Martin Cooper
Hillcrest, Ware Lane
Lyme Regis, Dorset
3EL, U.K.

I am currently researching the autecology of the eumenid wasp Pseudepipona herrichii at its only known locality in England, with a view to producing management guidelines to ensure the survival of this species at this locality (where it is currently abundant!) and to re-introduce it to other localities nearby. I am searching for information on the modern distribution and status of the wasp throughout its range, together with any bionomic information which is available.

I have been able to confirm most of the information given in G. M. Spooner's 1934 paper, including the nature of its prey, a Tortricid moth associated with all three species of heather present (Erica cinerea, E. tetrad and Cabana vulgaris). I am of the opinion that the population size of the wasp is limited by the availability of suitable bare ground patches. These are of a sandy clay nature and close to areas of open water or very damp heath. The wasp generally avoids the dry sandy heath. The wasps can be found drinking at the wet Sphagnum moss and the prey density seems to be higher in areas of wet heath, both factors which may explain the association of the nesting sites with wet areas.

I would be very grateful for any comments which readers can make upon this species.

Mike Edwards
Lea-side, Carron Lane,
Midhurst, West Sussex
GU29 9LB U.K.

I am a graduate student interested in studying the genetic structure of colonies of African wasps, particularly Polybioides sp. My advisors, Joan Strassmann and Dave Queller have developed microsatellite DNA markers in several other species of wasps and I intend to use them in my research as well.

I am posting this message to ask for assistance in my search for a suitable field site in equitorial Africa at which to collect 20 to 40 Polybioides colonies. I would appriciate any leads that you could provide regarding potential locations and I am also looking for specific information regarding the Lamto field station in Cote d'lvoire. From what I have heard, it is a good location logistically but I have been unable to confirm that Polybioides occurs there.

Thank you in advance for any help you can provide.

Mike Henshaw
Dept. of Biology
P.O. Box 1892
Rice University
Houston, Texas 77251
henshawm @ ruf. rice.edu

Some years ago I caught two interesting males of Prionyx in S. W. Kazakhstan (Mangyshlak). This species is closely related to P. radoszkowskii and P. subfuscatus, but differs from them by features of the flagellum and clypeus. The last 5 flagellomeres are very short (fig. 1), and the 3rd flagellomere is equal to the 1st and 2nd ones combined (fig.2). Flagellomeres 3 through 6 are long and each one has two keels on different sides. The body is black with the wings dark brown. The clypeus has a weak emargination on the front edge (fig. 3). The head and thorax are covered with long dense black hairs. Unfortunately I have no opportunity to study collections of Sphecidae in other countries and I cannot determine this species with keys in the literature. Can anybody identify this species for me?

V. L. Kazenas
Zoological Institute
Akademgorodok
Alma-Ata 32
Kazakhstan Republic

NEWS FROM THE INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY OF HYMENOPTERISTS

Jim Carpenter, who is currently president-elect, will assume the presidency in December, 1996. New officers of the Society that also take over in December 1996 are: John Huber – treasurer (continuing); Jim Woolley – secretary; Andy Austin – president-elect. Andy Austin will be president during the Fourth Conference of the ISH in Canberra in 1999.

Paul Marsh is stepping down as editor of the Journal of Hymenoptera Research after overseeing the production of 4 issues, and Eric Grissell will take over. Manuscripts should be sent to Eric at the following address: Systematic Entomology Laboratory, c/o U. S. National Museum of Natural History, Washington D.C. 20560.

The membership of the Society has voted to have two issues of the journal produced each year, but just when that will start is uncertain. Members have also approved the use of credit cards to pay for dues and other charges. That will probably be implemented soon.

SOCIAL WASP NEWSLETTER

Wasp Times is a "wasp research newsletter" published by Landcare Research, Private Bag 6, Nelson, New Zealand. Vespula germanica has become a serious pest in that country since its introduction, and Wasp Times is a vehicle for disseminating current information on control measures, success of parasites, sting allergy and treatment, and various other topics. There is even a little column titled "Fact File" in which you learn such things as the first recorded fatality from an insect sting (it was probably the Egyptian King Menes in 2621 BC). Issue 23 is dated December 1995 and numbers apparently appear about twice a year. An interesting and informative newsletter.

INTRODUCED SOCIAL WASPS SPREADING IN NORTH AMERICA

Vespula germanica (Fabricius): This wasp spread from the northeastern United States westward, reaching Washington State by 1989. In 1987 germanica had reached San Francisco, and workers were collected in Los Angeles County in 1991. It has spread eastward in southern California to Riverside Co. (Vetter, Visscher and Reierson, 1995, Pan-Pac. Ent. 71:246-248).

Polistes dominulus (Christ): Since its first capture in Massachusetts in 1980, this wasp has spread westward into Ohio and southwestward into New Jersey, and most recently into Maryland (1994, see Staines and Smith, 1995, Proc. Ent. Soc. Wash. 97:891).

In August, 1995, I was in Delaware and Maryland, and I found Polistes dominulus at the southbound I-95 rest area in Howard County, MD just north of Laurel. Several males and at least one female were seen, and I collected four of the former. They and many other wasps were on what appeared to be some kind of ornamental magnolia, infested with scale insects, located near the rest rooms and vending machines.

On 11 August 1995 I was collecting wasps in a patch of wild carrot (Daucus) and goldenrod (Solidago), along the weedy perimeter of a small shopping center in Bidderford, Maine.

Two wasps were netted which I initially thought were Vespula, and almost released. Upon a closer look it was evident they must be Polistes – but with too much yellow! We should only have Polistes fuscatus here. The markings appeared quite similar to a couple of Tunisian specimens of P. dominulus which Bob Jacobson (at Greer Labs) had previously sent me. I sent my Maine specimens off to him, and he did identify them as P. dominulus not yet reported in this state. Our latitude is 43°28". The female specimen, as can be seen from the drawings is rather dark.

Two more P. dominulus were collected on 13 August at the same site, and one more on 20 August.

On 2 September, while collecting at a large stand of Japanese knotweed (Polygonum), yet another specimen was taken. This site is about 1200 to 1500 feet from the first collecting area. One might suspect that this individual could have originated from a separate nest than the others.

Many thanks to Bob Jacobson for the samples and the identification.