Leptomenes, Giordani Soika, 1939

Selis, Marco, 2023, Taxonomy of the Afrotropical genus Leptomenes Giordani Soika, with description of a new species from South Africa (Hymenoptera: Vespidae: Eumeninae), Zootaxa 5228 (5), pp. 584-594 : 588-590

Key to the continental species of the genus Leptomenes

[Modified from Selis (2020)]

1. Vertex with a pair of rounded protuberances behind dorsal lobe of eyes.................... Leptomenes baphomet Selis

- Vertex lacking protuberances........................................................................... 2

2. Pronotal carina right angled on humerus. Anterior face of pronotum with a median rugose pit........................ 3

- Pronotal carina obtusely angled or rounded on humerus. Anterior face of pronotum without pit....................... 6

3. Propodeum with sharp dorsolateral teeth....................................... 4, Leptomenes eumenoides (Smith)

- Propodeum without dorsolateral teeth, dorsal faces rounded................................................... 5

4. Clypeus apically and legs ferruginous............................... Leptomenes eumenoides claripes Giordani Soika

- Clypeus apically black and legs black with yellowish markings............. Leptomenes eumenoides eumenoides (Smith)

5. Lateral face of propodeum smooth, with some large shallow punctures near posterior margin............................................................................................. Leptomenes ugandensis (Giordani Soika)

- Lateral face of propodeum with dense deep punctures........................... Leptomenes richardsi Giordani Soika

6. Frons shiny, with dense deep punctures, interspaces shorter than or as wide as puncture diameter...................... 7

- Frons sub-opaque, with sparse fine punctures, interspaces wider than puncture diameter............................. 9

7. Large sized species, body length 8–9 mm in ♂ and 10 mm in ♀. Body extensively marked with red and yellow. T1 strongly convex near middle in lateral view, almost forming two distinct faces. Dorsal faces of propodeum largely smooth, with sparse deep punctures. Posterior depression of propodeum with oblique fine striae......... Leptomenes obliquepunctatus sp. nov.

- Smaller species, body length less than 7 mm in ♂ and 8 mm in ♀. Body mostly black with reduced ivory markings, at most with some small reddish markings. T1 evenly convex in lateral view. Other characters variable........................... 8

8. Clypeus wider than long, opaque with small and sparse punctures. Tegula wider in the posterior half. Dorsal faces of propodeum with punctures larger than those on mesoscutum and moderately dense, interspaces flat. Posterior depression of propodeum rugose-striate, with barely distinct sparse punctures............................. Leptomenes cribratus Giordani Soika

- Clypeus about as wide as long, weakly shiny and impunctate. Tegula wider in the anterior half. Dorsal faces of propodeum with punctures smaller than those on mesoscutum and very dense, interspaces narrowly carinate. Posterior face of propodeum not rugose, with large and dense punctures......................................... Leptomenes major Giordani Soika

9. Apical emargination of clypeus shallow and wide. T1 about 1.5× as wide as medially long. Mesepisternum without silvery pubescence............................................................. Leptomenes convexus Giordani Soika

- Apical emargination of clypeus deeper and narrower. T1 as long as apically wide. Mesepisternum with dense silvery pubescence......................................................................................... 10

10. Posterior face of propodeum obliquely striate and shining. Tegula smooth and shiny.... Leptomenes pulawskii Gusenleitner

- Posterior face of propodeum not striate and opaque. Tegula micropunctate and dull... Leptomenes stevensoni Giordani Soika