Polistes (Gyrostoma) tenebricosus Lepeletier, 1836

(Figs. 7–8, 27)

Polistes tenebricosa Lepeletier, 1836: 529

Specimens examined. Sulawesi I.: Sulawesi I.: South East Sulawesi: North Kolaka: 7 ♀ (MZB), 03˚38’S 121˚04’E, Tinukari, Rante Angin, RU et al. [1 ♀, alt. ca. 100 m, 5.vii.2009; 1 ♀, alt. ca. 65 m, 23.xii.2009; 3 ♀, alt. ca. 186 m, 29.vi.2010; 2 ♀, alt. ca. 100 m, 2.vii.2010]; Kolaka: 1 ♀ (MZB), 03˚58’S 121˚34’E, alt. ca. 82 m, Ulunggolaka, Latambaga, Mangulo, 21.xi.2011, Darmawan; South Konawe: 5 ♀ (MZB), 04˚13’S 122˚44’E, alt. ca. 75 m, Sumbersari, Moramo, 25.xii.2009, HN et al.; 3 ♀ (IUNH), 04˚13’S 122˚44’E, alt. ca. 55 m, Sumbersari, Moramo, 22.viii.2014, FSM et al ; 5 ♀ (IUNH), 04˚10’S 112˚29’E, alt. ca. 155 m, Wolasi, 23.viii.2014, FSM et al; Kendari: 1 ♀ (IUNH), 04˚03’S 122˚33’E, alt. ca. 145 m, Nanga Nanga, Andonoahu, 24.viii.2014, FSM et al.; South Sulawesi: 2 ♀ (IUNH), 05˚02’S 119˚44’E, alt. ca. 300 m, Cagar Alam Karaenta, Maros, emerged from nest collected on 27.x.2000, JK. Indonesian Archipelago other than Sulawesi I.: Sumatra I.: West Sumatra: 1 ♀ (SEHU), Lubuk Minturun [ca. 00˚50’S 100˚22’E], 17.x.1980, SY ; 2 ♀ (SEHU), Sungai Lareh [ca. 00˚57’S 101˚30’E], 29.xi.1980, SY ; 1 ♀, 1 ♂ (SEHU), Lubuk Gadang, Suka Bumi [ca. 01°36’S 101°17’E], 21.viii.1985, SY & SKY; Jambi: 1 ♀ (IUNH), 02˚02’S 101˚17’E, alt. ca. 795 m, Koto Teluk, Sungai Penuh, 21.v.2017, AH; 1 ♀ (IUNH), 02˚03’S 101˚24’E, alt. ca. 800 m, Sungai Penuh, 11.vii.2017, AH; Krakatau I.: 1 ♀ (MZB), Rakata Kecil [ca. 06°05’S 105°23’E], 27.vii.1982, SY; Java I.: 1 ♀ (MZB), Carita, Banten [ca. 06°17’S 105°50’E], 16.xi.1982, SY; Lombok I.: 1 ♂ (IUNH), 08˚34’S 116˚14’E, Taman Wisata Alam Suranadi, 3.xi.2000, JK; Sumbawa I.: 1 ♀ (IUNH), 08˚29’S 118˚32’E, Ndano, Mada Pangga (Bolo), Bima, 13.xi.2000, JK; Sumba I.: 1 ♀ (MZB), alt. ca. 100 m, Laora, iv.1925, Dammerman .

Remarks. This species, representing various local color forms, is widely distributed in southern Asia with subtropical and tropical climate, from northwestern India in the west, through continental Southeast Asia, to the Philippines, Sulawesi I. and Flores I. in the Lesser Sunda Islands in the east. The specimens from Sulawesi I. have the color pattern similar to those from so-called Sunda Land (Malay Peninsula, Sumatra I., Borneo I., and Java I.) and to those from eastern Lesser Sunda Islands (see Saito et al., 2005), but Sulawesian specimens have darker or blackish color pattern as described below, different from those from the Eastern Lesser Sunda and any other known color forms of P. tenebricosus .

Characteristic to the specimens from Sulawesi I.: Body brown to dark brown, with following parts black: lateral projections of clypeus (border ill-defined), mandibular teeth, antennal flagellum except basal half of first flagellomere, median wide band on scutum, mesepisternum except brown spot below tegula and sometimes posteroventral brown spot, metapleuron, coxae, ill-defined posteromedian spot on propodeum, propodeal valvula (often absent), basal parts of T1–4 and S1–3.

Distribution records: Indonesian Archipelago: Borneo I., Sumatra I., Java I., Bali I., Lombok I., Flores I., Sumba I., Sumbawa I., Sulawesi I.; Northern parts of the Indian subcontinent; southwestern parts of continental China; Taiwan; Indochina Peninsular; Philippines Islands (Palawan I., Luzon I., Negros I., Sibuyan I.) (Carpenter, 1996; Saito et al., 2005; Kojima et al., 2005b; Nugroho et al., 2011; Nguyen & Carpenter, 2019).