Synoeca ilheensis
Synoeca ilheensis is a species of wasps in the genus Synoeca. It is also known as the Atlântica warrior wasp. It is found within the Atlantic Forest lowlands in South America. Members of this species are more aggressive and will warn invaders by producing a rhythm with their wings that resembles soldiers marching. Synoeca ilheensis was publicly announced on August 3, 2017.[1]
| Synoeca ilheensis | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Hymenoptera |
| Family: | Vespidae |
| Subfamily: | Polistinae |
| Genus: | Synoeca |
| Species: | S. ilheensis |
| Binomial name | |
| Synoeca ilheensis Lopes & Menezes, 2017 | |
Synoeca ilheensis is similar to Synoeca septentrionalis and Synoeca surinama.
Discovery
Rodolpho S.T. Menezes noted that he found specimens of Synoeca septentrionalis in the Atlantic Forest.[2] He also stated they could be a separate species. In 2017, Mendes and Rogério Botion Lopes studied the specimens and determined them to be a separate species. The main defining traits are the coloration, jaw, and abdomen.
References
- Lopes, Rogério B.; Menezes, Rodolpho S. T. (2017). "Synoeca ilheensis sp. nov., a new social wasp (Hymenoptera, Vespidae, Polistinae) from Brazilian lowland Atlantic Forest". Zootaxa. 4300 (3): 445. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.4300.3.8.
- Menezes, Rodolpho; Andena, Sergio; Carvalho, A.F.; Costa, M. A. (2011). "First records of Synoeca septentrionalis Richards, 1978 (Hymenoptera, Vespidae, Epiponini) in the Brazilian Atlantic Rain Forest". ZooKeys (151): 75–78. doi:10.3897/zookeys.151.1882. PMC 3286226. PMID 22368453.