Key to the species of the Myolepta vara subgroup

1 Metasternum pilose*; pleura either predominantly non-pollinose, shiny (Figs 11A, 11D) or almost entirely grey-pollinose, dull (Fig. 11C); pile on scutum and tergum IV at least partly sub-appressed (e.g. Figs 1B, 1D, 2D, 2F); pile on metafemur short, clearly shorter than width of metafemur (Figs 13A, 13 C−D)................................................... 2

- Metasternum non-pilose, bare; pleura predominantly grey-pollinose (Fig. 11B); pile on scutum and tergum IV erect (Figs 2B, 5B); pile on metafemur long, clearly longer than width of metafemur (Fig. 13B)........................................................................ Myolepta obscura (Becher, 1882) (central and southern Europe to Middle Asia)

2 Sterna II−IV almost entirely grey-brown pollinose, in most species with a narrow vitta along lateral margin of sterna III and IV non-pollinose and shiny (Figs 17 A−B, 17D−E); tergum I densely grey-pollinose, non-shiny, strongly contrasting with tergum II (e.g. Fig. 1A); tibiae at least basally partly yellow (e.g. Figs 1B, 2F); pile on scutum and abdomen rather long, dense and light-yellow to orange................................................................................. 3

- Sterna II-IV almost entirely non-pollinose, shiny (Fig. 17C); tergum I only slightly grey-pollinose, sub-shiny, hardly contrasting with tergum II (Fig. 1C); tibiae entirely black (Figs 1D, 4D); pile on scutum and abdomen rather short, less dense and predominantly white...................................... Myolepta nigra (Loew, 1872) (eastern North America).

3 Face in male grey-pollinose with medial non-pollinose and shiny fascia from mouth-edge to tubercle (Fig. 8A) or only tubercle non-pollinose (Fig. 16C); scutum with light-yellow to yellow pile (Figs 11A, 11C); pleura extensively pollinose, at least posterior anepisternum, anepimeron and dorsal part of katepisternum densely grey pollinose (Figs 11A, 11C); sterna entirely greybrown pollinose, sometimes lateral margins very narrowly weakly pollinose and sub-shiny.......................... 4

- Face in male with non-pollinose and shiny fascia from mouth-edge and strongly widening dorso-laterally to tubercle (Fig. 16D); scutum with orange-yellow pile (Fig. 11D); pleura almost entirely non-pollinose, shiny, slightly pollinose on posterior anepisternum and dorsal part of katepisternum, densely grey pollinose on proepimeron and anepisternum (Fig. 11D); sterna grey-brown pollinose, dull, except lateral margins of sterna III and IV non-pollinose and shiny........................................................... Myolepta vara (Panzer, 1798) (central and south-eastern Europe to Middle Asia).

4 Scutum anteriorly broadly grey-pollinose with anteromedially a wide rectangular vitta reaching halfway to suture (Fig. 2C); pleura almost entirely grey-pollinose, dull (Fig. 11C); male face grey-pollinose with only tubercle non-pollinose and shiny (Fig. 16C); face wider, mouth-edge 2.5 times wider than frons.................. Myolepta shikokuana Shiraki, 1968 (Japan)

- Scutum anteriorly rather narrowly grey-pollinose without anteromedial extension (Figs 1A, 4A); pleura non-pollinose and shiny, except posterior part of anepisternum, dorsal part of katepimeron and anepimeron grey-pollinose, sub-shiny (Fig. 11A); face in male with narrow non-pollinose and shiny fascia from mouth-edge to tubercle (Fig. 8A); face narrower, mouth-edge 2 times wider than frons.............................................. Myolepta angustifacia sp. n. (eastern Siberia)