Home > Phylum selection > Arthropoda > Hymenoptera > Vespidae
Home How to cite this site Terms & conditions Disclaimer Contact Site tutorial / Help Links	Polistes gallicus Gallische Feldwespe Subspecies No subspecies are recognized. Original description Synonyms Vespa gallica Linnaeus, 1767 Polistes gallica (Linnaeus, 1767) Polistes gallicus (Linnaeus, 1767) Polistes gallica gallica (Linnaeus, 1767) Polistes gallicus gallicus (Linnaeus, 1767) Polistes pictior Radoszkowski, 1872 (nomen nudum) Polistes foederata Kohl, 1898 Polistes foederatus (Kohl, 1898) Polistes foederata (Kohl, 1898) Polistes gallicus mongolicus Du Buysson, 1911 Polistes foederata obscuricornis Mader, 1936 Polistula omissa Weyrauch, 1938 Polistes omissus (Weyrauch, 1938) Polistes omissus ordubadensis Zirngiebl, 1955 Polistes gallicus monogolicus Yoshikawa, 1962 (misspelling) Polistes omissus kaszabi Giordani Soika, 1970 Polistes foederatus albellus Giordani Soika, 1976 The species appears to be very variable. The names that are now synonymized with Polistes gallicus were previously regarded as bonae species. Gusenleitner (1985) has synonymized omissus with gallicus and foederatus on the basis of material bred from a single nest and that contained both "color forms". However, he also mentions that the color forms show a distribution that correlates with geography. He regards this to be evidence for a climatic influence on coloration. However, a genetic influence cannot be ruled out on the basis of such scarce evidence. In addition, Polistes gallicus is very similar to Polistes dominulus and may in fact be synonymous. Clearly, more work is necessary to clarify the taxonomy of this species (or species complex). Identification Distribution Recorded from Spain, France, Italy, Belgium, Austria, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Greece, the Balcans, Albania, northern Africa, Asia east to Japan. Not yet recorded from Germany, but recorded from many surrounding countries. In addition, the exact distribution is unclear due to confusion with Polistes dominulus. Thus, it is likely that it also occurs in Germany. Biology This page has been updated on November 22, 2010 This site is online since May 31, 2005 Copyright © by Nikola-Michael Prpic. All rights reserved.	Related information: Subspecies Original description Synonyms Identification Distribution Biology References