Phalerimeris phalerata phalerata (de Saussure, 1858)

Figs 2A–B, 7D, 9F, 11D, 13F, 15D, 17F, 19D, 21F, 23D, 25F, 27D, 29F, 31D, 33F, 35D, 37F, 39F, 40F, 41F, 42F

Elis (Campsomeris) phalerata de Saussure, 1858: 233 (holotype ZMUC, ♀, type locality = Java).

Campsomeris (Campsomeris) albopilosa Rohwer, 1911: 480 (holotype USNM, ♂, type locality = Puli Township, Taiwan).

Campsomeris (Dielis) phalerata – Betrem 1928: 103.

Campsomeris (Phalerimeris) phalerata – Bradley & Betrem 1967: 294.

Batalanga phalerata – Argaman 1996: 205 (by implication).

Material examined

CHINA – Hong Kong • 1 ♂; Tai Lung Farm; 21 Sep. 1981; hand net; TLFES • 5 ♀♀; same collection data as for preceding; TLFES • 1 ♂; Sha Tau Kok (Hoi Pui Leng); 22°31′47″ N, 114°12′28″ E; 10–24 May 2018; C. Taylor and Cheung Shun Chi leg.; Malaise trap; HKBM • 1 ♀; Tsim Bei Tsui (Sha Kiu Tsuen); 22°29′21″ N, 113°59′55″ E; 14–28 May 2018; C. Taylor and Cheung Shun Chi leg.; Malaise trap; HKBM • 1 ♀; Sheung Pak Nai; 22°27′07″ N, 113°57′45″ E; 14–28 May 2018; C. Taylor and Cheung Shun Chi leg.; Malaise trap; HKBM • 1 ♀; Sheung Pak Nai; 22°27′05″ N, 113°57′44″ E; 28 May–11 Jun. 2018; C. Taylor and Cheung Shun Chi leg.; Malaise trap; HKBM • 1 ♂; Tung Chung; 22°16′55″ N, 113°55′43″ E; 29 May–12 Jun. 2018; C. Taylor and Cheung Shun Chi leg.; Malaise trap; HKBM • 1 ♀; Hang Mei; 22°15′11″ N, 113°52′08″ E; 9–23 May 2018; C. Taylor and Cheung Shun Chi leg.; Malaise trap; HKBM • 1 ♀; Hang Mei; 22°15′07″ N, 113°52′06″ E; 23 May–6 Jun. 2018; C. Taylor and Cheung Shun Chi leg.; Malaise trap; HKBM • 2 ♂♂; To Kwa Peng; 22°25′45″ N, 114°20′00″ E; 8–25 May 2018; C. Taylor and Cheung Shun Chi leg.; Malaise trap; HKBM • 1 ♂; Yim Tin Tsai; 22°22′31″ N, 114°18′02″ E; 1–15 Jun. 2018; C. Taylor and Cheung Shun Chi leg.; Malaise trap; HKBM • 3 ♂♂; New Territories; May–Jul. 2018; HKBM • 2 ♂♂; Pak Sha O; 22°26′59″ N, 114°19′04″ E; alt. 70 m; 27 Sep.–4 Oct. 2004; C. Barthélémy leg.; Malaise trap, ref.: M024.C.Hy.2; CBC • 2 ♂♂; same collection data as for preceding; 12–27 Nov. 2008; C. Barthélémy leg.; Malaise trap, ref: M056.C.Hy.1; CBC • 1 ♂; same collection data as for preceding; 14–31 May 2009; C. Barthélémy leg.; Malaise trap, ref.: M062.C.Hy.3; CBC • 1 ♂; Lin Tong Mei; 22°28′56″ N, 114°06′37″ E; alt. 15 m; 23 Jul. 2006; C. Barthélémy leg.; hand net, ref.: 0226.L.Hy.5; CBC • 1 ♂; Ping Shan Chai; 22°29′14″ N, 114°11′06″ E; alt. 140 m; 18 Nov.–30 Dec. 2017; C. Barthélémy leg.; Malaise trap, ref.: M323.D.Hy.3; CBC • 1 ♂; Mang Kung Wo; 22°22′06″ N, 114°15′12″ E;, alt. 60 m; 26 May–7 Jun. 2018; C. Barthélémy leg.; Malaise trap, ref.: M349.C.Hy.3; CBC • 1 ♂; same collection data as for preceding; 25 Jul. 2018; C. Barthélémy leg.; hand net, ref.: 0660.C.Hy.3; CBC • 1 ♀; Tai Tam; 29 Mar. 1998; C. Barthélémy leg.; Malaise trap, ref.: X045.Z.Hy.1; CBC • 1 ♀; Pak Sha O; 22°26′59″ N, 114°19′04″ E; alt. 70 m; 15 Sep.–1 Oct. 2008; C. Barthélémy leg.; Malaise trap, ref.: M053.C.Hy.3; CBC • 1 ♀; same collection data as for preceding; 7 Mar.–3 Apr. 2011; C. Barthélémy leg.; Malaise trap, ref.: M088.C.Hy.2; CBC • 1 ♀; same collection data as for preceding; 8–21 Jul. 2018; C. Barthélémy leg.; Malaise trap, ref.: M352.C.Hy.11; CBC • 1 ♀; same collection data as for preceding; 2 Apr. 2010; C. Barthélémy leg.; hand net, ref.: 0389.A.Hy.1; CBC • 1 ♀; same collection data as for preceding; 29 Sep. 2018; C. Barthélémy leg.; Malaise trap, 0669.C.Hy.3; CBC • 1 ♂; Mang Kung Wo; 22°22′06″ N, 114°15′12″ E; alt. 60 m; 14 Mar. 2020; C. Barthélémy leg.; Malaise trap, ref.: 0711.A.Hy.1; CBC .

Description

Female

STANDARD RATIOS (n = 8). L: 13.9–20.5 mm (mean = 16.97 mm); CR: 1.13–1.21 (mean = 1.16); OOR: 0.55–0.65 (mean = 0.62); CLR: 0.40–0.47 (mean = 0.43); MER: 0.97–1.35 (mean = 1.17); OMR: 1.05– 1.10 (mean = 1.08); FRR: 1.84–1.95 (mean = 1.90); MSR: 0.75–0.79 (mean = 0.77); TER: 1.81–2.04 (mean = 1.89).

HEAD. Head with clypeus broadly impunctate medially (Fig. 15D), densely punctate laterally; frontal spatium and scrobe mostly densely punctate (Fig. 15D), frontal spatium with narrow impunctate band medially; frons mostly sparsely punctate with narrow curved band of dense punctures in front of anterior ocellus (Fig. 19D) and densely punctate lateral band alongside eye; vertex moderately punctate (Fig. 19D); frontal spatium not well defined posteriorly; frontal fissura visible on frontal spatium only.

MESOSOMA. Dorsum of mesosoma in large part densely and subcontiguously punctate (Fig. 23D), scutellum and metanotum with large punctures (Fig. 27D). Mesopleuron densely punctate medially along sharp mesopleural crest, broadly impunctate anteriorly and posteriorly; metapleuron largely impunctate with sparse small punctures on lower panel; lateral panel of propodeum moderately but shallowly punctate. Scutellum and metanotum without median longitudinal carina (Fig. 27D). Dorsomedian area of propodeum without distinct tubercule medially (Fig. 27D).

METASOMA. Metasoma with weak transition between anterior and ventral faces of S 2 in lateral view; T1–T3 uniformly and moderately punctate (Figs 31D, 35D); T4–T6 densely punctate. T2 with no basal elevation (gradulus) (Fig. 35D).

WINGS. Fore wing with two submarginal cells and two recurrent veins; second recurrent vein reaching submarginal cell. Fore wing with short setae in the first submarginal cell.

COLOUR AND VESTITURE. Integument mostly black (Figs 7D, 11D) except mandibles reddish; legs with tibiae and tarsi reddish; metasoma with narrow apical yellow bands on T1–T3 (that on T3 may be narrowly interrupted medially) (Fig. 35D) and triangular apicolateral yellow spot on S2 and sometimes S3 (Fig. 31D). Vestiture mostly golden except black on metasomal segments 5 and 6 (Figs 7D, 11D). Wings yellowish with distinct infumated subapical spot near anterior margin of fore wing.

Male

STANDARD RATIOS (n = 10). L: 9.8–15 mm (mean = 13.1 mm); CR: 0.94–1.19 (mean = 1.09); OOR: 1.46–1.67 (mean = 1.52); CLR: 0.50–0.68 (mean = 0.61); MER: 1.11–1.47 (mean = 1.25); OMR: 0.94– 1.12 (mean = 1.04); FRR: 1.46–1.94 (mean = 1.76); MSR: 0.68–0.86 (mean = 0.79); TER: 1.30–1.91 (mean = 1.54).

HEAD. Head largely sparsely punctate to impunctate except densely punctate on frontal spatium and sparsely on lateral sides of clypeus (Figs 17F, 21F); frontal spatium well defined posteriorly; frontal fissura obsolete (Fig. 17F).

MESOSOMA. Dorsum of pronotum densely but very shallowly punctate (Fig. 25F); mesoscutum, scutellum and metanotum mostly moderately punctate with sparsely punctate discal area on mesoscutum and triangular impunctate area posteriorly on scutellum (Fig. 25F); propodeum with dorsomedian area densely but shallowly punctate, dorsolateral area anteriorly impunctate and posteriorly densely but shallowly punctate (Fig. 29F). Lateral panels of mesosoma with punctation largely obscured by dense appressed pile; mesopleuron medially densely punctate, anteriorly and posteriorly broadly impunctate; metapleuron largely impunctate except with some effaced punctures anteroventrally; lateral panel of propodeum moderately but shallowly punctate. Scutellum and metanotum without median longitudinal carina (Fig. 29F). Dorso-median area of propodeum without distinct tubercule medially (Fig. 29F).

METASOMA. Metasoma with weak division between anterior and ventral faces of S2 (Fig. 33F); tergites moderately but shallowly punctate (Figs 33F, 37F). T2 with no basal elevation (gradulus) (Fig. 37F).

WINGS. Same as female, but fore wing with numerous short setae on anterior half.

COLOUR AND VESTITURE. Integument mostly black (Figs 9F, 13F); base of mandible yellow; clypeus and scrobe yellow with more or less triangular or teardrop-shaped median black spot on clypeus (Fig. 17F); gena partially yellow (Fig. 9F); dorsum of pronotum and tegula yellow (Fig. 25F); paired yellow spots present at posterolateral corner of mesoscutum and on scutellum (scutellar spots may be coalesced medially) (Figs 13F, 25F); medial yellow spot on metanotum; pronotal callosity yellow; legs with anterior face of fore coxa yellow, ventral yellow stripes on all femora, and dorsal yellow stripe on fore and mid tibiae; metasoma with apical yellow bands on T1–T4 (Figs 13F, 33F, 37F) and S1–S4 or S2–S4 (Fig. 33F), those on S2–S4 may be medially interrupted. Vestiture mostly whitish, black on metasomal segments 5–7. Wings lightly and evenly infumated.

GENITALIA. Ventral side of paramere with long setae on lateral side (Fig. 40F), dorsal side with sparse long setae on most of its surface (Figs 39F, 41F); volsella and cuspis volsellaris with sparse setae on entire surfaces (Figs 40F, 42F); volsella bearing a few sensory cones on medial external margin (Fig. 42F) and a narrow lamella on its inner margin (Fig. 39F). External margin of paramere uniformly rounded, moderately acute apically (Figs 39F, 40F) and swollen medioapically (Fig. 41F); aedeagus serrated margin with shallow convex curvature.

Distribution (Fig. 2A–B)

China (Fujian, Guangdong, Hainan, Hong Kong, Hunan, Jiangxi, Taiwan, Yunnan); Indonesia (Sumatra, Java, Sulawesi); Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur, Perak, Selangor); Thailand; Nepal; India (Meghalaya, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Jharkhand, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Mizoram, Tripura); Bhutan; Myanmar (Tenasserim). [de Saussure 1858; Bingham 1897; Betrem 1928, 1941; Gupta & Jonathan 2003; Kumar & Pham 2015; Nidup et al. 2017; TIGER project 2008; Liu et al. 2021b].

Notes

Osten (2005) lists “ Elis iris de Saussure & Sichel, 1864 ” as a synonym of Phalerimeris phalerata; de Saussure & Sichel’s (1864) usage of this name is for a redescription of Colpa iris Lepeletier, 1845 and is not an available name.

This is the most commonly collected scoliid species in the Hong Kong SAR. Females may readily be distinguished from other scoliids by the dark subapical spot on the wings, and males by the distinct yellow stripe on the gena.

In Hong Kong, individuals are seen on the wing for most of the year, however, during the few weeks of relatively “cold” weather; between December and February, individuals retreat and it has been observed that females seek shelter underground, burrowing themselves at about 25cm depth in sandy agricultural soils. The same soils contained numerous larvae of Scarabaeidae Latreille, 1802 (white grubs).