Polistes (Epicnemius) atrox Richards, 1978

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 : 323

Polistes (Epicnemius) atrox Richards

Paramere: (1) about three times longer than wide at the middle; (2) lateral groove shallow; (3) parameral spine very long (about 1/5 the total length of paramere), pointed apically with long and dense bristles; (4) paramere lobe weakly developed and rounded; (5) inferior portion of paramere narrow, about half the width at the middle portion. Aedeagus: slender; (1) apical portion with fine and serrated denticulation, extended the apex of the apical portion to the median expansion, 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 developed and rounded apex; (4) lateral apodeme directed forward and shorter than the ventral process; (6) inferior portion of aedeagus weakly curved, almost straight in lateral view. Digitus: slender; (1) apical process developed, about twice longer than the digitus base, strongly curved for the side, (2) apex pointed; (3) anteroventral lobe short and widely rounded apically; (4) punctation strong and forming a central band around the base of the digitus; (5) evanescent bristles. Cuspis: slender; (1) apex pointed and tapering abruptly to the end; (2) long and sparse bristles on cuspis; (3) punctation restricted on the lateral lobe; (4) lower part weakly developed.

Remarks. Richards (1978: 542) did not describe the male genitalia of this species. He noted that the digitus is “bare”, as shown in his Fig. 154.