Abstract
This paper reports occurrence of mason wasp Pison punctifrons Shuckard, 1838 from Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India. This is a new distribution record for the species. This paper examines the nest architecture and prey choices of the wasp and carries the photographic record of a live P. punctifrons Shuckard on her nest with prey.
Highlights
There is one record of this species from Kerala (Sudheendrakumar 1989). This Note reports the occurrence of Pison punctifrons Shuckard from Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India – a new distribution record
Forewing venation of Noida Pison Spinola species is closer to the description of Pison suspiciosus Smith as given by Smith (1858), “The first recurrent nervure received at the apex of the first submarginal cell; the second at the apex of the second submarginal”
In case of Noida Pison Spinola species first recurrent vein is received “near the apex”, this difference needs to be viewed in the light of the descriptions given by Shuckard (1838) for P. punctifrons and P. spinolae, “...the recurrent nervures inosculating with the transverso-cubitals...”
Summary
Pison punctifrons Shuckard, 1838 has never been reported before from Noida or its surrounding areas, including Delhi. The second recurrent vein is received by submarginal 2 or 3 or is interstitial (Bohart 1976) This wing venation pattern is the most crucial clue to the identification of Pison Spinola species. Forewing venation of Noida Pison Spinola species is closer to the description of Pison suspiciosus Smith (a synonym of P. punctifrons Shuckard) as given by Smith (1858), “The first recurrent nervure received at the apex of the first submarginal cell; the second at the apex of the second submarginal”. In case of Noida Pison Spinola species first recurrent vein is received “near the apex” (not “at the apex”), this difference needs to be viewed in the light of the descriptions given by Shuckard (1838) for P. punctifrons and P. spinolae, “...the recurrent nervures inosculating with the transverso-cubitals...” He further adds that “...this species at first sight much resembles the P. spinolae Shuckard, but, upon examination, it is at once distinguished by its very coarse sculpture, and the size of its second submarginal cell”.
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