Jiang-Li Tan

The mitochondrial genome of the Vespa bicolor Fabricius (Hymenoptera: Vespidae: Vespinae)

Abstract Here, we report the first representative mitochondrial genome of the subfamily Vespinae (Hymenopterea: Vespidae) from the Vespa bicolor Fabricius (GenBank accession No. KJ735511). Nearly complete mitochondrial genome was sequenced with a length of 16,937 bp, including 13 protein-coding genes, 2 rRNA and 20 tRNA genes, as well as a portion of A+T-rich region. Two tRNA genes, i.e. trnI and trnY, were failed to sequence, which were presumed to be located within a region between A+T-rich region and trnM-trnQ-nad2. In the V. bicolor mitochondrial genome, at least three tRNA genes were rearranged. trnY was rearranged to the unsequenced region between A+T-rich region and trnM-trnQ-nad2. trnL1 was rearranged from a location between nad1 and rrnL to the upstream of nad1 gene. trnS1 and trnE were shuffled in the tRNA cluster of trnA-trnR-trnN-trnS1-trnE-trnF. Our study showed that the mitochondrial genomes between Vespinae and Polistinae shared more arrangement pattern than that between Vespinae and Eumeninae.

Geographic Variation of Melanisation Patterns in a Hornet Species: Genetic Differences, Climatic Pressures or Aposematic Constraints?

Coloration of stinging insects is often based on contrasted patterns of light and black pigmentations as a warning signal to predators. However, in many social wasp species, geographic variation drastically modifies this signal through melanic polymorphism potentially driven by different selective pressures. To date, surprisingly little is known about the geographic variation of coloration of social wasps in relation to aposematism and melanism and to genetic and developmental constraints. The main objectives of this study are to improve the description of the colour variation within a social wasp species and to determine which factors are driving this variation. Therefore, we explored the evolutionary history of a polymorphic hornet, Vespa velutina Lepeletier, 1836, using mitochondrial and microsatellite markers, and we analysed its melanic variation using a colour space based on a description of body parts coloration. We found two main lineages within the species and confirmed the previous synonymy of V. auraria Smith, 1852, under V. velutina, differing only by the coloration. We also found that the melanic variation of most body parts was positively correlated, with some segments forming potential colour modules. Finally, we showed that the variation of coloration between populations was not related to their molecular, geographic or climatic differences. Our observations suggest that the coloration patterns of hornets and their geographic variations are determined by genes with an influence of developmental constraints. Our results also highlight that Vespa velutina populations have experienced several convergent evolutions of the coloration, more likely influenced by constraints on aposematism and Müllerian mimicry than by abiotic pressures on melanism.

A new species of Schlettererius Ashmead from China, with a key to the species (Hymenoptera, Stephanidae)

A new species of Schlettererius Ashmead, 1900, S. chundanae sp. n., is described and illustrated from China. The other East Palaearctic species, S. determinatorius Madl, 1991, is redescribed and illustrated, the first host record is given and it is newly reported from China. A key to the species of the genus Schlettererius is included.

Review of the Chinese Bittacus (Mecoptera: Bittacidae) with descriptions of three new species

The current knowledge of the Chinese species of the hangingfly genus Bittacus Latreille, 1805 is reviewed. A checklist of the known species is provided. A key to species is compiled. Three species of Bittacus are described as new to science: Bittacus longantennatus sp. nov. from Sichuan and Hubei, Bittacus setigerus sp. nov. from Hubei and Guizhou, and Bittacus jiulianshanus sp. nov. from Jiangxi. http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:5167E4E9-C123-4C1E-B33F-BCC7AF873BEA

A new species of Pseudomegischus van Achterberg from China, with a key to the species (Hymenoptera, Stephanidae)

Abstract The genus Pseudomegischus van Achterberg, 2002, is newly reported from China. A new species, Pseudomegischus notiochinensis sp. n., is described and illustrated from southern China. A key to the species of Pseudomegischus is included.

Nest structure and all stages of the long-cheeked yellow jacket Dolichovespula stigma Lee (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), with a new synonym

ABSTRACT Nest structure, larval characters both in morphology and behaviour have contributed to the phylogenetic and taxonomic studies of social vespids. In a highly developed eusocial wasp group such as the genus Dolichovespula, the knowledge of all castes is important to judge the validity of a species. Unfortunately, a few species of this genus are reported based on limited material. Among them, Dolichovespula stigma Lee, 1986 is known from workers only, as well as Dolichovespula baileyi Archer, 1987, which is only known from a queen. During the nearly 30 years since its description, there has been no additional information forthcoming. Recently, two ground nests of Dolichovespula stigma Lee, 1986, were discovered on the Qinling Mountains (Shaanxi, China) and all three castes of this species were collected for the first time. The nest structure, the male and the immature stages are newly described. As a result, D. baileyi Archer, 1987, is synonymized with D. stigma Lee, 1986 (syn. nov.). The status of species groups in this genus is briefly discussed.

A new genus Carinopius gen. n. of the subfamily Opiinae (Hymenoptera, Braconidae) from China and Vietnam, with description of a new species

Carinopius gen. n. (type species: Carinopius albocoxalis Tan & van Achterberg, sp. n.) from China (Yunnan) and Vietnam is described and illustrated (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Opiinae).

An illustrated key to the species of subgenus Gyrostoma Kirby, 1828 (Hymenoptera, Vespidae, Polistinae) from China, with discovery of Polistes ( Gyrostoma ) tenuispunctia Kim, 2001

The Chinese species of the subgenus Gyrostoma Kirby, 1828 of the polistine genus Polistes are reviewed. An illustrated key to the seven species of the subgenus known from China is given. New synonymy are proposed for Polistes rothneyi Cameron, 1900 =P. rothneyi grahami van der Vecht, 1968, syn. nov.; =P. r. hainanensis van der Vecht, 1968, syn. nov.; =P. r. iwatai van der Vecht, 1968, syn. nov.; =P. r. gressitti van der Vecht, 1968, syn. nov.; =P. r. tibetanus van der Vecht, 1968, syn. nov.; = P. r. yayeyamae Matsumura, 1908, syn. nov.; =P. r. koreanus van der Vecht, 1968, syn. nov.; =P. r. sikkimensis van der Vecht, 1968, syn. nov.. P. (Gyrostoma) tenuispuntia Kim, 2001 is newly recorded from China. Its nest is described for the first time. Compared with the sympatric and similar species P. rothneyi f. grahami the nest is concealed in a hollow space instead of having the nest directly exposed under an eave as in P. rothneyi. The differences in nest architecture are briefly discussed.

The pre-overwintering nests and the immature stages of the hornet Vespa fumida van der Vecht (Hymenoptera: Vespidae)

The pre-overwintering nest structure and the immature stages of the hornet Vespa fumida van der Vecht are for the first time reported. All three adult forms (queen, worker and drone) are briefly described. The eggs have many micropyles concentrated at the larger end of the egg. The mature larvae can be identified by having the ecdysial sulcus obliterated ventrally; the parietal band distinctly margined ventrally on the outer side; the palate with a median patch and a pair of dorsal patches; the collar processes of the spiracle long and thick, with many branches over almost all the surface. Morphology and distribution of the different types of sensilla (setae, conical papillae, campaniform sensilla, basiconic sensilla, etc.) and the spicules are illustrated in detail. Close relationship between the Vespa affinis-group and V. fumida previously suggested by adult morphology is briefly discussed in terms of the morphology of the mature larvae.

Parastephanellus Enderlein (Hymenoptera: Stephanidae) revisited, with description of two new species from China

Two new species of Parastephanellus Enderlein, 1906 (Hymenoptera: Stephanidae) are described and illustrated from China: P. evexus Tan van Achterberg, sp. n. and P. yixiwui Tan van Achterberg, sp. n. The male of P. brevicoxalis Hong, van Achterberg Xu, 2011, is described and the supposed male by Chen et al. (2016) is included in P. evexus. Parastephanellus austrochinensis Belokobylskij, 1995, (former synonym of P. brevistigma Enderlein, 1913) is reinstated. A new key to the species of Parastephanellus Enderlein from China is provided and all species are illustrated.