Turkish Journal of Zoology Turk J Zool (2016) 40: 686-690 http://journals.tubitak.gov.tr/zoology/ © TÜBİTAK Research Article doi:10.3906/zoo-1511-18 Taxonomic notes on the genus Sceliphron Klug (Hymenoptera: Sphecidae) from northern Vietnam, with description of a new species Phong HUY PHAM* Institute of Ecology and Biological Resources, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, Hanoi, Vietnam Received: 11.11.2015 Accepted/Published Online: 20.04.2016 Final Version: 24.10.2016 Abstract: A taxonomic study on the genus Sceliphron Klug in northern Vietnam is presented. A total of 3 species are recorded: S. deforme deforme (F. Smith, 1856); S. madraspatanum kohli Sickmann, 1894; and S. clypeatum sp. nov., which is described for the first time here. A key to the species based on morphological characters is given, and new distributional records are also provided. Key words: Hymenoptera, Sphecidae, Sceliphron, new species, Vietnam 1. Introduction Resources (IEBR), Vietnam Academy of Science and Commonly called mud dauber wasps, Sceliphron is a genus Technology (VAST), Hanoi, Vietnam. of wasps belonging to the family Sphecidae. The genus The adult morphological characters were observed and is widely distributed in all temperate and tropical areas. described from pinned and dried specimens with the aid There have been 35 species recorded to the genus so far of a stereoscopic microscope. The terminology follows (Pulawski, 2015). Van der Vecht and van Breugel (1968) Bohart and Menke (1976). Photographic images were divided Sceliphron into 2 subgenera (Prosceliphron and taken using a Leica stereomicroscope with LAS software, Sceliphron s. str.) based on differences in morphological as version 3.6.0. well as ethological characters. However, they only studied The abbreviations of museums or institutions where the subgenus Sceliphron with 18 species. In the subgenus the type specimens are kept are as follows. The acronyms Sceliphron, they recognized 2 species groups, the group of follow Arnett’s Insect and Spider Collections of the World S. madraspatanum and the group of S. spirifex with 10 and (http://hbs.bishopmuseum.org/codens/codens-inst.html). 8 species, respectively. The latter was studied by Hensen BMNH: The Natural History Museum, United (1987), who recognized 11 species. Jha and Farooqi Kingdom, London, England. (1995) added 4 species, 3 of which belong to the subgenus USNM: National Museum of Natural History, Sceliphron (S. isaaci, S. paraintrudens, and S. seistaniensis) Washington, DC, USA. and 1 to the subgenus Prosceliphron (S. neobilineatum). S. NHMW: Naturhistorishes Museum, Zoologischen aterrimus (Marquet, 1875) and S. leptogaster Cameron, Abtheilunf, View. 1905 have only been recorded from France and South Africa, respectively. 3. Results and discussion Two species of the genus Sceliphron have been recorded Family Sphecidae for northern Vietnam thus far (Pham et al., 2015). In the Subfamily Sceliphrinae present paper, a new species, Sceliphron clypeatum sp. nov., Tribe Sceliphrini is added to the Vietnamese sphecid fauna; a key to the Genus Sceliphron Klug, 1801 species and new distributional records of species are also Sceliphron Klug, 1801: 561. Type species: Sphex spirifex provided. Linnaeus, 1758, designated by Bingham, 1897: 235. Pelopoeus Latreille, 1802: 334. Type species: Pelopoeus 2. Materials and methods spirifex, Fab. [= Pelopoeus spirifex of Fabricius, 1804 = The specimens examined in the present paper are those Sphex spirifex Linnaeus, 1758], designated by Latreille deposited in the Institute of Ecology and Biological 1810: 438. * Correspondence: [email protected] 686 HUY PHAM / Turk J Zool Pelopaeus Latreille, 1804: 180. Lapsus or emendation 2. S. madraspatanum kohli Sickmann, 1894 of Pelopoeus. Sceliphron kohli Sickmann, 1894: 218, ♀, ♂, “China: Sceliphrum W. Schulz, 1906: 192. Emendation of Hopei Province, Tientsin” (syntypes: ♀, NHMW). Sceliphron Klug, 1801. Material examined: Hanoi: 1♂, Nghia Do Precinct, Prosceliphron van der Vecht, 1968: 192. Type species: Cau Giay District, 29.vi.2013, Pham P.H., IEBR. Regd. Sceliphron coromandelicum (Lepeletier de Saint Fargeau, 00046/P13; Quang Ninh: 1♀, Phuong Dong Precinct, 1845) [= Pelopoeus coromandelicus Lepeletier de Saint Uong Bi City, 26.vi.2013, Pham P.H., IEBR. Regd. 00159/ Fargeau, 1845], by original designation. Junior homonym P13; Thai Binh: 1♂, Hung Nhan Town, Hung Ha District, of Prosceliphron Frenguelli, 1946. 25.vi.2013, Pham P.H., IEBR. Regd. 00142/P13; 1♀ + 3♂, Hensenia Pagliano and Scaramozzino, 1990: 5. Hong Minh Commune, Hung Ha District, 20.vi.2013, Substitute name for Prosceliphron van der Vecht, 1968. Pham P.H., IEBR. Regd. 000054/P13, 00148/P13, 00163/ Key to species of the genus Sceliphron occurring in P13; 1♂, Dong Minh Commune, Tien Hai District, northern Vietnam 21.vi.2013, Pham P.H., IEBR. Regd. 00174/P13. 1. Terminal gaster sternite of female rather sharply Distribution: China, Japan, Laos, Vietnam: Hanoi, keeled. Lower half of inner eye-margins almost parallel; Dong Nai, Quang Ninh (new record), Thai Binh (new mandible without tooth on inner side; thorax dull, finely record). sculptured; metapleuron punctate; thorax with extensive Remarks: van der Vecht and van Breugel (1968) yellow markings; petiole entirely black; fourth tergite with examined this species based on 5♀ and 7♂ collected complete yellow band .............................................................. in April–May and August 1917. Thus, this species is ..................................... S. deforme deforme (F. Smith, 1856) reconfirmed to occur in northern Vietnam after nearly - Terminal gaster sternite of female slightly convex, 100 years, and 2 new distributional localities (Quang Ninh without feebly keeled; lower half of inner eye-margins Province and Thai Binh Province) are added. distinctly converging towards the clypeus; mandible 3. S. clypeatum sp. nov. (Figures 1–6) with distinct tooth on inner side; thorax less dull, finely Holotype: 1♀, Vietnam: Hong Minh, Hung Ha, Thai sculptured; metapleuron impunctate; petiole entirely Binh, 24.vi.2013, P. H. Pham, IEBR. Regd. No. 00053/P13. yellow; whole gaster black .................................................... 2 Paratype: 1♀, Vietnam: Hong Minh, Hung Ha, Thai 2. Body length 18 mm; petiole in lateral view distinctly Binh, 24.vi.2013, P. H. Pham, IEBR. Regd. No. 00054/P13. straight; subalar and hypoepimeral area with yellow mark; Description: Female: Body length 23 mm, fore wing apical half of fore and mid femur, and whole fore and mid length 17 mm, body black except for following: antennal tibia yellow ...... S. madraspatanum kohli Sickmann, 1894 scape and pedicel, flagellomeres I–V ferruginous; the - Body length 23 mm; petiole in lateral view distinctly following are brown: basic half of mandible, short zone curved; thorax entirely black; basic half of hind tibia, just before apex of clypeus (as shown in Figure 1), apical petiole deeply yellow; apical half of fore and mid femur, half of fore and mid femur, fore and mid tibia, fore and and whole fore and mid tibia brown ..... S. clypeatum sp. nov. mid tarsi, and hind tarsus II–IV; hind trochanter, hind 1. S. deforme deforme (F. Smith, 1856) femur (except narrow apical part), basic half of hind tibia, Pelopoeus deformis Smith, 1856: 231, ♀, “China: North, petiole deeply yellow (as shown in Figure 6); wings and no specific locality” (lectotype: ♀, BMNH). their veins yellowish (as shown in Figure 4). Sceliphron deforme taiwanum Tsuneki, 1971: 6, ♀, Head (as shown in Figure 1): Clypeus conspicuously ♂, “Taiwan: Taitung Prefecture, Chulu” (holotype: ♀, convex, nearly pointed at apex, with distinctly vertically USNM). risen median carina, outer margin of each clypeal lobe Materials examined: Hoa Binh: 1♀, Mai Chau Town, moderately truncate, 1.52× as long as wide. Mandible Mai Chai District, 3.vi.2012, Pham P.H., IEBR. Regd. pointed at apex, with median carina extending from 00125/P12. base to midlength. Lower half of inner orbits converging Distribution: China: Hong Kong, Japan, India, Korea, towards clypeus. Antennal scape moderately swollen. Montenegro, Taiwan, Russia, Tajikistan, Philippines, Minimum interocular distance across the vertex = 0.87× Mongolia, Southeast Kazakhstan, Myanmar, Thailand, minimum interocular distance across the clypeus. Fore Laos, Vietnam: Hoa Binh. ocellar diameter = 1.15× distance between fore ocellus Remarks: Hensen (1987) recorded this species for and hind ocellus, distance between the compound eye and northern Vietnam in Hoa Binh Province. The specimen of hind ocellus = 1.5× distance between hind ocelli. Clypeal the species was a male and was collected in August 1918. surface sparsely, shallowly punctate, punctures denser and Thus, after nearly 100 years, this species is reconfirmed to shallower than on frons. Upper part of vertex irregularly, occur in northern Vietnam and has only been recorded in dully transverse striate. Long black setae scattered on frons Hoa Binh Province so far. and vertex, denser than on clypeus and lower part of vertex. 687 HUY PHAM / Turk J Zool Figures 1–6: Sceliphron clypeatum sp. nov. (1) head in frontal view; (2) propodeum in dorsal view; (3) thorax in lateral view; (4) fore wing; (5) hind coxa; (6) gaster in lateral view. Thorax (as shown in Figure 2–5): Pronotal collar raised of scutum. Mesopleuron with episternal sulcus wide, nearly as high as anterior part of scutum, with distinct deep; scrobe distinct (as shown in Figure 3). Scutellum median notch, each side with obviously deep impression.