Leipomeles, MOBIUS

Somavilla, Alexandre, Vieira, Gabriel Santos, Andena, Sérgio Ricardo, Noll, Fernando Barbosa & Carpenter, James M., 2023, A phylogenetic approach to the Neotropical social wasp genus Leipomeles Möbius, 1856 (Vespidae: Epiponini), with a new identification key, American Museum Novitates 2023 (4006), pp. 1-12 : 6-8

KEY TO THE SPECIES Of LEIPOMELES MÖBIUS

Adapted from Richards, 1978

1. Smooth and shining, less punctured (fig. 1B, D); first metasomal segment about twice as long as wide; hind wing with Cu1 shorter than Cu-a............................................2

1′. Darker, more punctured—colors dark brown to black (fig. 1A, C); first metasomal segment slightly longer than wide; hind wing with Cu1 as long as Cu-a....................................3

2. Pronotal carina stronger and straighter; clypeus a little wider than long (fig. 2D); coloration blackish and creamy white (fig. 1A); head with substantial blackish marking............................................................................... L. spilogaster (Cameron, 1912)

2′. Pronotal carina weak, more recurved laterally; clypeus a little longer than wide (fig. 2B); coloration yellow-brown and yellow or whitish-yellow (fig. 1B); head hardly with darker color........................................................................ L. dorsata (Fabricius, 1804)

3. Head and mesosoma very indistinctly punctured (figs. 1A, 2A); clypeus rounded below; POL: OOL = 2: 3; metanotum with a slight dorsal area; propodeum yellow marked (fig. 1A).................................................................. L. albogrisea ( Richards, 1978)

3′. Head and mesosoma more shining, more distinctly punctured (fig. 1C, 2C); clypeus angled below; POL: OOL = 1: 2.5; metanotum without dorsal area; propodeum black (fig. 1C)............................................................................. L. pusilla ( Ducke, 1904)