Taxonomic Study on Potter Wasps (Hymenoptera: Vespidae: Eumeninae) of Malakand, Pakistan
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Pure Appl. Biol., 10(1): 132-141, March, 2021 http://dx.doi.org/10.19045/bspab.2021.100015 Research Article Taxonomic study on potter wasps (Hymenoptera: Vespidae: Eumeninae) of Malakand, Pakistan Riaz Ahmad1, Muhammad Zahid1, Muhammad Rasool2, Mudassir Shah3, Muhammad Sajid1*, Muhammad Tariq Khan4 and Pir Habib Ullah1 1. Department of Zoology Islamia College University, Peshawar-Pakistan 2. Department of Zoology, Dr. Khan Shaheed Govt: Degree College Kabal Swat-Pakistan 3. Department of Zoology, Govt: Superior Science College Peshawar-Pakistan 4. Department of Science and Environmental Studies, The Education University of Hong Kong, Tai Po, New Territories-Hong Kong *Corresponding author’s email: [email protected] Citation Riaz Ahmad, Muhammad Zahid, Muhammad Rasool, Mudassir Shah, Muhammad Sajid, Muhammad Tariq Khan and Pir Habib Ullah. Taxonomic study on potter wasps (Hymenoptera: Vespidae: Eumeninae) of Malakand, Pakistan. Pure and Applied Biology. Vol. 10, Issue 1, pp132-141. http://dx.doi.org/10.19045/bspab.2021.100015 Received: 01/05/2020 Revised: 05/08/2020 Accepted: 10/08/2020 Online First: 15/09/2020 Abstract The present study was done in district Malakand, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. This study was conducted to record the biodiversity of subfamily Eumeninae indistrict Malakand. The specimens were collected from diverse localities of Malakand through active search with the use of hand net. The captured specimens were then killed by spraying insecticides in the hand nets. The killed specimens were transferred to bottles having 95% ethanol, cyanide and ethyl acetate. The specimens were then placed in freezer for 1 or 2 days to prevent any fungal contamination. The entomological pins were used for the pining of dead specimens. The dried wasps were labeled and transferred to insect boxes having naphthalene balls as a preservative. The dried wasps were then observed and identified up to species and subspecies level with the help of pervious published literature. A total of 7species (Delta dimidiatipenne, Antodynerus limbatus, Rhynchium carnaticum, Allorhynchium argentatum, Katamenes dimidiatus, Antepipona sibilans and Antepipona deflenda), 3 subspecies (Delta pyriformepyriforme, Delta esuriensesuriens and Antodynerousflavesens flavesens) under 6 genera (Delta, Antodynerus, Rhynchium, Allorhynchium, Katamene and Antepipona) of the subfamily Eumeninaeare reported. These taxaare recorded for the first time from district Malakand, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. Keywords: Antepipona; Antodynerus; Allorhynchium; Delta; Katamene; Rhynchium Introduction Eumeninae is the primary lineage of the The subfamily Eumeninae is the largest and family Vespidae. The members of diverse subfamily of the family Vespidae. It Eumeninae are generally named as “potter contains 3,773 species under 205 genera. wasps”. It is more abundant and varied The wasps belonging to this subfamily group having many species as compared to arepresent throughout the world [1]. The other subfamilies of the Vespidae. They are Published by Bolan Society for Pure and Applied Biology 132 Ahmad et al. the common predators in most ecosystems District Malakand is located among 34-22’ [2]. They are called potter wasps because to 34-41’ north latitudes and 71-37’ to 72- members of genus Eumenes and other 14’ east longitudes. It is attached to district similar genera made their nest from mud [3]. Swat by a series of hills on the east-north. It Eumeninae wasps are classified in 3 tribes is connected to Mohmand Agency and which are Zethini, Odynerini, and Eumenini Bajawar Agency through a range of [4]. Potter wasps are solitary wasps some mountains on the west and to district Dir species show primitive social behavior. Lower on north. It is also linked to district Larvae of Eumeninae wasps are predators of Bunir on east, district Charsada on south to many insect larvae while the adult of this west and district Mardan on south to east. subfamily feed on nectar. Eumeninae is Total area of thedistrict is about 952 km2 economically very important because they (District Census Report, 1998). are the predators of many pests. These Specimens’ collection wasps are also called mason wasps [5]. Size The specimenswere collected from diverse of the adult is about 2mm to 28mm. Some localities of Malakand through active search species have Petiolate metasoma but most with the use of the hand net. The specimens wasps are not Petiolate. Parategula present were caught from both plan area (public on mesoscutum, tarsal claws are bifid, hind parks, old and new buildings, flowering coxa has longitudinal carina on dorsal side plants, agronomic crops,gardens, fruit and three sub marginal cells present in markets, vegetable markets, fields, and other forewing [6]. They cannot form colony and vegetation) and mountains (grasses, springs have no labour division. The female of water, damp area, water stream, small, and solitary wasps capture the insect, paralyze large trees) of the Malakand. The captured their prey (insect) by stinging and bring itto specimens were then killed by spraying their nests. Each cell in the nests of potter insecticides (Black Cobra) in the hand nets. wasps is filled by one insect (single). The Preservation of the specimens wasps lay eggs in these prey filled cells and The killed specimens were transferred to seal them. Solitary waspsconstruct their nest bottles having 95% ethanol, cyanide and from clay and mud.Spider waspsare the ethyl acetate. The specimens were then largest wasps among Potter wasps [7]. Some placed in freezer for 1 or 2 days to prevent solitary wasps are burrowers in soil or wood any fungal contamination. The while some species of the genera Calligaster entomological pins were used for the pining and Zethus construct nests from plant of dead specimens. The dried wasps materials [8]. The wasps of this subfamily (specimens) were labeled and transferred to used different methods for nest construction. insect boxes. Naphthalene balls were present One female (single female) starts the nest in each insect box as a preservative. construction from different materials used Microscopy mud or clay sometimes used vegetable and Specimens were observed through plant materials. On the basis of nests Stereomicroscope (Nikon Japan) to record locations (habitats) Eumeninae wasps are of taxonomically important structures. three types, i.e. renters, excavators and Photography builders. Most species of this group are Pictures of the specimens were captured provisioners [9]. through Canon camera. Materials and Methods Specimens’ identifications Study area 133 Pure Appl. Biol., 10(1): 132-141, March, 2021 http://dx.doi.org/10.19045/bspab.2021.100015 The collected wasps were observed and Genus: Rhynchium Spinola, 1806 identified up to species and subspecies level 6. Rhynchium carnaticum (Fabricius, with the help of pervious published latest 1798) literature [5, 9-21]. Genus: Allorhynchiumvan der Vecht, Measurements 1963 The measurements of the complete body 7. Allorhynchium argentatum (Fabricius, (body length), and body parts of the 1804) specimens were done through Digital Genus: Katamenes Meade-Waldo, 1910 Calliper. 8. Katamenes dimidiatus (Brulle 1832) Results and Discussion Genus: Antepipona de Saussure, 1855 The present study was conducted in district 9. Antepipona sibilans (Cameron, 1903) Malakand, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. 10. Antepipona deflenda (Saunders, 1853) Total of 7 species Delta dimidiatipenne (de Genus: Delta de Saussure, 1885 Saussure, 1852), Antodynerus limbatus (de 1. Delta pyriformepyriforme (Fabricius, Saussure, 1852), Rhynchium carnaticum 1775) (Fabricius, 1798), Allorhynchium Material examined argentatum (Fabricius, 1804), Katamenes Tangi Hills 1 ♀ 5.iv 2018, Tangi Hills 1 ♀ dimidiatus (Brulle 1832), Antepipona 12.iv 2018, Agra Hills 1 ♀ 30.iv 2018, sibilans (Cameron, 1903), Antepipona Malakand Hills 1 ♂ 29. vi 2018, Agra deflenda (Saunders, 1853) and 3 subspecies Village 1 ♀ 1.vii 2018, Haryankot 1 ♂ Delta pyriformepyriforme (Fabricius, 1775), 12.viii 2018, Pirano Hills 1 ♀ 13.viii 2018, Delta esuriensesuriens (Fabricius, 1787), KotManzari Baba 1 ♀ 31.viii 2018. Antodynerousflavesens flavesens (Fabricius, Body measurements 1775) under 6 genera Delta, Antodynerus, The length of the female is 23-28.4 mm and Rhynchium, Allorhynchium, Katameneand the length of the fore wing of female is Antepipona of the subfamily Eumeninae about 22.1-22.3 mm. The body length of were reported. All the reported species and male is 21.5 mm and the length of fore wing subspecies were not previously recorded in of male is 18 mm. district Malakand. Distribution Systematic List Pakistan, India, Nepal, Vietnam, Thailand, Order Hymenoptera China, Sri Lanka, Bhutan and Myanmar Family Vespidae (Fig. 1) [22]. Subfamily Eumeninae Remarks Genus: Delta de Saussure, 1885 In Pakistan Delta pyriformepyriforme was 1. Delta pyriformepyriforme (Fabricius, earlier reported fromKhyber Pakhtunkhwa: 1775) Lower Dir: Talash [23] and from Punjab: 2. Delta esuriensesuriens (Fabricius, Rawalpindi [24], Bahawalpur, Rawalpindi, 1787) Rajanpur, Jhelum, D.G. Khan, Attock, 3. Delta dimidiatipenne (de Saussure, Sargodha, Bakha, Khushab, Layyah, Jhang 1852) and Muzafargarh Mianwali [6]. Gusenleitner Genus: Antodynerus de Saussure, 1855 recorded it from Islamabad [25]. Khan et al 4. Antodynerous flavesens flavesens reported it from Azad Jammu and Kashmir: (Fabricius, 1775) Poonch: Rawalakot [26]. In the current 5. Antodyneruslimbatus (de Saussure, study it is first time reported from 1852)