Polistes bischoffi Weyrauch, 1937

Rainer Neumeyer, Bruno Gereys & Leopoldo Castro, 2015, New data on the distribution of Polistes bischoffi Weyrauch, 1937 and Polistes helveticus Neumeyer, 2014, a synonym of Polistes albellus Giordani Soika, 1976 n. stat. (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), Boletín de la Sociedad Entomológica Aragonesa (S. E. A.) 57, pp. 205-216 : 211-213

 Polistes bischoffi Weyrauch, 1937

Polistes bischoffi Weyrauch, 1937: 274 , in part

Presence on the Iberian Peninsula

In the present interpretation of the taxon (Neumeyer et al. 2014), Polistes bischoffi is known from continental France, Corsica, Italy, Switzerland, Austria, Greece and Turkey. Previously published records of the species were provisionally disregarded, pending verification of the material on which they were based, given the fact that the wasp has been confused up until now with P. gallicus , P. albellus (= helveticus ) and quite possibly P. hellenicus Arens, 2011.

The latest works dealing with the Iberian distribution of the Polistini (Madero Montero 1988; Diniz 1960, 1978; Castro 2001) did not mention P. bischoffi , and isolated records from “Spain” by other authors (Schmid-Egger & Treiber 1989: 601-602; Dvořák et al. 2006: 536) may or may not correspond to the current interpretation of the taxon.

In early 2014, on a visit to London’s British Museum, RN was able to examine a specimen of P. bischoffi from Gibraltar, which prompted LC to visit a series of potentially suitable sites in Spain. These expeditions revealed the presence of the species in several Spanish provinces, and a revision of previously collected material has produced further records from other areas of the country.

Material examined (Iberian Peninsula). GIBRALTAR, Gibraltar (approx. 36º08’N 05º21’W), 1 ♀ (1910-266), [no date], J.J.W. [= J. J. Walker] [leg.], BMNH (E. Saunders coll.); SPAIN, ANDALUCÍA, ALMERÍA, Adra, Venta Nueva (36º45’25.7”N 02º56’51.8”W, 15 m), 2 ♀ (CLC-2014/A42), 10 Aug 2014, L. Castro leg. et coll.; Guardias Viejas (36º42’10.8”N 02º51’32.6”W, 5 m), 7 ♀ (6 at Tamarix flo-wers, 1 at Limonium ; 1 ♀ RN0570, 6 ♀ CLC-2014/A21), 7 Jul 2014, L. Castro leg., CLC & RN coll.; 5 ♂ (at Crithmum maritimum; 1 ♂ RN0569, 4 ♂ CLC-2014/A43), 10 Aug 2014, L. Castro leg., CLC & RN coll.; Guardias Viejas (36º41’55.0”N 02º50’33.4”W, 8 m), 3 ♀ (at Tamarix ; CLC- 2014/A22), 7 Jul 2014, L. Castro leg. et coll.; CASTILLA Y LEÓN, PALENCIA, Villasur (42º34’55”N 04º41’57”W, 990 m), 1 ♀ (CLC-2002/A37), 7 Aug 2002, L. Castro leg. et coll.; CASTILLA Y LEÓN, SORIA, Chavaler (approx. 41º51’N 02º28’W; 1250 m), 1 ♀ (white Malaise trap; CLC-AN13), 18 May 1998, A. de la Nuez leg., CLC coll.; ARAGÓN, HUESCA, Pomar de Cinca, Arroyo de la Clamor (41º53’02.9”N 00º05’24.0”E, 250 m), 4 ♀ 3 ♂ (at Foeniculum flowers; 1 ♀ RN0566, rest CLC-2014/A55), 6 Sep 2014, C. Latorre leg., CLC & RN coll.; Sariñena, El Puyalón (41º46’07.3”N 00º10’30.3”W, 285 m), 2 ♀ (at Eryngium campestre flowers; CLC-2015/A04), 4 Jul 2015, L. Castro leg. et coll.; ARAGÓN, TERUEL, Alcañiz, Salada Grande (41º02’30.1”N 00º11’ 46.0”W, 340 m), 2 ♀ (at nest; CLC-2014/A33), 4 Aug 2014, L. Castro leg. et coll.; Alcañiz, Salada Grande (41º02’00.4”N 00º12’19.2”W, 345 m), 3 ♀ (at unidentified flowers; 1 ♀ RN0568, 2 ♀ CLC-2014/A34), 4 Aug 2014, L. Castro leg., CLC & RN coll.; Libros (40º09’09.79”N 01º13’55.84”W; 755 m), 3 ♀ (at Foeniculum flowers; CLC-2015/A25), 5 Sep 2015, L. Castro leg. et coll.; Teruel, rambla Franquia (40º19’ 09”N 01º06’18”W, 910 m), 1 mature nest with 5 unemerged subadults (1 ♀ 4 ♂; CLC-1977), 13 Apr 1977, L. Castro leg. et coll.; Villarquemado (40º30’14.9”N 01º17’19.6”W, 985 m), 3 ♀ (CLC-2014/A51), 25 Aug 2014, L. Castro leg. et coll.; ARAGÓN, ZARAGOZA, Alfocea, Acampo de Cuéllar (41º45’29”N 00º58’01”W, 300 m), 1 ♀ (no other collecting data; CLC-1979), 11 May 1979, L. Castro leg. et coll.; Codo, Balsa del Margen (41º20’35.9”N 00º40’53.0”W, 290 m), 3 ♀ (at Limonium flowers; CLC-2014/A36), 4 Aug 2014, C. Latorre leg., CLC coll..

Material from other European countries. FRANCE, ALPES-DE-HAUTE-PROVENCE, Oraison (43°55'05"N 05°55' 09"E), 1 ♀, 0 6 Aug 1995, B. Gereys leg. et coll.; AUDE, Leucate (42°54'38"N 03°01'46"E), 1 ♀, 10 Jul 1984, J. Hamon leg., CBG coll.; BOUCHES-DU-RHÔNE, Camargue (approx. 43º31’N 04º33’E), 1 ♀ (CLC-VZ04 / RN0447), 2-9 Aug 1963 [collector unknown], CLC coll.; PYRÉNÉES-ORIENTA- LES, Canet-en-Roussillon, plage (42°42'24"N 03°00'28"E), 1 ♀, 17 Aug 1957, H. Ribaut leg., CBG coll.; ITALY, BASILI- CATA, MATERA, Craco, Masseria del Monte (40º22’13.1”N 16º22’40.5”E, 320 m), 1 ♀ (CLC-2011/A78), 21 Jul 2011, L. Castro leg. et coll.; SWITZERLAND, ZÜRICH, Hombrechtikon, Lützelsee: Lutikon (47°15'32.8"N 08°45'59.7"E, 503 m, fen), 1 ♀ (RN0533), 0 2 Sep 2014, R. Neumeyer leg., ZSM coll.; Neerach, Neeracherried, Langenteilen (47°29'54.7"N 08°28'55.2"E, 410 m, fen), 1 ♀ (RN0532), 26 Jun 2014, R. Neumeyer leg., ZSM coll.

Notes on habitat (material from Spain and Italy):

ADRA: Permanent coastal lagoon with natural, mostly dense, vegetation in the immediate vicinity but surrounded by agricultural land. Polistes nimpha was also collected, and P. gallicus specimens were observed but not collected.

ALCAÑIZ (both sites): Area covered by steppe vegetation around a group of nearly permanent brackish lagoons, with scattered Tamarix bushes ( Fig. 6 ); in very hot years these lagoons can run completely dry. Polistes gallicus was also collected, and P. dominula was observed at the locality. The nest was attached to a standing but dead Foeniculum stalk. CODO: Seasonally flooded ground with a number of small permanent ponds but otherwise devoid of surface water in summer; numerous patches (some of them large) of Tamarix bushes ( Fig. 7). Other Polistes species collected: P. gallicus, P. nimpha .

CRACO: Specimen collected by a very small stream in steep terrain; there were reed patches on the banks, and a small river some 350 m. below. Other Polistes species collected: P. gallicus, P. nimpha .

GUARDIAS VIEJAS, 5m. alt.: Seasonally flooded ground inland of the coastal dunes, in the vicinity of a beach; mostly low vegetation with quite a few Tamarix bushes around the main flood plain ( Fig. 8 ). Other Polistes species collected: P. dominula, P. gallicus, P. nimpha ; P. bischoffi was the most abundant social wasp at the site.

GUARDIAS VIEJAS, 8 m. alt.: Area behind the coastal dunes bordering the beach; low vegetation with Tamarix patches. There were no wet areas in the vicinity, but the locality is not far from the seasonally flooded area at the other Guardias Viejas site. No other Polistes species were collected, but P. nimpha was also present.

LIBROS: Very shallow depression, about 100 x 30 m., close to the bank of a river, almost entirely covered by reeds, without any surface water at the time of the visit ( Fig. 9). Other Polistes species collected at the site: P. dominula , P. gallicus , P. nimpha .

POMAR DE CINCA: No wetlands or wet spots were detected at the site, but there may be seasonal flooding or individual pools, as suggested by the presence of some reed patches; in the vicinity there is a permanent stream with very abundant Tamarix bushes along its banks. Besides P. bischoffi, P. gallicus and P. nimpha were also collected.

SARIÑENA: A short distance from the southern banks of the Sariñena lake, which has water all year long; patches of steppe vegetation surrounded by agricultural and developed land. Other Polistes species collected: P. dominula, P. gallicus, P. nimpha , P. semenowi Morawitz, 1889.

TERUEL: Banks of a small stream surrounded by steppe and agricultural land. There are no wetlands in the area, although the site is not far (ca. 1 km) from a river. The nest was attached to a reed stalk. LC originally (1977) determined the specimens as “ P. foederatus ”. P. dominula, P. gallicus, P. nimpha and P. semenowi have also been collected at this site. VILLARQUEMADO: The site was originally a (shallow) lake, but it was drained in the 18th century. It is now a seasonally flooded depression with a few permanent ponds but with very little surface water in summer. Tamarix patches are present. Other Polistes species collected: P. dominula , P. nimpha , P. semenowi .

Figures

Fig. 6. Polistes bischoffi Weyrauch, 1937 habitat at Alcañiz (Teruel province, Spain). / Hábitat de Polistes bischoffi Weyrauch, 1937 en Alcañiz (provincia de Teruel, España).

Fig. 8. One of the seasonally flooded areas behind the beach at Guardias Viejas (Almería prov., Spain), completely dried up at the time of the visit, in July. P. bischoffi Weyrauch, 1937 was very abundant at this site, outnumbering syntopic Polistes species. / Una de las zonas de inundación estacional tras la playa de Guardias Viejas (provincia de Almería, España), completamente seca en el momento de la visita, en julio. P. bischoffi Weyrauch, 1937 era muy abundante en este lugar, superando en número a las demás especies de Polistes.