A phylogenetic approach to the neotropical social wasp genus Leipomeles Möbius, 1856 (Vespidae: Epiponini), with a new identification key (American Museum novitates, no. 4006)

Abstract

Leipomeles Möbius, 1856, is a neotropical genus of swarm-founding wasps extending from Costa Rica to the middle of Brazil, with four species described. A combined phylogenetic analysis using female and male morphology, and nest architecture was performed with the program TNT. Leipomeles is supported as monophyletic with the following relationships among species: (L. pusilla + L. albogrisea) + (L. spilogaster + L. dorsata). A new identification key for the genus is also presented.