Batozonellus Arnold, 1937

Li, Chong-Yang, Ji, Xiao-Ling, Ma, Li & Li, Qiang, 2014, The genus Batozonellus from China with description of a new species (Hymenoptera: Pompilidae), Zoological Systematics 39 (4), pp. 555-560 : 556

Batozonellus Arnold, 1937

Heteronys Saussure, 1887: 3. Type species: Cyphononyx (Heteronyx) madecassus Saussure, 1887 .

Batozonellus Arnold, 1937: 1 . Type species: Batozonellus fuliginosus (Klug, 1834) .

Generic characters. Large wasps; postnotum arcuately broadened on each side of midline; hind wing with vein M+CuA diverging before crossvein cu-a; tergum 1 covered with appressed, squamiform, and dense pubescence; female with fore tarsal claws bifid, mid and hind tarsal claws unidentate; male with antenna distinctly crenulate (Durand, 2007; Shimizu, 1996; Tsuneki, 1989; Yasumatsu, 1937).

Biology. The species of Batozonellus are spider-hunters of a generalized sort, usually not highly selective of their prey. Females often capture the spider in its web. Adult wasps feed on nectar for their energy requirements.

Distribution. Palearctic, Oriental, Afrotropical and Australian Regions.

Key to the species of Batozonellus from China (modified from Tsuneki, 1989)

1. Female, wings orange yellow; antenna not crenulate; mid and hind tarsal claws unidentate ............................................................... 2 Male, wings pale yellow or slightly darkened yellow; antenna distinctly crenulate; mid and hind tarsal claws bifid.......................... 4

2. Head from ocellar area below till antennal base variously black maculated; postero-lateral corners of propodeum black; POD: Od: OOD = 7: 5: 9 ................................................................................................................................................. B. maculifrons (Smith) Head without black maculated, at most with a small patch in front of anterior ocellar; postero-lateral corners of propodeum yellow; with different ratio of POD: Od: OOD............................................................................................................................................... 3

3. Marking on mesopleuron, metapleuron, coxae, trochanters, and all femur reddish-brown; POD: Od: OOD = 8: 4.5: 5, antennal segment 3 about 6.7 times as long as apical width ....................................................................... B. flavithoracicus Li & Li , sp. nov. Mesopleuron, metapleuron, coxae, trochanters, base of femur black; POD: Od: OOD = 8: 5: 11, antennal segment 3 about 6 times as long as apical width .................................................................................................................................. B. annulatus (Fabricius)

4. Marking on mesoscutum distinctly V-shaped, metanotum and tergum 4 with yellow spots; antennal segment 3 more than 3 times as long as apical width....................................................................................................................................... B. annulatus (Fabricius) Marking on mesoscutum a transverse patch; metanotum and tergum 4 without yellow spots; antennal segment 3 about 2 times as long as apical width.......................................................................................................................................... B. maculifrons (Smith)