Mischocyttarus heliconius Richards 1941
Creators: name: Pinheiro, Mileudiane O.
name: Silveira, Orlando T.
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2023
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Hymenoptera
Vespidae
Mischocyttarus
Mischocyttarus heliconius

description: Key for identification of females of the species of the M. heliconius species group
1. Inner tarsal claw of hind leg without a noticeable subapical narrowing, its width fairly uniform to the tip, which is rounded (Figs. 17, 18); clypeus shape variable, more often subquadrate (Fig. 9, 10); clypeus rarely with silvery or whitish bristles (Fig. 22); posterior ocelli variable, more often separated by one or more ocellar diameters (Fig.13); ground color more often yellow (Fig. 2)............................................................................................. 2
- Inner tarsal claw of hind leg with an apparent subapical narrowing after which it widens again to the tip, which is rounded (Figs. 19, 20); clypeus looking high and narrow, distinctly higher than wide, apex quite projecting below, HCLP/WCLP often larger than 1.10 (Figs. 11, 12); clypeus always covered by distinct silvery or whitish bristles (Fig. 21); posterior ocelli always close, separated by less than one ocellar diameter (Figs. 14–16); ground color more often dark brown or black (Figs. 5–8)....... 4
2. Ground color yellow, metasomal terga testaceous, 1–5 with variably distinct distal yellow bands (Figs. 1, 2); clypeus variable, more often subquadrate, but sometimes clearly higher than wide, HCLP/WCLP 1.05–1.14; occipital carina often weak, but sometimes stronger with vestige of lamella dorsolaterally; posterior interocellar distance variable (specimens from Pará and from the western limits of the distribution often with more extensive dark areas) (Bolivia, Colombia, Guyana, Suriname, Brazil: Amazonia)........................................................................... M. iperuae Richards
- Ground color black, with few yellow marks, metasoma entirely (or practically) black, from tergum 2 backwards without distinct marginal band (Figs. 3, 4); clypeus relatively wide, subquadrate; occipital carina weak, without vestige of lamella dorsolaterally; posterior ocelli close, separated by less than one ocellar diameter................................... 3
3. Clypeus dark-yellowish brown, without whitish bristles (Figs. 10, 22); mesoaxilla marked with yellow; mid and hind tarsi yellow (Fig. 4) (Brazil: AM).............................................................. M. ipixuna sp. nov.
- Clypeus black with numerous distinct whitish bristles; mesoaxilla dark; tarsi brown (Colombia: Leticia)... M. ticuna sp. nov.
4. Ground color brown or light brown (Figs. 5, 6), at least first metasomal tergum not entirely black, clypeus yellow (Fig. 11).. ................................................................................................... 5
- Ground color black or brownish black, whole metasoma black (sometimes first tergum with lateral yelow spot) (Figs. 7, 8), clypeus black or yellowish brown (Fig. 12)................................................................. 7
5. All metasomal terga brown, 1–5 with distal yellow bands; mesoscutum light brown with two yellow median stripes, and a black posterior triangular mark (Figs. 5, 6); pterostigma yellowish; all three tarsi yellow (Brazil: PA)......... M. gorotire sp. nov.
- Metasomal terga 1, and 2 (basally) light brown, distal third of 2 to 6 black; mesoscutum brown, with or without yellow stripes, without posterior black mark; pterostigma brown; tarsi ligh brown.............................................. 6
6. Occipital carina hardly developed; mesoscutum brown with two elongate fine median yellow stripes, and two marginal streaks adjoining tegula; propodeum with pair of wide lungshape yellow spots; metasomal tergum 1 with evanescent distal band (Guyana)........................................................................... M. heliconius Richards
- Occipital carina more apparent at sides; mesoscutum uniformly brown; propodeum spots not so wide, more parallel-sided; metasomal tergum 1 with more distinct distal yellow band (Bolivia)............................. M. sericeus Richards
7. Clypeus dark-yellowish brown (Fig. 12); scutellum brownish black, unmarked; metanotum brown with narrow anterior yellow band; propodeal spots evanescent, with margins blurred; all three tarsi yellow (Figs. 7, 8); pterostigma yellowish (Brazil: PA)..................................................................................... M. luciliae sp. nov.
- Clypeus black; ventral posterior region of mesopleuron with conspicuous yellow mark; scutellum anteriorly widely yellow; metanotum also widely yellow; propodeum with paired medium sized yellow spots; mid and hind tarsi yellow (Peru, Ecuador, Colombia)................................................................... M. chanchamayoensis Richards
Key to known males
1. Head and mesosoma yellow with brown and black marks; metasoma brown or testaceous, with variably distinct distal yellow bands.......................... M. iperuae Richards (specimens from Colombia and Brazil: Acre, Amazonas and Pará)
- Head and mesosoma yellow with extensive black areas, metasoma entirely black.......................................................................... M. chanchamayoensis Richards (specimen from Yuruyaco, Colombia; NHM)
description: Published as part of Pinheiro, Mileudiane O. & Silveira, Orlando T., 2023, Taxonomic notes on the group of Mischocyttarus heliconius Richards 1941, with description of four new species (Hymenoptera: Vespidae, Polistinae), pp. 203-220 in Zootaxa 5352 (2) on pages 205-206, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5352.2.3, http://zenodo.org/record/8407172