A phylogenetic investigation of the Neotropical genus Alphamenes van der Vecht, 1977 (Hymenoptera, Vespidae, Eumeninae)

ABSTRACT Advances in potter wasp systematics have been achieved recently, with classificatory changes resulting from analyses based upon large scale molecular datasets. For the Neotropics, recent hypotheses point to the occurrence of an exclusive clade recognized within the tribe Eumenini. In this group, several contributions regarding taxonomy and systematics have been proposed in the last five years, including the genus Alphamenes. This taxon contains seven described species whose distribution is exclusively Neotropical. Females are morphologically homogeneous, and characters related to copulatory organs are useful in male diagnosis. This contribution forms the first phylogenetic approach to include all species of Alphamenes, hence the first to strongly test for group monophyly. Our cladistic results recovered Alphamenes as a monophyletic group supported by male genital features. Relationships among included species also rely upon genitalic characters, highlighting the importance of these attributes for eumenine systematics. Recent phylogenetic investigations applied to the Neotropical fauna of potter wasps represent desirable advancements towards a natural classification for the group.

On the type series of Stenosigma humerale Giordani Soika with the description of a new species (Hymenoptera, Vespidae, Eumeninae)

ABSTRACT A new species, Stenosigma quechua Hermes & Ferreira sp. nov., is described from specimens previously included in the type series of Stenosigma humerale Giordani Soika, 1990. Details on the differences between the two species as well as comments of taxonomic implications are presented.