Scoliini Latreille, 1802

Tribe Scoliini Latreille, 1802

Identification key to genera Gigascolia gen. nov., Megascolia , and Regiscolia stat. nov.

Females

1. Inner margin of mandible with a single distinct tooth ( Figs 1A, B View FIGURES 1–2 ). Anterior edge of clypeus broad, truncated in its central part; disk of clypeus flat, impunctate, or with some roughness but without central punctures; bordered by a fringe of dense setae ( Figs 1A, B View FIGURES 1–2 ). Pronotum without tubercle in front of the tegula ( Figs 2A, B View FIGURES 1–2 ). Scutum distinctly wider than long. Dorso-median area of propodeum flat, with a distinct transition to the postero-median area, forming a ridge ( Fig. 1A View FIGURES 1–2 ). Hind basitarsus with scopa on the inner extremity ( Fig. 4A View FIGURES 3–6. 3–5 ); apex of the hind basitarsus bordered by a row of spines of very unequal size ( Fig. 4A View FIGURES 3–6. 3–5 ). S1 short, raised in the middle, and densely punctate over almost its entire surface. Laterotergal area of T3 with a groove crossing the entire sclera ( Fig. 5A View FIGURES 3–6. 3–5 )............................................................................... 2

- Inner margin of mandible with two distinct teeth ( Fig. 1C View FIGURES 1–2 ). Anterior edge of clypeus narrower and not broadly truncated medially; disk of clypeus domed in the middle, usually almost entirely punctate; without a fringe of dense setae ( Fig. 1C View FIGURES 1–2 ). Pronotum with more or less prominent tubercle in front of the tegula ( Fig. 2C View FIGURES 1–2 ). Scutum almost as long as wide. Dorso-median area of propodeum sloping posteriorly, with an indistinct transition to the postero-median area ( Fig. 3B View FIGURES 3–6. 3–5 ). Hind basitarsus without scopa, generally impunctate ( Fig. 4B View FIGURES 3–6. 3–5 ); apex of the hind basitarsus bordered by a dense row of spines of similar size ( Fig. 4B View FIGURES 3–6. 3–5 ). S1 long, slightly elevated, and more sparsely punctate. Laterotergal area of T3 without groove ( Fig. 5B View FIGURES 3–6. 3–5 )............................................................................................. Megascolia Betrem

2. Inner margin of mandible with a sharp apical tooth ( Fig. 1A View FIGURES 1–2 ). Clypeus about three times longer than wide (significantly shorter than the length of scape) ( Fig. 1A View FIGURES 1–2 ). Lamina frontalis weak, not very prominent. Head sub-quadrangular. Callosity of pronotum with a vertical carina. Coxae III rounded, with a prominent tubercle on the inner surface. T1 without tubercle but with a vertical groove, more or less running through the entire tergite; pyriform, narrowing at the basal quarter ( Fig. 6A View FIGURES 3–6. 3–5 )................................................................................... Gigascolia Castagnet & Cabon , gen. nov.

- Inner margin of mandibles with a central tooth ( Fig. 1B View FIGURES 1–2 ). Clypeus about twice as long as wide (almost as long as the length of the scape) ( Fig. 1B View FIGURES 1–2 ). Lamina frontalis strong and prominent. Head rounded. Callosity of pronotum without carina. Coxae III more elongated, without prominent tubercle on the inner surface. T1 with a tubercle but without a vertical groove; campaniform, gradually widening ( Fig. 6B View FIGURES 3–6. 3–5 )............................................ Regiscolia Betrem & Bradley , stat. nov.

Males

1. Antennal segments long; segment III of antenna 2 to 2.2 times longer than wide. Scutum 1.1 to 1.2 times wider than long. Dorso-median area of propodeum steeply sloping posteriorly, transition to postero-median area indistinct ( Fig. 3B View FIGURES 3–6. 3–5 ). S1 flat and sparsely punctate. Latero-tergal area of T3 without groove ( Fig. 5B View FIGURES 3–6. 3–5 ).............................. Megascolia Betrem

- Antennal segments shorter; segment III of antenna 1.4 to 1.8 times longer than wide. Scutum 1.4 to 1.5 times wider than long. Dorso-median area of propodeum flat, transition to postero-median area distinct, usually forming a ridge ( Fig. 3A View FIGURES 3–6. 3–5 ). S1 raised in the middle and densely punctate over most of its surface. Laterotergal area of T3 with a groove ( Fig. 5A View FIGURES 3–6. 3–5 )............. 2

2. Inner margin of mandible with two distinct teeth. Mesosoma View in CoL large, almost as long as wide. Propodeum impunctate basally ( Fig. 3A View FIGURES 3–6. 3–5 ). T1 without tubercle, but with a vertical groove running more or less through the entire tergite ( Fig. 6A View FIGURES 3–6. 3–5 )................................................................................. Gigascolia Castagnet & Cabon , gen. nov.

- Inner margin of mandible with three distinct teeth. Mesosoma View in CoL long, about 1.2 to 1.3 times as long as wide. Propodeum densely punctate all over. T1 with tubercle but without vertical transverse groove ( Fig. 6B View FIGURES 3–6. 3–5 )... Regiscolia Betrem & Bradley , stat. nov.

Genus Gigascolia Castagnet & Cabon , gen. nov. https://zoobank.org/NomenclaturalActs/ 17D8A896-9614-45E4-AE44-9E57D4A96EC9

( Figs 1A View FIGURES 1–2 , 3A, 6A View FIGURES 3–6. 3–5 , 7–13 View FIGURE 7 View FIGURES 8–10 View FIGURE 11 View FIGURE 12 View FIGURE 13 )

Type species. Scolia speciosa Smith, 1858 , by present designation.

Species included. Two species: Gigascolia speciosa (Smith, 1858) , comb. nov. and Gigascolia speciosissima Castagnet & Cabon , sp. nov.

Diagnosis. The genus Gigascolia Castagnet & Cabon , gen. nov. is distinguished from the genus Megascolia Betrem, 1928 in both sexes by having the dorso-median area of propodeum flat, with a distinct transition to the postero-median area, forming a ridge; the T1 with a vertical groove, more or less running through the entire tergite; and the latero-tergal area of T3 with a groove crossing the entire sclera. In Megascolia , the dorso-median area of propodeum is sloping posteriorly, with an indistinct transition to the postero-median area; the T1 has a prominent tubercle instead of a vertical groove; and the latero-tergal area of T3 does not have a groove. Furthermore, females of Gigascolia , gen. nov. have the pronotum without tubercle in front of the tegula; the hind basitarsus with a scopa on the inner extremity; and the apex of hind basitarsus bordered by a row of spines of very unequal size. Whereas in Megascolia , the pronotum has a more or less prominent tubercle in front of the tegula; the hind basitarsus without a scopa; and the apex of hind basitarsus bordered by a dense row of spines of similar size.

The new genus is distinguished from the genus Regiscolia Betrem & Bradley, 1964 , stat. nov. in both sexes by having the T1 with a vertical groove, more or less running through the entire tergite. Whereas in Regiscolia stat. nov., the T1 has a prominent tubercle. In females, Gigascolia gen. nov. is distinguished from the genus Regiscolia stat. nov. by having the inner margin of mandible with a sharp apical tooth; the head sub-quadrangular; the lamina frontalis weak, not very prominent; the callosity of pronotum with a vertical carina; the coxae III rounded; and the T1 pyriform, narrowing at the basal quarter. In Regiscolia stat. nov., the inner margin of mandibles has a central tooth; the head is rounded; the lamina frontalis is stronger and prominent; the callosity of pronotum does not have a carina; the coxae III are elongated; and the T1 is campaniform, gradually widening. In males, Gigascolia gen. nov. is distinguished from the genus Regiscolia stat. nov. by having the inner margin of mandible with two distinct teeth; and the mesosoma large, almost as long as wide. In Regiscolia stat. nov., the inner margin of mandible has three distinct teeth; and the mesosoma is long, about 1.2 to 1.3 times as long as wide.

Generic description. Female. Mandibles with only a single sharp tooth at the apex. Clypeus about three times as long as wide. Anterior edge of clypeus broad, truncated in its central part; disk of clypeus flat, impunctate; bordered by a fringe of dense setae. Lamina frontalis weak, not very high, punctate only posteriorly. Frontal area forming an obtusangle almost flat. Frons and vertex almost impunctate. Head sub-quadrangular as long as it is wide. Mesosoma short, almost as long as wide. Pronotum without tubercle in front of tegula. Callosity of pronotum with vertical carina. Scutum less long than wide, largely impunctate, the rest with coarse and sparse punctures. Dorso-median area of propodeum wider than long; flat (not sloping), transition to postero-median surface forming pronounced ridge; at the same level as the dorso-lateral areas of propodeum. Coxae III rounded, with a protruding tubercle on the inner surface. Hind basitarsus bearing a scopa at the inner end; the apex bordered by a row of spines of very unequal size. Forewing with three submarginal cells. Second transverso-cubital vein arrives well after the junction between the first transverso-cubital vein and the radial area or reaching the same level as the junction between the first transverso-cubital vein and the radial area. T1 without tubercle, but with a vertical furrow running more or less through the entire tergite; pyriform, narrowed in basal quarter. Apical margin of basal tergites with tight, fine punctures and long, dense pilosity forming a band. Lateral tergal area of T3 finely and densely punctate, with a furrow crossing the tergite from one end to the other. S1 short, raised in the middle and densely punctate over most of its surface.

Male. Inner margin of mandible with two distinct tooth. Antennal segments short; segment III about 1.8 times longer than wide. Frontal area forms an almost flat obtusangle. Mesosoma almost as long as wide. Scutum 1.4 to 1.5 times wider than long. Dorso-median area of propodeum flat, wider than long, transition to postero-median surface distinct, usually forming a ridge. Dorso-median and dorso-lateral areas of propodeum impunctate on basal half. T1 with a vertical groove, crossing more or less the entire tergite. Lateral-tergal area of T3 with fine and dense punctures, with a furrow crossing the tergite from one end to the other. S1 raised in the center with dense punctures over most of its surface. Genitalia. Unknown.

Etymology. The genus name Gigascolia is derived from the ancient Greek γίγας, meaning “giant”, with the combination of the generic name “-scolia”. The gender is feminine.

Distribution. Indonesia ( South Sulawesi, Riau Islands, West Kalimantan), Malaysia ( Perak, Sarawak, Terengganu) ( Fig. 7 View FIGURE 7 ).

Remarks. Saussure, in his catalog of the old genus Scolia ( Saussure & Sichel 1864) , placed Scolia speciosa Smith, 1858 in the newly erected subgenus Triscolia given the presence of three submarginal cells. Betrem (1928), in his monograph of the Scoliidae of the Indomalayan and Australasian realms, subdivided the subgenus Triscolia into two sections ( Triscolia and Megascolia Betrem, 1928 ). He classified Scolia speciosa Smith, 1858 in the subgenus Triscolia sectio Megascolia . Later, Betrem & Bradley (1964) separated the genus Megascolia Betrem, 1928 , from the former Triscolia (now including strictly North American taxa), giving the new combination Megascolia ( Megascolia) speciosa (Smith, 1858) . Examination of the type of Scolia speciosa and a new species reveals excessive morphological differences with species belonging to the genus Megascolia and all other Scoliini genera. Furthermore, the work of Argaman (1996), revised by Taylor (2024a), although rich in new genera from the genus Megascolia sensus Betrem & Bradley (1964), does not allow to identify the genus to which the taxon speciosa belongs, the latter species does not appear to have been examined by Argaman.

Key to species of Gigascolia Castagnet & Cabon , gen. nov.

(Male is known in G. speciosa only)

Females

1. Clypeus with prominent and straight median lobe ( Fig. 8A View FIGURES 8–10 ). Scutellum with dense punctures. Dorso-median area of propodeum almost entirely punctate ( Fig. 9A View FIGURES 8–10 ). Dorso-lateral areas of propodeum densely punctate, except for a small impunctate surface anteriorly on the sides ( Fig. 9A View FIGURES 8–10 ). T 1 in the middle with coarse and deep punctures ( Fig. 10A View FIGURES 8–10 ). T2 and T 3 in the middle with coarse and sparse punctures. Head marked with two discontinuous transverse yellow bands; mesosoma and metasoma entirely black; wings with blue/purple reflections............................... G. speciosissima Castagnet & Cabon , sp. nov.

- Clypeus without median lobe ( Fig. 8B View FIGURES 8–10 ). Scutellum almost impunctate. Dorso-median area of propodeum almost entirely impunctate, few punctures on apical part ( Fig. 9B View FIGURES 8–10 ). Dorso-lateral areas impunctate of propodeum on the basal half ( Fig. 9B View FIGURES 8–10 ). T 1 in the middle with a large impunctate surface ( Fig. 10B View FIGURES 8–10 ). T2 and T 3 in the middle almost entirely impunctate. Head marked with large rounded yellow spot; pronotum, scutum on the sides, mesopleuron, and propodeum dorsally marked with yellow; T3 marked with two yellow spots; wings with greenish reflections........................ G. speciosa (Smith) , comb. nov.