (Figure 2b), and variable antero-basal spot on mandible (mandible sometimes brown). Gena and tempora brown, frons black, eye sinus brownish, vertex anteriorly black, posteriorly brown (Figure 3 aa). Mesosoma (including coxa) without yellow or with two posterior suffused yellow-reddish spots on metanotum. Mesonotum and metapleuron black, mesopleuron black with large reddish area; pronotum, scutellum and metanotum reddish (Figure 3 bb). Generalized colour pattern of mesosoma follows other African mainland  Ropalidia (and some  Polistes) species. The pattern consists of mainly dark or black central parts of mesosoma (mesonotum, metapleuron and propodeum), with two brownish-reddish circular clusters. The first includes pronotum and extends across tegula to scutellum and metanotum, while second originates on pronotum and extends across mesopleuron towards coxa II and III. T1 brown or with suffused posterior reddish band, T2 brown or light-brown, with posterior yellow band that extends to S2 circumference. Remaining metasomal segments brownish.Antenna ferruginous or slightly darkened from above, yellowish underneath (all the segments, including scape). Wings yellowish, nervature light brown or brown, stigma yellowish, opaque, apical spot weak, lightly brown (Figure 3 bb).</p><p>Head. Clypeus similar to  R. acuminata sp. nov., with convex surface, very projecting apex and deep juxtamandibular excavations (Figure 2b). In contrast to that species,  R. ophuzi sp. nov. has broader clypeal base, in line with broader frons and head. Upes commonly slightly curved, in contrast to straight in  R. acuminata sp. nov. Clypeal base largely and shallowly punctate (Figure 2b). Clypeal base covered by yellowish pubescence, with gradually elongating projecting setae, which are about twice longer near apically. Inner orbit depressed, with an occasional, poorly defined puncture. Frons with coarse and large punctures, covered by yellow pubescence and yellow-whitish protruding setae with forwardly bent tips, of nearly equal length or even longer than forward ocellus width. Gena wider than eye, with defined punctures that dissipate towards occipital carina (Figure 3 aa). Occipital carina developed, mildly sinuate. Ocellar triangle with broader base. Eyes covered by very short setae or asetose. Scape longer than AF1; AF2 about as long as wide.</p><p>Mesosoma. Mesosoma covered by shorter yellowish-golden pubescence, that turns to longer setae on propodeum; entire mesosoma surface largely and densely punctate, especially strong pronotum and mesopleuron; few punctures present in lateral half of tegula. Mesonotum coarsely and shallowly punctate, median and parapsidal furrow visible, but not strongly developed. Scutellum with stronger punctures than mesonotum and variably developed median sulcus. Metanotum with similar punctures pattern and shiny posterior impunctate area. Metapleuron with retained punctures anteriorly, impunctate centre and stronger punctures towards propodeum. Propodeal excavation rounded, narrower than metanotum width, covered by fine striae and an occasional puncture. Lateral propodeal area more strongly striated, upper carina poorly developed, inferior propodeal carina somewhat developed as expansion of one of distal striae, but without hyaline rim.</p><p>Metasoma. T1 triangular and rounded posteriorly, covered by sparse and poorly defined punctures even proximally. T2 with long parallel contour and minimal narrowing towards lamella. T2/S2 suture strongly developed, commonly visible along entire segment length. T2 lamellar notch visible and obtuse. T2 shallowly directionally punctate. T2 longer than S2, yielding oblique segment cut-out (Figure 3 bb). T2 covered by short yellowish setae, those on S2 somewhat longer and whitish.</p><p>Male unknown.</p><p>Distribution: The South Africa (KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga, Limpopo).</p><p>Etymology. The name comes from the Zulu word for “yellow”,  ophuzi, which is treated as indeclinable.</p><p>Similar species.  R. acuminata sp. nov.; the differences between these two species are listed in the key to species.</p><p>Genetics.   One specimen was successfully genotyped, suggesting sister position to  R. acuminata sp. nov. (BOLD: ADO0894)  .</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/4F5987BAE806FFC4FF11F9D4761F99CA	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		MagnoliaPress via Plazi	Polašek, Ozren;Onah, Ikechukwu;Kehinde, Tope;Rojo, Veronica;Noort, Simon Van;Carpenter, James M.	Polašek, Ozren, Onah, Ikechukwu, Kehinde, Tope, Rojo, Veronica, Noort, Simon Van, Carpenter, James M. (2025): Revision of the mainland African species of the Old World social wasp genus Ropalidia Guérin-Méneville 1831 (Hymenoptera; Vespidae). Zootaxa 5626 (1): 1-142, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5626.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5626.1.1
4F5987BAE818FFC6FF11FD03736B98C6.text	4F5987BAE818FFC6FF11FD03736B98C6.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Ropalidia perovici Polasek 2025	<div><p>Ropalidia perovici Polašek sp. nov.</p><p>urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: F3AAB0BD-5CD1-4BB2-9DBE-6CF97E930DBC</p><p>Type specimens:   Holotype:  Voyager, Mombasa, Kenya, 1♀ (HPM.06)  .   Paratypes: Jadotville, DR Congo, 1♀ (RMCA); Kakanda Mutaka, DR Congo, 1♀ (RMCA);  Kambove, 200 km W, DR Congo, 1♀ (NHM);  Katanga,  Kamina, DR Congo, 1♀ (RMCA);  Kinshasa,  Lovanium, DR Congo, 4♀♀ (RMCA);  Rwnezori, DR Congo, 1♀ (NHM);  Nanyuki, Kenya, 1♀ (NHM); Blantyre,  Nyassaland, Malawi, 1♂ (NHM);  Mlanje, Malawi, 1♂ (NHM); ineligible “Iareha, Rhcdera”, no data, 1♀ (NHM);  Astrida, Ruanda, 1♀ (RMCA);  Auckland park,  Kingsway, South Africa, 2♀♀ (CBCG);  Elans river,  Waterval, South Africa, 1♀ (OLM);  Itala Game Reserve, South Africa, 1♀ (SAM); Limpopo,  Nylstrom, South Africa, 1♀ (OLM);  Modimole, South Africa, 2♀♀ (OLM);  Paddock, South Africa, 3♀♀ (MCSN);  Pretoria, South Africa, 3♀♀ (RMCA);  Rustenburgh,  Transvaal, South Africa, 1♀ (MSNV);  Saldanha Bay, South Africa, 1♀ (SAM);  Schoemanville, South Africa, 1♀ (NHM);  Thabazimbi, Limpopo, South Africa, 1♀ (OLM);  Waterval, Mpumalanga, South Africa, 2♀♀ (OLM);  Waterval-Boven,  Elani river, South Africa, 1♀ (OLM);  Kibonoto, Tanzania, 1♀ (NHRS);  Malagarasi, Kigoma, Tanzania, 1♀ (NHM);  Mt Elgon, Uganda, 1♀ (NHM);  Abercorn (Mbala), Zambia, 1♀ (MSNV);  Chingola, 50 km W, Zambia, 1♀ (OLM);  Kasempa, Zambia, 2♀♀ (OLM); Kasempa, NW, Zambia, 2♀♀ (OLM);  Kitwe, 60 km SE, Zambia, 1♀ (OLM);  Mkushi, Zambia, 2♀♀ (OLM);  Mwinilunga, Zambia, 2♀♀ (AMNH);  Solwezi, Zambia, 1♀ (OLM);  Solwezi, 60 km W, Zambia, 1♀ (OLM); Solwezi, W, Zambia, 1♀ (OLM);  Bulwayo, route 8, Zimbabwe, 1♀ (OLM);  Chishawasha,  Salisbury, Zimbabwe, 1♀ (NHM);  Mwuma,  Chatsworth,  Gutu, Zimbabwe, 1♀ (OLM);  Nyika, 50 km E of Masvingo, Zimbabwe, 1♀ (OLM);  Salisbury, Mashonaland / Harare, Zimbabwe, 2♀♀ (NHM);  Selukwe,  Rhodesia del Sud, Zimbabwe, 1♀ (MNHN).  The total number of examined specimens: 57♀♀, 2♂♂  .</p><p>Diagnosis. Larger species that resembles  R. clepsydra sp. nov. and  R. fita sp. nov. Females are characterized by the developed inferior carina, overall longer pilosity, brown-reddish with black colour, absence of yellow markings on mesosoma and metasoma and bicolorous AF1. Males are easily recognized by predominantly brown clypeus and very acute terminal flagellomere.</p><p>Description. Female. Wing length: 9.4–11.2 mm. Colour. Basal colour brown-reddish or dark brown, without any yellow markings on pronotum, somewhat darker legs and yellowish fore wing (Figure 45a). We identified three colour clusters of this species.</p><p>a) East coastal cluster. Numerous yellow markings on head, including interantennal area and thin yellow markings under upes (Figure 102a). T2 without (or with very thin) posterior yellow band. Thorax underside and legs ferruginous. Antenna proximally ferruginous, distally blackened (Figure 44 cc). East Coast of Africa, from Kenya to Mozambique.</p><p>b) Inland cluster. Darker appearance, including bicolorous antenna (Figure 44 cc), with darkened or even black thorax underside, dark brown legs and black tarsi. Clypeus with yellow (sometimes whitish-yellow markings); lightly coloured features of head thinner (Figure 102b). Zambia and Zimbabwe, parts of South Africa (Limpopo and Mpumalanga).</p><p>c) South coastal cluster. Ferruginous basal colour, with reduced yellow markings on the head (can be almost entirely absent; Figure 102c), ferruginous antenna and lack of black markings (Figure 102d). Thick posterior yellow band on T2. South Africa ( Natal, Western Cape)  .</p><p>Head. Clypeus wider than long, upes curved, oculo-clypeal angle not developed; clypeus shallowly punctate (Figure 102a). Inner orbit with some punctures, but area close to eye impunctate (usually this imunctate area corresponds to yellow line along inner eye margin; this feature is useful in separation from  R. clepsydra sp. nov., which does not have impunctate area close to eye). Gena wide, usually wider than eye. Frons densely punctate, vertex and tempora with less defined punctures, gena punctures large and shallow, but retained close to occipital carina. Eye setae very short or absent. Ocellar triangle equidistant or with broader base. Body covered by yellowish-golden shorter pubescence; setae on frons predominantly straight (tips predominantly not bent), hair length usually equal to ocellar diameter (as opposed to  R. fita sp. nov., which has setae longer than ocelli diameter). AF1 longer than scape, AF2 about 1.2–1.4 times as long as wide.</p><p>Mesosoma. Pronotum and mesopleuron with large punctures; those on mesonotum sometimes smaller. Area lateral to parapsidal furrows sparsely punctate. Metapleuron shallowly punctate, with impunctate diagonal area (specimens from Tanzania and Kenya have almost impunctate metapleuron; Figure 44 bb).Scutellar carina moderately developed, anterior half commonly black, posterior brown, just slightly protruding above surface. Metanotum usually without median tooth (specimens from South Africa have irregular upper surface or even a tissue bulge that resembles weakly developed tooth). Propodeum with strong striations and very variable contour; it ranges from poorly developed upper carina and almost inexistent inferior propodeal carina, to very strongly developed upper carina that almost reaches very developed inferior propodeal carina (usually broken down by oblique striations). Specimens with strongly developed upper carina and inferior propodeal carina resemble  R. clepsydra sp. nov., while specimens from the South coastal cluster have less developed inferior carina. Inland cluster has very strongly developed inferior propodeal carina that may create an L-shaped structure (Figure 45b).</p><p>Metasoma. T1 resembles other species of  guttatipennis group, but may be somewhat broader. T2 elongated, with parallel sides for over half of its length. T2/S2 suture visible for about third of segment length, T2/S2 notch on T2 lamella wide and visible. Lamella shorter, yellowish or brown, translucent.</p><p>Males. Wing length: 10.1–10.9 mm. Colour. Resembles female, with less yellow colour on head compared to other species; clypeus mainly brown, with only remaining thin yellow line latero-basally in more melanic specimens, while more lightly coloured specimens have yellow clypeus with suffused large brown spot (Figure 58a). Interantennal area and inner orbit with suffused yellow. Gena with small yellow triangular spot under eye; tempora, frons and vertex brown. Mandible basally brown, with either antero-basal yellow spot (Figure 58a; this is a unique feature across the mainland African  Ropalidia, since other species have a basal origin of yellow mark on mandible or entirely yellow mandible). Mesosoma underside brown, with at most suffused yellow areas on coxa I and anterior surface of mesopleuron. Antenna similarly coloured to females; scape and pedicel ferruginous, AF1 basally ferruginous, distally becomes black; remaining segments black from above; scape yellow underneath, remaining segments orange-ferruginous underneath.</p><p>Head. Clypeus wider than long (about 1.4 times as wide as long), with rounded edges, curved upes and slightly projecting apex (Figure 58a). Basal three quarters of the clypeus largely and densely punctate (Figure 58a). Clypeus covered by silvery pubescence and protruding fine longer setae. Frons covered by longer golden setae that often have bent tips. Ocellar triangle acute forwardly. Gena about half of eye width, covered by strong and well-defined punctures; occipital carina more developed, sinuate. Scape thickened; AF2 about 1.8–2.2 times as long as wide. Tyloids originate at AF1, where they are very thin, but extend along the entire flagellomere length. Tyloids on AF2 and more distal segments gradually widen, occupying nearly entire inner surface on AF11. Terminal flagellomere elongated, equally curved on the outer margin, tip very acute (Figure 58b).</p><p>Mesosoma. Tarsal spur I not developed.</p><p>Metasoma. S7 mildly concave.</p><p>Male-female pairing strength: moderate. The link is based on the overall appearance, morphological similarities, distribution pattern and inability to pair males to other species; the genetic distance of genotyped females, especially in the 28S rDNA, suggest that this species is somewhat more distant from all others. However, the examined male specimens were not genotyped, nor were they a part of the nest series, therefore yielding at best a moderate male-female pairing strength.</p><p>Distribution. South Africa (47% of examined specimens), Zambia (24%), Zimbabwe (10%), DR Congo, Kenya, Malawi, Uganda, Ruanda, Tanzania, Namibia (observation only).</p><p>Etymology. The name is in memory of Franjo Perović (1948–2013), who was a keen supporter of the principal author in the early stages of his  Polistinae research.</p><p>Similar species. This species may present some problems, as females may resemble several other species. Females may resemble  R. clepsydra sp. nov., which has a much stronger punctures in females, especially on metapleuron and inner orbit. Secondly, some confusion is possible with  R. fita sp. nov. females, which have longer setae with bent tips on the frons and mesonotum as the principal separation feature, accompanied by  R. fita sp. nov. larger size. Thirdly, females may resemble  R. dondo sp. nov., especially specimens that have similar colouration pattern. In such cases, it is possible to use female antenna colour, which is commonly black in  R. perovici sp. nov. (at least distal segments), while  R. dondo sp. nov. commonly has an orange antenna or at most darkened from above, but not black. Lastly, problems may arise in the separation of  R. guttatipennis (DE SAUSSURE), primarily due to the large extent of variability of that species. In such cases, the structure of propodeum can be used in separation; propodeum excavation is deeper and striae are stronger in  R. perovici sp. nov. The colour pattern of the antenna can also be useful;  R. guttatipennis (DE SAUSSURE) has a very variable antenna colour (ranging from orange to black), but never in the bicolorous pattern on AF1, with proximal part ferruginous and distal part and more distal flagellomeres black, which is common in  R. perovici sp. nov. (Figure 44 cc). Lastly,  R. guttatipennis (DE SAUSSURE) has no inferior propodeal carina developed. It should also be noted that the two species are to a degree allopatric, at least in the brown form; specimens of  R. guttatipennis (DE SAUSSURE) with no yellow colour on mesosoma and metasoma are usually only found in Western Africa. Nevertheless, some confusion is possible, suggesting that DNA might be needed in the most dubious cases to separate these two species. Males are easily separated from all other species by the terminal flagellomere shape, and large brown suffused spot on clypeus.</p><p>Genetic data. Four separate BINs were assigned, two from Zambia (BOLD:ADN5037, ADN6152), one from Kenya (BOLD:ADM2243), and one from the South Africa (BOLD:ADS5790).</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/4F5987BAE818FFC6FF11FD03736B98C6	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		MagnoliaPress via Plazi	Polašek, Ozren;Onah, Ikechukwu;Kehinde, Tope;Rojo, Veronica;Noort, Simon Van;Carpenter, James M.	Polašek, Ozren, Onah, Ikechukwu, Kehinde, Tope, Rojo, Veronica, Noort, Simon Van, Carpenter, James M. (2025): Revision of the mainland African species of the Old World social wasp genus Ropalidia Guérin-Méneville 1831 (Hymenoptera; Vespidae). Zootaxa 5626 (1): 1-142, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5626.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5626.1.1
4F5987BAE81BFFC7FF11FF7976B59E8F.text	4F5987BAE81BFFC7FF11FF7976B59E8F.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Ropalidia puncta (FABRICIUS 1804) Polašek & Onah & Kehinde & Rojo & Noort & Carpenter 2025	<div><p>Ropalidia puncta (FABRICIUS 1804) stat. rev.</p><p>Polistes punctum FABRICIUS 1804 (type deposited in Museum Kiel; later relocated to Copenhagen)</p><p>Icaria distigma GERSTAECKER 1857,  syn. nov.</p><p>Icaria cariniscutis CAMERON 1910</p><p>Type material. A specimen with the label Nova Cambria Dom. Billardiere, deposited in the SNM. This specimen has caused some confusion, attributed to either  R. cincta or  R. guttatipennis (van Der Vecht, 1959) . The specimen is in poor condition; essentially, it is only a posterior part of the mesosoma, posterior coxa, femur III and a right posterior wing. (Supplementary Figure 13). In addition, there is another free (unattached) pronotum, which is mainly yellow (Supplementary Figure 14). However, a careful comparison indicates that the free pronotum is more or less intact, while the pinned specimen still has remaining parts of the pronotum attached to the antero-lateral margins of the mesonotum, suggesting that these are the remains of two species. Therefore, the free pronotum is excluded from the taxonomic analysis, as it certainly belongs to another specimen. The examination of the pinned remains suggested a species that has predominantly ferruginous basal colour, developed upper propodeal carina, strong and irregular striae, golden pubescence and yellowish valvula; coxa is ferruginous. This description fits  Ropalidia distigma (GERSTAECKER) . Interestingly, one specimen of this taxon from the NHRS collection suggest the similar; Anders Gustaf Dahlbom (1806–1859) labelled a specimen as “  Epipona punctum ”, “  Polistes id. Fabr. Typ. in Mus. Kiel Collat. A GD” (Supplementary Figure 15), possibly suggesting that he compared this specimen with the type and found them to be conspecific.</p><p>Icaria distigma 
GERSTAECKER. The type is deposited in MFNB; it fits the species features, including propodeal striations, lack of strongly developed inferior propodeal carina, ferruginous legs and antenna. The type is in relatively good condition, missing antenna and a few legs, but providing sufficient evidence for status assessment.</p><p>Icaria cariniscutis CAMERON. The type is deposited in NHM. The specimen is characterized by a very lightly coloured antenna and striated propodeum, and darker legs, as already indicated in the species description (Cameron, 1910). It has been proposed as a synonym of  R. distigma by Meade Waldo (Meade-Waldo, 1913). The examination of the NHRS collection revealed two specimens (NHRS 8284, NHRS 8285) that have the same label and originate from  Usambara,  Mombo, listed as the locus typicus. Both specimens have all features of the Kenyan-Tanzanian cluster of  R. puncta (FABRICIUS) stat. rev., with striated propodeum, plenty of yellow colour on the face, ferruginous antenna and a black apical spot of the fore wing.</p><p>Comments. A larger species of the genus, with an interesting distribution pattern, aligned with genetic COI lineage analysis.Although the majority of specimens were seen from South Africa, there is an interesting cluster that is prevalent in Tanzania and Kenya, which was previously labelled as  R. cariniscutis (CAMERON) . Some specimens of this species may be hard to separate from closely related  R. aethiopica (DU BUYSSON), including males. The feature that is very useful in females, golden pubescence on frons, is common in South Africa (Figure 103a), while the specimens from Eastern Africa, primarily Kenya, commonly have silvery frons pubescence (Figure 103b).</p><p>Genetics. In line with morphological issues, there are also problems in the genetics of this group, originating in three separate genetic clusters attributable to this species (further discussion on the entire group is provided under  R. aethiopica DU BUYSSON).</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/4F5987BAE81BFFC7FF11FF7976B59E8F	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		MagnoliaPress via Plazi	Polašek, Ozren;Onah, Ikechukwu;Kehinde, Tope;Rojo, Veronica;Noort, Simon Van;Carpenter, James M.	Polašek, Ozren, Onah, Ikechukwu, Kehinde, Tope, Rojo, Veronica, Noort, Simon Van, Carpenter, James M. (2025): Revision of the mainland African species of the Old World social wasp genus Ropalidia Guérin-Méneville 1831 (Hymenoptera; Vespidae). Zootaxa 5626 (1): 1-142, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5626.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5626.1.1
4F5987BAE81CFFC1FF11FF7976889A22.text	4F5987BAE81CFFC1FF11FF7976889A22.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Ropalidia retromaculata Polasek 2025	<div><p>Ropalidia retromaculata Polašek sp. nov.</p><p>urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: A54064C5-A1EA-4FC0-86E7-1C4890A1F973</p><p>Type specimens.   Holotype:  Mzarabani, Zimbabwe, 1♀ (OLM.0198)  .  Paratypes: same collection data as the holotype, 1♀;   Chipinge, Mt Selinda, Zimbabwe, 2♀♀ (OLM); Hwange, Zimbabwe, 1♀ (OLM); Chingola-Solwezi, Zambia, 4♀♀ (OLM); 120 km S of Lusaka, Zambia, 3♀♀ (OLM);  Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, 1♀ (OLM); Kasungu, Malawi, 1♀ (OLM); Thuchila, Malawi, 1♀ (NNM); Kacholola, Zambia, 1♀ (CAS). The total number of examined specimens; 16♀♀  .</p><p>Diagnosis. Member of the capensis- group, morphologically very similar to  R. valentula sp. nov., characterized by a slightly more protruding clypeal apex in females, upwardly directed setae in propodeal excavation, light brown fore wing nervature and yellowish and transparent stigma, dark coxae, yellow spot on gena that extends to posterior side of head and more yellow colour on the body. Males are unknown.</p><p>Description. Females. Wing length 6.3–7.9 mm. Colour. Basic colour brown or light brown. Clypeus yellow with smaller basal light brown or brown spot (Figure 13a). Inner orbit almost entirely yellow to eye sinus, merged with yellow interantennal area. Mandible yellow with minute brown central or basal spot (Figure 13b). Gena yellow, in more xanthic specimens even he posterior side of head with yellow spot (notably,  R. mosichi sp. nov. can also have a yellow spot on posterior side of head). Tempora, vertex and frons brown or brown with black markings (commonly underneath scape and sometimes centrally on frons; Figure 13a, b). Pronotum brown with broadened yellow line underneath carina, which extends and widens towards inferior angle; sometimes pronotum can also have small yellow spot at posterior angle. Mesonotum darker, usually dark brown with varying amount of black. Basal colour of scutellum and metanotum usually similarly basal pronotum colour; scutellum occasionally with thin posterior yellow line, metanotum with two lateral yellow spots of varying intensity. Mesopleuron black with large reddish area, metapleuron black and brown; propodeum brown. Coxa brown or reddish (sometimes slightly lighter colour than the basal body colour), remaining leg parts brown or reddish, terminal parts of tibia and tarsi occasionally darker than femur. T1 with posterior yellow line, reduced to bilateral triangular spots in darker specimens. T2 with posterior yellow band, S2 with remaining yellow triangles and occasionally complete yellow line thinner than that on T2. T3 and T4 (sometimes even T5, less commonly even T6) with posterior suffused yellow band (Figure 13c). S2–S6 with reduced posterio yellow bands to lateral triangles. Wings transparent, except the yellowed anterior margin; apical spot faintly yellowish or brownish. Stigma light brown and semi-translucent, nervature light brown. Antenna ferruginous, yellowish-orange underneath, flagellomeres 4–9 (or 3–10) slightly tinted dark from above.</p><p>Head. Clypeus about as wide as long, with straight or weakly curved upes and weakly developed oculo-clypeal angle (Figure 13a). Clypeal apex more protruding, and upes slightly more curved than in  R. valentula sp. nov. Clypeus with hardly conspicuous and fine punctures that follow yellow-brown gradient—punctures on yellow areas much less defined, sometimes yellow areas entirely impunctate. Frons densely and finely punctate, obscured by fine yellowish-silvery pubescence. Frons covered by longer setae that are longer than the ocellus diameter and are forwardly bent at tips. Setae on tempora are somewhat shorter, these on gena very short. Tempora finely punctate; gena with occasional and weakly defined puncture, yellow areas almost impunctate. Ocelli with wider base than sides. Mandible wider proximally than distally, but less than in  R. valentula sp. nov.; basal mandibular excavation less developed than in  R. valentula sp. nov. Scape longer than AF1, AF2 about long as broad or somewhat wider.</p><p>Mesosoma. Mesosoma covered by very short yellowish-golden pubescence; some longer setae at dorsal part of pronotum, in front of anterior mesonotum margin. Punctures similar to other members of  capensis -group, with shallower and less defined margins; mesonotum sparsely and shallowly punctate, median suture and parapsidal furrows less developed. Scutellum with developed black line in place of median carina, usually about a quarter of scutellum length. Propodeum overall rounded; carina and inferior propodeal carina usually weak. Propodeal excavation with upwardly directed setae in mid-third of height, similar to remaining two closely related species ( R. nigrocerasina sp. nov. and  R. valentula sp. nov.).</p><p>Metasoma. T1 pyriform, more slender than in  R. valentula sp. nov. T2 of intermediate length, with parallel margins; lamella with shallow T2/S2 nick and less developed T2/S2 suture. T2 covered by intermediate and shallow, poorly defined punctures.</p><p>Males are unknown.</p><p>Distribution: Zambia, Zimbabwe, Malawi.</p><p>Etymology. The name combines the Latin words retro (an adverb meaning “behind”) and maculatus -a -um (an adjective meaning “spotted” or “marked”), in reference to the posterior yellow spot of the head.</p><p>Similar species.  R. nigrocerasina sp. nov. and  R. valentula sp. nov. (see description of these species and key to species for further comparison).</p><p>Genetics. Three specimens were genotyped, belonging to a single BIN (BOLD:ADS0025). The results suggest a sister position to the  R. valentula sp. nov. and  R. nigrocerasina sp. nov., in alignment with the morphological features of these three species.</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/4F5987BAE81CFFC1FF11FF7976889A22	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		MagnoliaPress via Plazi	Polašek, Ozren;Onah, Ikechukwu;Kehinde, Tope;Rojo, Veronica;Noort, Simon Van;Carpenter, James M.	Polašek, Ozren, Onah, Ikechukwu, Kehinde, Tope, Rojo, Veronica, Noort, Simon Van, Carpenter, James M. (2025): Revision of the mainland African species of the Old World social wasp genus Ropalidia Guérin-Méneville 1831 (Hymenoptera; Vespidae). Zootaxa 5626 (1): 1-142, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5626.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5626.1.1
4F5987BAE81DFFC1FF11FE7C74799C99.text	4F5987BAE81DFFC1FF11FE7C74799C99.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Ropalidia salebrosa Polasek 2025	<div><p>Ropalidia salebrosa Polašek sp. nov.</p><p>urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: A63A2B4B-0073-41D2-8637-557FA41416A7</p><p>Type specimens.   Holotype:  Parc National de Dzanga-Ndoki, Central African Republic, 1♀ (SAM. A033864). The total number of examined specimens: 1♀.</p><p>Diagnosis. Dark species that resembles  R. excavata GIORDANI SOIKA, but with more coarsely punctate T1 and S1, and shiny gena in females.</p><p>Description. Females. Wing length 9.4 mm. Colour. Basal colour black, with only few yellow or yellowish markings (Figure 22a). Yellow areas include thick apical band on clypeus, antero-basal spot on mandible (distal half of mandible ferruginous), yellow line along inner orbit and antennal socket underside (Figure 22c); orangetinted line high on tempora (Figure 22a), faintly yellowish pronotal inferior angles and small yellow spot on frontal surface of mesopleuron. Metasomal segments 3–6 gradually convert to ferruginous colour (Figure 22a, b). Antenna black from above, scape reddish underneath, flagellomeres yellow underneath (Figure 22a). Wings yellowish, stigma brown and opaque, apical spot faintly brown and extended towards stigma (Figure 22a). Legs black, tibia I ferruginous (Figure 22a, b).</p><p>Head. Clypeus wider than long, with evenly curved upes and no apparent oculo-clypeal angle (Figure 22c). Clypeus punctures of intermediately density and depth basally, more sparsely and less defined apically; entire surface covered by long setae. Inner orbit weakly punctate, in strong contrast to coarse punctures of frons. Frons covered by white-golden dense pubescence; setae on frons shorter, about as long as ocelli width, or slightly shorter; their tips slightly bent forward. Gena coarsely punctate close to eye, evanescing towards occipital carina. Occipital carina strong, sinuate. Ocellar triangle nearly evenly sided. Eye setae sparse, intermediate in length. Scape shorter than AF1, pedicel longer than wide, AF2 about 1.4 times as long as wide.</p><p>Mesosoma. Mesosoma coarsely punctate, especially on mesonotum, pronotal angles, scutellum and metanotum. Parapsidal furrows are barely visible, nearby punctures smaller and sparser. Metapleuron with just few defined punctures towards distal end, remaining surface with cuticular structure. Frontal margin of scutellum perpendicular. Scutellar median carina not developed (only a slightly disrupted cuticular impunctate surface is in its place). Metanotum wider, with pronounced postero-lateral angles and without median tooth; triangular impunctate shiny area of intermediate size (Figure 19 aa). Propodeum resembles  R. excavata GIORDANI SOIKA; propodeal excavation wide, finely punctate and finely striate, somewhat obscured by pubescence (Figure 19 aa). Superior propodeal carina weak (Figure 19 aa). Inferior propodeal carina strongly developed, merged with more developed lateral longitudinal propodeal carina (Figure 19 aa). Legs morphologically similar to  R. excavata GIORDANI SOIKA; femur I with just a few protruding setae; coxa II and III impunctate. Wings yellowish, nervature and stigma brown, apical spot brown and weaker; trichome dense, but setae short (Figure 22a).</p><p>Metasoma. T1 wide and nearly rectangular, seen dorsally (Figure 22b). Proximal half of T1 finely punctate and shiny, distal half coarsely and deeply punctate (Figure 22a). S1 rugged, producing central strong longitudinal cuticular crest, accompanied by two more less developed lateral crests (Figure 22b). T2 punctures intermediately sized, directional and shallow distally. T2/S2 suture visible, lamellar notch not developed. Lamella short, dark brown, with long interdigitations; lamella cut-out nearly even.</p><p>Male is unknown.</p><p>Distribution: Central African Republic.</p><p>Etymology. The name is the Latin adjective salebrosus -a -um (“rugged”), and refers to the rugged surface of T1 and S1.</p><p>Similar species. No other African  Ropalidia has strong punctures on T1 or rugged S1 surface. Overall appearance may resemble  R. excavata GIORDANI SOIKA, as well as the two newly described species,  R. baki sp. nov. and  R. kuficha sp. nov., but separation from any of these species does not present a challenge.</p><p>Genetics: sequencing had failed on multiple primers.</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/4F5987BAE81DFFC1FF11FE7C74799C99	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		MagnoliaPress via Plazi	Polašek, Ozren;Onah, Ikechukwu;Kehinde, Tope;Rojo, Veronica;Noort, Simon Van;Carpenter, James M.	Polašek, Ozren, Onah, Ikechukwu, Kehinde, Tope, Rojo, Veronica, Noort, Simon Van, Carpenter, James M. (2025): Revision of the mainland African species of the Old World social wasp genus Ropalidia Guérin-Méneville 1831 (Hymenoptera; Vespidae). Zootaxa 5626 (1): 1-142, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5626.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5626.1.1
4F5987BAE81EFFC3FF11FF79733D99AE.text	4F5987BAE81EFFC3FF11FF79733D99AE.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Ropalidia sandamara Polasek 2025	<div><p>Ropalidia sandamara Polašek sp. nov.</p><p>urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 571C45DC-D3AE-43E7-B41B-DEEFFC6EB87C</p><p>Type specimens.   Holotype: Erongo  Berge, Namibia, 1♀ (OLM.0593);  Aris, 2 km S, Namibia, 3♀♀ (CAS);  Damara, Namibia, 1♀ (NHRS); Erongo  Berge, Namibia, 3♀♀ (OLM);  Okahandja, Namibia, 1♂ (NHM);  Tsumeb, Namibia, 1F (CAS);  Windhoek, Namibia, 2♀♀, 1♂ (NHM); Namaqua, South Africa, 1♀ (NHRS). The total number of examined specimens: 12♀♀, 2♂♂.</p><p>Diagnosis. A narrowly distributed species (central Namibia and Western part of Northern Cape in the South Africa), which resembles TT cluster of  R. guttatipennis (DE SAUSSURE) . It is characterized by the basal ferruginous colour, with a large yellow area on pronotum, thick posterior band on T2, setose eyes, impunctate inner orbit, light-brown elongated apical spot of the fore wing, and unicolorous terminal flagellomere in males.</p><p>Description. Female. Wing length 8.9–11.2 mm. Colour. Basal colour ferruginous or dark brown (Figure 36a). Following areas yellow: apical line of clypeus, mandible, gena, line along inner eye margin (Figure 36a), thickened line underneath pronotal carina (that extends up to half of the pronotal length, but does not reach the dorsal mesonotal margin, at least not in the posterior part of the pronotum; Figure 37 aa). Posterior yellow band at T1 and thicker one at T2, often with two additional yellow incorporated spots (Figure 104a). Legs in basal colour, proximal femur sometimes darker (Figure 36a). Wings slightly yellowish, nervature brown, stigma yellowish and semi-transparent; apical spot lightly brownish, does not reach stigma (Figure 36a). Antenna ferruginous or slightly darkened from above, orange underneath (Figure 36a).</p><p>Head. Clypeus about as long as wide or slightly wider, convex, upes slightly curved, oculo-clypeal angle weak (Figure 34a). Inner orbit impunctate, rarely with scattered and weakly defined puncture or two. Gena wider than eye, occipital carina well developed, with strong hyaline rim and more sinuate. Anterior half of gena with shallow and large punctures, diminishing towards occipital carina. Frons covered by whitish pubescence and yellowish protruding setae that are about as long as ocellar diameter. Ocellar triangle nearly equidistant or slightly more acute forwards. Eyes covered by sparse short setae (sometimes of intermediate length; Figure 34a). Scape about as long as AF1, AF2 1.1–1.4 times as long as wide.</p><p>Mesosoma. Mesosoma covered by whitish-golden pubescence and longer protruding setae. Pronotum punctures large and shallow. Mesonotum covered by intermediate and shallow punctures. Median suture extends up to frontal half of mesonotum, parapsidal furrows long, but weak, sometimes obscured by pubescence. Scutellum rectangular, wider. Scutellum median carina reduced to central black line, which reaches up to half of scutellar length (sometimes even more). Metanotum largely and shallowly punctate, posterior shiny triangle small; median tooth weak or missing. Metapleuron punctures large or intermediate, especially anteriorly and posteriorly (centre impunctate). Propodeum with rounded surface: superior carina weak, inferior carina absent. Propodeal excavation narrow and shallow, with poorly developed striae obscured by pubescence. Coxa II and III, as well as proximal halves of femur II and III with whitish underlying pubescence and intermediate length protruding setae; protruding setae are commonly or exclusively straight (in contrast to  R. guttatipennis DE SAUSSURE, which has bent tips of these protruding setae).</p><p>Metasoma. T1 pyriform, with narrow petiole, strong dorsal contour and well-developed posterior depression (Figure 104a). T2 with shallow, intermediate and directional punctures; T2/S2 suture visible for more than half of T2 length. T2 lamellar nick visible and wide, lamella of intermediate length, yellowish and translucent.</p><p>Males resemble females, but with more yellow markings. Wing length: 8.8–9.4 mm. Colour. Basal colour ferruginous-brown. Clypeus and mandible entirely yellow, inner orbit to scape merged in yellow, in addition to smaller area on gena (Figure 73 aa), coxa I complete yellow, II with larger yellow areas and coxa III ferruginous; femur I with a long yellow line, femur II with patches of yellow, femur III ferruginous.</p><p>Head. Male clypeus slightly wider than long, with convex surface and slightly projecting, obtuse and somewhat depressed apex; upes curved, OC angle not developed; basal half largely and shallowly punctate (Figure 73 aa). AF1 about 1.2–1.5 times as long as scape, AF2 about 1.5–1.7 times as long as wide; antenna slightly darkened from above, orange underneath; terminal flagellomere slightly elongated, ferruginous from above, with obtuse tip (Figure 73 bb). Tyloids weak, matt (not shiny), not projecting above flagellomere surface.</p><p>Mesosoma. Tarsal I spur not developed.</p><p>Metasoma. Terminal sternum with concave surface.</p><p>Male-female pairing strength: High, males resemble females in general appearance and distribution pattern.</p><p>Nest. Three nests were recorded from iNat. In all three cases, the nests were small, possibly reflecting overall smaller colony size due to arid environment; it seems that males are produced very early in the colony development cycle, in a nest with only 15 cells (iNat: 64348421). The nests are discoid in shape, with the centrally placed petiole. The cell wall is yellowish or lightly brownish in the early colony stages (iNat: 64348421), but apparently becomes greyish in the later colony stages (notably, this is the same colony, iNat: 71556009). The opercula are whitish or lightly greyish, possibly with a few lightly brownish nodules (it is difficult to ascertain if these are indeed nodules, due to the relatively low resolution of the photo). All three nests are located objects in the human settlements.</p><p>Distribution. Namibia, South Africa (Western part of the Northern Cape); allopatric to  R. guttatipennis (DE SAUSSURE) .</p><p>Etymology. The name combines Namibia’s two native ethnic groups, the San and the Damara, and is treated as a noun in apposition.</p><p>Similar species. TT cluster of  R. guttatipennis (DE SAUSSURE), separated by eye setae, setae on femur II and III, pronotal colouration pattern and male terminal flagellomere shape and colour. Another similar species is  R. irrequitea (KOHL), easily separated by features listed in the key and by the distribution area.</p><p>Genetics. A single sequencing effort had yielded a complete COI result, which was classified as BOLD: ADN 8809. The genetics results suggest the closest relationship to  R. perovici sp. nov.</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/4F5987BAE81EFFC3FF11FF79733D99AE	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		MagnoliaPress via Plazi	Polašek, Ozren;Onah, Ikechukwu;Kehinde, Tope;Rojo, Veronica;Noort, Simon Van;Carpenter, James M.	Polašek, Ozren, Onah, Ikechukwu, Kehinde, Tope, Rojo, Veronica, Noort, Simon Van, Carpenter, James M. (2025): Revision of the mainland African species of the Old World social wasp genus Ropalidia Guérin-Méneville 1831 (Hymenoptera; Vespidae). Zootaxa 5626 (1): 1-142, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5626.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5626.1.1
4F5987BAE81FFFCDFF11F9B074E69A7E.text	4F5987BAE81FFFCDFF11F9B074E69A7E.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Ropalidia soikae Polasek and Kehinde 2025	<div><p>Ropalidia soikae Polašek and Kehinde sp. nov.</p><p>urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 06B7BC49-55FC-4A25-9826-B54F1AF4C062</p><p>Type specimens.   Holotype:  Sepeteri, Nigeria, 1♀ (OLM. TK03)  .   Paratypes:  Akongbere, Benin, 1♀ (OLM); Bassila, Benin, 2♀♀ (Coll.BG) ;   Dan, Benin, 2♀♀ (Coll.BG) ;   Penessoulou, Benin, 3♀♀ (Coll.BG) ;   Savalou, Benin, 7♀♀ (Coll.BG) ;   Bodialedaga,  Burkina Fasso, 2♀♀ (MNHN), 4♀♀ (MSNV); Pala,  Burkina Fasso, 3♀♀ (MSNV); Tangrela,  Burkina Fasso, 3♀♀ (MSNV); Bamingui, Central African Republic, 20♀♀ (OLM); Bangui, Central African Republic, 3♀♀ (OLM); Bozoum, Central African Republic, 1♀ (OLM); Koukorou, Central African Republic, 2♀♀ (OLM); Ndele, Central African Republic, 5♀♀ (OLM); Sibut, Central African Republic, 3♀♀ (OLM); Bako, Cote d’Ivoire, 2♀♀ (CAS); Bouake, Cote d’Ivoire, 5♀♀ (RMCA); Comoe, Cote d’Ivoire, 3♀♀ (SAM); Gambia, Gambia, 1♀ (HNHM); Gambia, 1♀ (NHRS); Kanilai, Gambia, 1♀ (SNM); Karton, Gambia, 1♀</p><p>(NHRS);   Kartung, Gambia, 2♀♀ (MSNV) ;   Bakau, Gambia, 1♀ (NHRS) ;   Tamale, Ghana, 2♀♀ (CAS) ;   Fustua, Nigeria, 1♀ (RMCA) ;   Ilorin, Nigeria, 2♀♀ (CAS) ;   Sepeteri, Nigeria, 3♀♀ (OLM) ;   Zaria, Nigeria, 2♀♀ (CAS) ;   Afrique occidentale, no data, 1♀ (MNHN) ;   Basse-Casamance, Senegal, 2♀♀ (MSNV) ;   Outamba, Sierra Leone, 2♀♀ (NHM)  .   The total number of examined specimens: 94♀♀  .</p><p>Diagnosis. This species is characterized by the ferruginous-brown basal body colour with numerous suffused yellow markings, including coxa, femur and all tibia; in addition, wing nervature and all tarsi are yellowish, in contrast to morphologically very similar  R. guttatipennis (DE SAUSSURE), which has both of these in brown colour. These two species overlap in the entire distribution range of  R. soikae sp. nov., causing problems in species determination. There are only three moderately-reliable morphological characters that can be useful;  R. soikae sp. nov. is generally more slender, tends to have more elevated and rounded scutellum and longer eye setae. Males of  R. soikae sp. nov. are unknown.</p><p>Description. Females. Wing length: 8.9–9.9. Colour. Basal colour ferruginous-brown or even lightly ferruginous, with numerous yellow markings (Figure 33a); specimens from Gambia can have very xanthic appearance (all metasomal segments with posterior yellow bands), while those from the Central African Republic are somewhat darker (Figure 33a). Clypeus completely yellow or yellow with suffused light brown basal spot (Figure 33b). Mandible yellow (except dark-brownish area under teeth edges); gena with yellow area, sometimes tempora with faint yellow line, inner orbit with thick yellow line connected to interantennal area (Figure 33b). Pronotum with large yellow area, mesopleuron sometimes with apical yellow spot (Figure 33a). Mesonotum usually ferruginous, sometimes with yellowish area lateral to parapsidal furrows or minute yellow markings near tegula. Scutellum and metanotum lightly brown or brown, occasionally with faint bilateral yellow spots. Coxa I, usually I– III with yellow markings, femur and tibia commonly with yellow patches, tarsi yellowish (Figure 33a). T1 with thin posterior yellow band, T2 usually with posterior band and two separate yellow spots. Occasionally T3–T5 or even T3–T6 with posterior suffused yellow bands. Wings yellowish, nervature and stigma lightly brown or yellowish, apical spot lightly brown. Antenna orange (Figure 33b), rarely slightly darkened dorsally.</p><p>Head. Clypeus broader than long, with convex surface and curved upes (Figure 33b). Clypeus basally coarsely and largely punctate, similar to frons. Clypeal apex longer (Figure 33b). Inner orbit usually with poorly developed shallow punctures, occasionally with a few better-defined ones. Gena shallowly punctate, sparse and less defined towards occipital carina. Entire head covered by yellowish pubescence and some protruding golden setae. Ocellar triangle equidistant or with longer base. Eyes covered by setae of intermediate length (this feature is used to separate this species from  R. guttatipennis DE SAUSSURE).</p><p>Mesosoma. Pronotum and mesonotum covered by weak and intermediate-sized punctures, mesopleuron laterally with stronger and larger punctures. Area lateral to parapsidal furrow sparsely punctate. Metapleuron largely and shallowly punctate, with diagonal impunctate area. Scutellum rounded, with median carina reaching between half and three quarters of scutellar length; anterior half dark brown or black, posterior ferruginous or brown. Metanotum usually without median tooth, rarely with blunt developed tooth, as opposed to sharper tooth in  R. guttatipennis (DE SAUSSURE) . Propodeum striae, with developed superior carina and absent inferior propodeal carina.</p><p>Metasoma. T1 similar to  R. guttatipennis (DE SAUSSURE), T2 usually conspicuously longer than S2, yielding oblique cut-out (rarely T2 and S2 are of equal length, yielding a perpendicular cut-out).</p><p>Males are unknown. Several specimens were considered males of this species, but neither exhibited more than one feature that could be used to link it to females. Due to morphologic and genetic similarity with  R. guttatipennis (DE SAUSSURE), males of this species are probably similar, possibly even to a degree of inability to separate these two taxa. This situation must be resolved by the nest series or genetic analysis of newly collected specimens.</p><p>Distribution. Senegal to Central African Republic.</p><p>Etymology. The name is given in memory of Antonio Giordani Soika (1913–1997), one of the most productive taxonomists working on the African  Vespidae .</p><p>Taxonomic note. A series of specimens from the Hamon collection in the MNHN in Paris, where Giordani Soika had labelled them as  R. hamoni sp. nov., but he never published this name, making it invalid. The collection contained a mix of specimens of  R. guttatipennis (DE SAUSSURE) and  R. soikae sp. nov.</p><p>Similar species.  R. guttatipennis (DE SAUSSURE) has darker brown basal colour, a lesser extent of yellow colour on the body and differently shaped scutellum; scutellum of  R. soikae sp. nov. is more rounded, elevated and usually has weakly developed median carina, alongside commonly developed metanotum median tooth.</p><p>Genetic data. A total of seven specimens were successfully genotyped, with two clusters; one from the Central African Republic (BOLD:ADN4806) and the other extending from Benin to Nigeria (BOLD:ADO2946). Specimens from Western parts of the distribution range (as far as Senegal and Gambia) had failed at various stages of the sequencing process. This species was in a sister position to  R. copelandi sp. nov. The analysis of 28 rDNA yielded shared sequences with  R. dondo sp. nov. and  R. copelandi sp. nov.</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/4F5987BAE81FFFCDFF11F9B074E69A7E	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		MagnoliaPress via Plazi	Polašek, Ozren;Onah, Ikechukwu;Kehinde, Tope;Rojo, Veronica;Noort, Simon Van;Carpenter, James M.	Polašek, Ozren, Onah, Ikechukwu, Kehinde, Tope, Rojo, Veronica, Noort, Simon Van, Carpenter, James M. (2025): Revision of the mainland African species of the Old World social wasp genus Ropalidia Guérin-Méneville 1831 (Hymenoptera; Vespidae). Zootaxa 5626 (1): 1-142, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5626.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5626.1.1
4F5987BAE811FFCDFF11FE8073759C4A.text	4F5987BAE811FFCDFF11FE8073759C4A.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Ropalidia tajiri Polasek 2025	<div><p>Ropalidia tajiri Polašek sp. nov.</p><p>urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 205417D3-8B52-4A25-B99D-82678896EF8F</p><p>Type specimens.   Holotype:  Voi, Kenya, 1♀ (OLM.0226)  .   Paratype:  Voi, Kenya, 1♀ (OLM). The total number of examined specimens: 2♀♀  .</p><p>Diagnosis. A member of the  capensis -group, with phenotypic and genotypic data suggesting an intermediate position between  R. luculenta sp. nov. and  R. antennata (DE SAUSSURE) . The key diagnostic features include shiny clypeus and continuous yellow line on posterior margin of the metanotum, thick yellow line on pronotum and two yellow spots on scutellum. Males are unknown.</p><p>Diagnosis. Females. Wing length 6.2–6.8 mm. Colour. Basic colour brownish, with yellow and reddish areas (Figure 105a). Yellow areas include clypeus (except basal light brown elongated spot), inner orbit, mandible (except small triangular basal brown spot), suffused small area on gena (Figure 16a); pronotum with thickened yellow line (Figure 16b), coxa pair I yellow, scutellum with two small yellow areas, metanotum with continuous yellow line that occupies posterior half (Figure 16c). T1/S1 brown, T2 with thickened yellow posterior band, S2 with thin posterior band; T3 (partly also S3) with suffused yellow area, remaining segments somewhat reddish, and more lightly coloured than T2 basal colour (Figure 105a). Wings transparent, apical spotabsent, stigma semi-transparent, light brown. Antenna ferruginous, slightly darkened in more distal segments, orange underneath (Figure 105a).</p><p>Head. Clypeus about as long as broad, convex, with evenly curved upes, protruding apex and developed juxtamandibular lobe (similar to  R. antennata DE SAUSSURE females; Figure 16a). Clypeus has shiny basal and central surface, finely and minutely punctate, gradually becoming less defined craters near apex. Clypeus covered by very short pubescence and some protruding whitish-yellowish setae. Inner orbit impunctate, covered by dense pubescence (denser than clypeus). Frons sparsely punctate, similar to tempora, while vertex punctures gradually diminishnear occipital carina. Gena sparsely punctate near eye, impunctate towards occipital carina. Frons, tempora and gena covered by short setae, equal or shorter than ocellus diameter. Gena about 0.7 times as wide as eye. AF1 0.8 times as long as scape, AF2 about as long as wide (Figure 16a).</p><p>Mesosoma. Mesosoma covered by very short whitish-golden setae. Punctures of mesosoma coarser and larger (Figure 16b). Tegula with few large and poorly defined punctures. Scutellum finely punctate, metanotum with coarser punctures laterally, with posterior impunctate area that is smaller than in  R. luculenta sp. nov. (Figure 16c). Metapleuron shallowly punctate, almost entirely indiscernible due to overlying pubescence. Propodeal excavation with obtuse margins and much narrower contour than in  R. luculenta sp. nov., covered by very dense, distally directing golden setae (Figure 16c).</p><p>Metasoma. T1 globular and posteriorly constricted. T2 short, with about half of total length with parallel sides. T2/S2 suture less developed, visible only proximally. T2 lamella elongated, transparent, lamellar notch very shallow, T2/S2 suture longer. T2 covered by short golden setae, S2 covered by yellowish-silvery pubescence; remaining segments covered by longer protruding setae (Figure 105a).</p><p>Males are unknown.</p><p>Distribution: Kenya.</p><p>Etymology. After the Swahili word  tajiri, “rich”, referring to a rich amount of yellow colour on the body; the name is treated as indeclinable.</p><p>Genetics. A single specimen was genotyped, confirming an intermediate position between  R. antennata (DE SAUSSURE) and  R. luculenta sp. nov., with a BIN assignment BOLD:AEA6302.</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/4F5987BAE811FFCDFF11FE8073759C4A	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		MagnoliaPress via Plazi	Polašek, Ozren;Onah, Ikechukwu;Kehinde, Tope;Rojo, Veronica;Noort, Simon Van;Carpenter, James M.	Polašek, Ozren, Onah, Ikechukwu, Kehinde, Tope, Rojo, Veronica, Noort, Simon Van, Carpenter, James M. (2025): Revision of the mainland African species of the Old World social wasp genus Ropalidia Guérin-Méneville 1831 (Hymenoptera; Vespidae). Zootaxa 5626 (1): 1-142, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5626.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5626.1.1
4F5987BAE812FFCFFF11FC9975CD9EA2.text	4F5987BAE812FFCFFF11FC9975CD9EA2.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Ropalidia tenebrica Polasek 2025	<div><p>Ropalidia tenebrica Polašek sp. nov.</p><p>urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 4BC6AEBA-CB62-4326-9E56-37CC3B3426EB</p><p>Type specimens.   Holotype: Bulwayo, Zimbabwe, 1♀ (OLM); Angola, 2♀♀ (MSNV, NHM); Bruco, Angola, 1♀ (NHM); Luanda, Angola, 1♀ (CAS);  Mongua, 24 mi SE, Angola, 2♀♀ (CAS);  Rocadas,  Cuene, Angola, 1♀ (NHM);  Sateri island, Botswana, 1♀ (OLM);  Kiambi, DR Congo, 9♀♀, 4♂♂ (RMCA); Salima, 500 m asl, Malawi, 1♀ (MFNB);  Onjoka, Namibia, 2♀♀ (MFNB);  Waterberg, Namibia, 2♀♀ (MFNB);  Mkusi, South Africa, 1♀ (NMS);  Harare, 30 km W, Zambia, 1♀ (OLM);  Kabwe, Zambia, 2♀♀ (MSNV); Lusaka, 40 km S, Zambia, 1♀ (OLM);  Tupele, Zambia, 1♀ (SAM);  Bulwayo, route A8, Zimbabwe, 11♀♀ (OLM);  Gwaai River,, Zimbabwe, 1♀ (SAM); Harare, 30 km W, Zimbabwe, 5♀♀ (OLM);  Lupane, 40 km NW, Zimbabwe, 1♀ (OLM).  The total number of examined specimens: 46♀♀, 5♂♂.</p><p>Diagnosis. Darkly coloured species similar to  R. nigrofemorata (CAMERON) . The defining characteristics of this species are weakly developed median carina of the scutellum, dark apical spot in combination with proximally brown stigma, basally black or dark brown colour, with silvery pubescence. Males are easily separated based on the clypeus shape, elongated AF2 and obtuse terminal flagellomere shape.</p><p>Description. Female. Wing length 8.1–10.7 mm. Colour. Basal colour purplish-dark-brown to nearly black (Figure 35 bb). Yellow markings usually restricted to head: apical clypeal line, line along inner eye margin, anterior quarter of mandible and small spot on gena (Figure 35 aa). Some specimens have faint yellowish line underneath pronotal carina or terminal T2 band. Reddish areas sometimes include posterior half of scutellum (sometimes even mesonotum) and posterior half of metanotum. Femur and tibia equally dark (Figure 35 bb). Fore wing apical spot dark and extended, almost reaching stigma (Figure 41a). Stigma bicolorous, proximally brown and opaque, distally yellowish and semi-transparent (Figure 41a). First two flagellomeres dorsally brown; AF1 proximally dark brown, distally black (Figure 35a).</p><p>Head. Clypeus wider than long, with evenly curved upes, no OC angle and acute apex (Figure 35 aa). Clypeus minutely and sparsely punctate, hardly discernible due to pubescence basaly, apically shallow craters. Clypeus covered by silvery pubescence and longer setae. Frons densely and shallowly punctate. Ocelli with forwardly acute triangle (specimens from Namibia have equidistant triangle). Gena as wide as eye, occipital carina mildly sinuate. AF2 about 1.4–1.8 times as long as wide. Eyes covered by intermediate-length setae, slightly longer than in  R. nigrofemorata (CAMERON; Figure 35 aa).</p><p>Mesosoma. Mesosoma shallowly punctate, covered by short silvery pubescence (Figure 35 bb, Figure 41b). Pronotal carina with thin hyaline rim, sometimes almost entirely absent. Mesonotum with well-developed median suture and without visible parapsidal furrows. Scutellum well developed, rounded, without slight trace of median carina that does not project to dorsal scutellum surface (Figure 39 bb). Metanotum with posterior impunctate shiny area. Propodeum with weakly developed upper carina or almost entirely without them (sometimes difficult to discern due to silvery). Propodeal excavation shallow, mildly striate. Inferior propodeal carina absent or smaller, posterior part of propodeum narrowing linearly towards valvula.</p><p>Metasoma. T1 elongated, with linear margins. T2 basally shallowly punctate, distally directionally punctate; T2/ S2 suture commonly visible along entire T2 length. T2 lamella dark brown and short. Lamellar notch usuallyabsent. Entire metasoma covered by whitish-silvery pubescence and similarly coloured protruding longer setae (Figure 41b).</p><p>Males. Wing length: 8.2 mm. Colour. Basal colour dark brown, with yellow areas: clypeus (very faint brownish spot in only specimen), interantennal area and inner orbits, mandible yellow except posterior triangular dark brown area and thin line on gena along lower eye margin (Figure 76a). Mesosoma dark brown, with thin yellow line underneath pronotal carina. Basal colour of femora dark brown, tibia and tarsi light brown, terminal tarsal segment somewhat darker in all three leg pairs. Wings transparent, nervature brown, stigma proximally dark brown, distally light brown to yellowish, apical spot grey. Antenna entirely black from above, scape yellow from underneath.</p><p>Head. Clypeus flattened, apex barely depressed and obtuse (Figure 76a). Upes strongly curved, yielding narrower inner orbit than in  R. nigrofemorata (CAMERON) . Basal half of clypeus finely and sparsely punctate, which becomes even sparser towards apex; central part of clypeus almost impunctate. Entire clypeus covered by short silvery pubescence. Gena about half of eye width, with large and shallow punctures that dissipate towards occipital carina. Frons covered by shallow and intermediately sized punctures, with silvery lower layer of pubescence and silvery-yellowish protruding setae; these protruding setae are longer than ocelli diameter, straight or occasionally with curved tips; setae on clypeus and gena are much finer, more numerous and shorter than frons setae. Antenna longer than  R. nigrofemorata (CAMERON) and  R. tenuipilosa sp. nov.; scape moderately developed, conspicuously shorter than AF1, AF2 about twice as long as wide. Tyloids weaker; they originate on AF1 as shorter streak, remain shorter than the segment length on AF1 and AF2, and become wider on AF4 and more distal flagellomeres, where they occupy nearly the entire inner surface of segment AF8–11; their surface matt. Terminal flagellomere elongated, less curved, with truncated tip (Figure 74 cc).</p><p>Mesosoma. Tarsal spur not developed.</p><p>Metasoma. Sternum 7 flattened or barely concave.</p><p>Distribution. Angola, Botswana, DR Congo, Malawi, Namibia, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Zambia.</p><p>Etymology. The name comes from the Latin adjective tenebricus -a -um (“dark”), in reference to the dark body colouration.</p><p>Similar species:  R. nigrofemorata (CAMERON) and  R. tenuipilosa sp. nov., with several features provided in the key to species.</p><p>Genetics.   Two specimens were successfully sequenced for the COI gene; the specimen from Namibia was the only member of the BOLD: ADR2309 cluster.  This specimen has a more xanthic basal body colour and a less developed apical spot of the fore wing. The second sequenced specimen belonged to another BIN (BOLD: ADN5333), shared with  R. tenuipilosa sp. nov .</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/4F5987BAE812FFCFFF11FC9975CD9EA2	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		MagnoliaPress via Plazi	Polašek, Ozren;Onah, Ikechukwu;Kehinde, Tope;Rojo, Veronica;Noort, Simon Van;Carpenter, James M.	Polašek, Ozren, Onah, Ikechukwu, Kehinde, Tope, Rojo, Veronica, Noort, Simon Van, Carpenter, James M. (2025): Revision of the mainland African species of the Old World social wasp genus Ropalidia Guérin-Méneville 1831 (Hymenoptera; Vespidae). Zootaxa 5626 (1): 1-142, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5626.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5626.1.1
4F5987BAE813FFC8FF11F9FC74969CBE.text	4F5987BAE813FFC8FF11F9FC74969CBE.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Ropalidia tenuipilosa Polasek 2025	<div><p>Ropalidia tenuipilosa Polašek sp. nov.</p><p>urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 6EC6D771-8B71-4CE8-83BB-3050B3A9F488</p><p>Type specimens.   Holotype:  Thabazimbi, South Africa, 1♀ (OLM.1322)  .   Paratypes:  Serowe, Botswana, 1♀ (SNM);  Nwaswitshaka, South Africa, 2♀♀ (AMNH _ IZC00179635, AMNH _ IZC00179636);  Dwarsberge, South Africa, 2♀♀ (MFNB);  Emanguzi, South Africa, 3♀♀ (OLM);  Rikatla, Mozambique, 2♀ (NHM);  Thabazimbi, South Africa, 4♀♀ (OLM);  Ndumo, South Africa, 2♀♀ (OLM);  Nylstrom, South Africa, 1♀ (OLM);  Kimberley, South Africa, 1♀ (OLM);  Ellisras, South Africa, 1♂ (NHM); Matops, Zimbabwe, 8♀♀ (OLM). The total number of examined specimens: 27♀♀, 1♂  .</p><p>Diagnosis. A species that morphologically substantially resembles  R. nigrofemorata (CAMERON) . It is characterized by the poorly developed median carina of scutellum, developed dark apical spot of the fore wing in combination with the lightly coloured and opaque stigma, and yellowish-white pubescence on mesonotum and T2, in contrast to denser and golden pubescence in  R. nigrofemorata (CAMERON) .</p><p>Description. Female. Wing length 8.4–10.9 mm. Colour. Basal colour brown, with reduced yellow markings (Figure 42 bb). Yellow areas include thin yellow line at clypeus apex, occasional two suffused basal yellow spots or even two faint lines along upes, thin and shorter yellow line along inner orbit, antero-basal spot on mandible (Figure 42 cc; can be very reduced or absent in some specimens). All examined specimens have a brown interantennal area, which is marked with yellow in  R. nigrofemorata (CAMERON) females. Mesosoma with only two variable features: yellow line underneath pronotal carina can sometimes be reduced or completely missing, and coxa I colouration can vary from entirely brown, brown with a thin lateral line, to distal half entirely yellow. Metasoma with varying thickness in posterior yellow band on T2 and tone of segments 3–6, which can be somewhat more lightly coloured than basal colour. General leg colour pattern follows similar brown colour of coxa across femur and tibia, while tarsi are darker, almost black (in contrast to  R. nigrofemorata CAMERON, which has darker femur). Antenna dorsally black, including scape and proximal parts of AF1 (Figure 42 aa). Wings similar to  R. nigrofemorata (CAMERON); transparent, nervature brown, some yellowish colouration at anterior margin, stigma intensely yellow, apical spot dark grey.</p><p>Head. Clypeus wider than long, with slightly curved or even straight upes, variably developed OC angle and acute apex (Figure 42 cc). Clypeus finely punctate basaly, somewhat more coarsely centrally, apex with large craters. Frons densely and finely punctate. Ocelli with acute triangle. Gena as wide as eye, punctate anteriorly, with smaller and sparser punctures posteriorly; occipital carina mildly sinuate. Scape about as long as AF1, AF2 about 1.2–1.3 times as long as wide (Figure 42 cc). Eye setae of intermediate length; specimens from Namibia have barely visible setae.</p><p>Mesosoma. Mesosoma intermediately-sized, shallowly and finely punctate. Mesonotum with well-developed median suture; parapsidal furrows not visible, except via lack of punctures. Pubescence of mesonotum yellowish-white and sparse, similar to that on pronotum sides (Figure 42 bb), much less developed than in  R. nigrofemorata (CAMERON) . Scutellum rounded, without median carina or only with thin black stripe along anterior surface, which does not project dorsally (Figure 39 aa). Metanotum very variable; punctures varying from stronger to intermediate, punctum definition strong to intermediate or even weak, posterior impunctate triangle reaching half of its height, or entire height. Propodeum with weakly developed upper carina or almost entirely without them, propodeal excavation shallow, covered by mildly to strongly developed striae. Inferior propodeal carina most commonly missing, but some specimens can have a minimal elevation in their place.</p><p>Metasoma. T1 narrow, T2 elongated, covered by developed directional punctures. T2 lamella brown to dark brown, shorter. Whitish protruding setae cover the remaining metasomal segments.</p><p>Males. Wing length: 8.1 mm. Colour. Similar to females, except more yellow colour; clypeus, inner orbits and interantennal area entirely yellow, mandibles yellow with dark brown area posteriorly (Figure 76 aa). Frons, gena and tempora brown (gena with small yellow mark under eye). Mesosoma brown, pronotal carina with thin yellow line underneath, anterior part of mesopleuron yellow, coxa I and II yellow, femur I and II with yellow patches; remaining leg segments brown. Metasoma brown, with somewhat lighter brown, thin band on T2. Scape and all flagellomeres black dorsally, with red-yellowish from the underside. Terminal flagellomere brownish dorsally (Figure 61 aa).</p><p>Head. Clypeus flattened, apex depressed and barely projecting juxtamandibular lobes, upes curved (Figure 76 aa). Gena about half of eye width, tempora very thin. Mandible with few punctures basally. Frons covered by straight yellowish protruding setae about as long as ocelli width; clypeus covered by silvery, fine pubescence of equal length. Scape moderately thickened, about as long as AF1, AF2 about 1.4 times as long as wide (Figure 76 aa). Tyloids originate at AF(1)2, gradually wider distally and matt, and finally occupy almost entire surface of AF11 (Figure 77 aa). Terminal flagellomere elongated, obtuse (Figure 61 aa).</p><p>Mesosoma. Similar to females; tarsal I spur not developed.</p><p>Metasoma. Sternum 7 concave.</p><p>Distribution. South Africa, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Botswana.</p><p>Etymology. The name is a combination of two Latin adjectives, tenuis -e (“light”, “tenuous”) and pilosus -a -um (“hairy”) and refers to the sparse and poorly developed pubescence.</p><p>Similar species:  R. nigrofemorata (CAMERON) and  R. tenebrica sp. nov., with features for their separation provided in the determination key. Females of  R. aethiopica (DU BUYSSON) can sometimes resemble this species, separated by the strongly developed median scutellar carina.</p><p>Genetics. Three BINs were assigned for this species; BOLD:ADR2755 and BOLD:AEA4654 were exclusive, while the third one, BOLD: ADN 5333, was shared with  R. tenebrica sp. nov.</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/4F5987BAE813FFC8FF11F9FC74969CBE	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		MagnoliaPress via Plazi	Polašek, Ozren;Onah, Ikechukwu;Kehinde, Tope;Rojo, Veronica;Noort, Simon Van;Carpenter, James M.	Polašek, Ozren, Onah, Ikechukwu, Kehinde, Tope, Rojo, Veronica, Noort, Simon Van, Carpenter, James M. (2025): Revision of the mainland African species of the Old World social wasp genus Ropalidia Guérin-Méneville 1831 (Hymenoptera; Vespidae). Zootaxa 5626 (1): 1-142, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5626.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5626.1.1
4F5987BAE815FFCBFF11FF797636985A.text	4F5987BAE815FFCBFF11FF797636985A.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Ropalidia tomentosa (GERSTAECKER 1857)	<div><p>Ropalidia tomentosa (GERSTAECKER 1857)</p><p>Icaria tomentosa GERSTAECKER 1857</p><p>Type material.   A holotype specimen was examined in MFNB ( Berlin).  The label indicates “Tette, Mozambique ” as the type location, which suggests the North-Western region of Mozambique. In addition, there is another label, “3550”, probably showing the number of the specimen, similarly to another type from the same series, that of  R. nobilis (GERSTAECKER) .</p><p>Diagnosis.A larger species,with longer and rather specific pubescence, globular T1 and black tarsi, phenotypically resembling  R. fita sp. nov. It is characterized by the black apical spot and brown fore wing nervature, in contrast to more yellowish apical spot and nervature in  R. fita sp. nov. Males are described here for the first time.</p><p>Males.</p><p>Material. Multiple specimens from the entire distribution range of Sub-Saharan Africa. The total number of examined specimens: 51♂♂.</p><p>Diagnosis. Males of this species are among largest examined  Ropalidia specimens. Their general appearance is rather dark, with stronger contrasting yellow areas and a dark fore wing apical spot (as opposed to males of  R. fita sp. nov., that have a brownish spot and yellowish wings).</p><p>Description. Wing length: 9.1–12.1 mm. Colour. Resembles females, but similarly to most  Polistinae, males have more yellow markings (Figure 68a, Figure 106c). Melanic specimens have basal body black colour with silvery-yellowish pubescence, while xanthic can have brown body colour and yellowish-golden pubescence (notably, both forms are sympatric from Zambia to Kenya, suggesting that this is likely not a speciation feature, but a variation of phenotype). Regardless of general colour pattern, markings are constant across entire distribution range. Clypeus, mandible, inner orbit and interantennal area primarily yellow (Figure 68a; posterior area of mandible can have black line in melanic specimens); gena with thin yellow line, frons black, tempora and vertex reddish (vertex sometimes black). Pronotum with basal body colour dorsally, area under pronotal carina, inferior angle and posterior margin has reddish tone (often creating V-shaped reddish markings on pronotum, that may sometimes have yellowish angle). Mesonotum commonly in basal colour, sometimes with reddish markings close to tegulae, which can also be reddish. Anterior surface of mesopleuron yellow, lateral surface black (sometimes with a reddish area), metapleuron always black. Scutellum either with basal colour or with posterior reddish line, metanotum and propodeum black. All coxa pairs with yellow markings (melanic specimens can have black coxa III), femora variable, tibia commonly reddish, tarsi black. T1 often with reddish markings, T2 with basal colour and a thin posterior reddish or yellow line, T3–7 and S3–7 ferruginous or brown, but more lightly coloured than the basal T2 colour. Wings similar to females, transparent or faintly yellowish, apical spot dark brown (or brown in specimens with golden pubescence; see the section on  R. tomentosa GERSTAECKER). Antenna black dorsally, including scape and pedicel; terminal flagellomere sometimes with a faintly less dark or even brownish tip, but of much lesser extent than in  R. fita sp. nov. (Figure 68b). Eye setae missing or very short (Figure 68a).</p><p>Head. Clypeus longer than wide, with parallel or almost parallel sides, no OCA, barely curved upes, almost linear apical margins and barely projecting, subacute apex (Figure 68b). Basal half or two thirds largely and sparsely punctate, apical half or third with less defined puncture margins. Frons, gena and tempora coarsely punctate, mandibles with several conspicuously defined punctures basaly. Gena about 0.6–0.8 times as wide as eye. Entire clypeus covered by silvery pubescence of same length basally and apically; pubescence of frons longer, with characteristic setae that have basal three quarters straight and bent tips. Ocelli equidistant. AF1 longer than scape, AF2 1.7–2.1 times as long as wide. Tyloids on AF1 thin, occupying increasingly more surface towards tip, but remain thin until last three flagellomeres. Terminal few tyloids are sometimes barely elevated above the segment surface, rare feature in non-  capensis -group, shared only with  R. fita sp. nov. Terminal flagellomere elongated, with greater curvature radius on the outer margin, tip obtuse (Figure 68b).</p><p>Mesosoma. Overall more coarsely punctate, with longer setae, especially on scutellum and metanotum. Coxa pairs II and III coarsely punctate. Tarsal I spur not developed.</p><p>Metasoma. Terminal sternum flattened or weakly concave.</p><p>Male-female pairing strength: high; confirmed by the mt DNA.</p><p>Variability. This species is showing some interesting patterns of colour variation. The first is the tendency to have a transversal black band on clypeus females, which is only seen in  R. amanhii sp. nov., with three layers of colour. In addition to the colour pattern variability, this species also exhibits a pattern of pubescence differences across the entire distribution areal. Specimens from Eastern Africa often have golden pubescence (Figure 106a), while those from Western Africa have predominantly silvery pubescence (Figure 106b).</p><p>Similar species. The most similar species to this one is  R. fita sp. nov. These are usually sufficient for determination, but there may be dubious specimens from the overlapping distribution regions (Zambia, Zimbabwe, possibly also Tanzania). Problems are also possible in the separation of females from  R. baki sp. nov. in Western Africa, which has shorter and evenly curved setae on frons and mesonotum in females, while males have different clypeus punctures (a yellow spot on mandibles provides additional support towards  R. baki sp. nov.; specimens of  R. tomentosa from Western Africa do not have any yellow markings on the mandible). Specimens of  R. tomentosa (GERSTAECKER) from South Africa can sometimes resemble  R. fita sp. nov. by having scape and pedicel dorsally reddish (as opposed to black in specimens from other regions of Africa); due to non-overlapping distribution range, such specimens can easily be assigned to  R. tomentosa (GERSTAECKER) . Interestingly, Bequaert considers this species as a probable synonym of  R. aethiopica (DU BUYSSON) (Bequaret, 1918), but none of the examined specimens seems to resemble this species, except possibly in the black colour of the tarsi.</p><p>Distribution. Entire Sub-Saharan Africa—this species was recorded from 19 countries, with the second-largest distribution areal. Most specimens originated from South Africa (20%), Kenya (15%), Zambia (12%), Tanzania (11%), Mozambique (9%), Zimbabwe (6%), Malawi (6%) and DR Congo (5%). The remaining specimens were recorded from Senegal, Sudan, Uganda, Central African Republic, Gambia, Gabon, Benin, Angola, Nigeria and Cote d’Ivoire. Such a wide distribution area suggests that this species probably occupies a separate niche not shared by other  Ropalidia species. Notably, this species is relatively uncommon, accounting for only 3% of all examined specimens.</p><p>Nest. Several nests were examined, and all seem to fit a general pattern. The nest is discoid in shape, small, with smaller colony sizes of 5– 15 adult wasps; even large nests seem to have fewer adults (iNat:36558374). Nest dimensions are usually 15*30 cells, and the nest walls have uneven apical margins so that the cells usually appear as if they were somehow torn. The cell wall is lightly greyish, with occasional orange, dark grey or brown streaks. The opercula are the same colour as the cell wall; some opercula can have orange or lightly yellow nodules. Opercula are always at the very top of the cell, without remaining free wall. One iNat observation shows that the nest is located in an artificial structure on wooden planks (iNat:21104423), while nests can also appear on plants.</p><p>Genetics. Despite nearly entirely (Sub-Saharan) African distribution, only four separate BIN clusters were recorded; one originated from Nigeria (BOLD:AEA6088), one was recorded from Zambia (BOLD:ACH4326), while the last two were present in Tanzania and Kenya (BOLD:ADN8570, BOLD:ADO6841). The phylogenetic position of this species was initially somewhat confusing, with a basal position and some similarity to morphologically separate species like  R. africana (CAMERON) stat. rev. However, the inclusion of Asian and Australian species in the phylogenetic analysis suggested that this species might be more closely related to Asian  Ropalidia species. This finding might suggest a separate wave of the spread of the genus  Ropalidia to Africa. Unfortunately, 28s rDNA was less informative.</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/4F5987BAE815FFCBFF11FF797636985A	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		MagnoliaPress via Plazi	Polašek, Ozren;Onah, Ikechukwu;Kehinde, Tope;Rojo, Veronica;Noort, Simon Van;Carpenter, James M.	Polašek, Ozren, Onah, Ikechukwu, Kehinde, Tope, Rojo, Veronica, Noort, Simon Van, Carpenter, James M. (2025): Revision of the mainland African species of the Old World social wasp genus Ropalidia Guérin-Méneville 1831 (Hymenoptera; Vespidae). Zootaxa 5626 (1): 1-142, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5626.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5626.1.1
4F5987BAE817FF34FF11FC6476939EFE.text	4F5987BAE817FF34FF11FC6476939EFE.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Ropalidia unidentata GORDANI SOIKA 1981	<div><p>Ropalidia unidentata GORDANI SOIKA 1981</p><p>Ropalidia unidentata GIORDANI SOIKA 1981</p><p>Type material.  Giordani Soika described this species based on a holotype, two paratype females from ZSM and an additional paratype female from HNHM (Giordani Soika, 1981). All of the type specimens were examined, and all fit the species description well. Males are described here for the first time .</p><p>Comments. A very similar species to  R. nobilis (GERSTAECKER), with dark-reddish basal colour and a specific pattern of contrasting yellow spots. The pattern includes two spots on the pronotum, a quadratic area lateral to parapsidal furrows on the mesonotum, and frequently two smaller spots on the propodeum. Besides the colour pattern, this species also has a longer pubescence than  R. nobilis (GERSTAECKER), providing a morphologic separation feature for specimens with an unusual colour pattern (such specimens were more common in Malawi and Zimbabwe). Similarly to  R. nobilis (GERSTAECKER), this species also has a colour pattern cline; specimens from the Northern distribution range (Kenya, Tanzania) have strong yellow spots, while further towards South spots become marginally reddened, all the way to almost entirely reddish in some specimens from South Africa. Males are described here for the first time.</p><p>Males.</p><p>Material examined.  D.O. Afrika [= Tanzania], 1♂ (MFNB.11). The total number of examined specimens: 1♂ .</p><p>Diagnosis. Similarly to females, males have highly characteristic colour pattern, which is sufficient for species determination. Some problems might arise in separating oddly coloured specimens of  R. nobilis (GERSTAECKER), but in these cases, the shape of terminal flagellomere and pubescence can provide sufficient determination features.</p><p>Description. Males. Wing length 8.1 mm. Colour. Basal colour lightly brown-reddish (less reddish tone than examined females). Clypeus yellow, with large brown basal (Figure 66a). Mandible brownish with antero-basal yellow spot; gena without yellow markings. Pronotum with bilateral yellow spot, area lateral to parapsidal furrows yellow, tegulae mostly yellow (only anterior third of tegulae surface lightly brown). Anterior surface of mesopleuron with large patch, coxa I and II yellow, coxa III with suffused yellow patch. Femur brown, distal surface of femur I and II with suffused yellow patches, all tibia lightly ferruginous, tarsi equally coloured to tibia. T1 with two large bilateral spots that are not merged medially, rest of metasoma brownish.</p><p>Head. Clypeus flattened, apex only slightly protruding, not depressed and apically obtuse (Figure 66a). Upes moderately curved, OCA not developed. Clypeus very shallowly punctate basally, entire surface with short silvery pubescence. Gena thin, about half of eye width, shallowly and sparsely punctate. Frons with dense, large and moderately deep punctures and longer silvery setae; similar features present on tempora and gena, with shorter protruding setae. Eyes covered by sparse setae of intermediate length (in contrast to females, which have asetose eyes). Scape slightly thickened, about 1.3 times as thick as AF1 base, pedicel about as long as wide, AF1 longer than scape, AF2 about 1.7 times as long as wide. Tyloids flat and not shiny, originate on AF1. The terminal flagellomere elongated, tip almost reaches 90° in relation to base. Tyloids are flat and matt. Terminal flagellomere elongated, equally curved, with obtuse tip (Figure 66b).</p><p>Mesosoma. Pronotum and mesonotum with large, defined and shallow punctures. Both head and mesosoma covered by white pubescence and equally coloured, longer white setae with bent tips.</p><p>Metasoma. T1 strongly widened, much more than any of examined females of this species. T2 short, with intermediate-sized directional punctures and some protruding white setae. S2 with longer protruding setae. T2/S2 suture poorly visible, no T2 lamella notch; lamella yellow, opaque. Terminal sternum weakly concave.</p><p>Male-female pairing strength: high; based on overall appearance, similar pattern of yellow spots on body, distribution similarity and differences from  R. nobilis (GERSTAECKER) males. Genotyping was not attempted due to old age of the specimen.</p><p>Distribution. Most specimens originated from Tanzania (49%), Mozambique (14%), Zimbabwe (12%), Malawi (8%) and Zambia (6%), while the remaining specimens originated from Kenya and the South Africa.</p><p>Colour pattern. Both  R. nobilis (GERSTAECKER) and  R. unidentata GIORDANI SOIKA have a general overall resemblance, which is not shared by the genetically closely related  R. fita sp. nov. and  R. amanhii sp. nov. Furthermore,  R. nobilis (GERSTAECKER) and  R. unidentata GIORDANI SOIKA seem to share a distribution pattern to a great deal, with the only exception being that  R. unidentata GIORDANI SOIKA was not seen from Uganda and DR Congo. In addition, these two species seem to resemble the overall colour pattern of  Polistes defectivus GERSTAECKER, (=  Polistes waldoi DOVER), confirming previously implied  Ropalidia -  Polistes co-evolution through Mullerian mimicry (Supplementary Figure 20, 21) (Bequaret, 1918; Giordani Soika, 1981). This is further supported by the  Polistes defectivus GERSTAECKER distribution areal, which spans two more countries besides these where the two  Ropalidia species were reported from (Bequaret, 1918; J. M. Carpenter, 1996).</p><p>Nest. A single nest was observed on iNat. The nest had an elongated shape, at least 25 cells long and up to three full-length cells wide, with an incomplete length of the accessory cells on the sides. Interestingly, even these lateral incomplete length cells had larvae in them. The cell wall is lightly brown, with an occasional layer of an orange or brownish colour. Opercula are lightly brownish, with occasional orange nodules. The nest was built on wooden planks. Colony size appeared small, with just two visible adult females on the nest (iNat:10894712). A hive chafer raided the observed nest, most likely  Oplostomus fuligineus OLIVIER.</p><p>Genetics. Two specimens were successfully genotyped for the COI gene, one from Malawi and the other from the island of Pemba in Tanzania, and both belonged to a single cluster (BOLD:ADM2244), suggesting genetic homogeneity of these populations. Based on the COI gene, this species is a member of the  nobilis -group, with the least distance to  R. fita sp. nov.</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/4F5987BAE817FF34FF11FC6476939EFE	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		MagnoliaPress via Plazi	Polašek, Ozren;Onah, Ikechukwu;Kehinde, Tope;Rojo, Veronica;Noort, Simon Van;Carpenter, James M.	Polašek, Ozren, Onah, Ikechukwu, Kehinde, Tope, Rojo, Veronica, Noort, Simon Van, Carpenter, James M. (2025): Revision of the mainland African species of the Old World social wasp genus Ropalidia Guérin-Méneville 1831 (Hymenoptera; Vespidae). Zootaxa 5626 (1): 1-142, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5626.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5626.1.1
4F5987BAE8E8FF36FF11FA0075389B9A.text	4F5987BAE8E8FF36FF11FA0075389B9A.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Ropalidia valentula Polasek 2025	<div><p>Ropalidia valentula Polašek sp. nov.</p><p>urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 0412648D-1228-46C9-AB1C-BE1FFD19220C</p><p>Type specimens.   Holotype:  Voi, Kenya, 1♀ (OLM.0203)  .   Paratypes: Amani, Tanzania, 2♀♀, 1♂ (SNM); Kimboza, Tanzania, 1♀ (SNM);  Sigi river, Tanzania, 2♀♀ (SNM);  Sanje river, Tanzania, 2♀♀ (SNM); Arusha, Tanzania, 1♀, 1♂ (ZSM);  Kahama, Tanzania, 2♀♀ (OLM);  Muse, Tanzania, 1♀ (MSNV);  Kafukola, Tanzania, 1♀ (MSNV); Morogoro, Tanzania, 1♀ (AMNH _ IZC00179536)  Sof Omar, Ethiopia, 2♀♀ (OLM);  Nairobi, Kenya 1♀ (OLM);  Voi, Kenya, 6♀♀ (OLM); Taveta, Kenya, 1♀ (OLM); Salima, Malawi, 1♀ (MFNB);  Kofne, Zambia, 1♀ (NHRS-HEVA 000008440);  Nylstrom, South Africa, 2♀♀ (OLM);  Oshikango, Namibia, 1♂ (MSNV);  Solwezi, 90 km NW, Zambia, 1♀ (OLM);  Chipinge, Zimbabwe, 1♀ (OLM);  Elisabethville, DR Congo, 1♀ (RMCA);  Katanga, DR Congo, 1♂ (AMNH _ IZC00179537);  Mrera, Kenya, 1♂ (NHM).  The total number of examined specimens: 31♀♀, 4♂♂  .</p><p>Diagnosis. Member of the capensis- group, characterized by the robust head structure, sharp OCA in females, upwardly directed hairs of propodeal excavation and specific clypeus shape and terminal flagellomere structure in males.</p><p>Description. Females. Wing length 6.2–8.1 mm. Colour. Basic colour dark brown with black (Figure 4 bb). Clypeus yellow with large basal light brown or brown spot (Figure 12 bb). Inner orbit and interantennal area with suffused yellow markings (Figure 12 bb). Mandible yellow with medio-basal brown spot, sometimes elongated and reaches tip (Figure 11b). Gena brown, rarely with small yellow spot near mandible base (Figure 12 aa). Pronotum with thin yellow line underneath carina (Figure 4 bb); mesonotum darker, usually dark brown with two or four reddish lines. Scutellum reddish (sometimes with thin posterior yellowish line), metanotum with two lateral reddish spots that are sometimes faintly yellow, rarely metanotum with two visible yellow spots. Mesopleuron dark brown or black, with central reddish area, metapleuron ferruginous, brown or dark brown. Coxa ferruginous, femur similarly coloured or even with darker proximal part; rest of leg ferruginous, terminal tarsal segment sometimes darker (Figure 4 bb). T1 usually without yellow markings, T2 commonly with posterior yellow band, S2 with band or remaining bilateral spots. Population from South Africa has reduced yellow line on T2 and yellow markings on S2 absent. Remaining metasomal segments variable: either without yellow markings or with as much as T3–5(6) with a suffused yellow band. Wings transparent, except anterior margin with yellowish area; apical spot faintly yellowish (Figure 4 bb). Stigma brown, with somewhat lightly coloured or even translucent centre (Figure 4 bb). Antenna darkened from above, orange underneath; South Africa population has a darker antenna, black from above.</p><p>Head. More robust than  R. antennata (DE SAUSSURE), with broader gena and more sinuate occipital carina (almost straight in  R. antennata DE SAUSSURE). Clypeus about as wide as long, with straight or weakly curved upes and marked oculo-clypeal angle (Figure 12 bb). Clypeus sparsely and finely punctate, with less defined craters apically. Frons finely and densely punctate, but obscured by fine yellowish-silvery pubescence and longer setae, that are about as long as ocelli diameter. Gena shallowly punctate, gradually dissipating towards occipital carina. Ocelli with broader base. Mandible wider proximally than distally (Figure 11b), in contrast to  R. antennata (DE SAUSSURE) with parallel mandible contour. Scape slightly longer than AF1, AF2 about as long as wide.</p><p>Mesosoma. Mesosoma covered by denser yellowish-golden pubescence; pubescence can be silvery-whitish in melanic specimens. Mesonotum sparsely and shallowly punctate, median suture and parapsidal furrows usually well developed. Scutellum without visible median carina. Propodeum overall rounded; superior and inferior propodeal carina weakly developed. Metanotum with well-defined punctures (Figure 11a). Propodeal excavation with slightly upwardly directed setae centrally, similar to  R. nigrocerasina sp. nov. and  R. retromaculata sp. nov. (Figure 11a), and in contrast to  R. capensis (DE SAUSSURE) and  R. antennata (DE SAUSSURE) .</p><p>Metasoma. T1 commonly pyriform, with equally curved margins (Figure 4 bb). T2 with parallel margins centrally; lamella with shallow T2/S2 nick. T2 with intermediate and shallow, poorly defined punctures.</p><p>Males resemble females in general, except for more yellow colour (Figure 53c). Colour. Clypeus completely yellow (Figure 54 bb), interantennal area, inner orbits yellow, mandible mainly yellow with posterior brown triangular spot. Mesosoma with reddish pronotum, spot on mesopleuron, two lines on otherwise black mesonotum, scutellum and metanotum (Figure 54 aa); notably, there are no yellow markings on mesosoma, including coxa. T2 often with posterior yellow band (Figure 54 aa).</p><p>Head. Head more robust than most of  capensis -group species males, with thicker gena and robust mandible with strong tortuous basal excavation (Figure 54 bb). Clypeus about as wide as long or somewhat wider, with pointed apex that barely protrudes juxtamandibular lobes, often slightly depressed inwards (Figure 54 bb). Scape thinner than in  R. antennata (DE SAUSSURE), about 1.5 times as wide as AF3 base (Figure 19c). AF2 about as wide as long, tyloids small and less developed, terminal flagellomere short, beak-like, with a pointed tip (Figure 54 bb).</p><p>Mesosoma. The tarsal spur weak or moderate (Figure 53b).</p><p>Metasoma. Terminal sternum flattened.</p><p>Distribution: Tanzania, Kenya, Ethiopia, Zambia, South Africa, Malawi, DR Congo, Zimbabwe. It is the most prevalent species from the  capensis -group in Kenya and Tanzania, with a declining Southern gradient of occurrence.</p><p>Etymology. A name is a diminutive form of the Latin adjective valens -tis (“robust”), valentulus -a -um, in reference to the robust head.</p><p>Similar species.  R. nigrocerasina sp. nov. and  R. retromaculata sp. nov. These three species seem to form a cluster within the  capensis -group, defined by the propodeal pubescence pattern and more robust heads in males and females. While  R. nigrocerasina sp. nov. may present some problems in females, males are more easily separated by the clypeus shape and punctures and shape of terminal flagellomere.</p><p>Genetics. Three separate lineages were detected, BOLD:ADN8568, originating from Ethiopia, Kenya and Tanzania, BOLD:ADR7788 from the South Africa, and BOLD:ADN9353 from Zambia. Notably, the BIN cluster of  R. nigrocerasina sp. nov. was nested within the  R. valentula sp. nov. lineages, suggesting a very close relationship, which was corroborated by morphology.</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/4F5987BAE8E8FF36FF11FA0075389B9A	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		MagnoliaPress via Plazi	Polašek, Ozren;Onah, Ikechukwu;Kehinde, Tope;Rojo, Veronica;Noort, Simon Van;Carpenter, James M.	Polašek, Ozren, Onah, Ikechukwu, Kehinde, Tope, Rojo, Veronica, Noort, Simon Van, Carpenter, James M. (2025): Revision of the mainland African species of the Old World social wasp genus Ropalidia Guérin-Méneville 1831 (Hymenoptera; Vespidae). Zootaxa 5626 (1): 1-142, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5626.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5626.1.1
4F5987BAE8EAFF37FF11FEA474979BB6.text	4F5987BAE8EAFF37FF11FEA474979BB6.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Ropalidia cincta (LEPELETIER 1836)	<div><p>Ropalidia cincta (LEPELETIER 1836), nomen dubium</p><p>Epipona cincta LEPELETIER 1836, loc. typ. Senegal, Afrique equinoxiale</p><p>Icaria cincta LEPELETIER 1836</p><p>Icaria xanthura MAGRETTI 1884 (homonym of  Icaria xanthura DE SAUSSURE)</p><p>Type material. Not examined (type unaccounted for). The species description suggests the collection Serville, which is scattered and often has wrong labels, especially specimens that bear labels Afrique equinoxiale (Rambur, 1842) .</p><p>Diagnosis. The species description provides an account of the African species, with description in Latin [ Nigra, punctulata, griseo subtomentosa, prothorace humerisque pallido marginatis; abdominis segmenti secundi margine postico luteo. Alae hyalinae, costâ et macula in cellulae radialis apice magna, nigrofuscis]. The description translates as: “black, punctate, with greyish pubescence, pronotum with yellow margin, second metasomal segment with posterior band; wings transparent, nervature brown, apical spot large and brown-black” (Lepetetier de Saint-Fargeau, 1836). The description does not provide sufficient criteria to understand which species that is.</p><p>Following this description, de Saussure changed the genus into  Icaria, with a somewhat different redescription. The translation from French reads as “brown basal colour, with reddish antenna and clypeus, which also has a yellow line at its lower edge; mandible with a yellow dot, pronotum with widened yellow areas, yellow band at first and second metasomal segment, brown legs, yellow spot on coxa I, transparent wings and brown apical spot” (H. De Saussure, 1853). Notably, he reports substantial variation, which includes four colour variants: brown insect with yellow pronotum (var A), thin yellow line on the pronotum (var B), a dark insect with reddish metasoma tip (var C) or completely red insect (var D). The colour plates provided in the same monograph (plate 5) show  R. guttatipennis (DE SAUSSURE) that fits the species description, but also  R. cincta (LEPELETIER) with just a thin yellow line on both pronotum and T2, which is in disagreement with the detailed description from the same paper. De Saussure suggested the following difference between  R. cincta (LEPELETIER) and  R. guttatipennis (DE SAUSSURE): acute clypeal apex in  R. cincta (obtuse in  R. guttatipennis), mainly yellow pronotum and thick posterior band on T2 (brown with thin yellow lines in  guttatipennis), and propodeum without two [dorsal?] carina (with developed carina in  guttatipennis). Subsequently, Bequaert warned about the similarities of these two species, but interpreted the previous papers differently. He used the carina described by the previous authors, but assumes that they are referring to the lower carina (=inferior propodeal carina), with developed inferior propodeal carina in  R. guttatipennis (DE SAUSSURE), while  R. cincta (LEPELETIER) is reported not to have them developed (Bequaret, 1918). He also reported differences in the shape of the terminal flagellomere in male, which is used as the primary separation feature between these two species, without mentioning the colour pattern. The drawn antenna of assumed  R. guttatipennis (DE SAUSSURE) in Bequaert (thin terminal antennal article, Figure 244 in that paper) most certainly does not belong to  R. guttatipennis (DE SAUSSURE) (Bequaret, 1918), further contributing to taxonomic uncertainties of previous papers. In addition, the examined type series specimens of  R. guttatipennis (DE SAUSSURE) do not have developed inferior propodeal carina, meaning that Bequaert’s determination of  R. guttatipennis (DE SAUSSURE) is pointing to another, undefined species. A subsequent analysis of the specimens from the AMNH collection that Bequaert identified as  R. guttatipennis (DE SAUSSURE) showed that they belonged to a newly described  R. kuficha sp. nov.</p><p>Phenotypical features of de Saussure’s  R. cincta (LEPELETIER) include mainly yellow pronotum and thick yellow line at T2, which is a relatively common feature in the examined material. However, most of the specimens with these features that were genotyped with COI and 28S are conspecific or in a very close relationship with  R. guttatipennis (DE SAUSSURE) . Only four sequenced specimens belonged to a separate COI genetic cluster (BOLD: ADM2241), while the results of 28S rDNA were less convincing, suggesting the same sequence as  R. guttatipennis (DE SAUSSURE) cluster (with a single exception, which was a specimen from the island of Pemba, which was somewhat more distant from  R. guttatipennis DE SAUSSURE). Based on all of these problems, lack of the primary type specimen, and sufficient morphological features, the name  R. cincta (LEPELETIER) is hereby considered to be conspecific with the TT cluster of  R. guttatipennis (DE SAUSSURE) . However, in the absence of type material, it is only possible to consider  R. cincta (LEPELETIER) a nomen dubium. Therefore, all previous references to  R. cincta (LEPELETIER) should probably be considered  R. guttatipennis (DE SAUSSURE) .</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/4F5987BAE8EAFF37FF11FEA474979BB6	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		MagnoliaPress via Plazi	Polašek, Ozren;Onah, Ikechukwu;Kehinde, Tope;Rojo, Veronica;Noort, Simon Van;Carpenter, James M.	Polašek, Ozren, Onah, Ikechukwu, Kehinde, Tope, Rojo, Veronica, Noort, Simon Van, Carpenter, James M. (2025): Revision of the mainland African species of the Old World social wasp genus Ropalidia Guérin-Méneville 1831 (Hymenoptera; Vespidae). Zootaxa 5626 (1): 1-142, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5626.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5626.1.1
4F5987BAE8EBFF37FF11FEC872539F87.text	4F5987BAE8EBFF37FF11FEC872539F87.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Ropalidia maculata (RADOSZKOWSKI 1881)	<div><p>Ropalidia maculata (RADOSZKOWSKI 1881), nomen dubium</p><p>Icaria maculata RADOSZKOWSKI, 1881; Angola (Welwitsch collection)</p><p>Type material. Not examined (type unaccounted for). The species description indicates the Welwitsch collection, purchased and distributed mainly across three museums—Berlin, St. Petersburg and Prague (Rosa, Wiśniowski, &amp; Xu, 2015). The initial search indicated that none of these three institutions has the type listed in their repositories. A detailed search of the Berlin collection (including a detailed examination of  Eumeninae) confirmed that the type was not there. The original description of this species also lists several other taxa, which might be informative in this search. The paper suggests that there were also specimens of  R. guttatipennis DE SAUSSURE, and types of  Odynerus angolensis RADOSZKOWSKI and  Odynerus obscurus RADOSZKOWSKI (Radoszkowski, 1881) . While the  Eumeninae types were accounted for and are currently deposited in the collection, it seems that  Ropalidia specimens were systematically lost, as the Berlin collection does not house any  Ropalidia from Angola, not even the mentioned  R. guttatipennis (DE SAUSSURE) . In addition, there was a single specimen identified from the Welwitsch collection in all of the examined collections. The specimen is a female  R. tenebrica sp. nov. from Angola. We then performed additional checks of the available males, and identified multiple deviations from the type description, in the colour of the mesosoma and metasoma, suggesting that these two are not conspecific.</p><p>Diagnosis. The description refers to a male with an overall very dark appearance. The translation from German reports “black: head, epimeron, mesosoma, legs, metasoma black, except segments 1, 4 and 5 ferruginous. Wings translucent, apical spot dark brown. Head large, covered with silvery pubescence. Mesosoma underside to tarsi reddish; mesonotum black, propodeum covered with silvery pubescence ” (Radoszkowski, 1881). The description indicates an overall length of 11 mm, which would suggest that this was most likely a member of the  capensis - group. The most problematic feature in the description is the colour of the metasomal segments, which do not seem to show any skipping pattern in  Ropalidia (as opposed to a common skip in the tergum colour in  Polistes or even  Eumeninae). No examined specimens of  Ropalidia had a colour pattern that would include T1–4–5 combinations, suggesting that this might not even be a member of the genus  Ropalidia . Unfortunately, the lack of specimen and inability to identify any examined specimens suggest that this taxon should be considered nomen dubium.</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/4F5987BAE8EBFF37FF11FEC872539F87	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		MagnoliaPress via Plazi	Polašek, Ozren;Onah, Ikechukwu;Kehinde, Tope;Rojo, Veronica;Noort, Simon Van;Carpenter, James M.	Polašek, Ozren, Onah, Ikechukwu, Kehinde, Tope, Rojo, Veronica, Noort, Simon Van, Carpenter, James M. (2025): Revision of the mainland African species of the Old World social wasp genus Ropalidia Guérin-Méneville 1831 (Hymenoptera; Vespidae). Zootaxa 5626 (1): 1-142, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5626.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5626.1.1
