Metapolybia zucchiana Andena & Carpenter 2024, sp. nov.
Creators: name: Cortes, Gustavo B.
name: Noll, Fernando B.
name: Carpenter, James M.
name: Andena, Sergio R.
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2024
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Hymenoptera
Vespidae
Metapolybia
Metapolybia zucchiana

description: Metapolybia zucchiana Andena & Carpenter sp. nov.
Figs 17, 18, 19, 20
Diagnosis.
The species is easily recognized by its prominent aberrant propodeum, especially bulging laterally which is different of any other species of Metapolybia (see description).
Description.
Female. Size: 6.0 mm. Length of fore wing: 5.0 mm.
Color: Blackish / brownish species. Mandibles, dorsal antennae, tegula, metasoma and legs brownish. Weak yellow markings as follows: apical spot on mandibles; spot on the margin of clypeus and inner orbits; ventral antennae fading yellow apically; small yellow spot along the lateral pronotal carina, spot on lamella behind pretegular carina, and band on posterior margin of pronotum; Tergum I – VI brownish; yellow band present on tergum I – II and sternum II – III; wings hyaline, venation brown.
Head: (1) clypeus 1.3 times wider than longer, punctures shallow, spaced, separated by 2.0 diameters or more; bristles on first third, straight; (2) inter-antennal prominence moderately raised, subacute with weak medial furrow; (3) frons and vertex covered with yellowish pubescence, punctures denser than clypeus, separated by about 1.0–2.0 diameters, becoming sparser on vertex; (4) gena 0.85 wider than width of the eyes, strongly narrowing to mandibular condyle, punctures very small and scattered, pubescence reduced and concentrated on inferior region; (5) tempora narrowing to vertex; (6) posterior region of the head excavated, strongly emarginated.
Mesosoma: (1) lateral pronotal carina raised and acute; (2) humeri moderately produced in front of tegula, gently rounded; (3) pretegular carina acute on upper region, curved, not interrupted; (4) scutum 1.3 times wider than longer with very small and scattered punctures; (5) mesopleura with shallow punctures separated by 2 diameters, like those on clypeus; (6) scutellum with small and distinct punctures, separated by about 1.0–2.0 diameters slightly concave posteriorly, medial line raised anteriorly, vanishing posteriorly (7) metanotum strongly concave, pointed posteriorly; (8) metapleuron with scattered punctures, upper plate 1.3 times longer than wide; (9) propodeum strongly prominent latero-posteriorly, with short and sparse outstanding hairs concentrated on posterior region; (10) propodeal concavity weakly developed anteriorly, broad and deep posteriorly, striation weak, extending laterally; (11) legs brownish; (12) prestigma longer than wide, tip truncate.
Metasoma: (1) first metasomal tergum filiform, widening little after the prominent spiracles, posteriorly convex in lateral view, slightly prominent; (2) second metasomal tergum 1.2 times wider than long, coriaceous finely punctured on posterior fifth; (3) terga three to six densely punctured.
Male. Unknown.
Nest.
Unknown.
Distribution.
Panama, Barro Colorado Island.
Holotype.
Panama • 1 female; Barro Colorado Island; P. Rau; col. # 7666; determined as Metapolybia azteca by C. K. Starr 1980; AMNH.
Etymology.
The specific name honors Dr. Ronaldo Zucchi, for his contribution of the knowledge of behavior of Neotropical bees and wasps.
Male genitalia descriptions
In this section we describe and depict the male genitalia of the following species: Metapolybia bromelicola, M. carpenteriana, M. encantata, M. mesoamerica, M. rufata, M. servilis and M. sulamerica.
Metapolybia bromelicola
Fig. 21 A – E
Male genitalia. (1) paramere about 1.7 times longer than wide at middle, basal angle obtuse, apical angle truncate, spine of paramere long, pointed, bare (Fig. 21 A); (2) aedeagus slightly curved, lobe rounded weakly produced, lateral margin produced; lateral ridge with a row of short teeth extending laterally; ventral process slightly produced, pointed (Fig. 21 B, C); (3) cuspis long and pointed, with short and dense hairs apically, extending laterally (Fig. 21 D); (4) digitus long apically, rounded, with short and dense hairs, mesal surface with scattered small punctures (Fig. 21 E).
Material examined. Brazil • male; Rio de Janeiro, Itatiaia; AMNH.
Metapolybia carpenteriana
Fig. 21 F – J
Male genitalia. (1) paramere about 1.5 times longer than wide at middle, basal angle obtuse, apical angle, prominent and truncate, spine of paramere long, pointed, bare (Fig. 21 F); (2) aedeagus curved, lobe rounded and produced, lateral margin produced; lateral ridge with a row of short teeth extending laterally; ventral process produced, pointed (Fig. 21 G, H); (3) cuspis long and pointed and slightly curved, with short and dense hairs apically, extending laterally (Fig. 21 I); (4) digitus short apically, blunt, with short and dense hairs, mesal surface with scattered small punctures (Fig. 21 J).
Material examined. Ecuador • paratype male; Napo, 10 km w Misahualli; 16 Dec. 1990; Carpenter & Wenzel; Nest 901216–4; AMNH.
Metapolybia encantata
Fig. 21 K – O
Male genitalia. (1) paramere about 1.4 times longer than wide at middle, basal angle obtuse, apical angle truncate, spine of paramere long, pointed, bare (Fig. 21 K); (2) aedeagus curved, lobe rounded and produced, lateral margin produced; lateral ridge with a row of short teeth extending laterally; ventral process produced, pointed (Fig. 21 L, M); (3) cuspis long and rounded, with short and dense hairs apically, extending laterally (Fig. 21 N); (4) digitus long apically, rounded, with short and dense hairs, mesal surface with scattered small punctures (Fig. 21 O).
Material examined. Colombia • male; El Encanto; AMNH.
Metapolybia mesoamerica
Fig. 22 A – E
Male genitalia. (1) paramere about 1.5 times longer than wide at middle, basal angle obtuse, apical angle truncate, spine of paramere long, pointed, bare (Fig. 22 A); (2) aedeagus curved, lobe rounded and strongly produced, lateral margin produced; lateral ridge with a row of short teeth extending laterally; ventral process produced, rounded (Fig. 22 B, C); (3) cuspis long and pointed, with short and dense hairs apically, extending laterally (Fig. 22 D); (4) digitus short apically, blunt, with short and dense hairs, mesal surface with scattered small punctures (Fig. 22 E).
Material examined. Costa Rica • male; Limon, Amubri; AMNH.
Metapolybia rufata
Fig. 22 F – J
Male genitalia. (1) paramere about 1.6 times longer than wide at middle, basal angle obtuse, apical angle truncate, spine of paramere long, pointed, bare (Fig. 22 F); (2) aedeagus curved, lobe rounded produced, lateral margin produced; lateral ridge with a row of short teeth extending laterally; ventral process produced, pointed (Fig. 22 G, H); (3) cuspis long and pointed, with short and dense hairs apically, extending laterally (Fig. 22 I); (4) digitus long apically, rounded, with short and dense hairs, mesal surface with scattered small punctures (Fig. 22 J).
Material examined. Brazil • male; Mamiraua; MPEG.
Metapolybia servilis
Fig. 22 K – O
Male genitalia. (1) paramere about 1.5 times longer than wide at middle, basal angle obtuse, apical angle pointed, spine of paramere long, pointed, bare (Fig. 22 K); (2) aedeagus curved, lobe rounded and strongly produced, lateral margin produced; lateral ridge with a row of short teeth extending laterally; ventral process produced, rounded (Fig. 22 L, M); (3) cuspis long and pointed, with short and dense hairs apically, extending laterally (Fig. 22 N); (4) digitus short apically, blunt, with short and dense hairs, mesal surface with scattered small punctures (Fig. 22 O).
Material examined. Paraguay • male, paratype; Pto. Bertoni; NHM.
Metapolybia sulamerica
Fig. 23 A – E
Male genitalia. (1) paramere about 1.8 times longer than wide at middle, basal angle obtuse, apical angle mostly truncate, spine of paramere long, pointed, bare (Fig. 23 A); (2) aedeagus curved, lobe rounded produced, lateral margin produced; lateral ridge with a row of short teeth extending laterally; ventral process produced, rounded (Fig. 23 B, C); (3) cuspis long and pointed and slightly curved, with short and dense hairs apically, extending laterally (Fig. 23 D); (4) digitus short apically, blunt, with short and dense hairs, mesal surface with scattered small punctures (Fig. 23 E).
Material examined. Colombia • paratype male; Boyacá, Muzo; AMNH.
Comparative remarks
Araujo (1945) published a revision of the genus, which, at that time, had only five species, two being described by him. In the revision of Richards (1978), four new species were described (M. rufata, M. aztecoides, M. nigra and M. docilis). Richards (1978) recognized the importance of Araujo’s revision, but pointed out that the key proposed by Araujo was not very easy to use. He suggested that striation on propodeum, used to separate M. cingulata and M. unilineata, was less developed than what was described by Araujo (1945). We have seen some variation not only in this feature cited by Richards (1978) but also the punctation, mainly in frons and vertex, which may cause some mistakes during the identification of the species.
The species here described were deposited in the American Museum of Natural History, and were unidentified or misidentified, certainly due to variation. Metapolybia carpenteriana was identified as M. suffusa, however, as showed above, it has minor differences that place it as a new species. This is the same as the case of M. miltoni, which had been misidentified as M. docilis and M. araujoi, which is very similar to M. suffusa. Metapolybia pseudodocilis is close to M. docilis, however the striation is stronger, a feature cited by Richards that should be better studied. Besides striation the propodeal concavity is broader, a key feature to separate it from M. docilis. Metapolybia sulamerica is closer to M. servilis — three features may help in diagnosis: the pronotal carina less raised and sharp, clypeus wider and propodeal concavity deeper. Metapolybia zucchiana is the only new species described that is unique by having an aberrant propodeum that is a very useful diagnostic feature to the species.
In the recent publications about Metapolybia (Cooper 1999; Andena and Carpenter (2011); Somavilla and Andena 2018; Andena et al. 2019), as well the revisions of Araujo (1945) and Richards (1978), the characters of the male genitalia did not have special merit. Some authors described the male for some species, but they did not mention the male genitalia, probably because males are seldom collected in nests, and they could have intended to preserve the exemplars.
Concerning male genitalia, the paramere is about 1.8 times longer than wide in M. bromelicola and M. sulamerica. In the remaining species it ranges from 1.4–1.6 times. The hairs on spine of paramere are absent in Metapolybia species. As pointed out by Andena et al (2007) and Andena and Carpenter (2012), the hairs are present only for Apoica, Pseudopolybia and Parachartergus; hence ¨ hair absent ¨ is general for Epiponini. The apical angle of the paramere is truncate in all species described here, except M. servilis, where it is pointed. Metapolybia sulamerica has an apical angle less truncate, little angled, but, here, we considered it also as truncate. In general, the aedeagus is curved (slightly less curved in M. bromelicola), with the lobe rounded, however in M. bromelicola it is very weak, while in Metapolybia servilis and M. mesoamerica the lobe is more produced; the remaining species are in between. The ventral process of aedeagus is always produced, however it may separate two forms: 1) long — in M. bromelicola, M. carpenteriana, M. encantata and M. rufata vs. 2) rounded — found in M. mesoamerica, M. servilis and M. sulamerica. The cuspis is long and pointed, except M. encantata, in which it is rounded. The species of form 1 also share the digitus long apically and rounded, except for M. carpenteriana that has the digitus short apically and blunt like those of form 2.
In conclusion, the description of new species, including new information about male genitalia increases the knowledge of the genus and highlights how the diversity of this tribe is still underestimated.
description: Published as part of Cortes, Gustavo B., Noll, Fernando B., Carpenter, James M. & Andena, Sergio R., 2024, Five new species of Metapolybia Ducke, 1905, with the description of the male genitalia of seven species of the genus (Hymenoptera, Vespidae, Polistinae), pp. 781-805 in Journal of Hymenoptera Research 97 on pages 781-805, DOI: 10.3897/jhr.97.115489