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34
AMPULEX 8|2016 Schmid-Egger: Psenulus pallipes group
Introduction
The Psenulus pallipes-species group recently includes
in Central Europe 3 species, P. chevrieri (= brevitarsis), P.
pallipes and P. meridionalis. Other similar species from
the Mediterranean area are P. pan de Beaumont, 1967,
P. pygmaeus (Tournier, 1898), and P. cypriacus van Lith,
1973. They were not examined and are not treated
here. During the Genetic Barcoding of the digger was-
ps from Central Europe (see Schmidt et. al. 2015 for
further details about this project), we could examine
several specimens of the Psenulus pallipes group from
Central Europe and from southern France. The results
are presented here, except of the genetic data, which
will be published in another paper (Schmid-Egger et
al., in preparation).
Identification
Key to Females of Central Europe
Denition of the species of the P. pallipes-group: Sterni-
tes 4 and 5 apically with row of long setae (silk spinne-
rets; see Melo 1997), propodeum nely striate, clypeus
punctate. The lower corner of the interantennal plat-
form is prolonged into a vertical keel. This keel con-
nects the platform with the horizontal keels/carinae in
the medial part of the face. The form of vertical part of
this keel is diagnostic, and it is mentions here as „ver-
tical keel“. It is simple or double. „Double“ means that
both lower corners of the interantennal platform bears
a vertical keel, and both keels are more or less subpar-
allel (g. 4, 7).
The Psenulus pallipes species group in Central
Europe (Hymenoptera, Crabronidae)
Dr. Christian Schmid-Egger
Fischerstraße 1 | 10317 Berlin | Germany | christian@ampulex.de | www.bembix.de
Zusammenfassung
Christian Schmid-Egger: Die Psenulus pallipes-Gruppe in Mitteleuropa (Hymenoptera, Crabronidae). During the Genetic Barcoding
of the digger wasps from Central Europe (see Schmidt et. al. 2015 for further details about this project), we could examine several
specimens of the Psenulus pallipes group from Central Europe and from the mediterranean area. The Barcoding result clearly allows
a distinction of P. chevrieri (=brevitarsis), P. pallipes and P. meridionalis specimens from Centreal Europe. This result conrms the state
of P. chevrieri (=brevitarsis) as valid species, and it was possible to nd new diagnostic characters for all three species. Morphological
as well as genetic results show a high diversity in Psenulus pallipes specimens. This topic is not examined here and further research is
needed.
Summary
During the Genetic Barcoding of the digger wasps from Central Europe (see Schmidt et. al. 2015 for further details about this project),
we could examine several specimens of the Psenulus pallipes group from Central Europe and from the mediterranean area. The Bar-
coding result clearly allows a distinction of P. chevrieri (=brevitarsis), P. pallipes and P. meridionalis specimens from Centreal Europe.
This result conrms the state of P. chevrieri (=brevitarsis) as valid species, and it was possible to nd new diagnostic characters for all
three species. Morphological as well as genetic results show a high diversity in Psenulus pallipes specimens. This topic is not examined
here and further research is needed.
Fig. 1: Psenulus chevrieri ♀, head (Foto: Schurian)
Fig. 2: Psenulus meridionalis ♀, dorsally (Foto: Schurian)
AMPULEX 8|2016
35
Schmid-Egger: Psenulus pallipes group
1. Interantennal platform medially at least 1.5x as wide
as diameter of midocellus (g. 4). Vertical keel below
interantennal platform double. Mesopleuron en-
closure with marked horizontal striation. (g. 3). .
. . . . . . . meridionalis de Beaumont, 1937
– Interantennal platform medially less than 1.5x as
wide as diameter of midocellus (gs. 1, 5). Vertical
keel simple, at most in medial and upper part (gs.
1, 5). Mesopleuron dierent . . . . . . . . . 2
2. Interantennal platform medially wider than diame-
ter of midocellus (1.1–1.2x) (g. 1). Clypeus entirely
nely and densely punctured, dull. Striation of late-
ral parts of propodeal dorsum coarser than in P. pal-
lipes . . . . . . . . chevrieri (Tournier, 1889)
– Interantennal platform medially narrower than diame-
ter of midocellus (0,8–0,9x) (g. 5). Clypeus punctate
with shiny interspaces, laterally often with a smooth
area (but variable character, and in some specimens
entirely densely punctured). Striation of lateral parts
of propodeal dorsum ner than in P. chevrieri . .
. . . . . . . . . . . pallipes (Panzer, 1798)
Key to Males of Central Europe
Denition of the species of the P. pallipes-group: Vertex
between eyes and lateral ocellus striate. Median ventral
keel of mesoepisternum (ventral part of pleura) with
diagonal striae.
1. Midtarsus, including claws, at most 1.2x as long as
midtibia (g. 6). Midtarsal segment III and VI similar
in length. Midfemora (seen from behind, measured
medially on largest diameter) short and thick, 2.5x
as long as wide (g. 6). Longest setae of midfemora
beneath not longer than midocellar diameter. – AS
3–6 (–8) with tyloids, rst and last tyloid often in-
distinct. Tyloids narrow/oval, yellowish or dark, in
apical third of AS. Interantennal platform somewhat
narrower than midocellar diamater, vertical keel
simple, at most in medial and upper part . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . chevrieri (Tournier, 1889)
– Midtarsus at least 1.3x as long as midtiba (in ave-
rage 1.5x) (g. 8). Midtarsal segment III longer than
VI. Midfemora narrower, 3.75x as long as maximal
width (g. 8). Longest setae of midfemora beneath
at long as 2x midocellar diameter. – Tyloids and in-
terantennal platform otherwise. . . . . . . . 2
Fig. 3: Psenulus meridionalis ♀, thorax laterally (Foto:
Schurian)
Fig. 4: Psenulus meridionalis ♀, head (Foto: Schurian)
Fig. 5: Psenulus pallipes ♀, head (Foto: Schurian)
36
AMPULEX 8|2016 Schmid-Egger: Psenulus pallipes group
2. Interantennal platform narrower than midocellar
diameter, vertical keel simple, at most in medial and
upper part (g. 9). Platform shorter than lower keel.
Tyloids variable, in typical form AS 4–10 (–11) with
oval to longitudinal reddish tyloids, in middle of AS,
last tyloids short, other specimens with only minute
tyloids on AS 4–6 (7) . . . pallipes (Panzer, 1798)
– Interantennal platform wider than midocellar dia-
meter, vertical keel double, at most in medial and
upper part (g. 7) Platform longer than lower keels.
AS (3–) 4–7 (–8) with linear dark tyloids, in middle of
AS, apical tyloids short. . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . meridionalis de Beaumont, 1937
Discussion of species
Psenulus chevrieri (Tournier, 1889)
status restituted. Figures 1, 6
= Psenulus brevitarsis Merisuo, 1937, syn. nov.
Discussion
The mentioned species has been treated as valid (e.g.
Jacobs, 2007) or as synonym of P. pallipes (e.g. Bitsch et
al. 2007, Pulawski 2015). Species recognition based so
far only on males and on length of mid tarsus, which is
markedly shorter than in P. pallipes. Reliable characters
for female recognition were never published. However,
the taxon is clearly distinguishable from P. pallipes and
therefore without doubt a valid species. Genetic data
support this assumption. Most recent authors used the
taxa name Psenulus brevitarsis (e.g. Jacobs 2007). Ho-
wever, Bitsch et al. (2007) pointed out that the taxon
was already described by Tournier as P. chevrieri. The
type specimen is characterized by a short mid tarsus
of male, what agree with the denition of P. brevitarsis
and makes the synonymy of both taxa probable. I share
this viewpoint. Consequently P. chevrieri must be mo-
ved from synonymy as a valid species (stat. res.), and
P. brevitarsis placed as a junior synonym (syn.nov.) of P.
chevrieri.
Diagnosis
The female is characterized by a large interantennal
elevation. It is markedly wider than in P. pallipes and
only somewhat narrower than that of P. meridionalis.
Remaining characters from literature (see Jacobs, 2007)
are not suited for species recognition. Punctation of
vertex between eye and hindocellus is variable, and
P. pallipes may have a smooth vertex, while P. chevrieri
may have some marked striae. Pygidial area on tergite
VI is in general shorter in P. chevrieri than in P. pallipes
(what means that extension of lateral keels versus ter-
gal base is shorter in P. chevrieri than in P. pallipes, but
length is variable and therefore not suited as a good
character for species recognition). Another good cha-
racter is clypeus punctation, denser on whole clypeal Fig. 9: Psenulus pallipes ♂, head (Foto: Schurian)
Fig. 6: Psenulus chevrieri ♂, midleg (Foto: Schurian)
Fig. 7: Psenulus meridionalis ♂, head(Foto: Schurian)
Fig. 8: Psenulus pallipes ♂, midleg (Foto: Schurian)
AMPULEX 8|2016
37
Schmid-Egger: Psenulus pallipes group
Material examined (all coll. Schmid-Egger)
Germany, female Bavaria, Starnberg, Lake of Maisingen
22.7.2004 – Hungary. 2 males 20.7.1990 Valencer See –
Greece male 27.8.1989 Joannina lake.
Psenulus pallipes (Panzer, 1798) s.lat.
Figures 5, 8, 9
Discussion
For distinction from P. chevrieri and P. meridionalis see
above. P. pallipes in Central Europe probably includes
two or more valid species in the present denition. In
the examined material it can be observed a high varia-
bility in puncture of mesoscutum, a character already
mentioned by former authors (see discussion in Doll-
fuss & Bitsch 2007). Mesoscutum is in some specimens
nearly smooth with minute punctures only, which are
3–5 diameters apart. Other specimens have a dense
punctation with large punctures, and with small inter-
spaces (0,5–2 diameters apart). Also clypeus punctati-
on is variable (densely and nely punctured, versus all
shiny with some minute punctures). Additionally the
males show two dierent types of antennal tyloids (see
key).
Larger specimens with denser punctation are descri-
bed as Psenulus pallipes s. str., and smaller ones with mi-
nute punctation as Psenulus pygmaeus (Tournier, 1898).
However, the examined material includes a wide varia-
tion in punctation etc., and a clear species recogniti-
on is not possible yet. The distinction of males in two
groups with 4, resp. 8 tyloids is easier, but the antennal
structure is not correlated with punctation of the me-
soscutum. The subject needs further examination.
Another problem are four specimens from southern
France. The males have a long midtarsus, and are there-
fore similiar to P. pallipes. Females from the same loca-
tion, however, have a large interocellar platform and
resembles therefore P. chevrieri.
The genetic barcoding of Psenulus pallipes s. lat. results
in two dierent genetic clades for Central European
species, with a genetic dierence of around 1.5–2 %.
Both clades each agree with the morphological cha-
racters for P. pallipes s. str. and P. chevrieri. The genetic
tree will not be presented here, but published soon
(Schmid-Egger et al. in preparation).
The present results remain provisional and refer only to
Central Europe. In the Mediterranean area further spe-
cies of the Psenulus pallipes species group have been
described, which have to be taken into account when
studying the species: Psenulus pan de Beaumont, 1967
from Turkey, Psenulus cypriacus van Lith, 1973 from
Cyprus, and P. pygmaeus (Tournier, 1898) from Switzer-
land. The barcoding results supports this assumption,
because two males from northern Italy (Aosta) and
surface, giving the clypeus a dull and grained-like mi-
crosculptured surface in P. chevrieri.
Male is characterized by a short midtarsus, which is
(including claws) as long as or somewhat longer than
midtibia. Midfemora is markedly thicker and shorter
than in P. pallipes and P. meridionalis, setae are shorter
as in both remaining species. Length of pubescence,
however, may be variable. Antennal segments 3–7 (–9)
have short oval tyloids.
Material examined
70 females and 30 males from coll. Schmid-Egger: Ger-
many: Bavaria: Dachau; Passau; Straubing; – Rhinland
Palatinate: Wachenheim; Ingelheim; Bacherach – Ba-
den-Württemberg: Niefern/Enz; Freudenstein/Strom-
berg; Mühhausen/Enz; Südbaden/Grissheim; Müllheim
– Mecklenburg-Vorpommern: Darß/Wieck – Hessen:
Odenwald/Erbach. Italy: Valle d‘Aosta/St Pierre. From
coll. Neumeyer: Switzerland: 3 females 1997 Uri/See-
dorf, male 2012 Tessin/Malvaglia.
P. brevitarsis was described from Finnland (Merisuo,
1937).
Psenulus meridionalis Beaumont, 1937
Figures 2, 3, 4, 7
Discussion
P. meridionalis is in most keys mainly characterized by
marked striae on mesopleuron (e.g. Jacobs 2007, Bitsch
et al. 2007). This character may not be suited for a clear
species recognition, because P. chevrieri also may have
a marked striation on mespleuron in both sexes, similar
to that of P. meridionalis. So, the best recognition cha-
racter is the large interantennal platform, which is dif-
ferent from that of P. pallipes and P. chevrieri. Also, form
of the antennal tyloids in male is a good recognition
character.
Diagnosis
P. meridionalis is unique among the P. pallipes species
group by a very large interantennal platform and the
form of the anterior and posterior keels (in front and
behind of the platform). P. meridionalis has two subpar-
allel keels in front of face, and the remaining species
only a single keel. Also, platform is longer as length of
anterior keels in P. meridionalis, and shorter in remai-
ning species. Mesopleuron is always markedly striate,
and male antennal segments (3–) 4–7 (–8) have linear
tyloids, which are in most specimens dark. They are
oval and party reddish in remaining species.
Distribution
Widely distributed in southern Europe, Turkey etc. It re-
aches Central Europe in Germany, Hungary and Austria.
Probably rare in Germany, and restricted to the border
of lakes with Phragmites.
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AMPULEX 8|2016 Schmid-Egger: Psenulus pallipes group
Jacobs, H.-J. (2007). Die Tierwelt Deutschlands und
der angrenzenden Meeresteile nach ihren Merkma-
len und nach ihrer Lebensweise. Begründet 1925
von Friedrich Dahl. 79. Teil in S. M. Blank and A.
Taeger (editors). Hymenoptera III. Die Grabwespen
Deutschlands. Ampulicidae, Sphecidae, Crabroni-
dae. Bestimmungsschlüssel. Goecke & Evers, Keltern.
207 pp.
Melo, G.A.R. 1997. Silk glands in adult sphecid wasps
(Hymenoptera, Sphecidae, Pemphredoninae). Jour-
nal of Hymenoptera Research 6: 1–9.
Pulawski, W. (2015). Catalog of Sphecidae sensu lato.
http://researcharchive.calacademy.org/research/
entomology/entomology_resources/Hymenoptera/
sphecidae/
southern France dier genetically from P. pallipes s. str.
and P. chevieri, and a female from Tunisa also represents
a dierent clade. So, more material and more genetic
data have to be taken into account for nal results in
this species group.
Material examined
20 females 14 males from coll. Schmid-Egger
Germany: Bavaria: Passau, Plattling; Obernzell/Bayeri-
scher Wald – Rhinland Palatinate:; Büchelberg – Baden-
Württemberg: Black-Forest/Belchen; Niefern; Horb,
– Brandenburg; Cottbus. Italy: Valle d‘Aosta, St Pierre
(with dierent BIN, see above). From coll. Neumeyer:
Switzerland: 3 males 1995 Uri/Seedorf, 2 males 1995
Basel. Italy, female 2010 Ragogna.
Mediterranean area, only specimens which agree with
P. pallipes s. lat., are taken into account (all coll. Schmid-
Egger): Greece, Kreta/Omalos. France: Procence: a
male and a female each from: Basses Alpes/Lurs, and
Bouches du Rhone/Alpille/Aureille.
Comments about distribution
Psenulus pallipes is in the examined material rarer than
P. chevrieri. However, Achim Jacobs (in lit.) found a rela-
tion of nearly 50/50 % of both species in his large coll-
ection, mainly from northern Germany, and P. pallipes
occurs up to the coast of the Baltic sea in northeast
Germany. Probably both species are widely distributed
and common in whole Central Europe.
Acknowledgements
My particular thanks goes to Dr. Stefan Schmidt, Jero-
me Morinière and other members of the „Barcoding
team“ of the Zoologische Staatsammlung, Munich/
Germany for providing the genetic data, and to Dr.
Rainer Neumeyer, Zürich, for sending specimens for ex-
amination. I thank Bernhard Schurian from the Muse-
um für Naturkunde, Berlin/Germany for his support in
taking pictures. Gabriel Melo kindly checked the draft
and the English.
Literature
Bitsch, J. et al. (2007). Faune de France. France et régions
limitrophes. 79. Hyménoptères Sphecidae d›Europe
occidentale. Volume 3. Fédération Française des Soci-
étés de Sciences Naturelles, Paris.479 pp.
AMPULEX 8|2016
39
Literatur- & Buchbesprechungen
Scheuchl, E. & H.R. Schwenninger (2015).
Kritisches Verzeichnis und aktuelle
Checkliste der Wildbienen Deutschlands
(Hymenoptera, Anthophila) sowie
Anmerkungen zur Gefährdung.
Mitteilungen des Entomologischen
Vereins Stuttgart 50: 1–225.
Bezug: Entomologischen Verein Stuttgart
Adresse: Daniel Bartsch, Staatliches Museum für Na-
turkunde, Rosenstein 1, 70191 Stuttgart, Telefon.
0711/8936-220, Email: Daniel.Bartsch@smns-bw.de.
(Preis 15 Euro + Portokosten)
Kurz vor Redaktionsschluss erreichte uns noch eine
weitere Publikation, die wir auf jeden Fall noch vorstel-
len wollen. Es handelt sich um eine neue und aktuel-
le Checkliste der deutschen Wildbienenarten. Dieses
Verzeichnis ist dringend erforderlich, weil sich in den
letzten Jahren ja zahlreiche Veränderungen auf taxono-
mischer und nomenklatorischer Ebene ergeben haben.
Die Arbeit führt auf 225 Seiten alle 582 aktuell in
Deutschland nachgewiesenen Bienenarten auf und
kommentiert diese ausführlich. Dabei werden die fol-
genden Informationen angegeben: Deutscher Name,
eine Deutung des wissenschaftlichen Artnamens, ein
Kommentar zur Art sowie aktuelle Synonyme, Anmer-
kungen zur Verbreitung, eine Übersicht über den Ro-
te-Liste-Status der Arten in Deutschland sowie in den
einzelnen Bundesländern. Neben den in Deutschland
sicher nachgewiesenen Arten werden auch eine Reihe
von zweifelhaften Arten kommentiert, die aus verschie-
denen Gründen von der Faunenliste zu streichen sind.
Hervorzuheben ist gleichfalls die sehr fundierte Zusam-
menstellung der Gefährdungsursachen und aktuellen
Verschärfung der Bestandssituation bei vielen Arten.
Daraus werden Forderungen nach lange notwendigen
Maßnahmen abgeleitet.
Eine Tabelle mit Nachweisen aus den einzelnen Bun-
desländern sowie ein ausführliches Literaturverzeich-
nis runden die Arbeit ab.
Die Arbeit ist jedem, der mit Wildbienen arbeitet, sehr
zu empfehlen.
Christian Schmid-Egger
Bestimmungsschlüssel für die
skandinavischen Goldwespenarten
Paukkunen, J. A. Berg, V. Soon, F.
Ødegaard, P. Rosa (2005): An illustrated
key to the cuckoo wasps (Hymenoptera,
Chrysididae) of the Nordic and Baltic
countries, with description of a new
species. ZooKeys 548: 1–116 (2015).
http://zookeys.pensoft.net/articles.php?id=6164
Für die Freund der Goldwespen gibt es gute Nachrich-
ten. Ein Autorenteam aus Skandinavien und Italien hat
einen hervorragend ausgestatteten und illustrierten
neuen Bestimmungsschlüssel für die Goldwespen der
nordeuropäischen und baltischen Länder vorgelegt.
Die Arbeit ist in englischer Sprache abgefasst. Der
besondere Wert der Arbeit liegt darin, dass ihm völlig
neue und umfassende Schlüssel, aussagekräftige Be-
schreibungen und zahlreiche Farbfotos von sehr ho-
her Qualität zu Grunde liegen. Dazu kommen aktuelle
Verbreitungsangaben sowie ausführliche Angaben zur
Nomenklatur und Taxonomie. Dazu werden aktuelle
Angaben zu den Wirten der Arten gemacht .
Besonders hervorzuheben ist ein neuer und auf den
ersten Blick überzeugender Schlüssel für die Arten der
Chrysis ignita-Gruppe, die ja bisher große Schwierig-
keiten bei der Bestimmung bereiteten. Es ist zu hoen,
dass diese schwierige Artengruppe damit nun leichter
bearbeitet werden kann.
Das Werk enthält 74 Arten und umfasst damit fast alle
Arten, die auch aus Deutschland nachgewiesen sind.
Vor allem bei kritische Artengruppen wie Omalus s.lat.
oder Hedychridium sowie bei der Chrysis ignita-Gruppe
deckt der Schlüssel praktisch alle deutschen Arten mit
ab. Daher ist der Schlüssel auch für unseren Raum sehr
zu empfehlen und löst damit wohl endgültig die bishe-
rigen Schlüssel von Peter Kunz und Walter Linsenmaier
ab.
Christian Schmid-Egger
