Geographic distribution of the neotropical wasp genus Clypearia with conservation notes

Paper wasps form a group of social insects that play several ecological roles in neotropical ecosystems. The Clypearia genus is made up of eight species, most of which occur in the Amazon region, and is an extremely overlooked genus among the Polistinae. This study reviews the geographic distribution of Clypearia species and assesses their occurrence in protected areas across the Neotropics. Based on a review of the scientific literature and biological collections were compiled and georeferenced to produce detailed distribution maps. Results show that seven species occur in Brazil, with C. angustior being the most widespread, while C. humeralis and C. nigrior are known from a single locality each. All species, except C. humeralis, have records within protected areas. The rarity and limited distribution of several Clypearia species, combined with habitat loss and lack of conservation status assessments, highlight the urgent need for expanded sampling, long-term monitoring, and the creation of new protected areas and ecological corridors to ensure their conservation.