Research Article |
Corresponding author: Lien Thi Phuong Nguyen ( phuonglientit@gmail.com ) Academic editor: Michael Ohl
© 2024 Cuong Quang Nguyen, Hoa Thi Dang, Lien Thi Phuong Nguyen.
This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY 4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
Citation:
Nguyen CQ, Dang HT, Nguyen LTP (2024) A new species of the presocial potter wasp genus Calligaster de Saussure, 1852 (Hymenoptera, Vespidae, Eumeninae) from Vietnam. Journal of Hymenoptera Research 97: 241-254. https://doi.org/10.3897/jhr.97.119354
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Taxonomic notes are presented on the genus Calligaster de Saussure (Vespidae: Eumeninae) from Vietnam. A new species, Calligaster inflata sp. nov. is described and figured together with its nest. The male genitalia are redescribed for C. himalayensis. A key is provided to all known species of the group in the Oriental Region.
Calligaster, Eumeninae, key, new species, Oriental, Vietnam
Potter wasps in the genus Calligaster have been considered to be one of several subsocial or presocial lineages as species fully progressive provision their brood (
In the present work, based on specimens deposited in the Institute of Ecology and Biological Resources, Hanoi, Vietnam (IEBR), one species of the genus Calligaster is described as new to science, together with its nest. In addition, the male genitalia of C. himalayensis are redescribed in added detail, and a key is provided to all known species in the genus.
The material examined in the present study is deposited in the collections of the Institute of Ecology and Biological Resources (IEBR), Hanoi, Vietnam. Adult morphological and color characters were observed on pinned specimens with the aid of a stereomicroscope. The male terminal sterna and genitalia were dissected out, cleared in KOH, and mounted in hand-washing gel for observation and photography with a stereomicroscope. Terminology follows
Calligaster de Saussure, 1852: 22. Type species: Calligaster cyanoptera de Saussure, 1852, by subsequent designation of Ashmead (1902: 205).
A complete diagnosis of the genus has been recently provided by
(deposited in IEBR). Vietnam: ♀; Vinh Phuc province, Ngoc Thanh, Me Linh; 21°23'N, 105°42'E, 50 m a.s.l.; 18 April 2013; Nest-13-ML-Eu-03; D. T. Hoa leg.
This species can be distinguished from congeners by the following combination of characters: Head in frontal view with inner compound eye margins 1.1 times further apart from each other at clypeus than at vertex. Clypeus in frontal view wider than high, about 1.3 times as wide as high, apical margin produced and round medially. Propodeum deeply excavated medially, with the excavation nearly two-fifths of propodeal width and its margins marked laterally by ridges, dorsal surface largely smooth, with some sparse strong punctures near concavity, posterior and lateral surfaces bordered by blunt edge. First metasomal tergum with a median longitudinal carina and next to this on each side consisting of a few rows of quite elongate punctures, this part occupying one-third the width of the tergum, the other area on tergum with strong and sparse punctures, interspaces between punctures smooth and usually larger than their diameter; tergum II with small and sparse punctures, interspaces between punctures much larger than puncture diameter, about 3 to 4 times larger than their diameter.
Holotype. Female (Fig.
Body black except two faint yellow spots on frons just above antennal toruli, dark ferruginous marks near apical margin and at base of mandible, and dark brown propodeal valvula. Wings subhyaline, veins brown.
Body covered with dense, suberect, golden setae on head, mesosoma, and metasomal segment I, and black setae on metasomal segments II–VI; setae longer on metanotum and dorsal surface of propodeum than on other body parts. Clypeus with coarse punctures, punctures in middle tend to unite and form large longitudinal punctures, with interspace strongly raised to form reticulations; frons with dense, deep, flat-bottom punctures, interspaces between punctures narrower than their diameters and raised to form reticulation; vertex less densely punctate, interspaces between punctures usually narrower than their diameter and not raised to form reticulations; punctures on gena dense, strong, well-defined, gena with a smooth band along occipital carina running from near base to near vertex. Pronotum, mesoscutum, and metapleuron with dense coarse punctures, punctures larger than punctures on frons; mesoscutum with some smooth areas between punctures medially, with deep parapsidal furrows running from apical margin to mid length, and two short and shallow longitudinal furrows laterally; punctures on mesoscutellum similar to those near apical margin of mesoscutum; metanotum with a shallow furrow medially, punctures smaller than those on mesoscutum; margins of concavity of propodeum marked laterally by ridges, propodeum with deep longitudinal fovea medially running from base to mid length of propodeum, with a short longitudinal carina running from fovea to apical margin, rugosely striated area occurring along two sides of fovea and carina; dorsal surface of propodeum largely smooth, with some sparse strong punctures near concavity; lateral surface of propodeum with strong, dense, well-defined punctures, interspaces between punctures smooth but raised to from carina apically; apical margin above valvulae round. First metasomal tergum with a median longitudinal carina bordered on each side by a few rows of quite elongate punctures, this part occupying one-third width of tergum, other area on tergum with strong sparse punctures, interspaces between punctures smooth and usually larger than their diameter; tergum II with small sparse punctures, interspaces between punctures much larger than puncture diameter, about 3 to 4 times larger than their diameter; punctures on terga III–V larger and denser than punctures on tergum II; punctures on tergum VI sparse but larger than punctures on tergum II; punctures on sternum II larger and denser than on tergum II; punctures on sterna III–V larger and denser than on sternum II.
Head
: In frontal view 1.1 times as wide as high (Fig.
Mesosoma
: About 1.1 times as wide as head and 1.1 times longer than wide in dorsal view. Pronotal carina complete, raised into low lamella, angulate at lateral corner before attaining dorsal part, reaching ventral corner of pronotum. Mesoscutum slightly convex, shorter than wide, 0.9 times as long as wide between tegulae (Fig.
Metasoma
: Metasomal tergum I in dorsal view strongly widened after short, basal, parallel-sided part to one-third basally, then gradually narrowly to apical margin (Fig.
Nest. (Fig.
Vietnam (northern part).
The specific epithet is from the Latin inflatus (meaning swollen), and refers to the swollen metasomal segment I in this species.
The new species is similar to C. himalayensis in that both have the clypeus, frons, and mesoscutum with coarse dense punctures, with interspaces between the punctures smaller than a puncture diameter and raised to form reticulation; and the lateral part of metasomal tergum I with strong sparse punctures. However, it differs from C. himalayensis in having metasomal tergum I about 1.4× as long as wide, with a median longitudinal carina and next to this on each side consisting of a few rows of noticeably elongate punctures, this part occupying one-third the width of the tergum (metasomal tergum I about 1.8× as long as wide, with a median longitudinal carina and next to this on each side consisting of a few longitudinal striae, this part occupying about half the width of the tergum in C. himalayensis); and body punctures larger and coarser than in C. himalayensis.
Zethus himalayensis Cameron, 1904: 13, ♀, “Sikkim” (The Natural History Museum, London).
Calligaster himalayensis;
Zethus hymalayensis
[!];
This species was recorded from Vietnam by
Vietnam: 1♂, Cao Bang, Nguyen Binh, Thanh Cong, 22°32.5'N, 105°53'E, alt. 1000 m, 8 Aug. 2012, Lien Thi Phuong Nguyen et al. leg.; 1♀, Cao Bang, Tra Linh, Ho Thang Hen, 22°45'47.5"N, 106°53'35.7"E, alt. 619 m, 20 May 2023, Lien Thi Phuong Nguyen, Ngat Thi Tran, Cuong Quang Nguyen leg.; 1♀, 1♂, Tuyen Quang, Ham Yen, Phu Luu, Cham Chu NP, alt. 200 m, Jun. 2011, Lien Thi Phuong Nguyen leg.; 1♀, Son La, Moc Chau, Chieng Son, Chieng Ve, 21 Jun. 2015, Long Dang Khuat leg.; 1♀, Dien Bien, Dien Bien, Pa Thom, 20°17'50"N, 102°54'37"E, alt. 693 m, 01 Mar. 2023, Hoa Thi Dang leg.; 1♀, 1♂, Dien Bien, Tua Chua, Muong Fang, 21°50'46"N, 103°22'53"E, alt. 735 m, 04 Mar. 2023, Hoa Thi Dang leg.; 1♂, Vinh Phuc, Me Linh, Me Linh Station, 25 May 2013, Nest#ML-2013-Eum 1, Lien Thi Phuong Nguyen leg.; 1♀, Vinh Phuc, Me Linh, Me Linh Station, 2 Jun. 2018, Cuong Quang Nguyen leg.; 1♀, 1♂, Vinh Phuc, Me Linh, Me Linh Station, 01 Jul. 2020, Hoa Thi Dang leg.; 1♂, Hoa Binh, Ngo Luong, Ngoc Son NR, 20°25'13.3"N, 105°18'36"E, alt. 200 m, 27 Aug.2020, Ngat Thi Tran leg.; 1♂, Thanh Hoa, Ba Thuoc, Thanh Son, alt. 200 m, 16–18 Jun. 2003, Huong Thi Thu Nguyen leg.; 1♀, Thanh Hoa, Thuong Xuan, Van Xuan, Hon Can, Xuan Lien NP, 19°52'27.5"N, 105°14'20.8"E, alt. 106 m, 24 Aug. 2012, Lien Thi Phuong Nguyen leg.; 1♂, Thanh Hoa, Quan Hoa, Pu Hu NP, 20°29'13.3"N, 104°57'47.2"E, alt. 408 m, 13 Jun. 2016, Lam Xuan Truong, Dac Dai Nguyen, Ngat Thi Tran, Linh Ngoc Ha leg.; 1♀, Ha Tinh, Vu Quang NP, 18°17'45"N, 105°22'29"E, alt. 78 m, 12 Jun. 2023, Cuong Quang Nguyen, Lien Thi Phuong Nguyen, Ngat Thi Tran leg.; 1♀, Quang Nam, Song Thanh, Cha Vai, alt. 400–600 m, 29 Apr. 2005, collectors from the Insect Systematic Department (IEBR) leg.; 1♀, Kom Tum, Dak Ha, Dak Mar, Dak Uy SUF, 14°33'04.6"N, 107°55'08.0"E, 19 Jun. 2012, alt. 630 m, Lien Thi Phuong Nguyen leg.; 3♂♂, Gia Lai, Chu Se, 14 Apr. 2013, Lien Thi Phuong Nguyen leg.; 1♀, Gia Lai, KBang, Kon Chu Rang NR, 14°31'10.4"N, 108°36'24.9"E, 6 Sep. 2018, Lam Xuan Truong, Tuan Viet Luong leg.; 1♀, Dak Lak, Buon Me Thuot city, Tan Hoa, 28 Jul. 2020], QH-L22-01, Bui Thi Quynh Hoa leg., 2♀♀, Dak Nong, Dak Giong, Dak Som, Ta Dung NP, 11°50'16.1"N, 107°59'16.7"E, alt. 475 m, 6 May 2016, Nest#VN-TN-2016-E-01, Lien Thi Phuong Nguyen, Dai Dac Nguyen, Ngat Thi Tran leg.
The male genitalia of this species were described by
Male genitalia. As in Figs
Nest. Three nests comprising 15 cells of this species were collected at Me Linh Station for Biodiversity of the Institute of Ecology and Biological Resources (IEBR), Vinh Phuc Province on 1st July 2020. These nests were made on the branch of bougainvillea. They were not only protected by the roof like the nest of C. inflata, but the entire nests were covered with leaves (Fig.
India: Sikkim; China: Guangdong, Hong Kong; Laos; Vietnam.
This key is based on those by
1 | Clypeus and frons with dense coarse punctures, interspaces between punctures raised to form reticulation (Figs |
2 |
– | Clypeus and frons with strong punctures, interspaces between punctures smooth (figs 3–6 in |
4 |
2 | Metasomal tergum I less than 1.5 times as long as wide, with a median longitudinal carina and next to this on each side consisting of a few rows of noticeably elongate punctures, this part occupying one-third width of tergum (Fig. |
C. inflata sp. nov. |
– | Metasomal tergum I about or greater than 1.8 times as long as wide, with a median longitudinal carina and next to this on each side consisting of a few longitudinal striae, this part occupying about half width of tergum (Fig. |
3 |
3 | Metasomal segment I in dorsal view relatively slender, about 2.5 times as long as its maximum width (fig. 7 in |
C. cyanoptera de Saussure, 1852 |
– | Metasomal segment I in dorsal view shorter and stouter, about 1.8 times as long as its maximum width (fig. 9 in |
C. himalayensis (Cameron, 1904) |
4 | Male clypeus in frontal view about 2 times as wide as high; apical margin with a deep semi-elliptic emargination | C. etchellsii (Cameron, 1909) |
– | Male clypeus in frontal view equal or less than 1.5 times as wide as high; apical margin with a shallower emargination | 5 |
5 | Metasomal tergum I in lateral view strongly convex dorsally and in dorsal view strongly convex along lateral margins, with faint oblique striae. In male, proximal margin of penis valves in profile apical part weakly produced (fig. 8 in |
C. viridipennis Giordani Soika, 1960 |
– | Metasomal tergum I in lateral view flat dorsally and in dorsal view almost parallel along lateral margins, with a sharp longitudinal carina in the middle, flanked by a series of posteriorly diverging carinae. In male, proximal margin of penis valves in profile apical part strongly produced (figs 9, 10 in |
6 |
6 | Mesoscutum with parapsidal furrows shallow, with few punctures. Anterior margin of mesoscutellum with a shallow and irregular transverse furrow; mesoscutellum dull with fine punctures (fig. 8 in |
C. williamsi Bequaert, 1940 |
– | Mesoscutum with parapsidal furrows well-defined and deep, densely punctured. Anterior margin of mesoscutellum crenate, forming six deep pits; mesoscutellum weakly shiny with big deep punctures and micropunctate interspaces (fig. 7 in in |
C. ilocana Selis, 2022 |
Calligaster etchellsii (Cameron, 1909) was first described under the genus Zethus and was based on a single male from “Kuching, Borneo”. In the description of this species, Cameron mentioned that the, “clypeus almost as wide as long” (Cameron, 1909: 206).
We are very grateful to Michael S. Engel for revising some of the English for the manuscript. We thank subject editor and both reviewers for their valuable comments on the manuscript. The present study was supported by a grant from the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology (VAST04.07/23-24).