Review of the potter wasps (Hymenoptera: Vespidae, Eumeninae) with a petiolate metasoma from Indonesian Archipelago

Abstract

The taxonomy and biogeography of potter wasps with a petiolate metasoma occurring in the Indonesian Archipelago are reviewed. Literature review and specimens examination were carried out for the present study. Within the Eumeninae, the wasps with a petiolate metasoma distributed in the region have been more or less well studied compared with those with a non-petiolate metasoma, but their generic affinities and the concepts of some species yet remain unestablished. A total of 80 species belonging to 16 genera of the “petiolate metasoma” are known to occur from the region. Sumatra, Java, Bali and Borneo have mainly Oriental eumenine fauna, including several area- specific species of the Oriental genera. New Guinean fauna is comprised of Papua-Australian species of the widely distributed genera, together with widely distributed species and species endemic to New Guinea. The Wallacean fauna is constituted mainly with the area-specific species in the rather widely distributed genera; in the western part of Wallacea, they are represented mainly by widely distributed genera, together with Oriental genera; in the eastern part of Wallacea, they are constituted mainly by area endemic species of widely distributed Oriental genera. Widely distributed species generally show a wide range of variation in the marking patterns, and occurs sympatrically in some areas, even the peripheral populations usually characterized by the island(s)-specific marking patterns. Sympatric occurrences of forms with quite different color patterns in widely distributed species need further study to establish their taxonomic status, namely whether they are variations within a given area or different species.

Notes on an interspecific interaction between distant taxa: Observation of active cohabitation and communal nesting resources between Gehyra mutilata (Wiegmann, 1834) and two vespid wasp species

“…We classified the vespid wasps being in the Eumenine (family: Vespidae, subfamily: Eumeninae; Latreille 1802) and Polistine subfamilies (family: Vespidae, subfamily: Polistinae; Latreille 1802). Our identification of the Eumenine or potter wasp subfamily was based on the ‘clay pot’ shaped mud nests and the petiolate metasoma observed on the individual seen during the observation (Figure 1a,b; Nugroho et al, 2020); and the Polistine or paper wasp subfamily, Polistes genus, was based on the paper nest characteristics (Figure 1a,b; Wenzel, 1998). We suspect the observed vespid species in this study may have been Delta pyriforme butonense; Schulz, 1904, and Polistes celebensis; Selis 2018, sp.…”

“…We suspect the observed vespid species in this study may have been Delta pyriforme butonense; Schulz, 1904, and Polistes celebensis; Selis 2018, sp. nov. based on the high level of endemism and occurrence records on Buton Island and in Sulawesi (Nugroho et al, 2020; Selis, 2018), however, species were unconfirmed requiring specimen collection.…”

“…The Eumeninae subfamily is the largest within Vespidae, with more than 3500 species described (Pickett & Carpenter, 2010). Eumeninae are the most diverse vespids and widely occur throughout the Indonesian archipelago, with 51 genera and 226 species described to date (Nugroho et al, 2020). The Wallacea region has high levels of endemism, with the genera Eumenes , Delta , Phimenes , Coeleumenes , Ectopioglossa , Pareumenes and Pseumenes Delta , Eumenes and Phinemes widely distributed across the Sulawesi islands (Nugroho et al, 2020).…”

“…Eumeninae are the most diverse vespids and widely occur throughout the Indonesian archipelago, with 51 genera and 226 species described to date (Nugroho et al, 2020). The Wallacea region has high levels of endemism, with the genera Eumenes , Delta , Phimenes , Coeleumenes , Ectopioglossa , Pareumenes and Pseumenes Delta , Eumenes and Phinemes widely distributed across the Sulawesi islands (Nugroho et al, 2020). Eumenine wasps are solitary and construct nests from soil or mud mixed with oral secretions (or saliva).…”

A Key to the Pacific Genera of Eumeninae (Hymenoptera: Vespidae)

“…Australasia is not included because Australia has been recently treated Brown, 2021a, 2021b) and New Zealand has no native vespid fauna. New Guinea is excluded because the Indonesian part has been treated by Nugroho et al (2012).…”