On the dumping ground genus Scotaena Klug, 1810 (Hymenoptera, Tiphiidae, Thynninae): phylogeny, taxonomy, and geographic distribution

Author(s)

Fernando Henrique Carnimeo

• Document type: Master's Dissertation
• Press: São José do Rio Preto. 2017-05-05.
• Institution: Universidade Estadual Paulista (Unesp). Instituto de Biociências Letras e Ciências Exatas. São José do Rio Preto
• Defense date: 2017-04-28
• Advisor: Fernando Barbosa Noll

Abstract

Thynninae is the most diverse subfamily of Tiphiidae (Hymenoptera, Aculeata) and is distributed in the Neotropical and Australasian regions. It is subdivided into four tribes, among which Scotaenini comprises seven exclusively Neotropical genera. A recent cladistic analysis of Scotaenini did not indicate this clade as a monophyletic group, and suggested that Scotaena Klug, the type-genus of Scotaenini, is not monophyletic either. The 15 species of Scotaena have passed through several taxonomic changes since they were described, without any cladistic analysis to support them. Through the characterization of morphological structures of fixed male specimens, a cladistic analysis was carried out to unravel which species really belong to Scotaena. The analysis returned a single tree under equal weighting, in which the genus was shown to be paraphyletic and divided in several clades. Based on these results, three new combinations are proposed: Eucyrtothynnus rosenbergi (Turner, 1910) comb. n. (=Scotaena rosenbergi), Glottynoides genisei Kimsey, 1991 comb. n. (=Scotaena genisei), and Ornepetes clypearis Durán-Moya, 1941 comb. n. (=Scotaena clypearis). Two species are left as incertae sedis: Scotaena brunnea (Fox, 1898) inc. sed. and Scotaena pallida (Fox, 1898) inc. sed.. Three new genera are described, and their respective type species redescribed: Kaysara Carnimeo gen. n., Pseudoscotaena Carnimeo gen. n., and Pampathynnus Carnimeo gen. n.. Five new species are described: Scotaena reversa Carnimeo sp. n.; Kaysara laterolata Carnimeo sp. n., Kaysara apiciconcava Carnimeo sp. n., Kaysara marginoplicata Carnimeo sp. n., and Kaysara levicrenata Carnimeo sp. n.. Additionally, an identification key and geographical distribution maps are provided for the studied species. Scotaena is now restricted to comprise four species: S. trifasciata Klug, 1810; S. horni (Turner, 1927); S. vetusta Turner, 1909; and S reversa Carnimeo. These results, besides contributing to a better understanding of the group, will make further studies more feasible for Scotaena and the entire South-American Thynninae. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 15/06280-0 - A cladistic analysis and distribution of the Scotaena Klug species (Hymenoptera, Vespoidea, Tiphiidae, Thynninae)
• Grantee: Fernando Henrique Carnimeo
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master