Polistes

Brito, Samanta, Oliveira, Marcio L., Carpenter, James M. & Somavilla, Alexandre, 2024, The genus Polistes Latreille, 1802 (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) of Brazil: morphological diagnoses, identification key, and geographical distribution, Zootaxa 5496 (4), pp. 509-545 : 540-543

Key to the Brazilian Polistes species

The dichotomous key is based on females and adapted from Richards (1978) and Somavilla et al. (2021b). Geographical distribution is summarized.

1. Tergum I more enlarged, wider than long or as wide as long in dorsal view, dilated abruptly in lateral view.............. 2

- Tergum I not enlarged, longer than wide in dorsal view, dilated gradually in lateral view............................. 4

2. Malar space longer than wide; clypeus narrowly separated from the eyes, or when in contact just by tapping on the margin of the eyes; color light brown to dark yellow; generally, more robust species, with 30 mm long or more (From southern United States to South Brazil and Argentina)...................................... P. (Onerarius) carnifex ( Fabricius, 1775)

- Malar space as long as wide or weakly transverse; clypeus always in contact with the eyes, usually the part in contact with the eye is less than or equal to the diameter of the antennal socket...................subgenus Palisotius ............... 3

3. Pronotal humeri projected laterally, in dorsal view; epicnemial groove absent; color dark brown with reddish aspect, with few yellow markings; scutum black with large brown spots; propodeum dark brown with two broad yellow stripes (In central-south Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay).............................................. P. (P.) paraguayensis Bertoni, 1921

- Pronotal humeri not projected laterally, pronotum rounded on the sides, in dorsal view; with a weak epicnemial groove; general color yellowish or light brown; scutum completely dark brown, propodeum yellowish (From the United States to central Brazil)............................................................... P. (P.) major Palisot de Beauvois, 1818

4. Mesepisternum with an epicnemial carina, sometimes incomplete and sometimes weak, but always present............................................................................. subgenus Epicnemius .................... 5

- Mesepisternum without an epicnemial carina.......................... subgenus Aphanilopterus ................26

5. Mesepisternum with a dorsal groove, sometimes incomplete and sometimes weak, but always present.................. 6

- Mesepisternum without a dorsal groove................................................................... 11

6. Clypeus separated from the eyes; general color brown, mesepisternum largely black (Central Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay)............................................................................. P. (E.) thoracicus Fox, 1898

- Clypeus always in contact with the eye; general color varied................................................... 7

7. Clypeus in contact with the eyes for a distance shorter than the diameter of the antennal socket; humeri weakly projected on the sides; pronotum more rounded........................................................................... 8

- Clypeus in contact with the eyes for a distance equal or larger than the diameter of antennal socket; humeri strongly projected on the sides; pronotum quadrate, with a central projection..................................................... 9

8. Scutum black; mesosoma with large yellow marks; terga I–VI with apical yellow bands; reduced pubescence, when present, whitish in appearance; wings hyaline to light brown (From northern Colombia to southern Brazil and Argentina)................................................................................. P. (E.) billardieri ( Fabricius, 1804)

- Scutum reddish brown with ferruginous aspect; mesosoma with reduced yellow marks; tergum I with apical yellow bands, terga II–VI color uniformly black, without apical yellow bands; pubescence more evident and golden; wings dark brown (From Venezuela to central Brazil)............................................... P. (E.) subsericeus de Saussure, 1854

9. Mesepisternum with an incomplete dorsal groove, interrupted from the middle to the upper part; general color yellow; scutum yellowish with three distinct longitudinal black stripes (Brazilian Amazon)... P. (E.) orlandoi Somavilla & Carpenter, 2022

- Mesepisternum with a complete dorsal groove; general color light brown to yellow; scutum without three distinct longitudinal stripes black........................................................................................ 10

10. General color light brown, mesosoma with large yellow marks; metasoma completely light brown without dark spots (Brazilian Amazon and Peru)....................................................... P. (E.) claripennis de Saussure, 1854

- General color yellow, mesosoma with brown marks; tergum I yellow and with reduced black spots, tergum II completely yellow, terga III–VI almost entirely black (From Costa Rica to the Brazilian Amazon).. P. (E.) testaceicolor Bequaert, 1937

11. Gena largely dilated on central region, genal width always wider than eye, in lateral view.......................... 12

- Genal width equal to or slightly wider than eye on central region in lateral view.................................. 14

12. Anterior margin of pronotum sinuous, with a strong central projection (Pará, Brazil).......... P. (E.) atrox Richards, 1978

- Anterior margin of pronotum straight, without a marked central projection...................................... 13

13. Metasoma dark brown; golden pubescence more evident ( Colombia, Ecuador, Guiana, and the Brazilian Amazon).................................................................................... P. (E.) rufiventris Ducke, 1904

- Metasoma light brown; golden pubescence not evident (From Panama to central Brazil)..... P. (E.) occipitalis Ducke, 1904

14. Clypeus in contact with the eyes for a distance shorter than the diameter of the antennal socket...................... 15

- Clypeus in contact with the eyes for a distance equal to or larger than the diameter of antennal socket................. 19

15. Propodeum straighter, without a central concavity on middle................................................. 16

- Propodeum with a central concavity on middle............................................................ 18

16. Anterior margin of pronotum sinuous, with a weak central projection; humeri projected; wings hyaline with dark brown to black venation; more robust species, usually more than 20 mm long (From Costa Rica to central-south Brazil)............................................................................................ P. (E.) bicolor Lepeletier, 1836

- Anterior margin of pronotum straighter, rounded only on humeral region; wings yellowish or brownish; small species usually not exceeding 18 mm long............................................................................ 17

17. Body black to brown, metasoma completely brown; wing brownish ( Brazil, Argentina, and Paraguay).......................................................................................... P. (E.) bequaertianus Willink, 1954

- Body dark brown to black, metasoma with the apex terga yellow; wings yellow to weakly brown ( Brazil, Argentina, and Paraguay)................................................................ P. (E.) obscurus de Saussure, 1863

18. General color black, with small brown marks; wings light brown but never blackish; golden pubescence around the body; generally, more robust, about 20 mm long (From Panama to central Brazil)................ P. (E.) deceptor Schulz, 1905

- Color totally black, without brown spots; wings with blackish to dark brown; whitish pubescence around all over the body; smaller, usually not exceeding 15 mm long ( Colombia and Brazil)......................... P. (E.) niger Brèthes, 1903

19. Anterior margin of pronotum sinuous, with a strongly central projection........................................ 19

- Anterior margin of pronotum straighter or rounded, without a central projection.................................. 20

20. General color black, usually with small brown marks; anterior margin of pronotum with a weak central projection; larger species, usually more than 20 mm long (From Guiana to southern Brazil and Argentina)................................................................................................... P. (E.) melanosoma de Saussure, 1853

- General color black with pronotum, scutum, and tegulae dark brown; anterior margin of pronotum with a very strong central projection; smaller species, usually not exceeding 17 mm long ( Guiana and the Brazilian Amazon).............................................................................................. P. (E.) angulinus Richards, 1951

21. Species of small size, no more than 12 mm long........................................................... 22

- Species intermediate in size, generally larger than 15 mm long but not exceeding 20 mm ........................... 23

22. General color black, with large brown marks on pronotum, mesepisternum, propodeum, and legs; narrow yellow bands on mesosoma; terga I–II with an apical yellow band; golden pubescence on the whole body (From Guiana to central Brazil)................................................................................. P. (E.) geminatus Fox, 1898

- General color black without large brown marks; larger yellow bands on mesosoma; terga I–VI with an apical yellow band; whitish pubescence on the whole body (Brazilian Amazon)............................ P. (E.) davillae Richards, 1978

23. General color of metasoma brown (From southern United States to southern Brazil and Argentina)............................................................................................... P. (E.) pacificus Fabricius, 1804

- General color of metasoma black....................................................................... 24

24. Terga black with apical yellow bands.................................................................... 25

- Terga completely black without apical yellow bands; propodeum with two narrow yellow stripes on the sides ( Brazil, Argentina, and Paraguay)................................................................ P. (E.) actaeon Haliday, 1836

25. Mesosoma with small yellow marks; propodeum completely black; punctation deep and big on clypeus and mesepisternum (From Mexico to southern Brazil and Argentina).............................. P. (E.) cinerascens de Saussure, 1854

- Mesosoma black with yellow marks on the pronotum, scutum with two yellow stripes on the sides, scutellum and metanotum almost entirely yellow; propodeum with two yellow stripes on the side; punctation evanescent and shallow on clypeus and mesepisternum ( Guiana, Suriname, and the Brazilian Amazon).......................... P. (E.) torresae Silveira, 1996

26. Mesepisternum with punctation small and shallow, without distinct, deep, and large punctures; propodeum with weak or moderately strong striae, usually concentrated on the center, not touching the lateral margin of propodeum, if touching, they are very weak; usually smaller species...................................................................... 27

- Mesepisternum with punctation big and deep, with the presence of distinct, deep, and large punctures; propodeum with strong striae, developed to the lateral margin of propodeum; usually larger species...................................... 33

27. Pronotal carina strongly acuminate, sharp; general color black with metallic appearance; wings completely black; apex of clypeus and mandibles reddish ( Bahamas, Dominican Republic, and from Costa Rica to central Brazil)................................................................................................ P. (A.) goeldi Ducke, 1904

- Pronotal carina weak, if higher then rounded and never acuminate; varied color, never completely black, with large yellow and ferruginous marks; wings hyaline to brown; apex of clypeus and mandibles de same color to face.................... 28

28. Propodeum with weak striae only on middle of central concavity, not touching the lateral margin of propodeum; terga dark brown, without yellow apical bands; species usually with yellow apical bands on the terga (Fernando de Noronha, Brazil).................................................................................. P. (A.) ridleyi Kirby, 1890

- Propodeum with moderately strong striae on the middle of central concavity, touching the sides weakly; species usually without apical yellow bands on terga, but with circular spots on tergum I and sometimes on tergum II....................... 29

29. General color brown contrasting with mesepisternum black, with a yellow spot; pronotal carina a little higher and usually developed to the end of pronotum, exceeding the humeral region ( Dominican Republic and from Costa Rica to southern Brazil and Argentina)............................................................. P. (A.) versicolor ( Olivier, 1792)

- Mesepisternum generally brown or the same general body color; pronotal carina slightly lower and developed up to the humeri, but not extending into the humeri region of pronotum....................................................... 30

30. Scutum black in general.............................................................................. 31

- Scutum brown in general.............................................................................. 32

31. Integument with a shiny appearance and punctation generally stronger, with some clusters of punctures on mesepisternum; general color black with small brown marks on the face, pronotum, tegulae, and legs; terga I–VI black, II with two yellow circular spots on the sides (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil)............................... P. (A.) binotatus de Saussure, 1853

- Integument dull, without a shiny appearance, and punctation generally thinner and shallower on mesepisternum; general color black with large brown marks on the face, pronotum, tegulae, and legs; terga I–VI brown, I with two yellow circular spots on the sides ( Brazil)............................................................ P. (A.) biguttatus Haliday, 1863

32. General color dark brown, almost black, with small brown marks on pronotum, scutum, and scutellum; face dark brown; propodeum completely black; tergum dark brown, without the presence of yellow spots (Southern Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina, and Uruguay).......................................................... P. (A.) consobrinus de Saussure, 1858

- General color light brown, with yellow marks on pronotum, scutum, and scutellum; face light brown; propodeum black or brown with two yellow stripes on the sides; terga I–II with two well-defined circular spots on the sides ( Colombia, Peru, Bolivia, central-south Brazil, Paraguay, and Argentina)............................... P. (A.) simillimus Zikán, 1951

33. Pronotal carina strongly elevated and acuminate, sharp; anterior margin of pronotum straight and rounding only on the humeral region; color completely black in general; wings reddish to brown (From Costa Rica to northern Argentina)..................................................................................... P. (A.) aterrimus de Saussure, 1853

- Pronotal carina weakly elevated, and if higher then rounded and never acuminate; anterior margin of pronotum more rounded; dark brown general color, never completely black; wings brown to dark brown................................... 34

34. General color light brown to pale yellow with some areas marked in black; terga completely pale yellow or, if brown, with large yellow spots........................................................................................ 35

- General color dark brown to black; terga dark brown, only tergum I partially yellow............................... 36

35. Scutum brown, usually with yellow stripes on the sides; terga II–VI with large yellow spots on the entire length; large species, about 30 mm long ( Brazil to Argentina and Paraguay)............................. P. (A.) cavapyta de Saussure, 1853

- Scutum and propodeum black; terga black with large brown and yellow spots; medium-sized species, not exceeding 25 mm (Southern Brazil)....................................................... P. (A.) cavapytiformis Richards, 1978

36. Scutum, scutellum, and metanotum completely black or with small brown marks; metasoma black or brown........... 37

- Scutum, scutellum, and metanotum brown; metasoma usually brown........................................... 40

37. General color black, with brown or red spots on the face and legs; wings blackened; tergum completely black.......... 38

- General color brown, with yellow marks, sometimes on the face, legs, or terga; wings brown; terga brown............. 39

38. Head with reddish appearance, color different from the rest of the body (From Nicaragua to central Brazil)................................................................................... P. (A.) erythrocephalus Latreille, 1813

- Head with black appearance, color similar to the rest of the body (Southwestern Brazil)....... P. (A.) satan Bequaert, 1940

39. Pronotum black; terga II–VI with extensive light-brown spots (From Panama to southern Brazil and Argentina).................................................................................... P. (A.) brevifissus Richards, 1978

- Pronotum brown; terga II–VI brown or reddish spots (From Panama to southern Brazil and Argentina)............................................................................................. P. (A.) lanio ( Fabricius, 1775)

40. Propodeal muscle widened and short, rounded at the top; general reddish-brown pigmentation; femur with a yellow apical mark; propodeal area may or may not have two yellow bands laterally ( Brazil, Bolivia, and Argentina)............................................................................................ P. (A.) ferreri de Saussure, 1853

- Muscle propodeal thin and long, acuminate in the superior part; general dark brown pigmentation, without a reddish appearance; femur brown; propodeal area without yellow bands laterally.................................................. 41

41. Propodeal area completely black (southeastern and southern Brazil).................... P. (A.) notatipes Richards, 1978

- Propodeal area completely brown....................................................................... 42

42. Head with yellow or light brown pigmentation, usually a little lighter than the pigmentation of the rest of the body; black marks reduced or absents (From Honduras to the Brazilian Amazon)...................... P. (A.) infuscatus Lepeletier, 1836

- Head with dark brown pigmentation, usually the same pigmentation as the rest of the body; black marks more evident mainly in the mesosoma (Southern United States to southern Brazil and Argentina)........... P. (A.) canadensis (Linnaeus, 1758)