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Key to the New World Genera Pompilinae + Epipompilinae
(modified from Banks 1947, Evans 1966, Coloma de Correa 1981, and Wahis & Rojas 2003)

(The sexes have separate keys for these subfamilies)

Females
1. Pronotum with the collar not well differentiated from the disc, the streptaulus absent medially and the collar on nearly the same plane as the disc; or if on a lower plane the streptaulus is absent altogether; pronotum longer than mesoscutum in most genera; eyes sometimes wholly covered with short hairs (Aporini) ............................................................................................................... 2
Pronotum with the collar separated from the disc by a complete streptaulus, the disc sloping upward strongly from the collar; pronotum shorter than mesoscutum along the midline, or at least not notably longer; eyes never hairy (Pompilini) .................................................................. 8

2. Fore wing with three SMCs; front femora not incrassate, or if somewhat so the labrum is strongly exerted and the maxillary palpi very long ....................................................................... 3
Fore wing with two SMCs; front femora usually incrassate; labrum not strongly exerted nor the palpi unusually long ....................................................................................................................... 4

3. Eyes hairy; pronotum relatively short, the streptaulus absent; labrum strongly exerted; mandibles without a fimbriate groove beneath .................................................. Epipompilus Kohl
Eyes not hairy; pronotum elongate, the streptaulus present except medi-ally; labrum not exerted; mandibles with a strong fimbriate groove beneath............................................. Psorthaspis Banks

4. SMC2 receiving only one recurrent vein, the second recurrent vein meeting cubitus beyond (or occasionally interstitial with) with second intercubital vein ......................................................... 5
SMC2 receiving two recurrent veins ............................................................................................. 6

5. Claws bifid; hind wing with the transverse median vein leaving the anal vein at an angle, meeting media basad of origin of cubitus by about or slightly more or less than its own length ..................................................................................................................... Notoplaniceps Bradley
Claws dentate; hind wing variable, rarely as above in American species .............. Aporus Spinola

6. Front tibiae with stout, decurved spines at apex; middle and hind coxae well separated, revealing the metasternum .............................................................................. Chelaporus Bradley
Front tibiae without such spines at apex; middle and hind coxae close together, the metasternum not readily visible ........................................................................................................................... 7

7. Transverse median vein of hind wing leaving anal vein at an angle, short and straight; SMC2 slightly if at all wider than high ............................................................................ Allaporus Banks
Transverse median vein of hind wing not leaving anal vein at an angle, in fact not clearly separated from it, long and strongly arched; SMC2 nearly or quite twice as wide as high ........ ………………………………………………………………………………... Euplaniceps Haupt

8. Propodeum not produced posterolaterally into sharp, conical processes (such processes present on the middle of the slope in some Tachypompilus); legs more or less spinose; postnotum a transverse band of variable width ................................................................................................. 9
Propodeum bearing distinct, more or less conical processes posterolaterally; either the legs smooth and almost devoid of spines or the postnotum concealed dorsally ................................. 28

9. Transverse median vein of hind wing leaving anal vein at an angle, short and straight; posterior rim of propodeum virtually absent ...................................................... Tastiotenia Evans
Anal and transverse median veins of hind wing confluent and forming an arch; posterior rim of propodeum well developed .......................................................................................................... 10

10. Anal lobe of hind wing very large, about three-fourths the length of the submedian cell; spines beneath apical tarsal segments in an irregular double row .................. Chalcochares Banks
Anal lobe of hind wing smaller, at most slightly more than half the length of the submedian cell; spines beneath the apical tarsal segments, when present, in a median row (occasionally also with one or two lateral ones) .................................................................................................................11

11. Postnotum arcuately broadened on each side of the median line, then constricted again opposite the propodeal spiracles; anal vein of hind wing meeting media beyond the origin of cubitus, except some-times in Episyron, which possesses a scale-like pubescence on Tl, and Austrochares, in which the fore tibiae are spined above for most of their length ....................................................................................................................................................... 12
Postnotum a transverse band with nearly parallel margins, or broadened at the midline; hind wing variable; without scale-like pubescence; fore tibiae spined above only apically ....................................................................................................................................................... 15

12. Claws bifid; anal vein of hind wing meeting media near or slightly beyond origin of cubitus ....................................................................................................................................................... 13
Claws dentate (except front claws sometimes bifid); anal vein of hind wing meeting media well beyond origin of cubitus ……………………………………………………………………...... 14

13. Tl, and usually parts of the propodeum and thorax, bearing scale-like pubescence; clypeus transverse, its upper margin slightly irregular toward the sides ........................ Episyron Schiødte
Body without scale-like pubescence; clypeus large, its upper margin strongly sinuate ......................................................................................................................... Austrochares Banks

14. Apical tarsal segments not spined beneath; spines of the front tibiae mostly on the outer side ................................................................................................................... Sericopompilus Howard
Apical tarsal segments spined beneath: front tibiae with a series of strong spines above ................................................................................................................. Poecilopompilus Howard

15. Second recurrent vein of fore wing arising on the subdiscoidal vein much more than half the distance from the base of the subdiscoidal vein to the outer wing margin; apical tergite densely bristly only in a few species of Priochilus ........................................................... ....................... 16
Second recurrent vein of fore wing arising on the subdiscoidal vein about half or somewhat less than half the distance from the base of the subdiscoidal vein to the outer wing margin, or if somewhat more than half (some Anoplius) the apical tergite densely bristly .............................. 20

16. Pulvillar pad large, the comb consisting of 18 or more short, parallel setulae; apical lateral spines on the penultimate tarsal segments more than half as long as the ultimate segment; clypeus with a strong, sharply defined median emargination ............................ Aplochares Banks
Pulvillar pad very small, the comb consisting of a few divergent setulae; apical lateral spines of penultimate tarsal segments much shorter than above; American species with the clypeus more shallowly and broadly emarginate if at all ................................................................................... 17

17. Claws dentate; third discoidal cell with a pocket at its lower, inner corner .......................... 18
Claws bifid, the inner ray broader than the outer ray; third discoidal cell without a pocket at its lower, inner corner ....................................................................................................................... 19

18. Front without a tubercle as below; propodeum with the slope rather low and even, often striate or with short, pale, semi-erect pubescence ....................................... Agenioideus Ashmead
Front with a blunt tubercle between and slightly above the antennal sockets; propodeum strongly convex, more or less humped laterally, not striate or with semi-erect pubescence……………....... …………………………………………………………………………. Tachypompilus Ashmead

19. Pronotum short, sloping evenly in front; antennae very slender throughout, the outer flagellar segments elongate; abdomen not compressed ..................................................... Priochilus Banks
Pronotum with the disc subangularly produced anteromedially, the anterior face nearly or quite perpendicular to the disc; outer segments of flagellum rather short and thick in most species; abdomen weakly to fairly strongly compressed apically ...................................... Balboana Banks

20. Apical tergite with numerous stiff, bristly setae, usually quite densely bristly; pulvillar comb strong, of from 12 to 26 subparallel setae ............................................................ Anoplius Dufour
Apical tergite without bristles, often with some strong setae, but these are sparse and not bristly; pulvillar comb variable ................................................................................................................ 21

21. Claws bifid ……………………………………………………………………………….… 22
Claws dentate ... ………………………………………………………………………………... 23

22. Malar space well developed. Labrum fully exerted. Apex of abdomen compressed ............
.......................................……………………….................................. Paracyphononyx Gribodo
Malar space not developed; labrum not usually exerted; apex of abdomen not compressed … ……………………………………………………………………………….. Dicranoplius Haupt

23. Antennae very short, the middle flagellar segments tending to be slightly broadened and flattened on one side, third segment at most 3.5 X as long as thick, usually less than 3 X as long as thick; pulvillar comb of not more than seven weak setulae .. ………………………………. 24
Antennae long and slender, third segment generally more than 3.5 X as long as thick; pulvillar comb variable, when reduced the antennae quite long and slender ............................................ 25

24. Pronotum in lateral view shorter than the mesonotum and surface almost complete oblique without dorsal face ……………………………………………………………… Aridestus Banks
Pronotum in lateral view as long as the mesonotum and having a distinct dorsal face ....................... ………………………………………………………………... Evagetes Lepeletier

25. Apical tarsal segment without a median row of ventral spines similar in size to preceeding segment; either no ventral spines or with no more than 3 spines near base or with a complete row of very minute spines …………………………………………………………………………... 26
Apical tarsal segment with a median row of ventral spines similar in size to preceeding segment, which form a row that at least extends past middle of segment………...… Arachnospila Kincaid

26. Front basitarsus with two comb-spines, one at middle and one at apex………………………
…………………………………………………………………………… Perrisopompilus Evans
Front basitarsus with three, sometimes four, comb-spines ..…………………………………… 27

27. Apical tarsal segment without ventral spines. Propodeum and mesopleura bare or with dark setae. Pulvillar comb weakly developed ……………………………….. Hesperopompilus Evans
Apical tarsal segment with 1-3 ventral spines near base. Propodeum and mesopleura, as well as other portions of body, with white setae. Pulvillar comb strongly developed with 20 setulae … …………………………………………………………………………………. Xerochares Evans

28. Front tarsus with a comb and legs otherwise rather spinose; postnotum concealed dorsally, the metanotum and propodeum in broad contact; frequently with only two SMCs ................ ………………………………………………………………………………… Aporinellus Banks
Front tarsus without a comb; legs unusually smooth and devoid of spines; postnotum complete; three SMCs present; malar space fairly long ............................................................................ ………………………………………………………………………………….. Allochares Banks

Males
1. Fore wing with two SMCs, the second receiving only one recurrent vein i.e., the second recurrent vein is received beyond the second intercubital vein .................................................... 2
Fore wing with three SMCs, or if with two, both recurrent veins are received by the second SMC (rarely the second recurrent vein is interstitial with the second intercubital vein) ……………… 3

2. Vertex sharply margined, the posterior surface of the head concave; parameres exceedingly slender and bearing some very strong setae; marginal cell slender, about 4 X as long as high ..................................................................................................................... Notoplaniceps Bradley
Vertex less sharply margined, the head not notably concave behind, or if somewhat so the parameres not as above; marginal cell less slender not 4 X as long as high ........ Aporus Spinola

3. Transverse median vein of hind wing leaving the anal vein at a strong angle (35 to nearly 90 degrees), short and straight, reaching media well basad of the origin of the cubitus .................... 4
Transverse median and anal veins of hind wing not clearly separated, forming a continuous broad arc which curves up to meet media ..................................................................................... 7

4. Three SMCs present; posterior rim of propodeum rather weakly developed …........................ 5
Only two SMCs present; posterior rim of propodeum of normal size ........................................... 6

5. Hind tarsi and tibial spurs very slender; legs clothed on their outer parts with coarse, semi-erect setulae; malar space well developed; maxillary palpi unusually long .................................................………………………………………………. Epipompilus Kohl
Hind basitarsus and hind tibial spurs unusually broad and flat; legs with only fine, semiappressed pubescence; malar space absent; palpi not of unusual length ............................. Tastiotenia Evans

6. Second SMC not much if any wider than high; third discoidal cell higher than wide; anal lobe of hind wing about as long as submedian cell ..................................................... Allaporus Banks
Second SMC about or more than twice as wide as high; third discoidal cell wider than high; anal lobe of hind wing much shorter than sub-median cell ……............................ Chelaporus Bradley

7. Anal lobe of hind wing about three-fourths the length of the submedian cell; body densely hairy, including even the abdominal dorsum ................................................. Chalcochares Banks
Anal lobe smaller, at most slightly more than half the length of the sub-median cell; body only occasionally as hairy as above …………………………………………………………………... 8

8. Propodeum not produced posterolaterally into sharp, conical processes, occasionally the posterior angles broadly produced ................................................................................................. 9
Propodeum bearing distinct, more or less conical processes posterolaterally.............................. 28

9. Postnotum arcuately broadened on each side of the median line, then constricted again opposite the propodeal spiracles; anal vein of hind wing meeting media beyond the origin of the cubitus, except often in Episyron, which possesses a scale-like pubescence on Tl, and in Austrochares, in which the front tibiae are spined above for most of their length ....................................................................................................................................................... 10
Postnotum a transverse band of variable width, with nearly parallel anterior and posterior margins, or broadened at the midline, or occasion-ally practically absent; without scale-like pubescence; other characters variable .......................................................................................... 13

10. Claws dentate; wings showing no tendency to fold longitudinally; abdomen very slender ................................................................................................................... Sericopompilus Howard
Claws bifid; fore wings generally showing a tendency to fold longitudinally; abdomen in general less slender and elongate than above ........................................................................................... 11

11. Propodeum and Tl with appressed, scale-like pubescence; predominantly black, with limited whitish to yellowish maculations if any ......................................................... Episyron Schiødte
Propodeum and Tl without scale-like pubescence; species extensively patterned with ferruginous and/or yellowish ………………………………………………………………………............ 12

12. Anal vein of hind wing meeting media near or only slightly beyond origin of cubitus; head only slightly wider than high (TFD roughly 1.1 X VFD) ............................... Austrochares Banks
Anal vein of hind wing meeting media well beyond origin of cubitus; head (especially eyes) unusually wide (TFD at least 1.15 X VFD) ............................................ Poecilopompilus Howard

13. Second recurrent vein of fore wing arising on the subdiscoidal vein much more than half the distance from the base of the subdiscoidal vein to the outer wing margin .................................. 14
Second recurrent vein arising on the subdiscoidal vein about or some-what less than half the distance from the base of the subdiscoidal vein to the outer wing margin .................................. 18

14. Claws slender and but slightly curved, with a small, erect tooth (except inner claws of front tarsi)...…………………………………………………………................... Agenioideus Ashmead
Claws stouter and more curved, with the tooth strong and sloping out-ward, subparallel to the outer ray (i. e., bifid), or else claws in part edentate .................................................................... 15

15. Propodeum strongly convex and with somewhat irregular contours, including a concave declivity; mostly ferruginous species with a blunt tubercle just above the antennal sockets ........ …………………………………………………………………………..Tachypompilus Ashmead
Propodeal slope low and even, with no irregularities or a well-defined declivity; mostly black species .......................................................................................................................................... 16

16. A short malar space present; maxillary palpi short, the penultimate segment less than a third as long as the median length of the clypeus; wings tending to fold longitudinally .......................... …………………………………………………………………………………..Aplochares Banks
Malar space absent; maxillary palpi longer, penultimate segment at least more than half as long as median length of clypeus; wings not tending to fold longitudinally .................................... 17

17. Antennae slender, filiform, sometimes very weakly crenulate in profile; pronotum short, sloping abruptly; SGP at most moderately compressed; digiti expanded and curved apically...... …………………………………………………………………………………. Priochilus Banks
Antennae strongly crenulate in profile, at least on the outer third; pronotum somewhat longer, in lateral view with the disc subangularly separated from the anterior face; SGP very strongly compressed; digiti rod-like …………………….................................................. Balboana Banks

18. Fore wings with only two SMCs present and with the basal vein rather strongly arched; stigma nearly as long as the length of the marginal cell along the costal margin; pronotum elongate ............ ……………………………………………………………... Euplaniceps Haupt
Fore wings with three SMCs, or if with only two the basal vein slightly if at all arched and the stigma not nearly as long as the length of the marginal cell along the costal margi ................... 19

19. Anterior margin of clypeus convexly rounded, the clypeus not usually more than about 1.7 X as wide as high. Propodeum with the slope rather flat in front, abruptly declivous behind, often prominent on the sides of the declivity; pronotum rather long, often as long or longer than mesoscutum, its posterior margin weakly arcuate to nearly straight. Antennal segment short, third segment less than 2X as long as thick ....................................................... Psorthaspis Banks
- Anterior margin of clypeus truncate or slightly emarginate, the clypeus more than 1.8 X as wide as high (except Hesperopompilus which has convexly rounded clypeus but does not fit remaining characters above); other characters various ................................................................................ 20

20. Mid and hind claws bifid, i.e., the inner ray slopes outward, nearly parallel to the outer ray ...................... ………………………………………………………………………………….... 21
Mid and hind claws dentate (sometimes front tarsal claws bifid), i.e., the tooth is short and erect .................................... ………………………………………………………………………...... 23

21. Labrum fully exerted, semicircular; malar space at least about as long as antennal pedicel; antennae strongly crenulate or subserrate in profile; posterior slope of propodeum with dense, erect pile ................................................................................................ Paracyphononyx Gribodo
Labrum not fully exerted, sometimes partially so; malar space at most about half as long as antennal pedicel; antennae filiform, sometimes weakly crenulate in profile; propodeum not as above …………………………………………………………………………………………… 22

22. Propodeum with posterior declivity steep, declivity covered with short dense pubescence ............................. …………………………………………………................ Dicranoplius Haupt
Propodeum smoothly curved without a posterior declivity .................................. Anoplius Dufour

23. Antennae short, the third segment less than twice as long as thick and distinctly shorter than fourth segment; pronotum arcuate behind (subangulate in some extralimital species); pulvillar pad and comb very weak .............................................................................................................. 24
- Antennae long, the third segment more than twice as long as thick; pronotum at least weakly angulate behind, often sharply so ................................................................................................. 25

24. Pronotum in lateral view shorter than the mesonotum and surface almost complete oblique without dorsal face ……………………………………………………………... Aridestus Banks
Pronotum in lateral view as long as the mesonotum and having a distinct dorsal face ……………………………………………………………………................... Evagetes Lepeletier

25. Apical segment of front tarsus nearly parallel sided, the inner margin not produced ……... 26
Apical segment of front tarsus short and asymmetrical, the inner margin distinctly expanded … ……………………………………………………………………………... Arachnospila Kincaid

26. Both front tarsal claws bifid. Propodeum and mesopleura with abundant erect white setae … …………………………………………………………………………………. Xerochares Evans
Inner front tarsal claws bifid, outer claw dentate. Propodeum and mesopleura without erect setae or with sparse dark setae ………………………………………..……………………………… 27

27. First four metasomal segments with broad, complete transverse apical bands of very dense silver pubescence which diverges strongly from the median line. Sixth metasomal sternite with specialized flattened median area set off by carina ……………………… Perissopompilus Evans
First four metasomal segments without complete transverse apical bands of very dense pubescence. Sixth metasomal sternite lacking specialized flattened median area set off by carina ………………………………………………………………………...… Hesperopompilus Evans

28. Antennal segment short, third segment less than 2X as long as thick ......... Psorthaspis Banks
Antennal segment long, third segment greater than 2X as long as thick…………..…………… 29

29. Postnotum broadly concealed dorsally, the metanotum and propodeum in broad contact; legs rather spinose; often with only two SMCs ........................................................ Aporinellus Banks
Postnotum complete; legs very smooth and with reduced spines; three SMCs present; first two abdominal segments large, the remainder of abdomen tending to telescope within the basal segments ..................................... …………………………………………….... Allochares Banks