Keys to Metaphotina species

1. Males’s vertex convex (Fig. 19A). Ventral phallomere left margin curving smoothly towards the spiniform projection of the sdp (Fig. 20A). Left phallomere’s posterior bending convex (Fig. 20A). Females’ CG8 proximal projections angular, with sharp edges (Fig. 21A). cxdl strongly sclerotized (Figs. 21A, D). Distributed mainly in the Brazilian Cerrado biome and neighboring semiarid habitats within N. Argentina, S. Bolivia, Paraguay, and Uruguay (Figs. 24, 26)................................................................................................ Metaphotina bimaculata (Saussure, 1870)

- Male vertex flattened (Figs. 20B, C). Ventral phallomere left margin curving sharply towards the spiniform projection of the sdp (Figs. 21B, C). Females’ CG8 proximal projections rounded (Figs. 21B, 21C). cxdl membranous (Figs. 21E, F). Distributed only in the Caatinga biome and adjacent areas (Figs. 25, 26)................................................... 2

2. Male vertex with a narrow, longitudinal depression bisecting its top. (Fig. 19B). Mesothoracic wings with a brown spot of variable size on the central portion of the discoidal field, metathoracic wings hyaline (Fig. 22C). Females’ vertex with strong bump medially and with deep excavated ps (Fig. 19E). Metathoracic wings with longitudinal veins of anal area alternating black and white (Fig. 22D). CG8 hexagonal, proximal projections as small spines, sbu acute (Fig. 21E). Distributed in the northernmost regions of the Caatinga of northeastern Brazil (Figs. 25, 26).................................................................................................. Metaphotina austri Ferraz, Souza-Dias & Rivera, 2023

- Males’ vertex flattened, without longitudinal depression (Fig. 19C). Mesothoracic wings hyaline, metathoracic wings with dark spot of variable size at the anal field (Fig. 22E). Females’ vertex with moderate bump medially and shallowlly excavated ps (Fig. 19F). Metathoracic wings with longitudinal veins of anal area black (Fig. 22F). CG8 lozenge, proximal projections as tubercules, sbu rounded (Fig. 21F). Distributed in the southernmost region of the Caatinga (Figs. 25, 26)............................................................................................. Metaphotina akaraje sp. nov.