Taxonomic notes on the genus Pseudodynerus (Hymenoptera, Vespidae, Eumeninae)

Abstract

ABSTRACT. The differences between Pseudodynerus auratoides (Bertoni, 1918) and Pseudodynerus serratus (Fox, 1902) are established. Lectotypes of Stenodynerus mondaiensis Bertoni, 1918 and Stenodynerus auratoides Bertoni, 1918 are designated. Pseudodynerus penicillatus (Zavattari, 1912) is redescribed and newly raised from synonymy under P. serratus (Fox, 1902 Among the Neotropical Vespidae, one of the most common mimicry complexes is the one that follows the epiponine Brachygastra lecheguana (Latreille, 1824) coloration pattern. GARCETE-BARRETT (1999) provided a partial list of eight species of the subfamily Eumeninae from Paraguay that belong to this complex, including P. serratus (Fox, 1902) and P. auratoides (Bertoni, 1918), which are distinguished by the shape of the metanotum, according BERTONI (1918a) and BEQUAERT (1941).The material examined is from Bertoni's collection, currently deposited at the Museo Nacional de Historia Natural del Paraguay, from the American Museum of Natural History and the Carnegie Museum of Natural History. In addition, some specimens recently collected in Paraguay and Southern Brazil were studied, showing no significant differences between these two species regarding the shape of the metanotum. However, other well-marked and constant structural differences allow ready separation of these two species.Odynerus penicillatus Zavattari, 1912 was described based on a single female from French Guiana, and reduced to a variety (recently treated as synonymy) of P. serratus by BEQUAERT (1941) (also new generic placement by Bequaert). However, this author did not examined the primary type of O. penicillatus, basing the synonymy only on Zavattari's original description. Some taxonomic notes on this taxon are presented herein, and P. penicillatus is newly raised from synonymy under P.

Revision and cladistic analysis of the eumenine wasp genusPseudodynerusde Saussure (Hymenoptera, Vespidae, Eumeninae)

“…It can also be recognized by the relatively long hairs of the mesopleuron, by the elevated lateral crests of the metanotum, and by the smooth and shiny posterior face of the propodeum with developed lamella and short lateral tooth. The specimen described herein was recognized as P. penicillatus by Hermes et al (2005). Besides the cited features, P. carpenteri differs from P. penicillatus by the more evident median hump of T2 and by the forewing colouration, namely black with whitish apex in the former and hyaline in the latter.…”

“…Metasomal terga and sterna are referred to as T1 to T7 and S1 to S7, respectively. Species whose primary types were obtained through loans are redescribed, except for P. hallinani Bequaert, 1941 and P. penicillatus (Zavattari, 1912), for which detailed description and redescription are available in the literature (Bequaert, 1941 and Hermes et al , 2005, respectively). All descriptions and redescriptions were made in a diagnostic way, taking into account mainly phylogenetic‐informative characters, as the separation of many taxa is subtle and possible only through series of characters.…”

“…Seven paralectotypes (IBNP, 5♀ and 2♂) were also examined, all of them from the same locality as the lectotype. Although 1996 is the date that appears on the labels of the lectotype and paralectotypes of S. auratoides (attached to the specimens during the curatorial work of Collection Bertoni by Bolívar R. Garcete‐Barrett), the designation was formally proposed by Hermes et al in 2005.…”

“…Fox, treated P. griseus (Fox, 1902) as a valid species, separated from P. serratus , based on male genitalia. Recently, Hermes et al (2005) treated P. penicillatus (Zavattari, 1912) as a valid species, raising it from synonymy under P. serratus , the latter being then satisfactorily separated from P. auratoides through a new series of characters.…”

“…ex Benth. (Lamiaceae) (Hermes et al , 2005; R. Monteiro, personal communication). Bertoni (1918a) mentioned having collected P. serratus on inflorescences of Asteraceae.…”