Epipona, Latreille, 1802

Andena, Sergio R., Carpenter, James M. & Pickett, Kurt M., 2009, Phylogenetic analysis of species of the neotropical social wasp Epipona Latreille, 1802 (Hymenoptera, Vespidae, Polistinae, Epiponini), ZooKeys 20 (20), pp. 385-398 : 395-396

Identification key for the species of Epipona

The identification key presented here is a revision of Cooper’s (2002) key, to include only characters of females, which were also used in the phylogenetic analysis.

1 Propodeal concavity with transverse carinae or rugae reaching middle ( Fig. 3 ); medial scutellar line shallowly impressed; metapleuron impunctate or with fine and sparse punctures on upper region; Tergum I with anterior third of pre-spiracular area flat above; Tergum II coriaceous, without obvious punctation or with shallow and very sparse punctation....................................... 2

1’ Propodeal concavity coarsely punctate, without transverse carinae or rugae present only at edge of lateral region, absent medially ( Fig. 4 ); median scutellar line markedly depressed behind; metapleuron punctate ventrally; Tergum I with anterior third of pre-spiracular area convex above; Tergum II usually punctate...................................................................................................... 3

2 Vertex strongly excavated posteriorly (Fig. 9); propodeal punctation medium to dense, usually with conspicuous, impunctate anterodorsal area (Fig. 7) .... ........................................................................................ E. niger (Brèthes)

2’ Vertex only concave posteriorly (Fig. 10); propodeal punctation dense, punctate throughtout ( Fig. 8 ) ........................................ E. guerini (de Saussure)

3 Tergum I with wide lateral projections anteriorly, with very dense, long hairs ( Fig. 5 ); pronotum markedly projecting at humerus ( Fig. 1 ); Tergum II with punctation evident.................................... E. quadrituberculata (Gribodo)

3’ Tergum I without lateral projections anteriorly, with sparse to medium hairs ( Fig. 6 ); pronotum not or slightly projecting at humerus ( Fig. 2 ); Tergum II with or without evident punctation ............................................................ 4

4 Tergum II shining or sometimes slightly coriaceous with numerous moderate punctures (Fig. 11) ........................................................... E. tatua (Cuvier)

4’ Tergum II opaque to slightly shining, coriaceous with punctures fine and sparse, sometimes not evident (Fig. 12)............................. E. media Cooper

Figures

Figure 1. E. quadrituberculata, humeri, dorsal view. Scale bar = 1.0 mm. Figure 2. E. tatua, humeri, dorsal view. Scale bar = 1.0 mm. Figure 3. E. guerini, propodeal concavity, frontal view. Scale bar = 1.0 mm. Figure 4. E. tatua, propodeal cancavity, frontal view. Scale bar = 1.0 mm. Figure 5. E. quadrituberculata, Tergum I, dorsal view. Scale bar = 1.0 mm. Figure 6. E. tatua, Tergum I, dorsal view. Scale bar = 1.0 mm.

Figure 8. E. niger, propodeum, dorsal view. Scale bar = 1.0 mm. Figure 9. E. guerini, propodeum, dorsal view. Scale bar = 1.0 mm. Figure |0. E. niger, head, dorsal view. Scale bar = 1.0 mm. Figure ||. E. guerini, head, dorsal view. Scale bar = 1.0 mm. Figure |2. E. tatua, Tergum II, dorsal view. Scale bar = 1.0 mm. Figure |3. E. media, Tergum II, dorsal view. Scale bar = 1.0 mm.