taxonID	type	description	language	source
03D687963E70FFCE77DAFB6E94DF9E87.taxon	materials_examined	Material examined. China: 1 ♀, Chine, Callery 5 – 46, with a hand writing label “ H. de Saussure determin. ” (MNHN); 1 ♂, Ngan Hoú (Anhui), Chine, J. de Joannis, 1901 (MNHN); 1 ♀, 1 ♂, Kout Yang (Guiyang), Kout- Tchéou (Guizhou), 1906, PP Cayalerie & Fortunat (MNHN); 6 ♀, Hang-tcheou (Hangzhou), Chekiang (Zhejiang), 1905, A Pichon (MNHN); 1 ♂, Kiang-Si (Jiangxi), 1875, A David (MNHN); 1 ♀, Kosempo, Formosa, vii. 1917, H Sauter, with a handwritten label “ P. orientalis, Schulthess det. ” Hym- 00611 (SDEI); 1 ♀, Pan'an City, Hue Xi (28 ˚ 59 ' N 120 ˚ 30 ' E), Zhejiang, China, 19. vi. 2012, c 600 m, C van Achterberg (RMNH); 2 ♀, Mt. Nankun (23 ˚ 38 ' N 113 ˚ 52 ' E), c 100 km NE Guangzhou, Guangdong, S. China, 27 – 28. ix. 2011, C van Achterberg (RMNH); 2 ♀, SCAU campus (23 ˚ 9 ' 30 ” N 113 ˚ 21 ' 5 ” E), Guangzhou, Guangdong, S. China, c. 30 m, 4 – 7. vii. 2013, C van Achterberg & HY Chen (RMNH); 2 ♀, Baishuipubu, Yangchun Guangdong, 1. v. 2002, no. 20028351, - 28, ZF Xu (ZJUH); 1 ♀, Mt. Baiyun, Guangzhou, 1. xi. 2003, CT Zhang (NWUM); 2 ♀, Wuyi Farm, Xuwen, Guangdong, 99 m, 20 ˚ 28 ' 21 " N 110 ˚ 08 ' 57 " E, 15. vii. 1987, no. hzs 0700058, - 056 (CATAS); 1 ♀, Guishan, Heyuan, Guangdong, 18. v. 2002, no. 20028514, ZF Xu (ZJUH); 2 ♀, Huatan, Yangchun, Guangdong, 3 – 4. v. 2002, no. 20027827 ~ 8, ZF Xu (ZJUH); 1 ♀, Mt. Nankun, Guangdong, 8. vi. 2002, no. 20028910, ZF Xu (ZJUH); 5 ♀, West Mt. Tianmu, Lin’an, Zhejiang, 4. vi. 2010 (ZJUH); 1 ♀, Baisha (25 ˚ 09 ' 538 ˝ N 116 ˚ 37 ' 435 ˝ E), Shanghang, Fujian, 637 m, 9. iv. 2011, T Li (GSFA); 1 ♂, Quannan, Jiangxi, 2. xii. 2010, SC Li (GSFA); 2 ♀, 2 ♂, Guanshan, Jiangxi, 350 m, 16. ix. 2008, YF Tang (GSFA); 3 ♀, Tuncheng town, Tunchang, Hainan, 139 m, 19 ˚ 19 ' 45 " N 110 ˚ 03 ' 37 " E, 25. viii. 2011, YH Zhong, no. hzs 0700607, - 894, - 886 (CATAS); 1 ♀, Fengmu town, Tunchang, Hainan, 136 m, 19 ˚ 12 ' 49 " N 110 ˚ 00 ' 52 " E, 20. iii. 2009, CM Xing, no. hzs 0700053 (CATAS); 2 ♀, Shankou, Chengmai, Hainan, 30 m, 19 ˚ 41 ' 31 " N 109 ˚ 58 ' 16 " E, 19. iii. 2009, CM Xing, no. hzs 0700054, - 055 (CATAS); 2 ♀, Danzhou, Hainan, 22 – 24. v. 2009, CM. Xing, no. hzs 070052, - 057 (CATAS); 2 ♀, Qiongzhong, Hainan, 16. vii. 2011, WJ. Zhu, 5. viii. 2011, YH Zhong (CATAS).	en	Tan, Jiang-Li, Achterberg, Kees Van, Duan, Mei-Jiao, Chen, Xue-Xin (2014): An illustrated key to the species of subgenus Gyrostoma Kirby, 1828 (Hymenoptera, Vespidae, Polistinae) from China, with discovery of Polistes (Gyrostoma) tenuispunctia Kim, 2001. Zootaxa 3785 (3): 377-399, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3785.3.3
03D687963E70FFCE77DAFB6E94DF9E87.taxon	distribution	Distribution. China (Anhui, Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hainan, Hong Kong, Jiangxi, Jiangsu, Sichuan, Taiwan, Zhejiang); India (Sikkim). (Liu 1937, Lee 1985, Starr 1992, Barthélémy 2008, Carpenter 1996 b)	en	Tan, Jiang-Li, Achterberg, Kees Van, Duan, Mei-Jiao, Chen, Xue-Xin (2014): An illustrated key to the species of subgenus Gyrostoma Kirby, 1828 (Hymenoptera, Vespidae, Polistinae) from China, with discovery of Polistes (Gyrostoma) tenuispunctia Kim, 2001. Zootaxa 3785 (3): 377-399, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3785.3.3
03D687963E71FFC077DAFACD902E9CC7.taxon	materials_examined	Material examined. China: 2 ♂, 1 ♀, Museum Paris, suo du Tché Li, Chine, leg. P. Gaudissart), J. de Joannis, 1812 (MNHN); 1 ♂, 1 ♀, Museum paris, Shanghai, Chine, P. Serre, 1902 (MNHN); 2 ♂, 2 ♀, Museum Paris, Kouyyang, Kouy-Tchéou, P. P. Cavalerie et Fortunat, 1906 (MNHN); 3 ♀, Foochow, China, vi. 1935 (with handwritten numbers 1420, 1644, 1491), MS Yang, photographed by Jiangli Tan, 2012, under Polistes hebraeus Fabr. (RMNH); 5 ♀, handwritten round label: “ Amoy, China, Budding ”, each with a label: “ Polistes hebraeus F. ” (RMNH); 1 ♀, handwritten round label: “ Tibet, Felder ”, with a label: “ Polistes hebraeus F. ” (RMNH); 1 ♀, handwritten long label: “ Polistes hebraeus F., ♀, Ning-po-fo ”, with a label: “ Polistes hebraeus F. ” (RMNH); 1 ♀, Nanking, China, 1923, N. A. Wood, with a handwritten label: “ jadwigae, exch. UMMZ ” (RMNH); 1 ♂, Nanking, China, Fa 11, 1923, N. A. Wood (RMNH); 1 ♀, China, Anders, labelled: Polistes jadwigae Dalla Torre, det. J. v. d. Vecht, 1966 (RMNH); 1 ♀, “ Kipa N. O. Szechuan, Sven Hedins exp. Ctr. Asien, Dr. Hummel ”, “ green label: Riksmuseum Stockholm ”, labelled: Polistes jadwigae D. T., det. J. v. d. Vecht, 1986 (RMNH); 1 ♀, Huajiachi, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 12. vii. 2010, JL Tan (ZJUH); 8 ♀, 4 ♂, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, viii. 2010, JL Tan (ZJUH); 1 ♀, Lincheng, Changxing, Zhejiang, 30. vii. 2010, JL Tan; 1 ♀, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 8. viii. 1981, no. 815124, Y Ma (ZJUH); 1 ♀, Lishui, Zhejiang, 12. vii. 1984, no. 846254, XR Chen (ZJUH); 1 ♀, Changzhu, Quzhou, Zhejiang, 27. v. 1985, no. 850741, LR Shen (ZJUH); 1 ♀, Xikou, Longyou, Zhejiang, viii. 1984, no. 845865, ZH Fu (ZJUH); 1 ♀, Shiwan, Quzhou, Zhejiang, 19. v. 1985, no. 850314, JH He (ZJUH); 1 ♀, Xiamen, Fujian, 26 – 27. v. 1988, no. 883917, Y. Ma (ZJUH); 1 ♂, 5 ♀, Fuzhou, Fujian Agricultural and Forestry University, 13. x. 2011, LJ Cai (NWUM); 6 ♀, Panpu, Meicheng, Qianshan, Anhui, 536 m, 2. iii. 2010, GQ Zhang (GSFA); 2 ♀, Mt. Tianzhu, Qianshan, Anhui, 10. iii. 2011, ML Sheng (GSFA); 1 ♀, Yiyang, Jiangxi, 5. v. 1981 (GSFA); 1 ♀, Shenyang, Liaoning, 17. viii. 2010, L Jiang (NWUM); 10 ♀, 9 ♂, Shenyang, Liaoning, 1. ix. 2011, L Jiang (NWUM); 2 ♂, Xinglong, Liaoning, 9, 11. ix. 1984, Dang & Shu; 1 ♂, Dongyi, Dali, Shaanxi, 1. vii. 1980, (NWAM); 1 ♀, Yulin, Shaanxi, 24. viii. 1976 (NWAM); 1 ♀, Yangling, Shaanxi, 5. v. 1983 (NWAM); 17 ♀, SCAU campus (23 ˚ 9 ' 30 ” N 113 ˚ 21 ' 5 ” E), Guangzhou, Guangdong, S. China, c. 30 m, 4 – 7. vii. 2013, C van Achterberg & HY Chen (RMNH). Vietnam: 1 ♀, Hanoi, Indochina, v. Demange, iv – v. 1917, largely yellow (RMNH). Malaysia: 1 ♀, Balabak Island, near Borneo, labelled: “ Museum Leiden, Polistes jadwigae D. T.?, det. J. v. d. Vecht, no. 23, ex. J. v. d. Vecht ” (RMNH). Japan: 1 ♀, Gribodo Yokohama, Japan (RMNH); 2 ♀, Japan, 8. v. 1961, L. Eisner (RMNH); 1 ♀, Giappone Pipitx, 82, with a label: “ Polistes jadwigae DT. ”, Det. J. v. d. Vecht, 1959 (RMNH); 1 ♀, R. van Veon, Kioe Sioe, Fukuoka, Japan, vi. 1945 (RMNH); 1 ♂, Hassett, Japan (handwritten round label), with two similar labels: “ Polistes jadwigae DT. ”, Det. J. v. d. Vecht, 1959 ” (RMNH); 1 ♀, Hassett, Japan (handwritten round label), with a handwritten label: “ Polistes hebraeus F. (RMNH); 1 ♀, Japan, Natamatsu, 31. v. 1908, Museum Paris, Exemplaire Comm, á M. v. d. Vecht (RMNH); 3 ♀, 1 ♂, v. Siebold, Japan. (RMNH) Ins. 591478, 591497, 591586, 591587, each with a handwritten label: “ Polistes hebaeus F. (RMNH); 1 ♀, Kadena A. F. B., Okinawa, 7. vi. 1962, S. M. Fullerton, labelled: Polistes jadwigae Dalla Torre, det. J. v. d. Vecht, 1979, and a handwritten label: “ okinawensis ” (RMNH); 1 ♀, Kadena A. F. B., Okinawa, 7. vi. 1962, SM Fullerton, with a label: Polistes okinawensis Mats + Uch., det. J. v. d. Vecht, 1963 (RMNH). French Polynesia: 2 ♀, Rikiten Isld., 16. xii. 1934, Crocke exped. Acc. 33813, Museum Leiden ex J. v. d. Vecht, labelled: Polistes jadwigae Dalla Torre, det. J. v. d. Vecht, 1979 (RMNH).	en	Tan, Jiang-Li, Achterberg, Kees Van, Duan, Mei-Jiao, Chen, Xue-Xin (2014): An illustrated key to the species of subgenus Gyrostoma Kirby, 1828 (Hymenoptera, Vespidae, Polistinae) from China, with discovery of Polistes (Gyrostoma) tenuispunctia Kim, 2001. Zootaxa 3785 (3): 377-399, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3785.3.3
03D687963E71FFC077DAFACD902E9CC7.taxon	discussion	Remarks. It is a common species widely distributed in China. It is not easy to separate the females on morphological characteristics from P. rothneyi without having males. However, the character of body colour generally works well: in P. jokahamae the body is black, with orange yellow markings and with reddish brown patches along the margin of markings especially along the bands of second to sixth metasomal tergites; in P. rothneyi the body is generally black with yellow markings. The stripes on the mesoscutum vary from narrow to wide. Generally the longitudinal yellow stripes on the propodeum present in the specimens from southern China (Fig. 18 C – D), while almost entirely absent in the specimens from northern China (Fig. 18 A – B). Some specimens especially females in the collections of MNHN and RMNH labelled as Polistes hebraeus Fabricius are misidentified. Liu (1937) listed P. macaensis var. perkinsii Kohl and P. jokahamae Radoszkowski. Lee (1985) included P. jokahamae, P. jadwigae and P. hebraeus, however, only based on minor colour differences according to the key. His identifications need to be reconfirmed. We concur with the synonymies listed by Carpenter (1996) and Kojima & Hagiwara (1998).	en	Tan, Jiang-Li, Achterberg, Kees Van, Duan, Mei-Jiao, Chen, Xue-Xin (2014): An illustrated key to the species of subgenus Gyrostoma Kirby, 1828 (Hymenoptera, Vespidae, Polistinae) from China, with discovery of Polistes (Gyrostoma) tenuispunctia Kim, 2001. Zootaxa 3785 (3): 377-399, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3785.3.3
03D687963E71FFC077DAFACD902E9CC7.taxon	distribution	Distribution. China (Anhui, Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Henan, Hebei, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Jilin, Shaanxi, Sichuan, Shanghai, Zhejiang, Hong Kong, Taiwan); India; Japan; Korea; Malaysia; Mongolia; Society Islands: Bora, Tahiti; Tuamotu Archipelago; introduced into Hawaii; Vietnam. (Lee 1985; Barthélémy 2008, Carpenter, 1996 b).	en	Tan, Jiang-Li, Achterberg, Kees Van, Duan, Mei-Jiao, Chen, Xue-Xin (2014): An illustrated key to the species of subgenus Gyrostoma Kirby, 1828 (Hymenoptera, Vespidae, Polistinae) from China, with discovery of Polistes (Gyrostoma) tenuispunctia Kim, 2001. Zootaxa 3785 (3): 377-399, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3785.3.3
03D687963E7FFFC377DAFBC695789FF7.taxon	materials_examined	Material examined. Indonesia: 1 ♀, without label, head broken, legs lost (Vespa hebraeus, type of Fabricius, coll. Kiel, ZMUC). China: 2 ♀, with a handwritten label “ macaensis Fab ”, heads and legs lost (type of Vespa macaensis Fab., 1793, coll. Kiel, ZMUC); 1 ♀, handwritten round label: “ Ningbo, China, Felder ”, labelled: “ Polistes hebraeus F. ” (RMNH); 1 ♀, Tibet, China, a handwritten round label (RMNH); 1 ♀, Xiaoliang, Dianbai, Guangdong, 10. iv. 1983, YL Zhang (NWAU); 7 ♀, Baisha, Hainan, 19 ˚ 13 ' 15 " N 109 ˚ 26 ' 54 " E, 202 m, 21. vii. 2011, YH Zhong, no. hzs 0700433 – 438, - 440 (CATAS); 2 ♀, Songtao Water Reservoir, Hainan, 17. vii. 2002, 20029565, ZF Xu (ZJUH); 1 ♀, Qifang town, Baisha, Hainan, 202 m, 19 ˚ 18 ' 22 " N 109 ˚ 18 ' 00 " E, 21. vii. 2011, YH Zhong, no. hzs 0700431 (CATAS); 1 ♀, Xiqing Farm, Danzhou, Hainan, 132 m, 19 ˚ 33 ' 03 " N 109 ˚ 28 ' 00 " E, 19. v. 2009, CM. Xing, no. hzs 070043 (CATAS); 1 ♀, Yangjiang Farm, Qiongzhong, Hainan, 170 m, 19 ˚ 17 ' 49 " N 109 ˚ 45 ' 10 " E, 22. vii. 2011, YH Zhong, no. hzs 0700432 (CATAS); 1 ♀, Xipei Farm, Danzhou, Hainan, 245 m, 19 ˚ 21 ' 40 " N 109 ˚ 27 ' 31 " E, 2. viii. 2011, YH Zhong, no. hzs 0700563 (CATAS); 1 ♀, Wuyi Farm, Xuwen, Guangdong, 99 m, 20 ˚ 28 ' 21 " N 110 ˚ 08 ' 57 " E, 10. viii. 1981, no. hzs 070038 (CATAS). India: 1 ♂, Assam, 1930 (RMNH), det. P. o. hebraeus Fabricius, 1787.	en	Tan, Jiang-Li, Achterberg, Kees Van, Duan, Mei-Jiao, Chen, Xue-Xin (2014): An illustrated key to the species of subgenus Gyrostoma Kirby, 1828 (Hymenoptera, Vespidae, Polistinae) from China, with discovery of Polistes (Gyrostoma) tenuispunctia Kim, 2001. Zootaxa 3785 (3): 377-399, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3785.3.3
03D687963E7FFFC377DAFBC695789FF7.taxon	discussion	Remarks. This species can be easily identified by having the mesopleuron weakly and sparsely punctate and the metasoma of the male with long and apically spatulate terminal apophyses. However, it is hard to separate the more melanistic type of Polistes hebraeus apart from P. jokahamae only on base of its colour pattern; frequently Chinese female specimens in MNHN and RMNH are misidentified. No P. olivaceus specimens from China with P. o. hebraeus colour pattern were available, but recorded from China by Liu (1937) and Lee (1982, 1985); considering its occurrence in India (Assam), its presence in China is likely.	en	Tan, Jiang-Li, Achterberg, Kees Van, Duan, Mei-Jiao, Chen, Xue-Xin (2014): An illustrated key to the species of subgenus Gyrostoma Kirby, 1828 (Hymenoptera, Vespidae, Polistinae) from China, with discovery of Polistes (Gyrostoma) tenuispunctia Kim, 2001. Zootaxa 3785 (3): 377-399, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3785.3.3
03D687963E7FFFC377DAFBC695789FF7.taxon	distribution	Distribution. China (Guangdong, Hainan, Zhejiang, Tibet, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macao); Madagascar; Reunion; Mauritius; Tanzania (Zanzibar); Seychelles (Ameirantes); Chagos Archipelago; Egypt; Oman; Iran; Afghanistan; India; Sri Lanka; Nepal; Myanmar;? Japan; Philippines; Vietnam; Laos; Cambodia; Thailand; Malaysia; Singapore; Indonesia; Marianas; New Caledonia; Fiji; Tonga; Samoa; Society Is; Tuamotu; Marquesas. Introduced in Chile, USA (Hawaii), Australia and New Zealand (Carpenter 1996 b).	en	Tan, Jiang-Li, Achterberg, Kees Van, Duan, Mei-Jiao, Chen, Xue-Xin (2014): An illustrated key to the species of subgenus Gyrostoma Kirby, 1828 (Hymenoptera, Vespidae, Polistinae) from China, with discovery of Polistes (Gyrostoma) tenuispunctia Kim, 2001. Zootaxa 3785 (3): 377-399, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3785.3.3
03D687963E7CFFC477DAFA86928D9EA7.taxon	materials_examined	Material examined. Southwest plateau group (Fig. 20): f. rothneyi: India: ♀, lectotype, Khasia Hills (P. rufolineatus Cameron, BM, type, no. 18.895 a) Cam. coll. 1901 - 137; 1 ♀, Shillong, 6. viii. 1903, 5.02 (RMNH); f. tibetanus: China: 1 ♀, paratype, Tibet, 1954 (RMNH).? f. A: 1 ♀, Deqing, Yunnan, 28 km SE (28.315 ˚ N, 99.1252 ˚ E), 21. vi. 2009, Blank, Liston & Taeger (SDEI). 2 ♀, Fugong, Yunnan, 24. viii. 2003, 20046637 - 8, Q Li (ZJUH), 4 ♀, Ninglangningli, Lijiang, Yunnan, no. 20046553, - 6554, - 6556, - 6557, 23. viii. 2003, Q Li (ZJUH); 1 ♀, id., but 22. viii. 2004, no. 20046541, ZS Geng (ZJUH).	en	Tan, Jiang-Li, Achterberg, Kees Van, Duan, Mei-Jiao, Chen, Xue-Xin (2014): An illustrated key to the species of subgenus Gyrostoma Kirby, 1828 (Hymenoptera, Vespidae, Polistinae) from China, with discovery of Polistes (Gyrostoma) tenuispunctia Kim, 2001. Zootaxa 3785 (3): 377-399, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3785.3.3
03D687963E7CFFC477DAFA86928D9EA7.taxon	distribution	Distribution. China (Yunnan, Tibet); India (Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Sikkim, Bihar, Assam, Meghalaya); Nepal. (Carpenter 1996 b) Common yellow-black group (Fig. 21): f. hainanensis (Hainan): China: ♀, paratype, Nodoa, Hainan, vi – viii. 1935, L. Gressitt (RMNH). 1 ♀, Baisha (19 ˚ 13 ' N, 109 ˚ 26 ' E), Hainan, 202 m, 21. vii. 2011, no. hzs 0700439, YH Zhong (CATAS); 1 ♀, Nanluo Village (19 ˚ 47 ' N, 109 ˚ 63 ' E), Nanyang, Hainan, 202 m, 6. vii. 2011, no. 0 7008, WJ Zhu (CATAS); 2 ♀, Jianfenling Nature Reserve (18 ˚ 44 ' 38 ” N 108 ˚ 50 ' 36 ” E), Hainan, 980 – 1150 m, 13 – 14. vii. 2013, C van Achterberg (RMNH). f. grahami: China: ♂, paratype, no. 663, Peiping, Hepei, China, 193, Liu (RMNH); 9 ♀, paratypes, Kuatun, Fukien, iii. 1946, Tschung, Sen (RMNH); 1 ♀, 1 ♂, Museum Paris, Kouy-chéou, Rég. de Pin-fa, Père Cavalerie, 1909 (MNHN); 1 ♀, Museum Paris, Kouyyang, Kouy-Tchéou, PP Cavalerie et Fortunat, 1906 (MNHN); 2 ♀, Tsé-Kou, Yun-Nan (Mgr Soulie), R Oberthür, 1898 (MNHN); 1 ♀, Rainforestry Path, Mt. Wuzhi, Hainan, China, 6. v. 2010, JL Tan (NWUM); 2 ♀, 5 ♂, Quannan, Jiangxi, 1. xii or 27. xi. 2010, SC Li (GSFA); 1 ♂, Yushan, Jiangxi, 1120 m, 20. vii. 1985; 1 ♀, Mt. Tianzhu, Qianshan, Anhui, 10. iii – 11. iv. 2011, ML Sheng (GSFA); 1 ♀, Mt. Gutian, Kaihua, Zhejiang, 1 – 3. vii. 2005, 200604253, XX Chen (ZJUH); 1 ♀, Nanyuechansi Temple, Yixing, Jiangsu, China, 2. viii. 2010, JL Tan (ZJUH); 1 ♀, West Mt. Tianmu, Lin'an, Zhejiang, 7. vii. 2000, 200103816, XX Chen (ZJUH); 1 ♂, Suichang, Zhejiang, 18 – 19. x. 1973, 73057.4, JH He (ZJUH); 1 ♀, S. CHINA: NE of Guangzhou, Nankun Mt. Tree Res. (23 ˚ 40 ' N, 113 ˚ 56 ' E) Guangdong, 24. v. 2012, c. 340 m, C v Achterberg (RMNH); 1 ♀, Dongxianfeng, Dongyang, Zhejiang, 28. vii. 2010, JL Tan & XX Chen (ZJUH); 1 ♀, Mt. Wuyun, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 25. vii. 2010, JL Tan (ZJUH); 1 ♀, Xiangshuwan, Kuankuoshui, Suiyang, Guizhou, 5. vi. 2010, JL Tan (ZJUH); 1 ♀, Mt. Yuhuang, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 24. vii. 2010, JL Tan (ZJUH); 1 ♀, Mt. Tianmu, Lin’an, Zhejiang, 3. vii. 2010, JL. Tan (ZJUH); 2 ♀, Shunxi, Qingliangfeng, Lin’an, Zhejiang, 23. viii. 2013, JL Tan (NWUM); 4 ♀, Mt. Nankun, Guangdong, 8. vi. 2002, no. 20028901, - 8904, - 8906, - 8787, ZF Xu (ZJUH); 6 ♀, Mt. Tai, Tai’an, Shandong, 23. vi. 1997, no. 200011329, - 325, - 336, - 320, - 311, - 245, Q. Li (ZJUH); 1 ♀, Taiyi Palace, Changan, Xi’an, Shaanxi, 25. iv. 2011, GH Wang (NWUM); 1 ♀, Fengyukou, Xi’an, Shaanxi (NWUM); 2 ♀, Guanghuojie, Ningshan, Shaanxi, 2. vii. 2013, JL Tan (NWUM); 14 ♀, Foping (33 ˚ 30 ' N, 107 ˚ 58 ' E), Shaanxi, 31. vii. 2013, JL Tan (NWUM); 1 ♂, Zaoyuan, Yan’an, Shaanxi, 17. x. 2010, JL Tan (NWUM); 1 ♀, 1 ♂, NWU Taoyuan Campus, Xi’an, Shaanxi, 4. ix. 2010, T Zhou (NWUM); 1 ♀, Yichuan, Shaanxi, 9. vii. 1980, YZ Zhang (NWAM); 1 ♂, Liping National Forestry Park, Hanzhong, Shaanxi, 15. x. 2011, JL Tan (NWUM); 1 ♀, Mt. Hua, Shaanxi, v. 1984, GQ Han (NWAM); 5 ♀, 1 ♂, Liyuanping, Mt. Qinling, Shaanxi, 18. viii. 2011, JL Tan (NWUM); 17 ♀, 5 ♂, Jinsixia (33 ˚ 22 ' N, 110 ˚ 33 ' E), Shangnan, Shaanxi, 708 m, 24. vii. 2013, JL Tan (NWUM); 2 ♀, Huishui, Guizhou, 25. vi. 2009, 9. vii. 2009, ZD Li (NWUM); 1 ♀, Qianyang, Guizhou, 18. vi. 2009, PQ Shi (NWUM); 2 ♀, Mt. Dinghu, Guangdong, 17. vii. 1985, YL Zhang (NWAM); 2 ♀, Binzhou, Hunan, YL Zhang, YH Chai (NWAM); 1 ♀, Yuelu Mt. Park (28 ˚ 12 ' N 112 ˚ 56 ' E), Changsha, Hunan, c. 300 m, 14. vi. 2012, C van Achterberg (RMNH). f. gressitti: China: 1 ♀, holotype, Taihanroku, Formosa, 26. iv. 1908, H. Sauter (RMNH); f. yayeyamae (possibly distributed in Ta i w a n) Japan: ♀, paratype, Iriomote Loochoo Island, Southern Ryukyu Is, 22. viii. 1934, L Gressitt (RMNH). Distribution. China (Heilongjiang, Beijing, Tianjin, Shandong, Sichuan, Chongqing, Anhui, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Guangdong, Jiangxi, Fujian, Guizhou, Shaanxi, Yunnan, Hainan, Hebei, Hunan, Taiwan). Northeast group (Fig. 22): China: 1 ♀, Lingxi (west tomb), Shenyang, 27. viii. 2009, S. Li (GSFA); 1 ♂, Lingxi (west tomb), Shenyang, 15. viii. 2008, S. Li (GSFA); 2 ♀, Qianshan, Shenyang, Liaoning, 27. viii. 2006, YM Li, YT Zhang; 1 ♀, 2 ♂, Xinbin, Liaoning, 1. vi. 2009, ML Sheng (GSFA); 1 ♀, Shenyang, Liaoning, 1991; 1 ♀, Kuandian, Liaoning, 7. vi. 2007, SP Sun (GSFA); 1 ♀, Shenyang, Liaoning, 17. viii. 2010, L Jiang (NWUM); 2 ♀, 3 ♂, Siping, Jilin, vi. 1999, BZ Ren; 1 ♀, North Tomb, Shenyang, Liaoning, 18. x. 2010, XB Nie; 1 ♀, Shenyang, Liaoning, 8. x. 2010, SP Sun. f. koreanus: Korea: ♀, paratype, Seoul area, 25. iv. 1954, GW Byers. f. iwatai: Japan: ♀, paratype, Sasayama, Honshu, 16. v. 1953, M Miki from Prof. Iwata; 2 ♂, Japan, 1982, 1983. Distribution. China (Shandong (Weihai), Liaoning, Jilin); Japan; Korea. (van der Vecht 1968).	en	Tan, Jiang-Li, Achterberg, Kees Van, Duan, Mei-Jiao, Chen, Xue-Xin (2014): An illustrated key to the species of subgenus Gyrostoma Kirby, 1828 (Hymenoptera, Vespidae, Polistinae) from China, with discovery of Polistes (Gyrostoma) tenuispunctia Kim, 2001. Zootaxa 3785 (3): 377-399, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3785.3.3
03D687963E7CFFC477DAFA86928D9EA7.taxon	discussion	Remarks. P. rothneyi is easily confused with the closely allied species P. olivaceus, P. jokahamae and P. tenuispunctia. It is a polytypic species with a very interesting variable colour pattern. Van der Vecht (1968) treated them as 16 subspecies and two uncertain? subspecies A and B. Das & Gupta (1989) added one. Even though, these more than 17 colour forms still could not cover all the variation. Among them, seven “ subspecies ”, i. e. koreanus, tibetanus, gressitti, hainanensis, grahami,? subspecies A and B, are recorded from China. P. yayeyamae is possibly also distributed in Taiwan. The colour differences between grahami, hainanensis and gressitti, are very small and mainly related to the colour of the pronotum and the first metasomal tergite. The colour forms grahami and hainanensis overlap in Hainan and it is better to unite these colour forms. Even within f. grahami there are two colour patterns (mesoscutum with four stripes or two stripes) and are sympatric in China. The colour pattern of some specimens collected in Yunnan intergrades f. rothneyi and f. tibetanus having four reddish brown stripes on the mesoscutum but the first tergite mostly black (Fig. 19). However, one specimen collected in Yunnan (no. 20046541) has the head reddish yellow and the bands and stripes yellow with reddish brown tinge, what fits f. sikkimensis well. In addition, the two uncertain A and B forms show a more or less continuous variation series. Similar situation occurs between the specimens from northeastern China, f. iwatai (area on basal band and waved line on the second metasomal tergite often somewhat reddish) and f. koreanus (the first metasomal tergite black with a narrow apical band). It is interesting that the colour pattern of f. iwatai is very similar to that of f. grahami so that the latter can be considered transitional. Van der Vecht (1968) mentioned that the colour of the body ranges from paler or dark yellow through various shades of brownish red to black. He roughly divided the specimens into three groups i. e. yellow and black, brownish-red and more or less transitional forms. Our observations showed that the Chinese colour forms of P. rothneyi can be defined only by colour patterns that intergrade in some degree. This leads us to synonymize all (as far seen from China) as colour forms of P. rothneyi. Since it is difficult and tedious to describe the colour patterns in words, we prefer to show its variation in a series photographs (Figs 19 – 21). Referring to van der Vecht (1968), we divide the examined Chinese specimens into three colour groups i. e. Southwest Plateau group (brownish-red to black, distributed in southeastern China, Yunnan and Tibet), Common yellow-black group (widely distributed in the mainland of China spreading southward to Hainan and Taiwan, including f. grahami, f. hainanensis, f. gressitti and f. yayeyamae) and Northeast group (colour pattern between f. iwatai and f. koreanus, generally with reddish brown blotches, the first metasomal tergite black, at most with a narrow apical band; distributed in Northeast China, Shandong (Weihai), Liaoning, Jilin). For convenience we use the available names as colour forms for arranging the specimens into different colour groups. We did not find a colour gap between the Common black yellow group (Fig. 21) and the Northeast group (Fig. 22).	en	Tan, Jiang-Li, Achterberg, Kees Van, Duan, Mei-Jiao, Chen, Xue-Xin (2014): An illustrated key to the species of subgenus Gyrostoma Kirby, 1828 (Hymenoptera, Vespidae, Polistinae) from China, with discovery of Polistes (Gyrostoma) tenuispunctia Kim, 2001. Zootaxa 3785 (3): 377-399, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3785.3.3
03D687963E78FFD977DAF9C095449C37.taxon	materials_examined	Material examined. China: 1 ♂, 1 ♀, Museum Paris, Chine, S. Stevens, 1852, 1 ♀, with a yellow handwritten label: P. tenebricosus Lepel. (MNHN); 10 ♂, 5 ♀, Mt. Tianmu, Lin’an, Zhejiang, 25. viii. 2013, JL Tan (NWUM); 2 ♀, Pan'an City, Hue Xi (28 ˚ 59 ' N 120 ˚ 30 E), Zhejiang, China, 19. vi. 2012, c 600 m, C v. Achterberg (RMNH); 1 ♀, West Mt. Tianmu, Zhejiang, China, 4. vi. 1994, 941484, YL Lin, labelled Polistes gigas Kirby, det. He, 16. xi. 2000 (ZJUH); 1 ♀, Mt. Tianmu, Zhejiang, 7. vii. 2000, no. 200103814, XX Chen (ZJUH); 1 ♀, Mt. Dapan, Pan’a, Zhejiang, 17 – 20. vii. 2012, YJ Wang (ZJUH); 2 ♀, Mt. Tianmu, Zhejiang, 3. vii. 2010, JL Tan (ZJUH); 2 ♀, Mt. Tianmu, Zhejiang, 1 – 3. vii. 2010, LF Hu, 5. vii. 2013, FZ Ying (ZJUH); 2 ♀, Mt. Gutian, Kaihua, Zhejiang, 1 – 3. vii. 2005, no. 200604254, - 04158, XX Chen (ZJUH); 1 ♀, Mt. Jiulong, Huishui, Guizhou, 11. vi. 2010, JL Tan (ZJUH); 1 ♀, Buyun, Shanghang, Fujian, 22 – 24. vii. 1988, no. 885340, Y Ma (ZJUH); 2 ♀, Kuatun (27.4 ˚ N, 117.40 ˚ E), Fujian, 10. iv. 1938 (Fukien), J. Klaperich, each with a label: Polistes tenebricosus sulcatus Sm. det. J. v. d. Vecht, 1964 (RMNH); 1 ♀, Ningpo, China, Felder (hangwriting round label) with a handwritten label:? sulcatus Smith (RMNH); 1 ♀, Grihedo, Ngan-Hoei (Anhui) (RMNH); 2 ♀, Mt. Jiufeng, Ningbo, 4. viii. 2010, JL Tan (NWUM); 8 ♂, 4 ♀, Jinsi Gorage LuohuaValley, Shangnan, Shaanxi, 33 ˚ 22 ' 37.22 ˝, E 110 ˚ 33 ' 16.98 ˝, 708 m, 24. vii. 2013, JL Tan (NWUM); 1 ♀, Laifeng, Enshi, Hubei, 15. viii. 2013, H Xiang (NWUM); 1 ♀, Mt. Baxian, Heping, Taizhong, Taiwan, 24 ˚ 11 ' N 121 ˚ E, 4 – 5. vi. 2011, P Tang (ZJUH); 1 ♀, Hoozan, Formosa, ix. 1910, H Sauter, with a label “ P. s u l c a t u s, Schulthess det. 1913 ” Hym- 00603 (SDEI); 1 ♀, Jianfenling Nature Reserve (18 ˚ 44 ' 38 ½ N 108 ˚ 50 ' 36 ½ E), Hainan, 980 – 1150 m, 13 – 14. vii. 2013, C van Achterberg (RMNH).	en	Tan, Jiang-Li, Achterberg, Kees Van, Duan, Mei-Jiao, Chen, Xue-Xin (2014): An illustrated key to the species of subgenus Gyrostoma Kirby, 1828 (Hymenoptera, Vespidae, Polistinae) from China, with discovery of Polistes (Gyrostoma) tenuispunctia Kim, 2001. Zootaxa 3785 (3): 377-399, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3785.3.3
03D687963E78FFD977DAF9C095449C37.taxon	discussion	Remarks. Liu (1937) included two varieties Polistes tenebricosus var. sulcatus Smith and P. t. var. hoplites de Saussure. Bequaert (1940) recorded typical P. tenebricosus from Formosa and P. t. var. sulcatus from southern China. We accept the view of Saito et al. (2005); they synonymized these varieties as colour varieties of P. tenebricosus. The colour pattern of the examined specimens from China is as follows: body brownish-black to ferruginous, or predominantly black; the pronotum varies from mainly black with margin narrowly reddish brown, dorsal half reddish brown in lateral view to entirely reddish brown; the mesoscutum varies from entirely black, with four irregular russet stripes to entirely or mostly dark reddish brown (Fig. 23 A – F); but specimens from Hainan black with milky yellow blotches (Fig. 23 G – J). No specimens with the colour pattern of var. hoplites (second metasomal tergite mostly or entirely orange-yellow) were available from China.	en	Tan, Jiang-Li, Achterberg, Kees Van, Duan, Mei-Jiao, Chen, Xue-Xin (2014): An illustrated key to the species of subgenus Gyrostoma Kirby, 1828 (Hymenoptera, Vespidae, Polistinae) from China, with discovery of Polistes (Gyrostoma) tenuispunctia Kim, 2001. Zootaxa 3785 (3): 377-399, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3785.3.3
03D687963E78FFD977DAF9C095449C37.taxon	distribution	Distribution. China (Anhui, Fujian, Guizhou, Hubei, Shaanxi, Zhejiang, Hainan, Taiwan); India; Nepal; Vietnam; Myanmar; Indonesia; Philippines. (Carpenter 1996 b update to 2006)	en	Tan, Jiang-Li, Achterberg, Kees Van, Duan, Mei-Jiao, Chen, Xue-Xin (2014): An illustrated key to the species of subgenus Gyrostoma Kirby, 1828 (Hymenoptera, Vespidae, Polistinae) from China, with discovery of Polistes (Gyrostoma) tenuispunctia Kim, 2001. Zootaxa 3785 (3): 377-399, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3785.3.3
03D687963E66FFDB77DAFC56933F98A8.taxon	materials_examined	Material examined. 2 ♂, Yuanba, Liping, Nanzheng, Hangzhong, Shaanxi, 12. x. 2011, JL Tan (NWUM); 1 ♂, 2 ♀, Guanghuojie, Ningshan, Shaanxi, 27. vi. 2013, JL Tan (NWUM); 1 ♂, 8 ♀, Watershed Natural Reserve, Yueba Foping, Shaanxi, 27. vii. 2013, 33 ˚ 32 ' 57.31 ˝ N, 107 ˚ 49 ' 12.91 ˝ E, 1083 m, JL Tan, (ZJUH; including a nest with two females); 6 ♂, 2 ♀, Sangyuan Natural Reserve, Liuba, Shaanxi, 33.43 ˚ N, 107.12 ˚ E, 1212 m, 17. viii. 2013, BB Tu (ZJUH).	en	Tan, Jiang-Li, Achterberg, Kees Van, Duan, Mei-Jiao, Chen, Xue-Xin (2014): An illustrated key to the species of subgenus Gyrostoma Kirby, 1828 (Hymenoptera, Vespidae, Polistinae) from China, with discovery of Polistes (Gyrostoma) tenuispunctia Kim, 2001. Zootaxa 3785 (3): 377-399, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3785.3.3
03D687963E66FFDB77DAFC56933F98A8.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis. The male of this species can be easily distinguished from all its congeners by the key (Fig. 13, 24). The female is very similar to the sympatric species Polistes rothneyi f. grahami van der Vecht, but differs from the latter by the characteristics listed in Table 1. Without a male this species is very hard to separate from the latter species except for their colour pattern. The different nesting site is of additional importance. The most important differentiating character mentioned by Kim (2001) (body very weakly and superficially punctate in both sexes) seems rather variable and does not work very well for Chinese specimens.	en	Tan, Jiang-Li, Achterberg, Kees Van, Duan, Mei-Jiao, Chen, Xue-Xin (2014): An illustrated key to the species of subgenus Gyrostoma Kirby, 1828 (Hymenoptera, Vespidae, Polistinae) from China, with discovery of Polistes (Gyrostoma) tenuispunctia Kim, 2001. Zootaxa 3785 (3): 377-399, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3785.3.3
03D687963E66FFDB77DAFC56933F98A8.taxon	biology_ecology	Biology. Several individuals are found frequently flying in and out the high eaves suggesting that the nest was concealed in a secret place such as inside the hollow wooden eaves or wall. The collected nest we took from a hollow doorframe; the key hole acted as their entrance; the single comb nest had about 50 cells, 10 mm in diameter, suspended inside with one central narrow pedicel; pedicel about 3.2 mm wide (minimum diameter) and 5 mm long, cell-marginal and with buttressed sheet; cells were hexagonal and regularly arranged with the average diameter (between opposite sides) 6.0 – 7.5 mm, variable in length and increased as the stage advanced. Cocoon capping is white and protruding about 8.5 mm beyond the cell mouth (Figures 26 A – B).	en	Tan, Jiang-Li, Achterberg, Kees Van, Duan, Mei-Jiao, Chen, Xue-Xin (2014): An illustrated key to the species of subgenus Gyrostoma Kirby, 1828 (Hymenoptera, Vespidae, Polistinae) from China, with discovery of Polistes (Gyrostoma) tenuispunctia Kim, 2001. Zootaxa 3785 (3): 377-399, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3785.3.3
03D687963E66FFDB77DAFC56933F98A8.taxon	distribution	Distribution. Korea, China (Shaanxi).	en	Tan, Jiang-Li, Achterberg, Kees Van, Duan, Mei-Jiao, Chen, Xue-Xin (2014): An illustrated key to the species of subgenus Gyrostoma Kirby, 1828 (Hymenoptera, Vespidae, Polistinae) from China, with discovery of Polistes (Gyrostoma) tenuispunctia Kim, 2001. Zootaxa 3785 (3): 377-399, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3785.3.3
03D687963E65FFDA77DAFAB2919F9875.taxon	materials_examined	Material examined. India: ♀, holotype, Cameron coll. 1901 - 137, BMNH type Hym. 18.890; 1 ♂, NW India, 84 - 38 (BMNH). 11 ♀, C. India: Raipur, 300 m, 22. vii. – 26. viii. 1962, F. L. Wain, each labelled “ Polistes wattii Cameron, det. J. v. d. Vecht, 1960 ” (RMNH); 2 ♀, Rajasthan, Jodhpur Mandhur Park, 15. x. 1985, C v. Achterberg (RMNH); 1 ♀, Delhi, 7 – 9. vii. 1978, J. Timmer (RMNH); 4 ♀, NW India, Chandig'arh, 31. vii. – 1. viii. 1964, R. A. Maas Geesteranus (RMNH); 1 ♂, Afghanistan: Kabul (34 ˚ 31 ' N, 69 ˚ 12 ' E), 2 – 3. x. 1975, Ph. Pronk (75 069 - 070) (RMNH); 2 ♀, Herat (34 ˚ 20 ' N, 62 ˚ 12 ' E), 28. ix. 1975, Ph. Pronk (75 067) (RMNH);.	en	Tan, Jiang-Li, Achterberg, Kees Van, Duan, Mei-Jiao, Chen, Xue-Xin (2014): An illustrated key to the species of subgenus Gyrostoma Kirby, 1828 (Hymenoptera, Vespidae, Polistinae) from China, with discovery of Polistes (Gyrostoma) tenuispunctia Kim, 2001. Zootaxa 3785 (3): 377-399, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3785.3.3
03D687963E65FFDA77DAFAB2919F9875.taxon	discussion	Remarks. No specimens from China were available, but recorded from China by Das & Gupta (1983, 1989) and Carpenter (1996 b).	en	Tan, Jiang-Li, Achterberg, Kees Van, Duan, Mei-Jiao, Chen, Xue-Xin (2014): An illustrated key to the species of subgenus Gyrostoma Kirby, 1828 (Hymenoptera, Vespidae, Polistinae) from China, with discovery of Polistes (Gyrostoma) tenuispunctia Kim, 2001. Zootaxa 3785 (3): 377-399, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3785.3.3
03D687963E65FFDA77DAFAB2919F9875.taxon	distribution	Distribution. China; Afghanistan; Iran; Iraq; Saudi Arabia; United Arab Emirates; Oman; Mauritius; Pakistan; India.	en	Tan, Jiang-Li, Achterberg, Kees Van, Duan, Mei-Jiao, Chen, Xue-Xin (2014): An illustrated key to the species of subgenus Gyrostoma Kirby, 1828 (Hymenoptera, Vespidae, Polistinae) from China, with discovery of Polistes (Gyrostoma) tenuispunctia Kim, 2001. Zootaxa 3785 (3): 377-399, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3785.3.3
