Polistes (Polistella) delhiensis Das & Gupta, 1989

Nguyen, Lien T. P. & Carpenter, James M., 2016, Review of the Polistes (Polistella) " Stenopolistes " species-group (Hymenoptera: Vespidae: Polistinae) from Vietnam, with description of a new species and key to species, Zootaxa 4088 (4), pp. 583-593 : 584

Polistes (Polistella) delhiensis Das & Gupta, 1989

( Figs 1−3 )

Polistes delhiensis Das & Gupta, 1984: 410 , nom. nud.

Polistes delhiensis Das & Gupta, 1989: 63 , ♀, “ INDIA: Delhi”, [holotype in Zoological Survey of India, Kolkata].

Das and Gupta (1989) described the species from India with the clypeus reddish-brown and basal margin broadly black. All specimens from Vietnam have the clypeus reddish-brown and two spots at apical lateral corners yellow ( Fig. 1 )

Material examined. VIETNAM, Northeastern provinces: Ha Giang: 1 ♀, Cao Bo, Vi Xuyen, 22°44'N, 104°54'E, 532 m, 21−24.iv.2000, LTP Nguyen; Bac Kan: Kim Hy NP, Na Ri, 22°14'N, 106°05'E, 600−700 m, 4.viii.2012, LTP. Nguyen et al. [1 ♀, 3 ♀ of Nest# VN −NE2012−P −04]; 2 ♀, Kim Hy NP, Vu Muon, Bach Thong, 550 m, 22°12.5'N, 105°58'E, 5.viii.2012, LTP Nguyen et al. Other provinces: Phu Tho: 2 ♀, Xuan Son NP, 21°10'N, 104°58'E, 400 m, 11−12.vi.2004, LTP Nguyen; Hoa Binh: Pa Co, Mai Chau, 20°44'N, 104°55'E [1 ♀, 1000 m, 27.vi.2001; 2 ♀, 1000 m, 22−23.iv.2002, TV Hoang; 1 ♀, 1350 m, 28.viii.2006, LTP Nguyen, F Saito & J Kojima]; Vinh Phuc: 1 ♀, Tam Dao NP, 21°32'N, 105°37'E, 800 m, 2.vii.2003, LTP Nguyen.

Distribution. This species has been recorded from Delhi in India and the northern part of Vietnam (Ha Giang, Bac Kan, Phu Tho, Hoa Binh, Vinh Phuc and Son La) (Nguyen et al., 2011). Nguyen et al. (2011) also stated that the disjunct distribution records of this species are probably due to lack of intensive field work in the areas in the southern slope and western part of the eastern slope of the Himalayas.

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 6. 1 – 3. Polistes delhiensis, ♀. 1. Head, frontal view. 2. Fore wing. 3. Habitus. 4. Polistes meadeanus, ♀. habitus. 5, 6. Polistes nigritarsis, ♀. 5. Head, frontal view. 6. Habitus.