Zetheumenidion paeneplanum ( Bequaert, 1926 ), 2024

Selis, Marco, 2024, Revision of the Afrotropical genus Zetheumenidion Bequaert (Hymenoptera: Vespidae: Eumeninae), Zootaxa 5406 (1), pp. 37-65 : 56-60

Zetheumenidion paeneplanum ( Bequaert, 1926) stat. rev.

( Figs. 10 , 12 )

Eumenes paeneplanus Bequaert 1926: 490 (key), 498, fig. 2, ♀, ♂ (in subgenus Zetheumenidion )—“ Rhodesia: Lonely ” (holotype female SAMC).

Diagnosis. Belonging to the group of species with dorsal side of mesosoma forming an even surface from pronotum to propodeum, very narrow and shallow median furrow of propodeum and shagreened outer face of male hind femur, in which is recognized by pronotum and mesoscutum shiny with smooth interspaces, interspaces on mesepisternum wide, lateral carinae of propodeum absent, clypeus red ( Figs. 10B–C ), male hind femur with deep punctures on outer face ( Fig. 10D ).

Material examined. NAMIBIA: Otavi , 5.I.1934, leg. J. Ogilvie, 2♂ ( MSNVE) ; SOUTH AFRICA: Natal , Fort Mistake, 6.XII.1971, leg. Empey, 1♀ ( MSNVE) ; ZIMBABWE: S. Rhodesia, Hillside , 7.XI.1922, leg. Swinburne & Stevenson, 1♂ ( MSVI) ; S. Rhodesia, Hillside , 1.XII.1922, leg. Swinburne & Stevenson, 1♂ ( MSNVE) ; S. Rhodesia, Hopefountain , 11.XI.1922, leg. Swinburne & Stevenson, 1♀ ( MSVI) .

Distribution. Namibia; South Africa: KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo?, Mpumalanga; Zimbabwe ( Bequaert 1926; Giordani Soika 1983 [under Z. pulchripenne , part]) ( Fig. 13 ).

Notes. The taxonomic history of this species and Zetheumenidion pulchripenne is troubled. Three years after its description ( Cameron 1910), Zetheumenidion pulchripenne was synonymized under Z. femoratum by von Schulthess (1913), and this synonymy was followed by Bequaert (1926) and Giordani Soika (1944). The identity of this taxon as a distinct species was then recognized by Giordani Soika (1983), comparing the types of Z. pulchripenne and Z. femoratum . However, he synonymized Z. paeneplanum under Z. pulchripenne in the same paper, after comparison of the type of the latter with a male identified as Z. paeneplanum by Bequaert. In fact, that male specimen was found to be misidentified after direct examination, being clearly different from the original description of Z. paeneplanum and from other specimens identified as such by Bequaert, while matching with the original description of Z. pulchripenne and with the misidentified paralectotype of Z. femoratum compared with the type of Z. pulchripenne and cited by Giordani Soika (1983). For these reasons, Zetheumenidion paeneplanum is removed from the synonymy with Z. pulchripenne and revalidated as a good species.

The specimens from Grotfontein and Rhodesia cited by Giordani Soika (1944) belong to Z. pulchripenne .

Figures

FIGURE 10. Zetheumenidion paeneplanum (Bequaert, 1926).A, female habitus in dorsal view. B, male head in frontal view. C, female head in frontal view. D, male hind femur in lateral view. E, female metasoma in lateral view.

FIGURE 12. Male genitalia of Zetheumenidion species: aedeagus in ventral view, aedeagus in lateral view and digitus + volsella.

FIGURE 13. Distribution maps of Zetheumenidion species.