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).