Polistes (Fuscopolistes) fuscatus (Fabricius)

Somavilla, Alexandre, Oliveira, Marcio Luiz, Andena, Sergio Ricardo & Carpenter, James Michael, 2018, An illustrated atlas for male genitalia of the New World Polistes Latreille, 1802 (Vespidae: Polistinae), Zootaxa 4504 (3), pp. 301-344 : 334

Polistes (Fuscopolistes) fuscatus (Fabricius)

Paramere ( Fig. 35A ): (1) about two and half times longer than wide at the middle; (2) lateral groove deep; (3) parameral spine medium (about 1/7 the total length of paramere) pointed apically with long and dense bristles, mainly on spine base; (4) paramere lobe weakly developed and rounded; (5) inferior portion of paramere wide, about 0,8 the width at the middle portion. Aedeagus ( Fig. 35B, C ): robust; (1) apical portion with prominent denticulation, with small teeth intercalated among the large teeth, extended laterally from the penis valve to the apex of median expansion, lateral margin curved; (2) penis valve dilated and with a strong central entrance, bilobed (about 1/3 of the total length of apical portion); (3) median expansion developed and pointed apex; (4) lateral apodeme directed forward and almost the same size as the ventral process, (5) ventral process very rounded and compressed in the base; (6) inferior portion of aedeagus weakly curved, almost straight in lateral view; (7) ventral teeth large with a few smaller ones amongst them, about 20 in number. Digitus ( Fig. 35D ): robust; (1) apical process very reduced; (3) anteroventral lobe long and pointed apically; (4) punctation strong, over the entire digitus base; (5) short and dense bristles, mainly on lateral margin. Cuspis ( Fig. 35E ): robust, triangular- shape; (1) apex weakly pointed and tapering gradually to the end; (2) short and sparse bristles on cuspis; (3) punctation restricted on the lateral lobe; (4) lower part developed and more membranous aspec, with short bristles.

Remarks. In Richards (1978: 461–465), P. fuscatus was divided into seven subspecies, none of which are recognized now. His comments under the nominotypical subspecies characterized the “expanded end of aedeagus rather long, ventral teeth large with a few smaller ones amongst them, about 20 in all” and the digitus with the basal portion rather broad and distal process very short. Buck et al. (2012) presented illustrations of the paramere ( Fig. 17 ), digitus ( Fig. 25 ) and aedeagus ( Figs. 42 , 50, 58), which match our description.

Figures

FIGURE 17. Male genitalia of Polistes (Aphanilopterus) peruvianus—A= paramere, lateral view; B= aedeagus, ventral view; C= aedeagus, lateral view; D= digitus, lateral view; E= cuspis, lateral view. Scale bar = 1.0 mm.

FIGURE 25. Male genitalia of Polistes (Epicnemius) cinerascens—A= paramere, lateral view; B= aedeagus, ventral view; C= aedeagus, lateral view; D= digitus, lateral view; E= cuspis, lateral view. Scale bar = 1.0 mm.

FIGURE 35. Male genitalia of Polistes (Fuscopolistes) fuscatus—A= paramere, lateral view; B= aedeagus, ventral view; C= aedeagus, lateral view; D= digitus, lateral view; E= cuspis, lateral view. Scale bar = 1.0 mm.

FIGURE 42. Male genitalia of Polistes (Palisotius) paraguayensis—A= paramere, lateral view; B= aedeagus, ventral view; C= aedeagus, lateral view; D= digitus, lateral view; E= cuspis, lateral view. Scale bar = 1.0 mm.