Regiscolia fulvifrons ( Saussure, 1855 ), 2025

Regiscolia fulvifrons ( Saussure, 1855) , comb. nov.

( Figs 75–78 View FIGURE 75 View FIGURE 76 View FIGURE 77 View FIGURE 78 )

Scolia ( Lacosi) fulvifrons Saussure, 1855: 43 ( holotype, ♀, Indes Orientales , deposited in Natural History Museum of Genova,

not examined). Scolia personata Smith, 1855: 91 (synonymised by Saussure & Sichel 1864: 116). Scolia ( Discolia) fulvifrons : Saussure & Sichel 1864: 116; Dalla-Torre 1897: 161; Bingham 1897: 81. Scolia ( Triscolia) fulvifrons : Betrem 1927a: xcvii. Scolia View in CoL ( Triscolia sectio Triscolia ) fulvifrons : Betrem 1928: 238. Megascolia ( Regiscolia) fulvifrons : Betrem & Bradley 1964: 444; Bradley & Betrem 1967: 317; Bradley 1974: 441; Krombein

1978: 4; Gupta & Jonathan 2003: 140; Osten 2005b: 33; Kumar & Rajmohana 2017: 5. Elpaholta fulvifrons : Argaman 1996: 194.

Material examined. Thailand. Rayong province. 1♂, Koh Samet , 24.X.2014 (local coll. leg.) [ CJBC] . Vietnam. Hòa Bình province. 1♂, Hòa Bình, 15.V.1997 (local coll. leg.) [ CJBC]. Lâm Đ ồng province . 3♀, Bảo Lộc, 12.IV.2018 (local coll. leg.) [ CJBC] ; 2♀, same place, 18.IV.2020 (local coll. leg.) [ CJBC] ; 3♀, same place, 23.IV.22 (local coll. leg.) [ CJBC] ; 1♀, same place, 12.IV.2023 (local coll. leg.) [ CJBC]. Ngh ệ An province . 1♀, Ngh ệ An , VI.2022 (local coll. leg.) [ CJBC] ; 2♀ 1♂, Vinh , 9.VI.2022 (local coll. leg.) [ CJBC] ; 1♀, same place, 27.IX.2021 (local coll. leg.) [ CJBC] ; 5♂, same place, 12.VI.2023 (local coll. leg.) [ CJBC] . Kon Tum province. 1♂, Kon Tum, 7.VI.2022 (local coll. leg.) [ CJBC] .

Diagnosis. Regiscolia fulvifrons ( Saussure, 1855) , comb. nov. differs from R. almoraensis ( Gupta & Jonathan, 2003) , comb. nov., R. bidens ( Linnaeus, 1767) , comb. nov., R. maculata ( Drury, 1773) , comb. nov., and R. rubida ( Gribodo, 1893) , comb. nov. in females by having the apical part of scutum with sparse punctures medially or without punctures, thus not forming a continuous band of punctures along the scutellum; the dorso-median area of propodeum distinctly longer than the metanotum; and the basal part of T2 has finer and denser punctures forming a band, the median part being sparsely and coarsely punctate. In contrast, in R. almoraensis , R. bidens , R. maculata , and R. rubida , the apical part of scutum has a denser and uninterrupted band of punctures along the scutellum; the dorso-median area of propodeum is shorter, approximately equal to the length of the metanotum; and the basal part of T2 has sparser punctures similar to those of the median part. In males, R. fulvifrons differs by having the area around and between the posterior ocelli with sparse and coarse punctures; and the length of the dorso-median area of propodeum significantly greater than that of the metanotum. In contrast, in R. almoraensis , R. bidens , R. maculata , and R. rubida , the area around and between the posterior ocelli has denser, tighter, finer, and agglomerated punctures; and the length of the dorso-median area of propodeum is nearly equal to that of the metanotum. In both sexes, the wings of R. fulvifrons are entirely dark. Whereas in R. almoraensis , R. bidens , R. maculata , and R. rubida , they are bicolored, yellowish in the cells and dark elsewhere (in R. almoraensis the wings are almost entirely black).

R. fulvifrons is easily distinguished from R. capitata ( Fabricius, 1804) , comb. nov. in both sexes, by having the head with coarse and dense punctures; and the mesosoma entirely melanistic. In contrast, in R. capitata the head is almost entirely impunctate with finer and sparser punctures; and the scutellum, metanotum, dorso-median area of propodeum are marked with yellow.

R. fulvifrons is distinguished from R. azurea ( Christ, 1791) , comb. nov. and R. alecto (Smith, 1858) , comb. nov. in females, by having the apical margin of clypeus with two prominent lateral lobes; and the disk of clypeus domed and fully reticulated. In contrast, in R. fulvifrons , the apical margin of clypeus does not have distinct lateral lobes; and the disk of clypeus is flat, impunctate, and weakly striated. In males, R. fulvifrons differs by having the T3 with a small impunctate area in the middle. Whereas in R. azurea , R. alecto and R. splendida , the T3 has a large central impunctate area. In both sexes, the metasoma of R. fulvifrons has black pilosity, yellow in the colored areas. Whereas in R. azurea , the metasoma has red pilosity apically.

Redescription. Female ( Fig. 75 View FIGURE 75 ). Length 32–41 mm.

Head ( Figs 75B, C View FIGURE 75 ). Mandibles short and thickened at the apex. Median mandibular tooth small and prominent, sometimes blunt. Anterior margin of clypeus straight with two prominent lateral lobes; disk of clypeus domed and fully reticulated. Fissura frontalis distinct, ending in the frontal pit, weakly visible up to the anterior ocellus. Frons with dense but spaced punctures, mostly impunctate in front of the anterior ocellus. Vertex with dense but spaced punctures.

Mesosoma ( Fig. 75D View FIGURE 75 ). Pronotum with very fine, tight and dense punctures. Tegula with coarse punctures mixed with micropunctures at base and along scutum. Scutum almost impunctate; with more or less fine, and dense punctures basally along the pronotum; with sparse and coarse punctures laterally; impunctate, sometimes with a few sparse punctures apically. Scutellum with fine and dense punctures basally and medially; with sparse punctures laterally; impunctate apically. Metanotum with fine, tight and dense punctures, with a large impunctate central band. Dorso-lateral area of propodeum with very dense, tight and fine punctures, with a small impunctate area (mirror) anteriorly. Dorso-median area of propodeum without protruding projections; clearly longer than the length of the metanotum; with fine, tight and dense punctures. Upper plate of metapleuron impunctate on its lower half, densely and finely punctate on the rest. Anterior margin of marginal cell longer than or equal to posterior margin. Forewing generally with two submarginal cells, sometimes three on one or both wings. Hind tibiae spurs of similar length.

Metasoma ( Fig. 75E View FIGURE 75 ). T1 with a tubercle not depressed in the middle; with very sparse and coarse punctures basally; with very dense, tight and fine punctures laterally and apically. T2 with dense, tight and fine punctures basally and apically; with scattered and coarse punctures medially. T3 almost entirely impunctate basally and medially; with dense, tight and fine punctures apically. T4 to T5 with similar punctation, but the central impunctate area gradually reduced. S1 with dense and fine punctures laterally, mostly impunctate on the rest. S2 with blunt transversal tubercle; with fine, tight and dense punctures basally; with sparse and coarse punctures medially; with dense and fine punctures apically, with sparse punctures in the middle apically. S3 to S5 with similar punctation.

Coloration ( Fig. 75 View FIGURE 75 ). Head marked with yellowish-orange on frons, vertex and tempora; ocellar region generally black. Antennae black. Mesosoma black. Metasoma black, T3 marked with two yellowish-orange spots, often fused in a band; T4 sometimes and more rarely T5 (exceptionally with two small yellowish spots on T2). Legs black. Wings entirely dark. Pilosity black, except in the colored areas.

Male ( Fig. 76 View FIGURE 76 ). Length 26–35 mm.

Head ( Figs 76B, C View FIGURE 76 ). Inner margin of mandible with three distinct tooth (third apical tooth sometimes blunt and barely visible). Disk of clypeus with coarse punctures medially, denser and finer punctures on sides. Fissura frontalis visible reaching median ocelli. Frontal cross-furrow poorly defined. Frontal spatium with dense and fine punctures over its entire surface. Anterior ocelli shallowly depressed, larger than posterior ocelli. Frons with dense and coarse punctures, except around anterior ocellus impunctate. Vertex with dense and coarse punctures.

Mesosoma ( Fig. 76D View FIGURE 76 ). Pronotum with dense and fine punctures over its entire surface, inter-points spaces almost coalescent; with an oblique groove at the boundary between dorsal and lateral surfaces; in lateral view, pronotum forming a ridge. Tegulae with dense and coarse punctures, finer posteriorly. Scutum with very dense and fine punctures over its entire surface, coarser laterally; inter-points spaces about equal to the diameter of a puncture, without impunctate area. Scutellum with dense and coarse punctures over its entire surface. Metanotum with dense punctures over its entire surface, punctures less coarser than on scutellum. Dorso-lateral area of propodeum without an impunctate area (mirror), with dense and coarse punctures over its entire surface. Dorso-median area of propodeum without protruding projections; with coarse and dense punctures over its entire surface. Anterior margin of marginal cell longer than posterior margin. Anterior wings with two submarginal cells, sometimes three on one or both wings.

Metasoma ( Fig. 76E View FIGURE 76 ). T1 with a strong tubercle; with fine and dense punctures laterally and apically, with coarser punctures medially, except for a small area above the tubercle which is impunctate. T2 with fine and dense punctures over its entire surface. T3 similarly punctate, except for a small area in the center which is impunctate. T4 with a small triangular area impunctate basally, with coarse and dense punctures on the rest. T4-T5 with coarse and dense punctures over their entire surface. S1 raised in the center, with dense and fine punctures laterally, impunctacte medially. S2 with blunt transverse tubercle; with dense, tigh and fine punctures basally and laterally, sparser medially and apically. S3 with very sparse punctures medially, more denser laterally. S4-S6 similarly punctate.

Coloration ( Figs 76 View FIGURE 76 , 77 View FIGURE 77 ). Head black, generally with orange-reddish spot on ocular sinus and behind eyes. Mesosoma black. Metasoma black, T3 marked with two yellowish-orange spots, often fused in a band ( Fig. 76 View FIGURE 76 ); sometimes also present on T4, T5 and T6 ( Fig. 77 View FIGURE 77 ). Wings entirely dark. Pilosity black, except in the colored areas.

Genitalia. See Fig. 31F View FIGURE 31 .

Distribution. Bangladesh, India ( Assam, Sikkim, West Bengal), Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam ( Hòa Bình, Lâm Đồng, Nghệ An, Kon Tum; new record) ( Bingham 1897; Betrem 1928; Bradley & Betrem 1967; Gupta & Jonathan 2003; Kumar & Rajmohana 2017) ( Fig. 78 View FIGURE 78 ). Gupta & Jonathan (2003) cite the species in Singapore, but this data appears to be erroneous and is not considered valid here.

Biology. Unknown.

Remarks. Regiscolia fulvifrons is highly variable in coloration. In typical males ( Fig. 76 View FIGURE 76 ), only the T3 is widely marked with a broad yellowish-orange band. Sometimes the yellowish-orange band on the T3 is divided into two lateral spots. The T4 can also be similarly marked, as can T5 and T6 ( Fig. 77 View FIGURE 77 ). More rarely, the T2 has two very small lateral spots. In females, the common form has a broad yellowish-orange bands on T3 and T4. These bands may be more or less divided, or absent on T4. More exceptionally, the T5 can also be yellowish-orange.

R. fulvifrons has no known subspecies.