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Key to the New World Genera of Pepsinae

(modified from Banks 1946, Townes 1957, Evans 1973, Roig Alsina 1989,

and Wahis & Rojas 2003)

	1. Subgenital plate laterally compressed; 2 rs-m and 3 rs-m continuously curved outward, similar in appearance; claws bifid ………..................................................................…………... Minagenia Banks - Subgenital plate not laterally compressed; 2 rs-m and 3 rs-m not similar in appearance, usually one or both not continuously curved; claws normally dentate (bifid in Anacyphonyx)....................................……….. 2
	2. Tergite 1, in dorsal view, with the sides evenly convergent anteriorly or slightly convex, in lateral view with a suture delimited a laterotergite; male genitalia with parapenial lobe not decurved at apex ............……… 3 - Tergite 1, in dorsal view, with the sides somewhat concave, giving it a somewhat petiolates appearance, in lateral view without a suture delimited a laterotergite; male genitalia with parapenial lobe slender, decurved at apex……………………………....................................................................………..USA (Couplet 28) …………………………………............…………………Central American & Neotropical (Couplet 31)
	3. Mandible with three teeth (including the apical point as a tooth); dorsal edge of hind tibia smooth in both sexes; female with cardo of each maxilla giving rise to a fascicle of long curved hairs.............. Dipogon Fox - Mandible with two teeth (a large apical point plus a smaller subapical internal point; in a few species of Chirodamus from the Australian region there is a more or less distinct third tooth); dorsal edge of hind tibia of female (and often of male) with a serrate row of teeth; cardo of maxilla without a fascicle of long hairs in either sex.................................................................................................................................... ............ 4
	4. Second recurrent vein meeting the second cubital cell at about its apical 0.1 (pi. 1, fig. 3); empodium about 0.75 as wide as the subapical width of the last tarsal segment, its apical fringe of bristles containing about 14 to 40 bristles; first discoidal cell occupied basally by a distinct subcircular irregularity in the membrane; large or very large species......…………………………Hemipepsis Dahlbom - Second recurrent vein meeting the second cubital cell at or basad of its apical 0.25; empodium about 0.5 as wide as the subapical width of the last tarsal segment, its apical fringe of bristles containing about 8 to 10 bristles; first discoidal cell not occupied basally by an irregularity in the membrane, or if so the irregularity less distinct than in Hemipepsis............................................................ 6
	5. Marginal cell separated apically from the costal margin of the wing, so that the lip of the cell is rounded; second cubital cell receiving the second recurrent vein before its basal 0.33; large or very large species………….................................................................................................................. ..........… Pepsis Fabricius - Marginal cell apically adjacent to the costal margin of the wing, so that the tip of the cell ia pointed or subtruncate; second cubital cell receiving the second recurrent vein beyond its basal 0.4................................………......………………………………..........….…………… USA and Central American (Couplet 6) ………………………………………………............………………..……… Neotropical (Couplet 11)
	6. Second intercubital vein quite straight; legs and antenna short and stout, the second segment of flagellum in the Nearctic species 1.5 to 4.5 as long as wide; clypeus wide, short, and rather flat; brush on inner side of hind tibia broadly continuous to the apex........................................................……Calopompilus Ashmead - Second intercubital vein usually more or less curved (straight in Entypus and in some Cryptocheilus); legs and antenna longer and more slender, the second segment of flagellum rarely less than 3.2 as long as wide; clypeus longer and more convex; brush on inner side of hind tibia often with a sub-apical constriction or interruption.............................................................................................................. ................................ 7
	7. Cubital vein not quite reaching the wing margin and the nervellus ending at or distad of the juncture of cubitella with discoidella; clypeus very large................................................................. Priocnessus Banks - Cubital vein usually reaching the wing margin, or if not (e. g., some species of Priocnemis), then the nervellus ending distinctly basad of the juncture of cubitella with discoidella............................................... 8
	8. Under side of last tarsal segment with two longitudinal rows of bristles; second intercubital vein straight or evenly curved.............................................................................................................................. ............ 9 - Under side of last tarsal segment without any preapical bristles or with a very few that are not arranged in two regular longitudinal rows; second inter-cubital vein rather straight anteriorly, but strongly curved posteriorly..…………………………………………….................................……………………….. 10
	9. Carina on mesosternum in front of each middle coxa angled medially and at the angle usually produced as a tooth; nervellus ending beyond, at, or just before the juncture of cubitella with discoidella.…………….....................................................………………………………………………………... Entypus Dahlbom - Carina on mesosternum in front of each middle coxa evenly curved; nervellus ending distinctly before the juncture of cubitella with discoidella................…...............………………………... Cryptocheilus Panzer
	10. Anal lobe elliptical, the apical half of its hind margin evenly curved; fore tibia of female without a single, unusually stout bristle on its outer apical corner; nervulus beyond the basal vein by about 0.7 to 1.3 its length; pronotum of normal length......................................................................................... Priocnemis Schiødte - Anal lobe subtriangular, the apical half of its hind margin rather straight; fore tibia of female with a single, very stout, blunt, spinelike bristle at its outer apical corner; nervulus at the basal vein or beyond it by less than 0.3 its length; pronotum quite short............................................................……………. Caliadurgus Pate
	11. Internal brush of the posterior tibia wide and continuous to the apex of the tibia.. ....……..........……. 11 - Internal brush of the posterior tibia thin and interrupted prior to the apex of the tibia .......…..........……. 25
	12. Females….…………………………………………………………………..........…………….. 13 - Males……….....……………………………………………………………………..........………. 19
	Females 13. Hind tibia without teeth, the dorsal edge with short spines or smooth. Sixth tergum with fine and sparse pubescence, as with the other terga; with several strong and long scattered setae; the apical flange smooth. Sixth sternum compressed and keeled. Fore femora swollen. Malar space well developed........................................................................................................................ ....................................Chirodamus Haliday - Hind tibia with one or two dorsal rows of teeth. Sixth tergum strongly setose. Sixth sternum and malar space various; Fore femora normal.........................................................................................................14 14. Last tarsal segments without ventral spines....…………………………........……….………… ….. 15 - Last tarsal segments usually with ventral spines........................................................ ............................ 16 15. Head transverse, wider than its length and with raised vertex. Eyes with anterior margin emarginated, appearing kidney-shaped. Eyes convergent ventrally....................................…… Plagicurgus Roig Alsina - Head rounded. Eyes with anterior margin slightly emarginated, not appearing kidney-shaped. Eyes not convergent below......................................................................................................... Herbstellus Wahis
	16. Genicular lobes of hind femora with simple edges. Sixth tergum with apical flange narrow and smooth............................................................................................................................ Adirostes Banks - Hind femora with truncate genicular lobes. Sixth tergum with apical flange wide and transversely striated............................................................................................................................. ................... 17 17. Last tarsal segments with ventral spines irregularly arranged. Galea short, glossa rounded. Hairy species, at least with long hairs on the femora, pleura and propodeal sides......................Pompilocalus Roig Alsina - Last tarsal segments with ventral spines in two lateral rows. Galea long, glossa bifid........................…. 18 18. Front narrow, the eyes more or less convergent on the vertex. Flagellar segments more than twice as long as wide. Without a mesepisternal tubercle. Claws always toothed ..................Aimatocare Roig Alsina - Front wide, polished and shiny in several species. Flagellar segments short and thick, segments 5-12 never more than twice as long as wide. Mesepisternum with a lower tubercle. Claws cleft or toothed..................................................................................................................... ................................. Anacyphonyx Banks Males (Males of Adirostes are unknown) 19. Head transverse, 1.3-1.4 times wider than long; vertex raised, well above level of top of eyes. Eyes kidney-shaped. Claws of middle legs bifid. Transverse groove of second sternite present. Parameres of the genitalia with a row of pegs.................................................................................. Plagicurgus Roig Alsina - Head generally rounded; sometimes slightly wider than long or longer than wide................................... 20 20. Claws of middle legs toothed or bifid..……………………………...………..............…………… 21 - Claws of middle legs lacking an internal tooth......…………….............……...……... Herbstellus Wahis
	21. Claws of middle legs always toothed; hind claws toothed or sometimes modified.. ......................….. 22 - Claws of middle legs always bifid; hind claws bifid, sometimes modified.................. ............................. 23 22. Transverse groove of second sternite absent. Malar space well developed, 0.25-1.2 times as long as basal width of mandible. Mesosternal carina between middle coxae with two central laminar projections. Widest part of gaster at the apex of first segment...................... Chirodamus Haliday -Transverse groove of second sternite present. Malar space narrow, at most 0.10 times as long as basal width of mandible. Mesosternal carina between middle coxae evenly rounded. Widest part of gaster: at the middle or apical 2/3 of second segment...............................Calopompilus Ashmead 23. Transverse groove of second sternite present. Galea short, glossa rounded. Hairy species, scapes and propodeum always with long hairs. Thorax and gaster never with extensive yellow maculations. Parameres of the genitalia with a row of pegs..............................Pompilocalus Roig Alsina - Transverse groove of second sternite absent. Galea elongated, glossa bifid. Less hairy species. Some species with extensive yellow maculations on the thorax and gaster....................………. 24 24. Propodeum with humped posterolateral angles. Maxillary palpi with segment 4 as long as segments 5 and 6 together. Parameres hairy ............................................... Anacyphonyx Banks - Propodeum gently rounded. Maxillary palpi with segments 4, 5 and 6 of similar length. Parameres with a row of pegs................................................................................. Aimatocare Roig Alsina
	25. Mesosternal carina with posterior directed projections. Female: Second metasomal sternite with a pair of tubercles more or less developed..............…………….…….… Entypus Dahlbom - Mesosternal carina lacking posterior directed projections. Female: Second metasomal sternite lacking a pair of tubercles.……………………………………………………………...…… 26
	26. Posterior margin of the pronotum vertical. Distal tarsal segment lacks ventral spines. Dorsum of propodeum inclined......…………………………………………..…………. Caliadurgus Pate - Posterior margin of the pronotum curved. Distal tarsal segment with irregularly arranged ventral spines. Dorsum of propodeum horizontal...............…………………………..……………… 27
	27. Mentum with a set of very long thick curved setae anteriorly directed.… Sphictostethus Kohl - Mentum without a set of very long thick curved setae anteriorly directed.... Priocnemis Schiødte
	Males and Females Nearctic (Ageniellini) 28. First tergite with a fine lateral crease that separates off the epipleuron; propodeum without long erect hairs; mentum of female with a brush of about 20 long stout bristles which are not divided into right and left groups; under-side of last tarsal segment of female with preapical bristles.................... ..............................................................................................……………... Phanagenia Banks First tergite without a lateral crease; propodeum with or without long erect hairs; mentum of female with either slender hairs, or with stout bristles that are divided basally into right and left group.... 29
	29. Propodeum with long erect hairs; female with a bare pygidial area and with some strong bristles arising from the mentum; male subgenital plate rather large, with a high, sharp, longitudinal ridge ....................................................................................................................... Auplopus Spinola Propodeum usually without long erect hairs; female without a pygidial area and with only slender hairs arising from the mentum; male subgenital plate smaller, or its longitudinal ridge (when present) lower and more blunt...................................………….…………………………………….. 30
	30. Apex of front tibia on the hind side without a conspicuously larger or re-curved spinelike bristle; clypeus without a trough-like impression paralleling its lateroapical margin............................ ..........................................................................................................................Ageniella Banks Apex of front tibia on the hind side surmounted by a conspicuously larger and recurved spinelike bristle (best developed in the female); clypeus with a troughlike impression paralleling its lateroapical margin………….....…………………………………..………Priocnemella Banks
	Neotropical Female Ageniellini 31. Females.……………………………………………………………………..………… 32 - Males.………………………………………………………………………………...….. 38
	32. Apex of front tibia on outer side with a strongly differentiated, curved, hook-like spine; clypeus large, extending well beneath bottoms of eyes.......................................................................... 33 Apex of front tibia without a strong, curved spine that is well differentiated from the other spines..................................................................................................................... .............................. 34
	33. Last segment of middle and hind tarsi spined beneath; lower part of mesopleuron with a projection; clypeus strongly emarginate.......................................................... Phanochilus Banks Last segment of all tarsi smooth beneath; mesopleurum without a prominence; clypeus truncate....... ................................................................................................................... Priocnemella Banks
	34. Pronotum with collar not much below level of disk, separated from anterodorsal projection by short concave face, posterior margin broadly angulate; T1 with suture separating epipleurum; anal vein of hind wing strongly recurved; Female: malar space at least half as long as width of mandibles at their base; transverse groove on S2 not in extreme anterior position; occipital carina extending towards ocelli in a short loop; pygidium differentiated, nearly bare…….… Atopagenia Wasbauer Without above combination of characters…………………………………..…..………….…35
	35. Mandibles with a basal tuft of long, pale setae which cover much of the mandibles; malar space at least half as long as width of mandibles at their base................................. Mystacagenia Evans Mandibles without such modification, simple and with scattered setae; malar space less than half as long as width of mandibles at their base, often nearly absent..................................................... 36
	36. Apical tergite covered with bristles and without a differentiated pygidial area; mentum with or without a few thin setae scattered along its length................................................ Ageniella Banks Apical tergite with a median area which is devoid of setae and more or less smooth, often polished; mentum with a group of stout setae arising near the base and directed forward.…................…. 37
	37. Malar space about one third as long as width of mandibles at their base; temples prominent, nearly as wide as eyes; tooth of claws quite close to outer ray (males macrocephalic)…………................................................................................................ ...................... Dimorphagenia Evans Malar space small or absent, mandibles and lower eye margins nearly in contact; temples narrow, receding; tooth of claws well separated from outer ray...................................... Auplopus Spinola
	Neotropical Male Ageniellini (Males of Mystacagenia unknown) 38. Macrocephalic .................................................................................. Dimorphagenia Evans - Head size normal …………………………………………………………………...….…. 39
	39. Pronotum with collar not much below level of disk, separated from anterodorsal projection by short concave face, posterior margin broadly angulate…...………...….… Atopagenia Wasbauer Without above combination of characters…………………………...……………………..… 40
	40. Clypeus strongly emarginated, appearing bidentate................................... Phanochilus Banks - Clypeus not strongly emarginated, truncate to weakly emarginated.…………....……...…….41
	41. Carina separates propodeum laterally from metapleuron.…………...……. Auplopus Spinola - Lacking carina that separates propodeum laterally from metapleuron.……....……...……….. 42
	42. Clypeus large and broad, greatly overhanging mandibles………….…… Priocnemella Banks - Clypeus normal, not greatly overhanging mandibles……………......……….... Ageniella Banks