A taxonomic review of the genus Parancistrocerus Bequaert (Hymenoptera: Vespidae: Eumeninae) from the Indian subcontinent with the description of three new species Author P. Girish Kumar Author J. M. Carpenter Author P. M. Sureshan text Halteres 2016 7 1 36 156 journal article 10.5281/zenodo.192283 c1f56f9c-98ae-4dd9-9990-e87d4ce20c4a 2348-7372 192283 Genus Parancistrocerus Bequaert Parancistrocerus Bequaert, 1925 : 64, subgenus of Ancistrocerus Wesmael. Type species: Odynerus fulvipes de Saussure, 1855 [= O . “flavipes Fabricius” sensu de Saussure, 1852 , non Vespa flavipes Fabricius, 1775 ], by original designation. Diagnosis: T2 smooth basally, forming acarinarium beneath apex of T1 that is often full of mites (often concealed, tergum should be bent backwards to expose acarinarium); anterior face of pronotum with two close set, deeply impressed fovea, which may be approximated; propodeum with submarginal carina produced into pointed lamella apically and valvula enlarged and free posteriorly from submarginal carina; metanotum without tubercles; forewing with second submarginal cell not petiolate; metasoma sessile. Distribution: Nearctic, Neotropical, Oriental and Palaearctic regions. Key to species and subspecies of Parancistrocerus Bequaert from the Indian subcontinent (Modified from Giordani Soika, 1994 ) 1. T2 with apical margin prolonged in middle (see Fig. 1 of Giordani Soika, 1972 : 102 and Fig. 41 of Giordani Soika, 1994 : 163)……………………………………...2 - T2 with apical margin normal, not prolonged in middle (Figs. 6, 12, 18, 27, 33 & 39)…………………………………6 2. Superior carina of the propodeum well developed and distinct, especially at the top, where they clearly separate the horizontal dorsal face of the propodeum from the posterior face…… P. capocacciai Giordani Soika - Superior carina of propodeum not developed as above and irregular,no clear separation of dorsal and posterior surfaces of the propodeum………………………..3 3. Female unknown. Male: distance between clypeal teeth much shorter than basal width of clypeus, area between clypeal teeth more closely emarginate at apex; antennae with 11th article short, not longer than wide; apical antennal article very long, its apex reaches far beyond base of 11th article…………………….. P. irritatus Giordani Soika - Male: distance between clypeal teeth slightly less than basal width of clypeus, area between clypeal teeth broadly emarginate at apex; antennae with 11th article long, about 1.50x as long as wide; apical antennal article short, its apex reaches to or slightly beyond base of 11th article……………………... P. incorruptus Giordani Soika ………………………... 4 4. T1 mostly red-ferruginous………………5 - T1 not red-ferruginous…………...ssp. kalimpongensis Giordani Soika 5. Propodeum mostly red-ferruginous; T2 without apical yellow band…………...ssp. incorruptus Giordani Soika - Propodeum black; T2 with apical yellow band………………………………….ssp. demens Giordani Soika 6. T2 strongly reflexed at apex…………… ………...... P. assamensis (Meade-Waldo) - T2 not reflexed at apex………………….7 7. S2 strongly and sharply lowered at base then widely and almost entirely depressed………………………………...8 - S2 convex at base, very weakly depressed after……………………………………...9 8. Anterior face of T1 without median vertical carina on its upper half; clypeus of female more widely and deeply emarginate at apex…………... P. rhipheus (Cameron) - Anterior face of T1 with median vertical carina on its upper half (Fig. 11); clypeus of female more narrowly and less deeply emarginate at apex (Fig. 8)......................... …………….. P. holzschuhi Gusenleitner 9. Vertical anterior face of T1 about as long as, or even longer than dorsal horizontal face……………………………………..10 - Vertical anterior face of T1 distinctly shorter than dorsal horizontal face……..11 10. Width between apical teeth of clypeus equal to width between antennal sockets; upper carina of propodeum lamellate; punctures on T1 and T2 denser; markings on pronotum, mesopleuron, metanotum, T1, T2 and S2 ferruginous………… P. feai Giordani Soika - Width between apical teeth of clypeus less than width between antennal sockets (Fig. 29); upper carina of propodeum not lamellate (Fig. 32); punctures on T1 and T2 fine, superficial; markings on pronotum, mesopleuron, metanotum, T1, T2 and S2 yellow……………... P. turensis Girish Kumar & Carpenter sp. n. 11. Dorsal face of propodeum absent mesally, not forming horizontal area behind midline of metanotum (Figs. 16 & 38)………….12 - Dorsal face of propodeum forming horizontal area behind midline of metanotum (Figs. 5 & 26)……………...13 12. T2 with almost regular apical yellow band, about 2 irregular rows of punctures at median area of yellow band; punctures on T2 larger than that of alternative species; T1 with narrow apical yellow band, about 2-3 irregular rows of punctures at yellow band; clypeus of female black with broad yellow band at base and apex…………….. ………………. P. vicinus Giordani Soika - T2 with wavy apical yellow band, about 4- 5 irregular rows of punctures at median area of yellow band; punctures on T2 smaller than that of alternative species; T1 with broad apical yellow band, about 4-6 irregular rows of punctures at yellow band; clypeus of female yellow except a brownish black spot at middle………….... …………….. P. jaferpaloti Girish Kumar & Carpenter sp. n. 13. Occipital carina complete (Fig. 4); interspaces between punctures on mesopleuron and posterior portion of mesoscutum not carinate; body punctures less strong than that of alternative species; in female, cephalic fovea with a single deep pit………….. P. androcles androcles (Meade-Waldo) - Occipital carina not complete, evanescing at vertex (Fig. 25); interspaces between punctures on mesopleuron and posterior portion of mesoscutum carinate; body punctures stronger than that of alternative species; in female, cephalic fovea with two closely set pits………... P. loharbandensis Girish Kumar & Carpenter sp. n.