Leptomenes, Giordani Soika, 1939

Selis, Marco, 2020, A new species of Leptomenes Giordani Soika from Uganda (Hymenoptera Vespidae: Eumeninae), Zootaxa 4729 (3), pp. 440-444 : 443-444

Key to the continental species of the genus Leptomenes

[Modified from Giordani Soika (1977), characters of subsequently described species taken from Giordani Soika (1983, 1987) and Gusenleitner (1997)]

1. Vertex with a pair of rounded protuberances behind dorsal lobe of eyes …................ Leptomenes baphomet sp. nov.

-. Vertex normally developed, without protuberances........................................................ … 2

2. T1 distinctly longer than apically wide. Pronotal carina right angled on humerus. Anterior face of pronotum with a median rugose pit …......................................................................................... 3

-. T1 shorter than or about as long as apically wide. Pronotal carina obtusely angled 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 faces of propodeum smooth, with some large shallow punctures near posterior margin......................................................................................... … Leptomenes ugandendis (Giordani Soika)

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

6. Frons shiny, with dense deep punctures, interspaces shorter than puncture diameter …............................... 7

-. Frons sub-opaque, with sparse small punctures, interspaces as wide as puncture diameter ….......................... 8

7. 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, interspaces flat. Posterior face 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, interspaces narrowly carinate. Posterior face of propodeum not rugose, with large and dense punctures …...................................................... Leptomenes major Giordani Soika

8. Apical emargination of clypeus shallow and wide. T1 about 1.5 × wider apically than long. Mesepisternum without silvery pubescence...........................................................… Leptomenes convexus Giordani Soika

-. Apical emargination of clypeus deeper and narrower. T1 as long as wide apically. Mesepisternum with dense silvery pubes- cence …............................................................................................ 9

9. 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