Polistes gigas (Kirby)

Nguyen, Lien Thi Phuong & Carpenter, James M., 2019, Taxonomic notes on the paper wasps of the subgenus Polistes (Gyrostoma) (Hymenoptera, Vespidae, Polistinae) occurring in Vietnam, with description of a new species, Journal of Hymenoptera Research 74, pp. 51-64 : 51

(1) Polistes gigas (Kirby)

Figs 1-3 , 19 , 20

Cyclostoma gigas Kirby, 1826, 1, 3: 36.

Polistes gigas : Sonan, 1943, 33: 469.

Notes.

This is the biggest species among polistine wasps, with female body length being about 25-30 mm, and male body length even bigger, about 32-35 mm. Its distribution is restricted to one area in the northeastern part of India (Sikkim), southern China including Hong Kong, and Taiwan ( Das and Gupta 1989; Tan et al. 2014). In Vietnam, this species has been recorded from many localities in the northern part of the country ( Nguyen et al. 2005). In this study, some new localities in the northern part are added to the distribution range of the species, and a record of one locality in the southern part is also added.

Material examined.

Vietnam. Cao Bang [2 ♀, Nguyen Binh, Thanh Cong, 22°34'14.2"N, 105°52'51.7"E, 9 Aug. 2012, J Kojima, H Nugroho & IED-c leg.; 2 ♀, Nguyen Binh, Thanh Cong, 23°32'29"N, 105°52'52.7"E, 8 Aug. 2012, J Kojima, H Nugroho & IED-c leg.; 1 ♀, Nguyen Binh, Thanh Cong, 23°32'37"N, 105°52'10.4"E, 7 Aug. 2012, J Kojima, H Nugroho & IED-c leg.; 6 ♀, Nguyen Binh, Tam Kim, Na Va, 22°36'17"N, 106°01'47"E, alt. 320m, 18 Oct. 2015, LPT Nguyen, DD Nguyen, MP Nguyen leg.; 1 ♀, Nguyen Binh, Thanh Cong, Phia Oac, 11 Aug. 2012, ISD-c leg.; 2 ♀, Trung Khanh, Dam Thuy, Nguom Ngao cave, 28 Apr. 2015, LPT Nguyen leg.]; 1 ♀, Bac Kan. Na Ri, Lan San, Kim Hy NR, 3 Jun. 2014, 22°14'N, 106°5'E, SV Tran leg.; 1 ♀, Thai Nguyen, Dai Tu, Phuc Xuyen, 23 Apr. 2012, LD Khuat leg.; 1 ♀, Thai Nguyen, Dai Tu, 29 Sep. 2006, LD Khuat leg.; 3 ♀, Phu Tho, Xuan Son NP, alt. 500-600 m, 12-13 Jun. 2004, LTP Nguyen leg.; 1 ♀, Thai Nguyen, Xuan Dai, Tan Son, 20 May 2011, HP Pham leg.; Bac Giang [5 ♀, Son Dong, An Lac, Keo Vang, 21°18'46"N, 106°56'E, 4 Jun. 2014, LTP Nguyen, DD Nguyen, DD Tran leg.; 1 ♀, Son Dong, Tuan Dao, Khe Dan, Tay Yen Tu NR, 4 Jul. 2010, DD Tran leg.; 1 ♀, Son Dong, Khe Vang, 16 May 2013, DD Nguyen leg.; 1 ♀, Son Dong, An Lac, Dong Bay, 12 Aug. 2012, J Kojima, H Nugroho & IED-c leg.]; 1 ♀, Quang Ninh, Yen Tu mountain, 4 Mar. 2002, LPT Nguyen leg.; Hoa Binh [1 ♀, Yen Thuy, Da Phuc, 27 Apr. 2012, HT Dang leg.; 1 ♀, Mai Chau, Chieng Chau, Lac village, alt. 600m, 10 Jun. 2008, LPT Nguyen & PH Pham leg.; Ha Noi [1 ♀, Ba Vi, Van Hoa, 03 Jun. 2001, LPT Nguyen leg.; 3 ♀, Ba Vi, Yen Bai, Suoi Mo, alt. 100 m, 01 Jun. 2001, LPT Nguyen leg.]; Hai Phong [4 ♀, Cat Ba NP, 20°47'58"N, 106°59'93"E, Nest#-CB-2013-Po-01, 26 Jul. 2013, LTP Nguyen leg.; 1♀, Cat Ba NP, 10 Jun. 2003, DL Khuat leg.]; Vinh Phuc [1 ♀, Me Linh, Ngoc Thanh, 02 Aug. 2000, LX Truong leg.; 6 ♀, Tam Dao NP, 2005, 21°26'N, 105°37'E, alt. 400 m, 20 Aug., J. Kojima leg.; 1 ♀, Me Linh, Ngoc Thanh, 13 Jun. 2001, LX Truong leg.; 8 ♀, Tam Dao, alt. 900-1200m, 30 Jul.-3 Aug. 2012, DT Tran leg.; 6 ♀, 21 ♂, Phuc Yen, Me Linh, Nest# 2012-ML-P-01, 11 Nov. 2012, J Kojima, DT Dang & LPT Nguyen leg.]; Thanh Hoa, Thuong Xuan, Van Xuan, Hon Can, Xuan Lien NR [1 ♀, 23-24 Aug. 2012, LPT Nguyen & TV Hoang leg.; 1 ♀, 19°51'41.2"N, 105°14'6"E, alt. 175 m, 27 Aug. 2012, LPT Nguyen leg.]; 1 ♀, Nghe An, Con Cuong, Khe Bu, 16 Apr. 2006, ISD-c leg., light trap; 1 ♀, Ha Tinh, Huong Son, Son Kim, alt. 400 m, 06 May 2004, LPT Nguyen leg.; 1 ♀, Quang Binh, Quang Ninh, Truong Son, U Bo, alt. 650-800 m, 10 Jun. 2006, LTP Nguyen leg.; 1 ♀, Thua Thien Hue, Phu Loc, Bach Ma NP, 30 May 2001, LD Khuat leg.; 1♀, Quang Nam, Dong Giang, Macoih, 27 May 2006, ISD-c leg.

Distribution.

India: Sikkim; southern China; Vietnam.

Nest.

A nest (Nest# 2012-ML-P-01) collected in Me Linh station, Vinh Phuc on 11 November 2012 was examined. The nest ( Fig. 19 ) was collected inside an old toilet, on the wall about 2 m from the ground, together with 8 females and 25 males.

Nest structural characters are as follows. Single comb, nearly round in shape with diameter of the comb nearly 10cm and 10cm in height, tough paper-like in texture, bicoloured, almost all dark brown mixed with reddish gray, expanded from the petiole to form fan-shape in ventral view, with dorsal surface slightly concave. One-third of the cell length from the bottom at outside covered with sharp thorns ( Fig. 20 ). The cell where the petiole is placed is longest, about 88 mm in length, and the length of the other two next cells is 71 mm (while only 51.8 mm and 45.5 mm deep respectively). Outside of those cells with a fold at about one-third of the length from the bottom implying that the wasps may have reused the nest. Petiole single, terminal, with thick central core of plant fibers, 8.7 mm long and 4.6 × 4.7 mm thick. Cells generally arranged in regular rows, round at open end; cell gradually expanded towards open end, 8.4 mm (range 7.0-10.3; n=10) wide at bottom and 14.8 mm (rang 13.5-16.7; n = 10) wide at open end, 49.7 mm (range 43.6-52.9; n=10) deep; cell wall about 0.25 mm thick; cocoon cap strongly domed beyond level of cell opening, whitish gray.

Figures

Figures 1 - 12. Gyrostoma species. 1 - 3 Polistes gigas 1 female head, frontal view 2 male head, frontal view 3 antennal flagellomeres 1 - 4. 4 - 6 Polistes olivaceus 4 female head, frontal view 5 male head, frontal view 6 antennal flagellomeres 1 - 4. 7 - 9 Polistes rothneyi 7 female head, frontal view 8 male head, frontal view 9 antennal flagellomeres 1 - 4. 10 - 12 Polistes tenebricosus 10 female head, frontal view 11 male head, frontal view 12 Antennal flagellomeres 1 - 4.

Figures 19 - 22. Nest of Gyrostoma species. 19, 20 Nest of P. gigas 21, 22 Nest of P. longus sp. nov.