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Fragments of mud dauber wasp’s nests dating from the Bronze Age (Noua culture, about 1500–1200 BC) from a Romanian archaeological site are described. The present discovery represents, to our knowledge, the first reported fragments of mud dauber nests recuperated from an archaeological site in Romania and probably among the rare ones from Europe. The archaeological site called Zoltan-“Nisipărie” is placed in the Covasna County, south-eastern Transylvania. The five fragments belong to two nests made by Sceliphron sp. wasps genus and they were described in terms of general and detailed morphology and morphometry. Two nest fragments preserve in situ secondary cells, showing evidence of nest reoccupation by other insects. Another important aspect of this discovery is the opportunity to extract and analyse a whole secondary cell from the original nest fragment. Various impressions of vegetal material (grass, straws etc.) and a seed on the nest fragments’ surface were observed using microscopic techniques. The preserved pieces recovered from archaeological investigations provide important data regarding the local environmental conditions during the recent period of Bronze Age in an anthropized environment of the Noua culture.

Sceliphron caementarium (Drury, 1773) Sphex caementaria Drury, 1773 Sphex caementarium Drury, 1773 Sphex caementarius Drury, 1773 Sceliphron cementarium (Drury, 1770) (incorrect date) Pelopeus caementarius (Drury, 1773) Pelopoeus caementarius (Drury, 1773) Sphex flavo-maculata De Geer, 1773 Sphex flavomaculata De Geer, 1773 Sphex flavomaculatus De Geer, 1773 Sceliphron caementarium flavomaculatum (De Geer, 1773) Sphex lunata Fabricius, 1775 Sphex lunatus Fabricius, 1775 Pelopoeus lunatus (Fabricius, 1775) Pelopeus caementarius lunatus (Fabricius, 1775) Sceliphron caementarium lunatum (Fabricius, 1775) Sphex flavipes Fabricius, 1781 Pelopoeus flavipes (Fabricius, 1781) Pelopeus caementarius flavipes (Fabricius, 1781) Sceliphron caementarium flavipes (Fabricius, 1781) Sphex flavipunctata Christ, 1791 Sphex flavipunctatus Christ, 1791 Sceliphron caementarium flavipunctatum (Christ, 1791) Sphex affinis Fabricius, 1793 Pelopoeus affinis (Fabricius, 1793) Sceliphron affine (Fabricius, 1793) Sceliphron caementarium affinis (Fabricius, 1793) Pelopaeus lunatus Latreille, 1805 Pelopoeus architectus Lepeletier, 1845 Pelopeus caementarius architectus (Lepeletier, 1845) Sceliphron caementarium architectus (Lepeletier, 1845) Pelopoeus servillei Lepeletier, 1845 Sceliphron servillei (Lepeletier, 1845) Sceliphron caementarium servillei (Lepeletier, 1845) Pelopoeus solieri Lepeletier, 1845 Sceliphron solieri (Lepeletier, 1845) Pelopoeus canadensis Smith, 1856 Sceliphron caementarium canadensis (Smith, 1856) Pelopoeus nigriventris A. Costa, 1864 Sceliphron nigriventre (A. Costa, 1864) Sceliphron caementarium nigriventre (A. Costa, 1864) Pelopeus tahitensis de Saussure, 1867 Pelopoeus tahitensis de Saussure, 1867 Sceliphron tahitensis (de Saussure, 1867) Sphex economica Curtiss, 1938 Sphex economicus Curtiss, 1938 Original distribution Sceliphron caementarium is essentially a Nearctic species (Porter 1926; van der Vecht & van Breugel 1968; Hanson & Menke 1995; Amarante 2002; Horta Vega et al. 2007; Demetriou et al. 2022). Besides the states reported by Drury (1770), in its original range the species is known in southern Canada, several states of USA, Mexico, Belize, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica (see Pulawski 2022). Allochthonous distribution in the world The attendance of anthropic environments makes S. caementarium a species that can easily be accidentally transported by humans through long-distance dispersal (LDD) (see Butikofer et al. 2018; Cianferoni et al. 2021). It was accidentally introduced several times in various parts of the world and even the locus typicus (Drury 1770) could be beyond the limits of its original range (see below for further information). The first certain record out of the native range was due to de Saussure (1867) from Tahiti, although he not recognize the wasp as allochthonous (see below for further information). The first precise record quoted as allochthonous species was by Cameron in Blackburn & Cameron (1886) from the Hawaii islands, where the species was already considered common at the time. However, van der Vecht & van Breugel (1968) reported some specimens collected in the island of Madeira in 1825. This record is currently the oldest known from outside the native range, excluding the locus typicus. Nowadays S. caementarium is widespread in most of the world. Literature data on the distribution out of the native range ISLANDS OF THE ATLANTIC OCEAN Some archipelagos in the Atlantic Ocean are far from the mainland and from each other. For this reason each archipelago is treated separately. A list of all literature records is given below for them, with indication of the oldest interception year. The records are listed geographically and archipelagos are arranged from west to east. BERMUDA ISLANDS. Bermuda is an archipelago of seven main islands and about 170 additional (named) islets and rocks; anyway, all islands are very close to each other and the main islands are even connected by bridges (www.britannica.com/place/Bermuda). Moreover, the scarce records in the literature did not specify exactly in which islands S. caementarium was reported. For these raisons, the following reference data are considered for the entire archipelago without a specific list of the islands in which S. caementarium was intercepted. Bermuda: Ogilvie (1928); van der Vecht & van Breugel (1968). Oldest record: 1925 (van der Vecht & van Breugel 1968). MADEIRA ARCHIPELAGO. Madeira: Saunders (1903); van der Vecht & van Breugel (1968); Lomholdt (1975); Leclercq (1976) and Leclercq & Claparède (1978) (same data); Erlandsson (1978); Smit (2000). Remarks. Saunders (1903) named S. tubifex (Latreille, 1809) (= S. madraspatanum tubifex) four specimens (one male and three females) of Sceliphron caught by Wollaston in the island of Madeira but he misidentified the material, which was assigned to S. caementarium by Lomholdt (1975). Indeed, Saunders (1903) reported that all specimens “have the pedicel of the abdomen black” unlike S. madraspatanum tubifex but like S. caementarium (see Pagliano & Negrisolo 2005; Bitsch et al. 2020). Oldest record: 1825 (van der Vecht & van Breugel 1968). CARIBBEAN ISLANDS Due to their geographical position, it is not easy to establish which Caribbean islands are part of its native range. However, except the small islands along the Central American coast, it is not likely they are included in the original distribution of the species. Although only a detailed genetic analysis on samples from several islands can reveal the origin of colonization of Caribbean islands by S. caementarium, it seems due to several independent introductions. Although the species was described from some islands of the Antilles (Drury 1770) and Fabricius (1775) reported Antigua in the distribution of the species citing Drury, its occurrence in those islands could be due to old accidental introductions. Effectively, the currently known records in the area are scattered and Wolcott (1951) reported that “It is apparently a recent introduction from continental America” and “It was first noted in Puerto Rico on the walls of a house in Santurce in September 1924 ”. Moreover, no specific records are from the largest countries of the Caribbean Sea such as Cuba or Haiti (cf. Genaro 2006; Pulawski 2022) and this suggests that there has not been a progressive natural colonization. Some old works reported the species from Barbados (Porter 1926; Cheesman 1928; Williams 1932) and Cuba (Cheesman 1928; Williams 1932) without specific locality; anyway, no precise data exist about the occurrence of S. caementarium in these islands. In recent times these countries have been cited among those in which S. caementarium is distributed by Díaz-Calafat (2020) for Barbados and Anagha et al. (2021) for Cuba. However, they simply quoted aforementioned papers. Anyway, in the checklist of apoid wasps of Cuba, Genaro (2006) did not list the species and in Pulawski (2022) neither Barbados nor Cuba are included for S. caementarium. All literature records for each Caribbean island are given below, with indication of the oldest interception year. The records are listed geographically with archipelagos arranged from north to south and for each islands are listed in alphabetical order. LEEWARD ISLANDS. Antigua: Drury (1770). Guadeloupe: Lepeletier de Saint Fargeau (1845); van der Vecht & van Breugel (1968). Montserrat: van der Vecht & van Breugel (1968). Saint Croix: van der Vecht & van Breugel (1968). Saint Kitts: Drury (1770). Saint Thomas: van der Vecht & van Breugel (1968). Oldest record: ante 1770 (Drury from Antigua and Saint Kitts). GREATER ANTILLES: Caja de Muertos: Medina Gaud & Martorell (1974). Hispaniola (Dominican Republic): (Palisot de Beauvois 1806). Isla de la Juventud: Holland (1917). Jamaica (Drury 1770). Puerto Rico: Wolcott (1951); van der Vecht & van Breugel (1968). Oldest record: ante 1770 (Drury from Jamaica). WINDWARD ISLANDS. Martinique: Cheesman (1929); van der Vecht & van Breugel (1968). Mustique: van der Vecht & van Breugel (1968). Saint Vincent: van der Vecht & van Breugel (1968). Remarks. Van der Vecht & van Breugel (1968) reported eight specimens from Martinique: one of them, located in the British Museum, is clearly the specimen cited by Cheesman (1929) since it was collected by Cheesman herself and the collecting date coincides, whilst the other ones are placed in the Museum of Comparative Zoology of Harvard University. One of them is not dated, but it was collected during the Virginia Expedition, whilst six specimens, labelled simply “ Martinique ”, were reported by authors as “old specimens”. Also specimens from Saint Vincent and Mustique were not dated. Oldest record: 1925 (Cheesman 1929). In addition to aforementioned records, Costa (1866) reported two specimens from Antilles in Museo Zoologico di Napoli and Berland (1953) cited S. caementarium for French Antilles without naming the specific islands. SOUTH AMERICA For South America S. caementarium was first reported by van der Vecht & van Breugel (1968) based on some specimens collected in Peru in 1954 and 1955. For many years no further records were provided from the continent and likely the species was not established there. Only in recent years the species has been reported in some countries and currently it seems to be naturalized also in that continent. Fernández (1995) and Amarante (2002) reported the presence of this mud-dauber wasp in Colombia, without specific localities, but Fernández & Castro-Huertas (2014) questioned its occurrence in that country and herein it is not included in the following list. Porter (1926) said that the species was “reported by Cameron from Brazil ”, but no documentation of this record exists and this statement could be a mistake. Therefore, also Brazil is not included there. The following list includes all records for each South American country, reporting the oldest interception year for each one. The Galápagos Islands (belonging to Ecuador) are considered separately. The records are listed geographically and South America countries are arranged from north to south; for each state, the regions are listed in alphabetical order. GALÁPAGOS ISLANDS. Santa Cruz: Causton & Sevilla (2007). Remarks. The occurrence reported by Causton & Sevilla (2007) had not a precise date, but the authors listed S. caementarium among the species introduced in the archipelago in 2005–2006. Oldest record: 2005/2006 (Causton & Sevilla 2007). PERU. Arequipa: Ceccolini (2021). Ica: Barrera-Medina & Sepúlveda-Osorio (2014); Ceccolini (2021). Lima department: Ceccolini (2021). Lima province: Ceccolini (2021). Piura: van der Vecht & van Breugel (1968); Ceccolini (2021). Remarks. Rasmussen & Asenjo (2009) reported the presence of S. caementarium in Lima without locality. Most likely the record refers to the whole department, but in the paper the homonym province is not considered as independent territory, therefore it is not possible to ascertain to which of the two areas the authors referred. Moreover, they quoted the department of Piura indicating between brackets the locality Sullana, the same one reported by van der Vecht & van Breugel (1968). Oldest record: 1954 (van der Vecht & van Breugel 1968). CHILE. Arica y Parinacota: Barrera-Medina & Sepúlveda-Osorio (2014). Santiago Metropolitan: BarreraMedina & Sepúlveda-Osorio (2014). Oldest record: 2013 (Barrera-Medina & Sepúlveda-Osorio 2014). OCEANIA Oceania includes a large number of islands, many of which are very far from each other; for this reason each archipelago is treated separately. A list of all literature records for each island is given below, with indication of the oldest interception year. The records are listed geographically and the archipelagos are arranged from east to west and from north to south and for each one the islands are listed in alphabetical order. The list includes the Pacific archipelago of Volcano Islands, although the other records from Japan (to which they administratively belong) are reported under the distribution in Asia (see below). Although it is not possible to establish how many times humans introduced S. caementarium in these territories, clearly this mud-dauber arrived many times in the Pacific islands as a result of human activity. VOLCANO ISLANDS. Iwô-Jima: Terayama (2004); Takahashi & Shimizu (2007). Oldest record: 1976 (Takahashi & Shimizu 2007 from Iwô-Jima). HAWAIIAN ISLANDS. Subsequently to Cameron in Blackburn & Cameron (1886) many works (even if not recent) documented occurrence of this wasp in this archipelago, where it appears widespread. For example, Perkins (1899) referred to this mud dauber as “Very abundant all over the islands, but not extending to great altitudes on the mountains”, whilst Swezey (1906) wrote: “No adults were seen but the nests of this muddauber wasp were common, and they always contained larvae or pupae, which shows that this species is continuing the habit of hibernation which it had in the States, where it hibernates as larvae in the cells of its mud-nest”. A list of all literature records for each island of the archipelago is given below (the islands are listed alphabetically). No records without precise island is quoted, e.g., in addition to those mentioned above, van der Vecht & van Breugel (1968) who referred to “a series from these islands” preserved in the British Museum of London. The list includes also the Midway Atoll that is the only part in the Hawaiian Archipelago that is not included of the state of Hawaii (it is an Insular area of United States considered unorganized unincorporated territory) and where evidently S. caementarium, recorded in 1959 (Suehiro 1960), was introduced with a cargo for the American military air base which was in operation in the island from 1941 to 1993. Hawaii: Yoshimoto (1960). Kauai: Alfken (1904); Yoshimoto (1960). Lehua: Alfken (1904). Sand Island (in Midway Atoll): Suehiro (1960). Molokai: Alfken (1904); Yoshimoto (1960). Niihau: Yoshimoto (1960). Ohau: Alfken (1904); Bridwell (1917); Kohl (1908); Swezey (1940); Yoshimoto (1960); Suman (1964). Remarks. The record by Bridwell (1917) has been obtained indirectly. In the short note of Bridwell (1917) about an unidentified species of Chrysididae is written: “Mr. Bridwell reported finding cocoons and adults of this insect in Sceliphron nests in a road culvert at Diamond Head”. Subsequently Rohwer (1922) described this cuckoo wasp as Chrysis (Pentachrysis) extraniens through six specimens sent him by P.H. Timberlake, one of them labeled “Ex Sceliphron cells,” “Diamond Head, Oahu, May, 1919”. Moreover, Timberlake accompanied the specimens with a letter in which referred to them as follow: “I also send six specimens of a Chrysidid which was first taken here in 1914, and is now fairly common in Oahu. […] It is known to paratisize the common Sceliphorn caementarium.” (Rohwer 1922). Even if Bridwell (1917) did not specify the species of Sceliphron, it is clear that it is the same as the one mentioned by Timberlake. Moreover, Sceliphron caementarium is the only species of the genus occurring in the Hawaiian islands (see Pulawski 2022). Oldest record: 1896 (Alfken 1904 from Hawaii, Lehua and Molokai). MARSHALL ISLANDS. Kwajalein: Krombein (1949). Oldest record: 1946 (Krombein 1949 from Kwajalein). MARIANA ISLANDS. Guam: Krombein (1949). Saipan: Krombein (1949). Tinian: Krombein (1949). Oldest record: 1946 (Krombein 1949 from Saipan). MARQUESAS ISLANDS. Fatu Hiva: Cheesman (1928); Williams (1932). Hiva Oa: Cheesman (1928); Williams (1932). Nuku Hiva: Cheesman (1928); Berland (1945); Ramage et al. (2015). Ua Huka: Williams (1932). Remarks. Records by van der Vecht & van Breugel (1968) are not considered because they observed the specimens already mentioned by Cheesman (1928). Oldest record: 1924 (Ramage et al. 2015 from Nuku Hiva). TUAMOTU ISLANDS. Fakahina: Ramage et al. (2015). Makatea: Ramage et al. (2015). Oldest record: 2007 (Ramage et al. 2015 from Makatea). SOCIETY ISLANDS. Bora Bora: Cheesman (1928). Moorea: Ramage et al. (2015). Raiatea: Cheesman (1928); Ramage et al. (2015). Tahiti: de Saussure (1867); Cheesman (1928); Curtiss (1938); van der Vecht & van Breugel (1968); Leclercq & Claparède (1978); Ramage et al. (2015). Remarks. From Tahiti de Saussure (1867) described Pelopeus [sic] tahitensis, subsequently synonymized with Sceliphron caementarium by Kohl (1918), and Curtiss (1938) described Sphex economica [sic], subsequently synonymized with S. caementarium by Menke in Bohart and Menke (1976). Oldest record: ante 1867 (de Saussure 1867 from Tahiti). GAMBIER ISLANDS. Mangareva: van der Vecht & van Breugel (1968); Ramage et al. (2015). Oldest record: 1905 (van der Vecht & van Breugel 1968 and Ramage et al. 2015). AUSTRAL ISLANDS. Rurutu: Ramage et al. (2015). Oldest record: 1962 (Ramage et al. 2015). SOUTHERN COOK ISLANDS. Aitutaki: Krauss (1961); van der Vecht & van Breugel (1968) (reported under Samoa). Rarotonga: Kuhlmann (2006); McCormack (2007). Oldest record: 1958 (van der Vecht & van Breugel 1968 from Aitutaki). SAMOAN ISLANDS. 1946 (Lever 1946); Kami & Miller (1998). Remarks. No precise localities are ava, Published as part of Ceccolini, Filippo, 2023, The worldwide occurrence of Sceliphron caementarium (Drury, 1773) outside its native range, with new records (Hymenoptera: Sphecidae), pp. 1-63 in Zootaxa 5242 (1) on pages 5-38, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5242.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/7642314, {"references": ["Drury, D. (1773) Illustrations of natural history. Wherein are exhibited upwards of two hundred and twenty figures of exotic insects, according to their different genera; very few of which have hitherto been figured by any author, being engraved and coloured from nature, with the greatest accuracy, and under the author's own inspection, on fifty copper-plates. With a particular description of each insect: interspersed with remarks and reflections on the nature and properties of many of them. To which is added, a translation into French. Vol. II. B. White, London, VII + 90 pp. + 50 pls. + [4] pp. [pages of index to Vols. 1 & 2]", "Drury, D. 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The observed morphological and color variations for Sceliphron species in the Philippines are hereby reported. Sceliphron madraspatanum conspicillatum and Sceliphron rufopictum laticinctum have several variations in propodeal maculation pattern and in pronotal collar and petiole of the former. Postmortem color changes were also observed in S. r. laticinctum. A single yellow band on the third tergite of S. r. laticinctum is distinct when it is alive, and an additional yellow band develops on the posterior part of abdominal tergites 2-5 after death. Mandibles may either be sharp or blunt, and clypeus may be lobed or flat for S. r. laticinctum and Sceliphron javanum aemulum. However, newly emerged adults of these species have sharper mandibles and lobed clypeus. DNA barcoding was used to address intraspecific color and morphological variation of the Philippine Sceliphrini, but not all specimens were successfully barcoded because most of the specimens were very old and contaminated by fungi. However, this study came up with a new primer that has successfully barcoded 3% of the specimens.

Bionomics of Euodynerus fastidiosus (de Saussure) was studied in Crimea. One nest located in an old burrow of Cicadatra querula (Pallas) and 13 nests located in the cells of old nests of Sceliphron spp. were examined. The nests contained 1–4 cells separated by partitions made of soil mastic which the wasps prepared by mixing dry earth with water. The lateral cell walls were also covered with soil mastic in some nests. Female wasps hunted the larvae of moths and skippers of the families Pyralidae, Crambidae, and Hesperiidae; 2–11 larvae were stored in each cell. Adult feeding was recorded on flowers of Apocynaceae and Plumbaginaceae. Euodynerus fastidiosus is a bivoltine species with hibernation at the prepupal stage. Fights between nesting females, considerably slowing down the nest construction, were recorded. The parasitic wasp Melittobia acasta Walker and the cuckoo wasp Chrysis sexdentata Christ were found in the nests. The reproductive success was 38%. The role of nest tenantry, i.e., settling in nests of other wasps and bees, in the evolution of the nest building behavior in the genus Euodynerus is discussed.

Sceliphron fistularium (Dahlbom, 1843) Last instar larva (Figures 3–19) Head capsule. Height 2.6 mm; width 2.8 mm. Parietal bands pigmented; 600 µm long, about 8 µm wide. Antennal orbits pigmented; oval; 105 µm long, 115 µm wide. Coronal concavity not distinct; frontal and antennal concavities developed, not pigmented; clypeal concavities shallower, light brown. Coronal area strongly rugose; with 10 punctures (7–8 µm in diameter) and about five setae (15–20 µm long). Frontal area with eight punctures (about 7 µm in diameter) and 13 setae (12–17 µm long). Genal areas with 25 / 36 punctures (about 6 µm in diameter) and 7 / 6 setae (9–20 µm long). Epistomal suture ill defined. Clypeal area with 14 punctures and 25 setae (13–63 µm long); basal portion strongly papillose. Anterior tentorial arms, pleurostoma and hypostoma light brown. Mouthparts. Labrum strongly bilobed, 370 µm in height and 540 µm wide; with about 50 punctures (7 µm in diameter) and 30 setae (7–28 µm long, about 2 µm in diameter); margin with 8 sensorial cones, 12 µm long and about 13 µm wide. Epipharynx covered with spines (up to 10 µm long, mostly shorter than 7 µm); spines on lateral portion, a few overlapped, oriented toward margin; spines on marginal portion oriented toward midline; spines on central portion denser, oriented toward base; sensory area with two basiconic sensilla on brown cones. Mandible dark brown, 660 µm long; second mandibular teeth larger and apical; basal portion with 10 punctures (6–7 µm in diameter). Maxilla with brown apical annulets; lateral and ventral portions with about 15 setae (10–30 µm long and about 2 µm wide); small spines on the dorsal portion; maxillary palpus 103 µm long and 85 µm wide; galea 125 µm long and 80 µm wide; lacinial area with spines (2–7 µm long). Labium brown in superior margin and lateral portion; 540 µm wide; dorsal and marginal portions papillose; ventral portion with setae (up to 14 µm long); labial palpi 70 µm long and 70 µm wide; labial projection 1.2 mm wide. Body. Intense yellow. Dorsoventrally flattened; curved. Length 16 mm. Prothorax with two unpigmented callosities. Intersegmental lines distinct. Dorsal annulets developed on thorax; few distinct on abdomen. Pleural lobes indistinct on thorax, rounded and isolated, not forming continuous band on abdomen, continuous with pleural lobes. Integument partially covered by small spines; prothoracic callosities without spine, with setae (up to 38 µm long). Spiracles brown; 160 µm in diameter; spiracular depression absent. Remarkable features visible only with scanning electron micrographs Clypeus apically rugose (Figure 15). Labrum with two kinds of small sensillae (Figures 13, 14). Epipharynx with sensillae at base (Figure 17). Labium strongly rugose on apical and frontal portions (Figures 8, 10 and 11), smooth basally (Figure 11); median furrow on dorsal portion (Figure 10); lips of spinnerets with rows of papillae on the external faces (Figure 11) and along apical margins (Figure 12); internal faces with rows of shorter papillae (Figure 12). Comparison among Sceliphron species based on larvae and a review of larval characters in Sceliphrinae The larvae of Sceliphron herein described are in general similar to those of other species of the genus (see Evans & Li 1956; Grandi 1961; Iida 1969; Asís et al. 1989); larval features that sharply distinguish species of Sceliphron were not clearly defined to date. The larvae of Sceliphron are also in general similar to those of the related genus Chalybion, as described by Evans and Lin (1956) and Tormos et al. (2006), even though the specimen of C. femoratum (Fabricius, 1781) described by the latter authors is quite distinct in several features from other described larvae of Sceliphrinae. Indeed, the paper by Tormos et al. (2006) gives rise to important doubts on generic definition of Chalybion based on larvae. Some characters that could be useful to the systematic of Sceliphron are reviewed below. A summary on morphometric features of larval Sceliphrinae is provided in Tables 1–4, in order to encourage future authors to include detailed measurements on descriptions of larval sphecids. Shape of the head One must be cautious to analyse the shape of the head of larval apoid wasps based on published illustration, because different methodologies used to study the specimens by the distinct authors can influence the illustrations and the measurements. Anyway, Buys (2004) studied several larvae of Podium, Penepodium, Ammophila, Sphex and Prionyx using an uniform technique of preparation and observation and found that genal areas of larval Sceliphron, especially of S. fistularium, tend to be more prominent that those of larvae of other genera (see Figure 1), a feature that is numerically reflected by the relation between the head width and labrum width (Table 1). The head of the examined larvae of Sceliphron are similar to those of the most of the Sceliphrinae in being a few wider than longer (compares Tables 1 and 2). On the other hand, Podium rufipes (Evans and Lin, 1956) and especially Chalybion femoratum (Tormos et al. 2006) are exceptions in having the larval head higher than wide (Table 1). Rugosity on the top and sides of the head The larvae of S. asiaticum and S. fistularium have the top and sides of the head roughened, similarly to the larvae of other species of the genus (see Evans & Lin 1956; Iida 1969; Asís et al. 1989, fig. 2). Among sphecid larvae, similar rugosity on the head has been found only in the larvae of the Sceliphrinae (e.g. Evans & Lin 1956; Buys 2001), apparently more intensely in larvae of Chalybion californicum (Saussure, 1867) (Evans and Lin 1956). Therefore, rugosity in the top of the head capsule could be used as a distinctive feature of the larvae of Sceliphrinae, although Tormos et al. (2006) have found that larvae of C. femoratum have the convexities on the top and sides of the cephalic capsule almost indiscernible. Shape of the mandibles The mandibles of Sceliphron are apparently similar to those of Chalybion illustrated by Evans and Lin (1956) and Tormos et al. (2006), but are quite distinct to those of Podium (Buys et al. 2004) and Penepodium (Buys 2001, 2006) and from other sphecids (e.g. Evans & Lin 1956). They seem to be relatively shorter and stouter, apparently in most part because of the development and apical position of the second mandibular tooth. In the mandibles of other Sceliphrinae, as well of other sphecids in general, the first mandibular tooth is larger and apical (Evans & Lin 1956; Buys 2001; Buys et al. 2004). Papillae on spinnerets Papillae on the spinnerets have rarely been included in morphological descriptions of sphecid larvae, but possibly may be a widespread feature among Apoidea. All the larval apoid wasps and bees that I have examined to date have rows of papillae in the spinnerets. The papillae are always organized in parallel rows, but the structure and density of the papillae is very different between species; for example, Centris (Hemisiella) tarsata Smith, 1874 (Apidae) has apically rounded papillae on the spinnerets (Buys 2005) and Ampulex compressa (Fabricius, 1781) (Ampulicidae) has spatulated papillae (Buys 2007). Size of setae on the head The setae on the head of larval Sceliphron are not distinctly longer than those of other Sceliphrinae (Tables 3 and 4). Evans and Lin (1956, p. 139) remarked that larvae of Podium differ from those of Sceliphron and Chalybion in having the apical part of the labrum with long setae protruding from it. However, this feature apparently is more related to the distribution of the setae than to its length. Length of the labial palpi and galeae The labial palpi tend to be as long as wide in the majority of the Sceliphrinae larvae (Table 2). On the other hand, the maxillary palpi and the galeae are longer than wide in all known larvae of Sceliphrinae (Table 2). Body colour Among Sphecidae, an intense yellow body, as observed in both of the examined Sceliphron species, was observed only in the genus Prionyx (Sphecinae) by Buys (2011). This author observed intense yellow colour in larvae of the two species of Prionyx he examined, but larvae of this genus are promptly distinguished in also having reddish coloration in parts of the body. Buys (2011) discussed the necessity of observing living or freshly killed larvae to accurately describe the colour. Alive, the larva of Penepodium luteipenne is pale yellowish (Buys 2001, 2004). Comments on scanning electronic micrographs of S. fistularium Some characters visible only with scanning electron microscopy seem to be useful to the systematic of Sceliphrinae, for example: (1) rows of papillae on spinnerets; (2) median furrow dorsally on labium; (3) distinct types of apical sensillae on labial palpi; and (4) galeae. However, the scarce use of this microscopy technique in Sphecidae to date does not allow a widely comparative discussion., Published as part of Buys, Sandor Christiano, 2013, Morphology of the last instar larvae of Sceliphron asiaticum (Linnaeus, 1758) and S. fistularium (Dahlbom, 1843), with a review on larval characters in Sceliphrinae (Hymenoptera: Sphecidae), pp. 375-386 in Journal of Natural History 48 (7 - 8) on pages 378-385, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2013.802385, http://zenodo.org/record/4632161, {"references":["Grandi G. 1961. Studi di un entomologo sugli imenotteri superiori. Bolletino dell'Instituto di Entomologia dell'Universita di Bologna, 25; p. 1 - 659.","Iida T. 1969. Contributions to the knowledge of the sphecid larvae in Japan (Hymenoptera) Part I. Kontyu. 37: 272 - 279.","Asis JD, Gayubo SF, Tormos J. 1989. Descripcion de la larva madura de Sceliphron destillatorium (Illiger) (Hymenoptera: Sphecidae). Misc Zool. 13: 105 - 108.","Evans HE, Lin CS. 1956. Studies on the larvae of digger wasps (Hymenoptera, Sphecidae). Part I: Sphecinae. Trans Am Entomol Soc. 81: 131 - 153, pls. I-VIII.","Tormos J, Polidori C, Asis JP. 2006. Description of prepupa of Chalybion femoratum (Hymenoptera: Sphecidae), with comments on larval characters in the genus. Fla Entomol. 89: 388 - 390.","Buys SC. 2001. Last instar larva of Penepodium dubium (Hymenoptera: Sphecidae). Rev Biol Trop. 49: 327 - 330.","Buys SC. 2006. Observations on the biology and description of the last instar larva of Penepodium latro (Kohl, 1902) (Hymenoptera, Sphecidae). Arq Mus Nac. 64: 121 - 124.","Buys SC, Morato EF, Garofalo CA. 2004. Description of the immature instars of three species of Podium Fabricius (Hymenoptera, Sphecidae) from Brazil. Revista Brasileira de Zoologia. 21: 73 - 77.","Buys SC. 2005. Morphological studies on the last instar larva of Centris (Hemisiella) tarsata Smith from Brazil (Insecta, Hymenoptera, Anthophoridae). Spixiana. 28: 139 - 143.","Buys SC. 2007. Morphological studies on the last instar larva of Ampulex compressa (Fabricius) from Brazil (Insecta, Hymenoptera, Ampulicidae). Spixiana. 30: 33 - 37.","Buys SC. 2011. Morphology of the last instar larvae of Prionyx thomae (Fabricius, 1775) and P. fervens (Linnaeus, 1758) (Hymenoptera: Sphecidae). Spixiana. 34: 225 - 230."]}

Melittobia acasta (Walker, 1839) had previously been found from a breeding facility of Bombus terrestris (Linnaeus, 1758), an imported pollinator in South Korea. M. acasta was newly found parasitizing Sceliphron camentarium (Drury, 1773) of Sphecidae, a wild host species, in the country. Brief biological information of the parasitoid is provided along with detailed images acquired from rearing. Descriptions and images of diagnostic characters of female and male as well are given. Keywords: Eulophidae, Melittobia acasta, New host record, Sceliphron camentarium, Sphecidae

The nesting habits of Chalybion bengalense are described. Copulation takes place at the nesting site. For nesting, the female uses old nests of Sceliphron and various eumenids, preexisting holes, a...

Two new p-terphenyls, strepantibins A and B (1 and 2), along with the first representative of a naturally occurring bisphenyltropone, strepantibin C (3), were characterized from a Streptomyces sp. associated with the larvae of the mud dauber wasp Sceliphron madraspatanum. Their structures were determined by high-resolution electrospray ionization mass spectrometry, NMR, and X-ray crystallography data interpretation. Strepantibins A-C inhibited hexokinase II (HK2) activity and displayed antiproliferative activity against hepatoma carcinoma cells HepG-2, SMMC-7721 and plc-prf-5. In SMMC-7721 cells treated with strepantibin A, the morphological characteristics of apoptosis were observed.

4. Sceliphron javanum chinenense van Breugel, 1968 Sceliphron javanum chinense van Breugel in van der Vecht & van Breugel 1968: 244, ♀, ♂. Holotype: ♀, China: Island of Hainan: Fan Heang (MCZ). Diagnosis. Mesoscutum more or less distinctly striate, but striae not sharply defined; scutellum longitudinally striate; second submarginal cell anteriorly as a rule narrower than third; hind tibia black; hind femur yellow, with usually ill defined fuscous mark at apex above; at least apical third of fore and mid femora yellow to yellowish brown; fore and mid tibiae orange yellow. According to van der Vecht & van Breugel (1968: 244), S. javanum chinense van Breugel is very similar to S. javanum javanum (Lepeletier) and S. javanum petiolare Kohl, but differs mainly by leg colour. Note. van der Vecht & van Breugel (1968) tentatively placed specimens from Sikkim, West Bengal, Assam (presently Meghalaya) under S. javanum chinenense van Breugel as sufficient materials from these areas were not available for them. For this reason this subspecies has been excluded from the present study. Distribution. India: Meghalaya, Sikkim (?), West Bengal. Elsewhere: China; Laos; Vietnam (van der Vecht & van Breugel 1968; Pulawski 2021)., Published as part of Anagha, S., Kumar, P. Girish, Binoy, C., Mazumdar, P. C. & Sureshan, P. M., 2021, A review of the mud-dauber wasps of genus Sceliphron Klug (Hymenoptera Sphecidae) from India, pp. 61-85 in Zootaxa 4969 (1) on page 82, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4969.1.3, http://zenodo.org/record/4745790, {"references":["Pulawski, W. J. (2021) Catalog of Sphecidae. Available on: http: // research. calacademy. org / ent / catalog _ sphecidae / (accessed 15 February 2021)"]}

1. Sceliphron caementarium (Drury, 1773) Sphex caementarius Drury, 1773: index to First Volume, ♀ (as caementaria, incorrect original termination). Syntypes: “ Antigua and several other places in the West-Indies” (lost: van der Vecht & van Breugel 1968: 222). Pulawski (2021) gives a list of the synonymy, which is not repeated here. Diagnosis. Frons distinctly pilose; pronotal collar dorsally with yellow band, pronotum side black; scutellum, metanotum and posterior surface of propodeum with yellow markings; mesepisternum dull, distinctly rugose between punctures, yellow mark below tegula; first tergum mostly yellow, and rest of metasomal segments and petiole black; fore and mid legs yellow: coxae, trochanter, base of femora black; hind leg black: tibiae with broad yellow ring at base, hind tarsi partly yellow. Note. As no specimens were seen during the present study, the above diagnosis has been based on published descriptions (F. Smith 1856; Bingham 1897; van der Vecht & van Breugel 1968; Schmidt–Egger 2005). Distribution. India (no specific locality). Elsewhere: Australia; Austria; Bangladesh; Belgium; Belize; Bermuda; Bulgaria; Canada; Canary island; Chile; Cook Island; Costa Rica; Croatia; Cuba; Czech Republic; Eritrea; France; French Polynesia; Fiji; Germany; Hungary; Iran; Italy; Jamaica; Japan; Korea; Luxembourg; Mariana Island; Marshall Island; Mexico; Netherland; New Caledonia; Nicaragua; Portugal; Puerto Rico; Samoa; Slovakia; Switzerland; Ukraine; United States of America; West Indies (Pulawski 2021)., Published as part of Anagha, S., Kumar, P. Girish, Binoy, C., Mazumdar, P. C. & Sureshan, P. M., 2021, A review of the mud-dauber wasps of genus Sceliphron Klug (Hymenoptera Sphecidae) from India, pp. 61-85 in Zootaxa 4969 (1) on page 63, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4969.1.3, http://zenodo.org/record/4745790, {"references":["Drury, D. (1773) Illustrations of natural history. Wherein are exhibited upwards of two hundred and forty figures of exotic insects, according to their different genera; very few of which have hitherto been figured by any author, being engraved and coloured from nature, with the greatest accuracy, and under the author's own inspection, on fifty copper-plates. With a particular description of each insect: interspersed with remarks and reflections on the nature and properties of many of them. To which is added, a translation into French. Vol. II. B. White, London, vii + 90 pp.","Pulawski, W. J. (2021) Catalog of Sphecidae. Available on: http: // research. calacademy. org / ent / catalog _ sphecidae / (accessed 15 February 2021)","Smith, F. (1856) Catalogue of hymenopterous insects in the collection of the British Museum. Part IV. Sphegidae, Larridae and Crabronidae. Taylor and Francis, London, pp. 207 - 497.","Bingham, C. T. (1897) The Fauna of British India, including Ceylon and Burma, Hymenoptera. Vol. I. Wasps and Bees. Taylor and Francis, London, 579 pp. https: // doi. org / 10.5962 / bhl. title. 100738"]}

1. Sceliphron isaaci Jha & Farooqi, 1995 Sceliphron isaaci Jha & Farooqi, 1995: 13, ♀, ♂. Holotype: ♀, India: Andaman Islands: Port Blair: North Bay (repository?). Diagnosis. Female. Frons with fine longitudinal diverging striation mixed with punctures; clypeus apico-medially incised with lateral incisions (see Fig. 5 of Jha & Farooqi (1995: 14)); pronotal collar notched in middle, transversely finely striate, side punctate; mesoscutum finely striate, transverse anteriorly and oblique posteriorly; scutellum longitudinally striate; metanotum with fine sparse punctuation; propodeal enclosure with longitudinal depression in middle; mesopleuron punctate; petiole yellow. Male. Resembles female in general morphology, clypeus similar as in pictum but lobes more pronounced (See Fig. 4 of Jha & Farooqi (1995: 14)); lobes of collar more pronounced with front surface rather densely striate; metanotum narrow, longitudinally and roughly striate; petiole longer than in female. Distribution. India: Andaman Islands (Jha & Farooqi 1995; Pulawski 2021)., Published as part of Anagha, S., Kumar, P. Girish, Binoy, C., Mazumdar, P. C. & Sureshan, P. M., 2021, A review of the mud-dauber wasps of genus Sceliphron Klug (Hymenoptera Sphecidae) from India, pp. 61-85 in Zootaxa 4969 (1) on page 81, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4969.1.3, http://zenodo.org/record/4745790, {"references":["Jha, B. S. & Farooqi, S. J. (1995) Four new species of Sceliphron Klug (Sphecoidea: Sphecidae) from India. Shashpa, 2, 12 - 22.","Pulawski, W. J. (2021) Catalog of Sphecidae. Available on: http: // research. calacademy. org / ent / catalog _ sphecidae / (accessed 15 February 2021)"]}

b. Sceliphron madraspatanum formosanum van der Vecht, 1968 (Figs 37–41) Sceliphron madraspatanum Rohwer, 1911: 482 (Taiwan). Sceliphron madraspatanum formosanum van der Vecht in van der Vecht & van Breugel, 1968: 204, ♀, ♂. Holotype: ♀, Taiwan: Chiai Prefecture: Kagi, now Chiayi (RMNH). Diagnosis. Female. Similar to S.madraspatanum madraspatanum (Fabricius) in general morphology and colouration except distinct yellow mark below tegula (Fig. 40); scutellum with large yellow spot (Fig. 39). Male. Similar to female. Material Examined. India: Bihar: Bhojpur Dist., Arrha, 1♀, 10.xii.2012, Coll. B.K. Singh, NZC Regd. No. 15538/H3. Chhattishgarh: Kabirdham Dist., Chilpi, 1♂, 09.vi.2012, NZC Regd. No. 15539/H3. Jharkhand: Singbhum Dist., Chotonagpur, Manoharpur, 1♀ and 3♂, 26.ii.1954 and 24.ii.1954, Coll. A.P. Kapur, NZC Regd. Nos. 15533/ H3–15534/H3, 15535/H3 and 15536/H3; Manoharpur, 1♀, 27.ii.1954, Coll. A.P. Kapur, NZC Regd. No. 15537/H3. Maharashtra: Thanae Dist., Kalyan East, 23.iii.2019, 1♂, Coll. C. Charesh, ZSIK Regd. No. ZSI/ WGRC /I. R.–INV. 14881. Odisha: Ganjam Dist., Chilka Lake, 1♀, Date of Collection. unknown, Coll. Annandale, NZC Regd. No. 15540/H3. Kerala: Kollam Dist., Sasthamkotta, 1♂, 26.ix.2017 Coll. P. Girish Kumar, ZSIK Regd. No. ZSI/ WGRC / I. R.–INV. 10147. Uttar Pradesh: Sitapur Dist., Laharpur, 1♂, 24.ix.2006, Coll. M. Sil and Party, NZC Regd. No. 15531/H3; Sitapur Dist., Gangaganj, 1♂, 22.ix.2006, Coll. M. Sil and Party, NZC Regd. No. 15532/H3. Distribution. India (new country record): Bihar, Chhattishgarh, Jharkhand, Kerala, Maharashtra, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh. Elsewhere: China; Japan; Taiwan (Pulawski 2021)., Published as part of Anagha, S., Kumar, P. Girish, Binoy, C., Mazumdar, P. C. & Sureshan, P. M., 2021, A review of the mud-dauber wasps of genus Sceliphron Klug (Hymenoptera Sphecidae) from India, pp. 61-85 in Zootaxa 4969 (1) on page 74, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4969.1.3, http://zenodo.org/record/4745790, {"references":["Rohwer, S. A. (1911) On some hymenopterous insects from the island of Formosa. Proceedings of the United States National Museum, 39, 477 - 485. https: // doi. org / 10.5479 / si. 00963801.1794.477","Pulawski, W. J. (2021) Catalog of Sphecidae. Available on: http: // research. calacademy. org / ent / catalog _ sphecidae / (accessed 15 February 2021)"]}

3. Sceliphron paraintrudens Jha & Farooqi, 1995. Sceliphron paraintrudens Jha & Farooqi, 1995: 17, ♀, ♂. Holotype: ♀, India: Bihar: Pusa (repository?) Diagnosis. Female. Frons with very fine shallow close punctures; clypeus apico-medially incised, forming two lobes, outer margin of each lobe obliquely truncate, incision on either side delimiting middle lobe (see Fig. 15 of Jha & Farooqi (1995: 18)); pronotal collar with fine shallow crowded punctation; mesonotum with very fine striation, transverse anteriorly, becoming oblique posteriorly; scutellum and metanotum longitudinally finely striate; propodeal enclosure with longitudinal depression in middle, striation comparatively bold, but similar as in S. madraspatanum in arrangement; mesopleuron with crowded punctation; petiole reddish yellow. Male. Metanotum transversely striate; petiole longer than female and pale yellow except apex. Distribution. India: Bihar (Jha & Farooqi 1995; Pulawski 2021)., Published as part of Anagha, S., Kumar, P. Girish, Binoy, C., Mazumdar, P. C. & Sureshan, P. M., 2021, A review of the mud-dauber wasps of genus Sceliphron Klug (Hymenoptera Sphecidae) from India, pp. 61-85 in Zootaxa 4969 (1) on page 82, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4969.1.3, http://zenodo.org/record/4745790, {"references":["Jha, B. S. & Farooqi, S. J. (1995) Four new species of Sceliphron Klug (Sphecoidea: Sphecidae) from India. Shashpa, 2, 12 - 22.","Pulawski, W. J. (2021) Catalog of Sphecidae. Available on: http: // research. calacademy. org / ent / catalog _ sphecidae / (accessed 15 February 2021)"]}

5. Sceliphron destillatorium (Illiger, 1807) (Figs 20–24) Pepsis destillatoria Illiger, 1807: 94, sex not indicated. Holotype or syntypes: Europe: no specific locality (destroyed). Pulawski (2021) gives a list of the synonymy, which is not repeated here. Diagnosis. Female. Frons pilose, distinctly punctate; clypeus apico–medially produced with median incision forming two lobes, these lobes followed by lateral incisions forming blunt lobes sublaterally (Fig. 21); pronotal collar finely punctate with notch in middle; mesoscutum with more or less distinct, fine close striation, anteriorly almost transversely striate, becoming oblique posteriorly; scutellum and metanotum with longitudinal oblong striation; metanotum with broad yellowish brown band (Fig. 22); propodeal enclosure with wavy striation, medially with shallow depression; mesepisternum shiny, with close and coarse fine punctures; propodeum side with distinct striation and punctures in interstices (Fig. 23); metasoma black (Fig. 24); tegula and petiole yellowish brown. Male. Not seen during the present study. Similar to female in most aspects (Kohl 1918). Variability. The female specimens examined here differ in colour compared to the description of Schmid–Egger (2005). Tegula, band on metanotum, petiole, parts of legs are yellowish brown in the specimens examined, while lemon yellow according to Schmid–Egger. Material Examined. India: Himachal Pradesh: Shimla Dist., 1♀, May 1971, Coll. Unknown, ZSIK Regd. No. ZSI/ WGRC /I. R.–INV. 14897. Distribution. India (new country record): Himachal Pradesh. Elsewhere: Afghanistan; Albania; Algeria; Austria; Bulgaria; China; Croatia; Czech Republic; France; Germany; Greece; Hungary; Iran; Iraq; Israel; Italy; Jordan; Kazakhstan; Kyrgyzstan; Macedonia; Montenegro; Morrocco; Poland; Portugal; Romania; Russia; Serbia; Slovakia; Slovenia; Spain; Switzerland; Syria; Tajikistan; Tunisia; Turkey; Turkmenistan; Ukraine; Uzbekistan (Pulawski 2021)., Published as part of Anagha, S., Kumar, P. Girish, Binoy, C., Mazumdar, P. C. & Sureshan, P. M., 2021, A review of the mud-dauber wasps of genus Sceliphron Klug (Hymenoptera Sphecidae) from India, pp. 61-85 in Zootaxa 4969 (1) on pages 69-70, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4969.1.3, http://zenodo.org/record/4745790, {"references":["Illiger, K. (1807) Fauna Etrusca sistens Insecta quae in provinciis Florentina et Pisana praesertim collegit Petrus Rossius. Vol. 2. Helmstadii. Typis Thomae Masi & Sociorum, Liburni, vi + 511 pp.","Pulawski, W. J. (2021) Catalog of Sphecidae. Available on: http: // research. calacademy. org / ent / catalog _ sphecidae / (accessed 15 February 2021)","Kohl, F. (1918) Die Hautfluglergruppe \" Sphecinae \". IV. Die naturliche Gattung Sceliphron Klug (= Pelopaeus Latr.). Annalen des K. K. Naturhistorischen Hofmuseums, 32, 1 - 171. https: // doi. org / 10.5962 / bhl. part. 2204"]}

7. Sceliphron intrudens (F. Smith, 1858) Pelopeus intrudens F. Smith, 1858: 15, ♀, ♂. Lectotype: ♀, Indonesia: Sulawesi: no specific locality (BMNH), designated by van der Vecht & van Breugel 1968: 212. Diagnosis. Female. Frons distinctly pilose; clypeus incised medially; mesoscutum and propodeum transversely striate; scutellum and metanotum longitudinally striate; mesepisternum more or less coarsely punctate; metasoma smooth and shining; petiole pale yellow. Male. Similar to female except smaller in size (F. Smith 1858; van der Vecht & van Breugel 1968). Note. No specimens were seen during the present study, hence the above diagnosis has been based on the published descriptions (F. Smith 1858; Bingham 1897; van der Vecht & van Breugel 1968). Distribution. India: Sikkim, Meghalaya. Elsewhere: Indonesia; Malaysia; Maldives; Myanmar; Sri Lanka; Thailand; Vietnam (Jonathan & Kundu 2003; Pulawski 2021)., Published as part of Anagha, S., Kumar, P. Girish, Binoy, C., Mazumdar, P. C. & Sureshan, P. M., 2021, A review of the mud-dauber wasps of genus Sceliphron Klug (Hymenoptera Sphecidae) from India, pp. 61-85 in Zootaxa 4969 (1) on page 70, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4969.1.3, http://zenodo.org/record/4745790, {"references":["Smith, F. (1858) Catalogue of hymenopterous insects collected at Celebes by Mr. A. R. Wallace. Journal of the Proceedings of the Linnean Society, Zoology, 3, 4 - 27. https: // doi. org / 10.1111 / j. 1096 - 3642.1858. tb 02506. x","Bingham, C. T. (1897) The Fauna of British India, including Ceylon and Burma, Hymenoptera. Vol. I. Wasps and Bees. Taylor and Francis, London, 579 pp. https: // doi. org / 10.5962 / bhl. title. 100738","Jonathan, J. K. & Kundu, B. G. (2003) Insecta: Hymenoptera: Sphecidae. In: Fauna of Sikkim, State Fauna Series. 9 (4). Zoological Survey of India, Calcutta, pp. 417 - 446.","Pulawski, W. J. (2021) Catalog of Sphecidae. Available on: http: // research. calacademy. org / ent / catalog _ sphecidae / (accessed 15 February 2021)"]}

b. Sceliphron deforme tibiale Cameron, 1899 (Figs 15–19) Sceliphron formosum Bingham, 1897: 239 (in revision of wasps and bees of British India), identification corrected to S. deforme tibiale by Hensen 1987: 234. Sceliphron tibiale Cameron, 1899: 53, sex not indicated. Lectotype: ♀, India: Assam [now Meghalaya]: Khasia Hills (OXUM), designated by Hensen 1987: 236. As Sceliphron deforme tibiale: Bohart and Menke, 1976: 106 (new status). Sceliphron lineatipes Cameron, 1900: 36, ♂. Lectotype: ♂, India: Assam [now Meghalaya]: Khasia (OXUM) designated by Hensen 1987: 236. Synonymized with Sceliphron deforme by Hensen, 1987: 236. Diagnosis. Female. Frons distictly pilose, upper frons rugulose to weakly striate, sculpture on remaining frons not visible due to pilosity; clypeus apico-medially produced with median incision forming two lobes; pale yellowish brown macula on upper clypeal margin (Fig. 16); pronotal collar dorsally with broad pale yellowish brown band, medially notched; mesoscutum transversely striate; scutellum with longitudinal oblong striations and punctures,broad pale yellowish patch antero–medially; metanotum faintly and transversely striate; propodeal enclosure transversely striate, with shallow depression in middle, basal propodeal spots (on each side), pair of small spots at apex of dorsal enclosure and large mark at posterior surface of propodeum pale yellowish brown (Fig. 17); mesepisternum and propodeum side with fine striation, pale yellowish brown mark below tegula (Fig. 18); metasoma with first and second tergum mostly reddish brown to deep brown, paler on posterior margin of remaining terga (Fig. 19); petiole black. Male. Not seen during the present study. Colouration similar to female or at most reduced: clypeus with pair of small yellow spots or completely black; yellow spots at base of propodeum small or absent; metasoma with narrow yellow bands on fourth to sixth tergum, those on second and third reduced or absent (Hensen 1987). Variability. The female specimens examined here differ in colour from the description of Bingham (1897). Macula on upper clypeal margin; band on pronotum; antero–median patch on scutellum; pair of spots at apex of dorsal enclosure and large mark on posterior surface of propodeum are pale yellowish brown in the specimens examined, while yellow according to Bingham. Material Examined. India: Arunachal Pradesh: Papumpare Dist., Itanagar, Shanke Valley, 2♀, 08.vii.2002, Coll. P. T. Bhutia and Party, NZC Regd. Nos. 15555/H3–15556/H3; Papumpare Dist., Tipi, 1♀, 03.v.1966, Coll. A.N. T. Joseph, NZC Regd. No. 15557/H3. Assam: Kamrup Dist., Manas, Kahitama, 1♀, 24.iv.1986, S.S. Saha and Party, NZC Regd. No. 15558/H3. Meghalaya: East Garo Hills Dist., Songsok, 5♀, 05.v.1979, Coll. J.K. Jonathan and Party, NZC Regd. Nos. 15559/H3–15563/H3; East Garo Hills Dist., Dainadubi, 1♀, 08.v.1979, Coll. J.K. Jonathan and Party, NZC Regd. No. 15564/H3; East Garo Hills Dist., Williamnagar, 1♀, 27.v.1990, Coll. M.S. Shisodia and Party, NZC Regd. No. 15567/H3; West Garo Hills Dist., Bhaitbari, 1♀, 06.iv.1973, Coll. S. Biswas and Party, NZC Regd. No. 15568/H3; West Garo Hills Dist., Anugiri, 1♀, 20.iv.1991, Coll. B.C Das and Party, NZC Regd. No. 15569/H3. Manipur: Thoubal Dist., Thoubal, 1♀, 21.viii.1922, Coll. Unknown, NZC Regd. No. 15569/ H3. Tripura: Unakoti Dist., Kailashahar, 1♀, 28.v.1978, Coll. J.K. Jonathan and Party, NZC Regd. No. 15571/H3. West Bengal: Darjeeling Dist., Siliguri, 2♀, 06.iv.1973, Coll. N.S. Sharma and Party, NZC Regd. Nos. 15572/H3 and 15573/H3; Darjeeling Dist., Singla, 2♀, Date of Collection. unknown, Coll. Lord Carmichael, NZC Regd. Nos. 15574/H3 and 15575/H3. Distribution. India: Arunachal Pradesh (new state record), Assam (new state record), Manipur (new state record), Meghalaya, Sikkim, Tripura (new state record), Uttarakhand, West Bengal. Elsewhere: Australia; Bangladesh; Myanmar; Tanzania (Bingham 1897; Pulawski 2021)., Published as part of Anagha, S., Kumar, P. Girish, Binoy, C., Mazumdar, P. C. & Sureshan, P. M., 2021, A review of the mud-dauber wasps of genus Sceliphron Klug (Hymenoptera Sphecidae) from India, pp. 61-85 in Zootaxa 4969 (1) on page 69, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4969.1.3, http://zenodo.org/record/4745790, {"references":["Cameron, P. (1899) Description of a new genus and some new species of fossorial Hymenoptera from the Oriental Zoological Region. The Annals and Magazine of Natural History, Seris 7, 4 (19), 52 - 69. https: // doi. org / 10.1080 / 00222939908678162","Bingham, C. T. (1897) The Fauna of British India, including Ceylon and Burma, Hymenoptera. Vol. I. Wasps and Bees. Taylor and Francis, London, 579 pp. https: // doi. org / 10.5962 / bhl. title. 100738","Hensen, R. V. (1987) Revision of the subgenus Prosceliphron van der Vecht (Hymenoptera, Sphecidae). Tijdschrift voor Entomologie, 129, 217 - 261.","Bohart, R. M. & Menke, A. S. (1976) Sphecid wasps of the world. A generic revision. University of California Press, Berkeley, Los Angeles and London, 695 pp. https: // doi. org / 10.1525 / 9780520309548","Cameron, P. (1900) Descriptions of new genera and species of aculeate Hymenoptera from the Oriental Zoological Region. The Annals and Magazine of Natural History, Series 7, 5 (28), 17 - 41. https: // doi. org / 10.1080 / 00222930008678237","Pulawski, W. J. (2021) Catalog of Sphecidae. Available on: http: // research. calacademy. org / ent / catalog _ sphecidae / (accessed 15 February 2021)"]}

4. a. Sceliphron deforme deforme (F. Smith, 1856) Pelopoeus deformis F. Smith, 1856: 231, ♀. Lectotype: ♀, North China: no specific locality (BMNH), designated by Hensen, 1987: 238. Sceliphron deforme taiwanum Tsuneki, 1971: 6, ♀, ♂. Holotype: ♀, Taiwan: Taitung Prefecture: Chulu (originally K. Tsuneki coll., now USNM). Synonymized with Sceliphron deforme deforme by Hensen, 1987: 238. Diagnosis. Female. Frons distinctly pilose; clypeus apico-medially incised without lateral incisions (c.f. Figs 33 & 34 of Hensen (1987: 229)); pronotal collar and scutellum with yellow markings; mesoscutum and propodeum transversely striate; propodeum with large basal spots and sometimes with pair of spot at apex of dorsal enclosure; metasoma with reddish yellow band on all terga. Male. Darker than the female, yellow markings less developed: clypeus often with pair of small spots; basal propodeal spots and bands on terga usually reduced, sometimes nearly absent. Note. As no specimens were seen during the present study, the above diagnosis has been based on the published descriptions of the species (F. Smith 1856; Tsuneki 1971; Hensen 1987). Distribution. India: Assam. Elsewhere: China (including Hong Kong); France; Japan; Kazakhstan; Korea; Laos; Mongolia; Montenegro; Myanmar; Philippines; Russia; Tajikistan; Taiwan; Thailand; Vietnam (Barthélémy 2014; Dollfuss 2016; Pulawski 2021)., Published as part of Anagha, S., Kumar, P. Girish, Binoy, C., Mazumdar, P. C. & Sureshan, P. M., 2021, A review of the mud-dauber wasps of genus Sceliphron Klug (Hymenoptera Sphecidae) from India, pp. 61-85 in Zootaxa 4969 (1) on page 66, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4969.1.3, http://zenodo.org/record/4745790, {"references":["Smith, F. (1856) Catalogue of hymenopterous insects in the collection of the British Museum. Part IV. Sphegidae, Larridae and Crabronidae. Taylor and Francis, London, pp. 207 - 497.","Hensen, R. V. (1987) Revision of the subgenus Prosceliphron van der Vecht (Hymenoptera, Sphecidae). Tijdschrift voor Entomologie, 129, 217 - 261.","Barthelemy, Ch. (2014) Provisional distributional checklist of Hong Kong Sphecidae (Apoidea). Hong Kong Entomological Bulletin, 6, 3 - 10.","Dollfuss, H. (2016) The Chloriontinae, Sceliphrinae and Sphecinae Wasps of the \" Biologiezentrum Linz \" - collection in Linz, Austria including the genera Chalybion Dahlbom, Chlorion Latreille, Dynatus Lepeletier de Saint Fargeau, Penepodium Menke, Podium Fabricius, Sceliphron Klug, Stangeella Menke and Trigonopsis Perty (Hymenoptera, Apoidea, Sphecidae) and description of the new species Chalybion ohli from Madagascar. Linzer biologische Beitrage, 48, 1149 - 1185.","Pulawski, W. J. (2021) Catalog of Sphecidae. Available on: http: // research. calacademy. org / ent / catalog _ sphecidae / (accessed 15 February 2021)"]}

d. Sceliphron madraspatanum pictum (F. Smith, 1856) (Figs. 51–55) Pelopaeus pictus F. Smith, 1856: 231, ♂. Syntypes: India: no specific locality (OXUM). Diagnosis. Female. Similar to S.madraspatanum madraspatanum (Fabricius) in general morphology and colouration except propodeal dorsum with large yellow marks, confluent with large yellow mark on apex; scutellum with large yellow spot (Fig. 53); distinct yellow mark below tegula (Fig. 54). Male. Similar to female. Material Examined. India: Rajasthan, Pali Dist., Thar desert, Bhandari, 1♀, 28.iii.2019, Coll. P. Girish Kumar, ZSIK Regd. No. ZSI/ WGRC /I. R.–INV. 14878; Jodhpur Dist., Thar desert, Kailana Lakeside, 1♂, 18.xi.2013, Coll. Gaurav Sharma and party, ZSIK Regd. No. ZSI/ WGRC /I. R.–INV. 14879. Uttar Pradesh; Ghaziabad Dist., Salarpur Kalan, 1♀, 06.vi.1989, Coll. M.S. Shishodia and party, ZSIK Regd. No. ZSI/ WGRC /I. R.–INV. 14880. Distribution. India: Maharashtra, Punjab, Rajasthan (new state record), Uttar Pradesh (new state record), West Bengal. Elsewhere: Afghanistan; Iran; Oman; Pakistan; Qatar; Turkmenistan; United Arab Emirates (van der Vecht & van Breugel 1968; Gadallah 2020; Pulawski 2021)., Published as part of Anagha, S., Kumar, P. Girish, Binoy, C., Mazumdar, P. C. & Sureshan, P. M., 2021, A review of the mud-dauber wasps of genus Sceliphron Klug (Hymenoptera Sphecidae) from India, pp. 61-85 in Zootaxa 4969 (1) on page 78, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4969.1.3, http://zenodo.org/record/4745790, {"references":["Smith, F. (1856) Catalogue of hymenopterous insects in the collection of the British Museum. Part IV. Sphegidae, Larridae and Crabronidae. Taylor and Francis, London, pp. 207 - 497.","Gadallah, N. S. (2020) Biodiversity of the aculeate wasps (Hymenoptera: Aculeata) of the Arabian Peninsula: Apoidea (Spheciformes), Sphecidae (sensu, stricto). Zootaxa, 4754 (1), 77 - 90. https: // doi. org / 10.11646 / zootaxa. 4754.1.8","Pulawski, W. J. (2021) Catalog of Sphecidae. Available on: http: // research. calacademy. org / ent / catalog _ sphecidae / (accessed 15 February 2021)"]}

c. Sceliphron javanum petiolare Kohl, 1918 Sceliphron petiolare Kohl, 1918: 95, ♀. Holotype: ♀, Indonesia: Sumatra: Deli (ZMHU). Diagnosis. Mesoscutum more or less distinctly striate, but striae not sharply defined; scutellum longitudinally striate; second submarginal cell anteriorly as a rule narrower than third; petiole distinctly longer than hind tibia; at least apical third of hind femur black, dark area rather sharply separated from basal yellow part. According to Kohl (1918), S. javanum petiolare Kohl is similar to S. javanum javanum (Lepeletier) in general sculpture. Note. No specimens were seen during the present study, so the above diagnosis has been based on the published descriptions (Kohl 1918; van der Vecht & van Breugel 1968). Distribution. India (no specific locality). Elsewhere: Indonesia; Malaysia; Myanmar; Thailand; Vietnam (van der Vecht & van Breugel 1968; Pulawski 2021)., Published as part of Anagha, S., Kumar, P. Girish, Binoy, C., Mazumdar, P. C. & Sureshan, P. M., 2021, A review of the mud-dauber wasps of genus Sceliphron Klug (Hymenoptera Sphecidae) from India, pp. 61-85 in Zootaxa 4969 (1) on pages 72-74, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4969.1.3, http://zenodo.org/record/4745790, {"references":["Kohl, F. (1918) Die Hautfluglergruppe \" Sphecinae \". IV. Die naturliche Gattung Sceliphron Klug (= Pelopaeus Latr.). Annalen des K. K. Naturhistorischen Hofmuseums, 32, 1 - 171. https: // doi. org / 10.5962 / bhl. part. 2204","Pulawski, W. J. (2021) Catalog of Sphecidae. Available on: http: // research. calacademy. org / ent / catalog _ sphecidae / (accessed 15 February 2021)"]}

8. a. Sceliphron javanum javanum (Lepeletier, 1845) Pelopaeus javanus Lepeletier 1845: 309, ♀ (as Javanus, incorrect original capitalization). Holotype: ♀, Indonesia: Java: no specific locality (originally Audinet-Serville coll., now M. Spinola collection (MRSN)). Diagnosis. Female. Mesoscutum more or less distinctly striate, but striae not sharply defined; scutellum longitudinally striate; propodeum transversely striate with shallow depression medially; second submarginal cell anteriorly narrower than third; petiole equal to length of hind tibia; hind tibia black; hind femur yellow with usually ill defined fuscous mark at apex above; fore and mid femora black, brownish at apex; fore and mid tibiae orange yellow to pale brown. Male. Similar to female except for petiole little longer (Bingham, 1897). Note. No specimens were seen during the present study, so the above diagnosis has been based on the published descriptions (Bingham 1897; van der Vecht & van Breugel 1968). Distribution. India: Arunachal Pradesh, Kerala, Sikkim, West Bengal. Elsewhere: Cambodia; China; Indonesia; Japan; Laos; Malaysia; Myanmar; Nepal; Sri Lanka; Thailand; Vietnam (Barthélémy 2014; Dollfuss 2016; Kundu et al. 2006; Pulawski 2021)., Published as part of Anagha, S., Kumar, P. Girish, Binoy, C., Mazumdar, P. C. & Sureshan, P. M., 2021, A review of the mud-dauber wasps of genus Sceliphron Klug (Hymenoptera Sphecidae) from India, pp. 61-85 in Zootaxa 4969 (1) on page 72, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4969.1.3, http://zenodo.org/record/4745790, {"references":["Lepeletier De Saint Fargeau, A. L. M. (1845) Histoire naturelle des Insectes. Hymenopteres. Vol. 3. Librairie Encyclopedique de Roret, Paris, 646 + 4 pp.","Bingham, C. T. (1897) The Fauna of British India, including Ceylon and Burma, Hymenoptera. Vol. I. Wasps and Bees. Taylor and Francis, London, 579 pp. https: // doi. org / 10.5962 / bhl. title. 100738","Barthelemy, Ch. (2014) Provisional distributional checklist of Hong Kong Sphecidae (Apoidea). Hong Kong Entomological Bulletin, 6, 3 - 10.","Dollfuss, H. (2016) The Chloriontinae, Sceliphrinae and Sphecinae Wasps of the \" Biologiezentrum Linz \" - collection in Linz, Austria including the genera Chalybion Dahlbom, Chlorion Latreille, Dynatus Lepeletier de Saint Fargeau, Penepodium Menke, Podium Fabricius, Sceliphron Klug, Stangeella Menke and Trigonopsis Perty (Hymenoptera, Apoidea, Sphecidae) and description of the new species Chalybion ohli from Madagascar. Linzer biologische Beitrage, 48, 1149 - 1185.","Kundu, B. G., Ghosh, S. N. & Tiwari, R. N. (2006) Insecta: Hymenoptera: Aculeata: Sphecidae. In: Fauna of Arunachal Pradesh, State Fauna Series. 13 (2). Zoological Survey of India, Calcutta, pp. 399 - 426.","Pulawski, W. J. (2021) Catalog of Sphecidae. Available on: http: // research. calacademy. org / ent / catalog _ sphecidae / (accessed 15 February 2021)"]}

2. Sceliphron neobilineatum Jha & Farooqi, 1995 Sceliphron neobilineatum Jha & Farooqi, 1995: 15, ♀, ♂. Holotype: ♀, India: Bihar: Pusa (repository?). Diagnosis. Female. Frons with fine striation diverging from ocellar region; clypeus apico-medially incised, without lateral incisions (see Fig. 10 of Jha & Farooqi (1995: 18)); pronotal collar with yellow band, transversely striate and finely pitted anteriorly; mesoscutum with regular transverse striation; scutellum and top of metanotum yellow, scutellum longitudinally and metanotum transversely striate; propodeal enclosure transversely striate, with narrow longitudinal furrow in middle, posterior half of propodeum yellow except along median line; mesopleuron striate and punctate; petiole, anterior half of first metasomal tergum sub-apically and sub- basally yellow. Male. Striation on mesoscutum posteriorly usually circular; mesopleural striation broken and distantly placed; petiole longer than in female. Distribution. India: Bihar (Jha & Farooqi 1995; Pulawski 2021).

b. Sceliphron javanum nalandicum (Strand, 1915) (Figs 25–31) As Pelopoeus spinolae F. Smith, 1856: 231 (Bombay, Sri Lanka), 1871: 359 (in catalog of Oriental Aculeata). Sceliphron javanum var. nalandicum Strand, 1915: 93, ♀. Syntypes: ♀, Sri Lanka: Nalanda and Kandy (DEI). Diagnosis. Female. Frons distinctly pilose, sculpture not clearly visible due to pilosity; clypeus apico–medially produced with median incision forming two lobes, these two lobes followed by lateral incisions forming blunt lobes sublaterally (Fig. 26); pronotal collar finely punctate with mesal notch; mesoscutum with more or less distinct fine close striation, anteriorly almost transversely striate, striae becoming oblique posteriorly; scutellum and metanotum with longitudinal oblong striation; propodeal enclosure with wavy striation, medially with shallow depression (Fig. 28); mesepisternum shiny with fine punctation; propodeum side with distinct striation and punctures in interstices (Fig. 29); metasoma black with fine setae (Fig. 30); tegula black; petiole yellow. Male. Similar to female. Material Examined. India: Meghalaya: West Garo hills Dist., Tura, 1♀, 15.vi.1915, Coll. S.K. Kemp, NZC Regd. No. 15658/H3. Odisha: Mayurbhanj Dist., Magshani, 1♀, 19.iii.1973, Coll. S.K. Gupta and Party, NZC Regd. No. 15653/H3; Mayurbhanj Dist., Astic, Baripada, 1♀, 21.iii.1973, Coll. S.K. Gupta and Party, NZC Regd. No. 15654/H3; Mayurbhanj Dist., Burrapani, 2♀, 06.iv.1923, Coll. R. P. Mullins, NZC Regd. Nos. 15655/H3 and 15656/H3. Kerala: Idukki Dist., Periyar, 1♀, 01.iii.1981, Coll. R. S. Pillai and Party, NZC Regd. No. 15657/H3; Kozhikode Dist., Kottooli wetland, 1♀, 08.v–20.vi.2017, Coll. Anisha and Party, ZSIK Regd. No. ZSI/ WGRC / I. R.–INV. 10006; Kannur Dist., Kannapuram mangrooves, 13-14.v.2018, 1♂, Coll. C. Charesh, ZSIK Regd. No. ZSI/ WGRC /I. R.–INV. 11436. Distribution. India: Kerala, Maharashtra, Meghalaya (new state record), Odisha (new state record), Pondicherry, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal. Elsewhere: Bangladesh; Indonesia; Sri Lanka (van der Vecht & van Breugel 1968; Bohart & Menke 1976; Pulawski 2021)., Published as part of Anagha, S., Kumar, P. Girish, Binoy, C., Mazumdar, P. C. & Sureshan, P. M., 2021, A review of the mud-dauber wasps of genus Sceliphron Klug (Hymenoptera Sphecidae) from India, pp. 61-85 in Zootaxa 4969 (1) on page 72, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4969.1.3, http://zenodo.org/record/4745790, {"references":["Strand, E. (1915) Ueber einige orientalische und palaarktische Crabroniden der Gattungen Sphex, Sceliphron und Ammophila im Deutschen Entomologischen Museum. Archiv fur Naturgeschichte, Abteilung A, 81 (5), 88 - 97. Tsuneki, K. (1971) Studies on the Formosan Sphecidae (IX). A supplement to the subfamily Sphecidae (Hym.). Etizenia, 53,","Smith, F. (1856) Catalogue of hymenopterous insects in the collection of the British Museum. Part IV. Sphegidae, Larridae and Crabronidae. Taylor and Francis, London, pp. 207 - 497.","Bohart, R. M. & Menke, A. S. (1976) Sphecid wasps of the world. A generic revision. University of California Press, Berkeley, Los Angeles and London, 695 pp. https: // doi. org / 10.1525 / 9780520309548","Pulawski, W. J. (2021) Catalog of Sphecidae. Available on: http: // research. calacademy. org / ent / catalog _ sphecidae / (accessed 15 February 2021)"]}

Genus Sceliphron Klug, 1801 Sceliphron Klug 1801: 561. Type species: Sphex (= Sceliphron) spirifex Linnaeus, 1758, designated by Bingham 1897: 235. Pulawski (2021) gives a list of the synonymy, which is not repeated here. Diagnosis. Propodeum with U-shaped dorsal enclosure; both recurrent veins of fore wing received by second submarginal cell; spiracular groove absent; female without fore tarsal rake; tarsi with plantulae; body usually with yellow markings (Bohart & Menke 1976); clypeus of female apico-medially incised, with or without deep/shallow lateral incisions, followed by sublateral lobes (Figs 2, 11, 16, 21, 26, 33, 43, 52); clypeus of male apico-medially emarginate, with or without blunt lobes laterally (Figs 8, 31, 38, 49). Distribution. Widely distributed in temperate and tropical regions throughout the world (Pulawski 2021). Prey. Spiders belonging to the families Anyphaenidae, Araneidae, Argiopidae, Clubionidae, Heteropodidae, Loxoscelidae, Mimetidae, Miturgidae, Oxyopidae, Philodromidae, Pholcidae, Salticidae, Selenopidae, Scytodidae, Theridiidae and Thomisidae (Camillo 2002; Fateryga & Kovblyuk 2014). Key to Indian species and subspecies of Sceliphron Klug (Adopted from van der Vecht & van Breugel (1968) and Hensen (1987)) (Indian species S. neobilineatum Jha & Farooqi, S. paraintrudens Jha & Farooqui, and S. isaaci Jha & Farooqi are excluded due to lack of details in the descriptions; our efforts to locate the type material proved unsuccessful) 1. Last metasomal sternum of female with longitudinal carina as long as half length of sternum (Fig. 7); lower half of inner eye margin sub-parallel (Fig. 2); last metasomal tergum of male with pygostyle (Fig. 9); second submarginal cell of fore wing wider than third anteriorly (Fig. 3); mandibles without tooth on inner side............................................. 2 - Last metasomal sternum of female slightly convex, rarely with short longitudinal carina on apical third (Fig. 48); lower half of inner eye margin distinctly converging towards clypeus (Fig. 43); last metasomal tergum of male without pygostyle (Fig. 50); second submarginal cell of fore wing not wider than third anteriorly, if wider than third, then female mandible with distinct tooth on inner side.................................................................................... 8 2. Petiole in lateral view nearly straight, yellow, usually longer than hind tibia........................ S. rectum Kohl ... 3 - Petiole in lateral view distinctly curved (Figs 1, 15), usually shorter than hind tibia................................. 4 3. Metanotum with yellow band; propodeum with extensive yellow markings; first tergum usually with yellow band; hind tibia black.................................................................. S. rectum pulchellam Gussakovskij - Metanotum, propodeum and first tergum black; hind tibia yellow on outer side.................. S. rectum rectum Kohl 4. Mesoscutum dull, ruguloso-striate (Fig. 12)................................................................ 5 - Mesoscutum comparatively shiny, regularly striate (Figs 4 & 17)............................................... 6 5. Interocular distance at vertex distinctly longer than first flagellomere.......................... S. curvatum (F. Smith) - Interocular distance shorter.................................................. S. formosum formosum (F. Smith) 6. Petiole yellow to yellowish brown, rest of metasoma black; mesosoma usually entirely black (except on prontal collar) (Fig. 4)........................................................................ S. coromandelicum (Lepeletier) - Petiole entirely or mostly black; mesosoma usually with extensive yellow areas............... S. deforme (F. Smith)... 7 7. Yellow bands on first and second terga complete; post antennal tubercle with yellow spot.... S. deforme deforme (F. Smith) - First and second terga mostly reddish brown to deep brown, paler on the posterior margin of remaining terga (Fig. 19); post antennal tubercle black.......................................................... S. deforme tibiale Cameron 8. Hind coxa normal or somewhat swollen, rounded on outer side (Fig. 44); inner side of mandible with more or less distinct tooth; propodeal side less sharply and coarsely striate............................... S. madraspatanum species group... 9 - Hind coxa swollen on outer side, dorso-basally angulate (Fig. 27); mandible simple (except in S. arabs); propodeal side in most species more sharply and coarsely striate.......................................... S. spirifex species group... 14 9. Mesepisternum distinctly rugose between punctures, dull, not shinier than propodeal side; with yellow mark below tegula................................................................................. S. caementarium (Drury) - Mesepisternum more or less coarsely punctate (interstices in some species with microscopically fine punctation, but not distinctly rugose), as a rule shiny and usually more so than striate propodeal side; with or without yellow mark below tegula................................................................................................... 10 10. Tegula brown or black............................................................... S. intrudens (F. Smith) - Tegula marked with yellow............................................................................ 11 11. Mesepisternum black, sometimes with more or less reduced yellow mark below tegula; scutellum and propodeum typically without yellow markings.............................................................................. 12 - Mesepisternum with distinct yellow mark below tegula; scutellum and propodeum with or without yellow markings..... 13 12. Pronotum with narrowly interrupted yellow band; metanotum with yellow band (Fig. 45).......................................................................................... S. madraspatanum madraspatanum (Fabricius) - Pronotum and metanotum black (Fig. 34).................................. S. madraspatanum andamanicum Kohl 13. Propodeum typically with yellow markings (Fig. 53)........................... S. madraspatanum pictum (F. Smith) - Propodeum black (Fig. 39)........................................ S. madraspatanum formosanum van der Vecht 14. Tegula and usually metanotum marked with yellow or yellowish brown (Fig. 22); metasomal petiole relatively short, about 0.8× length of hind tibia................................................................ S. destillatorium (Illiger) - Tegula and metanotum black; metasomal petiole as long as hind tibia or little longer......... S. javanum (Lepeletier)... 15 15. Hind tibia yellow (Fig. 25).................................................... S. javanum nalandicum Strand - Hind tibia black..................................................................................... 16 16. Hind femur yellow with usually ill-defined fuscous mark dorso-apically; if entirely fuscous to black, then dark part angularly produced on inner side of femur, and rarely covers more than apical third on outer side... S. javanum javanum (Lepeletier) - Hind femur with at least apical third black, dark part rather sharply separated from basal yellow part.................................................................................................. S. javanum petiolare Kohl, Published as part of Anagha, S., Kumar, P. Girish, Binoy, C., Mazumdar, P. C. & Sureshan, P. M., 2021, A review of the mud-dauber wasps of genus Sceliphron Klug (Hymenoptera Sphecidae) from India, pp. 61-85 in Zootaxa 4969 (1) on pages 62-63, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4969.1.3, http://zenodo.org/record/4745790, {"references":["Klug, F. (1801) Absonderung einiger Raupentodter und Vereiningung derselben zu einer neuen Gattung Sceliphron. Neue Schriften der Gesellschaft Naturforschender Freunde zu Berlin, 3, 555 - 566.","Bingham, C. T. (1897) The Fauna of British India, including Ceylon and Burma, Hymenoptera. Vol. I. Wasps and Bees. Taylor and Francis, London, 579 pp. https: // doi. org / 10.5962 / bhl. title. 100738","Pulawski, W. J. (2021) Catalog of Sphecidae. Available on: http: // research. calacademy. org / ent / catalog _ sphecidae / (accessed 15 February 2021)","Bohart, R. M. & Menke, A. S. (1976) Sphecid wasps of the world. A generic revision. University of California Press, Berkeley, Los Angeles and London, 695 pp. https: // doi. org / 10.1525 / 9780520309548","Camillo, E. (2002) The natural history of the mud-dauber wasp Sceliphron fistularium (Hymenoptera: Sphecidae) in southeastern Brazil. Revista de Biologia Tropical, 50 (1), 127 - 134.","Fateryga, A. V. & Kovblyuk, M. M. (2014) Nesting Ecology of the Wasp Sceliphron destillatorium (Illiger, 1807) (Hymenoptera, Sphecidae) in the Crimea. Entomological Review, 94 (3), 330 - 336. https: // doi. org / 10.1134 / S 001387381403004 X","Hensen, R. V. (1987) Revision of the subgenus Prosceliphron van der Vecht (Hymenoptera, Sphecidae). Tijdschrift voor Entomologie, 129, 217 - 261."]}

6. Sceliphron formosum formosum (F. Smith, 1856) Pelopaeus formosus F. Smith 1856: 230, ♀. Lectotype: ♀, Australia: Northern Territory: Port Essington (BMNH), designated by Hensen 1987: 258. Sceliphron papuanum Cameron 1906: 221, ♀. Holotype or syntypes: ♀, Indonesia: Papua: Merauke (ZMA). Synonymized with Sceliphron formosum by van der Vecht in R. Bohart and Menke, 1976:106. Diagnosis. Female. Frons distinctly pilose; clypeus apico-medially incised with lateral incisions (see Fig. 103 of Hensen (1987: 250)); pronotal collar with yellow band; mesoscutum and propodeum transversely striate; scutellum with yellow patch; basal spot on each side of propodum, large one posteriorly and two oblong large spots in middle, yellow; metasoma with first, fourth (more or less), fifth, and sixth terga and petiole yellow (see Fig. 86 of Hensen (1987: 245)). Male. Second tergum black, or with strongly reduced band; sterna usually black; petiole and antennal scape yellow; petiole a little longer than in female. Note. No specimens were seen during the present study, so the above diagnosis has been based on the published descriptions (F. Smith 1856; Kohl 1918; Hensen 1987). Distribution. India: Arunachal Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Sikkim, Uttar Pradesh. Elsewhere: Australia; China; Indonesia; Japan; Myanmar; New Guinea (Kundu et al. 2006; Pulawski 2021)., Published as part of Anagha, S., Kumar, P. Girish, Binoy, C., Mazumdar, P. C. & Sureshan, P. M., 2021, A review of the mud-dauber wasps of genus Sceliphron Klug (Hymenoptera Sphecidae) from India, pp. 61-85 in Zootaxa 4969 (1) on page 70, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4969.1.3, http://zenodo.org/record/4745790, {"references":["Smith, F. (1856) Catalogue of hymenopterous insects in the collection of the British Museum. Part IV. Sphegidae, Larridae and Crabronidae. Taylor and Francis, London, pp. 207 - 497.","Hensen, R. V. (1987) Revision of the subgenus Prosceliphron van der Vecht (Hymenoptera, Sphecidae). Tijdschrift voor Entomologie, 129, 217 - 261.","Cameron, P. (1906) Hymenoptera of the Dutch expedition to New Guinea in 1904 and 1905. Part I. Tijdschrift voor Entomologie, 49, 215 - 233.","Bohart, R. M. & Menke, A. S. (1976) Sphecid wasps of the world. A generic revision. University of California Press, Berkeley, Los Angeles and London, 695 pp. https: // doi. org / 10.1525 / 9780520309548","Kohl, F. (1918) Die Hautfluglergruppe \" Sphecinae \". IV. Die naturliche Gattung Sceliphron Klug (= Pelopaeus Latr.). Annalen des K. K. Naturhistorischen Hofmuseums, 32, 1 - 171. https: // doi. org / 10.5962 / bhl. part. 2204","Kundu, B. G., Ghosh, S. N. & Tiwari, R. N. (2006) Insecta: Hymenoptera: Aculeata: Sphecidae. In: Fauna of Arunachal Pradesh, State Fauna Series. 13 (2). Zoological Survey of India, Calcutta, pp. 399 - 426.","Pulawski, W. J. (2021) Catalog of Sphecidae. Available on: http: // research. calacademy. org / ent / catalog _ sphecidae / (accessed 15 February 2021)"]}

b. Sceliphron rectum rectum Kohl, 1918 Sceliphron rectum rectum Kohl, 1918: 124, ♀. Holotype: ♂, India: Sikkim: no specific locality (ZMHU). Diagnosis. Female. Frons distinctly pilose; clypeus apico-medially without lateral incisions (c.f. Fig. 12 of Hensen (1987: 223)); pronotal collar and scutellum dorsally with yellow band; petiole in lateral view nearly straight, yellowish; propodeum and metasoma black. Male. Metanotum, propodeum and metasoma black; hind tibiae yellow on outer side. According to Hensen (1987), S. rectum rectum Kohl is similar to S. rectum pulchellum Gussakovskij in general morphology and differs only in colouration. Note. No specimens were seen during the present study, so the above diagnosis has been based on the published descriptions (Kohl 1918; Hensen 1987). Distribution. India: Sikkim. Elsewhere: Croatia; Iran; Iraq; Italy; Oman; United Arab Emirates (Gadallah 2020; Pulawski 2021)., Published as part of Anagha, S., Kumar, P. Girish, Binoy, C., Mazumdar, P. C. & Sureshan, P. M., 2021, A review of the mud-dauber wasps of genus Sceliphron Klug (Hymenoptera Sphecidae) from India, pp. 61-85 in Zootaxa 4969 (1) on page 81, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4969.1.3, http://zenodo.org/record/4745790, {"references":["Kohl, F. (1918) Die Hautfluglergruppe \" Sphecinae \". IV. Die naturliche Gattung Sceliphron Klug (= Pelopaeus Latr.). Annalen des K. K. Naturhistorischen Hofmuseums, 32, 1 - 171. https: // doi. org / 10.5962 / bhl. part. 2204","Hensen, R. V. (1987) Revision of the subgenus Prosceliphron van der Vecht (Hymenoptera, Sphecidae). Tijdschrift voor Entomologie, 129, 217 - 261.","Gadallah, N. S. (2020) Biodiversity of the aculeate wasps (Hymenoptera: Aculeata) of the Arabian Peninsula: Apoidea (Spheciformes), Sphecidae (sensu, stricto). Zootaxa, 4754 (1), 77 - 90. https: // doi. org / 10.11646 / zootaxa. 4754.1.8","Pulawski, W. J. (2021) Catalog of Sphecidae. Available on: http: // research. calacademy. org / ent / catalog _ sphecidae / (accessed 15 February 2021)"]}

10. a. Sceliphron rectum pulchellum Gussakovskij, 1933 As Sceliphron bilineatum Maxwell-Lefroy, 1909: 207 (described from Western India, but occurring also in other parts of India; nest). Sceliphron pulchellum Gussakovskij, 1933: 275, ♂. Holotype: ♀, Iran: Bushire, now Bushehr (ZIN). As Sceliphron rectum pulchellum: Hensen, 1987: 226 (new status). Diagnosis. Female. Clypeus apico-medially incised, without lateral incisions (see Fig. 12 of Hensen (1987: 223); metanotum with broad yellow band; propodeum with yellow basal spots and very large terminal yellow mark confluent with pair of spots in dorsal enclosure; legs yellow except basal third of femora and hind tibia black; first tergum with large yellow markings; petiole in lateral view nearly straight. Male. Similar to female except additional yellow spot on all coxae; first tergum nearly entirely yellow, third to seventh terga with yellow apical bands. Hensen (1987) notes that the third and fourth terga are black in specimens from India and Pakistan. Note: No specimens were seen during the present study, so the above diagnosis has been based on the description by Hensen (1987). Distribution. India: Bihar, Gujarat. Elsewhere: Iran; Iraq; Oman; Pakistan; Russia; United Arab Emirates (Hensen, 1987; Gadallah, 2020; Pulawski, 2021)., Published as part of Anagha, S., Kumar, P. Girish, Binoy, C., Mazumdar, P. C. & Sureshan, P. M., 2021, A review of the mud-dauber wasps of genus Sceliphron Klug (Hymenoptera Sphecidae) from India, pp. 61-85 in Zootaxa 4969 (1) on page 78, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4969.1.3, http://zenodo.org/record/4745790, {"references":["Gussakovskij, V. V. (1933) Sphecidae et Psammocharidae (Hymenoptera), a cl. N. Zarudnyi in Persia orientali collectae. Trudy Zoologicheskogo Instituta Akademii Nauk SSSR, 1, 269 - 307.","Hensen, R. V. (1987) Revision of the subgenus Prosceliphron van der Vecht (Hymenoptera, Sphecidae). Tijdschrift voor Entomologie, 129, 217 - 261.","Gadallah, N. S. (2020) Biodiversity of the aculeate wasps (Hymenoptera: Aculeata) of the Arabian Peninsula: Apoidea (Spheciformes), Sphecidae (sensu, stricto). Zootaxa, 4754 (1), 77 - 90. https: // doi. org / 10.11646 / zootaxa. 4754.1.8","Pulawski, W. J. (2021) Catalog of Sphecidae. Available on: http: // research. calacademy. org / ent / catalog _ sphecidae / (accessed 15 February 2021)"]}

9. a. Sceliphron madraspatanum andamanicum Kohl, 1918 (Figs 32–36) Sceliphron madraspatanum var. andamanicum Kohl, 1918: 109, sex not indicated. Syntypes: Andaman Islands (NHMW). Diagnosis. Female. Similar to S.madraspatanum madraspatanum (Fabricius) in general morphology and colouration except pronotum and metanotum entirely black (Fig. 34). Male. Similar to female. Material Examined. India: Andaman and Nicobor Island, 1♀ and 1♂, Date of Collection unknown, Coll. Unknown, NZC Regd. Nos. 15504/H3 and 15505/H3; South Andaman Dist., Aberdeen, 1♀ and 1♂, 19.vi.1935, Coll. H.S. Rao, NZC Regd. No. 15502/H3 and 15506/H3; Nicobar Dist., Swarup Nullah, 1♀ and 1♂, 21.vii.1984, Coll. S.S. Saha and Party, NZC Regd. Nos. 15503/H3 and 15507/H3; South Andaman Dist., Viper Island, 1♀, 28.viii.1928, Coll. R.B.S. Sewell, NZC Regd. No. 15508/H3; Nicobar Dist., Campbell, 1♀, 07.xii.2010, Coll. E.E. Jehamalar, NZC Regd. Nos. 15509/H3–15511/H3; South Andaman Dist., Port Blair, 1♀, 15.ii.1915, Coll. Kewp, NZC Regd. No. 15512/H3. Arunachal Pradesh: West Siang Dist., Basar, 1♀, 31.x.1966, Coll. S.K. T and G.S.A, NZC Regd. No. 15530/H3. Odisha: Koraput Dist., Jagannath Sagar, Jaypore, 2♂, 16.ii.1972, Coll. K. V.S. Rao and Party, NZC Regd. No. 15513/H3 and 15514/H3. Distribution. India: Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Arunachal Pradesh (new state record), Odisha (new state record) (Pulawski 2021)., Published as part of Anagha, S., Kumar, P. Girish, Binoy, C., Mazumdar, P. C. & Sureshan, P. M., 2021, A review of the mud-dauber wasps of genus Sceliphron Klug (Hymenoptera Sphecidae) from India, pp. 61-85 in Zootaxa 4969 (1) on page 74, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4969.1.3, http://zenodo.org/record/4745790, {"references":["Kohl, F. (1918) Die Hautfluglergruppe \" Sphecinae \". IV. Die naturliche Gattung Sceliphron Klug (= Pelopaeus Latr.). Annalen des K. K. Naturhistorischen Hofmuseums, 32, 1 - 171. https: // doi. org / 10.5962 / bhl. part. 2204","Pulawski, W. J. (2021) Catalog of Sphecidae. Available on: http: // research. calacademy. org / ent / catalog _ sphecidae / (accessed 15 February 2021)"]}

The mud-dauber wasp genus Sceliphron Klug (Hymenoptera: Sphecidae) is reviewed, with six species and six subspecies reported from various parts of India. The Palaerctic species, S. destillatorium (Illiger), is recorded for the first time from the Indian subcontinent. The subspecies S. madraspatanum formosanum van der Vecht is also recorded for first time from the Indian subcontinent. The distribution records of species and subspecies within various states of India are augmented. A modified key to the species of Sceliphron occurring in India is provided. Intraspecific variation within nominal species is discussed.

c. Sceliphron madraspatanum madraspatanum (Fabricius, 1781) (Figs 42–50) Sphex madraspatanus Fabricius, 1781: 445, sex not indicated (as madraspatana, incorrect original gender). Lectotype: ♂, India: Kerala: former Malabar District (BMNH, coll. Banks), designated by van der Vecht 1961: 43 (use of the word “ type ”). Pulawski (2021) gives a list of the synonymy, which is not repeated here. Diagnosis. Female. Frons distinctly pilose, sculpture not visible due to pilosity; clypeus apico-medially with median incision separating two lobes, these two lobes followed by lateral incisions forming blunt lobes sublaterally (Fig. 43); pronotal collar dorsally with broad yellow band, medially deeply notched; mesonotum almost transversely striate, striae becoming oblique posteriorly, striation bold and more distinct than in S. javanum nalandicum; scutellum with longitudinal oblong striation; metanotum with broad yellow band and fine punctures; propodeal enclosure with wavy striation and shallow depression in middle (Fig. 45); mesepisternum shiny with fine punctures; propodeum side with striation and punctures in interstices (Fig. 46); metasoma black with fine setae (Fig. 47); petiole yellow. Male. Similar to female. Material examined. India: Assam: Cachar Dist., Dehangi; 1♀, 23.v.1979, Coll. S.B. Roy and Party, NZC Regd. No. 15047/H3; Dhubri Dist., 1♀ and 2♂, 30.v.1966, Coll. A.N. T. Joseph, NZC Regd. Nos. 15048/H3 and 15052/ H3–15043/H3. Andhra Pradesh: 1♂, 15.x.1998, Coll. S.K. Mandal and party, NZC Regd. No. 15056/H3. Arunachal Pradesh: East Siang Dist., Ruehin, 1♂, 25.ix.2002, Coll. M. Sil and Party, NZC Regd. No. 15057/H3; West Siang Dist., Kambang, 1♀, 14.x.1966, Coll. S.K. T and G.S.A, NZC Regd. No. 15067/H3. Bihar: Purnia Dist., 2♀, Date of Collection unknown, Coll.Unknown, NZC Regd. Nos. 15081/H3 and 15082/H3; Saran Dist., Siripur, 1♀, 26.ix.1910, Coll. Unknown, NZC Regd. No. 15472/H3. Chhatisgarh: Bastar Dist., Sonpur, 1♀ and 1♂, 01.i.1981, Coll. S.S. Saha and Party, NZC Regd. Nos.15084/H3 and 15085/H3; Jashpur Dist., Badalkhol, 4♀, 25.v.2012, Coll. A. Raha and Party, NZC Regd. Nos. 15316/H3–15319/H3. Jharkhand: West Singbhum Dist., Chotanagpur, Manoharpur, 12♀ and 6♂, 24.ii.1954, 26.ii.1954, 27.ii.1954, Coll. A.P. Kapur, NZC Regd. Nos. 15326/H3–15332/H3, 15333/ H3–15341/H3 and 15342/H3–15343/H3; Hazaribagh Dist., 1♀, 13.vi.1994, Coll.A.K. Sanyal and Party, NZC Regd. No. 15344/H3. Himachal Pradesh: Shimla Dist., Tatta Pani, 1♂, 18.ix.1969, Coll. O.B. Chhotany and Party, NZC Regd. No. 15351/H3; Kangra Dist., Kangra Valley, 1♀, Date of Collection unknown, Coll. Dudgeon, NZC Regd. No. 15352/H3. Karnataka: Bangalore Dist., Bangalore, 1♂, Date of Collection unknown, Coll. Unknown, NZC Regd. No. 15353/H3; Chikmagalore Dist., Mudigere, 1♂, 30.xii.1980, Coll. S.K. Gupta and Party, NZC Regd. No. 15366/H3. Kerala: Kozhikode Dist., Kizhakkoth, Valiyaparamba, 1♀, 15.ii.2016, Coll. T. P. Dijila, ZSIK Regd. No. ZSI/ WGRC /I. R.–INV. 7225; Ernakulam Dist., Thattekkad BS, Kolumba, 1♀, 20.ix.2016, Coll. P. Girish Kumar, ZSIK Regd. No. ZSI/ WGRC /I. R.–INV. 7865; Thiruvananthapuram Dist., Karyavattom, Kerala University Campus, 2♀ and 1♂, 27.ix.2019, Coll. S. Anagha, ZSIK Regd. Nos. ZSI/ WGRC /I. R.–INV. 14870–14872. Maharashtra: Kohlapur Dist., Rankala, 1♀ and 1♂, 06.iv.2005, Coll. R. Babu and Party, NZC Regd. Nos. 15370/H3 and 15371/H3; Amrabati Dist., Melghat, 1♂, 22.ix.2007, Coll. P. Girish Kumar, NZC Regd. No. 15372/H3; Pune Dist., Khandala, Western Ghat, 1♂, 24.i.1966, Coll. M.S. Mani, NZC Regd. No. 15373/H3. Madhya Pradesh: Mandsaur Dist., 1♂, 11.v.1975, Coll. S.K. Gupta and Party, NZC Regd. No. 15377/H3. Manipur: Bishnupur Dist., Lamjo, 1♂, 22.v.1993, Coll. B. Mitra and Party, NZC Regd. No. 15377/H3; 16 Mile north of Imphal on Dimapur road, 1♀, 20.ix.1945, Coll. M.L. Roonwal, NZC Regd. No. 15381/H3. Meghalaya: East Garo Hills Dist., Sonsak 1♀, 22.xi.1975, Coll. N. Muraleedharan and Party, NZC Regd. No. 15382/H3; East Garo Hills Dist., Dainadubi, 1♀ and 2♂, 08.v.1979, Coll. S.B. Roy and Party, NZC Regd. Nos. 15383/H3–15385/H3. Odisha: Mayurbhanj Dist., Bahadurpur, 1♂, 13.ix.1972, Coll. K. Rai and Party, NZC Regd. No. 15388/H3; Cuttack Dist., Biological Park, 1♀, 22.iii.1974, R. K. Kakkar and Party, NZC Regd. No. 15389/H3. Sikkim: South Sikkim Dist., Jorethang, 2♀ and 3♂, 11.iv.1994, Coll. P.H. Roy and Party, NZC Regd. Nos. 15392/H3–15395/H3, 15401/H3. Uttarakhand: Pithoragarh Dist., Pacholi, 1♀, 22.ix.2004, Coll. B. Mitra and Party, NZC Regd. No. 15406/H3; Nainital Dist., Kota, 1♀, 05.v.1908, Coll. R.H., NZC Regd. No. 15407/H3. Uttar Pradesh: Azamgarh Dist., Jamalpur, 7♀ and 3♂, 02.v.1981, Coll. T. R. Mitra and Party, NZC Regd. Nos. 15409/H3–15418/H3; Junpur Dist., Gujartal, 1♂, 25.xi.2000, Coll. M. Prasad and Party, NZC Regd. No. 15424/H3. Tamil Nadu: Tirunelveli Dist., Manimuthar dam site, 2♀, 01.x.2018, Coll. P. Girish Kumar and Party, ZSIK Regd. Nos. ZSI/ WGRC /I. R.–INV. 14873 and 14874; Tenkasi Dist., Ukkonam, 1♂, 27.vii.2019, Coll. B.H.C.K. Murthy and Party, ZSIK Regd. No. ZSI/ WGRC /I. R.–INV. 14876. Telengana: Ranga Reddy Dist., Rajendra Nagar, 1♂, 24–25.x.2016, Coll. P. Girish Kumar and Party, ZSIK Regd. No. ZSI/ WGRC /I. R.–INV. 14877. Tripura: North Tripura Dist., Dharamnagar, 1♀ and 7♂ 01.vi.1978 and 24.v.1978, Coll. J.K. Jonathan and Party, NZC Regd. Nos. 15434/H–15439/H3 and 15440/H3–15441/H3. West Bengal: Kolkata Dist., 2♀, 26.vii.1907, Coll. Unknown, NZC Regd. Nos. 15442/H3 and 15448/H3; Kolkata Dist., 1♀, Date of Collection unknown, Coll. Unknown, NZC Regd. No. 15445/H3; South 24 Parganas Dist., Herobhanga, 1♀ and 1♂ and, 19.iv.1986, Coll. B.N. Das and Party, NZC Regd. Nos. 15452/H3 and 15467/H3. Distribution. India: Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Assam, Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand (new state record), Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharastra, Manipur (new state record), Meghalaya, Odisha, Pondichery, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, Tripura (new state record), Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, West Bengal. Elsewhere: Afganisthan; Arabia; Bangladesh; Bulgaria; Cambodia; China; Croatia; Democratic Republic of Congo; France; Greece; Indonesia; Iran; Iraq; Italy; Japan; Kazakhstan; Kyrgyzstan; Laos; Madagascar; Malaysia; Maldives; Montenegro; Myanmar; Nepal; Oman; Pakistan; Philippines; Russia; Spain; Sri Lanka; Syria; Taiwan; Tajikistan; Thiland; Turkey; Turkmenistan; United Arab Emirates; Ukraine; Uzbekistan; Vietnam (van der Vecht & van Breugel 1968; Jonathan & Kundu 2003; Kundu et al. 2006; Pulawski 2021)., Published as part of Anagha, S., Kumar, P. Girish, Binoy, C., Mazumdar, P. C. & Sureshan, P. M., 2021, A review of the mud-dauber wasps of genus Sceliphron Klug (Hymenoptera Sphecidae) from India, pp. 61-85 in Zootaxa 4969 (1) on pages 77-78, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4969.1.3, http://zenodo.org/record/4745790, {"references":["Fabricius, J. CH. (1781) Species Insectorum exhibentes eorum differentias specificas, synonyma auctorum, loca natalia, metamorphosin adiectis observationibus, descriptionibus, 1. Carol. Ernest. Bohnii, Hamburgi et Kilonii [Hamburg and Kiel], VIII + 517 pp. https: // doi. org / 10.5962 / bhl. title. 36509","1 - 7. van der Vecht, J. (1961) Hymenoptera Sphecoidea Fabriciana. Zoologische Verhandelingen, 48, 1 - 85. van der Vecht, J. (1984) Die orientalische Mauerwespe Sceliphron curvatum (Smith, 1870) in der Steiermark, Osterreich","Pulawski, W. J. (2021) Catalog of Sphecidae. Available on: http: // research. calacademy. org / ent / catalog _ sphecidae / (accessed 15 February 2021)","Jonathan, J. K. & Kundu, B. G. (2003) Insecta: Hymenoptera: Sphecidae. In: Fauna of Sikkim, State Fauna Series. 9 (4). Zoological Survey of India, Calcutta, pp. 417 - 446.","Kundu, B. G., Ghosh, S. N. & Tiwari, R. N. (2006) Insecta: Hymenoptera: Aculeata: Sphecidae. In: Fauna of Arunachal Pradesh, State Fauna Series. 13 (2). Zoological Survey of India, Calcutta, pp. 399 - 426."]}

The sting apparatus of aculeate Hymenoptera is derived from the ovipositor and is their most prominent apomorphy. In contrast to the frequently analysed sclerites of the sting apparatus, the associated musculature has largely been neglected. In this study, we use micro-computed tomography to present a detailed description of the musculature of the sting apparatus ofAmpulex compressa(Ampulicidae) andSceliphron destillatorium(Sphecidae). We found that 12 of 15 muscles corresponding to the sting apparatus are homologous between both species examined and 13 muscles in comparison with Hymenoptera described in the literature. All muscles identified as critical for the act of stinging were found in both species. Moreover, we found the ventral tergum 8-tergum 9 muscle and the tergum 8-tergum 8 muscles inA. compressaand the second valvifer-second valvifer muscle inS. destillatorium. For the first time, we describe the ventral tergum 8-tergum 9 muscle and the second valvifer-second valvifer muscle that interconnects both body sides, in Hymenoptera.

The nesting biology ofChalybion turanicum(Gussakovskij, 1935) has been studied, with a total of 31 nests being examined. All studied nests were located inside the old nest cells ofSceliphron destillatorium(Illiger, 1807). Each nest ofCh. turanicumconsisted of a single cell. Females hunted for spiders, with 18 species in five families being identified among their prey. Two most abundant victim groups were Theridiidae (eight species, 54% of specimens) and Araneidae (seven species, 33% of specimens) spiders. A spider number stored in a cell varied from five to 31 (mean = 17.6 ± 5.4). In the Crimea,Ch. turanicumhas one generation per year with reproductive success of 67%. Two species of the nest parasites were reared from cells ofCh. turanicum:Chrysis taczanovskiiRadoszkowski, 1876 andAcroricnus seductor(Scopoli, 1786).Chalybion turanicumis the seventh invasive species of Sphecidae naturalized in Europe.

Sceliphron madraspatanum tubifex (Latreille, 1809) P. [elopaeus] tubifex Latreille, 1809. Genera Crustaceorum et Insectorum secundum ordinem naturalem in familias disposita, iconibus exemplisque plurimis explicata. Tomus quartus et ultimus: 61. Pelopoeus tubifex: Costa, 1893: 5 (Tunisia: no specific locality). General distribution. Albania, Algeria, Bulgaria, China, Croatia, Czechoslovakia, Egypt, France, Greece, Hungary, Iraq, Iran, Israel, Italy, Japan, Morocco, Portugal, Russia, Spain, Slovenia, Syria, Tajikistan, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Yugoslavia (Pulawski 2019)., Published as part of Khedher, Hassib Ben, Yildirim, Erol, Braham, Mohamed & Ljubomirov, Toshko, 2020, First checklist of Tunisian sphecid wasps (Hymenoptera: Sphecidae) with new and additional records, pp. 301-327 in Zootaxa 4801 (2) on page 313, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4801.2.6, http://zenodo.org/record/3900484, {"references":["Costa, A. (1893) Miscellanea entomologica. Memoria quarta. Atti della Reale Accademia delle Scienze Fisiche e Matematiche di Napoli, 14, 1 - 30.","Pulawski, W. J. (2019) Catalogue of Sphecidae. California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco, California. Available from: https: // www. calacademy. org / scientists / projects / catalog-of-sphecidae (accessed 26 May 2019)"]}

Sceliphron spirifex (Linnaeus, 1758) (Map 35) Sphex spirifex Linnaeus 1758. Systema Naturae Per Regna Tria Naturae, Secundum Classes, Ordines, Genera, Species, Cum characteribus, differentiis, synonymis, locis, 1: 570. Pelopoeus spirifex: Costa, 1893: 5 (Tunisia: no specific locality). Sceliphron (Pelopoeus) spirifex: von Schulthess, 1926: 208 (Tozeur). Sceliphron spirifex: Dollfuss, 2016: 1179 (Sousse, Tozeur, Tunis). New records. (Total 9 ♂, 29 ♀). Beja: Mjez Elbeb, South Mjez ElBeb, 53 m, 15.VIII.2018, 1 ♀; Gabes, 3 ♂, 1 ♀ (Babault Collection, MNHN); Kairouan: Chbika, Aouled Zair, 136 m, 29.VIII.2018, 6 ♀, Haouareb, 220 m, 29.VIII.2018, 4 ♀, South Kairouan, Ragada, 92 m, 28.VIII.2018, 2 ♀, Kairouan, 1 ♂, 1 ♀ (Santschi Collec- tion, MNHN); Kasserine: Sbeitla, Athar, CFPA, 560 m, 03.IX.2018, 2 ♀; Kebili: South Kebili, Errahmat, 30 m, 17. V.2018, 3 ♂; Mahdia: Sidi Alouane, Oued Beja, 68 m, 12. VI.2017, 1 ♂, 73 m, 6.VIII.2017, 1 ♀, 1 ♂, 50 m, 26.VIII.2017, 4 ♀, 49 m, 29.VIII.2017, 2 ♀; Sfax: Near Sfax, 3 ♀ (Babault Collection, MNHN); Sidi Bouzid: West Sidi Bouzid, Zaafria, 394 m, 25.VII.2018, 2 ♀. Additional records (Total 4 ♂, 7 ♀). Sousse: Akouda, Chott Meriem, 12 m, 4.VIII.2017, 1 ♀, Kalaa Kbira, 45 m, 22.VII.2017, 1 ♀, 14.VIII.2017, 2 ♂; Tozeur: Chbika, 175 m, 27. VI.2018, 1 ♀, Dguech, Elmanechi, 63 m, 29.VI.2018, 1 ♂, Hamma Ejrid, 52 m, 27.VI.2018, 1 ♂, Temeghza, Cascade 2, 247 m, 27.VI.2018, 1 ♀,Tozeur cen- ter, Oasis Elberka, 45 m, 26.VI.2018, 2 ♀; Tunis, 1 ♀ (M. Blanc Collection, MNHN). General distribution. Africa, Canary Islands, Cape Verde, Crimea, Iran, South Europe, South West Asia, Turkey (Guichard 1988; Yildirim et al. 2016)., Published as part of Khedher, Hassib Ben, Yildirim, Erol, Braham, Mohamed & Ljubomirov, Toshko, 2020, First checklist of Tunisian sphecid wasps (Hymenoptera: Sphecidae) with new and additional records, pp. 301-327 in Zootaxa 4801 (2) on pages 313-314, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4801.2.6, http://zenodo.org/record/3900484, {"references":["Costa, A. (1893) Miscellanea entomologica. Memoria quarta. Atti della Reale Accademia delle Scienze Fisiche e Matematiche di Napoli, 14, 1 - 30.","von Schulthess, A. (1926) Contribution a la connaissance de la faune des Hymenopteres de l'Afrique du Nord. Deuxieme Partie- (Fossores) (en collaboration avec P. Roth). Bulletin de la Societe d'Histoire Naturelle de l'Afrique du Nord, 17, 206 - 220.","Dollfuss, H. (2016) The Chloriontinae, Sceliphrinae and Sphecinae wasps of the \" Biologiezentrum Linz \" - Collection in Linz, Austria, including the genera Chalybion Dahlbom, Chlorion Latreille, Dynatus Lepeletier de Saint Fargeau, Penepodium Menke, Podium Fabricius, Sceliphron Klug, Stangeela Menke and Trigonopsis Perty (Hymenoptera, Apoidea, Sphecidae) and description of the new species Chalybion ohli from Madagascar. Linzer Biologische Beitrage, 48 (2), 1149 - 1185.","Guichard, K. M. (1988) Hymenoptera: Sphecidae: Subfam. Sphecinae of the Arabian Peninsula. Fauna of Saudi Arabia, 9, 114 - 131.","Yildirim, E., Ljubomirov, T., Ozbek, H. & Yuksel, M. (2016) New Data On Spheciformes Fauna (Hymenoptera: Ampulicidae, Sphecidae, Crabronidae) of Turkey. Journal of Insect Biodiversity, 4 (3), 1 - 51. https: // doi. org / 10.12976 / jib / 2016.4.3"]}

Diaz-Calafat, J. 2020. First record of Sceliphron caementarium (Drury, 1773) (Hymenoptera: Sphecidae) in the Balearic Islands, with an identification key to the archipelago’s species of the genus Sceliphron Klug, 1801. Ecosistemas 29(1):1939. https://doi.org/10.7818/ECOS.1939 The Black and Yellow Mud Dauber wasp (Sceliphron caementarium (Drury 1773)) is reported for the first time from two distant locations of the island of Mallorca (Balearic Islands, Spain). Possible entry pathways of this potentially invasive species to the archipelago are discussed, as well as potential threats to local biodiversity and ecologically relevant questions raised by the arrival of this new species in the archipelago. The addition of S. caementarium to the Balearic fauna raises the number of species in the genus Sceliphron Klug 1801 to four; with half of them being recent introductions of potentially invasive exotic species. Finally, an illustrated identification key to the Balearic species of the genus Sceliphron is presented in order to ease their identification in the future. Readers are encouraged to use the key and send new records of these species within the Balearic Islands to the author or to online biodiversity recording platforms in order to help studying the dispersion of introduced sphecid wasps and update the distribution data of native and introduced species.

Sceliphron sp. Distribution in the Arabian Peninsula: Qatar (Abdu & Shaumar 1985), United Arab Emirates (Hamer 1986 as ���? poss. funestum Kohl[, 1918]���). Remarks: This entry may refer to S. spirifex since Hamer (1986) listed both other species., Published as part of Gadallah, Neveen S., 2020, Biodiversity of the aculeate wasps (Hymenoptera: Aculeata) of the Arabian Peninsula: Apoidea (Spheciformes), Sphecidae (sensu stricto), pp. 77-90 in Zootaxa 4754 (1) on page 84, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4754.1.8, http://zenodo.org/record/3719055, {"references":["Abdu, R. M. & Shaumar, N. F. (1985) A preliminary list of the insect fauna of Qatar. Qatar University Science Bulletin, 5, 215 - 232.","Hamer, I. (1986) Hymenoptera highlights II. Bulletin of the Abu Dhabi Natural History Group, 30, 10 - 16. Available from: http: // www. enhg. org / bulletin / b 30 / 30 _ 10. htm (accessed 18 August 2019)"]}