Lepidopria masneri Notton, 1994

Chemyreva, Vasilisa G., Yoon, Seonwoo & Ku, Deok-Seo, 2025, Revision of the genus Lepidopria Kieffer (Hymenoptera, Diapriidae, Diapriinae) of the world fauna, Journal of Hymenoptera Research 98, pp. 1107-1126 : 1107-1126

Lepidopria masneri Notton, 1994

Figs 5 , 6 , 7

Lepidopria masneri Notton, 1994: 65.

Material examined.

• Russia, Primorsky Terr., 10 km SE from Chernigovka , 27. VII. 1996, S. Belokobylskij leg., • 1 ♂ ( ZISP) . Japan, Honshu, Ibaraki Pref., Tsukuba , 15–25. IX. 1999, S. Belokobylski leg., • 1 ♂ ( ZISP) . South Korea, Gangwon-do, Goseong-gun , 24. VII- 07. VIII. 2018, MT, Hyung-Keun Lee leg., • 1 ♂ ( SMNE) ; Jeju-do, Jeju-si, Sanduk-ro, 593-40, near Temple Gwaneum rest area (Livestock Research Institute), MT , 1–16. VII. 2022, Deokseo Ku & Jeongjun Ahn legs, • 1 ♀, 2 ♂ ( SMNE, ZISP) ; Gyeongsangnam-do, Geochang-gun, Namha-myeon, Yanghang-ri , 36.6752 N, 127.5481 E, 25 and 27. VI. 2023, E. Tselikh leg., • 1 gynandromorph and 2 ♂ ( ZISP) ; Busan, Nam-gu, Yongho-dong, Igidae Park , 23. III. 2024, Seonwoo Yoon leg., • 1 ♀ ( UATC) .

Diagnosis.

Head globular in frontal view (Fig. 5 A ); female antennae stout, with A 9 - A 11 transverse, A 9 distinctly smaller than A 10 (Fig. 5 E ); male A 3 not modified, male A 3 and A 4 subequal in length and wide (Fig. 6 D, E ); A 4 with emargination and membranous pale carina developed from 0.3 and reaching to 0.8 of this segment length (Fig. 6 D ); mesoscutellum with single transverse scutellar pit (Figs 5 D , 6 B ); propodeum with low and wide median carina and distinct plicae, finely setose dorsally, with few thin scattered setae (Figs 5 D, F , 6 B ); petiole weakly swollen dorsally and projecting upwards; it partly bare to completely covered with beard of long white setae directed backwards (Figs 5 D, F , 6 B ).

Variation.

Significant variation was observed in the structural features of the propodeum and petiole (Figs 5 , 7 ): median propodeal carina and transverse carina of the metasomal depression wide and smooth, to narrow and form ridges; dorsal side of propodeum smooth, shining and almost bare to finely setose and coriaceous (Fig. 7 B ); lateral side of petiole setose to partly covered with white foamy structures (Fig. 7 C ).

Biology.

The dealated female of this species was found in March in a soil chamber near Busan in the Republic of Korea, alongside Solenopsis japonica Wheeler, 1928 (Fig. 7 ). According to our observations, the female of L. masneri was clearly integrated into the S. japonica colony and roamed freely without being attacked (Fig. 7 E, F ).

Distribution.

* Russian Far East, Japan, South Korea ( Notton 1994).

Figures

Figure 5. Lepidopria masneri, female. A face B habitus, lateral view C head and mesosoma, lateral view D head, mesosoma and base of metasoma, dorsal view E antenna, lateral view F metasoma, lateral view. Scale bars: 0.5 mm (B); 0.3 mm (A, C – F).

Figure 6. Lepidopria masneri, male. A habitus in lateral view B head, mesosoma and base of metasoma, dorsal view C antenna, dorsal view D, E base of antenna, dorsal (D) and lateral (E) views. Scale bars: 0.5 mm (A); 0.3 mm (B, C).

Figure 7. Lepidopria masneri (B – D) and Solenopsis japonica (A). A, C habitus, lateral view B mesosoma and base of metasoma, dorsal view D antenna, dorsal view E, F female of L. masneri in the colony of S. japonica. Scale bars: 0.5 mm.