Sceliphron javanum nalandicum ( Strand, 1915 )

Anagha, S., Kumar, P. Girish, Binoy, C., Mazumdar, P. C. & Sureshan, P. M., 2021, A review of the mud-dauber wasps of genus Sceliphron Klug (Hymenoptera Sphecidae) from India, Zootaxa 4969 (1), pp. 61-85 : 72

b. Sceliphron javanum nalandicum ( Strand, 1915)

( Figs 25–31 )

As Pelopoeus spinolae F. Smith, 1856: 231 ( Bombay, Sri Lanka), 1871: 359 (in catalog of Oriental Aculeata). Sceliphron javanum var. nalandicum Strand, 1915: 93 , ♀. Syntypes: ♀, Sri Lanka: Nalanda and Kandy (DEI).

Diagnosis. Female. Frons distinctly pilose, sculpture not clearly visible due to pilosity; clypeus apico–medially produced with median incision forming two lobes, these two lobes followed by lateral incisions forming blunt lobes sublaterally ( Fig. 26 ); pronotal collar finely punctate with mesal notch; mesoscutum with more or less distinct fine close striation, anteriorly almost transversely striate, striae becoming oblique posteriorly; scutellum and metanotum with longitudinal oblong striation; propodeal enclosure with wavy striation, medially with shallow depression ( Fig. 28 ); mesepisternum shiny with fine punctation; propodeum side with distinct striation and punctures in interstices ( Fig. 29 ); metasoma black with fine setae ( Fig. 30 ); tegula black; petiole yellow.

Male. Similar to female.

Material Examined. India: Meghalaya : West Garo hills Dist., Tura , 1♀, 15.vi.1915, Coll. S.K. Kemp, NZC Regd. No. 15658/H3. Odisha: Mayurbhanj Dist. , Magshani, 1♀, 19.iii.1973, Coll. S.K. Gupta and Party, NZC Regd. No. 15653/H3; Mayurbhanj Dist. , Astic, Baripada, 1♀, 21.iii.1973, Coll. S.K. Gupta and Party, NZC Regd. No. 15654/H3; Mayurbhanj Dist., Burrapani, 2♀, 06.iv.1923, Coll. R. P. Mullins, NZC Regd. Nos. 15655/H3 and 15656/H3. Kerala: Idukki Dist., Periyar, 1♀, 01.iii.1981, Coll. R. S. Pillai and Party, NZC Regd. No. 15657/H3 ; Kozhikode Dist., Kottooli wetland, 1♀, 08.v–20.vi.2017, Coll. Anisha and Party, ZSIK Regd. No. ZSI/ WGRC / I. R.–INV. 10006 ; Kannur Dist., Kannapuram mangrooves, 13-14.v.2018, 1♂, Coll. C. Charesh, ZSIK Regd. No. ZSI/ WGRC /I. R.–INV. 11436 .

Distribution. India: Kerala, Maharashtra, Meghalaya (new state record), Odisha (new state record), Pondicherry, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal. Elsewhere: Bangladesh; Indonesia; Sri Lanka (van der Vecht & van Breugel 1968; Bohart & Menke 1976; Pulawski 2021).

Figures

FIGURES 25–31. Sceliphron javanum nalandicum Strand, 25–30 ♀. 25. Habitus, lateral view; 26. Head, frontal view; 27. Hind coxa, dorsal view; 28. Mesosoma, dorsal view; 29. Mesosoma, lateral view; 30. Metasoma, dorsal view; 31 ♂. Head, frontal view.