Polistes (Aphanilopterus) versicolor (Olivier)

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 : 320

Polistes (Aphanilopterus) versicolor (Olivier)

Paramere ( Fig. 20A ): (1) about three times longer than wide at the middle; (2) lateral groove weakly deep, more pronounced on the upper part; (3) parameral spine long (about 1/6 the total length of paramere), pointed apically with long and dense bristles; (4) paramere lobe developed and widely rounded; (5) inferior portion of paramere narrow, about 2/3 the width at the middle portion. Aedeagus ( Fig. 20B, C ): slender; (1) apical portion with fine denticulation, extended only in apical portion, lateral margin straight; (2) penis valve weakly dilated and with a slight central entrance (about 1/3 of the total length of apical portion); (3) median expansion widely developed, rounded apex; (4) lateral apodeme directed forward and shorter than the ventral process, (5) ventral process rounded and slightly dilated in apex; (6) inferior portion of aedeagus curved, in lateral view. Digitus ( Fig. 20D ): slender; (1) apical process developed, about 1.5 times longer than the digitus base, same width from the base to the apex, (2) apex rounded; (3) anteroventral lobe short and rounded apically; (4) punctation weak, forming a central band around the base of the digitus; (5) evanescent bristles. Cuspis ( Fig. 20E ): slender; (1) apex pointed and tapering abruptly to the end; (2) long and dense bristles; (3) punctation reduced and restricted on the lateral lobe; (4) lower part developed and more membranous with short and dense bristles.

Remarks. Richards (1978: 497) did not describe the male genitalia of this species, but he provided a figure of the digitus (his Figure 139), which matches our description.

Figures

FIGURE 20. Male genitalia of Polistes (Aphanilopterus) versicolor—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.