Megascolia scutellaris ( Gribodo, 1893 )

Megascolia scutellaris ( Gribodo, 1893)

( Figs 24 View FIGURE 24 , 26 View FIGURE 26 , 27 View FIGURE 27 )

Triscolia scutellaris Gribodo, 1893: 164 ( lectotype, ♀, Mindanao, designated by Bradley 1973a: 286–287; deposited in MSNG,

Italy, not examined); Micha 1927: 109. Scolia ( Triscolia) whiteheadii Bingham, 1895: 441 (synonymised by Rohwer 1921: 77). Scolia View in CoL ( Scolia View in CoL , Triscolia ) scutellaris : Dalla-Torre 1897: 181. Scolia ( Triscolia) scutellaris : Rohwer 1921: 77. Triscolia scutellaris : Micha 1927: 109. Triscolia scutellaris scutellaris : Micha 1927: 109–111. Scolia View in CoL ( Triscolia sectio Megascolia ) scutellaris : Betrem 1928: 242; Betrem 1933: 256. Megascolia ( Megascolia) scutellaris : Betrem & Bradley 1964: 441; Petersen 1970: 64; Bradley 1973a: 286; Gupta & Jonathan

2003: 135; Osten 2005b: 43; Golfetti et al. 2025: 3, 10.

Material examined. The Philippines. Bataan province. 1♂, Mariveles , 15.VI.2017 (local coll. leg.) [ CJBC] . Sarangani province. 1♀, Kiamba , 12.IX.2017 (local coll. leg.) [ CJBC] ; 1♀, same place, 12.IX.2019 (local coll. leg.) [ CJBC] ; 2♂, same place, 26.I.2023 (local coll. leg.) [ CJBC] . Oriental Mindoro province. 1♀, Puerto galera, 22.V.2016 (local coll. leg.) [ CJBC] ; 1♀, Socorro , 7.II.2021 (local coll. leg.) [ CJBC] . Lanao del Sur province. 1♂, Wao , 17.V.2016 (local coll. leg.) [ CJBC] ; 1♂, same place, 27.X.2017 (local coll. leg.) [ CJBC] . 1♀, Kapai , 5.XI.2022 (local coll. leg.) [ CFC] . Agusan del Sur province. 1♀, San Francisco , 13.IV.2018 (local coll. leg.) [ CJBC] ; 1♂, same place, 9.IV.2023 (local coll. leg.) [ CJBC] ; 1♀, same place, 13.VI.2023 (local coll. leg.) [ CJBC] ; 1♀, Sibagat , 6.I.2015 (local coll. leg.) [ CJBC] ; 1♂, same place, 23.XI.2022 (local coll. leg.) [ CJBC] ; 2♂, same place, 15.XII.2022 (local coll. leg.) [ CJBC] ; 1♀ 2♂, Esperanza , 12.IV.2018 (local coll. leg.) [ CJBC] ; 1♂, same place, 22.VIII.2021 (local coll. leg.) [ CJBC] ; 1♂, same place, 12.VII.2023 (local coll. leg.) [ CJBC] ; 1♂, Trento , 09. IX.2022 (local coll. leg.) [ CJBC] ; 1♂, same place, VIII.2023 (local coll. leg.) [ CJBC] ; 1♂, Borbon , 14.IX.2022 (local coll. leg.) [ CJBC] ; 2♂, San Luis , 21.XII.2022 (local coll. leg.) [ CJBC] . Cotabato province. 2♂, Kidapawan , 3.I.2015 (local coll. leg.) [ CJBC] ; 1♀, Mount Parker , 19.I.2023 (local coll. leg.) [ CJBC] . Bukidnon province. 1♂, Sumilao , 12.IV.2016 (local coll. leg.) [ CJBC] . Samar province. 1♀, Lope de Vega , 11.IX.16 (local coll. leg.) [ CJBC] ; 1♀, same place, 14.II.2020 (local coll. leg.) [ CJBC] ; 2♂, same place, 16.V.2021 (local coll. leg.) [ CJBC] ; 1♀, Kinopadan , 25.IV. 2023 (local coll. leg.) [ CJBC] . Davao del Sur province. 1♂, Mont Talomo , 1.III.2021 (local coll. leg.) [ CJBC] . Surigao del Sur province. 1♀, San Miguel , 8.I.2015 (local coll. leg.) [ CJBC] ; 1♂, same place, 12.VIII.2023 (local coll. leg.) [ CJBC] . Zamboanga del Norte province. 2♂, Siocon , 11.VIII.2022 (local coll. leg.) [ CJBC] ; 3♂, same place, 12.VI.2022 (local coll. leg.) [ CJBC] . Quezon province. 1♀, General Luna , 5.II.2023 (local coll. leg.) [ CJBC] ; 1♀, General Nakar, 16.II.2023 (local coll. leg.) [ CJBC]. Misamis province . 1♀, Cagayan de Oro, 18.I.2023 (local coll. leg.) [ CJBC] .

Diagnosis. Megascolia scutellaris ( Gribodo, 1893) differs from M. velutina ( Saussure, 1859) in females by having the scutellum and metanotum with sparse punctures; and the vertex, scutellum, and metanotum marked with yellow. In contrast, in M. velutina , the scutellum and metanotum have denser punctures; and the body is entirely melanistic, occasionally marked with yellow on the vertex. M. scutellaris differs from M. procer ( Illiger, 1802) in females by having the pronotum with dense punctures throughout, without distinct impunctate areas; and the scutum with dense and fine punctures basally. In contrast, in M. procer , the pronotum is largely impunctate medially and apically; and the scutum has sparser and coarser punctures basally.

M. scutellaris differs from M. procer in males by having the pronotum and scutum with dense and fine punctures throughout; and the T1 largely punctate, with sparse and coarse punctures basally. In contrast, in M. procer the pronotum has finer and sparser punctures; the scutum is largely impunctate medially; and the T1 has a broad impunctate basal area. M. scutellaris differs from M. velutina by having the scutum basally with extremely fine, dense, and coalescent punctures; and the scutellum and metanotum with sparse and coarse punctures. In contrast, in M. velutina the scutum basally has distinctly coarser and sparser punctures; and the scutellum and metanotum have denser and finer punctures.

Redescription. Female ( Fig. 26 View FIGURE 26 ). Length 40–54 mm.

Head ( Figs 26B, C View FIGURE 26 ). Disk of clypeus domed in the middle; coarsely and sparsely punctate medially, more finely and densely punctate on the rest. Fissura frontalis distinct, reaching the level of the lamina frontalis and ending in a shallow pit. Frons sparsely and finely punctate, the ocellar region bearing a few fine punctures. Vertex almost entirely impunctate, with only a few scattered punctures.

Mesosoma ( Fig. 26D View FIGURE 26 ). Pronotum densely and finely punctate over its entire surface, except in front of the tegula, with sparser and coarser punctures. Pronotum with a sharp, pointed and protruding tubercle in front of the tegula. Tegula largely impunctate; basally and along scutum with fine and dense punctures; medially with a few very sparse punctures. Scutum very finely and densely punctate, with coalescent punctures basally; more sparsely and coarsely punctate laterally; with fine and dense punctures medially and apically, often with two central impunctate bands. Scutellum finely and densely punctate basally, much more sparsely punctate apically. Metanotum finely and sparsely punctate; almost impunctate apically. Dorso-lateral area of propodeum densely and finely punctate, especially the region near the lateral area of the propodeum; anteriorly with an impunctate area (mirror). Dorso-median area of propodeum densely and coarsely punctate; more sparsely punctate medially, revealing an impunctate surface. Mesopleura densely and finely punctate all over. Anterior part of upper plate of metapleure densely and finely punctate on anterior two-thirds, more sparsely punctate on remainder, with small impunctate area on posterior third. Lower plate of metapleura densely and very finely punctate over almost its entire surface, except for a small impunctate surface near the lateral carina of the propodeum. Apical end of hind femur bearing dense tuft of bristles, without spines. Second transverso-cubital vein arriving well after the junction between the first transverso-cubital vein and the radial area. Anterior margin of marginal cell about 1.4 times greater than posterior margin.

Metasoma ( Fig. 26E View FIGURE 26 ). T1 with strong, pointed tubercle; very densely and finely punctate laterally and apically; more coarsely and less densely punctate with a small impunctate area basally. Basal part of T2 impunctate basally; densely and finely punctate laterally; very sparsely punctate medially; finely and densely punctate apically. T3 impunctate basally, except for fine and dense punctures along T2; densely and finely punctate laterally and apically. T4 and T5 with similar punctation, but the central impunctate area gradually reducing. Hypopygidium with coarse and dense punctures, except apex with impunctate surface. S1 slightly domed and impunctate, except laterally with coarse punctures forming a band meeting in the middle. S2 with blunt tubercle; with fine and dense punctures basally; impunctate medially; with dense and fine punctures on sides apically and with coarse and sparse punctures in the middle apically. S3 to S5 with similar punctation.

Coloration ( Fig. 26 View FIGURE 26 ). Head black with yellow spot on frons laterally and vertex; ocellar region black. Antennae black. Mesosoma black, with yellow markings on scutellum and metanotum. Metasoma entirely black. Legs black. Wings entirely dark, with blue/greenish reflections. Pilosity entirely black; yellow on the colored areas.

Male ( Fig. 27 View FIGURE 27 ). Length 33–40 mm.

Head ( Figs 27B, C View FIGURE 27 ). Inner margin of mandible with three distinct tooth (third apical tooth sometimes blunt and barely visible). Disk of clypeus densely punctate. Antennal segment XIII about 2.2 times as long as it is wide. Distinct fissura frontalis reaching the median ocelli and passing through the frontal pit. Cross-furrow distinct, its extension ending in the upper part of ocular sinus. Frontal spatium long, densely and finely punctate; pilosity long and dense. Median ocelli slightly depressed, larger than the posterior ocelli. Frons densely and finely punctate, particularly around posterior ocelli. Vertical frontal furrow distinct, its extension reaching the upper eye lobe. Vertex densely and finely punctate.

Mesosoma ( Fig. 27D View FIGURE 27 ). Pronotum very finely and densely punctate all over, inter-point space coalescent or almost so. Tegula largely coarsely and densely punctate, the rest with fine and dense punctures. Scutum with dense and fine punctures; with extremely fine and dense punctures (coalescent) basally. Scutellum with fine and dense punctures, more sparser medially; inter-point space medially well over twice the diameter of a point. Metanotum finely and sparsely punctate, with an impunctate area medially. Basal part of dorso-lateral area of propodeum with impunctate area (mirror); apical part finely and densely punctate, more finely and densely punctate under the mirror. Dorso-median area of propodeum densely punctate, inter-point space clearly smaller than the diameter of a puncture.

Metasoma ( Fig. 27E View FIGURE 27 ). T1 with a strong tubercle; very densely and finely punctate laterally and apically; more coarsely and less densely punctate basally and medially. T2 very finely and densely punctate all over, with coalescent punctures medially. T3 with small triangular area almost impunctate medially, rest densely and finely punctate. T4 and T5 densely and finely punctate. S1 slightly domed; entirely impunctate, except on the sides with coarse punctures forming a band meeting in the middle. S2 with a tubercle, finely and densely punctate basally; with sparse and dense punctures medially; with dense and fine punctures on sides apically and with sparse punctures in the middle apically. S3 to S6 with similar punctation.

Coloration ( Fig. 27 View FIGURE 27 ). Head entirely black.Antennae black. Mesosoma black, with yellow markings on scutellum and metanotum. Metasoma black. Legs black. Wings entirely dark, with purplish reflections. Pilosity entirely black; yellow on the colored areas.

Genitalia. See Fig. 15B View FIGURE 15 .

Distribution. The Philippines ( Agusan del Sur, Battan, Bukidnon, Cagayan, Cotabato, Davao del Sur, Laguna, Lanao del Sur, Misamis, Negros Occidental, Oriental Mindoro, Quezon, Samar, Sarangani, Surigao del Sur, Zamboanga del Norte) ( Rohwer 1921; Micha 1927; Betrem 1928; Petersen 1970) ( Fig. 24 View FIGURE 24 ).

Biology. Unknown.

Remarks. This species is endemic to The Philippines and has no known subspecies ( Betrem & Bradley 1964; Osten 2005b).