Sceliphron curvatum (F. Smith, 1870 )

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 : 66

3. Sceliphron curvatum (F. Smith, 1870)

( Figs 10–14 )

Pelopaeus curvatus F. Smith, 1870: 187 , Lectotype: ♂, India: North-West Provinces, now Uttar Pradesh: Mainpuri (BMNH), designated by Hensen 1987: 230.

Sceliphron deforme Basil-Edwardes, 1921: 293 (nesting habits), identification corrected to S. curvatum by Hensen, 1987: 220.

Diagnosis. Female. Frons distictly pilose, upper frons rugulose to inconspicuously striate punctate, sculpture on remaining frons not visible due to pilosity; clypeus apico-medially produced with median incision forming two lobes, yellow macula on upper clypeal margin ( Fig. 11 ); pronotal collar dorsally with yellow band, medially notched; mesoscutum with irregular rugulose striae; scutellum with longitudinal oblong striae and distinct punctures, broad yellow patch antero–medially; metanotum irregularly rugulose; propodeal enclosure ruguloso-striate with shallow depression in middle, large yellow spot on posterior region of propodeum ( Fig 12 ); mesepisternum finely striate to alveolate, coarsely punctate towards posterior region, yellow mark below tegula; propodeum side with rugulose striae ( Fig. 13 ); metasoma with yellowish brown band on terga ( Fig. 14 ); petiole black.

Male. Not seen in the present study. Similar to female except for petiole little longer ( Hensen 1987).

Variability. Band on pronotum; patch on antero–median scutellum; large spot on posterior surface of propodeum are reddish brown in some female specimens examined here.

Material examined. India: Himachal Pradesh: Chamba Dist., Khajjiar, 1♀, 26.vi.2012, Coll. D. Banerjee and Party , NZC Regd. No. 15580/H3; Kangra Dist. , Kangra Valley , 6♀, May1899, Coll. Dudgeon, NZC Regd. Nos. 15610/H3–15616/H3; Shimla Dist. , 1♀, viii.1925, Coll. B.C. Chopra, NZC Regd. No. 15617/H3; Chamba Dist. , Khajjiar, 1♀, 29.vi.1965, Coll. D. Ram, NZC Regd. No. 15618/H3 . Jammu and Kashmir: N-W Himalayas, 1♀, 1915, H. T. Pease, NZC Regd. No. 15619/H3; Srinagar Dist. , Pari Mahal , 1♀, 10.x.2020, Coll. A. H. Sheikh, ZSIK Regd. No. ZSI/ WGRC /I. R.–INV. 17126 . Uttarakhand: Nainital Dist., Nainital, 2♀, 1908, Coll. R. E. Lloyd, NZC Regd. Nos. 15579/H3 and 15620/H3; Dehradun Dist. , Mussorie , 3♀, 20.v.1905 and 20.vi.1906, Coll. Brunetti, NZC Regd. Nos. 15621/H3–15623/H3 .

Distribution. India: Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Nagaland, Punjab, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh. Elsewhere: Afghanistan; Argentina; Austria; Belarus; Belgium; Bulgaria; Chile; Croatia; Czech Republic; France; French Polynesia; Georgia; Germany; Greece; Hungary; Iraq; Italy; Kazakhstan; Kyrgyzstan; Lithuania; Montenegro; Nepal; Netherland; Pakistan; Poland; Portugal; Russia; Serbia; Slovakia; Slovenia; Spain; Switzerland; Tajikistan; Turkey; Ukraine; Uzbekistan ( Pulawski 2021).

Figures

FIGURES 10–14. Sceliphron curvatum (F. Smith), ♀. 10. Habitus, lateral view; 11. Head, frontal view; 12. Mesosoma, dorsal view; 13. Mesosoma, lateral view; 14. Metasoma, dorsal view.