Scolia (Discolia) superciliaris de Saussure & Sichel, 1864

Figs 3A–B, 8E, 10G, 12E, 14G, 16E, 18G, 20E, 22G, 24E, 26G, 28E, 30G, 32E, 34G, 36E, 38G, 39M, 40M, 41M, 42M

Scolia (Discolia) superciliaris de Saussure & Sichel, 1864: 322 (holotype ZMB, ♂, type locality = Shanghai, China).

Scolia (Scolia) sauteri Betrem, 1928: 277 (holotype ♀, type locality = Dalin, Taiwan).

Scolia (Scolia) sauteri staudingeri Betrem, 1928: 278 (holotype ♀, type locality = Assam).

Scolia (Scolia) sauteri kreyenbergensis Betrem, 1941: 137 (nomen nudum).

Scolia (Scolia) superciliaris – Betrem 1941: 136.

Scolia (Scolia) superciliaris sauteri – Betrem 1941: 137.

Material examined

CHINA – Hong Kong • 1 ♀; Pak Sha O; 22°26′59″ N, 114°19′04″ E; alt. 70 m; 12–28 Jul. 2014; C.Barthélémy leg.; Malaise trap, ref.: PSO-M167.C.Hy.2; CBC • 1 ♂; Tai Tam; 22°14′45”N, 114°13′23″E; 28 Jun.–12 Jul. 2018; Malaise trap; C. Taylor and Cheung Shun Chi leg.; HKBM • 1 ♀; no locality or date; ref.: IIE 21973, CSK, Lau leg.; TLFES • 1 ♂; Kwan Tei; 22°30′40″ N, 114°09′33″ E; alt. 15 m; 27 Jun. 2007; C. Barthélémy leg.; hand net, ref.: 0265.U.Hy.5; CBC • 1 ♂; Pak Sha O; 22°26′59″ N, 114°19′04″ E; alt. 70 m; 29 Jun.–6 Jul. 2008; C. Barthélémy leg.; Malaise trap, ref.: M048.C.Hy.4; CBC • 1 ♂; same collection data as for preceding; 31 May–6 Jun. 2004; C. Barthélémy leg.; Malaise trap, ref.: M017.C.Hy.19; CBC • 1 ♂; Ping Shan Chai; 22°29′14″ N, 114°11′06″ E; alt. 140 m; C. Barthélémy leg.; Malaise trap, ref.: M044.A.Hy.3; CBC .

Description

Female

STANDARD RATIOS (n = 1). L: 21.5 mm; CR: 1.19; OOR: 0.61; CLR: 0.41; MER: 1.27; OMR: 1.04; FRR: 2.02; MSR: 0.77; TER: 1.60.

HEAD. Head mostly impunctate except on frontal lamina and scrobe; frontal spatium not well defined dorsally (Figs 16E, 20E); frontal fissura present from anterior of frontal spatium to anterior ocellus (Fig. 16E).

MESOSOMA. Dorsum of mesosoma densely and strongly punctate on scapula, mesoscutum (slightly less so dorsomedially on disc) and scutellum (Fig. 24E); metanotum mostly sparsely punctate, punctures on median area (Fig. 28E); dorsum of propodeum with numerous but small punctures, many of them separated by more than their own diameter (Fig. 28E). Mesopleuron densely punctate medially, broadly impunctate posteriorly and laterally; upper panel of metapleuron densely punctate dorsally, impunctate ventrally; lower panel of metapleuron with numerous faint punctures mostly effaced by vestiture; lateral panel of pronotum sparsely, minutely punctate. Scutellum and metanotum without median longitudinal carina (Fig. 28E). Dorso-median area of propodeum without distinct tubercule medially (Fig. 28E).

METASOMA. Metasoma with weak division between anterior and ventral faces of S 2 in lateral view (Fig. 32E); tergites mostly uniformly but not very densely punctate, T2 with paired round impunctate areas laterally (Figs 32E, 36E). T2 without basal elevation (gradulus) (Fig. 36E).

WINGS. Fore wing with two submarginal cells and one recurrent vein. Costal, first submarginal and marginal cells with short setae.

COLOUR AND VESTITURE. Head red on antennae, frons above frontal spatium, vertex except for ocellar triangle, and behind upper lobe of eye (Figs 16E, 20E); remainder of body black (Fig. 8E). Vestiture pale on front of head (albeit almost absent above frontal spatium), darker brown on occiput, black on mesosoma and metasoma with dense, appressed, white pile present posterolaterally on mesosoma. Wings dark brown with purple reflections.

Male

STANDARD RATIOS (n = 4). L: 14.8–18.0 mm (mean = 16.9 mm); CR: 1.07–1.13 (mean = 1.10); OOR: 1.62–1.83 (mean = 1.71); CLR: 0.61–0.76 (mean = 0.67); MER: 1.27–1.33 (mean = 1.30); OMR: 0.93– 1.03 (mean = 0.97); FRR: 1.73–2.04 (mean = 1.86); MSR: 0.79–0.85 (mean = 0.82); TER: 1.45–1.54 (mean = 1.50).

HEAD. Head densely punctate on frontal area and spatium, frons and vertex moderately but shallowly punctate (Figs 18G, 22G).

MESOSOMA. Dorsum of mesosoma more or less densely punctate, punctures becoming sparser and/or shallower on dorsum of propodeum (Fig. 26G). Lateral panels of mesosoma as for female. Scutellum and metanotum without median longitudinal carina (Fig. 30G). Dorso-median area of propodeum without distinct tubercule medially (Fig. 30G).

METASOMA. Metasoma with weak division between anterior and ventral faces of S 2 in lateral view (Fig. 33G); tergites uniformly and densely punctate (Figs 34G, 38G). T2 without basal elevation (gradulus) (Fig. 38G).

WINGS. Same as female.

COLOUR AND VESTITURE. Antennal flagellum brown/red to varying extent (Fig. 10G); head yellow on frons above frontal spatium, vertex except spot of varying size around ocellar triangle, and behind upper lobe of eye (Figs 18G, 22G); remainder of body black. Vestiture pale (whitish or yellow) on head, mesosoma and T1–T3 with black apical fringe on T4–T6 (Fig. 10G). Wings dark brown with bronze reflections.

GENITALIA. Ventral side of paramere sparsely setose (Fig. 40M), dorsal side with sparse long setae on most of its surface (Fig. 39M); volsella with a few long setae apically, cuspis volsellaris with a few hairs apically and a row/cluster of long hairs basally (Fig. 42M); volsella bearing sparse sensory cones on its external margin and a very narrow lamella on its internal margin (Figs 39M, 40M). External margin of paramere subparallel, rounded apically (Figs 39M, 40M); aedeagus with nine teeth, the last apical one much reduced (Fig. 42M), serrated margin straight and sharply flattened apically (Fig. 42M).

Distribution (Fig. 3A–B)

China (Fujian, * Hong Kong, Hunan, Guangdong, Shandong, Shanxi, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Taiwan, Zhejiang); Vietnam (South); India (Assam, Meghalaya, Uttarakhand); Nepal; Vietnam; Thailand, Myanmar. [Betrem 1928, 1941; Wang 1992; Gupta & Jonathan 2003; TIGER project 2008; Liu et al. 2021b].

Notes

This species is most reliably distinguished in Hong Kong by the punctation on the dorsomedian area of the propodeum which is notably faint and/or sparse when compared to other Scolia species. The uniform absence of red coloration on the mesosoma and metasoma may also distinguish it from Sc. binotata and Sc. clypeata . The female of Sc. superciliaris is also much larger than other Scolia females we have seen from the region. Subspecies of Sc. superciliaris have been distinguished on the basis of the amount of red vs black coloration on the male antennae (Chinese Sc. s. superciliaris is supposed to have the antennae almost entirely black), but Hong Kong specimens range from having the flagellum almost entirely black to almost entirely red. Recognition of separate subspecies is therefore probably not warranted.

Identification key

Their striking appearance has made scoliids a popular subject for photographers, both amateur and professional. With this in mind, we have attempted to arrange this key with a focus on features likely to be visible in photographs of live specimens. Unfortunately, this has not always been feasible; some species will simply not be readily distinguishable without close examination under a microscope. Groups of particular concern in this regard include the red-fronted Scolia species ( Sc. clypeata, Sc. superciliaris, Sc. pakshaoensis sp. nov. and some colour variants of Sc. binotata Fabricius, 1804 as well as Carinoscolia junnanensis (Betrem, 1928)) and male Campsomerini .

Photographs taken in Hong Kong and uploaded to the iNaturalist website (www.inaturalist.org/observations/42073499; www.inaturalist.org/observations/42444275; and, www.inaturalist.org/observations/72987049) show an unidentified species of Scolia . It may be Sc. formosicola Betrem, 1928 but confirmation of identity would require examination of specimens. It should be distinguishable from other scoliids in the region by its coloration: T2 mostly yellow with the remainder of the body predominantly black. Another photograph uploaded on the same website (https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/73932862) shows a male Scolia that we have not examined, it comes closest to Sc. clypeata pseudovollenhoveni Betrem, 1933 but confirmation would also require examination of specimens.

1. Fore wing with one recurrent vein or with second recurrent vein merging with first before reaching submarginal cell (Fig. 5F); mesopleural crest directed towards fore wing and forming distinct large horizontal area dorsally; fore wing invariably dark with bronze or purple reflections; metasoma always lacking transverse apical yellow bands on tergites (brighter coloration, if present, as lateral spots or covering most of tergite[s]) .......................................................... 2, Scoliini Latreille, 1802

– Fore wing with two recurrent veins reaching submarginal cell (Fig 5E); mesopleural crest directed towards posterior corner of pronotum and not forming large horizontal area dorsally; fore wing often pale yellowish or hyaline, more rarely dark; metasoma with or without prominent yellow bands .... ....................................................................................................... 15, Campsomerini Betrem, 1972

2. Fore wing with two discal cells (1M and 2M) (Fig. 5F) ..... Liacos erythrosoma (Burmeister, 1854)

– Fore wing with one discal cell (1M) ................................................................................................. 3

3. Forewing with three submarginal cells (Fig. 5F) .............................................................................. 4

– Forewing with two submarginal cells (Fig. 5E) ............................................................................... 5

4. Large wasp (30–36 mm in females, 25–26 mm in males), T1 with a conspicuous tubercule before slope (Fig. 35H); apical metasomal tergites red (T1 always black), with prominent fringes of dense orange/red setae (Figs 7H, 10C) ................................................... Megascolia azurea (Christ, 1791)

– Smaller wasp (23 mm max. in females, no males recorded), tubercule on T1 much reduced (Fig. 35E); metasomal tergites entirely black, with apical tergites fringed with short black setae (Fig. 7E) ....... ................................................................................................... Austroscolia ruficeps (Smith, 1855)

5. Males, antenna with 13 segments; metasoma with seven visible tergites ........................................ 6

– Females, antenna with 12 segments; metasoma with six visible tergites ........................................11

6. Frons with transverse ridge (carina) basad from mid ocellus (Figs 18A, 22A) ................................. .......................................................................................... Carinoscolia junnanensis (Betrem, 1928)

– Frons without transverse ridge (carina) basad from mid ocellus ................ 7, Scolia Fabricius, 1775

7. Medial area of mesoscutum with punctures separated by their own diameter or more (Fig. 26D) .... ................................................................................................................ Sc. binotata Fabricius, 1804

– Medial area of mesoscutum with punctures denser, mostly separated by less than their own diameter (Fig. 26E–G) ..................................................................................................................................... 8

8. Scapulae marked with red; T1–T3 with differentiated band of much smaller, finer punctation posteriorly (Fig. 36C) ............................................. Sc. clypeata pseudovollenhoveni Betrem, 1933

– Mesosoma entirely black; T1–T3 without clear posterior band of differentiated punctation ........... 9

9. Dorsomedian area of propodeum with a few punctures, diameter of punctures much smaller than the distance between them (Fig. 28E) ............................... Sc. superciliaris de Saussure & Sichel, 1864

– Dorsomedian area of propodeum with heavy punctures, diameter of punctures greater than the distance between them (Fig. 28D) .................................................................................................. 10

10. Frons with scattered punctures medially; frontal fissura short, stopping at level with dorsal end of frontal lamina (Fig. 16D); frons and vertex mostly red/orange ................. Sc. pakshaoensis sp. nov.

– Frons impunctate except for few punctures around ocelli; frontal fissura well developed, extending to anterior ocellus; head entirely black ...................................................... Sc. laeviceps Smith, 1855

11. Frons and vertex with numerous large punctures mostly separated by less than their own diameter (Figs 15F, 19F); head red/orange except clypeus, ocular sinuses, frontal area and large maculae over ocellar triangle reaching eye ............................................ Carinoscolia junnanensis (Betrem, 1928)

– Frons and/or vertex mostly sparsely punctured with broad areas impunctate or with punctures separated by more than their own diameter (Fig. 16A–E); head black or variously red/orange ........ ................................................................................................................... 12, Scolia Fabricius, 1775

12. Disc of clypeus red (Fig. 16C); T2–T3 with small orange maculae mediolaterally (Fig. 36C); scapulae orange/red (Fig. 24C); vertex, pronotum, anterior part of mesopleuron and dorsal part of femurs bearing dense erect yellow/orange setae (Fig. 8C); T1–T3 with differentiated band of much smaller, finer punctation posteriorly (Fig. 36C) ...... Sc. clypeata pseudovollenhoveni Betrem, 1933

– Clypeus entirely black (Fig. 16A–B, D–E); T2–T3 without orange maculae; scapulae black; vestiture variable in length and density but always black; T1–T3 without clear posterior band of differentiated punctation ....................................................................................................................................... 13

13. Medial area of mesoscutum broadly impunctate (Fig. 24A) ................. Sc. binotata Fabricius, 1804

– Medial area of mesoscutum with punctures separated by their own diameter or less .................... 14

14. Dorsomedian area of propodeum with weak, shallow punctures, punctures well separated from each other (Fig. 30G) ........................................................... Sc. superciliaris de Saussure & Sichel, 1864

– Dorsomedian area of propodeum with strong, deep punctures, edges of many punctures closely abutting (Fig. 30E–F) ...................................................................................................................... 15

15. Frontal fissura short, stopping at level with dorsal end of frontal lamina (Fig. 18F); disc of clypeus uniformly punctate, punctures separated by less than their own diameter; frons and vertex mostly red/orange .................................................................................................. Sc. pakshaoensis sp. nov.

– Frontal fissura well developed, extending to anterior ocellus; disc of clypeus sparsely punctate, punctures separated by greater than their own diameter, head entirely black .................................... .................................................................................................................... Sc. laeviceps Smith, 1855

16. Antennae twelve-segmented, shorter than head and thorax combined, usually held in a close coil; metasoma with six visible tergites (females) .................................................................................. 17

– Antennae thirteen-segmented, longer than head and thorax combined, usually held in long arc; metasoma with seven visible tergites (males) ................................................................................. 22

17. Upper panel of metapleuron with uppermost dorsal section separated from lateral section by strong angle marked by a sharp carina; lateral carina of propodeum not or barely extending beyond spiracle; metasomal integument entirely black ............................................................................................. 18

– Upper panel of metapleuron with transition between uppermost dorsal section and lateral section often gradual, never marked by a sharp carina; lateral carina of propodeum extending well beyond spiracle; metasomal tergites may bear yellow spots or bands ........................................................ 19

18. Wings dark brown with blue or purple reflections; dense white erect setae on dorsum of pronotum; vestiture of metasoma black ........................................... Campsomeriella collaris (Fabricius, 1775)

– Wings yellowish basally, fore wing darker brown with purple reflections apically; sparse white setae on dorsolateral sides of pronotum; vestiture of metasoma pale ......................................................... ...................................................................... Campsomeriella annulata annulata (Fabricius, 1793)

19. Apical fringes of metasomal tergites 1–4 black; upper panel of metapleuron with transition between uppermost dorsal and lateral sections sharp (albeit not marked by a carina) ..................................... .......... Sericocampsomeris Betrem, 1941 (see comments under Sericocampsomeris flavomaculata)

– Apical fringes of metasomal tergites 1–4 pale; upper panel of metapleuron with transition between uppermost dorsal and lateral sections more or less gradual ........................................................... 20

20. Fore wing mostly yellow with round subapical spot near anterior margin; legs with tibia and tarsi mostly reddish-brown; frons with cluster of deep punctures immediately in front of anterior ocellus (Fig 15D), mesoscutum largely punctate (small round impunctate area on disc), scutellum deeply punctate ........................................................ Phalerimeris phalerata phalerata (de Saussure, 1858)

– Fore wing apically infuscate but said infuscation not forming round spot; legs entirely black; frons largely smooth in front of anterior ocellus, mesoscutum with large rectangular impunctate area medially, scutellum impunctate on median area ............................................................................. 21

21. T1–T2 with evanescent lateroapical yellow bands interrupted medially, T3–T6 black (Fig. 31C) .... .................................................................. Megacampsomeris formosensis chinensis Betrem, 1941

– Metasoma entirely black ............................................. Megacampsomeris prismatica (Smith, 1855)

22. Clypeus entirely black (Fig. 17G); apical yellow bands on T1–T3 very broad laterally, medially widely interrupted on T1 and narrowing considerably on T2 and T3 (Fig. 37G) .............................. ............................................................. Sericocampsomeris flavomaculata Gupta & Jonathan, 1989

– Clypeus in part yellow; apical yellow bands complete on T1 and T2 ............................................ 23

23. Head 1.17–1.18 × wider than high; anterior plate of fore coxa black ............................................ 24

– Head 1.08 × wider than high; anterior plate of fore coxa yellow ................................................... 25

24. Scutellum and metanotum entirely black (Figs 9B, 13B); S6 and S7 with long, dense setae forming copulatory brushes, external margin of paramere strongly angled (Fig. 39B), cuspis volsellaris with dense setae (Fig. 42B) ........................................ Campsomeriella collaris collaris (Fabricius, 1775)

– Scutellum and metanotum broadly marked with yellow (Figs 9A, 13A); apical sternites without copulatory brushes, external margins of paramere not strongly angled (straight) (Fig. 39A), cuspis volsellaris with sparse setae (Fig. 42A) ....... Campsomeriella annulata annulata (Fabricius, 1793)

25. Gena with distinct yellow stripe (Fig. 9F); metasoma with division between anterior and ventral faces of S 2 in lateral view relatively weak .. Phalerimeris phalerata phalerata (de Saussure, 1858)

– Gena entirely black; metasoma with distinct division between anterior and ventral faces of S 2 in lateral view ...................................................................................................................................... 26

26. S2 without anteromedian tubercle; S2 and S3 with broad, medially interrupted yellow apical bands (Fig. 33D); paramere broadly ovate, outer distal margin convex (Figs 39D, 40D) ............................ .................................................................. Megacampsomeris formosensis chinensis Betrem, 1941

– S2 often with distinct anteriomedian tubercle; yellow apical bands on S2 and S3 restricted to small lateral triangles (Fig. 33E; paramere narrowly trapezoidal, outer distal margin straight to concave (Figs 39E, 40E) ........................................................... Megacampsomeris prismatica (Smith, 1855)