Stictopisthus THOMSON

Key to the West Palaearctic species of the subgenus Stictopisthus THOMSON

Females:

1 Ovipositor sheath strongly narrowed apically, almost pointed at apex (figs 38-39). Face ± infuscate (figs 56-57). Hind coxa brownish or reddish. ...................................................2

- Ovipositor sheath not or slightly narrowed apically, with blunt or slightly narrowed tip (figs 41-52). Face and hind coxa variously colored, often pale. ..........................................3

2 Mesosoma moderately depressed, c. 2.0× as long as high (fig. 3). 2 nd tergite mainly yellow, with basolateral brown spots; 3 rd tergite yellow basally (fig. 3). ..................................................................................................................................... M. dilutoides nom. nov.

- Mesosoma not depressed, 1.7-1.8× as long as high. 2 nd tergite yellow in apical 0.4, 3 rd tergite brown to blackish (fig. 2) ..................................... M. cuspidatus ( SCHWENKE, 1999) View in CoL

3 Mesosoma strongly depressed, at least 2.2× as long as high (figs 4, 6, 10, 15). Distal part of metacarpus always present, usually as long as the width of pterostigma (fig. 26). ..4

- Mesosoma not or moderately depressed, at most 2.1× as long as high (figs 6, 15). Distal part of metacarpus sometimes very short or absent (fig. 25).....................................7

4 Face very wide, its width 1.4-1.5× combined length of clypeus and face (fig. 72). Mesosoma very strongly depressed, 2.5-2.9× as long as high (fig. 15). Pterostigma yellowish. Fore tibia short, swollen. Hind femur very stout (<3× as long as wide). Dorsal mandibular tooth often larger than ventral tooth................................................................................................................................................ M. unicinctor ( THUNBERG, 1824)

- Face not as wide, its width 1.1-1.3× combined length of clypeus and face (fig. 63). Mesosoma less strongly depressed, 2.2-2.4× as long as high (figs 4, 6, 10). Other features variable ..................................................................................................................5

5 Face and mandible strongly swollen (fig. 61). Metasoma blackish apically (fig. 83). Hind coxa reddish-brown (fig. 6). Hind tibia distinctly infuscate apically. ............................ ....................................................................................... M. macrocephalus STROBL, 1904

- Face and mandible normal, not distinctly swollen (figs 67-72). Hind coxa and tibia variously coloured. ............................................................................................................. 6

6 Face transversely aciculate or rugose-punctate (fig. 65). Pterostigma brown (fig. 10). Mesoscutum black, with 4 reddish stripes. Mesopleuron reddish and brownish, rather densely punctate. Hind coxa and hind femur with brownish suffusion (fig. 10). Apical tergites black or brown. ..................................................... M. nemoralis ( SCHWENKE, 1999)

- Face densely punctate (fig. 58). Mesopleuron reddish, with sparse punctures. Mesoscutum brownish, with H-shaped central reddish mark or reddish with brownish lateral stripes and fronto-medial spot Hind coxa and femur not distinctly darkened (fig. 4). Pterostigma brownish-hyaline. Apical tergites ± vespoid (fig. 74). ...................................................................................................................... M. flavescens FONSCOLOMBE, 1852

7 Mesoscutum with four yellow longitudinal stripes, confluent anteriorly (fig. 1). Mesopleuron densely punctate (fig. 34). Mesosoma not or moderately depressed, 1.8- 2.0× as long as high (fig. 1). Distal part of metacarpus very short or completely absent (fig. 25). Flagellum short.....................................................................................................8

- Mesoscutum reddish to black, without yellow coloration. Mesosoma sometimes strongly depressed. Distal part of metacarpus often as long as width of pterostigma (fig. 26), except in M. ranini . Flagellum often longer...............................................................10

8 Mesopleuron mainly blackish (fig. 1). Hind coxa blackish or reddish (fig. 1). MI 0.8. Hind tibia narrowly infuscate apically. 1 st sternite black basally........................................................................................................................................ M. bilineatus THOMSON, 1885

- Mesopleuron largely or completely reddish (fig. 8). Hind coxa yellowish (fig. 8). MI 0.5-0.7. Hind tibia often yellow apically. 1 st sternite reddish basally. .................................9

9 Propodeum entirely black. 3 rd to 6 th tergites ± darkened (fig. 8). Width of face 1.2× combined length of clypeus and face. ........................... M. maroccanus ( SCHWENKE, 1999)

- Apical half of propodeum red. 3 rd to 6 th tergites entirely yellow (fig. 12). Width of face 1.3× combined length of clypeus and face (fig. 67)............ M. persicus RIEDEL et al., 2019

10 Face yellowish or reddish (figs 68, 70). Distal part of metacarpus very short or completely absent (fig. 25). Mesopleuron often densely punctate. Hind coxa brown or yellow................................................................................................................................11

- Face brown or blackish centrally (figs 59, 63, 66). Distal part of metacarpus longer, usually as long as width of pterostigma (fig. 26). Mesopleuron without or with sparse punctures, sometimes centrally fine rugose (fig. 33). Hind coxa brown or red. ................12

11 Scuto-scutellar groove smooth (as fig. 53). Vertex with large yellow spot (fig. 78). Temple moderately narrowed behind eye (fig. 78). Metasoma mainly black, 2 nd tergite reddish in basal half (fig. 84). Mid and hind coxae brownish (fig. 14). Mesopleuron finely rugose-punctate ventrally (fig. 36)...................................... M. ranini VIKBERG, 2007

- Scuto-scutellar groove with fine longitudinal ridges (as fig. 54). Vertex without yellow spot (fig. 79), temple strongly narrowed behind eye (fig. 79). At least 2 nd and 3 rd tergites ± reddish or yellowish. Following tergites reddish-yellow (fig. 13). All coxae pale. Mesopleuron densely punctate ventrally. Pakistan. ........................ M. punjabi nov.sp.

12 Temple slightly widened behind eye (fig. 74). Mesosoma moderately depressed, 2.1× as long as high. Mesopleuron sparsely punctate ventrally (fig. 31). Siberia.............................................................................................................................. M. megacephalus nov.sp.

- Temple parallel or ± narrowed behind eye (fig. 76-78). Mesosoma not or moderately depressed. Mesopleuron densely punctate or finely rugose (fig. 33).................................13

13 Mesosoma moderately depressed, 2.0× as long as high (fig. 5). Temple ± parallel behind eye (fig. 76). Mesopleuron punctate. Hind femur stouter, 3.5× as long as wide. Ovipositor sheath stouter, 5.5-6.5× as long as wide (fig. 42). ............................................................................................................................................. M. formosus BRIDGMAN, 1882

- Mesosoma not depressed, 1.6× as long as high (fig. 11). Temple strongly narrowed behind eye (fig. 75). Mesopleuron ± rugose or rugose-punctate centrally (fig. 33). Hind femur slenderer, 4.1-4.4× as long as wide. Ovipositor sheath slender, 7.5-8.5× as long as wide (fig. 48)................................................................................... M. nigrifrons nov.sp.