Polistes gallicus (Linnaeus)

Schmid-Egger, Christian, Achterberg, Kees van, Neumeyer, Rainer, Jerome Moriniere, & Schmidt, Stefan, 2017, Revision of the West Palaearctic Polistes Latreille, with the descriptions of two species an integrative approach using morphology and DNA barcodes (Hymenoptera, Vespidae), ZooKeys 713, pp. 53-112 : 90-92

Polistes gallicus (Linnaeus) Figs 14, 15

Vespa gallica Linnaeus, 1767, Systema Naturae Ed. 12, 1 (2): 949 Holotype male (LSL, examined by RN), type locality Europa australi [S Europe].

Polistula omissa Weyrauch, 1938, Arbeiten uber physiologische und angewandte Entomologie aus Berlin-Dahlem 5 (3): 277 Lectotype male (lost; see Arens 2011: 462), designated by Weyrauch 1939, Archiv fur Naturgeschichte, Neue Folge 8 (2): 161, type locality: Marseille, France, mentioned in Weyrauch (1939: 161).

Remarks.

The name P. gallicus (sensu lato) was used in the past for three Mediterranean species: P. foederatus , P. mongolicus , and P. gallicus . A reassessment of morphological characters in combination with DNA barcoding shows that P. gallicus (sensu stricto) is a valid species with a mainly western Mediterranean distribution (eastwards to Corfu, but probably very rare on Balkans). Polistula omissa is regarded as a synonym of P. gallicus (sensu stricto).

Diagnosis.

Polistes gallicus females are characterised by a short malar space (but in a few specimens from Italy as long as in P. foederatus ) and by two yellow spots on the mesoscutum; these spots are absent in most females of P. mongolicus . If there is a dark patch on the clypeus, it is small (rounded or forming a transverse band) and situated on the apical half of the clypeus. The posterior pronotal band is variable, short (in most specimens from Portugal) or reaching the anterior pronotal transverse band (in most specimens from N Italy). In the transition zone to P. mongolicus (N Italy, Balkans), P. gallicus can be confused with P. mongolicus when the yellow mesonotal spots are absent (one barcoded female of P. gallicus from Italy, Lombardia, with reduced, minute yellow spots only). Polistes gallicus has the pos terior stripes connected to the anterior transverse band of the pronotum, whereas it remains separated from the pronotal band in all examined P. mongolicus from Croatia. Males can be recognized by the combination of the short malar space and two yellow spots on the mesoscutum.

Colour variation. All examined females from NW Africa have the clypeus yellow (one female with minute black spot), the mesoscutum has a pair of large yellow spots, and the tergite VI is entirely black (apical half yellow in one specimen). Males from NW Africa were not examined.

Distribution.

Western and central Mediterranean area, eastwards to the Greek island of Corfu. In NW Africa from Tunisia to Morocco. Northwards to Italian Alps and S Switzerland. Specimens from Egypt and Israel formerly assigned to P. gallicus belong to P. mongolicus .

Specimens examined.

Europe: Croatia (Istria), Greece (Corfu), Italy (Lombardia/Brescia, Veneto/N. of Verona, Pavone, Dro, Sardinia), Spain (Mallorca/Alcudia, Andalucia/various locations), France (Bouches du Rhone/Alpilles, Pont du Diable, La Rouquette), Portugal (Algarve/Carrapeteira), Malta (Ghajn Tuffieha, female, photo from Kristofer Mogyorossy), Switzerland. Africa: Algeria (Alger), Morocco (Sefrou, Ht Atlas), Tunisia (Le Kef).

Genetic results.

Specimens from Polistes gallicus originating from several European countries between Croatia and Portugal and from Morocco were examined genetically. They exhibit some genetic variation but all specimens share the same BIN.