Alastor ( Alastorellus ) nigroflavus Giordani Soika, 1991

Alastor ( Alastorellus) nigroflavus Giordani Soika, 1991 View in CoL

( Figs 12B View FIGURE 12 , 62J View FIGURE 62 )

Alastor nigroflavus Giordani Soika, 1991b: 51 View in CoL , 52 (key), 54, ♀, (in subgenus Alastorellus )—“ Madagascar: Bekily ” (MSNVE).

Type material examined. HOLOTYPE: ♀ labelled “ Bekily / I-33 // HOLOTYPUS / Alastor / nigroflavus [red label]” ( MSNVE).

Distribution. Madagascar: Toliara ( Giordani Soika 1991b) ( Fig. 62J View FIGURE 62 ).

Notes. The three specimens in CAS were compared with the holotype of Alastor nigroflavus and differ from it in pattern (largely red and with white-yellow band on T1 – T3 and S2) and curvature of outer margin of tegula (more abruptly curved posteriorly). It cannot be excluded that they represent a distinct species, however the three specimens do not present further differences compared to the holotype and show a certain variability in the two aforementioned characters. Pending more abundant material, they are considered conspecific with Alastor nigroflavus .

Genus Antepipona de Saussure, 1855

Antepipona de Saussure, 1855: 244 View in CoL , name for section C of division V of subgenus Leionotus de Saussure View in CoL of genus Odynerus Latreille in de Saussure, 1853: 213 View in CoL (4 species); declared available from date of publication by Opinion 893 ( ICZN 1970) (no. 1858 of Official List of Generic Names in Zoology). Type species: Odynerus silaos de Saussure, 1853 View in CoL , by subsequent designation of van der Vecht (1967: 30); confirmed by Opinion 893 (no. 2338 of Official List of Specific Names in Zoology).

Odontodynerus Blüthgen, 1938: 280 View in CoL , subgenus of “ Euodynerus Blüthgen View in CoL ” [= Euodynerus Dalla Torre View in CoL ]. Type species: “ Odynerus orbitalis H.-Sch. 1841” [= Odynerus orbitalis Herrich-Schaeffer, 1839 ], by original designation. Junior subjective synonyms of Antepipona de Saussure, 1855 View in CoL according to van der Vecht (1970: 17).

Postepipona Giordani Soika, 1974a: 71 View in CoL , 77, genus. Type species: Postepipona socotrae Giordani Soika, 1974 View in CoL , by original designation and monotypy. Syn. nov.

Simplepipona Gusenleitner, 2004: 1075 View in CoL , 1079, genus. Type species: Simplepipona andreanicolor Gusenleitner, 2004 View in CoL , by original designation and monotypy. Syn. nov.

Notes. Giordani Soika (1974a) established the monotypic genus Postepipona View in CoL to accommodate the Socotra endemic Postepipona socotrae Giordani Soika, 1974 View in CoL , comparing it to the continental genus Antepipona View in CoL and providing as diagnostic characters the absence of the epicnemial carina, the convex and edentate metanotum, the shape of the propodeum and the hemispherical T1. Later, Borsato (1999) included in the genus a second species from Madagascar, Odynerus malagassus de Saussure, 1900 , but without providing any motivation. Gusenleitner (2004) described another monotypic genus, Simplepipona View in CoL , to accommodate the newly described Simplepipona andreanicolor View in CoL from Madagascar, comparing it with Anterhynchium de Saussure View in CoL but then synonymizing it under Postepipona View in CoL in a subsequent paper ( Gusenleitner 2011). Examination of the three species currently included in Postepipona View in CoL revealed that P. socotrae View in CoL and S. andreanicolor View in CoL , which is a junior synonym of Odynerus vatondrangyensis View in CoL (see under Antepipona vatondrangyensis ), belong in fact to Antepipona View in CoL , while Odynerus malagassus is a junior synonym of Odynerus melanus , which is considered as incertae sedis (see under “Species incertae sedis ” section). It could be argued that one of the main diagnostic characters of Antepipona View in CoL , the presence of sharp metanotal teeth, is not clearly observed in P. socotrae View in CoL and O. vatondrangyensis , but it is important to consider that a certain degree of reduction of these teeth is observed in several species of the genus occurring both in continental Africa and Madagascar, and some hints of metanotal teeth are still visible in both species. In particular, P. socotrae View in CoL shows some affinities with a group of continental species currently recognized as a distinct genus, Ovodynerus Giordani Soika View in CoL , which is characterized by a convex and weakly tuberculate metanotum, while O. vatondrangyensis is closely related to two other Malagasy endemic species, A. hova View in CoL and A. seyrigi View in CoL , which present the metanotal teeth reduced to short transverse carinae. Considering these affinities, the lack of metanotal teeth in these two species should be considered as a secondary loss of the character, making Postepipona View in CoL and Simplepipona View in CoL junior synonyms of Antepipona View in CoL .

Key to the Malagasy species of Antepipona View in CoL

1. T 1 in dorsal view more elongate, only slightly shorter than apically wide and distinctly narrower than T2; T 1 in lateral view strongly convex, with a distinct dorsal horizontal face. Parategula bearing a thick tuft of pale setae in its concavity................................................................................... A. lemuriensis (Giordani Soika) View in CoL

- T 1 in dorsal view less elongate, about half as long as apically wide and barely narrower than T2; T 1 in lateral view very weakly convex and almost entirely vertical, not forming a distinct horizontal face. Parategula without tuft of setae, entirely bare... 2

2. Lateral carinae of scutellum and metanotal teeth barely developed and blunt. Submarginal carina of propodeum forming a short and blunt lobe, not distinctly separated from valvula. Apical margin of T2 simple and not thickened.......................................................................................... A. vatondrangyensis (Giordani Soika)

- Lateral carinae of scutellum and metanotal teeth variably developed but always distinct and sharp. Submarginal carina of propodeum forming a long and sharp lobe, mostly separated from valvula. Apical margin of T2 variably reflexed and thickened in posterior view...................................................................................... 3

3. Both lateral carinae of scutellum and metanotal teeth form high subtriangular lobes, higher than their width at base. Apical margin of T2 and T3 strongly reflexed; apical margin of T2 higher than one ocellar diameter in posterior view......................................................................................... A. declarata Giordani Soika View in CoL

- Lateral carinae of scutellum not forming lobes; metanotal teeth forming short undulate lobes, shorter than their width at base. Apical margin of T2 weakly reflexed, margin of T3 only occasionally shallowly thickened; apical margin of T2 shorter than one ocellar diameter in posterior view........................................................................ 4

4. Lateral carinae of scutellum slightly higher in posterior half. Dorsal side of meso- and metasoma with barely visible pale pubescence. Male: F11 claw-shaped and small, reaching apex of F8. Female: punctures of clypeus coarser and denser, interspaces at most reaching puncture diameter in size....................................... A. hova (de Saussure) View in CoL

- Lateral carinae of scutellum of same height for whole length. Dorsal side of meso- and metasoma with brassy pubescence. Male: F11 flattened, apically expanded and large, reaching base of F8. Female: punctures of clypeus finer and sparser, interspaces exceeding puncture diameter in size.................................................. A. seyrigi (Giordani Soika) View in CoL