Distribution of the genus Alysson Panzer (Hymenoptera: Crabronidae) in China, with a description of a new species

The geographic distributions of the Chinese wasp genus Alysson Panzer, 1806 (Hymenoptera: Crabronidae: Bembicinae: Alyssontini) are recorded and analyzed. A new species, Alysson maculidorsalis Zou et Li is described, and an updated key to the Chinese species of this genus is provided. Including the new species, 16 species and one subspecies are recognized from China: five species occur in the Palearctic part of the country, whereas 11 species and one subspecies occur in its Oriental part. Most taxa currently known only from China are concentrated in the mountainous areas of southwestern China, especially Yunnan, and on Taiwan, whereas the species recorded from northeast China are predominantly widespread across the Palearctic Region. The new species increases the global total to 44 species and three subspecies, and the 16 Chinese species represent 36.4% of the known species of Alysson worldwide. Because many taxa are known from few localities, these patterns of richness and apparent endemism should be taken with caution.