Phylogeny of Rhynchium and Its Related Genera (Hymenoptera: Eumeninae) Based on Universal Single-Copy Orthologs and Ultraconserved Elements.

The subfamily Eumeninae is a large group of fierce predatory insects that prey mainly on the larvae of Lepidoptera pests. Because of the highly similar morphologies of the genus Rhynchium and its related genera in the subfamily, including Rhynchium Spinola, Allorhynchium van der Vecht, Anterhynchium de Saussure, Pararrhynchium de Saussure, it is essential to delineate their relationships. A previous phylogenetic analysis based on mitochondrial genomes suggested the inconsistent relationships of these genera under traditional classification based on morphological characters. In this study, we first used single-copy orthologs [USCO] and ultraconserved elements [UCE] extracted from 10 newly sequenced low-coverage whole genomes to resolve the phylogenetic relationships of the above genera. The newly sequenced genomes are 152.99 Mb to 211.49 Mb in size with high completeness (BUSCO complete: 91.5-95.6%) and G + C content (36.31-38.76%). Based on extracted 5811 USCOs and 2312 UCEs, the phylogenetic relationships of Rhynchium and its related genera were: ((Allorhynchium + Lissodynerus) + (Pararrhynchium + (Anterhynchium + (Dirhynchium + Rhynchium)))), which was consistent with the mitochondrial genome results. The results supported the genus Rhynchium as monophyletic, whereas Anterhynchium was recovered as paraphyletic, with Anterhynchium (Dirhynchium) as a sister to Rhynchium and hence deserving generic status; In addition, in the genus Pararrhynchium, P. septemfasciatus feanus and P. venkataramani were separated, not clustered on a branch, just as P. septemfasciatus feanus was not together with P. striatum based on mitochondrial genomes. Since Lissodynerus septemfasciatus, the type species of the genus Lissodynerus, was transferred to Pararrhynchium, it is considered that the genus Lissodynerus should be restituted as a valid genus, not a synonym of Pararrhynchium.

Review of the European Eumenes Latreille (Hymenoptera, Vespidae) using morphology and DNA barcodes, with an illustrated key to species.

The European species of the potter wasp genus Eumenes Latreille, 1802 (Vespidae, Eumeninae) are illustrated and a new illustrated key to the 13 recognised species is presented. Eumenesmediterraneusaemilianus Guiglia, 1951 is synonymised with E.papillarius (Christ, 1791) (syn. nov.), E.obscurus André, 1884 and E.andrei Dalla Torre, 1894 with E.pedunculatus (Panzer, 1799) (syn. nov.) and E.crimensis Blüthgen, 1938 with E.sareptanus André, 1884 (syn. nov.).

Cytogenetic characterization of solitary wasp Ancistrocerus flavomarginatus (Brèthes, 1906) (Hymenoptera, Vespidae) with insights into the chromosomal evolution in the genus.

Cytogenetic studies have enabled the characterization of the chromosomal macrostructure and microstructure and have contributed to the understanding of the evolution of wasp karyotypes. However, studies on Eumeninae solitary wasps are scarce. In this study, we characterized the karyotype of Ancistrocerus flavomarginatus (Brèthes, 1906) and compared it with previous data from other Ancistrocerus (Wesmael, 1836) species to shed light on the chromosomal diversity of the genus. A chromosome number of 2n = 24 in females and n = 12 in males was observed. Comparing the A. flavomarginatus karyotype with that of another Ancistrocerus species showed variations in the morphology of some chromosomal pairs. The presence of two larger chromosome pairs, almost entirely heterochromatic, and the predominance of subtelocentric chromosomes with heterochromatic short arms in A. flavomarginatus support the occurrence of fissions in Ancistrocerus. A single site of ribosomal genes was observed in A. flavomarginatus, in addition to a size polymorphism of these rDNA clusters between the homologues of some analyzed females. This polymorphism may originate from duplications/deletions due to unequal crossing-over or amplification via transposable elements. The (GA)15 microsatellite is located exclusively in euchromatic regions. Our data show that different rearrangements seem to shape chromosomal evolution in Ancistrocerus species.

First Comprehensive Analysis of Both Mitochondrial Characteristics and Mitogenome-Based Phylogenetics in the Subfamily Eumeninae (Hymenoptera: Vespidae).

The subfamily Eumeninae plays a significant role in the biological control of agricultural pests. However, the characteristics of eumenine mitogenomes that are important molecular markers for phylogenetics are not clearly revealed. Here, 52 eumenine mitogenomes are newly sequenced and annotated, and the phylogenetic relationships of the subfamily are comprehensively analyzed based on 87 vespid mitogenomes. Through the comparative analysis of the 54 eumenine mitogenomes, the gene compositions of about one half of the 54 species match with ancestral insect mitogenome, and remaining others contain two trnM which are highly similar, with 51.86% (Eumenes tripunctatus) to 90.65% (Pseumenes nigripectus) sequence identities, which is unique among the reported mitogenomes of the family Vespidae. Moreover, the translocation trnL1 upstream of nad1 is a common rearrangement event in all eumenine mitogenomes. The results of phylogenetic analyses support the paraphyly of the subfamily Eumeninae and the tribe Odynerini, respectively, and the monophyly of the tribe Eumenini, and verify that the tribe Zethini is a valid subfamily Zethinae. In this study, the relationships between some genera such as Allorhynchium and Pararrhynchium or the taxonomic status of the subgenera such as Eremodynerus and Dirhynchium are found to be confusing and there should be further inquiry with more samples.

Unwrapping the compositional mystery of Eumeninae nest: A laser-induced breakdown spectroscopic study.

The nest of Eumeninae wasp is one of nature's creations, revealing the mysterious architectural beauty through its composition and nanostructuring. The present study unveils the compositional mystery of Eumeninae nest through the signal processing of the laser-induced breakdown spectrum (LIBS). The structure, morphological, and optical characterisations of the nest sample shows nanoparticles of oxides of silicon, aluminium, and iron with an optical bandgap of 2.5 eV, giving a fluorescence emission in the blue region upon ultraviolet excitation. Though, the energy dispersive spectroscopic study confirms the major elements present in the sample, the more elements are revealed through LIBS analysis. The intriguing properties of nest is attributed to the elemental compositions - oxygen, silicon, iron, manganese, chromium, cobalt, calcium and carbon - which necessitate deconvolution of peaks in the spectra for estimating the plasma temperature (4300-5045 K) and electron density (1.13 × 10-19 cm-3).

Notes on the Afrotropical species of Alastor Lepeletier (Hymenoptera: Vespidae: Eumeninae), with description of nine new species.

Nine new species of Alastor Lepeletier, 1841 from Africa are described: Alastor (A.) brevicornis Selis, sp. nov., Alastor (A.) carens Selis, sp. nov., Alastor (A.) gestroides Selis, sp. nov., Alastor (A.) moody Selis, sp. nov., Alastor (A.) namibiensis Selis, sp. nov., Alastor (A.) parilis Selis, sp. nov., Alastor (A.) sabrinae Selis, sp. nov., Alastor (A.) temperatus Selis, sp. nov., and Alastor (Alastorellus) planipunctus Selis, sp. nov. New distributional records for Alastor (A.) aeger Giordani Soika are provided.

On generic placement of Odynerus dictatorius Giordani Soika and its mimicry ring (Hymenoptera: Vespidae: Eumeninae).

The generic placement of Odynerus dictatorius Giordani Soika, 1935 is discussed (Antodynerus dictatorius comb. nov.) and three new species belonging to its mimicry ring are described: Antodynerus breviclypeus sp. nov., Antodynerus imitator sp. nov. and Antepipona dictatoria sp. nov.

A new species of Leptomenes Giordani Soika from Uganda (Hymenoptera: Vespidae: Eumeninae).

Leptomenes Giordani Soika, 1939 is an Afrotropical genus of small-sized potter wasps, presently comprising eight species in continental Africa and another three species in Madagascar. The continental species are mainly distributed in eastern Central Africa, but some species reach Kwazulu-Natal in the south and Senegal in the west (Carpenter et al. 2010).

Biodiversity of the aculeate wasps (Hymenoptera: Aculeata) of the Arabian Peninsula: Vespoidea, Vespidae.

An updated checklist of the Arabian species of Vespidae is provided here. The list includes 163 identified species in 49 genera and four subfamilies: Eumeninae (41 genera, 130 species), Masarinae (4 genera, 14 species), Polistinae (3 genera, 17 species) and Vespinae (1 genus, 2 species). Distributions, both on the Peninsula and extra-limital, are provided for each species and subspecies; 53 species (33%) are endemic to the Arabian Peninsula, as are 15 subspecies. A new combination is proposed: Knemodynerus sauditus (Giordani Soika, 1989) comb. nov., transferred from Trachyodynerus Giordani Soika, 1989.

A taxonomic revision of Allodynerus Blüthgen (Hymenoptera: Vespidae: Eumeninae) from China.

In this paper, six species of the genus Allodynerus Blüthgen from China are reviewed, including four new species and two known species, namely Allodynerus reduncus Zhang, Chen Li, sp. nov., Allodynerus bimaculus Zhang, Chen Li, sp. nov., Allodynerus diqingensis Zhang, Chen Li, sp. nov., Allodynerus asperipunctarus Zhang, Chen Li, sp. nov., Allodynerus delphinalis delphinalis (Giraud, 1866) and Allodynerus mandschuricus Blüthgen, 1953. These four new species are described and illustrated in detail, and the two known species are redescribed and illustrated. A key to all known species of Allodynerus worldwide is also provided.

A new species and new record of the genus Discoelius Latreille, 1809 (Hymenoptera: Vespidae: Eumeninae) from China.

Discoelius brevilamellatus Wang, Chen Li, sp. nov. is described and illustrated from Tibet, China, and Discoelius turneri (Meade-Waldo, 1910) is newly recorded from China.

Checklist of vespid wasps (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) of Goa, India, with new records and a key to species.

This study on the vespid fauna (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) reports 33 species belonging to 22 genera and four subfamilies from the state of Goa, India. Of these, 26 species, 18 genera, and two subfamilies are newly recorded from Goa. Illustrated keys to the genera and species of vespid wasps of Goa along with notes on their geographical distribution are provided.

Diversity of wasps (Hymenoptera: Aculeata: Vespidae) along an altitudinal gradient of Atlantic Forest in Itatiaia National Park, Brazil

ABSTRACT Surveying the diversity of stinging wasps (Hymenoptera: Aculeata) provides an important information base to assist in biodiversity conservation and the management of forest reserves, as wasps depend on and maintain the population balance of several other groups of insects. In accordance, this paper presents an altitudinal survey of wasps (Hymenoptera, Aculeata, Vespidae) in Itatiaia National Park, Brazil, which is a protected area covered by Atlantic Forest in a mountainous landscape, with altitudes ranging between 540 and 2791 metres above sea level. Six altitudinal zones were sampled with entomological net, and the abundance and diversity of the species were indicated by zones. Field sampling took 288 h of discontinuous activity, which was randomly conducted from December 2012 to December 2013. A total of 398 individuals belonging to 29 species and two subfamilies (Eumeninae and Polistinae) were sampled. Eight species are new records for the state of Rio de Janeiro. We found a monotonic decrease in wasp diversity in relation to altitude, and the number of captured individuals differed significantly between the low and high altitudes.

Descriptions of eight new species of the genus Parancistrocerus Bequaert (Hymenoptera: Vespidae: Eumeninae), with a key to the Oriental species.

Eight new species, namely Parancistrocerus latitergus sp. nov. (China), P. lamnulus sp. nov. (China), P. laticlypeus sp. nov. (Thailand), P. prominens sp. nov. (Thailand), P. guangxiensis sp. nov. (China), P. discarinatus sp. nov. (Thailand), P. abyssicavus sp. nov. (Thailand), and P. similiandrocles sp. nov. (China) are described and illustrated. Parancistrocerus samarensis (von Schulthess, 1934) and P. incorruptus incorruptus Giordani Soika, 1972, are newly recorded from China and Thailand, respectively. An updated key to the Oriental species of the genus Parancistrocerus is also given.

Descriptions of three new species of the genus Stenodyneriellus Giordani Soika with keys to some related species (Hymenoptera, Vespidae, Eumeninae).

Three new species, namely Stenodyneriellusangustus sp. n. from Thailand, S.profundus sp. n. from Philippines, and S.longitergus sp. n. from Indonesia, are described and illustrated in detail. Stenodyneriellusmaculatus Gusenleitner, 2013 is newly recorded from Vietnam. Two keys to some related species are also provided.

Northeast Asian Allorhynchium van der Vecht (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), with a key to Oriental species.

The Oriental species of Allorhynchium van der Vecht, 1963 (Hymenoptera: Vespidae: Eumeninae) are keyed for the first time and their distribution is summarised, with special reference to China and Vietnam. Archancistrocerus Giordani Soika, 1986, is synonymized with Allorhynchium van der Vecht (syn. nov.). Allorhynchium diffinis (Giordani Soika, 1986) is a new combination and A. quadrimaculatum Gusenleitner, 1997, is recorded from Vietnam for the first time.

Contribution to the genus Okinawepipona Yamane (Hymenoptera: Vespidae: Eumeninae) from Vietnam, with description of a new species.

A new species of the genus Okinawepipona Yamane from Vietnam is described and figured: Okinawepipona yty Nguyen, sp. nov. (northern Vietnam). Biology of O. yty Nguyen, sp. nov. and O. nigra Nguyen Xu, 2014 is recorded. A key to the four species known in the genus is provided.

A new species of Zethus Fabricius (Hymenoptera, Vespidae, Zethinae) from Northeast Brazil, with notes on morphology and distributional records of Z. alessandroi Lopes.

Zethus giseleae new species is described from Maranhão State, Northeastern Brazil. The species fits into the Z. hilarianus species-group which was partially revised only recently, and a set of features from both external morphology and male genitalia allows readily separation from closely related taxa. Notes on morphology and collecting records of Z. alessandroi are also provided, extending its range within the Southeast Amazon domain.

A revision of the Neotropical eumenine wasp genus Stenosigma Giordani Soika, 1978 (Hymenoptera, Vespidae).

The Neotropical eumenine wasp genus Stenosigma Giordani Soika, 1978 is revised. Stenosigma mariae Ferreira Hermes sp. nov. and S. panamensis Ferreira Hermes sp. nov. are proposed as new. An updated identification key for species, new distributional records, and additional information on the species currently recognized within the genus are presented.

The complete mitochondrial genome of Orancistrocerusaterrimusaterrimus and comparative analysis in the family Vespidae (Hymenoptera, Vespidae, Eumeninae).

To date, only one mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) in the Eumeninae has been reported in the world and this is the first report in China. The mitogenome of O.a.aterrimus is 17 972 bp long, and contains 38 genes, including 13 protein coding genes (PCGs), 23 tRNA genes, two rRNA genes, a long non-coding region (NCR), and a control region (CR). The mitogenome has 79.43% A + T content, its 13 PCGs use ATN as the initiation codon except for cox1 using TTG, and nine genes used complete translation termination TAA and four genes have incomplete stop codon T (cox2, cox3, nad4, and cytb). Twenty-two of 23 tRNAs can form the typical cloverleaf secondary structure except for trnS1. The CR is 1 078 bp long with 84.69% A+T content, comprising 28 bp tandem repeat sequences and 13 bp T-strech. There are two gene rearrangements which are an extra trnM2 located between trnQ and nad2 and the trnL2 in the upstream of nad1. Within all rearrangements of these mitogenomes reported in the family Vespidae, the translocation between trnS1 and trnE genes only appears in Vespinae, and the translocation of trnY in Polistinae and Vespinae. The absent codons of 13 PCGs in Polistinae are more than those both in Vespinae and Eumeninae in the family Vespidae. The study reports the complete mitogenome of O.a.aterrimus, compares the characteristics and construct phylogenetic relationships of the mitogenomes in the family Vespidae.