The Neotropical social wasp Mischocyttarus ‘alfkenii’ Ducke (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) is a pair of ethospecies
Date
2012-06-28
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Abstract
In Trinidad, West Indies, wasps matching the description of Mischocyttarus
alfkenii build two readily distinguishable nest forms, differing both in architecture
(excentric versus centric petiole) and colour (yellowish grey-brown versus
reddish medium brown). Analysis of two mitochondrial genes (16S and cytochrome c
oxidase subunit I, COI) in excentric- and centric-form M. ‘alfkenii’ consistently segregates
individuals from the two nest forms, with genetic divergences comparable with
those observed among other species in the genus. Geometric morphometric analysis of
wing venation likewise recovers consistent differences between nest forms. Integrating
behavioural, genetic and morphometric evidence corroborates the hypothesis that
the two nest forms correspond to distinct species of recent common ancestry. Notes
accompanying the description of M. alfkenii indicate that the name belongs to the
species in which the nest has an excentric petiole and paler carton. The other species
is described as Mischocyttarus baconi