Key to Japanese species of the genus Apophua

(The males of aquilonia, elegans and yamato are unknown)

1. T1-T3 with strong median longitudinal carina (Figs. 1 C, 6 C, 7 C). Base and posterior margin of T1 and posterior margin of all other tergites yellow (Figs. 1 C, 3 A, 7 C). Face strongly transversely striated by coalescent punctures. Upper margin of pronotum with conspicuous yellow stripe (Fig. 3 A). Scutellum with yellow marking (Fig. 1 C). Hind coxa reddish-brown (Figs. 3 A, 5 C). Hind femur and tibia completely blackish-brown (Figs. 3 A, 5 C).............................. elegans sp. nov.

-. T1-T3 with weak and partly indistinct median longitudinal carina, or without it (Figs. 1 A, B, D–L, 6A, B, D–K, 7 A, B, D– K,). Face weakly transversely striated by coalescent punctures. Hind leg largely yellowish-brown (Fig. 5 A, B, D–I) or nearly entirely blackish-brown (Figs. 3 B, 5 J, K).................................................................. 2

2. Pronotum largely yellow laterally (Fig. 2 E). Mesopleuron black with large yellowish marking (Fig. 2 E). T1–T3 with yellow posterior margin (Figs. 1 F, 2 E). Ovipositor very long, its sheath 3.0–3.7 times as long as hind tibia. Subgenital plate with a short apodema sternalis, anterior margin convex (Fig. 9 J). Inner margin of paramere slightly concave (Fig. 8 G).............................................................................................. kikuchii Uchida, 1928

-. Pronotum largely black laterally, yellow area at most present dorsally (Fig. 2 A–D, F–I). Mesopleuron without large yellow marking (Fig. 2 A–D, F–I). Ovipositor not very long, it sheath shorter than 2.5 times as long as hind tibia. Subgenital plate with a long apodema sternalis, anterior margin slightly concave (Fig. 9 A, D, G, M, P, S). Inner margin of paramere slightly concave (Fig. 8 A, C, E, I, K, M)................................................................................ 3

3. T2 longer than wide, its length 1.1–1.3 times as long as maximum width (Figs. 1 D, 6 D, 7 D). Metasomal tergites almost smooth (more or less punctate in male but sparser than other species), strongly shiny by strong blue reflection (Fig. 7 D). Epicnemial carina absent laterally. Propodeal carinae weak, usually absent (only restricted by slight convexity) except for posterior transverse carina and pleural carina. Yellow area on pronotum restricted near postero-lateral corner (Fig. 2 C). Median dorsal carina of T1 largely absent posteriorly (Fig. 6 D)...................................... evanescens (Ratzeburg, 1848)

-. T2 shorter than 1.1 times as long as maximum width, usually square or transverse (Figs. 1 A, B, E–J, L, 6 A, B, E, G–K, 7 A, B, E–K). Metasomal tergites more or less punctate, weakly to rather strongly shiny (Figs. 1 A, B, E–J, L, 7 A, B, E–K). Epicnemial carina present laterally or absent in A. aquilonia . Propodeal carinae except for posterior transverse carina and pleural carina absent to present. Median dorsal carina of T1 various, usually nearly complete (Fig. 6 A, B, E, G–K).............. 4

4. Epicnemial carina absent laterally. Fore coxa with ridge (Fig. 4 A, B). Scutellum black (Fig. 1 A). Median dorsal carina on T1 present only near base (Fig. 6 A)..................................................... aquilonia (Momoi, 1963)

-. Epicnemial carina present laterally. Scutellum usually with yellow marking (Fig. 1 B, E, G–K). Median dorsal carina on T1 well developed (Fig. 6 B, E, H–J), or if largely obsolete, T1–T3 reddish brown (Figs. 1 G, 2 F, 6 G, 7 G) or hind leg largely blackish-brown (Fig. 5 K)...............................................................................5

5. Hind femur and tibia blackish brown in lateral view (Fig. 5 J, K). Hind coxa largely blackish brown (Fig. 5 J, K). Upper margin of pronotum and scutellum yellow (Figs. 2 I, 3 B). Metasomal tergite black (Fig. 1 J–L).............................. 6

-. Hind femur and tibia reddish brown to brown in lateral view (Fig. 5 B, E, H, I). Hind coxa reddish brown (Fig. 5 B, E, H, I). Upper margin of pronotum and scutellum yellow (Fig. 2 B, D, H) or sometimes largely black (Fig. 2 G). Metasomal tergite sometimes partly tinged red (Figs. 1 G, 2 F)................................................................. 7

6. Ovipositor long, its sheath 2.9–3.0 times as long as hind tibia. Hind coxa with yellow marking dorsally (Fig. 5 J). Median dorsal carina of T1 at least present basal 0.6 (Fig. 6 J)......................................... tobensis (Uchida,1928)

-. Ovipositor short, its sheath 1.9–2.0 times as long as hind tibia. Hind coxa without yellow marking dorsally (Fig. 5 K). Median dorsal carina of T1 largely obsolete posteriorly, distinct area shorter than basal 0.5 (Fig. 6 K).............. yamato sp. nov.

7. Median dorsal carina of T1 shorter than 0.5 times of T1 (Figs. 1 G, 6 G). T1–T3 entirely (female) or partly (male: as posterior broad band) tinged with yellowish-red (Figs. 1 G, 2 F). Length of T2 distinctly shorter than wide (Fig. 6 G). Upper margin of pronotum with yellow stripe (Fig. 2 F)............. maetai Momoi, 1978 (= genalis kasparyani Kuslitzky, 2007 syn. nov.)

-. Median dorsal carina of T1 nearly complete, usually longer than 0.8 times of T1 (Fig. B, E, H, I). T1–T3 entirely black (Fig. 1 B, E, H, I), or in male of sugawarai with yellow posterior band, or if tinged reddish-brown, yellow area on upper margin of pronotum sometimes restricted to small spot before tegula (Fig. 2 G)............................................. 8

8. Posterior margin of all tergites (in male) or T4 and following all tergites (in female) with conspicuous yellow or white band (Figs. 1 I, 2 H). Propodeum usually with yellowish area posteriorly (Fig. 1 I). Upper margin of pronotum with yellow stripe (Fig. 2 H). Surface of tergites with blue reflection (Figs. 1 I, 2 H, 7 I).......................... sugaharai Momoi, 1978

-. Posterior margin of T4 and following tergites always without white or yellow band (Figs. 1 B, E, H, 2 B, D, G). Propodeum without yellow area (Fig. 1 B, E, H)....................................................................... 9

9. Small species, its body length 6.5–10.5 mm (usually less than 9.0 mm). Yellow area on upper margin of pronotum always restricted as small spot on posterior angle (Fig. 2 G). Anterior half of scutellum black (Fig. 1 H). T2 square, its length 1.0 times as long as maximum width (Fig. 6 H)....................................................... stena Momoi, 1963

-. Large species, its body length 8.5–11.0 mm. Yellow area of pronotum always large and broad, present along its upper margin (Fig. 2 B, D). Anterior half of scutellum usually yellow laterally (Fig. 1 B, E)..................................... 10

10. Robust species. T1–T3 usually with median longitudinal keel (Fig. 6 B). T1 1.2–1.4 times as long as maximum width (Fig. 6 B). T2 usually wide, its length 0.9–1.0 (both sexes) times as long as maximum width (Fig. 6 B). Surface on tergites without blue reflection or with slight blue reflection (Fig. 7 B)................................. bipunctoria (Thunberg, 1822)

-. Slender species. T1–T3 usually without median longitudinal keel except for bases of T2 and T3 (Fig. 6 E). T1 1.6–1.9 times as long as maximum width (Fig. 6 E). T2 usually slender, its length 1.0–1.1 (female) (Fig. 6 E) or 1.3 (male) times as long as maximum width. Surface of tergites with strong blue reflection (Fig. 7 E)........................ honmai Momoi, 1978