Original Article Asian J Agri Biol, 2016, 4(2): 33-37. FIRST RECORD OF THREE SPECIES OF GENUS POLISTES (VESPIDAE: HYMEMOPTERA) FROM DISTRICT LAYYAH (PUNJAB), PAKISTAN Imran Bodlah1*, Hamza Ali1, Muhammad Akram2, Muhammad Naeem1, Ata ul Mohsin1 and Muhammad Asif Aziz1 1 Laboratory of Biosystematics, Department of Entomology, Pir Mehr Ali Shah Arid Agriculture University, Rawalpindi, Pakistan. 2 Plant Protection, Pest warning and Quality control of Pesticides, Chakwal, Pakistan ABSTRACT Three species of Genus Polistes (Vespidae: Hymenoptera) are reported for the first time from different localities of district Layyah (Punjab), Pakistan. Main identification characters, distribution and micrographs have been provided for future field and research identification. Keywords: Hymenoptera, Vespidae, Genus Polistes, Layyah, Punjab INTRODUCTION surveyed during 2014-15 which resulted in three species of this Genus Polistes as first records Wasps (Vespidae: Hymenoptera) are commonly from Southern part (Layyah) of the Punjab known as hornets, potter wasps, paper wasps or Province. yellow jackets. They are the chief predators of the larvae of insect pests feeding on a variety of MATERIALS AND METHODS agricultural crops (Das and Gupta, 1989). In terrestrial environments, they fill the niche roles Collection of wasp specimens was performed of scavengers, pollinators, and the bio-control from various areas of Layyah district during two agents (Fateryga, 2009). Paper wasps belong to years period (2014-15). All techniques used for the subfamily Polistinae and tribe Polistini. In the collection, spreading, tagging and Pakistan, the occurrence of species belonging to preservation of the specimens were followed genera Polistes Latrielle 1802 and Ropalidia using methodology of Siddiqui et al. (2015). Guerin has been observed previously (Das and Morphological characters were observed on Gupta, 1989). Genus Polistes Latrielle is the pinned and dried specimens under a only one distributed worldwide and the most stereomicroscope. Photographs of specimens abundant of all the social vespids. They are were taken by Labomed stereoscope (CZM6) generally docile if left undisturbed and with mounted digital camera (CE 990, eCAM considered as beneficial due to their predation of 3000) for identification. All images were the larvae of Lepidopteran insect pests (Kishore captured and recorded using Digi-Pro 4.0. et al., 2012). Identification of the specimens up to the specie Following species of wasps belonging to level was done using the literature of Das & Polistes Latrielle have been reported from Gupta (1989). After identification, the Pakistan: Polistes wattii (Cameron), P. specimens were deposited in Biosystematics olivaceus (De Geer), P. rothneyi carletoni (van Laboratory, Department of Entomology, PMAS der Vecht) and P. indicus (Stolfa) from Pothwar Arid Agriculture University, Rawalpindi region of Punjab, Pakistan (Siddiqui et al., (Pakistan). 2015). Additionally P. dominula (Christ, 1791), P. nimpha (Christ, 1791), P. biglumis (Linnaeus, RESULTS 1758), P. gallicus (Linne, 1767) and P. Quadricingulatus were recorded by Gusen During 2014-15, our surveys resulted in three Leitner (2006) and Dvorak (2007).In species of Genus Polistes which were identified continuation to our previous work (Siddiqui et using identification characters as described al., 2015; Bodlah et al., 2015) on Vespidae, earlier (Das and Gupta, 1989). various localities of district Layyah were *Corresponding author: e-mail: [email protected] 33 Original Article Asian J Agri Biol, 2016, 4(2): 33-37. Figures 1-6: Polistes indicus, ♀. 1 Dorsal view complete. 2. Head, frontal view. 3. 1st gastral sternite (with basal margin). 4. Mesosoma, lateral view. 5. Habitus. 6. Metasoma, lateral view. Identification Characters: poorly to well-developed epicnemial carina. Male: Body yellowish-brown body (Fig. 1) Dorsal and ventral metapleuron with fine covered with fine silvery pubescence. Antennae irregular striations. Propodeum with strong reddish orange except for a black mark on the striations; gaster with fine punctures. First scape above (Fig. 2) and a spot on the second gastral sternite with a margin at the base (Fig. 3). and third antennal segments. Inter-antennal space with a distinct carina; interocular distance Female: Smaller in size but very similar to much more on vertex than at clypeus; males. interocellar distance 2x the diameter of posterior Materials Examined: Layyah city, 27-vii-14, ocellus. Head wider than high and also wider 5♀ and 2♂; Kot Sultan, 1-vii-2015, 1♀ and than thorax. Eye margined with a carina behind; 2♂; Fateh pure, 27-vi-14, 3♀ and 1♂; Chok antenna less far from eyes than from each other. Azam, 1-vii-2014, 6♀ and 3♂: Karor lal esan, Pronotum, mesoscutum, mesopleuron behind 1-iv-2015, 2♀ and 1♂. epicnemial carina granulose. Mesopleuron with 34 Original Article Asian J Agri Biol, 2016, 4(2): 33-37. Figures 7-11: 7-8.Polistes rothneyi ♂.1. Head, frontal view (Clypeus touching inner eye margin). 2. Propodeum with strong transverse striations. 9-10. Polistes rothneyi ♀. 9. Head. Dorsal view. 10. Dorsal view complete. 11. Head, frontal view. Identification Characters: Interocular distance 1. -1.11x as long as clypeus This species can be separated from other species as on vertex. Temple about as wide as eye in of this genus by the presence of distinctly profile; malar space with scattered moderately defined ventral edge of the mesepisternum; larger punctures. Occipital carina complete. temple wider than eye in profile; male Pronotum with scattered fine punctures; apophyses longer than wide, with some mesoscutum, scutellum sparsely finely pubescence. punctuate. Mesepisternum behind epicnemial carina and above dorsal episternal groove almost Female: Head as wide as high seen in front entirely with scattered fine to moderately close view. Clypeus 1.13-1.22x as wide as long, deep punctures. Mesepimeron finely punctate; densely finely punctate, in between scattered dorsal metapleuron almost impunctate larger punctures. Vertex behind posterior ocelli, (sometimes with a few regular incomplete temple almost impunctate. Vertex up to striations), in between a few superficial posterior ocelli with scattered fine punctures. punctures. Propodeum with strong striations 35 Original Article Asian J Agri Biol, 2016, 4(2): 33-37. witch reach the inner margins of the sides, lateral produced into a blunt tubercle on each side, edge of propodeum distinct (Fig. 8). First gastral apophyses longer than wide; narrow, with a few tergite about 1.1x as wide as long and with hairs at apex. distinct striations. Materials Examined: Male: Almost similar to female but differs as Layyah city, 2-vii-14, 1♀; Jaman Shah, 1-vii- follows: Clypeus touching eye margin (Fig. 7); 2015, 2♂; Fateh pure, 27-vi-14, 3♀ and 1♂; ocellocular distance slightly less than 2x as long Chok Azam, 1-vii-2014, 6♀ and 3♂: Karor lal as inter-ocellar distance. Male sub genital plate esan, 1-iv-2015, 2♀ and 1♂. Figures 12-19: 12-17. Polistes olivaceus♂. 12. Dorsal view, complete. 13. Head, dorsal view. 14. Head, frontal view (clypeus not touching inner eye margin). 15. Apical gastral sternite with a pair of blunt tubercles. 16. 1st gastral sternite. 17. Head showing occipital carina.18-19. Polistes olivaceus ♀.18Head + Mesosoma, dorsal view. 19. Head + mesosoma, lateral view. 36 Original Article Asian J Agri Biol, 2016, 4(2): 33-37. Identification Characters: crops, houses etc. These species are very This species is characterized by an incomplete common in various localities of District Layyah. occipital carina (Fig 17); apophyses of male Specimens collected were compared with the subgenital plate flattened and spatulate at apex, published description by Das and Gupta, (1989) shiny and devoid of pubescence; and color and found similar except miner size and colour pattern variable. variations due to the presence of various habitats for wasps as Layyah is multi-crop area with a lot Female: Head wider than high. Clypeus 1.1x as of floral and faunal diversity. These studies are wide as long, densely finely punctate, with a few addition to previous studies as done by Siddiqui larger scattered punctures interposed.Mandibles et al. (2015) in Pothwar region. District Layyah with a few scattered larger punctures. is located in Thal region of the Punjab Province Interantennal space and inner orbit containing so current studies are new distributional records ocular sinus almost smooth.Vertex with a fine for the Polistes (Vespidae: Hymenoptera). scattered punctures. Ocellocular distance about 3x (11:4) the interocullar distance, the latter as REFERENCES long as the diameter of the posterior ocellus. Temple with a few scattered punctures. Malar Bodlah I., Siddiqui JA., Akram M. and Naeem space with moderately larger and close M, 2015. New locality records of punctures.Occipital carina Vespula flaviceps (Vespidae: Hymenoptera) incomplete.Pronotum sparsely finely punctuate. in Murree (Punjab). Asian J Agri Biol, 3(1): Scutellum, postscutellum and metapleuron 46-49. impunctate. Mesopleuron behindepicnemial Carpenter JM, 1996. Phylogeny and carina and above sternopleural suture with Biogeography of Polistes. (Eds. Turillazzi, scattered fine punctures. Propodeum with S and West-Eberhard, M.J.) Natural distinct striations which do not reach the inner History and Evolution of Paper-Wasps, margin on side, without distinct lateral edge, Oxford University Press, Oxford, p. 18-57. median groove narrower. First gastral sternite Das BP and Gupta VK, 1989.