Divergence time analysis of the Neotropical wasp genus Protopolybia Ducke, 1905 (Vespidae, Polistinae, Epiponini) using a Multilocus Phylogenetic Approach.

The genus Protopolybia Ducke was analyzed using a multilocus phylogenetic approach, which confirmed its monophyly. In contrast with the arrangements derived solely from morphological data, however, this analysis divides the genus into only two major clades. The study also presents divergence times for the origin and diversification of Protopolybia, which are related to possible vicariant events occurring in the Amazon biome.

Taxonomic notes on the group of Mischocyttarus heliconius Richards 1941, with description of four new species (Hymenoptera: Vespidae, Polistinae).

Mischocyttarus heliconius was described by Richards (1941), being initially assigned to subgenus Kappa, and later to Clypeopolybia. That author subsequently described other similar species, and Silveira (2008) conceived the group as also including M. iperuae Richards, M. sericeus Richards, M. chanchamayoensis Richards, and M. piger Richards. However, the latter species is not a member of this group, which otherwise can be easily recognized by morphological characters. Three of these species were retrieved as forming a monophyletic group by Silveira (2008), but relations with other groups in Mischocyttarus are uncertain. Types and new material of the M. heliconius group are here revised, with addition of four new species (M. gorotire sp. nov., M. ipixuna sp. nov., M. luciliae sp. nov., M. ticuna sp. nov.), and a new identification key is presented. Mischocyttarus piger Richards is reassigned to the group of M. iheringi Zikn in the subgenus Haplometrobius Richards.

Rediscovery of the social wasp Mischocyttarus (Kappa) tapuya Schulz, with description of the female, larva and nest (Vespidae, Polistinae).

Mischocyttarus tapuya was originally described from a single male specimen collected in a forest near Belm, state of Par, Brazil, in the year of 1893, and had never been found again. We recently collected a colony of this species in an urban forest locality near Belm, and here describe the previously unknown female, mature larva, and nest of this social wasp.

Taxonomic revision of the P. chartergoides species-group of the genus Protopolybia Ducke, 1905 (Hymenoptera: Vespidae, Polistinae).

A taxonomic revision of the Protopolybia chartergoides species-group was undertaken. Protopolybia isthmensis (Richards) stat. nov. is elevated to the level of species. The male genitalia of P. chartergoides (Gribodo), P. fuscata (Fox), and P. pallidibalteatus (Cameron) are illustrated and described. New collection records and new identification keys are presented for the species groups of Protopolybia, and the species within the P. chartergoides species-group.

Taxonomic revision of the Protopolybia picteti-emortualis species-group (Richards, 1978), with descriptions of two new species (Hymenoptera: Vespidae, Polistinae).

A taxonomic revision of the Protopolybia picteti-emortualis species-group now demonstrates that this group is possibly the largest in Protopolybia, comprising 15 species: P. eldinaris sp. nov.; P. djaneteae sp. nov.; P. cameranii (Zavattari 1906) = P. bella (Von Ihering 1903) syn. nov.; P. fulvotincta stat. rev.; P. biguttata, P. nitida, P. alvarengai, P. iheringi, P. perfulvula, P. steinbachi, P. wheeleri, P. rotundata, P. picteti, P. emortualis and P. duckei. Male and female genitalia are illustrated for P. biguttata Bequaert, P. bella, P. nitida, P. fulvotincta and P. picteti. New collection records and a new identification key are presented for this species-group.

Taxonomic revision of the Protopolybia sedula species-group (Hymenoptera, Vespidae, Polistinae), with an new identification key to species.

A taxonomic review of the P. sedula species-group is presented. New diagnostic characters are described and all species redescribed. The male genitalia of P. sedula (de Saussure) and P. weyrauchi Bequaert are described and drawn. New collection records and a new identification key for the species-group are given.

Phylogeny of Protopolybia Ducke, 1905 and taxonomic revision of the Protopolybia exigua species-group (Hymenoptera: Vespidae, Polistinae), with description of four new species.

A first phylogenetic hypothesis is proposed for Protopolybia Ducke, 1905 based on cladistic analysis of 31 species. New evidence in support of monophyly of the genus is presented. A revision of the Protopolybia exigua species-group is also presented. Protopolybia diligens (Smith, 1857), stat. resurr. is revalidated. Four new species are described: P. collombiana Santos, Silveira & Carpenter, sp. nov., P. clypeata Santos, Silveira & Carpenter, sp. nov., P. similis Santos, Silveira & Carpenter, sp. nov., and P. potiguara Santos, Silveira & Carpenter, sp. nov. Protopolybia holoxantha (Ducke, 1904) and P. rubrithorax Bequaert, 1944 are redescribed. New synonymy is proposed for P. bituberculata Silveira & Carpenter, 1995 =Polybia nana Cameron, 1912 (nom. praeocc., nec de Saussure 1863), syn. nov. New records and description of the male genitalia are provided for some of the species of the P. exigua species-group.

New species of pollen wasps Paramasaris fernandae sp. nov. (Hymenoptera, Vespidae, Masarinae) from a rain forest locality in Brazilian Amazonia.

Paramasaris fernandae Silveira, sp. nov. is described from the Brazilian state of Pará, and its affinities with other species in the genus are discussed. Record of this new species greatly expands geographical range of occurrences for Paramasaris Cameron as a whole, and in a kind of forest habitat unusual for the group.