Polistes (Fuscopolistes) carolina Linnaeus

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 : 332

Polistes (Fuscopolistes) carolina Linnaeus

Paramere: (1) about two and half times longer than wide at the middle; (2) lateral groove weakly deep; (3) parameral spine damaged (not seen), with long and sparse bristles on the part seen; (4) paramere lobe developed and weakly pointed; (5) inferior portion of paramere wide, about 0,7 the width at the middle portion. Aedeagus: robust; (1) apical portion with prominent denticulation, with small teeth intercalated among the large teeth, extended to the penis valve to the end 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 rounded and slightly expanded in apex; (6) inferior portion of aedeagus curved, in lateral view; (7) ventral teeth uniform, little projecting, about 18 in number. Digitus: 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: robust, triangular-shape; (1) apex weakly pointed and tapering gradually to the end; (2) short and dense bristles on cuspis; (3) punctation restricted on the lateral lobe; (4) lower part weakly developed and more membranous aspect, with short bristles.

Remarks. Richards (1978: 460) comments about the genitalia were: “with expanded tip of aedeagus rather short, ventral teeth very small, little projecting, about 18 in number; digitus with basal portion rather narrow, inner edge considerably produced anteriorly, distal process short”. Buck et al. (2012) presented illustrations of the paramere ( Fig. 15 ), digitus ( Fig. 23 ) and aedeagus ( Figs. 40 , 48, 56), which match our description.

Figures

FIGURE 15. Male genitalia of Polistes (Aphanilopterus) mexicanus—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 23. Male genitalia of Polistes (Epicnemius) actaeon—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 40. Male genitalia of Polistes (Palisotius) major—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.