Lists are presented of 79 species of Florida insects, mostly wasps, that have distinctive dark red markings on a black background. Most of these species have more northern relatives (subspecies or congeners) whose markings are yellow rather than red. This apparent replacement of yellow-marked forms by red-marked forms in Florida has occurred at least 31 times in different lineages. Yellow-marked and red-marked species may be sympatric in Florida. Biogeographic details of the phenomenon are poorly known.
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1 December 2003
RED AND BLACK COLORATION IN FLORIDA HYMENOPTERA
Mark Deyrup,
Thomas Eisner
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