Variation in some characters of the genus Sceliphron (Hymenoptera: Sphecidae) in the Philippines

Abstract

The observed morphological and color variations for Sceliphron species in the Philippines are hereby reported. Sceliphron madraspatanum conspicillatum and Sceliphron rufopictum laticinctum have several variations in propodeal maculation pattern and in pronotal collar and petiole of the former. Postmortem color changes were also observed in S. r. laticinctum. A single yellow band on the third tergite of S. r. laticinctum is distinct when it is alive, and an additional yellow band develops on the posterior part of abdominal tergites 2-5 after death. Mandibles may either be sharp or blunt, and clypeus may be lobed or flat for S. r. laticinctum and Sceliphron javanum aemulum. However, newly emerged adults of these species have sharper mandibles and lobed clypeus. DNA barcoding was used to address intraspecific color and morphological variation of the Philippine Sceliphrini, but not all specimens were successfully barcoded because most of the specimens were very old and contaminated by fungi. However, this study came up with a new primer that has successfully barcoded 3% of the specimens.