Knemodynerus pensus (Giordani Soika, 1937), 2025

Knemodynerus pensus (Giordani Soika, 1937) , comb. nov.

( Figs 2G, 2I View FIGURE 2 , 35B View FIGURE 35 , 64L View FIGURE 64 )

Odynerus pensus Giordani Soika, 1937a: 172 View in CoL , ♂ (in subgenus Rhynchium View in CoL )—“ Madagascar: Bekily ” ( type lost).

Distribution. Madagascar: Antsiranana *, Mahajanga *, Toliara ( Giordani Soika 1937 a, 1941) ( Fig. 64L View FIGURE 64 ).

Notes. The generic attribution of this species has never been studied, with the catalogue of the Malagasy Vespidae by Carpenter & Madl (2009) considering it as incertae sedis. The study of several specimens has highlighted how the species should be attributed to the genus Knemodynerus , in particular because of the tegulae with the strongly developed posterior lobe covering the parategulae ( Fig. 2G View FIGURE 2 ).

Genus Leptomenes Giordani Soika, 1939 View in CoL

Leptomenes Giordani Soika, 1939: 87 View in CoL , genus. Type species: Pachymenes congensis Bequaert, 1918 View in CoL [= Odynerus eumenoides Smith, 1857 View in CoL ], by original designation.

Key to the Malagasy species of Leptomenes View in CoL

1. T1 dorsally humped in lateral view and clearly divided into two faces, reaching its maximum height behind the middle ( Fig. 36C View FIGURE 36 ). Female: apical teeth of clypeus sharp and long, separated by a deep incision ( Fig. 36A View FIGURE 36 ).......... L. globosus sp. nov.

- T1 variably convex in lateral view but not humped, reaching its maximum height before the middle ( Figs 37B View FIGURE 37 , 40B View FIGURE 40 ). Female: clypeus apically subtruncate or shallowly emarginate, apical teeth rounded and short ( Figs 37A View FIGURE 37 ; 38A View FIGURE 38 ; 39A, B View FIGURE 39 ; 40A View FIGURE 40 ; 41A View FIGURE 41 ).. 2

2. Tegula strongly campanulate, its outer margin widely concave anteriorly and abruptly bent in the middle ( Fig. 37C View FIGURE 37 ). Pretegular carina complete and sharp (isolate specimens with irregular carina), clearly delimiting a depressed area in front of tegula. Black with abundant pale yellow markings ( Figs 37A, B View FIGURE 37 ).......................................... L. multipictus sp. nov.

- Tegula not to weakly campanulate, its outer margin at most barely concave anteriorly and not abruptly bent in the middle. Pretegular carina variable but never complete and sharp, usually incomplete or blunt if not absent, not delimiting a differentiated area. Darker species with reduced pale markings, or if abundantly marked with pale yellow then also largely marked with bright red................................................................................................. 3

3. S2 with a deep subtriangular depression with base on the basal margin and apex exceeding the middle of the sternite ( Fig. 39D View FIGURE 39 )................................................................................ L. sollicitus View in CoL sp. nov.

- S2 at most shallowly concave in the middle of the basal sloping part............................................. 4

4. Apical area of T2 simple, flattened and without thickened margin ( Fig. 41E View FIGURE 41 ). Black with well delimited red to orange areas and variably developed yellow markings ( Figs 41A, B View FIGURE 41 )............................................. L. tricolor sp. nov.

- Apical area of T2 shallowly depressed and with thickened apical margin; apical margin in posterior view raised and separated from the apical hyaline margin by a variably developed step................................................... 5

5. Vertex horizontal, occipital carina placed at the same level of the posterior ocelli. Propodeum more elongate, in lateral view oblique and ending well behind the level of the metanotum; propodeum with sparse and pale but not markedly metallic pubescence. T 1 in dorsal view subtriangular and longer than apically wide ( Fig. 39A View FIGURE 39 ; less evidently in small males)................................................................................. L. schulthessianus (de Saussure) View in CoL

- Vertex sloping behind the middle (behind cephalic foveae in the female), occipital carina placed below level of ocellar triangle. Propodeum shorter, in lateral view nearly vertical and ending little behind the level of the metanotum ( Fig. 38B View FIGURE 38 ); propodeum with dense and strongly metallic pubescence at least on dorsal and posterior faces ( Figs 38D, E View FIGURE 38 ; 40D, E View FIGURE 40 ). T 1 in dorsal view trapezoidal to nearly semicircular, at most as long as wide ( Figs 38F View FIGURE 38 , 40F View FIGURE 40 )........................................ 6

6. Occipital carina parallel to outer eye margin in dorsal half, then angled near middle of gena and converging with eye margin in ventral half ( Fig. 38C View FIGURE 38 ). Propodeal pubescence silvery and limited to dorsal and posterior faces ( Fig. 38D View FIGURE 38 ); lateral faces of propodeum nearly bare, somewhat shiny with small deep punctures ( Fig. 38E View FIGURE 38 ). T 1 in dorsal view shorter than apically wide; posterior half of T1 with small and shallow rounded punctures, separated by wide shining interspaces ( Fig. 38F View FIGURE 38 )................................................................................................ L. ornatus sp. nov.

- Occipital carina converging with outer eye margin for whole length of gena, somewhat sinuate in the middle ( Fig. 40C View FIGURE 40 ). Propodeal pubescence golden and extending on lateral faces ( Fig. 40D View FIGURE 40 ); lateral faces of propodeum pubescent and matte, with larger punctures especially on posterodorsal margin ( Fig. 40E View FIGURE 40 ). T 1 in dorsal view about as long as wide; posterior half of T1 with large oblique punctures, separated by narrow micropunctate interspaces and partly forming transverse ridges ( Fig. 40F View FIGURE 40 )...................................................................................... L. transuo sp. nov.