identifier	taxonID	type	CVterm	format	language	title	description	additionalInformationURL	UsageTerms	rights	Owner	contributor	creator	bibliographicCitation
03B687D7FF9BFFAC63E40C20FA04D007.text	03B687D7FF9BFFAC63E40C20FA04D007.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Scoliini Latreille 1802	<div><p>Tribe Scoliini Latreille, 1802</p><p>Identification key to genera Gigascolia gen. nov., Megascolia, and Regiscolia stat. nov.</p><p>Females</p><p>1. Inner margin of mandible with a single distinct tooth (Figs 1A, B). Anterior edge of clypeus broad, truncated in its central part; disk of clypeus flat, impunctate, or with some roughness but without central punctures; bordered by a fringe of dense setae (Figs 1A, B). Pronotum without tubercle in front of the tegula (Figs 2A, B). Scutum distinctly wider than long. Dorso-median area of propodeum flat, with a distinct transition to the postero-median area, forming a ridge (Fig. 1A). Hind basitarsus with scopa on the inner extremity (Fig. 4A); apex of the hind basitarsus bordered by a row of spines of very unequal size (Fig. 4A). S1 short, raised in the middle, and densely punctate over almost its entire surface. Laterotergal area of T3 with a groove crossing the entire sclera (Fig. 5A)............................................................................... 2</p><p>- Inner margin of mandible with two distinct teeth (Fig. 1C). Anterior edge of clypeus narrower and not broadly truncated medially; disk of clypeus domed in the middle, usually almost entirely punctate; without a fringe of dense setae (Fig. 1C). Pronotum with more or less prominent tubercle in front of the tegula (Fig. 2C). Scutum almost as long as wide. Dorso-median area of propodeum sloping posteriorly, with an indistinct transition to the postero-median area (Fig. 3B). Hind basitarsus without scopa, generally impunctate (Fig. 4B); apex of the hind basitarsus bordered by a dense row of spines of similar size (Fig. 4B). S1 long, slightly elevated, and more sparsely punctate. Laterotergal area of T3 without groove (Fig. 5B)............................................................................................. Megascolia Betrem</p><p>2. Inner margin of mandible with a sharp apical tooth (Fig. 1A). Clypeus about three times longer than wide (significantly shorter than the length of scape) (Fig. 1A). Lamina frontalis weak, not very prominent. Head sub-quadrangular. Callosity of pronotum with a vertical carina. Coxae III rounded, with a prominent tubercle on the inner surface. T1 without tubercle but with a vertical groove, more or less running through the entire tergite; pyriform, narrowing at the basal quarter (Fig. 6A)................................................................................... Gigascolia Castagnet &amp; Cabon, gen. nov.</p><p>- Inner margin of mandibles with a central tooth (Fig. 1B). Clypeus about twice as long as wide (almost as long as the length of the scape) (Fig. 1B). Lamina frontalis strong and prominent. Head rounded. Callosity of pronotum without carina. Coxae III more elongated, without prominent tubercle on the inner surface. T1 with a tubercle but without a vertical groove; campaniform, gradually widening (Fig. 6B)............................................ Regiscolia Betrem &amp; Bradley, stat. nov.</p><p>Males</p><p>1. Antennal segments long; segment III of antenna 2 to 2.2 times longer than wide. Scutum 1.1 to 1.2 times wider than long. Dorso-median area of propodeum steeply sloping posteriorly, transition to postero-median area indistinct (Fig. 3B). S1 flat and sparsely punctate. Latero-tergal area of T3 without groove (Fig. 5B).............................. Megascolia Betrem</p><p>- Antennal segments shorter; segment III of antenna 1.4 to 1.8 times longer than wide. Scutum 1.4 to 1.5 times wider than long. Dorso-median area of propodeum flat, transition to postero-median area distinct, usually forming a ridge (Fig. 3A). S1 raised in the middle and densely punctate over most of its surface. Laterotergal area of T3 with a groove (Fig. 5A)............. 2</p><p>2. Inner margin of mandible with two distinct teeth. Mesosoma large, almost as long as wide. Propodeum impunctate basally (Fig. 3A). T1 without tubercle, but with a vertical groove running more or less through the entire tergite (Fig. 6A)................................................................................. Gigascolia Castagnet &amp; Cabon, gen. nov.</p><p>- Inner margin of mandible with three distinct teeth. Mesosoma long, about 1.2 to 1.3 times as long as wide. Propodeum densely punctate all over. T1 with tubercle but without vertical transverse groove (Fig. 6B)... Regiscolia Betrem &amp; Bradley, stat. nov.</p><p>Genus Gigascolia Castagnet &amp; Cabon, gen. nov. https://zoobank.org/NomenclaturalActs/ 17D8A896-9614-45E4-AE44-9E57D4A96EC9</p><p>(Figs 1A, 3A, 6A, 7–13)</p><p>Type species. Scolia speciosa Smith, 1858, by present designation.</p><p>Species included. Two species: Gigascolia speciosa (Smith, 1858), comb. nov. and Gigascolia speciosissima Castagnet &amp; Cabon, sp. nov.</p><p>Diagnosis. The genus Gigascolia Castagnet &amp; Cabon, gen. nov. is distinguished from the genus Megascolia Betrem, 1928 in both sexes by having the dorso-median area of propodeum flat, with a distinct transition to the postero-median area, forming a ridge; the T1 with a vertical groove, more or less running through the entire tergite; and the latero-tergal area of T3 with a groove crossing the entire sclera. In Megascolia, the dorso-median area of propodeum is sloping posteriorly, with an indistinct transition to the postero-median area; the T1 has a prominent tubercle instead of a vertical groove; and the latero-tergal area of T3 does not have a groove. Furthermore, females of Gigascolia, gen. nov. have the pronotum without tubercle in front of the tegula; the hind basitarsus with a scopa on the inner extremity; and the apex of hind basitarsus bordered by a row of spines of very unequal size. Whereas in Megascolia, the pronotum has a more or less prominent tubercle in front of the tegula; the hind basitarsus without a scopa; and the apex of hind basitarsus bordered by a dense row of spines of similar size.</p><p>The new genus is distinguished from the genus Regiscolia Betrem &amp; Bradley, 1964, stat. nov. in both sexes by having the T1 with a vertical groove, more or less running through the entire tergite. Whereas in Regiscolia stat. nov., the T1 has a prominent tubercle. In females, Gigascolia gen. nov. is distinguished from the genus Regiscolia stat. nov. by having the inner margin of mandible with a sharp apical tooth; the head sub-quadrangular; the lamina frontalis weak, not very prominent; the callosity of pronotum with a vertical carina; the coxae III rounded; and the T1 pyriform, narrowing at the basal quarter. In Regiscolia stat. nov., the inner margin of mandibles has a central tooth; the head is rounded; the lamina frontalis is stronger and prominent; the callosity of pronotum does not have a carina; the coxae III are elongated; and the T1 is campaniform, gradually widening. In males, Gigascolia gen. nov. is distinguished from the genus Regiscolia stat. nov. by having the inner margin of mandible with two distinct teeth; and the mesosoma large, almost as long as wide. In Regiscolia stat. nov., the inner margin of mandible has three distinct teeth; and the mesosoma is long, about 1.2 to 1.3 times as long as wide.</p><p>Generic description. Female. Mandibles with only a single sharp tooth at the apex. Clypeus about three times as long as wide. Anterior edge of clypeus broad, truncated in its central part; disk of clypeus flat, impunctate; bordered by a fringe of dense setae. Lamina frontalis weak, not very high, punctate only posteriorly. Frontal area forming an obtusangle almost flat. Frons and vertex almost impunctate. Head sub-quadrangular as long as it is wide. Mesosoma short, almost as long as wide. Pronotum without tubercle in front of tegula. Callosity of pronotum with vertical carina. Scutum less long than wide, largely impunctate, the rest with coarse and sparse punctures. Dorso-median area of propodeum wider than long; flat (not sloping), transition to postero-median surface forming pronounced ridge; at the same level as the dorso-lateral areas of propodeum. Coxae III rounded, with a protruding tubercle on the inner surface. Hind basitarsus bearing a scopa at the inner end; the apex bordered by a row of spines of very unequal size. Forewing with three submarginal cells. Second transverso-cubital vein arrives well after the junction between the first transverso-cubital vein and the radial area or reaching the same level as the junction between the first transverso-cubital vein and the radial area. T1 without tubercle, but with a vertical furrow running more or less through the entire tergite; pyriform, narrowed in basal quarter. Apical margin of basal tergites with tight, fine punctures and long, dense pilosity forming a band. Lateral tergal area of T3 finely and densely punctate, with a furrow crossing the tergite from one end to the other. S1 short, raised in the middle and densely punctate over most of its surface.</p><p>Male. Inner margin of mandible with two distinct tooth. Antennal segments short; segment III about 1.8 times longer than wide. Frontal area forms an almost flat obtusangle. Mesosoma almost as long as wide. Scutum 1.4 to 1.5 times wider than long. Dorso-median area of propodeum flat, wider than long, transition to postero-median surface distinct, usually forming a ridge. Dorso-median and dorso-lateral areas of propodeum impunctate on basal half. T1 with a vertical groove, crossing more or less the entire tergite. Lateral-tergal area of T3 with fine and dense punctures, with a furrow crossing the tergite from one end to the other. S1 raised in the center with dense punctures over most of its surface. Genitalia. Unknown.</p><p>Etymology. The genus name Gigascolia is derived from the ancient Greek γίγας, meaning “giant”, with the combination of the generic name “-scolia”. The gender is feminine.</p><p>Distribution. Indonesia (South Sulawesi, Riau Islands, West Kalimantan), Malaysia (Perak, Sarawak, Terengganu) (Fig. 7).</p><p>Remarks. Saussure, in his catalog of the old genus Scolia (Saussure &amp; Sichel 1864), placed Scolia speciosa Smith, 1858 in the newly erected subgenus Triscolia given the presence of three submarginal cells. Betrem (1928), in his monograph of the Scoliidae of the Indomalayan and Australasian realms, subdivided the subgenus Triscolia into two sections ( Triscolia and Megascolia Betrem, 1928). He classified Scolia speciosa Smith, 1858 in the subgenus Triscolia sectio Megascolia . Later, Betrem &amp; Bradley (1964) separated the genus Megascolia Betrem, 1928, from the former Triscolia (now including strictly North American taxa), giving the new combination Megascolia (Megascolia) speciosa (Smith, 1858) . Examination of the type of Scolia speciosa and a new species reveals excessive morphological differences with species belonging to the genus Megascolia and all other Scoliini genera. Furthermore, the work of Argaman (1996), revised by Taylor (2024a), although rich in new genera from the genus Megascolia sensus Betrem &amp; Bradley (1964), does not allow to identify the genus to which the taxon speciosa belongs, the latter species does not appear to have been examined by Argaman.</p><p>Key to species of Gigascolia Castagnet &amp; Cabon, gen. nov.</p><p>(Male is known in G. speciosa only)</p><p>Females</p><p>1. Clypeus with prominent and straight median lobe (Fig. 8A). Scutellum with dense punctures. Dorso-median area of propodeum almost entirely punctate (Fig. 9A). Dorso-lateral areas of propodeum densely punctate, except for a small impunctate surface anteriorly on the sides (Fig. 9A). T 1 in the middle with coarse and deep punctures (Fig. 10A). T2 and T 3 in the middle with coarse and sparse punctures. Head marked with two discontinuous transverse yellow bands; mesosoma and metasoma entirely black; wings with blue/purple reflections............................... G. speciosissima Castagnet &amp; Cabon, sp. nov.</p><p>- Clypeus without median lobe (Fig. 8B). Scutellum almost impunctate. Dorso-median area of propodeum almost entirely impunctate, few punctures on apical part (Fig. 9B). Dorso-lateral areas impunctate of propodeum on the basal half (Fig. 9B). T 1 in the middle with a large impunctate surface (Fig. 10B). T2 and T 3 in the middle almost entirely impunctate. Head marked with large rounded yellow spot; pronotum, scutum on the sides, mesopleuron, and propodeum dorsally marked with yellow; T3 marked with two yellow spots; wings with greenish reflections........................ G. speciosa (Smith), comb. nov.</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03B687D7FF9BFFAC63E40C20FA04D007	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		MagnoliaPress via Plazi	Castagnet, Jean-Baptiste;Cabon, Flavien	Castagnet, Jean-Baptiste, Cabon, Flavien (2025): Review of the genus Megascolia Betrem, 1928 (Hymenoptera, Scoliidae). Zootaxa 5700 (1): 1-127, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5700.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5700.1.1
03B687D7FF95FFA963E409E3FB81D483.text	03B687D7FF95FFA963E409E3FB81D483.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Gigascolia speciosa (Smith 1858) Castagnet & Cabon 2025	<div><p>Gigascolia speciosa (Smith, 1858), comb. nov.</p><p>(Figs 7, 11, 12)</p><p>Scolia speciosa Smith, 1858a: 90 (holotype, ♀, Sarawak, deposited in NHM, not examined; allotype examined, details below);</p><p>Cameron 1901: 18. Scolia (Triscolia) speciosa: Saussure &amp; Sichel 1864: 44; Cameron 1892: 101. Scolia ( Scolia sectio Triscolia) speciosa: Dalla-Torre 1897: 183. Triscolia speciosa: Cameron 1905: 53. Triscolia speciosa: Micha 1927: 140–141. Scolia ( Triscolia sectio Megascolia) speciosa: Betrem 1928: 243. Megascolia (Megascolia) speciosa: Betrem &amp; Bradley 1964: 441; Bradley &amp; Betrem 1967: 322; Gupta &amp; Jonathan 2003:135;</p><p>Osten 2005b: 44.</p><p>Type material examined. Allotype of Scolia speciosa (RMNH), ♂, ‘R. Limbang / April 12.1910.’ (Fig. 12).</p><p>Other material examined. Malaysia. Perak state. 1♀, Tapah, IV.2013 (local coll. leg.) [CJBC] . Indonesia. Kalimantan Barat province. 1♀, Mount Bawang, 10.IV.2024 (local coll. leg.) [CJBC] .</p><p>Diagnosis. Gigascolia speciosa (Smith, 1858), comb. nov. differs from G. speciosissima Castagnet &amp; Cabon, sp. nov. in females by having the apical margin of clypeus straight, without a prominent median lobe; the dorso-median area of propodeum almost impunctate; and the T1 largely impunctate medially. In contrast, in G. speciosa the apical margin of clypeus has a prominent median lobe; the dorso-median area of propodeum is almost entirely punctate; and the T1 is largely punctate medially. The male of G. speciosissima is unknown.</p><p>Redescription. Female (Fig. 11). Length 32–36 mm.</p><p>Head (Figs 11B, C). Anterior edge of clypeus without median lobe. Disk of clypeus slightly domed in the middle; very finely and densely punctate laterally; impunctate medially; very densely and finely punctate apically, bearing long and dense setae. Fissura frontalis weak but distinct, barely reaching the level of the lamina frontalis and ending in a shallow pit. Frons impunctate. Vertex almost entirely impunctate, with fine, very sparse punctures behind; sparse punctures at median ocelli, forming a line connecting the two eyes.</p><p>Mesosoma (Fig. 11D). Pronotum very finely and densely punctate basally, impunctate on the rest. Tegula largely impunctate; near scutum densely and finely punctate; in the middle with one or two very coarse punctures. Scutum with fine, sparse and irregular punctures basally and laterally; largely impunctate medially and apically. Scutellum with fine and dense punctures basally; rest impunctate. Metanotum very finely and densely punctate all over. Basal part of dorso-lateral area of propodeum impunctate; apical part very finely and densely punctate. Dorso-median area of propodeum impunctate, except apical angles densely punctate. Mesopleura densely and finely punctate with long, dense setae. Anterior half of upper plate of metapleure densely and finely punctate, posterior half impunctate. Lower plate of metapleura densely and finely punctate over its entire surface. Apical end of hind femur bearing dense tuft of setae (scopa), without spines. Second transverso-cubital vein reaching the same level as the junction between the first transverso-cubital vein and the radial area.</p><p>Metasoma (Fig. 11E). T1 largely impunctate basally and medially; very densely and finely punctate apically; more coarsely and sparsely punctate laterally. T2 and T3 with very fine, dense punctures basally and apically; impunctate medially, with a few scattered coarse punctures. T4 and T5 with similar punctures. Hypopygidium coarsely and densely punctate, except medially with impunctate area. S1 impunctate basally, domed and very densely and finely punctate apically. S2 with a prominent basal tubercle, very finely and densely punctate; the pilosity forming a tuft; with coarse, sparse punctures basally and medially; apical part densely and finely punctate laterally, with an impunctate surface in the middle. S3 to S5 with similar punctures.</p><p>Coloration (Fig. 11). Head black, marked with a large rounded yellow spot on frons and vertex with only the ocellar region black; tempora sometimes marked with a yellow spot.Antennae black. Mesosoma black, marked with yellow on pronotum, sides of scutum close to pronotum, upper part of mesopleura, dorso-median and dorso-lateral area of propodeum. Metasoma black, with two yellow spots on T3 and two small yellow spots on S3. Legs black. Wings entirely dark, with greenish reflections. Pilosity entirely black; yellow on the colored areas.</p><p>Male (Fig. 12). Length 28 mm.</p><p>Head (Figs 12B, C). Inner margin of mandible with two distinct tooth. Disk of clypeus densely punctate, impunctate medially. Fissura frontalis weak but distinct, barely reaching the level of the lamina frontalis and ending in a shallow pit. Cross-furrow indistinct, its extension ending in the upper part of ocular sinus. Frontal spatium with very dense, fine, tight and shallow punctures. Median ocelli slightly depressed, larger than posterior ocelli. Frons with sparse and coarse punctures, almost entirely impunctate in front of the median ocellus. Vertex with fine and sparse punctures.</p><p>Mesosoma (Fig. 12D). Pronotum with fine and dense punctures on basal half, almost impunctate on the apical half. Tegula almost entirely impunctate, with few scattered and coarse punctures. Scutum with fine and dense punctures; with coarse and scattered punctures laterally; with two distinct areas almost impunctate medially. Scutellum with fine and dense punctures basally and medially, impunctate apically. Metanotum very finely and densely punctate, almost impunctate apically. Basal part of dorso-lateral area of propodeum impunctate; apical part very finely and densely punctate. Dorso-median area of propodeum impunctate, except apical angles with dense and coarse punctures. Lateral carina of the propodeum slightly exceeding the spiracle. Forewing with three submarginal cells.</p><p>Metasoma (Fig. 12E). T1 very densely and finely punctate apically; more coarsely and sparsely punctate laterally; largely impunctate basally and medially. T2 very finely and densely punctate all over. T3 with very dense and fine punctures, with an impunctate triangular area basally in the middle. T4 to T6 with similar punctures, but the impunctate area very reduced. S2 with a strong tubercle, finely and densely punctate; with coarse, sparse punctures basally and medially; apical part densely and finely punctate laterally, with an impunctate area in the middle. S3 to S6 with similar punctures.</p><p>Coloration (Fig. 12). Head predominantly yellow; mandibles, frontal spatium, ocellar region, vertex apically black. Antennae black. Mesosoma black, marked with yellow on pronotum, sides of scutum near pronotum, upper and lower part of mesopleura, metanotum, dorso-lateral and dorso-median areas of propodeum. Metasoma black, with a thin yellow band on the basal part of T3 and two yellow spots on S3. Legs black. Wings entirely dark, with greenish/blue reflections. Pilosity entirely black; yellow on the colored areas.</p><p>Genitalia. Following examination and dissection of the type specimen, the genitalia were not recovered and are presumed lost.</p><p>Distribution. Indonesia (Riau Islands, West Kalimantan), Malaysia (Perak, Sarawak, Terengganu) (Smith 1858a; Cameron 1892, 1901, 1905; Betrem 1928) (Fig. 7).</p><p>Biology. Unknown.</p><p>Remarks. Smith (1858) described Scolia speciosa from a female collected in Malaysia (Sarawak). He gave a very detailed description, specifying that this species is one of the most beautiful in the genus, and that it has never before been captured outside Borneo. It took 70 years for the male to be described by Betrem (1928), also from the island of Borneo. However, Cameron (1901) had already provided a brief description of the male based on material from Bukit Besar mountain (Terengganu), which seems to have gone unnoticed.</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03B687D7FF95FFA963E409E3FB81D483	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		MagnoliaPress via Plazi	Castagnet, Jean-Baptiste;Cabon, Flavien	Castagnet, Jean-Baptiste, Cabon, Flavien (2025): Review of the genus Megascolia Betrem, 1928 (Hymenoptera, Scoliidae). Zootaxa 5700 (1): 1-127, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5700.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5700.1.1
03B687D7FF90FFB363E40C6AFA05D367.text	03B687D7FF90FFB363E40C6AFA05D367.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Gigascolia speciosissima Castagnet & Cabon 2025	<div><p>Gigascolia speciosissima Castagnet &amp; Cabon, sp. nov.</p><p>https://zoobank.org/NomenclaturalActs/ 53C13AF6-44F9-44DF-8FFF-C815D799665B</p><p>(Figs 7, 13)</p><p>Type material. Holotype (CCEC), ♀,[red labels]“ INDONESIA. South / Sulawesi pr., Palopo / Buntu Karanganlotong / XII.2017 / Local collector leg.”, “ HOLOTYPE ♀ / Gigascolia / speciosissima / Castagnet &amp; Cabon, 2025 ”.</p><p>Diagnosis. Gigascolia speciosissima Castagnet &amp; Cabon, sp. nov. differs from G. speciosa (Smith, 1858) in females by having the apical margin of clypeus with a prominent median lobe; the dorso-median area of propodeum almost entirely punctate; and the T1 largely punctate medially. In contrast, in G. speciosa the apical margin of clypeus is straight, without a prominent median lobe; the dorso-median area of propodeum is almost impunctate; and the T1 is largely impunctate medially. The male of G. speciosissima is unknown.</p><p>Description of the holotype, female (Fig. 13). Length 37 mm.</p><p>Head (Figs 13B, C). Anterior edge of clypeus with prominent median lobe. Disk of clypeus slightly domed in the middle, very finely and densely punctate laterally; impunctate medially; very densely and finely punctate apically, bearing long dense setae. Fissura frontalis weak but distinct, reaching the level of the lamina frontalis and ending in a deep pit. Frons impunctate. Vertex impunctate; sparse punctures at median ocelli, forming a line stopping well before the eyes.</p><p>Mesosoma (Fig. 13D). Pronotum very finely and densely punctate basally; largely impunctate on the rest, except the region close to the tegula with coarse, sparse punctures. Tegula largely impunctate; near scutum densely and finely punctate; medially with about ten coarse punctures. Scutum with fine, sparse and irregular punctures basally; largely impunctate laterally, medially and apically. Scutellum with fine and dense punctures over most of its surface. Metanotum with very fine and dense punctures all over. Dorso-lateral area of propodeum with an impunctate area (mirror); the rest with fine and very dense punctures. Dorso-median area of propodeum densely and coarsely punctate. Mesopleura densely and finely punctate with long, dense setae. Anterior part of upper plate of metapleure densely and coarsely punctate on anterior two-thirds, impunctate on posterior third. Lower plate of metapleure densely and coarsely punctate all over. Second transverso-cubital vein arrives well after the junction between the first transverso-cubital vein and the radial area.</p><p>Metasoma (Fig. 13E). T1 very densely and finely punctate apically; more coarsely and densely punctate laterally, basally and medially. T2 with fine and dense punctures basally and apically; mostly impunctate medially, with coarse and dense punctures. T3 with dense, coarse punctures basally; impunctate medially; finely and densely punctate apically. T4 and T5 with similar punctures. Hypopygidium coarsely and densely punctate, except medially with impunctate area. S1 impunctate basally, domed and very densely and finely punctate apically. S2 with a slight tubercle, finely and densely punctate; with coarse punctures basally and medially; apical part densely and finely punctate laterally, with coarse and sparse punctures in the middle. S3 to S5 with similar punctures.</p><p>Coloration (Fig. 13). Head black, with two vertical yellow stripes running from the frons to the vertex and interrupted several times. Antennae black. Mesosoma and metasoma entirely black. Legs black. Wings entirely dark, with violet-blue reflections. Pilosity entirely black.</p><p>Male. Unknown.</p><p>Distribution. Indonesia (South Sulawesi) (Fig. 7).</p><p>Biology. Unknown.</p><p>Etymology. The specific epithet speciosissima is the superlative form of the Latin word speciosa, which means “beautiful”. As Smith noted when describing Scolia speciosa, Gigascolia speciosissima, sp. nov. is for us the most beautiful species of the newly created genus.</p><p>Genus Megascolia Betrem, 1928</p><p>(Figs 1C, 2C, 3B, 4B, 5B, 14–30)</p><p>Scolia (Triscolia) Saussure, 1863: 17; Saussure &amp; Sichel 1864: 38; Rohwer 1921: 77; Betrem 1927a: xcvii.</p><p>Triscolia: Gribodo 1893: 150; Micha 1927: 79.</p><p>Scolia ( Triscolia sectio Megascolia) Betrem, 1928: 239; Betrem 1933: 255.</p><p>Megascolia: Bradley &amp; Betrem 1964: 437; Petersen 1970: 64; Argman 1996: 199; Osten 2001: 439; Gupta &amp; Jonathan 2003: 132, 133; Osten 2005b: 26; Taylor 2024a: 995; Taylor 2024b: 120; Golfetti et al. 2025: 3, 10, 13; Barthélémy &amp; Guenard 2025: 105.</p><p>Type species. Scolia procer Illiger, 1802, by original designation.</p><p>Species included. Three species: Megascolia procer (Illiger, 1802), M. scutellaris (Gribodo, 1893), and M. velutina (Saussure, 1859) .</p><p>Diagnosis. Megascolia Betrem, 1928 is distinguished from the genus Gigascolia Castagnet &amp; Cabon, gen. nov. and Regiscolia Betrem &amp; Bradley, 1964, stat. nov. in both sexes by having the dorso-median area of propodeum sloping posteriorly, with an indistinct transition to the postero-median area; and the latero-tergal area of T3 without groove. In Gigascolia gen. nov. and Regiscolia stat. nov., the dorso-median area of propodeum is flat, with a distinct transition to the postero-median area, forming a ridge; and the latero-tergal area of T3 has a groove crossing the entire sclera.</p><p>Furthermore, in females of Megascolia, the pronotum has a more or less prominent tubercle in front of the tegula; the hind basitarsus does not have scopa; and the apex of hind basitarsus is bordered by a dense row of spines of similar size. Whereas females of Gigascolia gen. nov. and Regiscolia stat. nov. have the pronotum without tubercle in front of the tegula; the hind basitarsus with a scopa on the inner extremity; and the apex of hind basitarsus bordered by a row of spines of very unequal size. In males of Megascolia, the antennal segments are long, segment III of antenna 2 to 2.2 times longer than wide; and scutum 1.1 to 1.2 times wider than long. Whereas in Gigascolia gen. nov. and Regiscolia stat. nov. the antennal segments are shorter, the segment III of antenna is 1.4 to 1.8 times longer than wide; and the scutum is 1.4 to 1.5 times wider than long.</p><p>Redescription. Female. Mandibles with two teeth on its inner margin. Clypeus about twice as long as wide. Anterior margin of clypeus narrower and not broadly truncated in median part; disk of clypeus domed in the middle, usually entirely punctate; without fringe of dense setae apically. Lamina frontalis strong, elevated and densely punctate at the level of the frontal spatium. Frontal area forming an elongated isosceles triangle. Frons and vertex almost impunctate; if present, punctures are fine and very sparse. Rounded head, longer than it is wide. Mesosoma clearly longer than wide. Pronotum with tubercle in front of tegula. Callosity of pronotum without vertical carina. Scutum almost as long as wide. Dorso-median area of propodeum as long as wide, strongly sloping posteriorly, transition to postero-median area indistinct; depressed relative to the dorso-lateral areas of propodeum. Coxae III elongated, without prominent tubercle on inner surface. Hind metatarsus without scopa at the inner end; the apex bordered by a dense row of spines of similar size. Forewing with three submarginal cells. Second transverso-cubital vein arrives well after the junction between the first transverso-cubital vein and the radial area. T1 with a tubercle, without vertical transverse suture; campaniform, gradually widening. Apical margin of basal tergites with tight, fine punctures and long, dense pilosity forming a band. Lateral-tergal area of T3 without groove. S1 long, flat and sparsely punctate.</p><p>Male. Inner margin of mandible with three distinct tooth (third apical tooth sometimes blunt and barely visible). Antennal articles long; segment III of antenna 2 to 2.2 times longer than wide. Frontal area irregularly pentagonal with acute apex. Mesosoma distinctly longer than wide. Scutum 1.1 to 1.2 times wider than long. Dorso-median area of propodeum steeply sloping posteriorly, transition to postero-median surface indistinct; depressed relative to the dorso-lateral areas of propodeum. Dorso-median and dorso-lateral areas densely and finely punctate, sometimes with a small impunctate surface. T1 usually with strong, blunt tubercle, without vertical transverse groove. Laterolateral area of T3 without furrow, with fine, dense punctures. S1 flat and sparsely punctate.</p><p>Genitalia (Fig. 15). Gonocoxites forming two sclerotized half-rings that touch in the middle on the ventral side and at the base on the dorsal side. Ventral part of each gonocoxite subrectangular, obliquely arranged; dorsal part larger, slightly swollen. Side of each gonocoxite extended by an elongated gonostyle, narrow at the base and progressively widened towards the apex, the latter subtruncate. Gonostyle with numerous setae; outer lateral setae, present over three-quarters of gonostyle length, brown, very long and curved at tip; setae on medial side and apical setae fine and shorter.</p><p>Volsella with a wide basal part and an elongated distal part (about 2-3 times as high as wide), with parallel edges, rounded at the apex. Basal part with a rather indistinct, rounded distal lobe on the lateral (outer) side. Basal and distal parts of volsella separated by a simple angulation, not a notch. Ventral side of basal part of volsella with about twenty long, fine setae. Apex of distal part with a tight group of strong brown setae, more or less long and curved, forming a characteristic bouquet. Brown sensory conules, 25 to 50 μm long, present at different levels of the volsella: two short, closely spaced conules (difficult to observe) at the tip of the lateral lobe of the basal part; numerous similar conules, but slightly longer and close together, along the lateral edge of the volsella, in its middle part; two groups of two or three conules in a more distal position.</p><p>Aedeagus reaching or slightly exceeding gonostyles in length. Sclerified penile valves joined by membrane, which forms a rounded cap at the apex of the aedeagus. Penile valves in lateral view with a wide distal part, truncated at the tip, followed by a narrowed middle part, then an even narrower basal part. Ventral edge of distal part with a row of 8 to 10 sclerotized teeth, particularly long (0.2 to 0.4 mm) and pointed; middle teeth longer than teeth at both ends, forming a curved line.</p><p>Distribution. China (Yunnan; new record), India (Arunachal Pradesh), Indonesia (Bengkulu, Central Sulawesi, Gorontalo, East Java, East Kalimantan, Jakarta, Lampung, Jambi, Maluku, North Malaku, North Sulawesi, North Sumatra, South Sulawesi, South Sumatra, Southwest Papua, West Java, West Kalimantan, West Sumatra), Laos (Oudoxmay; new record), Malaysia (Pahang, Perak, Phatthalung, Sabah, Sarawak, Selangor), Myanmar, The Philippines (Agusan del Sur, Bukidnon, Battan, Cagayan, Cotabato, Davao del Sur, Laguna, Lanao del Sur, Misamis, Negros Occidental, Oriental Mindoro, Palawan, Quezon, Samar, Sarangani, Surigao del Sur, Zamboanga del Norte), Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam (Saussure &amp; Sichel 1864; Gribodo 1893; Cameron 1901; Mantero 1903; Rohwer 1921; Micha 1927; Betrem 1928; Betrem &amp; Bradley 1964; Gupta &amp; Jonathan 2003; Ming &amp; Soh 2020) (Fig. 14).</p><p>Key to species of Megascolia Betrem, 1928</p><p>Females</p><p>1. Pronotum with a blunt, inconspicuous tubercle in front of the tegula. Scutellum and metanotum densely punctate (Fig. 16A). Entirely black, sometimes with yellow markings mainly on vertex............................. M. velutina (Saussure)</p><p>- Pronotum with a prominent tubercle, clearly visible in front of the tegula. Scutellum and metanotum sparsely punctate (Figs 16B, C). Vertex, scutellum, metanotum marked yellow, sometimes also T1 and T3.................................. 2</p><p>2. Pronotum largely impunctate medially and apically; with prominent tubercle in front of the tegula (Fig. 16B). Scutum densely and more coarsely punctate basally (Fig. 16B). Apical end of hind femur bearing a row of spines. T1 with a large impunctate area basally and medially. Frons and generally T1 and T3 marked with yellow....................... M. procer (Illiger)</p><p>- Pronotum more densely punctate all over, without large impunctate areas; with a tooth-like tubercle in front of the tegula (Fig. 16C). Scutum very densely and finely punctate basally (Fig. 16C). Apical end of hind femur bearing dense tuft of bristles, without spines. T1 largely punctate, basally and medially more sparsely and coarsely punctate with a small impunctate area. Frons, T1 and T3 black.............................................................. M. scutellaris (Gribodo)</p><p>Males</p><p>1. Frons largely impunctate in front of median ocelli (Fig. 17A). Pronotum finely and sparsely punctate, with a largely impunctate area in front of the tegula (Fig. 18A). Tegula with a few coarse punctures apically, the rest with micro-punctures. Scutum largely impunctate medially (Fig. 18A). Dorso-median area of propodeum with less dense punctures, inter-point spaces about equal to the diameter of a puncture. T1 with a large impunctate area basally. Clypeus, frons, vertex, pronotum, scutellum, metanotum, T1 and T3 generally marked with yellow..................................................... M. procer (Illiger)</p><p>- Frons densely punctate (Figs 17B, C). Pronotum densely and finely punctate all over (Figs 18B, C). Tegula coarsely and densely punctate over most of its surface, the rest with micro-punctures. Scutum densely punctate all over (Figs 18B, C). Dorso-median area of propodeum with denser punctures, inter-point space much smaller than the diameter of a puncture. T1 largely punctate, basally with more sparse and coarse punctures. Entirely black or only the scutellum and metanotum marked with yellow... 2</p><p>2. Scutum basally, with extremely fine, dense, coalescent punctures; pilosity long and thick (Fig. 18B). Scutellum and metanotum sparsely and coarsely punctate (Fig. 18B). Black, scutellum and metanotum marked with yellow... M. scutellaris (Gribodo)</p><p>- Scutum basally, with distinctly coarser, dense, sometimes coalescent punctures; pilosity shorter and finer (Fig. 18C). Scutellum and metanotum densely and finely punctate (Fig. 18C). Entirely black.......................... M. velutina (Saussure)</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03B687D7FF90FFB363E40C6AFA05D367	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		MagnoliaPress via Plazi	Castagnet, Jean-Baptiste;Cabon, Flavien	Castagnet, Jean-Baptiste, Cabon, Flavien (2025): Review of the genus Megascolia Betrem, 1928 (Hymenoptera, Scoliidae). Zootaxa 5700 (1): 1-127, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5700.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5700.1.1
03B687D7FF8BFFB963E40BCCFB70D3E9.text	03B687D7FF8BFFB963E40BCCFB70D3E9.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Megascolia procer (Illiger 1802)	<div><p>Megascolia procer (Illiger, 1802)</p><p>(Figs 19–21, 23, 24)</p><p>Scolia procer Illiger, 1802: 196 (holotype, ♀, Sumatra, deposited in NMB, Germany, not examined); Fabricius 1804: 238;</p><p>Lepeltier 1825: 393; Burmeister 1854: 19; Tullgren 1904: 465; Richards 1919: 128. Scolia (Scolia) procer: Guérin-Méneville 1830: 247. Scolia procera: Lepeletier 1845: 519; Smith 1855: 111; Smith 1858a: 89; Cameron 1901: 18. Scolia (Triscolia) procer: Saussure &amp; Sichel 1864: 43; Smith 1871: 343; Cameron 1892: 100; Bingham 1897: 75; Bingham</p><p>1906: 37; Rohwer 1921: 77. Scolia (Triscolia) procera: Magretti 1892: 236; Mantero 1903: 33. Triscolia procer: Gribodo 1893: 152. Triscolia procer forma scapulata Gribodo, 1893: 163 (synonymised with procer procer by Micha 1927: 104 and later again by</p><p>Betrem &amp; Bradley 1964: 441). Triscolia procer var. sumatrensis Gribodo, 1893: 164 . Syn. nov. Triscolia procer var. bimaculata Gribodo, 1893: 164 . Scolia ( Scolia, Triscolia) procera: Dalla-Torre 1897: 174. Scolia ( Scolia, Triscolia) procera var. bimaculata: Dalla-Torre 1897: 174. Scolia ( Scolia, Triscolia) procera var. scapulata: Dalla-Torre 1897: 174. Scolia ( Scolia, Triscolia) procera var. sumatrensis: Dalla-Torre 1897: 174. Scolia (Triscolia) procera forma scapulata Mantero, 1903: 33. Scolia (Triscolia) procera var. nigriventris Mantero, 1903: 33 . Triscolia procera: Cameron 1905: 52. Scolia (Triscolia) procer var. bimaculata: Rohwer 1921: 77. Triscolia procer: Micha 1927: 104. T riscolia procer procer: Micha 1927: 104–108. Triscolia procer form luteifrons Micha, 1927: 108 (synonymised with procer procer by Betrem &amp; Bradley 1964: 441). Scolia ( Triscolia sectio Megascolia) procer: Betrem 1928: 240. Scolia ( Triscolia sectio Megascolia) procer var. sarawakensis Betrem, 1928: 241 . Syn. nov. Scolia ( Triscolia sectio Megascolia) procer var. bimaculata: Betrem 1928: 242. Scolia ( Triscolia sectio Megascolia) procer var. nigriventris: Betrem 1928: 242. Scolia ( Triscolia sectio Megascolia) procer procer: Betrem 1933: 255. Scolia ( Triscolia sectio Megascolia) procer luteifrons: Betrem 1933: 256. Megascolia (Megascolia) procer procer: Betrem &amp; Bradley 1964: 438, 441; Betrem in Bradley 1972: 12; Bradley 1973a: 286;</p><p>Gupta &amp; Jonathan 2003: 135; Kumar &amp; Rajmohana 2017: 5; Ming &amp; Soh 2020: 110. Megascolia (Megascolia) procer procer var. sumatrensis: Betrem &amp; Bradley 1964: 441. Megascolia (Megascolia) procer procer var. sarawakensis: Betrem &amp; Bradley 1964: 441; Osten 2005b: 41. Megascolia (Megascolia) procer javanensis Betrem &amp; Bradley, 1964: 439, 441; Bradley &amp; Betrem 1966: 81; Gupta &amp; Jonathan</p><p>2003: 135; Osten 2005b: 41; Ming &amp; Soh 2020: 110. Syn. nov. Megascolia (Megascolia) procer nigriventris: Betrem &amp; Bradley 1964: 439, 441; Bradley 1973a: 285; Gupta &amp; Jonathan 2003:</p><p>135; Osten 2005b: 41. Megascolia (Megascolia) procer bimaculata: Betrem &amp; Bradley 1964: 440, 441; Petersen 1970: 64–65; Bradley 1973a: 278;</p><p>Gupta &amp; Jonathan 2003: 135; Osten 2005b: 28, 41. Megascolia (Megascolia) procer procer form sumatrensis: Bradley 1973a: 287; Osten 2005b: 41. Megascolia procer: Argaman 1996: 199. Megascolia (Megascolia) procer: Osten 2001: 439; Gupta &amp; Jonathan 2003: 135; Kumar &amp; Rajmohana 2017: 5; Ming &amp; Soh</p><p>2020: 110; Golfetti et al. 2025: 3, 10. Megascolia (Megascolia) procer procer form luteifrons: Osten 2005b: 41. Megascolia cf. procer: Khouri et al. 2022: 24–29, 31–34, 36–38.</p><p>Type material examined. Holotype of Scolia (Triscolia) procera var. nigriventris (MSNG), ♀, ‘‘Is. Nias / Lelemboli / Agosto 1886 / Modigliani’’, ‘‘ HOLOTYPE / nigriventris Man. / Teste, 1929 / J.C. Bradley’’(Fig. 25).</p><p>Other material examined. China. Yunnan province. 1♀, Mangyun, 4.X.2020 (local coll. leg.) [CJBC] . Indonesia. Kalimantan Barat province. 2♀ 2♂, Loemar, 15.IX.2016 (local coll. leg.) [CJBC] ; 2♂, same place, 6.VI.2019 (local coll. leg.) [CJBC] . West Kalimantan province. 4♂, Mount Bawang, VII.2022 (local coll. leg.) [CJBC] . Laos. Oudoxmay province . 1♀, Namkat Yorla Pa, 3.V.2019 (S. Collard leg.) [NPYPBM] . Malaysia. Perak state. 1♀ 2♂, Perak, 2.XI.2005 (local coll. leg.) [CJBC]; 2♂, same place, 21.IV.2013 (local coll. leg.) [CJBC] . Selangor state. 1♀, Kuala Selangor, 30.I.2013 (local coll. leg.) [CJBC]. The Philippines. Palawan province. 1♀, Roxas, 30.XI.2020 (local coll. leg.) [CJBC] ; 1♀, same place, XII.2022 (local coll. leg.) [CJBC]; 1♂ 1♀, same place, 7.XI.2023 (local coll. leg.) [CFC]; 1♂, same place, 22.IX.2023 (local coll. leg.) [CJBC]; 2♀, same place, 4.II.2021 (local coll. leg.) [CJBC]; 3♀ 1♂, same place, 13.X.2023 (local coll. leg.) [CJBC]; 4♀, same place, 1.XI.2023 (local coll. leg.) [CJBC]; 1♀, same place, VIII.2022 (local coll. leg.) [CJBC]; 1♀, same place, 25.XII.2023 (local coll. leg.) [CJBC]; 2♀ 1♂, same place, 25.I.2024 (local coll. leg.) [CJBC]; 1♀ 1♂, same place, 8.II.2024 (local coll. leg.) [CJBC]; 2♀, same place, 25.IV.2024 (local coll. leg.) [CJBC] . Singapore. North region . 1♂, Sembawang, 29.I.2021 (local coll. leg.) [CJBC] ; 1♀, same place, 31.VII.2022 (local coll. leg.) [CJBC] . Thailand. Nakhon Si Thammarat province. 1♂, Khao Phra, 13.IX.2017 (local coll. leg.) [CJBC] . Vietnam. Ha Giang province. 1♀, Ha Giang, VII.2023 (local coll. leg.) [CFC] . Lam Dong province. 1♂, Dambri, III.2023 (local coll. leg.) [CJBC]. Th ừa Thiên Hu ế province . 1♀ 1♂, Bạch Mã mountain, 4.VIII.2016 (local coll. leg.) [CJBC] ; 1♀, same place, 12.III.2017 (local coll. leg.) [CJBC] .</p><p>Diagnosis. Megascolia procer (Illiger, 1802) differs from M. velutina (Saussure, 1859) and M. scutellaris (Gribodo, 1893) in both sexes by having the pronotum largely impunctate medially and apically; and the T1 with a broad impunctate basal area. In contrast, in M. scutellaris and M. velutina, the pronotum is more densely punctate throughout, without distinct impunctate area (sometimes with a small scattered area apically); and the T1 is largely punctate, basally with sparser and coarser punctures. In addition, M. procer is more largely marked with yellow (pronotum, scutellum, metanotum, and generally on T1 and T3). Whereas M. velutina and M. scutellaris are entirely black, sometimes with yellow markings mainly on the scutellum and metanotum.</p><p>Redescription. Female (Fig. 19). Length 39–57 mm.</p><p>Head (Figs 19B, C). Disk of clypeus domed in the middle; coarsely and sparsely punctate medially, more finely and densely punctate on the rest. Fissura frontalis distinct, reaching the level of the lamina frontalis and ending in a pronounced pit. Frons almost impunctate, with only the ocellar triangle bearing a few punctures. Vertex almost entirely impunctate, with only a few scattered punctures.</p><p>Mesosoma (Fig. 19D). Pronotum finely and densely punctate basally, almost impunctate on the rest. Pronotum with a distinct tubercle, often blunt but protruding in front of the tegula. Tegula largely impunctate; with fine and dense punctures basally; along scutum with scattered and coarse punctures. Scutum finely and densely punctate basally; more sparsely punctate laterally; largely impunctate medially and apically. Scutellum finely and densely punctate basally, much more sparsely punctate apically. Metanotum finely and sparsely punctate; almost impunctate apically. Dorso-lateral area of propodeum densely and finely punctate, especially the region near the lateral area of the propodeum, anteriorly with an impunctate surface (mirror). Dorso-median area of propodeum densely and finely punctate; medially more sparsely punctate revealing an impunctate surface. Mesopleura densely and finely punctate all over. Anterior part of upper plate of metapleura densely and finely punctate on anterior half, more sparsely punctate on posterior half. Lower plate of metapleura densely and finely punctate over almost its entire surface, except for a small impunctate surface near the lateral carina of the propodeum. Apical end of hind femur bearing a row of spines. Second transverso-cubital vein arriving well after the junction between the first transverso-cubital rib and the radial area. Anterior margin of marginal cell almost twice as long as posterior margin.</p><p>Metasoma (Fig. 19E). T1 with strong, bifid tubercle, largely impunctate; impunctate basally; with dense and fine punctures laterally and apically. T2 impunctate basally; densely and finely punctate laterally; very sparsely punctate medially; finely and densely punctate apically. T3 impunctate basally, except for fine and dense punctures along T2; densely and finely punctate laterally and apically. T4 and T5 with similar punctation, but the central impunctate area gradually reducing. Hypopygidium with coarse and dense punctures, except apex with impunctate surface. S1 slightly domed and impunctate, except laterally with coarse punctures forming a band meeting in the middle. S2 with strong tubercle; with fine and dense punctures basally; impunctate medially; with dense and fine punctures on sides apically and coarse and sparse punctures in the middle apically. S3 to S5 with similar punctation.</p><p>Coloration (Figs 19, 20, 25). In the nominotypical subspecies (Fig. 19), head black, marked with yellow on frons and vertex with only the ocellar region black. Antennae black. Mesosoma black, marked with yellow on pronotum, scutellum and metanotum. Metasoma black, yellow markings on T1 and two yellow spots on T3. Legs black. Wings entirely dark, with blue/greenish highlights. Pilosity black; yellow on the colored areas. In the subspecies bimaculata (Fig. 20), head with the same coloration as the nominotypical subspecies, mesosoma black, sometimes faintly marked with yellow on the scutellum, metasoma black, with two small yellow spots on T3. In the subspecies nigriventris (Fig. 25), head with the same coloration as the nominotypical subspecies, mesosoma and metasoma entirely black.</p><p>Male (Fig. 21). Length 27–40 mm.</p><p>Head (Figs 21B, C). Inner margin of mandible with three distinct tooth (third apical tooth sometimes blunt and barely visible). Disk of clypeus densely punctate, largely impunctate medially. Antennal segment XIII about 2.4 times longer than wide. Distinct fissura frontalis reaching the median ocelli and passing through the frons fossa. Cross-furrow distinct, its extension ending in the ocular sinus. Frontal spatium short, densely and finely punctate; pilosity fine and dense. Median ocelli slightly depressed, larger than posterior ocelli. Frons sparsely and finely punctate, except for an impunctate band in front of the median ocelli. Vertex densely and finely punctate. Vertex sparsely and coarsely punctate.</p><p>Mesosoma (Fig. 21D). Pronotum finely and sparsely punctate, inter-point space sometimes very large, revealing an impunctate area. Tegula with few coarse punctures in its apical part and along the scutum, the rest with fine and dense punctures. Scutum with dense, fine punctures, very sparse medially, revealing two impunctate bands. Scutellum with fine and dense punctures, more sparser medially; inter-point space medially often well over twice the diameter of a point. Metanotum finely and sparsely punctate, with large impunctate area medially. Basal part of dorso-lateral area of propodeum with impunctate area (mirror); apical part finely and densely punctate, more finely punctate under the mirror. Dorso-median area of propodeum densely punctate, inter-point space approximately equal to the diameter of a puncture.</p><p>Metasoma (Fig. 21E). T1 with a strong tubercle; very densely and finely punctate laterally and apically; largely impunctate basally and medially. T2 very finely and densely punctate all over. T3 with small triangular area almost impunctate medially, rest densely and finely punctate. T4 and T5 densely and finely punctate. S1 slightly domed; entirely impunctate, except on the sides with coarse punctures forming a band meeting in the middle. S2 with a tubercle, finely and densely punctate basally; with sparse and dense punctures medially; with dense and fine punctures on sides apically and with sparse punctures in the middle apically. S3 to S6 with similar punctation.</p><p>Coloration (Figs 21–23). In the nominotypical subspecies (Figs 21, 23), head almost entirely yellow, only the mandibles in part, ocellar region, frontal spatium, tempora behind the eyes and occiput black. Antennae black, last antennal segments often marked with orange-brown underneath. Mesosoma black, with yellow markings on pronotum, scutellum and metanotum. Metasoma black, with a yellow spot on T1 and two yellow spots on the basal part of T3 (sometimes absent). Legs black. Wings entirely dark, with blue/purple reflections. Pilosity entirely black; yellow on the colored areas. In the subspecies bimaculata (Fig. 22), clypeus largely black, mesosoma black, sometimes with faint yellow markings on the pronotum and/or scutellum, and T1 entirely black. The male of subspecies nigriventris is unknown.</p><p>Genitalia. See Fig. 15A.</p><p>Distribution. China (Yunnan; new record), India (Arunachal Pradesh), Indonesia (Bengkulu, East Kalimantan, East Java, Jakarta, Jambi, Lampung, North Sumatra, South Sumatra, West Java, West Kalimantan, West Sumatra), Laos (Oudoxmay; new record), Malaysia (Pahang, Perak, Phatthalung, Sabah, Sarawak, Selangor), Myanmar, The Philippines (Palawan), Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam (Micha 1927; Betrem 1928; Betrem &amp; Bradley 1964; Petersen 1970; Gupta &amp; Jonathan 2003) (Fig. 24).</p><p>Biology. The only known hosts are Oryctes rhinoceros (Linnaeus, 1758) (Richards 1919) and Chalcosoma atlas Linnaeus, 1758 (Piek 1986a). In Singapore, many specimens were observed foraging on the coastal and native shrubs Premna serratifolia ( Lamiaceae) (Ming &amp; Soh 2020).</p><p>Remarks. Numerous subspecies, varieties and forms have been described: ssp. bimaculata (Gribodo, 1893) from The Philippines (Palawan), ssp. javanensis Betrem, 1964 from Indonesia (Java), spp. nigriventris (Mantero, 1903) from Indonesia (Nias), spp. procer (Illiger, 1802) from Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia (Borneo, Java, Sumatra), spp. procer form sumatrensis (Gribodo, 1893) from Indonesia (Sumatra) and ssp. procer variety sarawakensis Betrem, 1928 from Malaysia (Sarawak) (Betrem &amp; Bradley 1964; Osten 2005b). As coloration is highly variable, the validity of these taxa remains doubtful, as they are mainly characterized by the extent of yellow coloration or its absence on the various tagmas. All forms and varieties are considered invalid here, and only three subspecies are considered valid, for the reasons set out below.</p><p>M. procer procer form sumatrensis syn. nov., known only from the male, differs from the typical form only by the third metasomal segment, which is black and immaculate (Betrem 1928). In this study, specimens belonging to the sumatrensis form and others belonging to the typical form were examined from the same locality. We therefore consider this form as invalid.</p><p>M. procer procer var. sarawakensis syn. nov. is known only from the male, whose coloration is similar to the nominotypical subspecies, but with additional yellow maculae on parts of the scutum, dorso-lateral and dorso-median areas of propodeum (Betrem 1928). For the same reasons as the previous form, this variety must be considered as a mere intraspecific variation.</p><p>M. procer javanensis syn. nov. is recognizable only in female and differs from the nominotypical subspecies by the ocellar triangle and the vertex, which are more extensively marked with black (Betrem &amp; Bradley 1964). This subspecies is based solely on the female and on head coloration, which is highly variable. We therefore synonymize this subspecies with the nominotypical subspecies.</p><p>Only the ssp. bimaculata (Figs 20, 22), ssp. nigriventris (Fig. 25), and ssp. procer (Figs 19, 21, 23) are considered valid in this study. M. procer bimaculata (Gribodo, 1893) was previously known only from one female and one male from Palawan (The Philippines) (Gribodo 1893; Betrem 1928; Bradley &amp; Betrem 1964; Petersen 1970). The female differs from the nominal form by having the mesosoma entirely black, although the scutellum may sometimes be faintly marked with yellow, the first metasomal segment is completely black, and the pronotal tubercles are more blunt. The male differs by having the clypeus largely black, a black mesosoma (sometimes with faint yellow markings on the pronotum and/or scutellum), and the first metasomal segment entirely black. The examination of twenty-four specimens from Palawan shows that this coloration appears to be stable. Furthermore, no specimens of the nominotypical subspecies are known from The Philippines. This subspecies is therefore considered valid.</p><p>M. procer nigriventris (Mantero, 1903), known only from a single female from Nias island (Indonesia) (Fig. 25), differs from the typical form by having the mesosoma and metasoma entirely black, with only the head marked with yellow (Betrem 1928). Mantero does not provide a proper description, merely stating: “L’esemplare (♀) di Nias, lungo circa 43 milimetri credo sia riferibile alla var. 2 di Gribodo (L. cit. p. 156) che si potrebbe chiamare nigriventris.” The “variety 2” of procer mentioned by Mantero is likely a female of M. velutina, entirely black with yellow markings on the frons. Betrem &amp; Bradley (1964) treated nigriventris as a subspecies. Examination of the holotype confirms that this taxon clearly belongs to M. procer, particularly based on the characteristic punctation of the pronotum and scutellum. The specimen exhibits a completely black mesosoma and metasoma, but the areas that are usually yellow are brownish. Further examination of additional specimens is necessary to clarify the status of this taxon; this atypical coloration may be the result of intraspecific variability.</p><p>Key to subspecies of Megascolia procer</p><p>(unknown in M. procer nigriventris)</p><p>1. Mesosoma entirely melanistic (exceptionally small yellow spot on scutellum); T1 entirely black (Figs 20, 22, 25) …2</p><p>- Mesosoma largely marked with yellow on pronotum, scutellum and metanotum; T1 largely marked with yellow (Figs 19, 21, 23) … ssp. procer (Illiger)</p><p>2. Metasoma entirely melanistic (Fig. 25). Nias island... ssp. nigriventris (Mantero)</p><p>- Metasoma with small lateral yellow spots on T3 (Figs 20, 22). The Philippines ... ssp. bimaculata (Gribodo)</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03B687D7FF8BFFB963E40BCCFB70D3E9	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		MagnoliaPress via Plazi	Castagnet, Jean-Baptiste;Cabon, Flavien	Castagnet, Jean-Baptiste, Cabon, Flavien (2025): Review of the genus Megascolia Betrem, 1928 (Hymenoptera, Scoliidae). Zootaxa 5700 (1): 1-127, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5700.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5700.1.1
03B687D7FF80FF8463E40A86FEAED003.text	03B687D7FF80FF8463E40A86FEAED003.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Megascolia scutellaris (Gribodo 1893)	<div><p>Megascolia scutellaris (Gribodo, 1893)</p><p>(Figs 24, 26, 27)</p><p>Triscolia scutellaris Gribodo, 1893: 164 (lectotype, ♀, Mindanao, designated by Bradley 1973a: 286–287; deposited in MSNG,</p><p>Italy, not examined); Micha 1927: 109. Scolia (Triscolia) whiteheadii Bingham, 1895: 441 (synonymised by Rohwer 1921: 77). Scolia ( Scolia, Triscolia) scutellaris: Dalla-Torre 1897: 181. Scolia (Triscolia) scutellaris: Rohwer 1921: 77. Triscolia scutellaris: Micha 1927: 109. Triscolia scutellaris scutellaris: Micha 1927: 109–111. Scolia ( Triscolia sectio Megascolia) scutellaris: Betrem 1928: 242; Betrem 1933: 256. Megascolia (Megascolia) scutellaris: Betrem &amp; Bradley 1964: 441; Petersen 1970: 64; Bradley 1973a: 286; Gupta &amp; Jonathan</p><p>2003: 135; Osten 2005b: 43; Golfetti et al. 2025: 3, 10.</p><p>Material examined. The Philippines. Bataan province. 1♂, Mariveles, 15.VI.2017 (local coll. leg.) [CJBC] . Sarangani province. 1♀, Kiamba, 12.IX.2017 (local coll. leg.) [CJBC] ; 1♀, same place, 12.IX.2019 (local coll. leg.) [CJBC]; 2♂, same place, 26.I.2023 (local coll. leg.) [CJBC] . Oriental Mindoro province. 1♀, Puerto galera, 22.V.2016 (local coll. leg.) [CJBC] ; 1♀, Socorro, 7.II.2021 (local coll. leg.) [CJBC] . Lanao del Sur province. 1♂, Wao, 17.V.2016 (local coll. leg.) [CJBC] ; 1♂, same place, 27.X.2017 (local coll. leg.) [CJBC] . 1♀, Kapai, 5.XI.2022 (local coll. leg.) [CFC] . Agusan del Sur province. 1♀, San Francisco, 13.IV.2018 (local coll. leg.) [CJBC] ; 1♂, same place, 9.IV.2023 (local coll. leg.) [CJBC]; 1♀, same place, 13.VI.2023 (local coll. leg.) [CJBC]; 1♀, Sibagat, 6.I.2015 (local coll. leg.) [CJBC] ; 1♂, same place, 23.XI.2022 (local coll. leg.) [CJBC]; 2♂, same place, 15.XII.2022 (local coll. leg.) [CJBC]; 1♀ 2♂, Esperanza, 12.IV.2018 (local coll. leg.) [CJBC] ; 1♂, same place, 22.VIII.2021 (local coll. leg.) [CJBC]; 1♂, same place, 12.VII.2023 (local coll. leg.) [CJBC]; 1♂, Trento, 09. IX.2022 (local coll. leg.) [CJBC] ; 1♂, same place, VIII.2023 (local coll. leg.) [CJBC]; 1♂, Borbon, 14.IX.2022 (local coll. leg.) [CJBC] ; 2♂, San Luis, 21.XII.2022 (local coll. leg.) [CJBC] . Cotabato province. 2♂, Kidapawan, 3.I.2015 (local coll. leg.) [CJBC] ; 1♀, Mount Parker, 19.I.2023 (local coll. leg.) [CJBC] . Bukidnon province. 1♂, Sumilao, 12.IV.2016 (local coll. leg.) [CJBC] . Samar province. 1♀, Lope de Vega, 11.IX.16 (local coll. leg.) [CJBC] ; 1♀, same place, 14.II.2020 (local coll. leg.) [CJBC]; 2♂, same place, 16.V.2021 (local coll. leg.) [CJBC]; 1♀, Kinopadan, 25.IV. 2023 (local coll. leg.) [CJBC] . Davao del Sur province. 1♂, Mont Talomo, 1.III.2021 (local coll. leg.) [CJBC] . Surigao del Sur province. 1♀, San Miguel, 8.I.2015 (local coll. leg.) [CJBC] ; 1♂, same place, 12.VIII.2023 (local coll. leg.) [CJBC] . Zamboanga del Norte province. 2♂, Siocon, 11.VIII.2022 (local coll. leg.) [CJBC] ; 3♂, same place, 12.VI.2022 (local coll. leg.) [CJBC] . Quezon province. 1♀, General Luna, 5.II.2023 (local coll. leg.) [CJBC] ; 1♀, General Nakar, 16.II.2023 (local coll. leg.) [CJBC]. Misamis province . 1♀, Cagayan de Oro, 18.I.2023 (local coll. leg.) [CJBC] .</p><p>Diagnosis. Megascolia scutellaris (Gribodo, 1893) differs from M. velutina (Saussure, 1859) in females by having the scutellum and metanotum with sparse punctures; and the vertex, scutellum, and metanotum marked with yellow. In contrast, in M. velutina, the scutellum and metanotum have denser punctures; and the body is entirely melanistic, occasionally marked with yellow on the vertex. M. scutellaris differs from M. procer (Illiger, 1802) in females by having the pronotum with dense punctures throughout, without distinct impunctate areas; and the scutum with dense and fine punctures basally. In contrast, in M. procer, the pronotum is largely impunctate medially and apically; and the scutum has sparser and coarser punctures basally.</p><p>M. scutellaris differs from M. procer in males by having the pronotum and scutum with dense and fine punctures throughout; and the T1 largely punctate, with sparse and coarse punctures basally. In contrast, in M. procer the pronotum has finer and sparser punctures; the scutum is largely impunctate medially; and the T1 has a broad impunctate basal area. M. scutellaris differs from M. velutina by having the scutum basally with extremely fine, dense, and coalescent punctures; and the scutellum and metanotum with sparse and coarse punctures. In contrast, in M. velutina the scutum basally has distinctly coarser and sparser punctures; and the scutellum and metanotum have denser and finer punctures.</p><p>Redescription. Female (Fig. 26). Length 40–54 mm.</p><p>Head (Figs 26B, C). Disk of clypeus domed in the middle; coarsely and sparsely punctate medially, more finely and densely punctate on the rest. Fissura frontalis distinct, reaching the level of the lamina frontalis and ending in a shallow pit. Frons sparsely and finely punctate, the ocellar region bearing a few fine punctures. Vertex almost entirely impunctate, with only a few scattered punctures.</p><p>Mesosoma (Fig. 26D). Pronotum densely and finely punctate over its entire surface, except in front of the tegula, with sparser and coarser punctures. Pronotum with a sharp, pointed and protruding tubercle in front of the tegula. Tegula largely impunctate; basally and along scutum with fine and dense punctures; medially with a few very sparse punctures. Scutum very finely and densely punctate, with coalescent punctures basally; more sparsely and coarsely punctate laterally; with fine and dense punctures medially and apically, often with two central impunctate bands. Scutellum finely and densely punctate basally, much more sparsely punctate apically. Metanotum finely and sparsely punctate; almost impunctate apically. Dorso-lateral area of propodeum densely and finely punctate, especially the region near the lateral area of the propodeum; anteriorly with an impunctate area (mirror). Dorso-median area of propodeum densely and coarsely punctate; more sparsely punctate medially, revealing an impunctate surface. Mesopleura densely and finely punctate all over. Anterior part of upper plate of metapleure densely and finely punctate on anterior two-thirds, more sparsely punctate on remainder, with small impunctate area on posterior third. Lower plate of metapleura densely and very finely punctate over almost its entire surface, except for a small impunctate surface near the lateral carina of the propodeum. Apical end of hind femur bearing dense tuft of bristles, without spines. Second transverso-cubital vein arriving well after the junction between the first transverso-cubital vein and the radial area. Anterior margin of marginal cell about 1.4 times greater than posterior margin.</p><p>Metasoma (Fig. 26E). T1 with strong, pointed tubercle; very densely and finely punctate laterally and apically; more coarsely and less densely punctate with a small impunctate area basally. Basal part of T2 impunctate basally; densely and finely punctate laterally; very sparsely punctate medially; finely and densely punctate apically. T3 impunctate basally, except for fine and dense punctures along T2; densely and finely punctate laterally and apically. T4 and T5 with similar punctation, but the central impunctate area gradually reducing. Hypopygidium with coarse and dense punctures, except apex with impunctate surface. S1 slightly domed and impunctate, except laterally with coarse punctures forming a band meeting in the middle. S2 with blunt tubercle; with fine and dense punctures basally; impunctate medially; with dense and fine punctures on sides apically and with coarse and sparse punctures in the middle apically. S3 to S5 with similar punctation.</p><p>Coloration (Fig. 26). Head black with yellow spot on frons laterally and vertex; ocellar region black. Antennae black. Mesosoma black, with yellow markings on scutellum and metanotum. Metasoma entirely black. Legs black. Wings entirely dark, with blue/greenish reflections. Pilosity entirely black; yellow on the colored areas.</p><p>Male (Fig. 27). Length 33–40 mm.</p><p>Head (Figs 27B, C). Inner margin of mandible with three distinct tooth (third apical tooth sometimes blunt and barely visible). Disk of clypeus densely punctate. Antennal segment XIII about 2.2 times as long as it is wide. Distinct fissura frontalis reaching the median ocelli and passing through the frontal pit. Cross-furrow distinct, its extension ending in the upper part of ocular sinus. Frontal spatium long, densely and finely punctate; pilosity long and dense. Median ocelli slightly depressed, larger than the posterior ocelli. Frons densely and finely punctate, particularly around posterior ocelli. Vertical frontal furrow distinct, its extension reaching the upper eye lobe. Vertex densely and finely punctate.</p><p>Mesosoma (Fig. 27D). Pronotum very finely and densely punctate all over, inter-point space coalescent or almost so. Tegula largely coarsely and densely punctate, the rest with fine and dense punctures. Scutum with dense and fine punctures; with extremely fine and dense punctures (coalescent) basally. Scutellum with fine and dense punctures, more sparser medially; inter-point space medially well over twice the diameter of a point. Metanotum finely and sparsely punctate, with an impunctate area medially. Basal part of dorso-lateral area of propodeum with impunctate area (mirror); apical part finely and densely punctate, more finely and densely punctate under the mirror. Dorso-median area of propodeum densely punctate, inter-point space clearly smaller than the diameter of a puncture.</p><p>Metasoma (Fig. 27E). T1 with a strong tubercle; very densely and finely punctate laterally and apically; more coarsely and less densely punctate basally and medially. T2 very finely and densely punctate all over, with coalescent punctures medially. T3 with small triangular area almost impunctate medially, rest densely and finely punctate. T4 and T5 densely and finely punctate. S1 slightly domed; entirely impunctate, except on the sides with coarse punctures forming a band meeting in the middle. S2 with a tubercle, finely and densely punctate basally; with sparse and dense punctures medially; with dense and fine punctures on sides apically and with sparse punctures in the middle apically. S3 to S6 with similar punctation.</p><p>Coloration (Fig. 27). Head entirely black.Antennae black. Mesosoma black, with yellow markings on scutellum and metanotum. Metasoma black. Legs black. Wings entirely dark, with purplish reflections. Pilosity entirely black; yellow on the colored areas.</p><p>Genitalia. See Fig. 15B.</p><p>Distribution. The Philippines (Agusan del Sur, Battan, Bukidnon, Cagayan, Cotabato, Davao del Sur, Laguna, Lanao del Sur, Misamis, Negros Occidental, Oriental Mindoro, Quezon, Samar, Sarangani, Surigao del Sur, Zamboanga del Norte) (Rohwer 1921; Micha 1927; Betrem 1928; Petersen 1970) (Fig. 24).</p><p>Biology. Unknown.</p><p>Remarks. This species is endemic to The Philippines and has no known subspecies (Betrem &amp; Bradley 1964; Osten 2005b).</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03B687D7FF80FF8463E40A86FEAED003	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		MagnoliaPress via Plazi	Castagnet, Jean-Baptiste;Cabon, Flavien	Castagnet, Jean-Baptiste, Cabon, Flavien (2025): Review of the genus Megascolia Betrem, 1928 (Hymenoptera, Scoliidae). Zootaxa 5700 (1): 1-127, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5700.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5700.1.1
03B687D7FFBDFF9663E409E9FA05D5AA.text	03B687D7FFBDFF9663E409E9FA05D5AA.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Megascolia velutina (Saussure 1859)	<div><p>Megascolia velutina (Saussure, 1859)</p><p>(Figs 24, 28–30)</p><p>Scolia (Scolia) velutina Saussure, 1859: 175 (lectotype, ♂, Java, designated by Bradley 1974: 476–477; deposited in RMNH,</p><p>The Netherlands, examined). Scolia morosa Smith, 1861: 118; Smith 1862: 53 (synonymized by Bradley &amp; Betrem 1964: 441 with velutina velutina). Scolia ducalis Smith, 1861: 118 . Syn. Nov. Scolia intrudens Smith, 1862: 53 . Syn. Nov. Scolia (Triscolia) morosa: Saussure &amp; Sichel 1864: 39. Scolia (Triscolia) velutina: Saussure &amp; Sichel 1864: 41; Cameron 1892: 100. Scolia (Triscolia) intrudens: Saussure &amp; Sichel 1864: 42. Scolia (Triscolia) ducalis: Saussure &amp; Sichel 1864: 49; Cameron 1892: 101. Triscolia ducalis: Gribodo 1893: 165. Triscolia intrudens: Gribodo 1893: 166. Scolia ( Scolia, Triscolia) ducalis: Dalla-Torre 1897: 155. Scolia ( Scolia, Triscolia) intrudens: Dalla-Torre 1897: 166. Scolia ( Scolia, Triscolia) morosa: Dalla-Torre 1897: 170. Scolia ( Scolia, Triscolia) velutina: Dalla-Torre 1897: 186. Triscolia velutina: Micha 1927: 102. Triscolia velutina velutina: Micha 1927: 102. Triscolia velutina keyensis Micha 1927: 102 . Syn. Nov. Triscolia velutina morosa: Micha 1927: 103. Triscolia ducalis: Micha 1927: 141. Triscolia velutina styx Micha, 1927: 104 (synonymized by Bradley &amp; Betrem 1964: 441 with velutina intrudens). Triscolia halmaheira Micha, 1927: 104 (synonymized by Bradley &amp; Betrem 1964: 441 with velutina ducalis). Triscolia halmaheira halmaheira Micha, 1927: 104 . Scolia ( Triscolia _ection Megascolia) ducalis: Betrem 1928: 244. Scolia ( Triscolia _ection Megascolia) ducalis gribodoi Betrem, 1928: 244–245 (synonymized by Bradley &amp; Betrem 1964: 441</p><p>with velutina intrudens). Scolia ( Triscolia _ection Megascolia) velutina: Betrem 1928: 245; Betrem 1933: 256. Scolia ( Triscolia _ection Megascolia) velutina keyensis: Betrem 1928: 246–247; Betrem 1933: 256. Megascolia (Megascolia) velutina velutina: Betrem &amp; Bradley 1964: 440–441; Bradley &amp; Betrem 1967: 314; Bradley 1974:</p><p>476–477; Osten 2005b: 45. Megascolia (Megascolia) velutina ducalis: Betrem &amp; Bradley 1964: 441; Bradley &amp; Betrem 1967: 302; Osten 2005b: 45. Megascolia (Megascolia) velutina intrudens: Betrem &amp; Bradley 1964: 441; Bradley &amp; Betrem 1967: 309–310; Bradley 1972:</p><p>16; Osten 2005b: 45. Megascolia (Megascolia) velutina keyensis: Betrem &amp; Bradley 1964: 441; Bradley 1972: 12; Osten 2005b: 45. Megascolia (Megascolia) velutina: Gupta &amp; Jonathan 2003: 135; Golfetti et al. 2025: 3, 10.</p><p>Type material examined. Lectotype of Scolia (Scolia) velutina (RMNH), ♂, [white labels] ‘K.s.r.H / Java’, ‘Museum Leiden / Triscolia / velutina / sauss. De Henr / Det: -’, ‘ Scolia / velutina / sauss / Hololectotype / det. Betrem’.</p><p>Material examined. Indonesia. Maluku province. 1♀, Ilat, Buru Island, 18.VI.2013 (local coll. leg.) [CJBC] ; 1♀ 1♂, Ambon, Ambon island, 1.III.2018 (local coll. leg.) [CJBC] . Central Sulawesi province. 1♀, Palolo, 11.IV.2018 (local coll. leg.) [CJBC] ; 1♀, same place, 11.IX.2019 (local coll. leg.) [CJBC]; 1♂, Peleng, Tataba, X.2017 (local coll. leg.) [CFC] ; 1♀ 1♂, same place, 12.III.2017 (local coll. leg.) [CJBC]; 1♂, same place, 22.XII.2018 (local coll. leg.) [CJBC]; 4♀, same place, 6.XII.2019 (local coll. leg.) [CJBC]; 1♂, same place, 21.XII.2019 (local coll. leg.) [CJBC]; 2♀, Kamarora, 9.IV.2018 (local coll. leg.) [CJBC] ; 2♀, Palopo, 7.X.2017 (local coll. leg.) [CJBC] . South Sulawesi province. 1♂, Tompobulu, 10.X.2020 (local coll. leg.) [CJBC] ; 1♂, Maros, 12.IV.2016 (local coll. leg.) [CJBC] .</p><p>Diagnosis. Megascolia velutina (Saussure, 1859) differs from M. procer (Illiger, 1802) and M. scutellaris (Gribodo, 1893) by having the scutellum and metanotum with dense and fine punctures; and the body entirely melanistic (or only the head partially marked with yellow). In contrast, in M. procer and M. scutellaris, the scutellum and metanotum have sparser and coarser punctures; and at least the head, scutellum and metanotum are marked with yellow.</p><p>Redescription. Female (Fig. 28). Length 41–47 mm.</p><p>Head (Figs 28B, C). Disk of clypeus domed in the middle; densely and finely punctate, more coarsely and sparsely punctate medially. Fissura frontalis distinct, reaching the level of the lamina frontalis and ending in a pronounced pit. Frons sparsely and finely punctate, the ocellar region bearing a few more or less dense and fine punctures. Vertex almost entirely impunctate, with only a few scattered punctures.</p><p>Mesosoma (Fig. 28D). Pronotum densely and finely punctate over its entire surface, except in front of the tegula with sparser and coarser punctures, revealing a more or less large impunctate surface. Pronotum with a blunt, slightly protruding tubercle in front of the tegula, sometimes barely visible. Tegula largely impunctate; basally and along scutum with fine and dense punctures; sparser behind. Scutum finely and densely punctate basally; more sparsely and coarsely punctate laterally; almost impunctate medially and apically. Scutellum finely and densely punctate all over. Metanotum densely and finely punctate; with a small impunctate area apically. Dorso-lateral area of propodeum densely and finely punctate, especially the area near the lateral area of the propodeum; anteriorly with an impunctate area (mirror); posterior part with dense and fine punctures (coalescent). Dorso-median area of propodeum densely and coarsely punctate, more sparsely punctate medially revealing an impunctate surface. Mesopleura densely and finely punctate all over. Anterior part of upper plate of metapleura densely and finely punctate on anterior two-thirds, more sparsely punctate on remainder, with a small impunctate area on posterior third. Lower plate of the metapleura mostly densely and finely punctate, with a large impunctate surface near the lateral carina of the propodeum. Apical end of hind femur bearing a row of spines. Second transverso-cubital vein arriving well after the junction between the first transverso-cubital vein and the radial area. Anterior margin of marginal cell is about 1.4 times greater than the posterior margin.</p><p>Metasoma (Fig. 28E). T1 with a weak, pointed or blunt tubercle; very densely and finely punctate laterally and apically; more coarsely and less densely punctate with a small impunctate area basally. T2 impunctate basally; densely and finely punctate laterally; very sparsely punctate medially; finely and densely punctate apically. T3 almost impunctate basally, except for fine and dense punctures along T2; densely and finely punctate laterally and apically. T4 and T5 with similar punctation, T4 and T5 with similar punctation, but the central impunctate area gradually reducing. Hypopygidium with coarse and dense punctures, except apex with impunctate surface. S1 slightly domed and impunctate, except laterally with coarse punctures forming a band meeting in the middle. S2 with strong tubercle; with fine and dense punctures basally; impunctate medially; with dense and fine punctures on sides apically and with coarse and sparse punctures in the middle apically. S3 to S5 with similar punctation.</p><p>Coloration (Figs 28, 29). Head black (Figs 29B, C), sometimes more or less yellow mainly on vertex (Figs 28B, C). Antennae black. Mesosoma and metasoma entirely black. Legs black. Wings entirely dark, with blue/purple reflections. Pilosity black.</p><p>Male (Fig. 30). Length 24–35 mm.</p><p>Head (Figs 30B, C). Inner margin of mandible with three distinct tooth (third apical tooth sometimes blunt and barely visible). Disk of clypeus densely punctate. Frontal spatium long, densely and finely punctate; pilosity long and dense. Antennal segment XIII about 2.2 times as long as it is wide. Median ocelli slightly depressed, larger than the posterior ocelli. Distinct fissura frontalis reaching the median ocelli and passing through the frontal pit. Vertical frontal furrow distinct, its extension reaching the upper lobe of the eye. Frons densely and finely punctate, particularly around posterior ocelli. Vertex densely and finely punctate.</p><p>Mesosoma (Fig. 30D). Pronotum finely and densely punctate all over, inter-point space almost coalescent. Tegula largely coarsely and densely punctate, the rest with micropunctures. Scutum with dense and fine punctures. Scutellum with fine and dense punctures, almost impunctate apically; inter-point space medially about equal to the diameter of a point. Metanotum finely and densely punctate. Basal part of dorso-lateral area of propodeum with an impunctate area (mirror); apical part with dense and fine punctures (coalescent). Dorso-median area of propodeum densely punctate, inter-point space clearly smaller than the diameter of a puncture.</p><p>Metasoma (Fig. 30E). T1 with weak tubercle; very densely and finely punctate laterally and apically; more coarsely and less densely basally and medially.T2 very finely and densely punctate all over, inter-point space approximately equal to the diameter of a puncture medially. T3 with small triangular area almost impunctate medially, rest densely and finely punctate. T4 and T5 densely and finely punctate. S1 slightly domed; entirely impunctate, except on the sides with coarse punctures forming a band meeting in the middle. S2 with a tubercle, finely and densely punctate basally; with sparse and dense punctures medially; with dense and fine punctures on sides apically and with sparse punctures in the middle apically. S3 to S6 with similar punctation.</p><p>Coloration (Fig. 30). Entirely black, sometimes with a yellowish spot on the vertex. Wings entirely dark, with greenish or bluish-purple reflections. Body pilosity entirely black.</p><p>Genitalia. See Fig. 15C.</p><p>Distribution. Indonesia (Central Sulawesi, Gorontalo, Maluku, North Malaku, North Sulawesi, South Sulawesi, Southwest Papua) (Micha 1927; Betrem 1928) (Fig. 24).</p><p>Biology. Unknown.</p><p>Remarks. Four subspecies have been described: ssp. ducalis (Smith, 1861) from Seram, spp. intrudens (Smith, 1861) from Sulawesi, ssp. keyensis (Micha, 1927) from Key islands and ssp. velutina (Saussure, 1859) from Sulawesi and Maluku (Betrem 1928; Betrem &amp; Bradley 1964; Osten 2005b). All these subspecies are synonymized with the nominal subspecies for the reasons given below.</p><p>M. velutina ducalis (Smith, 1861), syn. nov. can only be distinguished from the typical female form by the frons and vertex marked with yellow (Fig. 28), whereas the nominal subspecies is entirely black (Betrem 1928; Betrem &amp; Bradley 1964) (Fig. 29). Examination of a female specimen from the island of Buru, near Seram, reveals all the characteristics of ssp. velutina, with a fully melanistic head. As with ssp. intrudens (see paragraph below), frons and vertex coloration appears to be variable, and individuals intermediate between subspecies may be encountered, regardless of locality. M. velutina ducalis is therefore considered a synonym of M. velutina .</p><p>M. velutina intrudens (Smith, 1861), syn. nov. differs from M. velutina ducalis in females only in the yellow spot on the frons and vertex, which does not surround the ocellar triangle, unlike in ssp. ducalis, where it does (Betrem 1928). In the nominal subspecies, the head is entirely black (Betrem 1928; Betrem &amp; Bradley 1964). In males, the distinction is made by the wings coloration, which shows greenish-yellow reflections on the outside of the cells and greenish-blue on the inside, whereas in the nominate subspecies, the reflections are coppery-red on the outside of the cells and greenish-yellow on the inside (Micha 1927). In Sulawesi, female specimens are intermediate between ssp. intrudens and ssp. velutina, with the vertex very slightly marked with yellow. There is no geographical barrier, and both subspecies coexist on Sulawesi. Frons and vertex coloration appear to be intraspecific variations. It is also worth noting that female individuals intermediate between ssp. ducalis and ssp. intrudens can be found on Sulawesi, with the ocellar triangle almost entirely surrounded by yellow. Wings coloration in males does not seem to be a reliable criterion for differentiating subspecies, as it can lose its luster depending on the state of conservation and appears to vary within the same population. Thus, M. velutina intrudens is considered a synonym of M. velutina .</p><p>M. velutina keyensis (Micha, 1927), syn. nov. can be distinguished from the other subspecies by the bluish-purple reflections on the wings (Micha 1927; Betrem 1928). No specimens belonging to this subspecies could be examined, but as with the other subspecies, the validity seems doubtful and a long series would have to be examined before a decision could be made. In the meantime, it is placed in synonymy with the nominal subspecies.</p><p>Genus Regiscolia Betrem &amp; Bradley, 1964, stat. nov.</p><p>(Figs 1B, 2B, 6B, 31–92)</p><p>Scolia (Triscolia): Saussure 1863: 17; Saussure &amp; Sichel 1864: 38; Rohwer 1921: 77; Betrem 1927a: xcvii; Betrem 1941:</p><p>117–118; Steinberg 1962: 115. Ascoli Agassiz, 1846: 4 (synonymized with Megascolia (Regiscolia) by Taylor 2024b: 120). Triscolia: Gribodo 1893: 150; Micha 1927: 79. Scolia ( Triscolia sectio Triscolia): Betrem 1928: 228; Betrem 1933: 254–255. Megascolia (Regiscolia) Betrem &amp; Bradley, 1964: 441–442; Krombein 1978: 10, 24; Argaman 1996: 188; Osten 1999a: 424;</p><p>Osten 2000: 551; Gupta &amp; Jonathan 2003: 138–139; Osten 2005a: 1455; Osten 2005b: 26; Kumar &amp; Rajmohana 2017: 5;</p><p>Mokroussov &amp; Lelej 2017: 147; Liu et al. 2021a: 103, 114; Taylor &amp; Barthélémy 2021: 27; Pham &amp; van Achterberg 2023: 383; Taylor 2024a: 995; Taylor 2024b: 120; Barthélémy &amp; Guenard 2025: 105.</p><p>Ascolia Argaman, 1996: 188 (synonymized with Megascolia (Regiscolia) by Taylor 2024a: 995).</p><p>Elpaholt a Argaman, 1996: 194 (synonymized with Megascolia (Regiscolia) by Taylor 2024a: 995).</p><p>Laskariska Argaman, 1996: 188 (synonymized with Megascolia (Regiscolia) by Taylor 2024a: 995).</p><p>Zazilayza Argaman, 1996: 188 (synonymized with Megascolia (Regiscolia) by Taylor 2024a: 995).</p><p>Guigliana Argaman, 1996: 192 (synonymized with Megascolia (Regiscolia) by Taylor &amp; Barthélémy 2021: 28).</p><p>Paconzitva Argaman, 1996: 196 (synonymized with Megascolia (Regiscolia) by Taylor 2024a: 995).</p><p>Sugorpilfa Argaman, 1996: 196 (synonymized with Megascolia (Regiscolia) by Taylor 2024a: 995).</p><p>Xirgoniqua Argaman, 1996: 196 (synonymized with Megascolia (Regiscolia) by Taylor 2024a: 995).</p><p>Type species. Scolia flavifrons Fabricius, 1775 [= Regiscolia maculata (Drury, 1773)], by original designation.</p><p>Species included. Nine species: Regiscolia alecto (Smith, 1858), comb. nov., R. almoraensis (Gupta &amp; Jonathan, 2003), comb. nov., R. azurea (Christ, 1791), comb. nov., R. bidens (Linnaeus, 1767), comb. nov., R. capitata (Fabricius, 1804), comb. nov., R. fulvifrons (Saussure, 1855), comb. nov., R. maculata (Drury, 1773), comb. nov., R. rubida (Gribodo, 1893), comb. nov., and R. splendida (Saussure, 1858), comb. nov. (Bradley &amp; Betrem 1964; Gupta &amp; Jonathan 2003).</p><p>Diagnosis. Regiscolia Betrem &amp; Bradley, 1964, stat. nov. is distinguished from the genus Megascolia Betrem, 1928 in both sexes by having a dorso-median area of propodeum flat, with a distinct transition to the postero-median area, forming a ridge; and the latero-tergal area of T3 with a groove crossing the entire sclera. In Megascolia, the dorso-median area of propodeum is sloping posteriorly, with an indistinct transition to the postero-median area; and the latero-tergal area of T3 does not have a groove. Furthermore, females of Regiscolia stat. nov. have the pronotum without tubercle in front of the tegula; the hind basitarsus with a scopa on the inner extremity; and the apex of hind basitarsus bordered by a row of spines of very unequal size. Whereas in Megascolia, the pronotum has a more or less prominent tubercle in front of the tegula; the hind basitarsus does not have a scopa; and the apex of hind basitarsus is bordered by a dense row of spines of similar size.</p><p>Regiscolia stat. nov. is distinguished from the genus Gigascolia Castagnet &amp; Cabon, gen. nov. in both sexes by having the T1 with a prominent tubercle instead of a vertical groove. In females, Regiscolia stat. nov. is distinguished from the genus Gigascolia Castagnet &amp; Cabon, gen. nov. by having the inner margin of mandible with a central tooth; the head rounded; the lamina frontalis strong and prominent; the callosity of pronotum without carina; the coxae III elongated; and the T1 campaniform, gradually widening. In Gigascolia gen. nov., the inner margin of mandible has a sharp apical tooth; the head is sub-quadrangular; the lamina frontalis is weaker, not very prominent; the callosity of pronotum has a vertical carina; the coxae III is rounded; and the T1 is pyriform, narrowing at the basal quarter. In males, Regiscolia stat. nov. is distinguished from the genus Gigascolia Castagnet &amp; Cabon, gen. nov. by having the inner margin of mandible with three distinct teeth; and the mesosoma long, about 1.2 to 1.3 times as long as wide. In Gigascolia gen. nov., the inner margin of mandible has two distinct teeth; and the mesosoma is larger, almost as long as wide.</p><p>Redescription. Female. Mandibles with a single central tooth on the inner margin. Clypeus about twice as long as wide. Anterior margin of clypeus wide, truncated or subtruncated in median part; disk of clypeus not domed, impunctate or with rugosities; bordered by a fringe of dense setae. Lamina frontalis strong, elevated and densely punctate at the level of the frontal spatium. Frontal area forming an elongated isosceles triangle. Frons and vertex more or less densely and coarsely punctate. Rounded head, longer than wide. Mesosoma longer than wide. Callosity of pronotum without vertical carina. Pronotum without tubercle in front of tegula. Scutum wider than long. Dorso-median area of propodeum wider than long; flat, transition to postero-median area forming pronounced ridge; at the same level as the dorso-lateral areas of propodeum. Coxae III elongated, without prominent tubercle on inner surface. Hind metatarsus with scopa at inner end; apex of hind metatarsus bordered by a row of spines of very unequal size. Forewing with three submarginal cells (except for one species: R. fulvifrons). Second transverso-cubital vein arrives at or before the junction between the first transverso-cubital vein and the radial area. T1 with a transverse tubercle, sometimes depressed in the center, but without a vertical transverse groove; campaniform, gradually widening. Apical margin of basal tergites with tight and fine punctures; long and dense pilosity forming a band. Lateral tergal area of T3 with a groove crossing the tergite from one end to the other, this part bearing dense micro-punctures. S1 short, raised in the middle and densely punctate over most of its surface.</p><p>Male. Inner margin of mandible with three distinct tooth (third apical tooth sometimes blunt and barely visible). Antennal articles short, segment III 1.4 to 1.8 times longer than wide. Frontal area forming an elongated isosceles triangle. Mesosoma long, clearly longer than wide. Scutum 1.4 to 1.5 times wider than long. Dorso-median area of propodeum flat, wider than long, transition to postero-median surface forming a pronounced ridge. Dorso-median and dorso-lateral areas densely and finely punctate, sometimes with a small impunctate surface. T1 with a strong tubercle, without vertical transverse groove. Latero-tergal area of T3 with furrow crossing tergite from one end to the other, with dense micro-punctures. S1 raised in the middle and densely punctate over most of its surface.</p><p>Genitalia (Fig. 31). Gonocoxites forming two sclerotized half-rings that touch in the middle on the ventral side and at the base on the dorsal side. Ventral part of each gonocoxite subrectangular, obliquely arranged; dorsal part larger, slightly swollen. Side of each gonocoxite extended by an elongated gonostyle, fairly wide, with subparallel margin, widening slightly towards the apex, subtruncate at the apex. Gonostylus with numerous setae; setae on outer surface fine, fairly long and dense; setae on inner surface shorter, thicker, spiniform and less numerous, in addition to fine, longer, scattered setae.</p><p>Distal part of volsella elongated (about twice as high as wide), progressively narrowed, pointed at apex, like a knife blade. Basal part with rounded basal lobe at proximal edge. Basal and distal parts of volsella separated by distinct, fairly deep notch. Ventral side of basal part of volsella has fairly long, spaced setae. Distal part has a few spaced, mostly short setae, a few longer setae on outer edge. Brown sensory conules, 25 to 50 μm long, present at different levels of the volsella: a dozen closely spaced conules are located at the end of the lateral lobe of the basal part; numerous conules arranged in several irregular rows along the lateral edge of the volsella, in its middle part; two groups of two or three conules in a more distal position.</p><p>Aedeagus almost reaching the gonostyles in length. Sclerified penile valves joined by membrane, which forms a rounded cap at the apex of the aedeagus. Ventral edge of the distal part of the penile valve provided with about fifteen sclerified teeth, arranged in an almost straight line, progressively increasing from the apex to the base; basal teeth spaced further apart, irregularly shaped.</p><p>Distribution. Mainly Palaearctic, Indomalayan, and Australasian (only the islands north of Australia and east of Papua): Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Armenia, Austria, Belgium, Bhutan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Cambodia, China, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Egypt, France, Georgia, Greece, Hong-Kong, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Iran, Israel, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kirgistan, Kuwait, Laos, Libya, Macedonia, Malta, Malaysia, Morocco, Myanmar, The Netherlands, Uzbekistan, Pakistan, The Philippines, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, Syria, Tajikistan, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Vietnam (Betrem 1928; Guiglia 1940; Betrem 1941; Betrem 1947; Steinberg 1962; Baltazar 1966; Nagy 1967; Pagliano 1987; Osten 2000; Gupta &amp; Jonathan 2003; Osten 2005a; Bogusch 2007; Özbek &amp; Anlaş 2011; Juillerat 2013; Samin et al. 2014; Olszewski et al. 2016; Nidup et al. 2017; Al-Azab 2020; Baldock et al. 2020; Verheyde et al. 2021; Demetriou et al. 2021; Liu et al. 2021a; Taylor &amp; Barthélémy 2021; Verheyde et al. 2023; Pham &amp; van Achterberg 2023) (fig. 32).</p><p>Remarks. The taxon philippinensis Rohwer, 1921, usually regarded as a valid species, is here treated as a senior synonym of alecto Smith, 1858 . Osten (2005b) includes one additional species in the subgenus Regiscolia, Scolia (T.) hageni Betrem, 1928 . Nevertheless, this species is placed here in synonymy with Regiscolia azurea (Christ, 1791) (see remarks of R. azurea). Argaman (1996) proposed splitting the subgenus Regiscolia sensu Betrem &amp; Bradley (1964) into nine genera ( Ascolia, Elpaholta, Guigliana, Laskariska, Paconzitva, Regiscolia, Sugorpilfa, Xirgoniqua, Zazilayza), practically one genus for each known species. This subdivision was revised and invalidated by Taylor (2024a).</p><p>Key to species of Regiscolia Betrem &amp; Bradley, 1964, stat. nov.</p><p>Females</p><p>(undescribed in R. splendida)</p><p>1. Apical part of the scutum with a dense, uninterrupted band of punctures along the scutellum (Fig. 33A). Dorso-median area of propodeum short, approximately equal to the length of the metanotum. Basal part of T2 with sparse punctures, similar to the punctures of the median part (Fig. 34A). Wings bicolored, yellowish in the cells, dark on the rest (except in almoraensis, wings almost entirely black).................................................................................. 2</p><p>- Apical part of the scutum with sparse punctures in the middle or impunctate, not forming a continuous band of punctures along the scutellum (Fig. 33B). Dorso-median area of propodeum clearly longer than the length of the metanotum. Basal part of T2 with fine, tight and dense punctures forming a band; punctation of median part sparse and coarse (Fig. 34B). Wings entirely dark................................................................................................ 5</p><p>2. Pronotum close to tegula with a large impunctate area or mostly with coarse and sparse punctures (Figs 35A, B). Basal part of scutum with dense and coarse punctures (Figs 35A, B). Dorso-median area of propodeum with two protruding projections prolonged towards the rear (Figs 36A, B).................................................................. 3</p><p>- Pronotum mostly with very fine, tight and dense punctures (Figs 35C, D). Basal part of scutum with very dense, tight and fine punctures (Figs 35C, D). Dorso-median area of propodeum with two protruding projections prolonged towards the rear or without projections extended posteriorly (Figs 36C, D)....................................................... 4</p><p>3. Frons with fine and sparse punctures. Pronotum close to tegula with a large impunctate area (Fig. 35A). Anterior margin of marginal cell longer than posterior margin. Wings bicolored, yellowish in the cells, dark on the rest. Pilosity entirely ferruginous. Most of the integument reddish-brown. T2 and T3 marked with yellow............................ R. rubida (Gribodo)</p><p>- Frons with coarser and denser punctures. Pronotum with coarse and sparse punctures, without distinct impunctate area (Fig. 35B). Anterior margin of marginal cell equal than posterior margin. Wing almost entirely black, yellowish area restricted to the costal margin near the marginal cell. Pilosity entirely black. Integument predominantly black. T3 marked with orange-reddish, sometimes T4 weakly...................................................... R. almoraensis (Gupta &amp; Jonathan) .</p><p>4. Fissura frontalis inconspicuous, not reaching anterior ocelli. Dorso-median area of propodeum with two protruding projections prolonged towards the rear (Fig. 36C). Anterior margin of marginal cell shorter than posterior margin (Fig. 37A). T1 with a median tubercle not depressed in the middle (Fig. 38A). Antennae orange-red, except scape and pedicel.................................................................................................... R. bidens (Linnaeus)</p><p>- Fissura frontalis reaching anterior ocelli. Dorso-median area of propodeum without projections extended posteriorly, or at most with slight relief (Fig. 36D). Anterior margin of marginal cell longer than posterior margin (Fig. 37B). T1 with a median tubercle depressed in the middle (Fig. 38B). Antennae entirely black, sometimes brownish........... R. maculata (Drury)</p><p>5. Frons and vertex with fine, shallow and very scattered punctures (Fig. 39A). Ocello-ocular distance at least 3 times longer than the distance between the posterior ocelli. Basal part of scutum at notauli level with a large rounded area with very fine, dense and colescent punctures, forming a tuft of long setae (Fig. 40A). Scutellum, metanotum, dorso-median area of propodeum, T1 generally marked with yellow. Pilosity of pronotum, metanotum, propodeum and metasoma forming tufts of very dense, long setae.............................................................................. R. capitata (Fabricius)</p><p>- Frons and vertex with coarse and deep punctures, frons punctation always denser (Fig. 39B). Ocello-ocular distance 1.9 to 2.2 times longer than the distance between the posterior ocelli. Basal part of scutum at notauli more or less coarsely and densely punctate, with normal pilosity (Fig. 40B). Scutellum, metanotum, dorso-median area of propodeum and T1 entirely black. Mesosoma and metasoma pilosity less dense and long........................................................ 6</p><p>6. Apical margin of clypeus with two prominent lateral lobes; disk of clypeus domed and fully reticulated. Vertex with denser punctation (Fig. 41A). Apical row of punctures on T3, of similar height along most of its length, the middle slightly narrowed. Metasoma marked yellow-orange on T3, often T4 and T5, sometimes T2, black pilosity except in the colored areas. Usually two submarginal cells, sometimes three.................................................. R. fulvifrons (Saussure)</p><p>- Apical margin of clypeus more rounded, without distinct lateral lobes; disk of clypeus flat, entirely impunctate, weakly striated only at apex. Vertex with few scattered punctation (Fig. 41B). Apical row of punctures in T3, very indented in the middle, revealing an impunctate triangular surface. Metasoma entirely black with black or red pilosity if T3 and/or T4 marked with orange, pilosity reddish on apical tergites. Three submarginal cells.............................................. 7</p><p>7. Pronotum with dense, tight and fine punctures over its entire surface, at most a small area with sparse punctures in front of the excavation of pronotum (Fig. 42A). Transition area between the dorso-median and postero-median areas of propodeum forming an angle without protrusion. T1 with a median tubercle not depressed (Fig. 43A). T2 basally with dense and fine punctures forming a continuous band across its entire width (Fig. 43A). Metasoma black. Pilosity black (except in ssp. regnatrix with reddish pilosity on T2 apically and pygidium).................................................. R. alecto (Smith)</p><p>- Pronotum with coarse and sparse punctures in the posterior half, revealing a large impunctate surface in front of the excavation of pronotum (Fig. 42B). Transition area between the dorso-median and postero-median areas of propodeum generally forming a protruding ridge. T1 with a median tubercle often depressed in the middle (Fig. 43B). T2 basally usually with dense and fine punctures forming a band, punctation interrupted in the middle (Fig. 43B). Metasoma black, often marked with orange-red on T4, T5. Pilosity reddish on the last tergites, exceptionally with entirely melanistic pilosity............. R. azurea (Christ)</p><p>Males</p><p>1. Frons and vertex almost entirely impunctate, with fine, scattered and shallow punctures (Fig. 44A). Frontal lamina short, the extension of the frontal cross-furrow delimiting frontal spatium and frons ending in the lower part of the ocular sinus. Distance between the posterior ocelli, 1.7 times shorter than the ocello-ocular distance. Scutellum, metanotum, dorso-median area of propodeum, T1, and T3 marked with yellow. Mesosoma and metasoma pilosity forming very dense and long tufts.......................................................................................... R. capitata (Fabricius)</p><p>- Frons and vertex more densely punctate, with more coarse, dense and deep punctures (Fig. 44B). Frontal lamina long, the extension of the frontal cross-furrow delimiting frontal spatium and frons ending in the middle of the ocular sinus or in its upper part. Distance between the posterior ocelli, equal to or greater than the ocello-ocular distance. Metanotum, dorso-medial area of propodeum, and T1 generally entirely black. Pilosity of the mesosoma and metasoma long and dense................ 2</p><p>2. Area around and between the posterior ocelli with very dense, tight, fine and agglomerated punctures (Fig. 45A). Length of the dorso-median area of propodeum almost equal to the length of the metanotum. Bicolored wings, yellowish in the cells, dark on the rest (except in almoraensis, wings almost entirely black)................................................... 3</p><p>- Area around and between the posterior ocelli with more sparse and coarse punctures (in R. fulvifrons, punctation between the posterior ocelli often more fine and dense, but not agglomerated) (Fig. 45B). Length of the dorso-median area of propodeum significantly greater than the length of the metanotum. Wings entirely dark....................................... 5</p><p>3. Upper margin of the marginal cell equal or almost equal to the lower margin (Fig. 46A). Yellow antennae (except for the scape and pedicel). T3 marked with two yellow spots.............................................. R. bidens (Linnaeus)</p><p>- Upper margin of the marginal cell significantly longer than the lower margin (Fig. 46B). Black or orange-reddish antennae. T2 and T3 marked with two yellow spots, sometimes fused or T3 with two orange-reddish spot.......................... 4</p><p>4. Basal third of the scutum with dense, fine, and tight punctures. Dorso-median area of propodeum with two protruding projections prolonged towards the rear.............................................................................. 5</p><p>- Basal third of the scutum with extremely dense, fine, and coalescent punctures. Dorso-median area of propodeum without protruding projections prolonged towards the rear, or at most with a slight relief................... R. maculata (Drury)</p><p>5. Orange-reddish antennae; flagellomere 1 with micropunctures similar to that of the following flagellomeres. Wings bicolored, yellowish in the cells, dark on the rest. Pilosity entirely ferruginous. Most of the integument reddish-brown. T2 and T3 marked with yellow........................................................................... R. rubida (Gribodo)</p><p>- Black antennae; flagellomere 1 without micropunctation, unlike the following flagellomeres. Wing almost entirely black, yellowish area restricted to the costal margin near the marginal cell. Pilosity entirely black. Integument predominantly black. T3 marked with orange-reddish, sometimes T4 weakly............................ R. almoraensis (Gupta &amp; Jonathan) .</p><p>6. Tegula with coarse and dense punctures over two-thirds of its surface, the rest with micropunctures. Scutum with dense and fine punctures, interspaces between punctures approximately equal to the diameter of a point; without any distinct impunctate area medially (Fig. 47A). T3 with dense punctures across its entire surface, small area in the middle with sparse punctures. Metasoma marked with yellow-orange on T3, sometimes on T4, T5, and T6. Black pilosity, yellow on the colored areas. Usually two submarginal cells, sometimes three............................................ R. fulvifrons (Saussure)</p><p>- Tegula with coarse and sparse punctures on its basal third, the rest micropunctures more or less visible. Scutum with coarser and sparser punctures, in the middle interspaces between punctures significantly larger than the diameter of a puncture; with a more or less large impunctate area medially (Fig. 47B). T3 with dense punctures, with a large impunctate central area. Metasoma entirely black or marked with yellow-orange on T3 or reddish on the apical tergites. Black pilosity, yellow on the colored surfaces, or reddish on the apical tergites. Three submarginal cells.............................................. 7</p><p>7. T1 with dense and fine punctures across its entire surface; area around the tubercle with interspaces between punctures equal to or smaller than the diameter of a puncture; on the tubercle punctation sometimes more spaced (Fig. 48A). Frons, vertex, and tempora entirely yellow-orange, sometimes also clypeus. Metasoma entirely black or marked with yellow-orange on T3. Pilosity of the metasoma entirely black, or black pilosity with yellow on the colored surfaces......................... 8</p><p>- T1 with dense and fine punctures laterally and apically; the area around the tubercle more or less impunctate, with coarse punctures and the interspaces between punctures significantly greater than the diameter of a puncture; on the tubercle punctation very sparse (Fig. 48B). Head black, sometimes marked with orange-reddish in the ocular sinus or with a fine band behind frontal spatium (except in michaae ssp. with head mostly reddish). Metasoma black, with T4, T5, T6, and T7 generally marked with orange-reddish, sometimes T3. Pilosity of metasoma black, with reddish pilosity on the apical tergites R. azurea (Christ)</p><p>8. Mesosoma and metasoma black. The Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia (Borneo, Sulawesi, Makian islands)..................................................................................................... R. alecto (Smith)</p><p>- Mesosoma black or marked with yellow-orange on the pronotum, scutum, and scutellum. Metasoma black, marked with yellow-orange on T3. Indonesia (Flores, Wetar and Rote islands).................................... R. splendida (Saussure)</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03B687D7FFBDFF9663E409E9FA05D5AA	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		MagnoliaPress via Plazi	Castagnet, Jean-Baptiste;Cabon, Flavien	Castagnet, Jean-Baptiste, Cabon, Flavien (2025): Review of the genus Megascolia Betrem, 1928 (Hymenoptera, Scoliidae). Zootaxa 5700 (1): 1-127, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5700.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5700.1.1
03B687D7FFACFF9D63E409B0FA04D7D7.text	03B687D7FFACFF9D63E409B0FA04D7D7.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Regiscolia alecto (Smith 1858) Castagnet & Cabon 2025	<div><p>Regiscolia alecto (Smith, 1858), comb. nov.</p><p>(Figs 49–54)</p><p>Scolia alecto Smith, 1858b: 10 (lectotype, ♀, Makian, designated by Betrem 1928: 237; deposited in OUMNH, United Kingdoms,</p><p>not examined); Kirby 1889: 446. Scolia cincta Smith, 1858a: 89 . Scolia (Triscolia) cincta: Saussure &amp; Sichel 1864: 45; Cameron 1892: 101. Scolia (Triscolia) alecto: Saussure &amp; Sichel 1864: 48; Betrem 1941: 118. Scolia ( Scolia, Triscolia) alecto: Dalla-Torre 1897: 145. Scolia ( Scolia, Triscolia) cincta: Dalla-Torre 1897: 152. Scolia (Triscolia) philippinensis Rohwer, 1921: 77–78; Betrem 1941: 118. Syn. nov. Triscolia alecto: Micha 1927: 123, 148. Triscolia alecto alecto: Micha 1927: 123. Triscolia philippinensis: Micha 1927: 124, 148. Triscolia philippinensis philippinensis: Micha 1927: 124, 150. Triscolia cincta: Micha 1927: 141. Scolia ( Triscolia sectio Triscolia) alecto cincta: Betrem 1928: 226. Scolia ( Triscolia sectio Triscolia) philippinensis: Betrem 1928: 236. Scolia ( Triscolia sectio Triscolia) alecto: Betrem 1928: 237. Megascolia (Regiscolia) alecto: Betrem &amp; Bradley 1964: 443; Osten 2005b: 26. Megascolia (Regiscolia) alecto alecto: Betrem &amp; Bradley 1964: 443; Bradley &amp; Betrem 1967: 296; Osten 2005b: 26. Megascolia (Regiscolia) alecto regnatrix Betrem &amp; Bradley, 1964: 443; Bradley &amp; Betrem 1967: 300; Bradley 1973a: 287;</p><p>Osten 2005b: 26 (nomen novum for Scolia cincta Smith, 1858). Megascolia (Regiscolia) philippinensis: Betrem &amp; Bradley 1964: 443; Baltazar 1966: 230; Osten 2005b: 40. Paconzitva alecto: Argaman 1996: 196. Sugorpilfa philippinensis: Argaman 1996: 196.</p><p>Material examined. Indonesia. South Sulawesi province. 1♀ 3♂, Tompobulu, 12.XI.2020 (local coll. leg.) [CJBC]; 1♀, Palolo, 4.XII.2017 (local coll. leg.) [CJBC]. West Kalimantan province. 1♀, Mont Bawang, 10.IX.2014 (local coll. leg.) [CJBC]. The Philippines. Baatan province. 2♀ 1♂, Mariveles, 10-15.V.2017 (local coll. leg.) [CJBC]. Cotabato province. 1♀, Alamanda, 8.XII.2018 (local coll. leg.) [CJBC]; 1♀ 1♂, Arakan, 10.IV.2021 (local coll. leg.) [CJBC]. North Samar province. 1♀, Lope de Vega, 26.XI.2023 (local coll. leg.) [CJBC]. South Agusan province . 1♂, San Luis, 10.IV.2018 (local coll. leg.) [CJBC]. South Davao province. 1♀, Kapatagan, 18.II.2017 (local coll. leg.) [CJBC]; 1♀, same place, 9.III.2017 (local coll. leg.) [CJBC] .</p><p>Diagnosis. Regiscolia alecto (Smith, 1858), comb. nov. differs from R. almoraensis (Gupta &amp; Jonathan, 2003), comb. nov., R. bidens (Linnaeus, 1767), comb. nov., R. maculata (Drury, 1773), comb. nov., and R. rubida (Gribodo, 1893), comb. nov., in females by having the apical part of scutum with sparse punctures medially or without puctures, thus not forming a continuous band of punctures along the scutellum; the dorso-median area of propodeum distinctly longer than the metanotum; and the basal part of T2 has finer and denser punctures forming a band, the median part being sparsely and coarsely punctate. In contrast, in R. almoraensis, R. bidens, R. maculata, and R. rubida the apical part of scutum has a denser and uninterrupted band of punctures along the scutellum; the dorso-median area of propodeum is shorter, approximately equal to the length of the metanotum; and the basal part of T2 has sparser punctures similar to those of the median part. In males, R. alecto differs by having the area around and between the posterior ocelli with sparse and coarse punctures; and the length of the dorso-median area of propodeum significantly greater than that of the metanotum. In contrast, in R. almoraensis, R. bidens, R. maculata, and R. rubida, the area around and between the posterior ocelli has very denser, tighter, finer, and agglomerated punctures; and the length of the dorso-median area of propodeum is nearly equal to that of the metanotum. In both sexes, the wings of R. alecto are entirely dark. Whereas in R. almoraensis, R. bidens, R. maculata, and R. rubida, they are bicolored, yellowish in the cells and dark elsewhere (in R. almoraensis the wings are almost entirely black).</p><p>R. alecto is easily distinguished from R. capitata (Fabricius, 1804), comb. nov. in both sexes by having the head with coarse and dense punctures; and the mesosoma and metasoma entirely melanistic. In contrast, in R. capitata the head is almost entirely impunctate with finer and sparser punctures; and the scutellum, metanotum, dorso-median area of propodeum, T1, and T3 are generally marked with yellow.</p><p>R. alecto is distinguished from R. azurea (Christ, 1791), comb. nov. in female, by having the pronotum with dense, tight, and fine punctures over its entire surface; the transition between the dorso-median and postero-median areas of propodeum forming an angle without a protrusion; and the basal part of T2 with dense and fine punctures forming a continuous band across its entire width. In contrast, in R. azurea, the pronotum has coarser and sparser punctures on the posterior half, showing a large impunctate area anterior to the pronotal excavation; the transition between the dorso-median and postero-median areas of propodeum generally forms a protruding ridge; and the basal part of T2 usually has denser and finer punctures forming a band, but the punctation is interrupted medially. In males, R. alecto differs by having the T1 with dense and fine punctures across its entire surface; and the metasomal pilosity entirely black. Whereas in R. azurea, the basal part T1 has an impunctate area at the level of the tubercle; and the metasomal pilosity is reddish apically.</p><p>R. alecto is distinguished from R. fulvifrons (Saussure, 1855), comb. nov. and R. splendida (Saussure, 1858), comb. nov., by having the mesosoma and metasoma entirely melanistic. Whereas in R. fulvifrons and R. splendida, at least the metasoma is marked with orange-yellow on the T3, and sometimes the mesosoma as well.</p><p>Redescription. Female (Fig. 49). Length 32–40 mm.</p><p>Head (Figs 49B, C). Mandibles short and thickened at the apex. Median mandibular tooth small and prominent, sometimes blunt. Anterior margin of clypeus rounded, without prominent lateral lobes; disk of clypeus not-domed and reticulated apically. Fissura frontalis weak and inconspicuous. Frons with numerous and sparse punctures. Vertex almost impunctate, except behind posterior ocelli with few sparse punctures.</p><p>Mesosoma (Fig. 49D). Pronotum finely and densely punctate over its entire surface. Tegula with coarse punctures at base and along scutum; with micro-punctures often effaced on rest. Scutum finely and densely punctate basally; more sparsely laterally, except for lateral corners with very dense and fine punctures; largely impunctate medially and apically. Scutellum with fine and dense punctures basally; sparser medially and apically, with distinctly impunctate surfaces. Metanotum finely and densely punctate with a small impunctate central band. Dorso-lateral area of propodeum densely and finely punctate, anteriorly with an impunctate area (mirror). Dorso-median area of propodeum clearly longer than the length of the metanotum; punctures fine and dense over its entire surface. Upper plate of metapleuron impunctate on its lower third, finely and densely punctate on the rest. Anterior margin of marginal cell longer than posterior margin. Forewing with three submarginal cells. Hind tibiae spurs of similar length.</p><p>Metasoma (Fig. 49E). T1 with a tubercle not depressed in the middle; coarsely and sparsely punctate basally revealing a small impunctate area in its center; very densely and finely punctate laterally and apically. Basal part of T2 densely and finely punctate continuous along its entire width; very sparsely punctate medially; very finely and densely punctate apically. T3 almost entirely impunctate basally and medially; densely and finely punctate apically. T4 to T5 with similar punctation, but the central impunctate area gradually reduced. S1 densely and finely punctate over its entire surface. S2 with strong tubercle; with fine and dense punctures basally; with sparse and coarse punctures medially; with dense and fine punctures on sides apically, sparsely punctate in the middle apically. S3 to S5 with similar punctation.</p><p>Coloration (Figs 49, 51). Head marked with yellow on frons and vertex; ocellar region black. Antennae black. Mesosoma black. Metasoma black. Legs black. Wings entirely dark, with blue/purple or blue/greenish reflections. Body pilosity black. In subspecies regnatrix (Fig. 50) as in the nominotypical subspecies (Fig. 49), except with the apical fringes of T2, sometimes those of T 3 in part and those of T 5 in the middle reddish. The subspecies philippinensis (Fig. 51) is not distinguishable from the nominotypical subspecies.</p><p>Male (Fig. 52). Length 25–29 mm.</p><p>Head (Figs 52B, C). Inner margin of mandible with three distinct tooth (third apical tooth sometimes blunt and barely visible). Disk of clypeus with few shallow and sparse punctures medially, denser and coarser punctures basally and laterally. Fissura frontalis barely visible after the frontal spatium, not reaching the anterior ocellus. Frontal cross-furrow barely visible, its extension reaching the upper lobe of the eye. Frontal spatium with dense, tight and fine punctures. Anterior ocelli depressed, larger than posterior ocelli. Frons with dense and coarse punctures, except in front of anterior ocellus with an impunctate area. Vertex behind the ocelli with sparse and fine punctures, dense punctures near the occipital carina.</p><p>Mesosoma (Fig. 52D). Pronotum with dense, tight and fine punctures over its entire surface, inter-points spaces almost coalescent. Tegula with few coarse punctures anteriorly, with shallow and dense micropunctures on the rest. Scutum with fine and dense punctures, more sparser apically. Scutellum with fine and dense punctures basally, sparser and coarser medially and mostly impunctate apically. Metanotum with fine and dense punctures laterally, impunctate line in the middle. Dorso-lateral area of propodeum with a large impunctate area (mirror); with fine, dense and deep punctures; in front of mirror, with a patch of very fine and dense punctures. Dorso-median area of propodeum with coarse and dense punctures over its entire surface. Anterior margin of the marginal cell longer than posterior margin. Forewing with three submarginal cells.</p><p>Metasoma (Fig. 52E). T1 with a strong tubercle; very dense and fine punctures laterally and apically; more coarsely and sparsely punctate basally at the level of tubercle. T2 with fine and dense punctures; more denser and finer punctures basally and apically, at these levels pilosity forming a large band. T3 largely impunctate medially, with very dense and fine punctures apically, less dense and sparse basally. T4-T6 similarly punctate, but the central impunctate area smaller. S1 raised in the middle, with dense punctures. S2 with dense and fine punctures basally, sparser laterally, mostly impunctate medially and apically. S3 with very sparse punctures medially, more denser laterally. S4-S6 similarly punctate.</p><p>Coloration (Figs 52, 53). Frons, vertex and tempora yellow-orange, black on the rest. Clypeus black in philippinensis (Fig. 53), yellow-orange in nominal subspecies (Fig. 52). Mesosoma and metasoma black. Pilosity black. The male of subspecies regnatrix is unknown.</p><p>Genitalia. See Fig. 31A.</p><p>Distribution. Indonesia (North Maluku, South Sulawesi, West Kalimantan), The Philippines (Baatan, Batangas, Cotabato, Laguna, North Samar, South Agusan, South Davao) (Rohwer 1921; Micha 1927; Betrem 1928 1941; Betrem &amp; Bradley 1964) (Fig. 54). Betrem (1928, 1941) mentions the locality of Malacca (a city in Malaysia) for two female specimens of Scolia alecto . These identifications appear doubtful, these specimens mostly belong to R. azurea (see remarks of R. azurea).</p><p>Biology. Unknown.</p><p>Remarks. To date, two subspecies have been recognized (Betrem &amp; Bradley 1964; Osten 2005b): ssp. alecto alecto (Smith, 1858) from Sulawesi and ssp. regnatrix Betrem &amp; Bradley, 1964 from Borneo, known only from the female. R. alecto regnatrix differs from the nominate subspecies (Fig. 49) only in female, with all-black pilosity, and reddish apical pilosity on T2, T5 and pygidium (sometimes also on T1 and/or T3) (Fig. 50). We were able to examine two females whose coloration conforms to the original description, and this taxon appears to be restricted to Borneo.</p><p>Examination of numerous specimens of Scolia (Triscolia) philippinensis Rohwer, 1921, syn. nov. shows that this taxon is synonym with Scolia alecto Smith, 1858 . The males of S. (T.) philippinensis differ only from the males of R. alecto alecto by the clypeus entirely black (Fig. 53), whereas in R. alecto alecto it is almost entirely orange (Fig. 52). There are no morphological or coloration differences in females (Figs 49, 51), contrary to what is stated by Betrem (1928). S. (T.) philippinensis must now be considered as a subspecies of R. alecto . Regiscolia alecto philippinensis (Rohwer, 1921), stat. nov. is known only from The Philippines.</p><p>Key to potential subspecies of Regiscolia alecto</p><p>Females</p><p>1. Metasoma with black pilosity (Figs 49, 51). Indonesia (Sulawesi) and The Philippines ............................... 2</p><p>- Metasoma with black pilosity mixed with reddish pilosity on T2 apically and pygidium (Fig. 50). Indonesia (Borneo).......................................................................................... ssp. regnatrix (Smith)</p><p>2. The Philippines (Fig. 51 ................................................. ssp. philippinensis (Rohwer), stat. nov.</p><p>- Indonesia (Sulawesi) (Fig. 49)............................................................. ssp. alecto (Smith)</p><p>Males (unknown in ssp. regnatrix)</p><p>1. Clypeus almost entirely orange (Fig. 52). Indonesia ............................................ ssp. alecto (Smith)</p><p>- Clypeus black (Fig. 53). The Philippines .................................... ssp. philippinensis (Rohwer), stat. nov.</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03B687D7FFACFF9D63E409B0FA04D7D7	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		MagnoliaPress via Plazi	Castagnet, Jean-Baptiste;Cabon, Flavien	Castagnet, Jean-Baptiste, Cabon, Flavien (2025): Review of the genus Megascolia Betrem, 1928 (Hymenoptera, Scoliidae). Zootaxa 5700 (1): 1-127, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5700.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5700.1.1
03B687D7FFA4FF9863E40D5CFCDED3CF.text	03B687D7FFA4FF9863E40D5CFCDED3CF.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Regiscolia almoraensis (Gupta & Jonathan 2003) Castagnet & Cabon 2025	<div><p>Regiscolia almoraensis (Gupta &amp; Jonathan, 2003), comb. nov.</p><p>(Figs 55–57)</p><p>Megascolia (Regiscolia) almoraensis Gupta &amp; Jonathan, 2003: 148 (holotype examined, details below); Osten 2005b: 26; Kumar &amp; Rajmohana 2017: 5.</p><p>Type material examined. Holotype of Megascolia (Regiscolia) almoraensis (ZSI), ♂, [red label] ‘ HOLOTYPE / Megascolia / almorensis, n. sp. / S.K. Gupta, 1986’, [white labels] ‘ INDIA U.P. / Tilwara. / Almora Dist. / Alt. 3000ft. 21.IX.1958 / B.S. Lamba’, ‘8877/H 3’ (Fig. 58) . Paratype of Megascolia (Regiscolia) almoraensis (ZSI), ♂, [white label] ‘ PARATYPE / Megascolia / almorensis, n. sp. / S.K. Gupta, 1986’, [yellow label] ‘ INDIA U.P. / Tilwara. / Almora Dist. / Alt. 3000ft. 21.IX.1958 / B.S. Lamba’, [white label] ‘8878/H 3] (Fig. 58) .</p><p>Other material examined. Pakistan. 2♀ 7♂, <a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=73.353&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=34.4804" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long 73.353/lat 34.4804)">Khyber Pakhtunk</a>, 7km S Balakot, 34,4804N, 73,353E, 861m, 12.IV.2025 (C. Schmid-Egger leg.) [CCSE] ; 1♀ 1♂, same data [CJBC]; 1♂, same data [CFC]; 10♂, same data [CWHL] .</p><p>Diagnosis. Regiscolia almoraensis (Gupta &amp; Jonathan, 2003), comb. nov. shares a similar habitus with Indomalayan species such as R. azurea (Christ, 1791), comb. nov. and R. fulvifrons (Saussure, 1855), comb. nov. However, morphologically, R. almoraensis is more closely related to Palaearctic species such as R. bidens (Linnaeus, 1767), comb. nov., R. maculata (Drury, 1773), comb. nov., and R. rubida (Gribodo, 1893), comb. nov.</p><p>R. almoraensis differs from R. alecto, R. azurea, R. capitata and R. fulvifrons in females by having the apical part of scutum with a dense, uninterrupted band of punctures along the scutellum; and the basal part of T2 with sparse punctures similar to those of the median part. In contrast, R. alecto, R. azurea, R. capitata and R. fulvifrons have the apical part of scutum with sparser punctures or without punctures, not forming a continuous band; and the basal part of T2 has finer and denser punctures forming a band, the median part being sparsely and coarsely punctate.</p><p>R. almoraensis differs from R. bidens and R. maculata in females by having the pronotum with coarse and sparse punctures; and the basal part of scutum with dense and coarse punctures. In contrast, in R. bidens and R. maculata, the pronotum and the basal part of scutum are mostly covered with finer, denser, and tighter punctures.</p><p>R. almoraensis differs from R. rubida in females by having the pronotum covered with coarse and sparse punctures. Whereas in R. rubida, the pronotum has a large impunctate area close to the tegula.</p><p>R. almoraensis also differs from R. bidens, R. maculata and R. rubida in both sexes by its general habitus. The wings are almost entirely black, and only the T3 (occasionally with two small spots on T4) is marked with an orange-reddish coloration. In contrast, in R. bidens, R. maculata, and R. rubida, the wings are clearly bicolored, and both T2 and T3 have yellowish markings (in males of R. bidens only T3 marked with yellow but flagellum yellow).</p><p>In males, R. almoraensis differs from Regiscolia azurea, R. alecto, R. fulvifrons and R. splendida, by having the area around and between the posterior ocelli with very dense, tight, fine, and agglomerated punctures; and the length of the dorso-median area of propodeum nearly equal to that of the metanotum. In contrast, in Regiscolia azurea, R. alecto and R. fulvifrons, the area around and between the posterior ocelli has sparser and coarser punctures; and the length of the dorso-median area of propodeum is significantly greater than that of the metanotum.</p><p>R. almoraensis is distinguished from R. capitata in males by having an entirely black mesosoma. Whereas in R. capitata, the mesosoma is marked with yellow on the scutellum, metanotum and dorso-median area of the propodeum.</p><p>Description of the female (Fig. 55). Length 28–33 mm.</p><p>Head (Figs 55B, C). Mandibles long and slender. Median mandibular tooth small and prominent, sometimes blunt. Anterior margin of clypeus rounded, without prominent lateral lobes; disk of clypeus not-domed and punctate apically and laterally; impunctate in the middle. Fissura frontalis distinct, ending in the frontal pit. Frons with numerous and dense punctures. Vertex densely punctate.</p><p>Mesosoma (Fig. 55D). Pronotum with fine and dense punctures near the occiput, with coarse and sparse punctures on the rest. Tegula with coarse and sparse punctures at base and along scutum. Scutum with coarse and dense punctures on the basal quarter; with sparse and coarse punctures laterally; largely impunctate medially; with a fine, dense, and continuous band of punctures apically. Scutellum with fine and dense punctures basally and medially, with sparse and coarse punctures laterally, largely impunctate apically. Metanotum with fine, tight and dense punctures laterally, with sparse and coarser punctures medially. Dorso-lateral area of propodeum with very dense, tight and fine punctures, without an impunctate area (mirror) anteriorly. Dorso-median area of propodeum with two protruding projections prolonged towards the rear; approximately equal to the length of the metanotum; with very fine, tight dense punctures. Upper plate of metapleura impunctate on the lower two-thirds, densely punctate on the rest. Anterior margin of marginal cell longer than posterior margin. Forewing with three submarginal cells. Hind tibiae spurs of similar length.</p><p>Metasoma (Fig. 55E). T1 with a tubercle depressed in the middle; coarsely and sparsely punctate basally revealing a large impunctate area near the tubercle; very densely and finely punctate laterally and apically. T2 with scattered and coarse punctures basally and medially; with very fine, tight and dense punctures apically. T3 almost entirely impunctate basally and medially; with dense, tight and fine punctures apically. T4 to T5 with similar punctation. S1 with dense and fine punctures laterally, mostly impunctate on the rest. S2 without distinct tubercle; basally with fine and dense punctures; with sparse and coarse punctures medially; with dense and fine punctures apically, with sparse punctures medially. S3 to S5 with similar punctation.</p><p>Coloration (Fig. 55). Head marked with orange-reddish on frons, vertex and tempora; ocellar region brownish. Antennae black. Mesosoma entirely black. Metasoma with T3 with two orange-reddish spots, T4 sometimes weakly marked with orange-reddish coloration. Legs black. Wings almost entirely dark with bluish-green iridescence, yellowish area restricted to the costal margin near the marginal cell. Pilosity black, except in the colored areas.</p><p>Redescription of the male (Fig. 56). Length 19-25 mm.</p><p>Head (Figs 56B, C). Inner margin of mandible with three distinct tooth (third apical tooth sometimes blunt and barely visible). Disk of clypeus with sparse punctures apically, dense and coarse punctures basally and laterally. Fissura frontalis visible reaching anterior ocelli. Frontal cross-furrow visible, its extension reaching the upper part of the ocular sinus. Frontal spatium with dense, tight and fine punctures. Anterior ocelli depressed, larger than posterior ocelli. Frons with dense, fine and tight punctures, impunctate in front of the anterior ocellus. Vertex with fine, tight and dense punctures, particularly around the posterior ocelli.</p><p>Mesosoma (Fig. 56D). Pronotum with dense, tight and fine punctures over its entire surface, inter-points spaces almost coalescent. Tegula with dense and coarse punctures anteriorly and along the scutum, largely impunctate near the wing. Scutum with fine, tight and dense punctures in its anterior third; with dense and fine punctures on the rest. Scutellum with fine and dense punctures basally, sparser medially and mostly impunctate apically. Metanotum with fine and dense punctures laterally, impunctate line in the middle. Dorso-lateral area of propodeum without impunctate area (mirror) anteriorly; with fine, dense and tight punctures. Dorso-median area of propodeum with two protruding projections prolonged towards the rear; with very fine, tight dense punctures. Anterior margin of the marginal cell longer than posterior margin. Forewing with three submarginal cells.</p><p>Metasoma (Fig. 56E). T1 with a strong tubercle; with dense, fine and tight punctures over its entire surface. T2 with fine, tight and dense punctures, clearly sparse medially. T3 with sparse punctures laterally; dense punctures medially; fine and dense punctures apically. T4-T6 densely punctate. S1 raised in the middle, with dense punctures medially. S2 without tubercle; with dense and fine punctures basally and laterally, sparser medially and apically. S3 with sparse punctures medially, more denser laterally. S4-S6 similarly punctate.</p><p>Coloration (Fig. 56). Head black, marked with orange-reddish on the ocular sinus and behind the eyes.Antennae black. Mesosoma entirely black. Metasoma with T3 with two orange-reddish spots, T4 sometimes weakly marked with orange-reddish coloration. Legs black. Wings almost entirely dark with bluish-green iridescence, yellowish area restricted to the costal margin near the marginal cell. Pilosity black, except in the colored areas.</p><p>Genitalia. See Fig. 31B.</p><p>Distribution. India (Uttarakhand), Pakistan (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa; new record) (Guta &amp; Jonathan 2003) (Fig. 57).</p><p>Biology. The specimens were observed foraging on the flowers of Pseudocaryopteris sp. ( Lamiaceae) (Fig. 59).</p><p>Remarks. Gupta &amp; Jonathan (2003) described Megascolia (Regiscolia) almoraensis from India on the basis of two males deposited at the Zoological Survey of India (state, city). They have brought this species closer to R. fulvifrons in their diagnosis by its habitus. However, although this species shares a similar habitus with Oriental species, it is morphologically much closer to the Mediterranean Regiscolia, particularly in the punctation of the scutum and the shape and punctation of the dorso-median area of the propodeum, thus appearing to represent a transitional form with species from the Indo-Malayan region.</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03B687D7FFA4FF9863E40D5CFCDED3CF	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		MagnoliaPress via Plazi	Castagnet, Jean-Baptiste;Cabon, Flavien	Castagnet, Jean-Baptiste, Cabon, Flavien (2025): Review of the genus Megascolia Betrem, 1928 (Hymenoptera, Scoliidae). Zootaxa 5700 (1): 1-127, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5700.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5700.1.1
03B687D7FFDEFFE963E408E0FA05D01B.text	03B687D7FFDEFFE963E408E0FA05D01B.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Regiscolia azurea (Christ 1791) Castagnet & Cabon 2025	<div><p>Regiscolia azurea (Christ, 1791), comb. nov.</p><p>(Figs 60–65)</p><p>Sphex azurea Christ, 1791: 256 (holotype, female, probably lost, depositories unknown; not examined; type locality unknown).</p><p>Scolia rubiginosa Fabricius, 1793: 230; Coquebert 1801: 55; Fabricius 1804: 241; Klug 1810: 211; Lepeletier 1845: 518–519; Burmeister 1854: 19; Smith 1855: 111; Cameron 1901: 18; Paiva 1907: 14; Vitalis de Salvaza 1919: 288 (synonymised the same year independently by Micha 1927: 117 and Betrem 1927b: 292). Syn. nov.</p><p>Scolia (Scolia) rubiginosa: Guérin-Méneville 1830: 247.</p><p>Scolia ornata Lepeletier, 1845: 517–518 (synonymized by Burmeister 1854: 19).</p><p>Scolia (Scolia) magnifica Saussure, 1859: 175 . Syn. nov.</p><p>Scolia (Triscolia) magnifica: Saussure &amp; Sichel 1864: 44; Cameron 1892: 101.</p><p>Scolia (Triscolia) rubiginosa: Saussure &amp; Sichel 1864: 45; Magretti 1892: 236; Cameron 1892: 101; Bingham 1897: 76-77; Mantero 1903: 33-34; Rohwer 1921: 77.</p><p>Scolia (Triscolia) rubiginosa var. ornata: Saussure &amp; Sichel 1864: 45–46.</p><p>Triscolia vespillo Gribodo, 1893: 168-169 . Syn. nov.</p><p>Scolia ( Scolia, Triscolia) rubiginosa: Dalla-Torre 1897: 180.</p><p>Triscolia rubiginosa: Cameron 1905: 53; Leefmans 1915: 84; Leefmans 1921: 47.</p><p>Triscolia azurea: Micha 1927: 117, 153.</p><p>Triscolia azurea azurea: Micha 1927: 117–121, 153.</p><p>Triscolia azurea ornata: Micha 1927: 121, 153.</p><p>Triscolia azurea hindostana Micha 1927: 121–122, 153.</p><p>Triscolia democratica Micha, 1927: 122 . Syn. nov.</p><p>Triscolia democratica democratica Micha, 1927: 122–123 .</p><p>Triscolia philippinensis erratica Micha, 1927: 124 (nom. nov.: azurea michaae in Betrem 1928: 233).</p><p>Scolia (Triscolia) azurea: Betrem 1927b: 292.</p><p>Scolia (Triscolia) philippinensis: Betrem 1927b: 292.</p><p>Scolia (Triscolia) alecto: Betrem 1927b: 292.</p><p>Scolia ( Triscolia sectio Triscolia) azurea: Betrem 1928: 230; Betrem 1933: 254.</p><p>Scolia ( Triscolia sectio Triscolia) azurea var. intermedia Betrem, 1928: 231; Betrem 1933: 255 (synonymized by Guiglia &amp; Betrem 1958: 96).</p><p>Scolia ( Triscolia sectio Triscolia) azurea rubiginosa: Betrem 1928: 231–232; Betrem 1933: 255.</p><p>Scolia ( Triscolia sectio Triscolia) azurea rubiginosa var. magnifica: Betrem 1928: 232.</p><p>Scolia ( Triscolia sectio Triscolia) azurea siamensis Betrem, 1928: 232.</p><p>Scolia ( Triscolia sectio Triscolia) azurea cochinensis Betrem, 1928: 232. Syn. nov.</p><p>Scolia ( Triscolia sectio Triscolia) azurea subspecies or varietas hindostana Betrem, 1928: 232 . Scolia ( Triscolia sectio Triscolia) azurea var. democratica: Betrem 1928: 232–233. Scolia ( Triscolia sectio Triscolia) azurea michaae Betrem, 1928: 233. Scolia ( Triscolia sectio Triscolia) hageni Betrem, 1928: 233 . Syn. Nov. Scolia ( Triscolia sectio Triscolia) azurea azurea: Betrem 1933: 255. Scolia ( Triscolia sectio Triscolia) azurea azurea var. rubiginosa: Betrem 1933: 255. Scolia (Triscolia) azurea hindostana: Betrem 1941: 118; Betrem 1947: 414. Scolia (Triscolia) azurea rubiginosa: Betrem 1941: 118–119; Betrem 1947: 415. Scolia (Triscolia) azurea michae: Betrem 1941: 118; Guiglia 1965: 323–324 (lapsus calami for michaae). Scolia (Triscolia) azurea azurea: Betrem 1941: 118; Betrem 1947: 415. Scolia (Triscolia) azurea democratica: Betrem 1947: 414. Scolia (Triscolia) azurea christiana Guiglia &amp; Betrem, 1958: 96 (new name for the population from Myanmar and northern</p><p>India). Syn. nov. Megascolia (Regiscolia) azurea azurea: Betrem &amp; Bradley 1964: 443; Gupta &amp; Jonathan 2003: 145; Osten 2005b: 27; Pham &amp;</p><p>Van Achterberg 2023: 383. Megascolia (Regiscolia) azurea azurea var. rubiginosa: Betrem &amp; Bradley 1964: 443; Osten 2005b: 27. Megascolia (Regiscolia) azurea azurea var. democratica: Betrem &amp; Bradley 1964: 443; Osten 2005b: 27. Megascolia (Regiscolia) azurea christiana: Betrem &amp; Bradley 1964: 443; Gupta &amp; Jonathan 2003: 145–147; Osten 2005b: 27;</p><p>Kumar 2009: 105–107; Kumar &amp; Pham 2015: 326; Kumar &amp; Rajmohana 2017: 5; Nidup et al. 2017: 13. Megascolia (Regiscolia) azurea christiana var. magnifica: Betrem &amp; Bradley 1964: 444. Megascolia (Regiscolia) azurea siamensis: Betrem &amp; Bradley 1964: 444; Gupta &amp; Jonathan 2003: 145; Osten 2005b: 27. Megascolia (Regiscolia) azurea cochinensis: Betrem &amp; Bradley 1964: 444; Gupta &amp; Jonathan 2003: 145; Osten 2005b: 27;</p><p>Pham &amp; Van Achterberg 2023: 383. Megascolia (Regiscolia) azurea hindostana: Betrem &amp; Bradley 1964: 444; Bradley 1972: 10; Gupta &amp; Jonathan 2003: 147–148;</p><p>Osten 2005b: 27; Kumar &amp; Rajmohana 2017: 5; Jadhav &amp; Gaikwad 2019: 373. Megascolia (Regiscolia) azurea rubiginosa: Bradley &amp; Betrem 1964: 23; Baltazar 1966: 230. Megascolia (Regiscolia) azurea azurea form democratica: Bradley 1972: 8. Megascolia (Regiscolia) azurea azurea form rubiginosa: Bradley 1972: 8. Megascolia (Regiscolia) azurea azurea form magnifica: Bradley 1974: 450–451. Megascolia (Regiscolia) azurea michaae: Krombein 1978: 5, 24; Krombein 1995: 84; Gupta &amp; Jonathan 2003: 145; Osten</p><p>2005b: 27. Guigliana azurea: Argaman 1996: 196. Megascolia (Regiscolia) azurea: Gupta &amp; Jonathan 2003: 145; Kumar &amp; Rajmohana 2017: 5; Liu et al. 2021a: 103, 114; Liu et al. 2021b: 148; Taylor &amp; Barthélémy 2021: 28; Golfetti et al. 2025: 3, 10; Barthélémy &amp; Guenard 2025: 105. Megascolia (Regiscolia) azurea azurea var. magnifica: Osten 2005b: 27. Megascolia cf. azurea: Khouri et al. 2022: 24–28, 37–38. Megascolia cf. hageni: Khouri et al. 2022: 24–29, 31–34, 36–38.</p><p>Type material examined. Holotype of Triscolia vespillo Gribodo, 1893 (MSNG), ♀, ‘Coll. Gribodo / Perak’, ‘Vespillo / G Grib’, ‘TYPUS’, ‘ HOLOTYPE / vespillo gr / Teste, 1929. / J.C. Bradley’ (Fig. 66).</p><p>Holotype of Scolia hageni Betrem, 1928 (RMNH), ♀, ‘Dr. B. Hagen. / Tandjong Morawa. / Serdang / (C.O. Sumatra)’, ‘ Scolia / hageni Betr / Holotype / det. Betrem’ (Fig. 67).</p><p>Allotype of Scolia hageni Betrem, 1928 (RMNH), ♂, ‘Ludeking / Sumatra’, ‘ Scolia / hageni Betr. / Allotype / det. Betrem’ (Fig. 68).</p><p>Other material examined. Cambodia. Kampong Cham province. 4♂, Lve, Kaoh Soutin, 18.II.2024 (F. Cabon &amp; P. Bun leg.) [CFC] ; 1♀ 1♂, same place, 19.II.2024 (F. Cabon &amp; P. Bun leg.) [CFC] . Battambang province. 1♀, Voat kor, 16.III.2024 (F. Cabon leg.) [CFC] . Takeo province. 5♂, Phnom Takhmao, Kirisu farms, 9.VI.2022 (P.- O. Maquart leg.) [CFC, CJBC] . Ratanakiri province. 1♀, Veun Sai, Kaoh Piek, 15.IV.2022 (P.-O. Maquart leg.) [CPOM] . China. Yunnan province. 1♀, Mangyun, 12.VI.2020 (local coll. leg.) [CJBC] ; 2♂, same place, 1.VI.2021 (local coll. leg.) [CJBC] . India. Arunachal Pradesh state. 1♀, Dalfa hills, 12.V.2003 (local coll. leg.) [CJBC] . Indonesia. Bali province. 1♂, mount Batur, 23.XII.2013 (local coll. leg.) [CJBC]. Baten province . 1♀ 1♂, Tjitorek, 2.V.2017 (local coll. leg.) [CJBC] ; 1♀ 3♂, same place, 17.II.2022 (local coll. leg.) [CJBC] . Central Sulawesi province. 2♀ 3♂, Peleng, 10.X.2017 (local coll. leg.) [CJBC] . East Java province. 1♀ 1♂, Mont Argopuro, 11.I.2007 (local coll. leg.) [CJBC] ; 1♀, same place, 9.IV.2011 (local coll. leg.) [CJBC]; 2♀ 2♂, same place, 26.XII.2013 (local coll. leg.) [CJBC] . Nusa tenggara province. 1♀ 2♂, Lombok Isl., Sembalun Lawang, 14.XII.2017 (local coll. leg.) [CJBC] . West Kalimantan. 2♂, Lumar, 28.V.2019 (local coll. leg.) [CJBC] ; 4♀, same place, 21.IV.2022 (local coll. leg.) [CJBC]; 1♂, Mont Bawang, 14.VII.2021 (local coll. leg.) [CJBC] . Laos. Vientiane province. 1♀, Vientiane, 15.III.2013 (local coll. leg.) [CJBC] . Malaysia. Perak state. 1♂, Batang Padang, Bidor, 5.VII.2021 (local coll. leg.) [CJBC] . Sabah state. 3♀, Mount Trusmadi, 12.IV.2013 (local coll. leg.) [CJBC] . Sri Lanka. Eastern Province. 1♂, Thiriyai, 14.III.1976 (NMNH) . Thailand. Chiang Mai province. 1♀, Chiang Mai, 23.X.2016 (local coll. leg.) [CJBC]; 2♂, same place, IX.2018 (local coll. leg.) [CJBC]; 1♀, same place, 29.IX.2019 (local coll. leg.) [CJBC]; 2♂, same place, 12.VII.2022 (local coll. leg.) [CJBC]; 2♂, same place, 20.V.2023 (local coll. leg.) [CJBC]; 1♀, Choeng Doi, 9.X.2016 (local coll. leg.) [CJBC] . Vietnam. Lai Châu province. 1♂, Lai Châu, 13.IV.2023 (local coll. leg.) [CJBC]. Lâm Đ ồng province . 3♀ 1♂, Đambri, 2.II.2017 (local coll. leg.) [CJBC] ; 1♀ 1♂, same place, 27.VII.2017 (local coll. leg.) [CJBC]. Qu ảng Bình province . 2♀, Lâm Th ủy, 13.III.2023 (local coll. leg.) [CJBC] ; 1♀, same place, 12.IV.2023 (local coll. leg.) [CJBC]; 1♀, same place, 21.IV.2023 (local coll. leg.) [CJBC] . Thua Thien-Huê province. 3♂, Bach Ma, 10.VIII.2016 (local coll. leg.) [CJBC] ; 1♀ 3♂, Hue, 21.VIII.2016 (local coll. leg.) [CJBC] . Yên Bái province. 1♂, Yên Bái, 3.III.2022 (local coll. leg.) [CJBC]; 1♂, same place, 7.IV.2022 (local coll. leg.) [CJBC]; 1♂, same place, 15.IV.2022 (local coll. leg.) [CJBC]; 1♀, same place, 10.VII.2022 (local coll. leg.) [CJBC]; 2♂, same place, 13.VII.2022 (local coll. leg.) [CJBC]; 2♀, same place, 11.IX.2022 (local coll. leg.) [CJBC]; 1♂, same place, 4.V.2023 (local coll. leg.) [CJBC]; 7♂, same place, 18.IV.2024 (local coll. leg.) [CJBC]; 2♂, same place, 26.VII.2024 (local coll. leg.) [CJBC] .</p><p>Diagnosis. Regiscolia azurea (Christ, 1791), comb. nov. differs from R. almoraensis (Gupta &amp; Jonathan, 2003), comb. nov., R. bidens (Linnaeus, 1767), comb. nov., R. maculata (Drury, 1773), comb. nov., and R. rubida (Gribodo, 1893), comb. nov. in females by having the apical part of scutum with sparse punctures medially or without punctures, thus not forming a continuous band of punctures along the scutellum; the dorso-median area of propodeum distinctly longer than the metanotum; and the basal part of T2 has finer and denser punctures forming a band, the median part being sparsely and coarsely punctate. In contrast, in R. almoraensis, R. bidens, R. maculata, and R. rubida, the apical part of scutum has a denser and uninterrupted band of punctures along the scutellum; the dorso-median area of propodeum is shorter, approximately equal to the length of the metanotum; and the basal part of T2 has sparser punctures similar to those of the median part. In males, R. azurea differs by having the area around and between the posterior ocelli with sparse and coarse punctures; and the length of the dorso-median area of propodeum significantly greater than that of the metanotum. In contrast, in R. almoraensis, R. bidens, R. maculata, and R. rubida, the area around and between the posterior ocelli has denser, tighter, finer, and agglomerated punctures; and the length of the dorso-median area of propodeum is nearly equal to that of the metanotum. In both sexes, the wings of R. azurea are entirely dark, whereas in R. almoraensis, R. bidens, R. maculata, and R. rubida they are bicolored, yellowish in the cells and dark elsewhere (in R. almoraensis the wings are almost entirely black).</p><p>R. azurea is easily distinguished from R. capitata (Fabricius, 1804), comb. nov. in both sexes by having the head with coarse and dense punctures; and the mesosoma entirely melanistic. In contrast, in R. capitata the head is almost entirely impunctate, with finer and sparser punctures; and the scutellum, metanotum, dorso-median area of propodeum are marked with yellow.</p><p>R. azurea is distinguished from R. alecto (Smith, 1858), comb. nov. in female by having the pronotum with coarse and sparse punctures on the posterior half, and a large impunctate area in front of the pronotal excavation; the transition between the dorso-median and postero-median areas of propodeum forming a protruding ridge; and the basal part of T2 with dense and fine punctures forming a band interrupted medially. In contrast, in R. azurea the pronotum has denser, tighter, and finer punctures over its entire surface; the transition between the dorso-median and postero-median areas of propodeum forms an angle without a protrusion; and the basal part of T2 has denser and finer punctures forming a continuous band across its entire width. In males, R. azurea differs by having the basal part of T1 with an impunctate area at the level of the tubercle; and the metasoma with reddish apical pilosity. Whereas in R. alecto, the T1 has denser and finer punctures across its entire surface; and the metasomal pilosity is entirely black.</p><p>R. azurea is distinguished from R. fulvifrons (Saussure, 1855), comb. nov. in females, by having the apical margin of clypeus without distinct lateral lobes; and the disk of clypeus flat, impunctate, and weakly striated. In contrast, in R. fulvifrons, the apical margin of clypeus has two prominent lateral lobes; and the disk of clypeus is domed and fully reticulated. In males, R. azurea differs by having the T3 with a large impunctate central area. Whereas in R. fulvifrons, the T3 has a small impunctate area in the middle. In both sexes, R. azurea differs by having the metasoma with red pilosity apically. Whereas in R. fulvifrons, the metasoma has black pilosity, yellow in the colored areas.</p><p>R. azurea is distinguished from R. splendida (Saussure, 1858), comb. nov., by having the mesosoma entirely melanistic and the metasoma with red pilosity apically. Whereas in R. splendida, the mesosoma is generally marked with orange on pronotum, scutum and scutellum (except in ssp. floresensis) and the metasoma has black pilosity, yellow in the colored areas.</p><p>Redescription. Female (Fig. 60). Length 28–40 mm.</p><p>Head (Figs 60B, C). Mandibles short and thickened at the apex. Median mandibular tooth small and prominent, sometimes blunt. Anterior margin of clypeus rounded, without prominent lateral lobes; disk of clypeus not-domed and reticulated apically. Fissura frontalis strong ending at the frontal pit. Frons with numerous and sparse punctures. Vertex almost impunctate, except behind posterior ocelli with some sparse punctures.</p><p>Mesosoma (Fig. 60D). Pronotum finely and densely punctate basally, more coarsely and sparsely punctate on the rest. Tegula with coarse punctures at base and along scutum; with micro-punctures often effaced on rest. Scutum coarsely and sparsely punctate basally; more sparsely laterally, except for lateral corners with very dense and fine punctures; largely impunctate medially and apically. Scutellum with fine and dense punctures along the scutum; sparser and coarser medially and apically, with distinctly impunctate surfaces. Metanotum finely and densely punctate with a small impunctate central band. Dorso-lateral area of propodeum densely and finely punctate, basally with an impunctate area (mirror). Dorso-median area of propodeum clearly longer than the length of the metanotum; punctures fine and dense over its entire surface. Upper plate of metapleuron impunctate on its lower half, finely and densely punctate on the rest. Anterior margin of marginal cell longer than or equal to posterior margin. Forewing with three submarginal cells. Hind tibiae spurs of similar length.</p><p>Metasoma (Fig. 60E). T1 with a tubercle, either depressed in the middle or not; coarsely and sparsely punctate at base revealing a small impunctate area medially; very densely and finely punctate laterally and apically. T2 densely and finely punctate basally, punctation interrupted in the middle; very sparsely punctate medially; very finely and densely punctate apically. T3 almost entirely impunctate basally and medially; densely and finely punctate apically. T4 to T5 with similar punctation, but the central impunctate area gradually reduced. S1 densely and finely punctate medially and apically. S2 with weak tubercle; with fine and dense punctures at base; with sparse and coarse punctures in center; with dense and fine punctures on sides apically, sparsely punctate in the middle apically. S3 to S5 with similar punctures.</p><p>Coloration (Figs 60, 61). Frons, vertex and tempora orange-reddish (generally ssp. hindostana and michaae) or yellowish orange (generally ssp. azurea). Mesosoma black with black pilosity, sometimes with red spots on pronotum. In the subspecies hindostana (Fig. 61), metasoma black with a pair of large, rounded reddish spots on T3, and most of T4 and T5 also exhibit reddish coloration. Metasomal pilosity black, except for reddish pilosity on T3–T6 (occasionally T2 with a few reddish setae, or the pygidium with black pilosity). In subspecies michaae, as in hindostana, but clypeus partially or entirely orange-reddish. In subspecies azurea (Fig. 60), metasoma black, T4 and T5 often marked with small orange-reddish spots. Metasomal pilosity black, except for reddish pilosity on T4–T6 (sometimes also apically on T3). Some specimens from Malaysia exhibit entirely black metasomal pilosity or almost so, in contrast to the typically reddish pilosity observed in azurea . (see remarks).</p><p>Male (Fig. 62). Length 22–33 mm.</p><p>Head (Figs 62B, C). Inner margin of mandible with three distinct tooth (third apical tooth sometimes blunt and barely visible). Disk of clypeus with few coarse punctures medially, denser and finer punctures laterally. Fissura frontalis indistinct, not reaching the median ocelli. Frontal cross-furrow barely visible, its extension reaching the upper lobe of the eye. Frontal spatium with dense, tight and fine punctures. Anterior ocelli shallowly depressed, larger than posterior ocelli. Frons with dense and coarse punctures, except in front of anterior ocellus with an impunctate area. Vertex behind the ocelli with sparse and fine punctures, dense punctures near the occipital carina.</p><p>Mesosoma (Fig. 62D). Pronotum with dense and fine punctures over its entire surface, inter-points spaces almost coalescent. Tegula with few coarse punctures anteriorly, with shallow and dense micropunctures on the rest. Scutum with fine and dense punctures, denser and finer basally, coarser laterally. Scutellum with fine and dense punctures basally, sparser and coarser medially and mostly impunctate apically. Metanotum with fine and dense punctures laterally, impunctate line in the middle. Dorso-lateral area of propodeum with an impunctate area (mirror); with fine and dense punctures. Dorso-median area of propodeum with coarse and dense punctures over its entire surface, inter-point spaces smaller than the diameter of a punctures. Anterior margin of marginal cell longer than posterior margin. Forewing with three submarginal cells.</p><p>Metasoma (Fig. 62E). T1 with a strong tubercle; very densely and finely punctate laterally and apically; more coarsely and sparsely basally and medially. T2 with fine and dense punctures; more denser and finer punctures basally and apically, at these levels pilosity forming a large band of punctures. T3 impunctate medially, with very dense and fine punctures apically, less dense and sparse basally. T4-T6 similarly punctate, but the central impunctate area smaller. S1 raised in the middle, with dense punctures medially, with few punctures apically. S2 with dense and fine punctures anteriorly, sparser laterally, mostly impunctate medially and apically. S3 with very sparse punctures medially, more denser laterally. S4-S6 similarly punctate.</p><p>Coloration (Figs 62–64). Head black, sometimes with orange or reddish spot on ocular sinus and behind eyes. Mesosoma black. In the subspecies hindostana (Fig. 63) and azurea (Fig. 62), metasoma black with a pair of large, rounded reddish spots on T3 (sometimes absent in ssp. azurea), and most of T4-T6 and often T7 also exhibit reddish coloration. Metasomal pilosity black, except for reddish pilosity on T3–T7 (occasionally T2 shows a few reddish setae apically in ssp. hindostana, or sometimes black pilosity on T 3 in ssp. azurea). In michaae (Fig. 64), as in hindostana, but the head and clypeus mostly orange-reddish.</p><p>Genitalia. See Fig. 31C.</p><p>Distribution. Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, China (Anhui, Fujian, Guangdong, Hainan, Hong Kong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hunan, Yunnan), India (Andaman Islands, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Chhattisgarh, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Odisha, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, Tripura, Uttarakhand, West Bengal), Indonesia (Bali, Bangka Belitung Islands, Baten, Central Java, Central Sulawesi, East Java, Lampung, Jakarta, West Java, West Kalimantan, West Nusa Tenggara, West Sumatra), Laos, Malaysia (Perak, Sabah, Selangor), Myanmar, Nepal, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam (Paiva 1907; Vitalis de Salvaza 1919; Micha 1927; Betrem 1928, 1941, 1947; Krombein 1978; Gupta &amp; Jonathan 2003; Kumar, 2009; Kumar &amp; Rajmohana 2017; Nidup et al. 2017; Jadhav &amp; Gaikwad 2019; Liu et al. 2021a; Taylor &amp; Barthélémy 2021) (Fig. 65).</p><p>Biology. The only known hosts are Oryctes rhinoceros (Linnaeus, 1758) and Xylotrupes gideon (Linnaeus, 1767) (Leefmans 1915, 1921; Betrem 1928). In Cambodia, groups of males were observed flying around bamboo clumps in semi-urban areas (FC pers. obs.). A female was observed walking and searching on the ground in a papaya field (FC pers. obs.).</p><p>Remarks. To date, six subspecies have been recognized (Gupta &amp; Jonathan 2003; Osten 2005b): ssp. azurea (Christ, 1791) from Borneo to Java, Sumatra, Malakka (city), Southern China, ssp. christiana (Guiglia &amp; Betrem, 1958) from Myanmar, Bangladesh and northern India, ssp. cochinensis (Betrem, 1928) from Vietnam, ssp. hindostana (Micha, 1927) from southern India, michaae (Betrem, 1928) from Sri Lanka and ssp. siamensis (Betrem, 1928) from Thailand. Betrem &amp; Bradley (1964) listed only five, but the ssp. michaae Betrem, 1928 from Sri Lanka seems to have been overlooked. These subspecies differ in the absence or presence of maculation on certain parts of the body, and in the extent of reddish pilosity on the metasoma. Only the subspecies ssp. azurea, ssp. hindostana and ssp. michaae are considered valid here.</p><p>R. azurea cochinensis is known only from two females in southern Vietnam (Cap St. Jacques, now Vũng Tàu). Betrem (1928) gave only a brief description: “ like subspecies azurea, but abdomen entirely black except for two spots on T3 and T4. Abdomen entirely black, with only a few red setae behind the spots ”. R. azurea hindostana differs from R. azurea christiana in females only by the presence of black setae on the pygidium, whereas they are reddish in ssp. christiana, and in males by subtle variations in coloration on the head and pilosity (Gupta &amp; Jonathan 2003; Nidup et al. 2017). All the female specimens examined in this study from Cambodia, China, India, Thailand and Vietnam belong to either ssp. christiana or ssp. hindostana, and many females show a mixture of reddish and black setae on the pygidium. It is therefore difficult to know to which subspecies these females should be attributed. The presence of ssp. azurea in China (Gupta &amp; Jonathan 2003) seems doubtful and should be attributed to ssp. christiana (Betrem 1941, 1947; Guiglia &amp; Betrem 1958). Examination of a large sample of R. azurea specimens from throughout its range revealed three distinct groups corresponding to well-defined subspecies. The first subspecies, R. azurea michaae (Fig. 64), is strictly localized to Sri Lanka; the second, R. azurea azurea (Figs 60, 62), is distributed in insular and peninsular Southeast Asia, mainly in Indonesia, Peninsular Malaysia and East Malaysia; and the third, R. azurea hindostana (Figs 61, 63), occupies continental Asia. R. azurea cochinensis (Betrem, 1928), syn. nov. and R. azurea christiana (Guiglia &amp; Betrem, 1958), syn. nov. are therefore considered junior subjective synonyms of R. azurea hindostana (Micha, 1927) .</p><p>A subspecies known as siamensis Betrem, 1928 is found locally in Southeast Asia (part of Thailand, Cambodia), and concerns female specimens with the pronotum more or less marked with red (Betrem, 1928). As this taxon is restricted to females and a limited geographical area, it is preferable to consider the ssp. siamensis as a simple local form rather than as a distinct taxonomic entity.</p><p>Examination of the types male and female of Scolia (Triscolia) hageni Betrem, 1928, syn. nov. (Figs 67, 68) reveals that this species is a synonym of R. azurea . The female has an abnormally black head (Figs 67B, C), but displays all the criteria of R. azurea . A similar variation in the yellow coloration of the head in females is observed in R. maculata, with specimens ranging from entirely yellow to almost entirely black.</p><p>In Malaysia, particularly in the vicinity of Malacca (city) and on Borneo island, some female specimens of R. azurea exhibit an entirely black pilosity, or occasionally only the pygidium or T5 is partially tinged with reddish. These fully melanistic specimens, in which only the head has yellow-orange markings, display a general habitus very similar to R. alecto and can easily be misidentified (see key to Regiscolia species). Betrem (1928, 1941) mentioned the locality of Malacca for two melanistic female specimens, which he associated though with some doubt, with Scolia (Triscolia) alecto, hesitating between that and S. (T.) azurea . In doing so, he synonymized Triscolia vespillo, which shows the same habitus and also comes from Malacca, with S. (Triscolia) alecto (as Micha 1927 had before him). Nevertheless, examination of the holotype female of Triscolia vespillo reveals a problematic specimen with features intermediate between azurea and alecto (Fig. 66). However, the pronotum shows coarse and sparse punctures in its posterior half, leaving a large impunctate area characteristic of azurea . To date, only melanistic females have been found, and the male of alecto has never been reported from Malacca, pending the examination of a larger number of melanistic specimens in Malaysia, we therefore consider, contrary to Betrem (1928), that Triscolia vespillo should be treated as a junior synonym of azurea, not alecto . The two specimens mentioned by Betrem (1928) more plausibly refer to melanistic individuals of R. azurea .</p><p>The status of Scolia rubiginosa Fabricius, 1793 has changed considerably over time and remains uncertain today. Dalla-Torre (1897) first linked this taxon with some doubt to Sphex azurea Christ, 1791, then later actually considered it to be a subspecies of Scolia (Triscolia) azurea (Micha 1927; Betrem 1927b). The type specimen of S. rubiginosa is a male that cannot now be found (Guiglia &amp; Betrem 1958; Bradley &amp; Betrem 1964). Consequently, the drawing by Coquebert (1801) was designated by Bradley &amp; Betrem (1964) as the lectotype. Fabricius (1793) was very vague as to the origin of the type specimen: “ in India Orientali ” referred at that time more or less to South and Southeast Asia (from India to Indonesia). Based on their interpretation of Fabricius’ description, Micha (1927) and Betrem (1928, 1941) applied it mainly to specimens from continental Asia. Guiglia &amp; Betrem (1958) later synonymized this name with the nominal subspecies on the basis of a reinterpretation of Fabricius’ description concerning the coloration of the pilosity fringe on the T3 (a criterion used to distinguish male subspecies according to Betrem (1928)). They thus erected a new subspecies, christiana Guiglia &amp; Betrem, 1958, for specimens formerly known as S. rubiginosa (mainly from continental Asia). Taylor &amp; Barthélémy (2021) rightly expressed doubts about the interpretation of Fabricius’ description of S. rubiginosa by the various authors, especially as the precise type locality of this specimen is unknown. They declined to comment on the subspecies present in Hong Kong, pending clarification of the status of R. azurea subspecies. In fact, the pilosity coloration criteria proposed by Betrem (1928) to determine male subspecies of R. azurea are not reliable, as pilosity coloration is variable, particularly in males within the same population. Furthermore, as the type specimen of S. rubiginosa has disappeared and the type locality is not known with certainty, interpretation on the basis of a drawing is also prohibited. S colia rubiginosa Fabricius, 1793, syn. nov. is therefore retained here as a synonym of R. azurea .</p><p>Scolia (Scolia) magnifica Saussure, 1859 has at times been considered as a variety or form of several subspecies of R. azurea (Betrem 1928; Betrem &amp; Bradley 1964; Osten 2005b). According to Betrem (1928), this taxon can only be distinguished by having the T1 and T2 with black setae mixed with red setae, whereas in other taxa (subspecies, varieties, and forms), they are covered with entirely black pilosity. The examination of numerous azurea specimens in this study reveals that pilosity coloration is sometimes variable in both males and females. A few specimens show an atypical pilosity on T1 and T2, with black mixed with reddish setae, thus presenting the same variation described by Betrem (1928) for the taxon magnifica . These specimens fall within the extreme range of pilosity coloration observed in azurea and do not warrant a distinct taxonomic status. Consequently, Scolia (Scolia) magnifica Saussure, 1859, syn. nov. is here placed in synonymy with R. azurea .</p><p>Triscolia democratica Micha, 1927 (with unknown syntype locality) was at times treated as a mere variety, form, or subspecies of R. azurea (Betrem 1928, 1947; Betrem &amp; Bradley 1964; Bradley 1972; Osten 2005). According to Betrem (1928), it differs from other azurea taxa only by having the T4 and most sternites with entirely black pilosity, whereas in other azurea taxa, the T4 has at least some red pilosity on the sides. Later, Betrem (1947) listed the subspecies of the taxon azurea and, without justification, attributed the locality “ Sri Lanka ” to the taxon democratica . In the same publication, the taxon michaae Betrem, 1928, which he had described a few years earlier and which is normally endemic to Sri Lanka, is absent. We can only speculate about this: either Betrem synonymized the taxon democratica with the taxon michaae without explanation, or it is a lapsus calam i for michae. However, neither Micha’s (1927) description nor Betrem’s (1928) description of T. democratica matches that of that of the specimen from Sri Lanka (head largely marked with reddish yellow, including the clypeus in both sexes). This association therefore appears to be an error. For the same reasons as for Scolia (Scolia) magnifica Saussure, 1859, we here consider Triscolia democratica Micha, 1927, syn. nov. to be a junior synonym of R. azurea .</p><p>A key to the three subspecies considered valid here is proposed. Some rare specimens show an atypical T1 punctation or metasoma coloration, particularly in areas where the ranges of ssp. azurea and ssp. hindostana overlap.</p><p>Key to subspecies of Regiscolia azurea</p><p>Females</p><p>1. Head except the apex of clypeus reddish yellow. Sri Lanka ................................... ssp. michaae (Betrem)</p><p>- Frons and vertex reddish yellow or reddish, clypeus black (Figs 60, 61). From India to Indonesia, excluding Sri Lanka ..... 2</p><p>2. T1 with the depression behind the tubercle generally shallow and more elongated, more or less distinct; usually with a large impunctate area behind the tubercle, sparse and coarse punctures (Fig. 60). Head yellowish. T3 often entirely black. Insular and peninsular Southeast Asia................................................................ spp. azurea (Christ)</p><p>- T1 with the depression behind the tubercle generally deep, more or less rounded; usually with a small impunctate area behind the tubercle, sparse but denser and finer punctures (Fig. 61). Head reddish-yellow. T3 with two large orange spots, sometimes fused (rarely missing). Continental Asia................................................ spp. hindostana (Micha)</p><p>Males</p><p>1. Head and clypeus mostly reddish-yellow (Fig. 64). Sri Lanka ................................. ssp. michaae (Betrem)</p><p>- Head and clypeus mostly black (Figs 62, 63). From India to Indonesia, excluding Sri Lanka .......................... 2</p><p>2. T1 generally with a large impunctate area behind the tubercle, with coarse and sparse punctures. Disk of T 2 in the middle usually with very sparse punctures, clearly more spaced than punctures on the sides (Fig. 62). Insular and peninsular Southeast Asia................................................................................. spp. azurea (Christ)</p><p>- T1 generally with a small impunctate area behind the tubercle, sparse but denser and finer punctures. Disk of T 2 in the middle usually with slightly sparser punctures than punctures on the sides (Fig. 63). Continental Asia..... spp. hindostana (Micha)</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03B687D7FFDEFFE963E408E0FA05D01B	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		MagnoliaPress via Plazi	Castagnet, Jean-Baptiste;Cabon, Flavien	Castagnet, Jean-Baptiste, Cabon, Flavien (2025): Review of the genus Megascolia Betrem, 1928 (Hymenoptera, Scoliidae). Zootaxa 5700 (1): 1-127, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5700.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5700.1.1
03B687D7FFD0FFF463E40990FD01D0CB.text	03B687D7FFD0FFF463E40990FD01D0CB.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Regiscolia bidens (Linnaeus 1767) Castagnet & Cabon 2025	<div><p>Regiscolia bidens (Linnaeus, 1767), comb. nov.</p><p>(Figs 69–71)</p><p>Sphex bidens Linnaeus, 1767: 943 (holotype, ♀, Mauritania, deposited in LSL, United Kingdoms, not examined); Christ 1791:</p><p>255; Guiglia &amp; Betrem 1958: 99. Scolia bimaculata Fabricius, 1781: 45; Rossi 1790: 70; Coquebert 1801: 55; Klug 1805: 24; Vander Linden 1827: 287</p><p>(synonymised by Lepeletier 1825: 523). Scolia emaculata Cyrillo, 1787: 2 (synonymised by Costa 1858: 8). Scolia flavicornis Lepeletier, 1825: 393 (synonymised in Micha 1927:135). Scolia (Scolia) bimaculata: Guérin-Méneville 1830: 247. Scolia bidens: Lepeletier 1845: 523; Lucas 1849: 278; Saussure 1855: 36; Smith 1855: 111; Costa 1858: 7; Palma 1869: 34;</p><p>Saussure 1890: 188; Bartlett 1912: 338. Scolia (Triscolia) bidens: Saussure &amp; Sichel 1864: 52; Kirchner 1867: 212; Saunders 1901: 535; Gaulle 1908: 125; Vogrin 1915:</p><p>39-40; Berland 1925: 296–298; Betrem 1927b: 292; Guiglia 1928: 426, 435–436; Dusmet 1930: 20–21; Betrem 1933: 261;</p><p>Nadig &amp; Nadig 1935: 4; Guiglia 1940: 277; Guiglia 1944: 147; Giner Mari 1945: 127; Guiglia 1951: 286; Steinberg 1962:</p><p>119; Mingo &amp; Compte 1963: 76. Scolia ( Scolia, Triscolia) bidens: Dalla-Torre 1897: 149. Triscolia bidens: Micha 1927: 134; Guiglia &amp; Capra 1937: 82. Triscolia bidens bidens: Micha 1927: 134–136, 148, 150. Scolia (Triscolia) bidens var. rufohirta Dusmet, 1930: 22; Guiglia 1951: 287; Mingo &amp; Compte 1963: 76. Syn. nov. Megascolia (Regiscolia) bidens: Betrem &amp; Bradley 1964: 444; Bradley &amp; Betrem 1964: 10; Nagy 1967: 222; Hamon et al.</p><p>1995: 18; Osten 1999a: 424; Osten 2000: 546, 551, 557; Osten 2002: 345, 349; Osten 2005b: 28; Demetriou et al. 2021:</p><p>20. Megascolia bidens: Nagy 1967: 222; Pagliano 1987: 163; Diniz 1991: 31; Hamon et al. 1995: 32; Castro 2011: 387; Baldock</p><p>2014: 343, 399; Samin &amp; Baðrýaçýk 2012: 391; Samin et al. 2014: 716; Dvořák &amp; Boščík 2017: 380; Baldock et al. 2020:</p><p>16; Turrisi et al. 2020: 722; Al-Azab 2020: 147. Regiscolia bidens: Argaman 1996: 188.</p><p>Material examined. Morocco. Marrakech-Safi region . 1♀, Idni, 17.V.1994 (J.F. Vayssières leg.) [CJBC]. Ouarzazate region . 1♀, Aït-Ben-Haddou, 24.V.2007 (local coll. leg.) [CJBC]. Khémisset province . 5♀, Oulmès, 21.V.2015 (local coll. leg.) [CJBC]. Rabat-Salé-Kénitra region. 1♀, El Arba, Route de Mrirt, 22.V.2014 (J.F. Vayssières leg.) [CFC]. Ifrane region . 1♂, Ben Smim, VI.2016 (local coll. leg.) [CJBC]; 1♀ 1♂, Ifrane, 10.VI.2016 (local coll. leg.) [CJBC]. Khénifra province . 1♂, Aguelmous, 18.V.2018 (local coll. leg.) [CJBC]. Tinghir region. 1♂, Kelaat Mgouna, 15.V.2018 (G.L. Agnoli leg.) [CJBC]. Tiznit region. 1♀, Tafraout, 24.IV.2019 (local coll. leg.) [CJBC] .</p><p>Spain. Seville province. 2♀ 3♂, Seville, 17.VII.2015 (local coll. leg.) [CJBC]. Alicante province . 1♀ 1♂, Alicante, 10.VI.2024 (local coll. leg.) [CJBC] . Tunisia. Nabeul governorate. 1♀, Cap Bon, VII.1956 (local coll. leg.) [CJBC] . Tunis governorate. 2♂, El Marsa, 07.III.1957 (local coll. leg.) [CJBC] . Gabès governorate. 1♀ 1♂, Gabès, 21.V.2013 (local coll. leg.) [CJBC] . Kasserine governorate. 1♀ 4♂, Sbeïtla, 18.IV.2014 (local coll. leg.) [CJBC] .</p><p>Diagnosis. Regiscolia bidens (Linnaeus, 1767), comb. nov. differs from R. alecto (Smith, 1858), comb. nov., R. azurea (Christ, 1791), comb. nov., R. capitata (Fabricius, 1804), comb. nov. and R. fulvifrons (Saussure, 1855), comb. nov. in females by having the apical part of scutum with a dense and uninterrupted band of punctures along the scutellum; the dorso-median area of propodeum short, approximately equal to the length of the metanotum; and the basal part of T2 with sparse punctures similar to those of the median part. In contrast, in Regiscolia azurea, R. capitata and R. fulvifrons, the apical part of scutum has sparser punctures medially or is impunctate, thus not forming a continuous band of punctures along the scutellum; the dorso-median area of propodeum is distinctly longer than the metanotum; and the basal part of T2 has finer and denser punctures forming a band, the median part being sparsely and coarsely punctate. In males, R. bidens differs by having the area around and between the posterior ocelli with very dense, tight, fine, and agglomerated punctures; and the length of the dorso-median area of propodeum nearly equal to that of the metanotum. In contrast, in R. azurea, R. alecto and R. fulvifrons, the area around and between the posterior ocelli has sparser and coarser punctures; and the length of the dorso-median area of propodeum is significantly greater than that of the metanotum. In both sexes, the wings of R. bidens are bicolored, yellowish in the cells and dark elsewhere. Whereas in Regiscolia azurea, Regiscolia alecto, R. capitata, Regiscolia fulvifrons and R. splendida, they are entirely dark.</p><p>R. bidens is easily distinguished from R. capitata (Fabricius, 1804), comb. nov. in both sexes by having the head with coarse and dense punctures; and the mesosoma entirely melanistic (sometimes scutellum orangish in female). In contrast, in R. capitata, the head is almost entirely impunctate with finer and sparser punctures; and the scutellum, metanotum, dorso-median area of propodeum are marked with yellow.</p><p>R. bidens is distinguished from R. almoraensis (Gupta &amp; Jonathan, 2003), comb. nov., R. maculata (Drury, 1773), comb. nov., and R. rubida (Gribodo, 1893), comb. nov. in both sexes by having the upper margin of marginal cell shorter or almost equal to the lower margin. Whereas in R. almoraensis, R. maculata and R. rubida, the upper margin of marginal cell is significantly longer than the lower margin.</p><p>The males of R. bidens are the only ones with the flagellum entirely yellow. In all other Regiscolia species the flagellum is black, or at most brown to reddish.</p><p>Redescription. Female (Fig. 69). Length 23–26 mm.</p><p>Head (Figs 69B, C). Mandibles long and slender. Median mandibular tooth small and prominent, sometimes blunt. Anterior margin of clypeus rounded, without prominent lateral lobes; disk of clypeus not-domed and reticulated apically; impunctate medially. Fissura frontalis weak, barely visible after the frontal spatium. Frons with dense punctures on the sides of the anterior ocellus, mostly impunctate in front of the anterior ocellus and near the eye notch. Vertex with dense punctures.</p><p>Mesosoma (Fig. 69D). Pronotum fine and dense punctures, more space and coarse punctures close to the excavation of pronotum. Tegula with coarse punctures at base and along scutum. Scutum with fine, tight and dense punctures basally; with sparse and coarse punctures laterally, except for antero-lateral corners with dense and fine punctures; largely impunctate medially; with a fine, dense, and continuous band of punctures apically. Scutellum with fine and dense punctures basally; distinctly sparser and coarser medially. Metanotum with fine, tight and dense punctures, with a thin impunctate central band. Dorso-lateral area of propodeum with very dense, tight and fine punctures, without an impunctate area (mirror) anteriorly. Dorso-median area of propodeum with two protruding projections prolonged towards the rear; approximately equal to the length of the metanotum; with very fine, tight dense punctures. Upper plate of metapleuron with dense punctures on its upper third. Anterior margin of marginal cell shorter than posterior margin. Forewing with three submarginal cells. Hind tibiae spurs of similar length.</p><p>Metasoma (Fig. 69E). T1 with a tubercle not depressed in the middle; with dense and fine punctures, more sparser basally. T2 with scattered and coarse punctures basally; with coarse and very sparse punctures medially; with very fine, tight and dense punctures apically. T3 almost entirely impunctate basally and medially; with dense, tight and fine punctures apically. T4 to T5 with similar punctation, but the central impunctate area gradually reduced. S1 with dense and fine punctures on sides, mostly impunctate on the rest. S2 without distinct tubercle; with fine and dense punctures basally; with sparse and coarse punctures medially; with dense and fine punctures apically, except in the middle apically with sparse punctures. S3 to S5 with similar punctation.</p><p>Coloration (Fig. 69). Integument predominantly black. Head marked with orange-red on frons and vertex; ocellar region yellow-orange. Antennae orange-red, except black scape and pedicel. Mesosoma black, scutellum often marked with orange-red and sometimes pronotum laterally close to the excavation of pronotum. Metasoma black, T2 and T3 marked with two yellow spots that never fuse. Legs black. Wings bicolored, yellowish in the cells, dark on the rest. Pilosity black, except in the colored areas.</p><p>Male (Fig. 70). Length 21–26 mm.</p><p>Head (Figs 70B, C). Inner margin of mandible with three distinct tooth (third apical tooth sometimes blunt and barely visible). Disk of clypeus with sparse punctures apically, dense punctures basally and laterally. Fissura frontalis visible reaching anterior ocelli. Frontal cross-furrow visible, its extension reaching the upper part of the ocular sinus. Frontal spatium with dense, tight and fine punctures. Anterior ocelli depressed, larger than posterior ocelli. Frons with dense, fine and tight punctures, impunctate in front of the anterior ocellus. Vertex with fine, tight and dense punctures, particularly around the posterior ocelli.</p><p>Mesosoma (Fig. 70D). Pronotum with dense, tight and fine punctures over its entire surface, inter-points spaces almost coalescent. Tegula with dense and coarse punctures anteriorly and along the scutum, largely impunctate near the wing. Scutum with very fine, coalescent and dense punctures in its anterior third; with dense and fine punctures on the rest. Scutellum with fine and dense punctures basally, sparser medially and mostly impunctate apically. Metanotum with fine and dense punctures laterally, impunctate line in the middle. Dorso-lateral area of propodeum without impunctate area (mirror) anteriorly; with fine, dense and tight punctures. Dorso-median area of propodeum with two protruding projections prolonged towards the rear; with very fine, tight dense punctures. Anterior margin of marginal cell shorter than posterior margin. Forewing with three submarginal cells.</p><p>Metasoma (Fig. 70E). T1 with a strong tubercle; with dense, fine and tight punctures over its entire surface. T2 with fine, tight and dense punctures, slightly sparse medially. T3-T6 similarly punctate. S1 raised in the middle, with dense punctures medially. S2 without distinct tubercle; with dense, tight and fine punctures basally and laterally, sparser medially and apically. S3 with sparse punctures medially, more denser laterally. S4-S6 similarly punctate.</p><p>Coloration (Fig. 70). Head black, ocular sinus often orange reddish, yellow antennae except for the scape and pedicel. Mesosoma black. Metasoma black, T3 marked with two yellow spots never fused. Wings bicolored, yellowish in the cells, dark on the rest. Pilosity black, except in the colored areas, exceptionally with entire redbrownish pilosity.</p><p>Genitalia. See Fig. 31D.</p><p>Distribution. Algeria, Egypt, Greece (continental and Dodecanese Islands), Israel, Italy (including Sicily), Libya, Malta, Morocco, Portugal, Romania, Spain (including the Balearic Islands), Tunisia (Dusmet 1930; Betrem 1933; Guiglia 1940; Mingo &amp; Compte 1963; Nagy 1967; Valetta 1979; Pagliano 1987; Osten 2000; Osten 2002; Baldock 2014; Samin et al. 2014; Turrisi et al. 2020; Al-Azab 2020; Demetriou et al. 2021) (Fig. 71).</p><p>Samin et al. (2014) mentioned the presence of R. bidens from regions such as Arabian Peninsula, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Iraq, Iran, Jordan, Lebanon, Russia, Syria, and Turkey; but these records are doubtful and considered to be erroneous (Demetriou et al. 2021). Similarly, two French observations of the species in the Hérault department in France have been reported in the past (Hamon et al. 1995). As these data are old and doubtful, they are not considered here.</p><p>Biology. Saussure (1890) reported Scolia bidens [= Regiscolia bidens (Linnaeus, 1767)] entering garden compost in search of Phyllognathus silenus [= Phyllognathus excavatus (Forster, 1771)] larvae. Other hosts have also been cited: Oryctes nasicornis laevigatus (Heer, 1841), Polyphylla fullo (Linnaeus, 1758) and Lucanus cervus (Linnaeus, 1758) (Vereecken &amp; Carrière 2003) .</p><p>Remarks. Regiscolia bidens has no known subspecies. Nevertheless, Dusmet (1930) described the variation rufohirta Dusmet, 1930 from two females from Spain (Sierra de Guadarrama and Cadiz). This taxon differs from the typical form mainly in its ferruginous red pilosity on the mesosoma, T1 and ventral part of the metasoma, while the legs are partially reddish. Guiglia (1951) also reports a female from Morocco (Midelt). We can also report two males from Tunisia (Marsa) showing the same variations. The same kind of pilosity and cuticle erythrism is observed in other Scoliidae species (notably within the genus Scolia, e. g. S. erythrocephala, S. flaviceps), the degree of erythrism increases as one approaches hot desert regions. Scolia (Triscolia) bidens var. rufohirta, syn. nov. is therefore synonymized with R. bidens .</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03B687D7FFD0FFF463E40990FD01D0CB	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		MagnoliaPress via Plazi	Castagnet, Jean-Baptiste;Cabon, Flavien	Castagnet, Jean-Baptiste, Cabon, Flavien (2025): Review of the genus Megascolia Betrem, 1928 (Hymenoptera, Scoliidae). Zootaxa 5700 (1): 1-127, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5700.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5700.1.1
03B687D7FFCDFFFF63E409A1FF68D73C.text	03B687D7FFCDFFFF63E409A1FF68D73C.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Regiscolia capitata (Fabricius 1804) Castagnet & Cabon 2025	<div><p>Regiscolia capitata (Fabricius, 1804), comb. nov.</p><p>(Figs 72–74)</p><p>Scolia capitata Fabricius, 1804: 239 (holotype, ♂, Sumatra, deposited in ZMK, not examined); Tullgren 1904: 465.</p><p>Scolia patricialis Burmeister, 1854: 19; Smith 1855: 110 (synonymised by Betrem &amp; Bradley 1964: 442).</p><p>Triscolia patricialis: Gribodo 1893: 167.</p><p>Triscolia patricialis var. plebeja Gribodo, 1893: 167 (♀ nec ♂ synonymized by Betrem &amp; Bradley 1964: 444 with capitata pendleburyi)</p><p>Scolia ( Scolia, Triscolia) patricialis: Dalla-torre 1897: 173.</p><p>Scolia ( Scolia, Triscolia) patricialis var. plebeja: Dalla-torre 1897: 173.</p><p>Triscolia patricialis: Cameron 1905: 52.</p><p>Triscolia capitata: Cameron 1905: 53.</p><p>Triscolia procer form capitata: Micha 1927: 109.</p><p>Triscolia patricialis: Micha 1927: 111.</p><p>Triscolia patricialis patricialis: Micha 1927: 111–115.</p><p>Triscolia patricialis kuntzeni Micha, 1927: 115–116 (synonymised by Betrem &amp; Bradley 1964: 442 with capitata capitata).</p><p>Triscolia patricialis plebeja: Micha 1927: 117.</p><p>Triscolia patricialis brunneipennis Micha, 1927: 115–116 . Syn. nov.</p><p>Scolia (Triscolia) patricialis: Betrem 1927b: 292.</p><p>Scolia ( Triscolia sectio Megascolia) procer var. capitata: Betrem 1928: 241.</p><p>Scolia ( Triscolia sectio Megascolia) patricialis: Betrem 1928: 233.</p><p>Scolia ( Triscolia sectio Megascolia) patricialis plebeja: Betrem 1928: 235.</p><p>Scolia ( Triscolia sectio Megascolia) patricialis var. leefmansi Betrem, 1928: 235 . Syn. nov.</p><p>Scolia ( Triscolia sectio Megascolia) patricialis kuntzeni: Betrem 1928: 236.</p><p>Scolia ( Triscolia sectio Megascolia) patricialis bruneipennis: Betrem 1928: 236.</p><p>Megascolia (Regiscolia) capitata capitata: Betrem &amp; Bradley 1964: 444; Bradley &amp; Betrem 1964: 11.</p><p>Megascolia (Regiscolia) capitata var. patricialis: Betrem &amp; Bradley 1964: 444; Bradley 1972: 12; Osten 2005b: 29.</p><p>Megascolia (Regiscolia) capitata var. plebeja: Betrem &amp; Bradley 1964: 444 (♂ nec ♀).</p><p>Megascolia (Regiscolia) capitata var. leefmansi: Betrem &amp; Bradley 1964: 444.</p><p>Megascolia (Regiscolia) capitata var. brunneipennis: Betrem &amp; Bradley 1964: 444; Osten 2005b: 29.</p><p>Megascolia (Regiscolia) capitata pendleburyi Betrem &amp; Bradley, 1964: 444; Osten 2005b: 29. Syn. nov.</p><p>Megascolia (Regiscolia) capitata capitata intrasubspecific form patricialis: Bradley &amp; Betrem 1966: 77.</p><p>Megascolia (Regiscolia) capitata capitata ? form brunneipennis: Bradley 1972: 6.</p><p>Megascolia (Regiscolia) capitata: Bradley 1973a: 285.</p><p>Xirgoniqua capitata: Argaman 1996: 196.</p><p>Megascolia (Regiscolia) capitata var. kuntzeni: Osten 2005b: 29.</p><p>Megascolia capitata: Khouri et al. 2022: 24–29, 31–34, 36–38.</p><p>Material examined. Indonesia. North Kalimantan province. 2♂, Kalambuku, 12.V.2011 (local coll. leg.) [CJBC] . West Sumatra province. 2♀, Payakumbuh, 24.VII.2015 (local coll. leg.) [CJBC] ; 1♂, Payakumbuh, 13.III.2015</p><p>(local coll. leg.) [CJBC]. West Kalimantan province. 3♂, Lumar, 28.V.2019 (local coll. leg.) [CJBC] ; 4♀, same place, 21.IV.2022 (local coll. leg.) [CJBC]; 1♀, Mount Bawang, 21.IV.2022 (local coll. leg.) [CJBC] ; 2♀ 3♂, same place, VII.2022 (local coll. leg.) [CJBC]. Malaysia. Sarawak province . 2♀ 3♂, Long Lama, 12.VI.2012 (local coll. leg.) [CJBC] .</p><p>Diagnosis. Regiscolia capitata (Fabricius, 1804), comb. nov. is easily distinguished from R. alecto (Smith, 1858), comb. nov., R. almoraensis (Gupta &amp; Jonathan, 2003), comb. nov., R. azurea (Christ, 1791), comb. nov., R. bidens (Linnaeus, 1767), comb. nov., R. fulvifrons (Saussure, 1855), comb. nov., R. maculata (Drury, 1773), comb. nov., R. rubida (Gribodo, 1893), comb. nov. and R. splendida (Saussure, 1858), comb. nov. in both sexes by having the head almost entirely impunctate with very fine and sparse punctures; and the scutum, metanotum, dorso-median area of propodeum and T1 generally marked with yellow. In contrast, in other Regiscolia species, the head has coarser and denser punctures; the mesosoma is entirely melanistic (except in R. splendida splendida, where the pronotum and scutum are orange; and in R. maculata, R. bidens and R. rubida, where the scutellum is sometimes marked with yellow or orange); and the metasoma is never marked with yellow on the T1.</p><p>Redescription. Female (Fig. 72). Length 39–46 mm.</p><p>Head (Figs 72B, C). Mandibles short and thickened at the apex. Median mandibular tooth small and prominent, sometimes blunt. Anterior margin of clypeus straight, with lateral lobes weakly indicated; disk of clypeus slightly domed and reticulated; impunctate in the middle. Fissura frontalis distinct, ending in the frontal pit. Frons with sparse and shallow punctures. Vertex almost impunctate.</p><p>Mesosoma (Fig. 72D). Pronotum with very fine, tight and dense punctures. Pronotum finely and densely punctate basally, more coarsely and sparsely punctate on the rest. Tegula almost impunctate. Scutum with fine, tight and dense punctures basally, at the level of the notauli, with a small surface featuring very fine, coalescent, and dense punctures; laterally with sparse punctures, except for antero-lateral corners with very dense, coalescent and fine punctures; impunctate medially and apically. Scutellum almost impunctate, with fine and sparse punctures medially. Metanotum with fine, tight and dense punctures, with an impunctate central band. Dorso-lateral area of propodeum with very dense, tight and fine punctures, with a small impunctate area (mirror) anteriorly. Dorso-median area of propodeum without protruding projections; clearly longer than the length of the metanotum; with fine, tight dense punctures, with more sparse punctures medially. Upper plate of metapleuron impunctate on its lower quarter, densely punctate on the rest. Anterior margin of marginal cell longer than or equal to posterior margin. Forewing with three submarginal cells. Hind tibiae spurs unequal in length.</p><p>Metasoma (Fig. 72E). T1 with a tubercle not depressed in the middle; coarsely and sparsely punctate basally; with very dense, tight and fine punctures laterally and apically. T2 with dense, tight and fine punctures basally and apically; with scattered and coarse punctures medially. T3 almost entirely impunctate basally and medially; with dense, tight and fine punctures apically. T4 to T5 with similar punctation, but the central impunctate area gradually reduced. S1 with dense and fine punctures laterally, mostly impunctate on the rest. S2 with blunt transversal tubercle; with fine, tight and dense punctures basally; with sparse and coarse punctures medially; with dense and fine punctures apically, with sparse punctures in the middle apically. S3 to S5 with similar punctation.</p><p>Coloration (Fig. 72). Head marked with yellow on frons, vertex and tempora; ocellar region black. Antennae black. Mesosoma black, scutellum, metanotum and propodeum most often marked with yellow. Metasoma black, T1 basally and T3 generally marked with yellow. Legs black. Wings entirely dark. Pilosity of pronotum, metanotum, propodeum and metasoma forming tufts of very dense, tight long setae; black, except in the colored areas.</p><p>Male (Fig. 73). Length 23–37 mm.</p><p>Head (Figs 73B, C). Inner margin of mandible with three distinct tooth (third apical tooth sometimes blunt and barely visible). Disk of clypeus with coarse and dense but sparse punctures medially, denser and finer punctures basally and laterally. Fissura frontalis not visible. Frontal cross-furrow visible, its extension reaching the lower part of the ocular sinus. Frontal spatium with dense, tight and fine punctures. Anterior ocelli depressed, larger than posterior ocelli. Frons almost impunctate, with sparse, fine and shallow punctures. Vertex almost impunctate, with very scattered, fine and shallow punctures.</p><p>Mesosoma (Fig. 73D). Pronotum with dense, tight and fine punctures over its entire surface, inter-points spaces almost coalescent.Tegula with dense and coarse punctures in its anterior half, with shallow and dense micropunctures on the rest. Scutum with fine and dense punctures in its anterior third; more sparser and coarser laterally; largely impunctate medially and apically. Scutellum with fine and dense punctures basally, sparser medially and mostly impunctate apically. Metanotum with fine and dense punctures laterally, impunctate line in the middle. Dorso-lateral area of propodeum with a small impunctate area (mirror) anteriorly; with fine, dense and tight punctures. Dorso-median area of propodeum without protruding projections; with fine and dense punctures, sparser punctures medially. Anterior margin of marginal cell longer than posterior margin. Forewing with three submarginal cells.</p><p>Metasoma (Fig. 73E). T1 with a large but blunt tubercle; very dense and fine punctures laterally and apically; largely impunctate basally at the level of tubercle. T2 with fine, tight and dense punctures over its entire surface. T3 with fine, tight and dense punctures, with a small area with sparse punctures in the middle basally. T4-T6 similarly punctate. S1 raised in the middle, with dense punctures medially. S2 with blunt transverse tubercle; with dense tigh and fine punctures basally and laterally, sparser medially and apically. S3 with very sparse punctures medially, more denser laterally. S4-S6 similarly punctate.</p><p>Coloration (Fig. 73). Clypeus, frontal area, frons, vertex and tempora yellow, black on the rest. Mesosoma black, generally scutellum, metanotum and dorso-median area of the propodeum marked with yellow. Metasoma black, T1 (often) and T3 marked with yellow. Pilosity black, except in the colored areas.</p><p>Genitalia. See Fig. 31E.</p><p>Distribution. Indonesia (Bengkulu, East Kalimantan, North Kalimantan, North Sumatra, West Kalimantan, West Sumatra), Malaysia (Pahang, Penang, Perak, Sabah, Sarawak, Selangor) (Micha 1927; Betrem 1928; Betrem &amp; Bradley 1964) (Fig. 74).</p><p>Biology. Unknown.</p><p>Remarks. Two subspecies are currently considered (Betrem &amp; Bradley 1964; Osten 2005b): ssp. capitata (Fabricius, 1804) from East Malaysia and Indonesia and ssp. pendleburyi Betrem, 1964 from Peninsular Malaysia. The ssp. pendleburyi Betrem, 1964 is distinguished from the nominate subspecies by having the mesosoma and T1 entirely black, whereas the mesosoma is marked with yellow on the scutellum, metanotum and dorso-median area of the propodeum and T 1 in the nominate subspecies (Betrem &amp; Bradley 1964). Numerous variations exist for the nominal subspecies: var. patricialis Burmeister, 1854 . var. plebeja Gribodo, 1893, var. leefmansi Betrem, 1928 and var. brunneipennis Micha, 1927 (Betrem &amp; Bradley 1964).</p><p>Fabricius (1804) described Scolia capitata Fabricius, 1804 on the basis of a male from Sumatra (Betrem &amp; Bradley 1964). Nevertheless, this species has long been known as Scolia patricialis Burmeister, 1854 (Gribodo 1893; Cameron 1905; Micha 1927; Betrem 1928). Micha (1927) recognized four subspecies of S. patricialis ( ssp. patricialis Burmeister, 1854, ssp. kuntzeni Micha, 1927, ssp. plebeja Gribodo, 1893, and ssp. brunneipennis Micha, 1927) and Betrem (1928) only two ( ssp. patricialis Burmeister, 1854, and ssp. plebeja Gribodo, 1893). Betrem (1928) further subdivided the subspecies plebeja into three varieties: “A”, “B” and leefmansi Betrem, 1928. Later, Bradley &amp; Betrem (1964) synonymized patricialis with capitata, thus considering two subspecies: ssp. capitata and ssp. pendleburyi . They proposed patricialis, plebeja, brunneipennis and leefmansi as variations of the nominal subspecies, and kuntzeni Micha, 1927 was synonymized with the nominal subspecies. Later, Osten (2005b) recognized the same subspecies, with Scolia patricialis Burmeister 1854 synonymized with the nominal subspecies; brunneipennis Micha, 1927 and kuntzeni Micha, 1927 as probable variations of the nominal subspecies; and plebeja Gribodo, 1893 and leefmansi Betrem, 1928 as synonyms of ssp. pendleburyi .</p><p>Gribodo (1893) described Triscolia patricialis var. plebeja based on a female from Borneo and a male from Malacca, which differ from the original form by having the mesosoma and T1 entirely black (the scutellum is faintly marked with yellow). According to Betrem &amp; Bradley (1964), the male and female types of plebeja Gribodo, 1893 represent two different geographical subspecies. The female corresponds to the ssp. capitata (Borneo-Sumatra), while the male represents the subspecies pendleburyi Betrem, 1964 (Peninsular Malaysia). However, according to Betrem &amp; Bradley (1964), Bradley had studied in 1928 the material held at the Genoa Museum and did not find the male specimen, which had been previously examined by Betrem (1928). Still according to them, based on this selection, T. patricialis plebeja Gribodo, 1893 was assigned to the Borneo-Sumatra subspecies and not to that of Peninsular Malaysia. However, the valid subspecies for Borneo-Sumatra was capitata Fabricius, 1804 . Thus, the female designated by Betrem &amp; Bradley (1964) as the lectotype of T. patricialis plebeja Gribodo, 1893 was placed in synonymy with the nominal subspecies capitata . The missing male from Peninsular Malaysia of T. patricialis plebeja Gribodo, 1893 was placed in synonymy with the new ssp. pendleburyi Betrem, 1964, in order to avoid secondary homonymy, as the name plebeja was already occupied by Scolia plebeja Klug, 1810 (Betrem &amp; Bradley 1964; Bradley 1973a). However, Scolia plebeja Klug, 1810 had already been proposed as a synonym of Scolia villosa Fabricius, 1793 (= Colpa quinquecincta (Fabricius, 1793)) as early as 1928 (Betrem 1928), and officially synonymized starting in 1968 (Bradley &amp; Betrem 1968; Betrem &amp; Bradley 1972).</p><p>We have not examined any material from Peninsular Malaysia, but the specimens we have examined from Borneo and Sumatra show great variation in coloration on the mesosoma and metasoma, with the yellow spots sometimes very small or even absent. In addition, the female type of Triscolia patricialis var. plebeja (Borneo) shows the same variation as the ssp. pendlebury Betrem, 1964 (Peninsular Malaysia). Neither Betrem nor Bradley have explained this resemblance (Betrem &amp; Bradley 1964). Scolia ( Triscolia sectio Megascolia) patricialis var. leefmansi Betrem, 1928, and Triscolia patricialis brunneipennis Micha, 1927, are distinguished by subtle differences in body or wing coloration. Pending the study of specimens from Peninsular Malaysia, Scolia ( Triscolia sectio Megascolia) patricialis var. leefmansi Betrem, 1928, syn. nov., Triscolia patricialis brunneipennis Micha, 1927, syn. nov., and Megascolia (Regiscolia) capitata pendleburyi Betrem, 1964, syn. nov. are placed as synonyms of Regiscolia capitata, the variations in coloration having more to do with intraspecific variability than with real taxonomic entities.</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03B687D7FFCDFFFF63E409A1FF68D73C	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		MagnoliaPress via Plazi	Castagnet, Jean-Baptiste;Cabon, Flavien	Castagnet, Jean-Baptiste, Cabon, Flavien (2025): Review of the genus Megascolia Betrem, 1928 (Hymenoptera, Scoliidae). Zootaxa 5700 (1): 1-127, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5700.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5700.1.1
03B687D7FFC6FFF963E40EF4FDE2D0AF.text	03B687D7FFC6FFF963E40EF4FDE2D0AF.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Regiscolia fulvifrons (Saussure 1855) Castagnet & Cabon 2025	<div><p>Regiscolia fulvifrons (Saussure, 1855), comb. nov.</p><p>(Figs 75–78)</p><p>Scolia (Lacosi) fulvifrons Saussure, 1855: 43 (holotype, ♀, Indes Orientales, deposited in Natural History Museum of Genova,</p><p>not examined). Scolia personata Smith, 1855: 91 (synonymised by Saussure &amp; Sichel 1864: 116). Scolia (Discolia) fulvifrons: Saussure &amp; Sichel 1864: 116; Dalla-Torre 1897: 161; Bingham 1897: 81. Scolia (Triscolia) fulvifrons: Betrem 1927a: xcvii. Scolia ( Triscolia sectio Triscolia) fulvifrons: Betrem 1928: 238. Megascolia (Regiscolia) fulvifrons: Betrem &amp; Bradley 1964: 444; Bradley &amp; Betrem 1967: 317; Bradley 1974: 441; Krombein</p><p>1978: 4; Gupta &amp; Jonathan 2003: 140; Osten 2005b: 33; Kumar &amp; Rajmohana 2017: 5. Elpaholta fulvifrons: Argaman 1996: 194.</p><p>Material examined. Thailand. Rayong province. 1♂, Koh Samet, 24.X.2014 (local coll. leg.) [CJBC] . Vietnam. Hòa Bình province. 1♂, Hòa Bình, 15.V.1997 (local coll. leg.) [CJBC]. Lâm Đ ồng province . 3♀, Bảo Lộc, 12.IV.2018 (local coll. leg.) [CJBC]; 2♀, same place, 18.IV.2020 (local coll. leg.) [CJBC]; 3♀, same place, 23.IV.22 (local coll. leg.) [CJBC]; 1♀, same place, 12.IV.2023 (local coll. leg.) [CJBC]. Ngh ệ An province . 1♀, Ngh ệ An, VI.2022 (local coll. leg.) [CJBC] ; 2♀ 1♂, Vinh, 9.VI.2022 (local coll. leg.) [CJBC] ; 1♀, same place, 27.IX.2021 (local coll. leg.) [CJBC]; 5♂, same place, 12.VI.2023 (local coll. leg.) [CJBC] . Kon Tum province. 1♂, Kon Tum, 7.VI.2022 (local coll. leg.) [CJBC] .</p><p>Diagnosis. Regiscolia fulvifrons (Saussure, 1855), comb. nov. differs from R. almoraensis (Gupta &amp; Jonathan, 2003), comb. nov., R. bidens (Linnaeus, 1767), comb. nov., R. maculata (Drury, 1773), comb. nov., and R. rubida (Gribodo, 1893), comb. nov. in females by having the apical part of scutum with sparse punctures medially or without punctures, thus not forming a continuous band of punctures along the scutellum; the dorso-median area of propodeum distinctly longer than the metanotum; and the basal part of T2 has finer and denser punctures forming a band, the median part being sparsely and coarsely punctate. In contrast, in R. almoraensis, R. bidens, R. maculata, and R. rubida, the apical part of scutum has a denser and uninterrupted band of punctures along the scutellum; the dorso-median area of propodeum is shorter, approximately equal to the length of the metanotum; and the basal part of T2 has sparser punctures similar to those of the median part. In males, R. fulvifrons differs by having the area around and between the posterior ocelli with sparse and coarse punctures; and the length of the dorso-median area of propodeum significantly greater than that of the metanotum. In contrast, in R. almoraensis, R. bidens, R. maculata, and R. rubida, the area around and between the posterior ocelli has denser, tighter, finer, and agglomerated punctures; and the length of the dorso-median area of propodeum is nearly equal to that of the metanotum. In both sexes, the wings of R. fulvifrons are entirely dark. Whereas in R. almoraensis, R. bidens, R. maculata, and R. rubida, they are bicolored, yellowish in the cells and dark elsewhere (in R. almoraensis the wings are almost entirely black).</p><p>R. fulvifrons is easily distinguished from R. capitata (Fabricius, 1804), comb. nov. in both sexes, by having the head with coarse and dense punctures; and the mesosoma entirely melanistic. In contrast, in R. capitata the head is almost entirely impunctate with finer and sparser punctures; and the scutellum, metanotum, dorso-median area of propodeum are marked with yellow.</p><p>R. fulvifrons is distinguished from R. azurea (Christ, 1791), comb. nov. and R. alecto (Smith, 1858), comb. nov. in females, by having the apical margin of clypeus with two prominent lateral lobes; and the disk of clypeus domed and fully reticulated. In contrast, in R. fulvifrons, the apical margin of clypeus does not have distinct lateral lobes; and the disk of clypeus is flat, impunctate, and weakly striated. In males, R. fulvifrons differs by having the T3 with a small impunctate area in the middle. Whereas in R. azurea, R. alecto and R. splendida, the T3 has a large central impunctate area. In both sexes, the metasoma of R. fulvifrons has black pilosity, yellow in the colored areas. Whereas in R. azurea, the metasoma has red pilosity apically.</p><p>Redescription. Female (Fig. 75). Length 32–41 mm.</p><p>Head (Figs 75B, C). Mandibles short and thickened at the apex. Median mandibular tooth small and prominent, sometimes blunt. Anterior margin of clypeus straight with two prominent lateral lobes; disk of clypeus domed and fully reticulated. Fissura frontalis distinct, ending in the frontal pit, weakly visible up to the anterior ocellus. Frons with dense but spaced punctures, mostly impunctate in front of the anterior ocellus. Vertex with dense but spaced punctures.</p><p>Mesosoma (Fig. 75D). Pronotum with very fine, tight and dense punctures. Tegula with coarse punctures mixed with micropunctures at base and along scutum. Scutum almost impunctate; with more or less fine, and dense punctures basally along the pronotum; with sparse and coarse punctures laterally; impunctate, sometimes with a few sparse punctures apically. Scutellum with fine and dense punctures basally and medially; with sparse punctures laterally; impunctate apically. Metanotum with fine, tight and dense punctures, with a large impunctate central band. Dorso-lateral area of propodeum with very dense, tight and fine punctures, with a small impunctate area (mirror) anteriorly. Dorso-median area of propodeum without protruding projections; clearly longer than the length of the metanotum; with fine, tight and dense punctures. Upper plate of metapleuron impunctate on its lower half, densely and finely punctate on the rest. Anterior margin of marginal cell longer than or equal to posterior margin. Forewing generally with two submarginal cells, sometimes three on one or both wings. Hind tibiae spurs of similar length.</p><p>Metasoma (Fig. 75E). T1 with a tubercle not depressed in the middle; with very sparse and coarse punctures basally; with very dense, tight and fine punctures laterally and apically. T2 with dense, tight and fine punctures basally and apically; with scattered and coarse punctures medially. T3 almost entirely impunctate basally and medially; with dense, tight and fine punctures apically. T4 to T5 with similar punctation, but the central impunctate area gradually reduced. S1 with dense and fine punctures laterally, mostly impunctate on the rest. S2 with blunt transversal tubercle; with fine, tight and dense punctures basally; with sparse and coarse punctures medially; with dense and fine punctures apically, with sparse punctures in the middle apically. S3 to S5 with similar punctation.</p><p>Coloration (Fig. 75). Head marked with yellowish-orange on frons, vertex and tempora; ocellar region generally black. Antennae black. Mesosoma black. Metasoma black, T3 marked with two yellowish-orange spots, often fused in a band; T4 sometimes and more rarely T5 (exceptionally with two small yellowish spots on T2). Legs black. Wings entirely dark. Pilosity black, except in the colored areas.</p><p>Male (Fig. 76). Length 26–35 mm.</p><p>Head (Figs 76B, C). Inner margin of mandible with three distinct tooth (third apical tooth sometimes blunt and barely visible). Disk of clypeus with coarse punctures medially, denser and finer punctures on sides. Fissura frontalis visible reaching median ocelli. Frontal cross-furrow poorly defined. Frontal spatium with dense and fine punctures over its entire surface. Anterior ocelli shallowly depressed, larger than posterior ocelli. Frons with dense and coarse punctures, except around anterior ocellus impunctate. Vertex with dense and coarse punctures.</p><p>Mesosoma (Fig. 76D). Pronotum with dense and fine punctures over its entire surface, inter-points spaces almost coalescent; with an oblique groove at the boundary between dorsal and lateral surfaces; in lateral view, pronotum forming a ridge. Tegulae with dense and coarse punctures, finer posteriorly. Scutum with very dense and fine punctures over its entire surface, coarser laterally; inter-points spaces about equal to the diameter of a puncture, without impunctate area. Scutellum with dense and coarse punctures over its entire surface. Metanotum with dense punctures over its entire surface, punctures less coarser than on scutellum. Dorso-lateral area of propodeum without an impunctate area (mirror), with dense and coarse punctures over its entire surface. Dorso-median area of propodeum without protruding projections; with coarse and dense punctures over its entire surface. Anterior margin of marginal cell longer than posterior margin. Anterior wings with two submarginal cells, sometimes three on one or both wings.</p><p>Metasoma (Fig. 76E). T1 with a strong tubercle; with fine and dense punctures laterally and apically, with coarser punctures medially, except for a small area above the tubercle which is impunctate. T2 with fine and dense punctures over its entire surface. T3 similarly punctate, except for a small area in the center which is impunctate. T4 with a small triangular area impunctate basally, with coarse and dense punctures on the rest. T4-T5 with coarse and dense punctures over their entire surface. S1 raised in the center, with dense and fine punctures laterally, impunctacte medially. S2 with blunt transverse tubercle; with dense, tigh and fine punctures basally and laterally, sparser medially and apically. S3 with very sparse punctures medially, more denser laterally. S4-S6 similarly punctate.</p><p>Coloration (Figs 76, 77). Head black, generally with orange-reddish spot on ocular sinus and behind eyes. Mesosoma black. Metasoma black, T3 marked with two yellowish-orange spots, often fused in a band (Fig. 76); sometimes also present on T4, T5 and T6 (Fig. 77). Wings entirely dark. Pilosity black, except in the colored areas.</p><p>Genitalia. See Fig. 31F.</p><p>Distribution. Bangladesh, India (Assam, Sikkim, West Bengal), Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam (Hòa Bình, Lâm Đồng, Nghệ An, Kon Tum; new record) (Bingham 1897; Betrem 1928; Bradley &amp; Betrem 1967; Gupta &amp; Jonathan 2003; Kumar &amp; Rajmohana 2017) (Fig. 78). Gupta &amp; Jonathan (2003) cite the species in Singapore, but this data appears to be erroneous and is not considered valid here.</p><p>Biology. Unknown.</p><p>Remarks. Regiscolia fulvifrons is highly variable in coloration. In typical males (Fig. 76), only the T3 is widely marked with a broad yellowish-orange band. Sometimes the yellowish-orange band on the T3 is divided into two lateral spots. The T4 can also be similarly marked, as can T5 and T6 (Fig. 77). More rarely, the T2 has two very small lateral spots. In females, the common form has a broad yellowish-orange bands on T3 and T4. These bands may be more or less divided, or absent on T4. More exceptionally, the T5 can also be yellowish-orange.</p><p>R. fulvifrons has no known subspecies.</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03B687D7FFC6FFF963E40EF4FDE2D0AF	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		MagnoliaPress via Plazi	Castagnet, Jean-Baptiste;Cabon, Flavien	Castagnet, Jean-Baptiste, Cabon, Flavien (2025): Review of the genus Megascolia Betrem, 1928 (Hymenoptera, Scoliidae). Zootaxa 5700 (1): 1-127, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5700.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5700.1.1
03B687D7FFC0FFCD63E40845FA05D065.text	03B687D7FFC0FFCD63E40845FA05D065.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Regiscolia maculata (Drury 1773) Castagnet & Cabon 2025	<div><p>Regiscolia maculata (Drury, 1773), comb. nov.</p><p>(Figs 79–85)</p><p>Sphex maculata Drury, 1773: 77 (holotype, ♀, probably deposited at Natural History Museum, United Kingdom, not examined;</p><p>type locality “ Morea ” [= Greece, Peloponnese]). Sphex bidens Pallas, 1773: 729; Müller 1776: 323; Sulzer 1776: 191, tab. XXVII, fig. 3; Christ 1791: 255 (synonymised by</p><p>Saussure &amp; Sichel 1864: 50). Sphex radula Sulzer, 1776: 192, tab. XXVII, fig. 4 (synonymised by Saussure &amp; Sichel 1864: 50). Scolia flavifrons Fabricius, 1775: 355; Fabricius 1781: 452; Fabricius 1787: 280; Cyrillo 1787: 2; Gmelin 1790: 2736; Rossi</p><p>1790: 69; Rossi 1792: 129; Fabricius 1793: 229; Fabricius 1804: 240; Klug 1805: 22; Lepeletier 1825: 393; Spinola 1839:</p><p>334; Passerini 1840: 6, 9, 12; Passerini 1841: 6, 7; Palma 1869: 34; Costa 1887: 96; Ashmead 1903: 7; Cros 1929: 242;</p><p>Bajari 1953: 124; Erlandsson 1974: 24; Vuts et al. 2012: 351–359. Scolia haemorrhoidalis Fabricius, 1787: 280; Gmelin 1790: 2736; Fabricius 1793: 230; Fabricius 1804: 240; Klug 1805: 24;</p><p>Germar 1817: 262; Vander Linden 1827: 288; Lepeletier 1845: 522; Eversmann 1849: 430; Burmeister 1854: 18; Mocsary</p><p>1881: 54; Costa 1887: 97; Iuga 1953: 259 (synonymised by Micha 1927: 125, and later Hamon &amp; Osten 1994: 15). Sphex interrupta Scopoli, 1786: 60 (synonymised by Saussure &amp; Sichel 1864: 50). Scolia hortorum Fabricius, 1787; Cyrillo 1787: 2; Gmelin 1790: 2736; Rossi 1790: 70; Rossi 1792: 129; Fabricius 1793: 232;</p><p>Fabricius 1804: 243; Klug 1805: 22; Vander Linden 1827: 286; Lepeletier 1845: 520; Lucas 1849: 278; Burmeister 1854:</p><p>18; Costa 1858: 6; Costa 1874: 575 (misidentification). Sphex flavifrons: Villers 1789: 239; Christ 1791: 267. Sphex hortorum: Villers 1789: 240. Vespa tricuspidata Villers, 1789: 280 (synonymised by Saussure &amp; Sichel 1864: 50). Sphex goliath Christ, 1791: 253 (synonymised by Saussure &amp; Sichel 1864: 51). Sphex versicolor Christ, 1791: 254 (synonymised by Saussure &amp; Sichel 1864: 51). Sphex radula siberica Christ, 1791: 258 (synonymised by Saussure &amp; Sichel 1864: 51). Sphex radula hungarica Christ, 1791: 258 (synonymised by Saussure &amp; Sichel 1864: 51). Scolia quadrimaculata Fabricius, 1793: 229; Fabricius 1804: 240 (synonymised by Betrem &amp; Bradley 1964: 20–21). Scolia (Scolia) flavifrons: Guérin-Méneville 1830: 247. Scolia (Scolia) insignis Saussure, 1858: 197 (synonymised by Bingham 1897: 77, later by Osten 2005b: 37). Scolia (Triscolia) insignis: Saussure &amp; Sichel 1864: 47; Cameron 1892: 101. Scolia (Triscolia) flavifrons: Saussure &amp; Sichel 1864: 49; Vogrin 1915: 37–38, 40; Berland 1925: 297; Betrem 1927a: xcvii;</p><p>Dusmet 1930: 16–19; Schmiedeknecht 1930: 511; Betrem 1933: 260; Betrem 1947: 414; Mingo &amp; Compte 1963: 75. Scolia (Triscolia) haemorrhoidalis: Saussure &amp; Sichel 1864: 50; Cameron 1892: 102; Bingham 1897: 71–72, 77; Vogrin 1915:</p><p>36, 38, 41. Triscolia haemorrhoidalis: Gribodo 1893: 150. Scolia ( Scolia, Triscolia) flavifrons: Dalla-Torre 1897: 158–160. Scolia ( Scolia, Triscolia) flavifrons var. haemorrhoidalis: Dalla-Torre 1897: 160. Triscolia flavifrons: Bartlett 1912: 296. Scolia (Triscolia) flavifrons var. haemorrhoidalis: Berland 1925: 297; Maidl 1922: 41; Dusmet 1930: 19; Schmiedeknecht 1930:</p><p>511. Scolia (Ascoli) haemorrhoidalis: Betrem 1926: xiii. Triscolia maculata: Micha 1927: 125. Triscolia maculata maculata: Micha 1927: 126–131. Triscolia maculata bischoffi Micha, 1927: 131 . Triscolia maculata albifrons: Micha 1927: 131–132 (lapsus calami for flavifrons in Bradley 1972: 4). Triscolia maculata barbara Micha, 1927: 132 . Syn. nov. Triscolia maculata form verticalis Micha, 1927: 132. Syn. nov. Triscolia maculata sicula Micha, 1927: 133 . Syn. nov. Triscolia maculata form excepta Micha, 1927: 133 (synonymised by Bradley 1972: 9). Scolia (Triscolia) flavifrons haemorrhoidalis: Betrem 1927b: 291; Betrem 1933: 261; Betrem 1941: 118; Betrem 1947: 414;</p><p>Bradley 1956: 579. Scolia flavifrons haemorrhoidalis: Bradley 1928: 93. Scolia (Triscolia) maculata: Guiglia 1928: 428; Steinberg 1962: 116–118; Friese &amp; Muche 1967: 514. Scolia (Triscolia) maculata flavifrons: Guiglia 1928: 429; Nadig &amp; Nadig 1934: 36; Nadig &amp; Nadig 1935: 4; Guiglia 1944:</p><p>146–147; Steinberg 1962: 118; Carrière 1985: 20. Scolia (Triscolia) maculata flavifrons var. funerea Guiglia, 1928: 434 . Syn. nov. Scolia (Triscolia) maculata flavifrons var. sicula: Guiglia 1928: 435. Scolia (Triscolia) flavifrons var. nigra Dusmet, 1930: 19–20 . Syn. nov. Scolia (Triscolia) flavifrons flavifrons: Betrem 1933: 260; Betrem 1941: 117; Betrem 1947: 414; Bradley 1956: 579. Scolia (Triscolia) flavifrons flavifrons var. flavifrons: Betrem 1933: 261. Scolia (Triscolia) flavifrons flavifrons var. verticalis: Betrem 1933: 261. Scolia (Triscolia) flavifrons flavifrons var. sicula: Betrem 1933: 261. Triscolia maculata: Guiglia 1942: 50. Triscolia maculata flavifrons: Guiglia 1938: 5; Guiglia 1949: 32. Scolia (Triscolia) maculata flavifrons forme barbara: Guiglia 1951: 286. Scolia (Triscolia) maculata bischoffi: Hammer 1951: 7. Scolia flavifrons haemorrhoidalis: Atanassov 1951: 287; Erlandsson 1974: 24. Scolia flavifrons var. haemorrhoidalis: Bajari 1953: 124; Vuts et al. 2012: 352. Scolia flavifrons haemorrhoidalis: Guiglia &amp; Bradley 1958: 93–95, 97. Scolia (Triscolia) maculata maculata: Steinberg 1962: 118. Scolia (Triscolia) maculata barbara: Steinberg 1962: 118. Megascolia (Regiscolia) flavifrons flavifrons: Betrem &amp; Bradley 1964 a: 443; Bradley &amp; Betrem 1964: 13, 21; Nagy 1967: 222;</p><p>Bradley 1972: 9. Megascolia (Regiscolia) flavifrons haemorrhoidalis: Betrem &amp; Bradley 1964: 443; Bradley &amp; Betrem 1964: 14; Nagy 1967:</p><p>223; Bradley &amp; Betrem 1964: 14; Tkalcû 1987: 290. Megascolia (Regiscolia) flavifrons siberica: Nagy 1967: 222. Megascolia (Regiscolia) flavifrons form vespertina Nagy, 1967: 223. Syn. nov. Megascolia (Regiscolia) flavifrons form vernalis Nagy, 1967: 223. Syn. nov. Megascolia (Regiscolia) flavifrons: Bradley 1972: 4. Megascolia (Regiscolia) flavifrons flavifrons form barbara: Bradley 1972: 5. Megascolia (Regiscolia) flavifrons bischoffi: Bradley 1972: 6. Megascolia (Regiscolia) flavifrons flavifrons form sicula: Bradley 1972: 15. Megascolia (Regiscolia) flavifrons flavifrons form verticalis: Bradley 1972: 17. Megascolia (Regiscolia) flavifrons haemorrhoidalis form insignis: Bradley 1974: 446. Scolia (Triscolia) maculata flavifrons haemorrhoidalis: Carrière 1985: 20. Megascolia flavifrons: Piek 1986b: 45–47; Piek 1988: 37; Piek &amp; Carrière 1990: 21–23; Carrière 1990: 16; Strumia 2019: 72,</p><p>78, 80; Golfetti et al. 2025: 3, 10. Megascolia flavifrons flavifrons: Piek 1986b: 45–47; Pagliano 1987: 164; Piek &amp; Carrière 1990: 21. Megascolia flavifrons haemorrhoidalis: Piek 1986b: 45–47; Pagliano 1987: 165; Piek 1988: 37; Piek &amp; Carrière 1990: 21; Diniz</p><p>1991: 31; Madl 1997: 827. Megascolia flavifrons flavifrons haemorrhoidalis: Piek &amp; Carrière 1990: 21–23. Megascolia (Regiscolia) flavifrons haemorrhoidalis var. bischoffi: Osten 1990: 470. Megascolia (Regiscolia) maculata maculata: Hamon &amp; Osten 1994: 15; Hamon et al. 1995: 34; Basset 1998: 12; Osten 1999a:</p><p>424; Osten &amp; Özbek 1999: 436; Osten 2000: 546, 551, 557; Osten 2002: 344; Osten et al. 2003: 370; Osten &amp; Arens 2004:</p><p>312; Osten 2005a: 1455, 1461; Osten 2005b: 37; Carrière 2006: 427; Ljubomirov 2006: 532; Fallahzadeh &amp; Saghaei 2010:</p><p>793; Makhan 2012: 1–2; Samin &amp; Baðrýaçýk 2012: 391; Samin et al. 2014: 716; Elcin &amp; Baðrýaçýk 2015: 50. Megascolia (Regiscolia) maculata flavifrons: Hamon &amp; Osten 1994: 15; Hamon et al. 1995: 36; Osten 1999a: 424; Osten 2000:</p><p>546, 551, 557; Osten 2005b: 37; Carrière 2006: 427; Carrière 2007: 247; Lohrmann &amp; Engel 2015: 192–194; Turrisi et al.</p><p>2020: 728. Ascolia flavifrons: Argaman 1996: 188. Laskariska haemorrhoidalis: Argaman 1996: 188.</p><p>Megascolia maculata: Schmid-Egger &amp; Burger 1998: 46; Osten 1999b: 449; Özbek &amp; Anlas 2007: 113; Amiet 2008: 45; Japoshvili &amp; Karaca 2010: 199; Klausnitzer et al. 2013: 97; Ceccolini &amp; Barbagli 2014: 95, 97; Augul 2016: 125, 129; Olszewski et al. 2016: 51; Smolis et al. 2017: 161; Shorenko 2018: 126; Tischendorf &amp; Dieterich 2020: 18–20; Verheyde et al. 2021: 3–4; Schmid-Egger &amp; Schmidt 2021: 62; Verheyde et al. 2023: 17–20; Can &amp; Ljubomirov 2023: 523; Golfetti et al. 2025: 3, 10.</p><p>Megascolia (Regiscolia) maculata bischoffi: Osten 1999a: 424; Osten 2000: 546, 551, 557; Osten 2004: 503; Osten 2005b: 37.</p><p>Megascolia (Regiscolia) maculata: Osten 2000: 546, 551; Vereecken &amp; Carrière 2003: 71–74; Milko &amp; Kazenas 2005: 38; Fateryga &amp; Shorenko 2012: 17; Ruchin &amp; Artaev 2016: 2112; Lelej &amp; Mokrousov 2017: 13; Mokrousov &amp; Lelej 2017: 147; Kletenkin 2019: 72; Gadallah &amp; Brothers 2020: 178; Taylor 2024b: 120.</p><p>Megascolia maculata maculata: Giachino et al. 2000: 100; Vereecken &amp; Carrière 2003: 74; Tezcan et al. 2004: 249; Bogush 2007: 168; Schedl 2007: 409; Gusenleitner et al. 2008: 58; Schedl 2010: 1031; Özbek &amp; Anlas 2011: 630; Baðrýaçýk 2016: 150; Tüzün &amp; Yalniz 2018: 161; Örgel et al. 2020: 640.</p><p>Megascolia maculata flavifrons: Vereecken &amp; Carrière 2003: 73–76; Schedl 2006: 345; Schedl 2007: 409; Castro 2011: 387; Baldock 2014: 343; Dvořák &amp; Boščík 2017: 380; Juillerat 2013: 173–174; Baldock et al. 2020: 16.</p><p>Material examined. Armenia. Ararat province. 1♂, Geghmahovit, 23.VI.2024 (M. Aubert &amp; V. Leclercq leg.) [CJBC] ; Gegharkunik province. 1♂, Getik, 17.VI.2024 (M. Aubert &amp; V. Leclercq leg.) [CJBC] . Syunik province. 1♀, Meghri, 19.VI.2024 (M. Aubert &amp; V. Leclercq leg.) [CJBC] ; 1♂, Vardanidzor, 19.VI.2024 (M. Aubert &amp; V. Leclercq leg.) [CJBC] . Bulgaria. Burgas region. 1♀, Ahtopol, 21.VII.1977 (local coll. leg.) [CJBC] . Cyprus. Paphos district. 1♀ 6♂, Latchi, 29.V.2015 (local coll. leg.) [CJBC] ; 5♀ 5♂, Konia, 5.V.2021 (J. Demetriou leg.) [CJBC] . Limassol district. 4♀ 5♂, Akrotíri, 14.V.2021 (J. Demetriou leg.) [CJBC] . France. Ardèche department. 1♀, Saint- Marcel d’Ardèche, Mas de Libian, 11.VII.2022 (F. Cabon leg.) [CFC]. Aude department . 3♀, Conques-sur-Orbiel, 15.VI.2006 (local coll. leg.) [CJBC] ; 1♂, Castelnau-d’Aude, 6.VII.2011 (J.-B. Castagnet leg.) [CJBC]; 1♀, Monze, 17.VII.2023 (J.-B. Castagnet leg.) [CJBC] ; 1♀ 1♂, same place and collector, 16.VII.2024 [CJBC]; 1♀, Saint-Martin-Lalande, 24.VII. 2024 (R. Castagnet leg.) [CJBC]. Bouches-du-Rhône department . 1♂, Marseille, VI.1991 (R. Minetti leg.) [CFC]. Drôme department . 2♂, Saint-Donat-sur-l’Herbasse, 1.VI.2002 (local coll. leg.) [CJBC]; 1♀, Donzère, 9.VIII.2013 (local coll. leg.) [CJBC]. Haute-Corse department . 1♀ 1♂, Monte Grosso, 20.VI.2009 (local coll. leg.) [CJBC] ; 1♀, Venaco, 4.VII.2015 (J.-B. Castagnet leg.) [CJBC] ; 4♀ 1♂, Bravona, 20.VI.2018 (R. Minetti leg.) [CFC]. Hérault department . 1♀, Roquebrun, 22.VII.2011 (J.-B. Castagnet leg.) [CJBC]. Landes department . 1♀, Biscarosse, 8.VII.1976 (local coll. leg.) [CJBC] ; 1♀, Moliets-et-Maa, 12.VII.2015 (J.-B. Castagnet leg.) [CJBC] ; 2♀, Mimizan, 12.II.2022 (J.-B. Castagnet leg.) [CJBC] ; 3♀, Soustons, 12.VII.2023 (J.-B. Castagnet leg.) [CJBC]. Lot department . 1♀ 1♂, Gourdon, 3.VII.1973 (local coll. leg.) [CJBC]. Var department . 1♀, Les Mayons, 1.VIII.2002 (R. Minetti leg.) [CFC] ; 1♀, La Cadière, 7.VIII.2012 (R. Minetti leg.) [CFC] ; 1♀, Hyères, 22.VII.2016 (J.-B. Castagnet leg.) [CJBC] ; 1♂, Rians, 12.VI.2022 (J.-B. Castagnet leg.) [CJBC] . Greece. Crete region. 1♂, Heraklion, 12.VI.2017 (local coll. leg.) [CJBC] ; 2♂, Goúves, 7.VI.2013 (A. Foucart leg.) [CJBC] . 1♀, Palaiochora, 1.VIII.2013 (local coll. leg.) [CJBC] ; 1♀, Chaniá, 18.VII.1998 (local coll. leg.) [CJBC] ; 1♀, Mathiá, 20.VII.1996 (local coll. leg.) [CJBC] ; 2♀ 2♂, Kissamos, 27.VI.2014 (J.-B. Castagnet leg.) [CJBC] ; 1♀ 1♂, Falassarna, 28.VI.2014 (J.-B. Castagnet leg.) [CJBC]. Eeastern Macedonia and Thrace region. 1♀, Loutros-Evros, 1.VII.2007 (R. Minetti leg.) [CFC] . Epire region. 1♀, Vrosina, 24.VII.2010 (R. Minetti leg.) [CFC]. Laconia region . 3♂, Neapoli, Amitsa beach, 6.V.2025 (H. Brustel leg.) [CFC] ; 1♀, Monemvasia, 7.V.2025 (H. Brustel leg.) [CFC] . North Aegean region. 1♀, Mithymna, 28.VI.2009 (local coll. leg.) [CJBC] . Peloponnese region. 1♂, Mykines, 21.V.1995 (local coll. leg.) [CJBC] ; 1♂, Mycenae, 7.V.2025 (H. Brustel leg.) [CFC] ; 2♀, Váthia, 16.VI.1996 (local coll. leg.) [CJBC] . Thessaly region. 1♀, Meteores, 7.VI.2008 (R. Minetti leg.) [CFC] . Iran. Fars province. 2♂, Shiraz, 21.V.2018 (local coll. leg.) [CJBC] . Italy. Campania region. 1♀, Salerno, 1.VI.2018 (local coll. leg.) [CJBC] . Sardinia region. 2♀, Nuoro, 20.VI.2006 (local coll. leg.) [CJBC] . Morocco. Rabat-Salé-Kénitra region. 1♀ 2♂, El Arba, Route de Mrirt, 22.V.2014 (J.F. Vayssières leg.) [CFC] ; 2♀ 1♂, Oulmes, 22.V.2015 (local coll. leg.) [CJBC] . Russia. Rostov oblast. 1♀, Koysug, 14.VI.2019 (local coll. leg.) [CJBC] . Krasnodar region. 1♀, Leningradskaya, 12VI.2007 (local coll. leg.) [CJBC] . Spain. Seville province . 1♀, Seville, 19.VII.2013 (J.-B. Castagnet leg.) [CJBC]. Tarragona province . 1♂, Tarragona, 21.V.1992 (local coll. leg.) [CJBC] . Türkiye. 1♀, Coavada, 10.VI.1998 (L. Grecco leg.) [CFC] ; 1♀, same place and collector, 11.VI.1998 [CFC] . Ukraine. Karkiv oblast . 2♀ 2♂, Karkiv, 18.V.2014 (local coll. leg.) [CJBC] . Odesa Oblast. 1♀, Chornomorsk, 23.VI.2024 (local coll. leg.) [CJBC] .</p><p>Diagnosis. Regiscolia maculata (Drury, 1773), comb. nov. differs from R. alecto (Smith, 1858), comb. nov., R. azurea (Christ, 1791), comb. nov., R. capitata (Fabricius, 1804), comb. nov. and R. fulvifrons (Saussure, 1855), comb. nov. in females by having the apical part of scutum with a dense, uninterrupted band of punctures along the scutellum; the dorso-median area of propodeum short, approximately equal to the length of the metanotum; and the basal part of T2 with sparse punctures similar to those of the median part. In contrast, in R. alecto, R. azurea, R. capitata and R. fulvifrons, the apical part of scutum has sparser punctures medially or is impunctate, thus not forming a continuous band of punctures along the scutellum; the dorso-median area of propodeum is distinctly longer than the metanotum; and the basal part of T2 has finer and denser punctures forming a band, the median part being sparsely and coarsely punctate. In males, R. maculata differs by having the area around and between the posterior ocelli with very dense, tight, fine, and agglomerated punctures; and the length of the dorso-median area of propodeum nearly equal to that of the metanotum. In contrast, in R. alecto, R. azurea, R. alecto and R. fulvifrons, the area around and between the posterior ocelli has sparser and coarser punctures; and the length of the dorso-median area of propodeum is significantly greater than that of the metanotum. R. maculata is easily distinguished from R. capitata in males by having the frons and vertex distinctly more punctate. Whereas in R. capitata, the frons and vertex are almost entirely impunctate. In both sexes, the wings of R. bidens are bicolored, yellowish in the cells and dark elsewhere. Whereas in R. azurea, R. alecto, R. capitata, R. fulvifrons and R. splendida, the wings are entirely dark.</p><p>R. maculata differs from R. almoraensis (Gupta &amp; Jonathan, 2003), comb. nov. and R. rubida (Gribodo, 1893), comb. nov. in females by having the pronotum and the basal part of scutum with very fine, tight and dense punctures. In contrast in R. almoraensis and R. rubida, the pronotum has a large impunctate area close to the tegula or mostly has coarser and sparser punctures; and the basal part of scutum has denser and coarser punctures.</p><p>R. maculata differs from R. bidens (Linnaeus, 1767), comb. nov. in females by having the dorso-median area of propodeum without projections extended posteriorly; the anterior margin of marginal cell longer than posterior margin; and the T1 with a median tubercle depressed in the middle. In contrast in R. bidens, the dorso-median area of propodeum has two protruding projections prolonged towards the rear; the anterior margin of marginal cell is shorter than the posterior margin; and the T1 has a median tubercle not depressed in the middle.</p><p>R. maculata differs from R. almoraensis, R. rubida and R. bidens in males by having the dorso-median area of propodeum without protruding projections prolonged towards the rear. Whereas in R. almoraensis, R. rubida and R. bidens, the dorso-median area of propodeum has two protruding projections prolonged towards the rear.</p><p>Redescription. Female (Fig. 79). Length 29–40 mm.</p><p>Head (Figs 79B, C). Mandibles long and slender. Median mandibular tooth small and prominent, sometimes blunt. Anterior margin of clypeus rounded, without prominent lateral lobes; disk of clypeus not-domed and punctate apically and laterally; impunctate medially. Fissura frontalis passing through the frontal pit and ending at the median ocelli. Frons with numerous and dense punctures. Vertex densely punctate.</p><p>Mesosoma (Fig. 79D). Pronotum with fine, tight and dense punctures over its entire surface. Tegula with coarse punctures at base and along scutum; with micro-punctures often effaced on rest. Scutum with very fine, tight, coalescent and dense punctures basally; with sparse and coarse punctures laterally, except for antero-lateral corners with more dense, tight and fine punctures; largely impunctate medially; with a fine, dense, and continuous band of punctures apically. Scutellum with fine and dense punctures basally, medially and apically, with sparse punctures laterally. Metanotum with fine, tight and dense punctures, with a thin impunctate central band. Dorso-lateral area of propodeum with very dense, tight and fine punctures, without an impunctate area (mirror) anteriorly. Dorso-median area of propodeum without projections extended posteriorly, or at most with slight relief; approximately equal to the length of the metanotum; with very fine, tight dense punctures. Upper plate of metapleuron impunctate on its lower half, finely and densely punctate on the rest. Anterior margin of marginal cell longer than or equal to posterior margin. Forewing with three submarginal cells. Hind tibiae spurs of similar length.</p><p>Metasoma (Fig. 79E). T1 with a tubercle depressed in the middle; finely and sparsely punctate basally revealing a small impunctate area in its center; very densely and finely punctate on laterally and apically. T2 with scattered and coarse punctures basally and medially; with very fine, tight and dense punctures apically. T3 almost entirely impunctate basally and medially; with dense, tight and fine punctures apically. T4 to T5 with similar punctation. S1 with dense and fine punctures laterally, mostly impunctate on the rest. S2 without distinct tubercle; with fine and dense punctures basally; with sparse and coarse punctures medially; with dense and fine punctures apically, with sparse punctures in the middle apically. S3 to S5 with similar punctation.</p><p>Coloration (Figs 79–81). Head with frons, vertex and tempora more or less marked with yellow or entirely yellow; ocellar region often black. Antennae black to brown. Mesosoma black, scutellum often marked with yellow. Metasoma black, T2 and T3 with two yellow spots sometimes fused. Legs black. Wings bicolored, yellowish in the cells, dark on the rest. Pilosity generally black, except in the colored areas in flavifrons subspecies (Fig. 80); in nominal subspecies (Fig. 79), the pilosity on the pronotum, scutum basally, and apical tergites reddish; in bischoffi subspecies (Fig. 81), only the apical tergites have reddish pilosity.</p><p>Male (Fig. 82). Length 21–32 mm.</p><p>Head (Figs 82B, C). Inner margin of mandible with three distinct tooth (third apical tooth sometimes blunt and barely visible). Disk of clypeus with sparse punctures apically, dense and coarse punctures basally and laterally. Fissura frontalis visible reaching anterior ocelli. Frontal cross-furrow visible, its extension reaching the upper part of the ocular sinus. Frontal spatium with dense, tight and fine punctures. Anterior ocellus depressed, larger than posterior ocelli. Frons with dense, fine and tight punctures, impunctate in front of the anterior ocellus. Vertex with fine, tight and dense punctures, particularly around the posterior ocelli.</p><p>Mesosoma (Fig. 82D). Pronotum with dense, tight and fine punctures over its entire surface, inter-points spaces almost coalescent. Tegula with dense and coarse punctures anteriorly and along the scutum, largely impunctate near the wing. Scutum with very fine, coalescent and dense punctures in its anterior third; with dense and fine punctures on the rest. Scutellum with fine and dense punctures basally; sparser medially; mostly impunctate apically. Metanotum with fine and dense punctures laterally, impunctate line in the middle. Dorso-lateral area of propodeum without impunctate area (mirror) anteriorly; with fine, dense and tight punctures. Dorso-median area of propodeum without protruding projections; with dense, fine and coalescent punctures over its entire surface. Anterior margin of the marginal cell longer than posterior margin. Forewing with three submarginal cells.</p><p>Metasoma (Fig. 82E). T1 with a strong tubercle; with dense, fine and tight punctures over its entire surface. T2 with fine, tight and dense punctures, slightly sparse medially. T3-T6 similarly punctate. S1 raised in the middle, with dense punctures medially. S2 without tubercle; with dense and fine punctures basally and laterally, sparser medially and apically. S3 with sparse punctures medially, more denser laterally. S4-S6 similarly punctate.</p><p>Coloration (Figs 82–84). Head black, ocular sinus often marked with yellow-orange, sometimes tempora. Antennae black. Mesosoma black. Metasoma black, except T2-T3 marked with two yellow spots, sometimes fused; occasionally T4 marked with yellow (mainly in bischoffi subspecies). Pilosity generally black, except in the colored areas in flavifrons subspecies (Fig. 83); in nominal subspecies (Fig. 82), the pilosity on the pronotum, scutum, and apical tergites reddish; in bischoffi subspecies (Fig. 84), only the apical tergites have reddish pilosity. Wings bicolored, yellowish in the cells, dark on the rest.</p><p>Genitalia. See Fig. 31G.</p><p>Distribution. Albania, Algeria, Armenia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Egypt, France (Corsica include) Georgia, Germany, Greece (Creta, Cyclades, Dodecanese Islands include), Hungary, Iraq, Iran, Israel, Italy (Sicily include), Kazakhstan (Atyrau), Kuwait, Macedonia, Malta, Morocco, Netherlands, Portugal, Romania, Russia (Adygea, Bashkortostan, Chechnya, Chelyabinsk, Dagestan, Ingushetia, Kabardino-Balkaria, Kalmykia, Karachay-Cherkessia, Krasnodar, Nizhny Novgorod, North Ossetia-Alania, Penza, Rostov, Samara, Saratov, Stavropol, Ulyanovsk, Vladimir), Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain (Mallorca and Balearic islands include), Switzerland, Syria, Tunisia, Türkiye, Turkmenistan, Ukraine (Guiglia 1938; Betrem 1941; Steinberg 1962; Friese &amp; Muche 1967; Nagy 1967; Muche 1975; Pagliano 1987; Hamon et al. 1995; Osten 2000; Osten 2002; Osten 2005a; Schedl 2006; Ljubomirov 2006; Bogusch 2007; Fallahzadeh &amp; Saghaei 2010; Özbek &amp; Anlaş 2011; Makhan 2012; Juillerat 2013; Samin et al. 2014; Lohrmann &amp; Engel 2015; Olszewski et al. 2016; Ruchin &amp; Artaev 2016; Lelej &amp; Mokrousov 2017; Mokrousov &amp; Lelej 2017; Dvořák &amp; Boščík 2017; Tüzün &amp; Yalniz 2018; Gadallah &amp; Brothers 2020; Baldock et al. 2020; Örgel et al. 2020; Tischendorf &amp; Dieterich 2020; Verheyde et al. 2021; Demetriou et al. 2021; Verheyde et al. 2023) (Fig. 85). Tischendorf &amp; Dieterich (2020) report an observation in Germany (Hesse) and discuss the possible acclimatization and establishment in the country.</p><p>Biology. The biology of Regiscolia maculata has been extensively studied (Passerini 1840, 1841; Lepeletier 1845; Fabre 1891; Schumacher 1917; Berland 1925; Cros 1929; Carrière 1990, 2006; Vereecken &amp; Carrière 2003). The species is known to parasitize the following species: Anoxia villosa (Fabricius, 1781), Lucanus cervus (Linnaeus, 1758), Oryctes nasicornis (Linnaeus, 1758) and Polyphylla fullo (Linnaeus, 1758) (Vereecken &amp; Carrière 2003) .</p><p>Remarks. Three subspecies of Regiscolia maculata are recognized (Osten 2000, 2005b): ssp. flavifrons (Fabricius, 1775) from Italy to Portugal (Figs 80, 83), ssp. bischoffi (Micha, 1927) from Cyprus (Figs 81, 84) and ssp. maculata (Drury, 1773) from Southwest France and eastern Mediterranean (except Cyprus) (Figs 79, 82). These subspecies are geographically distinct despite some areas of overlap (Osten 2000) and are based mainly on the pilosity coloration (Osten 2000). Piek (1986) and Piek &amp; Carrière (1990) reported the presence of atypical specimens of ssp. flavifrons in southeastern France, showing partially reddish pilosity on the metasoma, similar to that observed in the nominal subspecies.According to them, the coexistence of both forms within the flavifrons population suggests there is no clear geographical separation, thus calling into question the validity of these subspecies. They propose using the term “variation” to distinguish between the two forms ( flavifrons and maculata). They also observed a possible correlation between low winter temperatures and the appearance of reddish-haired specimens in the southeastern French population (Piek &amp; Carrière 1990). However, although this hypothesis is intriguing, it should be approached with caution, as specimens from the eastern Mediterranean also show reddish pilosity on the abdomen despite not experiencing harsh winters.</p><p>According to Schmid-Egger &amp; Schmidt (2021), DNA barcoding of specimens representing the three subspecies ( maculata, flavifrons, and bischoffi) seems not reveal any genetic sub-clustering. DNA barcoding therefore does not support their subspecies status, and considering their partially overlapping distribution, the current subspecies most likely represent geographically based colour variation. Further studies are needed to clarify the validity of these subspecies.</p><p>Numerous subspecies, forms, and varieties have been described: Triscolia maculata barbara Micha 1927, Triscolia maculata form verticalis Micha 1927, Triscolia maculata sicula Micha 1927, Scolia (Triscolia) maculata flavifrons var. funerea Guiglia 1928, Scolia (Triscolia) flavifrons var. nigra Dusmet 1930, Megascolia (Regiscolia) flavifrons form vespertina Nagy 1967, and Megascolia (Regiscolia) flavifrons form vernalis Nagy 1967. These taxa are distinguished solely by a few characters related to the coloration of the body and pilosity, such as the extent of black pigmentation on the head in Triscolia maculata barbara Micha 1927 and Triscolia maculata sicula Micha 1927 . However, these coloration characteristics are variable within populations of R. maculata . Consequently, the taxa Triscolia maculata barbara Micha 1927, syn. nov., Triscolia maculata form verticalis Micha 1927, syn. nov., Triscolia maculata sicula Micha 1927, syn. nov., Scolia (Triscolia) maculata flavifrons var. funerea Guiglia 1928, syn. nov., Scolia (Triscolia) flavifrons var. nigra Dusmet 1930, syn. nov., Megascolia (Regiscolia) flavifrons form vespertina Nagy 1967, syn. nov., and Megascolia (Regiscolia) flavifrons form vernalis Nagy 1967, syn. nov., are synonymized with R. maculata .</p><p>The three valid subspecies can be distinguished using the following key.</p><p>Key to subspecies of Regiscolia maculata</p><p>Females and males</p><p>1. Metasoma with entirely black pilosity (Figs 80, 83). Mainly North Africa and western Mediterranean....... ssp. flavifrons (Fabricius)</p><p>- Metasoma with reddish pilosity on apical tergites (Figs 79, 81, 82, 84). Mainly eastern Mediterranean, plus southwest France ................................................................................................... 2</p><p>2. Mesosoma with entirely black pilosity (Figs 81, 84). T4 often marked with yellow (in male). Cyprus .... ssp. bischoffi (Micha)</p><p>- Mesosoma with reddish pilosity on pronotum, scutum partially or entirely, sometimes on the scutellum, metanotum and propodeum (Figs 79, 82). T4 generally black. Eastern Mediterranean (except Cyprus) and southwest France .................................................................................................. ssp. maculata (Drury)</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03B687D7FFC0FFCD63E40845FA05D065	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		MagnoliaPress via Plazi	Castagnet, Jean-Baptiste;Cabon, Flavien	Castagnet, Jean-Baptiste, Cabon, Flavien (2025): Review of the genus Megascolia Betrem, 1928 (Hymenoptera, Scoliidae). Zootaxa 5700 (1): 1-127, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5700.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5700.1.1
03B687D7FFF4FFC963E40902FA05D5F7.text	03B687D7FFF4FFC963E40902FA05D5F7.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Regiscolia rubida (Gribodo 1893) Castagnet & Cabon 2025	<div><p>Regiscolia rubida (Gribodo, 1893), comb. nov.</p><p>(Figs 86–88)</p><p>Scolia (Triscolia) haemorrhoidalis: Saussure 1880: 18; Bingham 1897: 77 (misdetermination). Triscolia haemorrhoidalis var. rubida Gribodo, 1893: 151 (holotype, ♀, Turkestan, deposited in MSNG, Italy, not examined). Scolia ( Scolia, Triscolia) flavifrons var. rubida: Dalla-Torre 1897: 160. Triscolia rubida: Micha 1927: 133. Triscolia rubida rubida: Micha 1927: 133–134. Scolia ( Triscolia sectio Triscolia) haemorrhoidalis: Betrem 1928: 229 (synonymised rubida Gribodo, 1893 with haemorrhoidalis</p><p>Fabricius, 1787). Scolia (Triscolia) rubida: Betrem 1941: 118; Steinberg 1962: 119; Nagy 1965: 58; Muche 1975: 256; Grunberg 2002: 224–225</p><p>(resurrect rubida as valid species). Megascolia (Regiscolia) rubida: Betrem &amp; Bradley 1964: 443; Nagy 1967: 222; Bradley 1973a: 286; Osten 1992: 98; Osten</p><p>1999a: 424; Osten 2000: 546, 551, 557; Timokhanov &amp; Kazenas 2000: 226; Gupta &amp; Jonathan 2003: 142; Osten et al.</p><p>2003: 370; Osten 2005a: 1455, 1462; Osten 2005b: 42; Milko &amp; Kazenas 2005: 38; Kumar &amp; Rajmohana 2017: 5. Megascolia rubida: Nagy 1967: 222. Zazilayza rubida: Argaman 1996: 188.</p><p>Material examined. Kazakhstan. Almaty Region. 1♂, Chundzha, 2.VI.2024 (C. Schmid-Egger leg.) [CJBC]. Turkistan region . 1♀ 1♂, Turkistan, 12.VI.2018 (local coll. leg.) [CJBC]. Kyzylorda region . 1♂, Kyzylorda, 1.V.2014 (local coll. leg.) [CJBC] . Pakistan. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. 1♂, Balakot, 12.IV.2025 (C. Schmid-Egger leg.) [CJBC] .</p><p>Uzbekistan. Kachkadaria province. 2♀ 2♂, Karchi, 3.VI.2015 (local coll. leg.) [CJBC]. Surkhandary province . 2♂, Machai, 5.V.2012 (V. Gromenko leg.) [CJBC] . Tadjikistan. Districts under Tajikistan Central Government Jurisdiction region. 2♀ 1♂, Navobod, 25.V.2019 (local coll. leg.) [CJBC]; 3♀, Sangvor, 4.VII.2021 (local coll. leg.) [CJBC]. Khatlon region. 1♀, Vose, 29.V.2013 (local coll. leg.) [CJBC] .</p><p>Diagnosis. Regiscolia rubida (Gribodo, 1893), comb. nov. differs from R. alecto (Smith, 1858), comb. nov., R. azurea (Christ, 1791), comb. nov., R. capitata (Fabricius, 1804), comb. nov. and R. fulvifrons (Saussure, 1855), comb. nov. in females by having the apical part of scutum with a dense, uninterrupted band of punctures along the scutellum; the dorso-median area of propodeum short, approximately equal to the length of the metanotum; and the basal part of T2 with sparse punctures similar to those of the median part. In contrast, in R. azurea, R. capitata and R. fulvifrons, the apical part of scutum has sparser punctures medially or is impunctate, thus not forming a continuous band of punctures along the scutellum; the dorso-median area of propodeum is distinctly longer than the metanotum; and the basal part of T2 has finer and denser punctures forming a band, the median part being sparsely and coarsely punctate. In males, R. rubida differs by having the area around and between the posterior ocelli with very dense, tight, fine, and agglomerated punctures; and the length of the dorso-median area of propodeum nearly equal to that of the metanotum. In contrast, in R. azurea, R. alecto and R. fulvifrons, the area around and between the posterior ocelli has sparser and coarser punctures; and the length of the dorso-median area of propodeum is significantly greater than that of the metanotum. R. rubida is easily distinguished from R. capitata in males by having the frons and vertex distinctly more punctate. Whereas in R. capitata, the frons and vertex are almost entirely impunctate. In both sexes, the wings of R. bidens are bicolored, yellowish in the cells and dark elsewhere. Whereas in R. azurea, R. alecto, R. capitata, R. fulvifrons and R. splendida, the wings are entirely dark.</p><p>R. rubida differs from R. bidens (Linnaeus, 1767), comb. nov. and R. maculata (Drury, 1773), comb. nov. in females by having the pronotum with a large impunctate area close to tegula; and the basal part of scutum with dense and coarse punctures. In contrast in R. bidens and R. maculata, the pronotum and the basal part of scutum have finer, tighter and denser punctures.</p><p>R. rubida differs from R. almoraensis in females by having the pronotum with a large impunctate area close the tegula. Whereas in R. almoraensis, the pronotum is covered with coarser and sparser punctures.</p><p>R. rubida differs from R. bidens in males by having the upper margin of marginal cell significantly longer than the lower margin. Whereas in R. bidens, the upper margin of marginal cell is shorter or almost equal to the lower margin.</p><p>R. rubida differs from R. maculata (Drury, 1773), comb. nov. in males by having the basal third of scutum with sparse, coarse, and tight punctures; and the dorso-median area of propodeum with two protruding projections prolonged towards the rear. In contrast in R. maculata, the basal third of scutum has denser, finer, and coalescent punctures; and the dorso-median area of propodeum does not have protruding projections prolonged towards the rear.</p><p>R. rubida differs from R. almoraensis (Gupta &amp; Jonathan, 2003), comb. nov. in males by having the wings bicolored, yellowish in the cells, dark on the rest; the integument almost reddish-brown; the pilosity entirely ferruginous; and the T2 and T3 marked with yellow. Whereas in R. almoraensis, the wings are almost entirely black, the yellowish area restricted to the costal margin near the marginal cell; the integument are predominantly black; the pilosity is entirely black; and the T3 is marked with orange-reddish, sometimes T4 weakly.</p><p>Redescription. Female (Fig. 86). Length 30–35 mm.</p><p>Head (Figs 86B, C). Mandibles long and slender. Median mandibular tooth small and prominent, sometimes blunt. Anterior margin of clypeus rounded, without prominent lateral lobes; disk of clypeus not-domed and punctate apically and laterally; impunctate in the middle. Fissura frontalis distinct, ending in the frontal pit. Frons with numerous and dense punctures. Vertex densely punctate.</p><p>Mesosoma (Fig. 86D). Pronotum with fine, tight and dense punctures, near the excavation of pronotum with a large impunctate surface. Tegula with coarse and sparse punctures basally and along scutum. Scutum with coarse and dense punctures on the basal third; with sparse and coarse punctures laterally; largely impunctate medially; with a fine, dense, and continuous band of punctures apically. Scutellum with fine and dense punctures basally, medially and apically, with sparse and coarse punctures laterally. Metanotum with fine, tight and dense punctures, with a thin impunctate central band. Dorso-lateral area propodeum with very dense, tight and fine punctures, without an impunctate area (mirror) anteriorly. Dorso-median area of propodeum with two protruding projections prolonged towards the rear; approximately equal to the length of the metanotum; with very fine, tight dense punctures. Upper plate of metapleuron impunctate on its lower half, finely and densely punctate on the rest. Anterior margin of marginal cell longer than or equal to posterior margin. Forewing with three submarginal cells. Hind tibiae spurs of similar length.</p><p>Metasoma (Fig. 86E). T1 with a tubercle depressed in the middle; finely and sparsely punctate at base revealing a small impunctate area in its center; very densely and finely punctate laterally and apically. T2 with scattered and coarse punctures basally and medially; with very fine, tight and dense punctures apically. T3 almost entirely impunctate basally and medially; with dense, tight and fine punctures apically. T4 to T5 with similar punctation. S1 with dense and fine punctures laterally, mostly impunctate on the rest. S2 without distinct tubercle; with fine and dense punctures basally; with sparse and coarse punctures medially; with dense and fine punctures, in the middle with sparse punctures apically. S3 to S5 with similar punctation.</p><p>Coloration (Fig. 86). Most of the integument with reddish-brown tinge. Head marked with yellow on frons, vertex and tempora; ocellar region yellow-orange.Antennae orange-reddish. Mesosoma with scutellum often marked with yellow-orange and sometimes metanotum. Metasoma with T2 and T3 with two yellow spots more or less fused. Legs reddish. Wings bicolored, yellowish in the cells, dark on the rest. Pilosity tawny, except in the colored areas.</p><p>Male (Fig. 87). Length 24–28 mm.</p><p>Head (Figs 87B, C). Inner margin of mandible with three distinct tooth (third apical tooth sometimes blunt and barely visible). Disk of clypeus with sparse punctures apically, dense and coarse punctures basally and laterally. Fissura frontalis visible reaching anterior ocelli. Frontal cross-furrow visible, its extension reaching the upper part of the ocular sinus. Frontal spatium with dense, tight and fine punctures. Anterior ocelli depressed, larger than posterior ocelli. Frons with dense, fine and tight punctures, impunctate in front of the anterior ocellus. Vertex with fine, tight and dense punctures, particularly around the posterior ocelli.</p><p>Mesosoma (Fig. 87D). Pronotum with dense, tight and fine punctures over its entire surface, inter-points spaces almost coalescent. Tegula with dense and coarse punctures anteriorly and along the scutum, largely impunctate near the wing. Scutum with fine, tight and dense punctures in its basal third; with dense and fine punctures on the rest. Scutellum with fine and dense punctures basally, sparser medially and mostly impunctate apically. Metanotum with fine and dense punctures laterally, impunctate line in the middle. Dorso-lateral area of propodeum without impunctate area (mirror) anteriorly; with fine, dense and tight punctures. Dorso-median area of propodeum with two protruding projections prolonged towards the rear; with very fine, tight dense punctures. Anterior margin of the marginal cell longer than posterior margin. Forewing with three submarginal cells.</p><p>Metasoma (Fig. 87E). T1 with a strong tubercle; with dense, fine and tight punctures over its entire surface. T2 with fine, tight and dense punctures, slightly sparse medially. T3-T6 similarly punctate. S1 raised in the middle, with dense punctures medially. S2 without tubercle; with dense and fine punctures basally and laterally, sparser medially and apically. S3 with sparse punctures medially, more denser laterally. S4-S6 similarly punctate.</p><p>Coloration (Fig. 87). Head reddish-brown, ocular sinus often yellowish-orange, sometimes tempora. Antennae orange-reddish except for the scape and pedicel brown. Mesosoma reddish-brown. Metasoma reddish-brown, T2- T3 marked by two yellow spots, generally fused. Wings bicolored, yellowish in the cells, dark on the rest. Pilosity tawny on head, pronotum, scutum, scutellum and last tergites; black on metanotum, propodeum and T1; yellow in the colored areas.</p><p>Genitalia. See Fig. 31H.</p><p>Distribution. Afghanistan, India (Himachal Pradesh, Jammu, Kashmir), Kazakhstan (Almaty, Jambyl, Kyzylorda, Turkestan), Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan (Steinberg 1962; Timokhanov &amp; Kazenas 2000; Osten 2000, 2005a; Osten et al. 2003; Gupta &amp; Jonathan 2003; Milko &amp; Kazenas 2005; Kumar &amp; Rajmohana 2017) (Fig. 88). Steinberg (1962) cites M. rubida from Iran, with the locality given as Kuli-Tukai. This record is also mentioned by Osten et al. (2003), though with some doubt, as the locality Kuli-Tukai now appears to be untraceable. Pending further data concerning Iran, this record is not considered here. Nagy (1965) cites this species from Romania (Tulcea), but this record appears to be doubtful and is also not considered here.</p><p>Biology. According to Timokhanov &amp; Kazenas (2000), females of this species parasitize the larvae of Oryctes spp. ( Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae). As specified by Milko &amp; Kazenas (2005), in Kazakhstan R. rubida is found in habitats of Oryctes nasicornis punctipennis Motschulsky, 1860, where dead trees and decaying stumps are present.</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03B687D7FFF4FFC963E40902FA05D5F7	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		MagnoliaPress via Plazi	Castagnet, Jean-Baptiste;Cabon, Flavien	Castagnet, Jean-Baptiste, Cabon, Flavien (2025): Review of the genus Megascolia Betrem, 1928 (Hymenoptera, Scoliidae). Zootaxa 5700 (1): 1-127, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5700.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5700.1.1
03B687D7FFF1FFD463E40BCCFA05D56C.text	03B687D7FFF1FFD463E40BCCFA05D56C.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Regiscolia splendida (Saussure 1858) Castagnet & Cabon 2025	<div><p>Regiscolia splendida (Saussure, 1858), comb. nov.</p><p>(Figs 89–92)</p><p>Scolia (Lacosi) splendida Saussure, 1858: 213 (holotype, ♂, Asie, deposited in MNHN, France, not examined).</p><p>Scolia (Discolia) splendida: Saussure &amp; Sichel 1864: 116.</p><p>Scolia ( Solia, Triscolia) splendida: Dalla-Torre 1897: 183.</p><p>Scolia ( Triscolia sectio Triscolia) wetterensis Betrem, 1928: 237 (synonymised by Betrem &amp; Bradley 1964: 443).</p><p>Scolia ( Triscolia sectio Triscolia) wetterensis floresensis Betrem, 1928: 238.</p><p>Scolia splendida: Betrem 1928: 338–339.</p><p>Megascolia (Regiscolia) splendida splendida: Betrem &amp; Bradley 1964: 443; Bradley 1974: 470; Osten 2005b: 44.</p><p>Megascolia (Regiscolia) splendida floresensis: Betrem &amp; Bradley 1964: 443; Osten 2005b: 44.</p><p>Type material examined. Holotype of Scolia ( Triscolia sectio Triscolia) wetterensis (RMNH), ♂, [white labels] ‘ Scolia wetterensis Betr Holotype det. Betrem’, ‘K. Schädler/ Wetter/ acg[?].1898’, [red label] ‘Holotype’ (Fig. 89).</p><p>Holotype of Scolia ( Triscolia sectio Triscolia) wetterensis floresensis (RMNH), ♂, [white labels] ‘ Scolia wetterensis subspec florensis Betr Holotype det. Betrem’, ‘H. Ten Kate/ O. Flores / 1891’, [red label] ‘Holotype’ (Fig. 90).</p><p>Diagnosis. Regiscolia splendida (Saussure, 1858), comb. nov. differs from R. alecto (Smith, 1858), comb. nov., R. almoraensis (Gupta &amp; Jonathan, 2003), comb. nov., R. azurea (Christ, 1791), comb. nov., R. bidens (Linnaeus, 1767), comb. nov., R. capitata (Fabricius, 1804), comb. nov., R. fulvifrons (Saussure, 1855), comb. nov., R. maculata (Drury, 1773), comb. nov. and R. rubida (Gribodo, 1893), comb. nov. in both sexes (see remarks section for the female diagnosis) by having the mesosoma marked with orange on pronotum and scutum (except in ssp. floresensis). In constrast in R. alecto, R. almoraensis, R. azurea, R. bidens, R. capitata, R. fulvifrons, R. maculata, and R. rubida, the mesosoma is entirely melanistic (sometimes only scutellum with yellowish).</p><p>Moreover, R. splendida differs from R. almoraensis, R. bidens, R. maculata, and R. rubida, in both sexes, by having the wings entirely dark. Whereas in R. almoraensis, R. bidens, R. maculata, and R. rubida, the wings are bicolored, yellowish in the cells and dark elsewhere (in R. almoraensis the wings are almost entirely black).</p><p>The ssp. florensis, known only from the male, is distinguished from R. alecto by having the metasoma marked with orange-yellow on the T3. Whereas in R. alecto, the mesosoma and metasoma are entirely melanistic.</p><p>The ssp. florensis is distinguished from R. azurea in males, by having the pilosity of the metasoma entirely black (yellow in the colored areas). Whereas in R. azurea, the metasoma has red pilosity apically.</p><p>The ssp. florensis is distinguished from R. capitata by having an entirely black mesosoma. Whereas in R. capitata, the mesosoma is marked with yellow on scutellum, metanotum and dorso-median area of propodeum.</p><p>The ssp. florensis is distinguished from R. fulvifrons by having the head being predominantly yellow. Whereas in R. fulvifrons, the head is predominantly black.</p><p>Female. Undescribed (see remarks).</p><p>Redescription. Male (Figs 89, 90). Length 24–28 mm.</p><p>Head (Figs 89C, 90C). Inner margin of mandible with three distinct tooth (third apical tooth sometimes blunt and barely visible). Disk of clypeus with few coarse and dense punctures medially, denser and finer punctures basally and laterally. Frontal spatium with dense, tight and fine punctures. Fissura frontalis barely visible after the frontal spatium, not reaching the anterior ocellus. Frontal cross-furrow barely visible, its extension reaching the upper lobe of the eye. Anterior ocelli depressed, larger than posterior ocelli. Frons with dense and coarse punctures, except in front of anterior ocellus with an impunctate area and between ocular sinus and spatium frontal. Vertex behind the ocelli with dense and coarse punctures.</p><p>Mesosoma (Figs 89A, 90A). Pronotum with dense and fine punctures over its entire surface. Tegula with few coarse punctures anteriorly, with shallow and dense micropunctures on the rest. Scutum with fine and dense punctures basally and laterally; coarse and sparse punctures medially, with impunctate area. Scutellum with fine and dense punctures basally, sparser and coarser medially and mostly impunctate apically. Metanotum with fine and dense punctures laterally, impunctate line in the middle. Dorso-lateral area of propodeum with an impunctate area (mirror); with fine, dense and tight punctures. Dorso-median area of propodeum with fine, tight and dense punctures over its entire surface. Anterior margin of the marginal cell longer than posterior margin. Forewing with three submarginal cells.</p><p>Metasoma (Figs 89A, 90A). T1 with a strong tubercle; very dense and fine punctures laterally and apically; more coarsely and sparsely punctate basally at the level of tubercle. T2 with fine, tight and dense punctures; sparser punctures medially. T3 largely impunctate medially, with dense and fine punctures laterally and apically, less dense and sparse punctures basally. T4-T6 similarly punctate. S1 raised in the middle, with dense punctures. S2 without tubercle; with dense and fine punctures basally and laterally, mostly impunctate medially and apically. S3 with very sparse punctures medially, more denser laterally. S4-S6 similarly punctate.</p><p>Coloration (Figs 89, 90). Clypeus, frons, vertex and tempora yellow-orange, and sometimes frontal area. Mesosoma entirely black in the floresensis subspecies (Fig. 90), with yellow markings on pronotum, entire scutum and scutellum in the nominal subspecies (Fig. 89). Metasoma black, marked with two yellow-orange spots sometimes fused. Wings entirely dark. Pilosity black, yellow in the colored areas.</p><p>Genitalia. Known only from the two type specimens, genitalia have not been examined.</p><p>Distribution. Indonesia (East Nusa Tenggara [Flores, Rote]; Maluku [Wetar]) (Saussure 1858; Betrem 1928) (Fig. 91).</p><p>Biology. Unknown.</p><p>Remarks. The female of Regiscolia splendida is unknown and has never been described. However, photographs published on iNaturalist by Colin Trainor (user “colintrainor”) show an undescribed Regiscolia female, exhibiting a habitus very similar to that of the male of R. splendida (Fig. 92). This observation was made on Rote Island (Rote Ndao Regency, East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia, 10°55’20.1”S 122°50’53.0”E), located near Flores and Wetar. Given the locality and the strong morphological resemblance to the male R. splendida, it is highly likely that this individual represents the undescribed female of this species. Moreover, its distinctive habitus, as in the male of R. splendida, is sufficiently different to avoid confusion with any other known species of Regiscolia . Based on the available photographs, a preliminary description of the habitus can be proposed: frons, vertex, and temples yellow-orange. Mesosoma black, pronotum and scutum (entirely) yellow-orange. Metasoma black, with two yellow-orange spots. Pilosity black, turning yellow-orange in the colored areas. In addition, the following morphological details can be noted: frons and vertex almost impunctate; pronotum with sparse punctures laterally; scutum largely impunctate; T1 with a prominent tubercle.</p><p>Two subspecies of R. splendida are recognized (Betrem &amp; Bradley 1964; Osten 2005b): ssp. splendida (Saussure, 1858) from Wettar and Rote islands (Figs 89, 92) and ssp. floresensis (Betrem, 1928) from Flores island (Fig. 90).</p><p>Key to subspecies of Regiscolia splendida</p><p>(female undescribed)</p><p>1. Mesosoma black (Fig. 90). Flores island................................................ ssp. floresensis (Betrem)</p><p>- Pronotum, scutum and scutellum yellowish-orange (Fig. 89). Wetar, Rote islands.............. ssp. splendida (Saussure)</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03B687D7FFF1FFD463E40BCCFA05D56C	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		MagnoliaPress via Plazi	Castagnet, Jean-Baptiste;Cabon, Flavien	Castagnet, Jean-Baptiste, Cabon, Flavien (2025): Review of the genus Megascolia Betrem, 1928 (Hymenoptera, Scoliidae). Zootaxa 5700 (1): 1-127, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5700.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5700.1.1
