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Issue: Vol. 5701 No. 2: 2 Oct. 2025
Type: Article
Published: 2025-10-02
DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5701.2.2
Page range: 122-130
Abstract views: 103
PDF downloaded: 2

The Neotropical Zethus biglumis species-group (Hymenoptera, Vespidae, Zethinae): description of three new species, with notes on the evolution of the group

Departamento de Ciências Biologicas; Instituto de Biociências; Letras e Ciências Exatas; Universidade Estadual Paulista “Júlio de Mesquita Filho”; São José do Rio Preto; Brazil
Setor de Zoologia; Departamento de Biologia; Instituto de Ciências Naturais; Universidade Federal de Lavras; Lavras; Brazil
Hymenoptera taxonomy leaf-cutting wasps external morphology

Abstract

With approximately 300 species, Zethus is the most speciose genus within the Vespidae. In a past phylogenetic study, Z. rugosiceps Fox was in the center of a discussion about the transition between two species-groups. However, the specimen used as basis was misidentified. Herein this specimen is described as a new species, Zethus nolli Lopes, sp. nov., and other two new, closely related species, Z. acromion Lopes, sp. nov. and Z. coracoides Lopes & Hermes, sp. nov., are also described. A key to the species of the biglumis group closely related to Z. rugosiceps is given and finally a brief reinterpretation of the evolutionary transition between the Z. biglumis and Z. clypearis species groups is provided.

 

References

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How to Cite

Lopes, R.B. & Hermes, M.G. (2025) The Neotropical Zethus biglumis species-group (Hymenoptera, Vespidae, Zethinae): description of three new species, with notes on the evolution of the group. Zootaxa, 5701 (2), 122–130. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5701.2.2