Ropalidia stigma (Smith, 1858)

Tan, Jiang-Li, Van Achterberg, Kees & Chen, Xue-Xin, 2014, Pictorial key to species of the genus Ropalidia Guerin-Meneville, 1831 (Hymenoptera, Vespidae) from China, with description of one new species, ZooKeys 391, pp. 1-35 : 24

Ropalidia stigma (Smith, 1858) Figure 2G

Polybia stigma Smith, 1858: 114. Type locality: Borneo (Sarawak).

Icaria stigma ; du Buysson 1913: 296.

Parapolybia stigma ; von Schulthess 1913: 164.

Ropalidia stigma stigma ; van der Vecht 1941: 110.

Ropalidia stigma nigrolineata van der Vecht, 1962: 18. Syn. by Nguyen et al. (2006).

Ropalidia stigma rufa van der Vecht, 1941: 130. Syn. by Nguyen et al. (2006).

Specimens examined.

CHINA: 1 ♀ (ZJUH), Guishan, Heyuan, Guangdong, 18.v.2002, no. 20028494, ZF Xu; 1 ♀ (NWUM), Luofu, Huizhou, Guangdong, 250 m, 12.vii.2004, CT Zhang; 1 ♀ (ZJUH), Dongzhong, Fangcheng, Guangxi, 8.xii.2001, ZQ He; 1 ♀ (ZJUH), Baise, Guangxi, 2.vi.1982, no. 822126, JH He; 9 ♀ + 2 ♂ (NWUM), Yaoqu, Mengla, Yunnan, 27-30.ix.2010, JL Tan; 7 ♀ + 2 ♂ (NWUM), Longmen, Shangyong, Yunnan, 26-27.ix.2010, JL Tan; 1 ♀ (GSFA) Xishuangbanna, Wangtianshu, Yunnan, 610 m, 23.iv. 2002, SP Sun; 1 ♀ (NWAM), Yaoqu, Mengla, Yunnan, 640 m, 6.v.1991, GC Liu & WZ Cai; 12 ♀ + 1 ♂ (NWUM), Beibeng, Motuo, Tibet, 10.viii.2011, HL Yang & JB Wang; 1 ♀ (NWUM), Motuo, Tibet, (29°19'37.5"N, 95°19'44.6"E), 15.viii.2011, HL Yang & JB Wang; 1 ♀ (ZJUH), Hongmao Village, Yuanmen, Baisha, Hainan, 29.iv.2010, JL Tan; 2 ♀ (ZJUH), Bawangling, Hainan, 19.viii.2000, no. 200104356, -67, ZF Xu; 1 ♀ (CATAS), Leguang Farm, Ledong, Hainan, 14.vii.2011, 18°37'0"N, 109°6'39"E, no. 07018, WJ Zhu; 4 ♀ + 2 ♂ (CATAS), Nada, Danzhou, Hainan, 19°05'17"N, 109°34'50"E, 143 m. INDONESIA: 2 ♀ + 2 ♂ (RMNH), Sumatra/Ind., viii-ix.1989, F. Moussault. VIETNAM: 5 ♀ (RMNH), S. Vietnam: Dak Lak, Chu Yang Sin N.P., Krong K’Mar, 550-610 m, 21-26.x.2005, C van Achterberg & R de Vries, (mesoscutum with a pair of narrow yellow stripes vaguely visible in the reddish brown mark); 1 ♀ (RMNH), S. Vietnam: Dông Nai, Cát Tien N.P., Ficus trail, Mal. traps, c 100 m, 9-30.iv.2007, MP Quy & NT Manh; 1 ♀ (RMNH), same data, but Botanical garden, Mal. traps 14-19, c 100 m, 14-20.v.2007, C van Achterberg & R de Vries; 1 ♀ (RMNH), same data, but c 100 m, 6.x.2005, Ecotrail, C van Achterberg & R de Vries (similar to Chinese specimens with small yellow spots on second tergite and sternite). MALAYSIA: 1 ♀ (RMNH), Penang Isl., Malaya, Batu Feringgi, 25.ii.1963, MA Lieftinck; 2 ♀ (RMNH), Perlis, Bukit Bingtang, Forest Res. (Kangar), 23.ii.1963, MA Lieftinck.

Remarks.

Specimens from Tibet are slightly darker than those from Yunnan and the basal yellow marks of the second sternite are very small or lacking. Chinese specimens have the gena slightly wider and the first tergite longer than other specimens, 3.0-3.5 times as long as high with small yellow patches. Specimens from Vietnam and Malaysia have the first tergite shorter, about 2.9 times as long as high with large yellow patches.

Distribution.

China (Hainan, Guangdong, Guangxi, Yunnan, Tibet); Bali; Borneo; India; Java; Malay Peninsula; Myanmar; Nepal; Philippine Islands; Sri Lanka; Sumatra; Thailand; Vietnam. ( Kojima and Carpenter 1997 and updated to 2006, Nguyen et al. 2006, Kojima et al. 2007).