A new species of the paper wasp genus Polistes (Hymenoptera, Vespidae, Polistinae) in Europe revealed by morphometrics and molecular analyses.
We combine multivariate ratio analysis (MRA) of body measurements and analyses of mitochondrial and nuclear data to examine the status of several species of European paper wasps (Polistes Latreille, 1802) closely related to P. gallicus. Our analyses unambiguously reveal the presence of a cryptic species in Europe, as two distinct species can be recognized in what has hitherto been considered Polistes bischoffi Weyrauch, 1937. One species is almost as light coloured as P. gallicus, and is mainly recorded from Southern Europe and Western Asia. The other species is darker and has a more northern distribution in Central Europe. Both species occur syntopically in Switzerland. Given that the lost lectotype of P. bischoffi originated from Sardinia, we selected a female of the southern species as a neotype. The northern species is described as P. helveticus sp. n. here. We also provide a redescription of P. bischoffi rev. stat. and an identification key including three more closely related species, P. biglumis, P. gallicus and P. hellenicus.
Probsteistrasse 89, CH-8051 Zürich, Switzerland.
Rainer
R
Neumeyer
Abteilung Wirbellose Tiere, Naturhistorisches Museum der Burgergemeinde Bern, Bernastrasse 15, CH-3005 Bern, Switzerland.
Hannes
H
Baur
Institute of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, Field Station Dätwil, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, CH-8057 Zürich, Switzerland.
Gaston-Denis
GD
Guex
Evolutionary Entomology, Institute of Biology, University of Neuchatel, Emile-Argand 11, CH-2000 Neuchâtel, Switzerland.
Christophe
C
Praz
Cytochrome oxidase 1; DNA barcoding; ITS; LDA ratio extractor; Switzerland; allometry; cryptic species; linear discriminant analysis; principal component analysis; ratio spectrum; shape PCA