Use of wing morphometry for the discrimination of some Cerceris (Insecta: Hymenoptera: Crabronidae species)

Abstract

In this study, the wing morphology analyses of Cerceris arenaria, Cerceris circularis dacica, Cerceris eryngii, Cerceris media, Cerceris quinquefasciata Cerceris ruficornis, Cerceris rybyensis and Cerceris sabulosa (Philanthinae) species, were obtained from Niğde province between 2006 and 2008, by using discrimination, relative warp, Fourier and thin plate spline methods. The mean deviation graphics and values of prior wing vein characteristics which enable the differences in the discrimination analysis were presented by marking them on the wing pictures. Furthermore, the landmarks caused by the wing characteristics that enable variations were determined by using the relative warp analysis. The outline analysis, in which geometric and traditional morphometry potentials are insufficient, was performed by using the Fourier transformation. As a result of the comprehensive wing morphometry study, it was found that both Cerceris species can be distinguished according to their wing structures and the metric characteristics enabling this discrimination were identified. Within this context, a contribution to the Cerceris taxonomy was enabled by the use of obtained concrete results.

Key words: Niğde, apoid wasps, fauna, wing morphometry, discrimination, relative warp, Fourier, thin platespline.