Qonita Ika Nabila

Biology Department Faculty of Mathematic and Natural Sciences, University of Jember, Jember, Indonesia

Aulia Rafika Sari

Biology Department Faculty of Mathematic and Natural Sciences, University of Jember, Jember, Indonesia

Hari Nugraha

Laboratory of Entomology, Museum Zoologicum Bogoriense, Research Center for Biosystematics and Evolution, National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN)

Purwatiningsih

Biology Department Faculty of Mathematic and Natural Sciences, University of Jember, Jember, Indonesia

DOI: https://doi.org/10.19184/jid.v27i1.60007

ABSTRACT 

Paper wasps of the genus Polistes are widely distributed in tropical regions and play important ecological roles as predators of agricultural insect pests. Morphological and morphometric characters are important tools for species identification and taxonomic studies within this genus. This study aims to compare morphometric characters and body coloration between two specimens, Polistes sagittarius and Polistes tenebricosus. A total of fifteen morphometric characters were measured including head, thorax, metasoma, antenna, mandible, and wing measurements. The results indicate that P. tenebricosus generally exhibits large body dimensions than P. sagittarius, particularly in body length, thorax size and tergite measurements. Differences were also observed in head proportions and antennal measurements. In addition to morphometric differences, body coloration patterns also differed between the two specimens. P. sagittarius shows a more contrasting color combination with the metasoma being bright yellow, while P. tenebricosus is predominantly reddish brown. These characters provide useful diagnostic features for distinguishing the species. This study provides preliminary morphometric data for Polistes wasps.

Keywords: Vespidae taxonomy, Morphological variation, Diagnostic characteristic, Insect systematic, Species discrimination.