Regiscolia capitata ( Fabricius, 1804 ), 2025

Castagnet, Jean-Baptiste & Cabon, Flavien, 2025, Review of the genus Megascolia Betrem, 1928 (Hymenoptera, Scoliidae), Zootaxa 5700 (1), pp. 1-127 : 84-89

publication ID

https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5700.1.1

publication LSID

lsid:zoobank.org:pub:5589FAA6-35E7-4830-82A5-620339E38448

persistent identifier

https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03B687D7-FFCD-FFFF-63E4-09A1FF68D73C

treatment provided by

Plazi

scientific name

Regiscolia capitata ( Fabricius, 1804 )
status

comb. nov.

Regiscolia capitata ( Fabricius, 1804) , comb. nov.

( Figs 72–74 View FIGURE 72 View FIGURE 73 View FIGURE 74 )

Scolia capitata Fabricius, 1804: 239 ( holotype, ♂, Sumatra, deposited in ZMK, not examined); Tullgren 1904: 465.

Scolia patricialis Burmeister, 1854: 19 ; Smith 1855: 110 (synonymised by Betrem & Bradley 1964: 442).

Triscolia patricialis : Gribodo 1893: 167.

Triscolia patricialis var. plebeja Gribodo, 1893: 167 ( ♀ nec ♂ synonymized by Betrem & Bradley 1964: 444 with capitata pendleburyi)

Scolia View in CoL ( Scolia View in CoL , Triscolia ) patricialis : Dalla-torre 1897: 173.

Scolia ( Scolia , Triscolia ) patricialis var. plebeja : Dalla-torre 1897: 173.

Triscolia patricialis : Cameron 1905: 52.

Triscolia capitata : Cameron 1905: 53.

Triscolia procer form capitata : Micha 1927: 109.

Triscolia patricialis : Micha 1927: 111.

Triscolia patricialis patricialis : Micha 1927: 111–115.

Triscolia patricialis kuntzeni Micha, 1927: 115–116 (synonymised by Betrem & Bradley 1964: 442 with capitata capitata ).

Triscolia patricialis plebeja : Micha 1927: 117.

Triscolia patricialis brunneipennis Micha, 1927: 115–116 . Syn. nov.

Scolia ( Triscolia) patricialis : Betrem 1927b: 292.

Scolia View in CoL ( Triscolia sectio Megascolia ) procer var. capitata : Betrem 1928: 241.

Scolia View in CoL ( Triscolia sectio Megascolia ) patricialis : Betrem 1928: 233.

Scolia View in CoL ( Triscolia sectio Megascolia ) patricialis plebeja : Betrem 1928: 235.

Scolia View in CoL ( Triscolia sectio Megascolia ) patricialis var. leefmansi Betrem, 1928: 235 . Syn. nov.

Scolia View in CoL ( Triscolia sectio Megascolia ) patricialis kuntzeni: Betrem 1928: 236.

Scolia View in CoL ( Triscolia sectio Megascolia ) patricialis bruneipennis: Betrem 1928: 236.

Megascolia ( Regiscolia) capitata capitata : Betrem & Bradley 1964: 444; Bradley & Betrem 1964: 11.

Megascolia ( Regiscolia) capitata var. patricialis : Betrem & Bradley 1964: 444; Bradley 1972: 12; Osten 2005b: 29.

Megascolia ( Regiscolia) capitata var. plebeja : Betrem & Bradley 1964: 444 ( ♂ nec ♀).

Megascolia ( Regiscolia) capitata var. leefmansi : Betrem & Bradley 1964: 444.

Megascolia ( Regiscolia) capitata var. brunneipennis : Betrem & Bradley 1964: 444; Osten 2005b: 29.

Megascolia ( Regiscolia) capitata pendleburyi Betrem & Bradley, 1964: 444 ; Osten 2005b: 29. Syn. nov.

Megascolia ( Regiscolia) capitata capitata intrasubspecific form patricialis : Bradley & Betrem 1966: 77.

Megascolia ( Regiscolia) capitata capitata ? form brunneipennis: Bradley 1972: 6.

Megascolia ( Regiscolia) capitata : Bradley 1973a: 285.

Xirgoniqua capitata : Argaman 1996: 196.

Megascolia ( Regiscolia) capitata var. kuntzeni : Osten 2005b: 29.

Megascolia capitata : Khouri et al. 2022: 24–29, 31–34, 36–38.

Material examined. Indonesia. North Kalimantan province. 2♂, Kalambuku , 12.V.2011 (local coll. leg.) [ CJBC] . West Sumatra province. 2♀, Payakumbuh , 24.VII.2015 (local coll. leg.) [ CJBC] ; 1♂, Payakumbuh, 13.III.2015

(local coll. leg.) [ CJBC]. West Kalimantan province. 3♂, Lumar , 28.V.2019 (local coll. leg.) [ CJBC] ; 4♀, same place, 21.IV.2022 (local coll. leg.) [ CJBC] ; 1♀, Mount Bawang , 21.IV.2022 (local coll. leg.) [ CJBC] ; 2♀ 3♂, same place, VII.2022 (local coll. leg.) [ CJBC]. Malaysia. Sarawak province . 2♀ 3♂, Long Lama , 12.VI.2012 (local coll. leg.) [ CJBC] .

Diagnosis. Regiscolia capitata ( Fabricius, 1804) , comb. nov. is easily distinguished from R. alecto (Smith, 1858) , comb. nov., R. almoraensis ( Gupta & Jonathan, 2003) , comb. nov., R. azurea ( Christ, 1791) , comb. nov., R. bidens ( Linnaeus, 1767) , comb. nov., R. fulvifrons ( Saussure, 1855) , comb. nov., R. maculata ( Drury, 1773) , comb. nov., R. rubida ( Gribodo, 1893) , comb. nov. and R. splendida ( Saussure, 1858) , comb. nov. in both sexes by having the head almost entirely impunctate with very fine and sparse punctures; and the scutum, metanotum, dorso-median area of propodeum and T1 generally marked with yellow. In contrast, in other Regiscolia species, the head has coarser and denser punctures; the mesosoma is entirely melanistic (except in R. splendida splendida , where the pronotum and scutum are orange; and in R. maculata , R. bidens and R. rubida , where the scutellum is sometimes marked with yellow or orange); and the metasoma is never marked with yellow on the T1.

Redescription. Female ( Fig. 72 View FIGURE 72 ). Length 39–46 mm.

Head ( Figs 72B, C View FIGURE 72 ). Mandibles short and thickened at the apex. Median mandibular tooth small and prominent, sometimes blunt. Anterior margin of clypeus straight, with lateral lobes weakly indicated; disk of clypeus slightly domed and reticulated; impunctate in the middle. Fissura frontalis distinct, ending in the frontal pit. Frons with sparse and shallow punctures. Vertex almost impunctate.

Mesosoma ( Fig. 72D View FIGURE 72 ). Pronotum with very fine, tight and dense punctures. Pronotum finely and densely punctate basally, more coarsely and sparsely punctate on the rest. Tegula almost impunctate. Scutum with fine, tight and dense punctures basally, at the level of the notauli, with a small surface featuring very fine, coalescent, and dense punctures; laterally with sparse punctures, except for antero-lateral corners with very dense, coalescent and fine punctures; impunctate medially and apically. Scutellum almost impunctate, with fine and sparse punctures medially. Metanotum with fine, tight and dense punctures, with an 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 dense punctures, with more sparse punctures medially. Upper plate of metapleuron impunctate on its lower quarter, densely punctate on the rest. Anterior margin of marginal cell longer than or equal to posterior margin. Forewing with three submarginal cells. Hind tibiae spurs unequal in length.

Metasoma ( Fig. 72E View FIGURE 72 ). T1 with a tubercle not depressed in the middle; coarsely and sparsely punctate 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. 72 View FIGURE 72 ). Head marked with yellow on frons, vertex and tempora; ocellar region black. Antennae black. Mesosoma black, scutellum, metanotum and propodeum most often marked with yellow. Metasoma black, T1 basally and T3 generally marked with yellow. Legs black. Wings entirely dark. Pilosity of pronotum, metanotum, propodeum and metasoma forming tufts of very dense, tight long setae; black, except in the colored areas.

Male ( Fig. 73 View FIGURE 73 ). Length 23–37 mm.

Head ( Figs 73B, C View FIGURE 73 ). Inner margin of mandible with three distinct tooth (third apical tooth sometimes blunt and barely visible). Disk of clypeus with coarse and dense but sparse punctures medially, denser and finer punctures basally and laterally. Fissura frontalis not visible. Frontal cross-furrow visible, its extension reaching the lower part of the ocular sinus. Frontal spatium with dense, tight and fine punctures. Anterior ocelli depressed, larger than posterior ocelli. Frons almost impunctate, with sparse, fine and shallow punctures. Vertex almost impunctate, with very scattered, fine and shallow punctures.

Mesosoma ( Fig. 73D View FIGURE 73 ). Pronotum with dense, tight and fine punctures over its entire surface, inter-points spaces almost coalescent.Tegula with dense and coarse punctures in its anterior half, with shallow and dense micropunctures on the rest. Scutum with fine and dense punctures in its anterior third; more sparser and coarser laterally; largely impunctate medially and apically. Scutellum with fine and dense punctures basally, sparser medially and mostly impunctate apically. Metanotum with fine and dense punctures laterally, impunctate line in the middle. Dorso-lateral area of propodeum with a small impunctate area (mirror) anteriorly; with fine, dense and tight punctures. Dorso-median area of propodeum without protruding projections; with fine and dense punctures, sparser punctures medially. Anterior margin of marginal cell longer than posterior margin. Forewing with three submarginal cells.

Metasoma ( Fig. 73E View FIGURE 73 ). T1 with a large but blunt tubercle; very dense and fine punctures laterally and apically; largely impunctate basally at the level of tubercle. T2 with fine, tight and dense punctures over its entire surface. T3 with fine, tight and dense punctures, with a small area with sparse punctures in the middle basally. T4-T6 similarly punctate. S1 raised in the middle, with dense punctures 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 ( Fig. 73 View FIGURE 73 ). Clypeus, frontal area, frons, vertex and tempora yellow, black on the rest. Mesosoma black, generally scutellum, metanotum and dorso-median area of the propodeum marked with yellow. Metasoma black, T1 (often) and T3 marked with yellow. Pilosity black, except in the colored areas.

Genitalia. See Fig. 31E View FIGURE 31 .

Distribution. Indonesia ( Bengkulu, East Kalimantan, North Kalimantan, North Sumatra, West Kalimantan, West Sumatra), Malaysia ( Pahang, Penang, Perak, Sabah, Sarawak, Selangor) ( Micha 1927; Betrem 1928; Betrem & Bradley 1964) ( Fig. 74 View FIGURE 74 ).

Biology. Unknown.

Remarks. Two subspecies are currently considered ( Betrem & Bradley 1964; Osten 2005b): ssp. capitata ( Fabricius, 1804) from East Malaysia and Indonesia and ssp. pendleburyi Betrem, 1964 from Peninsular Malaysia. The ssp. pendleburyi Betrem, 1964 is distinguished from the nominate subspecies by having the mesosoma and T1 entirely black, whereas the mesosoma is marked with yellow on the scutellum, metanotum and dorso-median area of the propodeum and T 1 in the nominate subspecies ( Betrem & Bradley 1964). Numerous variations exist for the nominal subspecies: var. patricialis Burmeister, 1854 . var. plebeja Gribodo, 1893 , var. leefmansi Betrem, 1928 and var. brunneipennis Micha, 1927 ( Betrem & Bradley 1964).

Fabricius (1804) described Scolia capitata Fabricius, 1804 on the basis of a male from Sumatra ( Betrem & Bradley 1964). Nevertheless, this species has long been known as Scolia patricialis Burmeister, 1854 ( Gribodo 1893; Cameron 1905; Micha 1927; Betrem 1928). Micha (1927) recognized four subspecies of S. patricialis ( ssp. patricialis Burmeister, 1854 , ssp. kuntzeni Micha, 1927 , ssp. plebeja Gribodo, 1893 , and ssp. brunneipennis Micha, 1927 ) and Betrem (1928) only two ( ssp. patricialis Burmeister, 1854 , and ssp. plebeja Gribodo, 1893 ). Betrem (1928) further subdivided the subspecies plebeja into three varieties: “A”, “B” and leefmansi Betrem, 1928. Later, Bradley & Betrem (1964) synonymized patricialis with capitata , thus considering two subspecies: ssp. capitata and ssp. pendleburyi . They proposed patricialis , plebeja , brunneipennis and leefmansi as variations of the nominal subspecies, and kuntzeni Micha, 1927 was synonymized with the nominal subspecies. Later, Osten (2005b) recognized the same subspecies, with Scolia patricialis Burmeister 1854 synonymized with the nominal subspecies; brunneipennis Micha, 1927 and kuntzeni Micha, 1927 as probable variations of the nominal subspecies; and plebeja Gribodo, 1893 and leefmansi Betrem, 1928 as synonyms of ssp. pendleburyi .

Gribodo (1893) described Triscolia patricialis var. plebeja based on a female from Borneo and a male from Malacca, which differ from the original form by having the mesosoma and T1 entirely black (the scutellum is faintly marked with yellow). According to Betrem & Bradley (1964), the male and female types of plebeja Gribodo, 1893 represent two different geographical subspecies. The female corresponds to the ssp. capitata (Borneo-Sumatra) , while the male represents the subspecies pendleburyi Betrem, 1964 (Peninsular Malaysia). However, according to Betrem & Bradley (1964), Bradley had studied in 1928 the material held at the Genoa Museum and did not find the male specimen, which had been previously examined by Betrem (1928). Still according to them, based on this selection, T. patricialis plebeja Gribodo, 1893 was assigned to the Borneo-Sumatra subspecies and not to that of Peninsular Malaysia. However, the valid subspecies for Borneo-Sumatra was capitata Fabricius, 1804 . Thus, the female designated by Betrem & Bradley (1964) as the lectotype of T. patricialis plebeja Gribodo, 1893 was placed in synonymy with the nominal subspecies capitata . The missing male from Peninsular Malaysia of T. patricialis plebeja Gribodo, 1893 was placed in synonymy with the new ssp. pendleburyi Betrem, 1964 , in order to avoid secondary homonymy, as the name plebeja was already occupied by Scolia plebeja Klug, 1810 ( Betrem & Bradley 1964; Bradley 1973a). However, Scolia plebeja Klug, 1810 had already been proposed as a synonym of Scolia villosa Fabricius, 1793 (= Colpa quinquecincta ( Fabricius, 1793)) as early as 1928 ( Betrem 1928), and officially synonymized starting in 1968 ( Bradley & Betrem 1968; Betrem & Bradley 1972).

We have not examined any material from Peninsular Malaysia, but the specimens we have examined from Borneo and Sumatra show great variation in coloration on the mesosoma and metasoma, with the yellow spots sometimes very small or even absent. In addition, the female type of Triscolia patricialis var. plebeja (Borneo) shows the same variation as the ssp. pendlebury Betrem, 1964 (Peninsular Malaysia). Neither Betrem nor Bradley have explained this resemblance ( Betrem & Bradley 1964). Scolia ( Triscolia sectio Megascolia ) patricialis var. leefmansi Betrem, 1928 , and Triscolia patricialis brunneipennis Micha, 1927 , are distinguished by subtle differences in body or wing coloration. Pending the study of specimens from Peninsular Malaysia, Scolia ( Triscolia sectio Megascolia ) patricialis var. leefmansi Betrem, 1928 , syn. nov., Triscolia patricialis brunneipennis Micha, 1927 , syn. nov., and Megascolia ( Regiscolia) capitata pendleburyi Betrem, 1964 , syn. nov. are placed as synonyms of Regiscolia capitata , the variations in coloration having more to do with intraspecific variability than with real taxonomic entities.

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Arthropoda

Class

Insecta

Order

Hymenoptera

Family

Scoliidae

Genus

Regiscolia

Loc

Regiscolia capitata ( Fabricius, 1804 )

Castagnet, Jean-Baptiste & Cabon, Flavien 2025
2025
Loc

Megascolia capitata

Khouri, Z. & Gillung, J. P. & Kimsey, L. S. 2022: 24
2022
Loc

Megascolia ( Regiscolia ) capitata var. kuntzeni

Osten, T. 2005: 29
2005
Loc

Xirgoniqua capitata

Argaman, Q. 1996: 196
1996
Loc

Megascolia ( Regiscolia ) capitata

Bradley, J. C. 1973: 285
1973
Loc

Megascolia ( Regiscolia ) capitata capitata

Bradley, J. C. 1972: 6
1972
Loc

Megascolia ( Regiscolia ) capitata capitata

Bradley, J. C. & Betrem, J. G. 1966: 77
1966
Loc

Megascolia ( Regiscolia ) capitata capitata

Bradley, J. C. & Betrem, J. G. 1964: 444
Bradley, J. C. & Betrem, J. G. 1964: 11
1964
Loc

Megascolia ( Regiscolia ) capitata var. patricialis

Osten, T. 2005: 29
Bradley, J. C. 1972: 12
Bradley, J. C. & Betrem, J. G. 1964: 444
1964
Loc

Megascolia ( Regiscolia ) capitata var. plebeja

Bradley, J. C. & Betrem, J. G. 1964: 444
1964
Loc

Megascolia ( Regiscolia ) capitata var. leefmansi

Bradley, J. C. & Betrem, J. G. 1964: 444
1964
Loc

Megascolia ( Regiscolia ) capitata var. brunneipennis

Osten, T. 2005: 29
Bradley, J. C. & Betrem, J. G. 1964: 444
1964
Loc

Megascolia ( Regiscolia ) capitata pendleburyi

Osten, T. 2005: 29
Bradley, J. C. & Betrem, J. G. 1964: 444
1964
Loc

Scolia

Betrem, J. G. 1928: 241
1928
Loc

Scolia

Betrem, J. G. 1928: 233
1928
Loc

Scolia

Betrem, J. G. 1928: 235
1928
Loc

Scolia

Betrem, J. G. 1928: 235
1928
Loc

Scolia

Betrem, J. G. 1928: 236
1928
Loc

Scolia

Betrem, J. G. 1928: 236
1928
Loc

Triscolia procer

Micha, I. 1927: 109
1927
Loc

Triscolia patricialis

Micha, I. 1927: 111
1927
Loc

Triscolia patricialis patricialis

Micha, I. 1927: 111
1927
Loc

Triscolia patricialis kuntzeni

Bradley, J. C. & Betrem, J. G. 1964: 442
Micha, I. 1927: 116
1927
Loc

Triscolia patricialis plebeja

Micha, I. 1927: 117
1927
Loc

Triscolia patricialis brunneipennis

Micha, I. 1927: 116
1927
Loc

Scolia ( Triscolia ) patricialis

Betrem, J. G. 1927: 292
1927
Loc

Triscolia patricialis

Cameron, P. 1905: 52
1905
Loc

Triscolia capitata

Cameron, P. 1905: 53
1905
Loc

Triscolia patricialis

Gribodo, G. 1893: 167
1893
Loc

Triscolia patricialis var. plebeja

Bradley, J. C. & Betrem, J. G. 1964: 444
Gribodo, G. 1893: 167
1893
Loc

Scolia patricialis

Bradley, J. C. & Betrem, J. G. 1964: 442
Smith, F. 1855: 110
Burmeister, H. C. C. 1854: 19
1854
Loc

Scolia capitata

Tullgren, A. 1904: 465
Fabricius, J. C. 1804: 239
1804
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