17. Antepipona rufescens (Smith, 1857)

(Figs 67–76)

Odynerus rufescens Smith 1857: 61, ♀, “Ceram” (BMNH); de Saussure 1862: 199 (in subgenus Odynerus division Epsilon; Celebes); Smith 1871: 376 (cat.); Dalla Torre 1894: 94 (cat.); 1904: 53 (in subgenus Hoplomerus; cat.).

Odynerus diffinis var. rufescens: Giordani Soika 1941: 263 (type? OUM; in subgenus Rhynchium).

Antepipona rufescens: Giordani Soika 1982: 205, 209 (key), 235, figs 37–39 (Celebes; Kangean; Ambon; Moluccas; Sumatra; Java; Burma; Malaysia); Giordani Soika 1986: 132 (China); Gusenleitner 1988: 180 (Thailand); Giordani Soika 1993: 154 (compared to A. shantungensis n. sp.); Madl 1995: 398 (Thailand); Lambert 2004: 557 (key); Gusenleitner 2011: 1360 (Laos); Nugroho et al. 2012: 80 (list).

Diagnosis. ♀ (Figs 67–71). S2 not abruptly lowered at base, sides slightly convex; mesopleuron closely punctate, interspaces carinate; posterior side of propodeum without carinae; apex of clypeus strongly emarginated, with apical teeth less acute (Fig. 69); metanotal teeth longer, more acute; body black with yellow and reddish brown markings (Fig. 67).

Colour. Body black with yellow and reddish brown markings. Yellow markings: mandible except basal black and apical reddish brown; clypeus; V–shaped mark on front, often joining with extensions of bands that run along inner orbit, exceeding little above ocular sinus; large mark on temple towards vertex; scape except dorsal brown mark at apex; large band on pronotum; spot on mesepisternum; scutellum; metanotum; tegula; parategula; an apical band, wide in middle and narrow and short on sides, on T1; T2 with two large yellow spots at base and an apical band wider at middle and at sides; S2 with similar apical band; apical bands on T3–T5 and S3–S5. Flagellar segments usually yellow to yellowish brown, sometime black dorsally. Legs yellow to yellowish brown with coxae brown to black. Reddish brown markings: propodeum; most of T1. In some specimens, reddish brown colour more extensive and mixed with yellow markings on mesosoma and metasoma.

Ƌ. Apical antennal article almost reaching up to middle of 10th article (Fig 73). Colour similar to that of ♀ except mandible almost entirely yellow except at teeth; interantennal space yellow; yellow mark on front broader.

Size (H+M+T1+T2). Female, 8–9 mm; Male, 6.5– 8 mm.

Material examined. INDIA: Kerala, Kozhikode district, Nanminda, 1♀, 21.xii.2010, Coll. P. Girish Kumar, NZC No. 16293/H3 . Meghalaya, East Garo Hills district, Dainadubi, 1♀, 8–13.v.1979, Coll. S.B. Roy & Party, NZC No. 16294/H3 ; East Garo Hills district, Darugiri, 4Ƌ, 14–20.v.1979, Coll. S.B. Roy & Party, NZC Nos. 16295/H3–16298/H3 . Sikkim, exact collection locality unknown, 3♀, 2Ƌ, vii–ix.1897, Coll. Dudgeon, NZC Nos. 16299/H3–16303/H3 . Tripura, Gomati district, Udaipur, 1Ƌ, 14.v.1978, Coll. A. Issar, NZC No. 16304/H3 ; Khowai district, Teliamura, 2Ƌ, 20.v.1978, Coll. J.K. Jonathan & Party, NZC Nos. 16305/H3, 16306/H3 ; Dhalai district, Ambassa, 1♀, 1Ƌ, 25.v.1978, Coll. J.K. Jonathan & Party, NZC Nos. 16307/H3, 16308/H3 ; North Tripura district, Ananda Bazar, 1Ƌ, 26.v.1992, Coll. M. Sil & Party, NZC No. 16309/H3.

Distribution. * India: Kerala, Meghalaya, Sikkim, Tripura; China; Thailand; Myanmar; Laos; Malaysia; Indonesia: Java (including Kangean), Sumatra, Sulawesi, Moluccas.

Remarks. Giordani Soika, 1982, suggested that many previous workers misidentified this species as A. guttata diffinis (de Saussure) .