Pareumenes de Saussure 1855
Creators: name: Selis, Marco
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2025
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Hymenoptera
Vespidae
Pareumenes

description: Updated checklist of the Afrotropical species of the genus Pareumenes
1. Pareumenes (Brachyparmenes) mirificus Selis, sp. nov.
2. Pareumenes (Brachyparmenes) punctatissimus Giordani Soika, 1987
3. Pareumenes (Brachyparmenes) rufoniger (Gusenleitner, 2002), comb. nov.
4. Pareumenes (Nortonia) enslini (von Schulthess, 1931)
5. Pareumenes (Nortonia) laevis (von Schulthess, 1903)
6. Pareumenes (Nortonia) mochii Giordani Soika, 1938
7. Pareumenes (Pareumenes) arabicus Giordani Soika, 1981, stat. nov.
8. Pareumenes (Pareumenes) flavopetiolatus Giordani Soika, 1979, stat. nov.
9. Pareumenes (Pareumenes) laetefasciatus Giordani Soika, 1944, stat. nov.
10. Pareumenes (Pareumenes) laterorufofasciatus Giordani Soika, 1944, stat. nov.
11. Pareumenes (Pareumenes) occidentalis Giordani Soika, 1944, stat. nov.
12. Pareumenes (Pareumenes) sansibaricus (Schulz, 1905)
Key to the subgenera and Afrotropical species of Pareumenes
1. Propodeal valvula short and not forming a lobe with submarginal carina (Fig. 14A). T1 not angled basally, without transverse ridge (Figs 1D, 2D, 14G–H)...................................... 3, subgenus P. (Brachyparmenes) Giordani Soika
- Propodeal valvula long and forming a variably developed lobe together with submarginal carina (Figs 14B–D). T1 distinctly angled at extreme base, with a marked transverse ridge (Figs 4E, 5E, 6D, 7D, 8A, 9E, 10D, 11E, 12E, 14P, Q)........... 2
2. Pronotal carina absent on dorsal face (Fig. 14E). Lateral carina of propodeum weakly sinuate or angled above valvula (Figs 4D, 5D, 6C). Lobe of valvula and submarginal carina short, not markedly exceeding apex of propodeum (Figs 14B, C). T1 bell-shaped with strongly diverging sides, about as long as apically wide (Figs 4E, 5E, 6D).................................................................................................... 5, subgenus P. (Nortonia) de Saussure
- Pronotal carina fine but well visible on dorsal face (Fig. 14F). Lateral carina of propodeum forming a sharp triangular lobe above valvula, long and curved inward (except in P. laterorufofasciatus). Lobe of valvula and submarginal carina long, strongly exceeding apex of propodeum (Fig. 14D). T1 elongate and with weakly diverging sides, at least twice as long as apically wide (Figs 7D, 8A, 9E, 10D, 11E, 12E)........................................7, subgenus P. (Pareumenes) de Saussure
3. Whole body with dense deep punctures (Fig. 2). Propodeum entirely rounded, lacking all carinae; posterior face of propodeum with long transverse striae originating from median carina (Fig. 2C). T1 more elongate and subtriangular, with markedly converging sides (Fig. 2D); T 1 in lateral view weakly convex basally (Fig. 14G). Black with red markings on face and large yellow spots on propodeum............................................... P. (B.) punctatissimus Giordani Soika
- Frons and pronotum with sparse shallow punctures, rest of body almost smooth, finely micropunctate with very sparse barely visible punctures (Fig. 1). Propodeum with short but distinct inferior carina just above valvula; posterior face of propodeum almost entirely smooth, median carina flanked by extremely short ridges (Fig. 1C). T1 less elongate and parallel-sided (Fig. 1D); T 1 in lateral view strongly convex basally, almost forming an anterior vertical face (Fig. 14H). Different pattern, either black with dark red markings or red with extensive yellow markings on metasoma .................................. 4
4. Clypeus longer than wide (Fig. 3B). Outer margin of tegula evenly curved, apex of posterior lobe nearly right-angled; parategula basally right-angled and apically rounded. T2–T5 entirely black and opaque. S 2 in lateral view more convex in basal half than apically. Black with dark-red markings (Fig. 3A).................................... P. (B.) rufoniger (Gusenleitner)
- Clypeus as long as wide (Fig. 1B). Outer margin of tegula sinuate and weakly concave in posterior half, apex of posterior lobe acute; parategula oblique and weakly expanded at apex. T2–T5 with decolorate and translucent apical area. S 2 in lateral view barely and evenly convex for whole length. Bright red with extensive yellow markings on metasoma (Fig. 1A)...................................................................................... P. (B.) mirificus Selis, sp. nov.
5. Clypeus distinctly longer than wide and flattened to shallowly depressed in ventral half; apical margin wider than interantennal space and subtruncate to shallowly emarginate, with lateral teeth blunt and pointing outwards (Figs 5B, C). Vertex and gena not markedly convex, vertex not bulging in lateral view; in female, upper lobe of eye of usual size, about as long as gena behind it (Fig. 14I). Propodeal valvula wide, widely rounded posteriorly (Fig. 14C). S 2 in profile almost evenly convex from base to apex, with a barely visible longitudinal ridge near base. Black with few dark red markings, yellow markings reduced to interantennal spot and male clypeus ................................................ P. (N.) laevis (von Schulthess)
- Clypeus about as long as wide; apical margin at most as wide as interantennal space and shallowly emarginate, with short but distinct subtriangular lateral teeth (Figs 4B, C, 6B). Vertex and gena convex, vertex somewhat bulging in lateral view; in female, upper lobe of eye small, much shorter than gena behind it (Fig. 14J). Propodeal valvula narrow, almost pointed posteriorly (Fig. 14B). S 2 in profile weakly but distinctly bulging basally, longitudinal ridge prominent and well visible. Different pattern.. 6
6. Lateral carina of propodeum very weakly sinuate apically, almost evenly rounded (Fig. 6C). Apical margin of T2 decolorate and reflexed, almost lamellar (Fig. 6D). S 2 in profile more strongly bulging basally, longitudinal ridge limited to basal bulge. Almost completely impunctate, with some barely visible punctures on mesepisternum, dorsal faces of propodeum and S2 (Figs 6A–D). Black with extensive yellow and bright red markings........................... P. (N.) mochii Giordani Soika
- Lateral carina of propodeum distinctly sinuate or bluntly angled apically (Fig. 4D). Apical margin of T2 flattened and not differentiated from the rest of the tergite (Fig. 4E). S 2 in profile less strongly bulging basally, longitudinal ridge reaching middle of sternite. Clypeus with irregular longitudinal striation on ventral half (Fig. 4B); small but well-defined punctures on propodeum and metasoma, larger and deeper on S2 (Figs 4A–D). Red-brown with blackish apex of metasoma, sometimes with yellow markings on face (always in male) and T1–T2................................ P. (N.) enslini (von Schulthess)
7. Gena wider, less markedly narrowed below (Fig. 14K). Posterior depression of propodeum entirely covered in strong oblique ridges (Figs 10C, 11D). T1 more robust, 2.05–2.15× as long as apically wide (Figs 10D, 11E); T 1 in lateral view with dorsal surface evenly and weakly convex from base to apex (Fig. 14P); longitudinal furrow more evident but of regular depth for whole length (Fig. 14R); apical margin not differentiated from rest of surface (Figs 14P, 14R). Pubescence of head and mesosoma finer, pale brownish and without any silvery reflection (Figs 10, 11, 14M). Metasoma without yellow markings (Figs 10D, 11E). Digitus proportionally shorter and more robust, with sides more converging apically (Fig. 13E; unknown in P. laterorufofasciatus)................................................................................... 8
- Gena narrower, more markedly narrowed below (Fig. 14L). Posterior depression of propodeum largely smooth, at most crenate along median carina (Figs 7C, 8A, 9D, 12D). T1 slenderer, 2.3–2.6× as long as apically wide (Figs 7D, 9E, 12E) (except for P. flavopetiolatus in which it is 2.05× as long as wide, Fig. 8A); T 1 in lateral view with dorsal surface becoming progressively more convex posteriorly (Fig. 14Q); longitudinal furrow less marked but forming a deep pit near posterior end (Fig. 14S); apical margin strongly decolorate and translucent, forming a shallowly reflexed lamella (Figs 14Q, S). Pubescence of head and mesosoma thicker and with strong silvery reflections, particularly evident on face, gena and sides of mesosoma (white but barely metallic in P. arabicus from Arabian Peninsula) (Figs 7A, 8A, 9A, 12A, 14N, O). Metasoma with yellow markings at least on T1 (Figs 7D, 8A, 9E, 12E). Digitus proportionally longer and slenderer, with sides mostly parallel (Figs 13C, D, F; unknown in P. flavopetiolatus).......................................................................... 9
8. Lateral projection of propodeum forming a long and acute lobe, slightly curved inward (Fig. 11D). Dorsal faces of propodeum black with yellow apical half, some reddish markings between black and yellow (Figs 11A, D)................................................................................................ P. (P.) occidentalis Giordani Soika
- Lateral projection of propodeum forming a short and more or less right-angled lobe, pointing outward (Fig. 10C). Dorsal faces of propodeum entirely red (Figs 10A, C)................................ .. P. (P.) laterorufofasciatus Giordani Soika
9. T1 2.05× as long as apically wide, almost entirely yellow with trilobate dark red marking in apical half (Fig. 8A)................................................................................ P. (P.) flavopetiolatus Giordani Soika
- T1 2.3–2.6× as long as apically wide, black and red with narrow yellow lines on sides and apical margin (Figs 7D, 9E, 12E). .................................................................................................. 10
10. Apical emargination of clypeus wider and shallower, teeth bordering it shorter and less acute (Figs 12B, C). Apical margin of T2 flattened to barely reflexed, forming a dark brown lamella not markedly separated from the rest of the surface (Fig. 12E).............................................................................. P. (P.) sansibaricus (Schulz)
- Apical emargination of clypeus narrower and deeper, teeth bordering it longer and more acute (Figs 7B, 9B, C). Apical margin of T2 markedly reflexed, forming a translucent yellowish lamella sharply separated from the rest of the surface (Figs 7D, 9E) .................................................................................................. 11
11. Pubescence of head and mesosoma white but barely silvery, without distinct metallic reflections (Figs 7A–C, 14O). Lateral projections of propodeum not depressed, thinner and more pointed (Fig. 7C).............. P. (P.) arabicus Giordani Soika
- Pubescence of head and mesosoma distinctly silvery, with strong metallic reflections (Figs 9A–C, 14N). Lateral projections of propodeum dorsoventrally depressed, wider and less pointed (Fig. 9D).............. P. (P.) laetefasciatus Giordani Soika
description: Published as part of Selis, Marco, 2025, Revision of the Afrotropical species of Pareumenes de Saussure (Hymenoptera, Vespidae, Eumeninae), pp. 205-227 in Zootaxa 5584 (2) on pages 221-225, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5584.2.3, http://zenodo.org/record/14830818