Marcel G. Hermes

On the nesting biology of Pirhosigma Giordani Soika (Hymenoptera, Vespidae, Eumeninae), with special reference to the use of vegetable matter

On the nesting biology of Pirhosigma Giordani Soika (Hymenoptera, Vespidae, Eumeninae), with special reference to the use of vegetable matter. The use of vegetable matter in nest building is not widespread among the Eumeninae, and is reported for the first time for the two species of potter wasps Pirhosigma superficiale and P. limpidum. These wasps make mostly spherical mud nests over which they attach small pieces of unmasticated plant matter. Use of plant fragments in this group of wasps is interpreted as camouflage behavior.

Systematics and phylogeny of the Neotropical Pachymenes de Saussure and Santamenes Giordani Soika (Hymenoptera, Vespidae, Eumeninae).

The genera Pachymenes de Saussure and Santamenes Giordani Soika are revised and the phylogenetic relationships among their species, based on external morphology and male genitalia, are presented. The cladistics analysis, using 22 terminal species (19 ingroup and 3 outgroup species) and 44 characters, produced a single cladogram under implied weighting. Both genera were recovered as paraphyletic, althought two major clades were formed and were well supported by the re‐sampling analysis. We propose the synonymy of Pachymenes with Santamenes, and the description of two new species: P. saussurei Grandinete n.sp. and P. riograndensis Grandinete n.sp.. New combinations are: Pachymenes novarae (de Saussure) n.comb., P. olympicus (Zavattari) n.comb., P. peregrinus (Zavattari) n.comb. and P. santanna (de Saussure) revised combination. We state the synonymy of P. obscurus orellanoides under P. obscurus consuetus, reviewing the status of the latter and raising P. consuetus to species level. Pachymenes orellanae vardyi is synonymized under P. orellanae; P. ghilianii olivaceus, P. ghilianii flavissimus and P. peruanus are proposed as synonyms of P. ghilianii; P. picturatus obscuratus is synonymized under P. laeviventris; P. picturatus nigromaculatus and P. picturatus var. intermedia are synonymized under P. picturatus and P. atra var. ornatissima get its lectotype designated and proposed as synonym of P. ater.

Cladistic analysis and systematic revision of the Zethus smithii (de Saussure) species-group sensu Bohart & Stange (Hymenoptera : Vespidae : Eumeninae)

Abstract. Zethus Fabricius is the largest genus within the Eumeninae and is currently divided into four subgenera. Three of them, namely, Z. (Zethoides), Z. (Zethus) and Z. (Zethusculus), are further subdivided into species-groups. The Zethus smithii species-group is among a few that present an elongated stem in the second metasomal tergum, but possess no other distinctive features. Here, a cladistic analysis under implied weighted characters was conducted. The Z. smithii-group was recovered as paraphyletic in relation to Z. hilarianus-group and, thus, both were combined into a single group named after the latter. Furthermore, the species of the Z. smithii species-group (sensu Bohart & Stange) were revised. Zethus dicomboda dicomboda and Z. dicomboda prixii were synonymised. Five new species were described: Z. alessandroi, sp. nov., Z. kaapora, sp. nov., Z. mesocarinatus, sp. nov., Z. pontagrossensis, sp. nov. and Z. scrobalis, sp. nov. A key to the species is provided.

Description of a new species of Oplitis Berlese, 1884, and the first record of a phoretic uropodid mite (Acari: Oplitidae) on a Neotropical solitary wasp (Hymenoptera: Vespidae)

The association of an uropodid mite with a solitary eumenine wasp is reported for the first time. Five mite specimens were found on a specimen of the wasp Zethus pallidus Smith, 1857, collected in southeastern Brazil. The mites are described as a new species, Oplitis ticumbi Kontschán & Bernardi sp. nov. In addition some notes on the biology of these mite specimens associated with Z. pallidus are presented.

A new contribution to the knowledge of Neotropical Eumeninae (Hymenoptera, Vespidae).

A new species, Pirhosigma sulcata Ferreira & Hermes, sp. nov. is described from the Brazilian Amazon; the male of Pararhaphidoglossa gibbiventris Giordani Soika, 1978 is described for the first time. Pseudodynerus carpenteri Hermes & Melo, 2008 is newly recorded from Brazil. New collecting data are reported for Pseudodynerus griseus (Fox, 1902) and P. subapicalis (Fox, 1902).

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.

Morphological cladistic analysis resolves the generic limits of the Neotropical potter wasp genera Minixi Giordani Soika and Pachyminixi Giordani Soika (Hymenoptera : Vespidae : Eumeninae)

Abstract. The generic classification of Neotropical Eumeninae has been termed chaotic, and synonymisation of taxa has become constant in recent years. Recognition of some generic limits are problematic due to features showing a great deal of variation, such as the length of the first metasomal tergum. This applies to the Neotropical Alphamenes van der Vecht, Minixi Giordani Soika and Pachyminixi Giordani Soika. Minixi has already been demonstrated to be paraphyletic in regards to Pachyminixi. These taxa are the focus of the present study, which used morphological data to infer the phylogenetic relationships among their constituent species. A total of 14 taxa and 34 characters were subjected to cladistic analysis under implied weighting. A single most-parsimonious cladogram was obtained, recovering Pachyminixi as monophyletic. Minixi, however, was paraphyletic relative to Pachyminixi and they are thus synonymised, with the former name having priority. A new species from Mexico, Minixi mariachii, sp. nov., is described. Minixi joergenseni bicingulatus (Zavattari, 1912) is synonymised under M. joergenseni (Schrottky, 1909), comb. nov. Additional new combinations are: Minixi arechavaletae (Brèthes, 1903), comb. nov., M. bifasciatum (von Schulthess, 1904), comb. nov., M. brethesi (Bertoni, 1927), comb. nov., M. sumichrasti (de Saussure, 1875), comb. nov., and M. uruguyense (de Saussure, 1855), comb. nov. Illustrations and a new key to species of Minixi are provided. The present study enhances our knowledge on Neotropical potter wasp systematics, providing one further step into a natural classification for a group whose taxonomy has suffered from irrational splitting of genera in the past century.

First record of a Leptus Latreille mite (Trombidiformes, Erythraeidae) associated with a Neotropical solitary wasp (Hymenoptera, Vespidae, Eumeninae)

ABSTRACT The first record of a parasitic mite, Leptus Latreille (Trombidiformes, Erythraeidae) associated with a Zethus cylindricus (Hymenoptera, Vespidae, Eumeninae) is reported from Brazil. Larval erythraeid mites are common ectoparasites of insects and arachnids, but this is the first time they were collected in association with a solitary wasp.