Key to Augochlora species of Southern South America (Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay and Brazilian states of Paraná, Rio Grande do Sul, and Santa Catarina)

Additional figures from previous works may help to visualize many structures mentioned along the key. Microscopy photographs of the pseudopygidial area on T5 can be found in Dalmazzo & Roig-Alsina (2011, Figs. 11 and 12). Labrum basal elevation was illustrated by Eickwort (1969 a, Figs. 153 and 156) and photographed by Lepeco & Gonçalves (2020, Fig. 1). Hypostomal carina was illustrated by Dalmazzo & Roig-Alsina (2011, Fig. 6). Preepisternum and metapostnotum sculpturing was photographed by Lepeco & Gonçalves (2020, Fig. 2).

Females

1 Mandible preapical tooth small and rounded, produced far from mandible apex (Fig. 1A); T5 pseudopygidial area covered by scale-like decumbent setae pointing towards midline; blue iridescences usually absent or very faint................................................................................................. 2 (Subgenus Oxystoglossella)

- Mandible preapical tooth large and sharp, produced near mandible apex (as in Figs. 1B, C); T5 pseudopygidial area not covered by scale-like setae, colliculate integument exposed; blue iridescences usually present...... 5 (Subgenus Augochlora s. str.)

2(1) S1 with a tuberculate elevation (as in Fig. 1I); hypostomal carina not projected anteriorly; labrum basal elevation slight, not well defined................................................................. Augochlora mendax sp. nov.

- S1 without tuberculate elevation (as in Fig. 1H); hypostomal carina projected anteriorly (forming a tooth in A. iphigenia); labrum basal elevation well defined, orbicular or transverse.................................................... 3

3(2) Labrum basal elevation transverse; hypostomal carina forming a tooth anteriorly; preepisternum rugulose; lower paraocular area sparsely punctate (I> PD).................................................. A. iphigenia Holmberg, 1886

- Labrum basal elevation orbicular; hypostomal carina not forming a tooth; preepisternum punctate near pronotal lobe or entirely rugose; lower paraocular area contiguously punctate........................................................ 4

4(3) Preepisternum punctate near pronotal lobe; mesoscutum anterior border not rugulose; metapostnotum posterior surface microreticulate; gena and post gena punctate to weakly striate; metasoma without copper-red reflections.................................................................................................. A. aurinasis (Vachal, 1911)

- Preepisternum rugose, without distinct punctures; mesoscutum anterior border rugulose; metapostnotum posterior surface with transversal carinae; gena and post gena strongly striate; metasoma with copper-red reflections.... A. morrae Strand, 1910

5(1) Metasoma with strong copper-red reflections; T3 with tiny setae overlapping apical margin sublaterally; labrum brown to dark brown, basal elevation orbicular........................................................... A. hestia sp. nov.

- Metasoma never with copper-red reflections; T3 with tiny setae not reaching apical margin sublaterally; labrum usually black, basal elevation transverse, sometimes not well defined....................................................... 6

6(5) T1 apex not inflexed (as in Fig. 2A), dorsal surface usually with very weak punctures or impunctate; anterior and posterior surfaces of hind coxa ventrally separated by strong angulation; scutellum with a strongly marked medial furrow......... 7

- T1 apex inflexed (curved towards T2 base, as in Fig. 2B), dorsal surface usually with well-defined punctures; anterior and posterior surfaces of hind coxa ventrally separated by a slightly curved area; scutellum medial furrow absent or inconspicuous. .................................................................................................. 10

7(6) Hypostomal carina projected as a tooth anteriorly; S1 without projection (Fig. 1H); head with elongated aspect (as in Figs. 15B and 26C), clypeus usually longer than wide................................................................ 8

- Hypostomal carina not projected anteriorly; S1 with spiniform projection (Figs. 1J, L); head with a more rounded aspect (as in Figs. 7B and 13B), the clypeus not longer than wide......................................................... 9

8(7) Mesoscutum with anterior setae short (length ~ 1 OD); clypeus and supraclypeal area often with darkened spots........................................................................................... A. esox (Vachal, 1911)

- Mesoscutum with anterior setae long (length ~ 2 OD); clypeus and supraclypeal area never with darkened spots............................................................................................... A. hirsuta sp. nov.

9(7) Lower paraocular area contiguously punctate, regular sized punctures; outer surface of hind tibia and tarsus with dark setae; scutellum with dark setae; mandible distal part of adductor ridge strongly swollen (Fig. 1B); body usually green with blue iridescences, although entirely blue or black specimens are common.......................... A. daphnis Smith, 1853

- Lower paraocular area with crowded weak punctures among larger piligerous punctures; outer surface of hind tibia and tarsus only with pale setae; mandible distal part of adductor ridge weakly swollen; scutellum without dark setae; body usually green with golden reflections, black specimens are uncommon............................. A. braziliensis (Vachal, 1911)

10(6) Epistomal angle weakly protruding over clypeus; clypeus apex prolonged over apical border; metapostnotum medioapical margin smooth, without carinae; frons slightly protuberant above antennal sockets; overall body and appendices with swollen appearance (as in Fig. 23A, B)............................................................ A. helena sp. nov.

- Epistomal angle strongly protruding over clypeus; clypeus apex not prolonged over apical border; metapostnotum medioapical margin carinate to rugulose, never smooth; frons not protuberant above antennal sockets; body and appendages not as above .................................................................................................. 11

11(10) S1 with a spiniform projection (Figs. 1 J–L); mandible medial portion strongly constricted, with about half basal width (Fig. 1C); mid-trochanter ventral margin often swollen (Figs. 1 E–G)............................................... 12

- S1 without a spiniform projection, sometimes with a tuberculate elevation (Figs. 1H, I); mandible medial portion not strongly constricted, minimum width on medial portion between 0.7x and 0.9x basal width (Fig. 1B); mid-trochanter ventral margin not swollen (Fig. 1D)................................................................................... 20

12(11) Mid trochanter expanded ventrally, total width subequal to length (Fig. 1G); sublateral surfaces of T2 marginal area with punctate portion shorter than apical dark band (Fig. 3G), which is usually concave in lateral view; T1 anterior surface always with dense coverage of tomentose setae...................................................................... 13

- Mid trochanter ventral margin variable, but not widely projected (Figs. 1 D–F); sublateral surfaces of T2 marginal area with punctate portion usually as long as or longer than impunctate apical dark band (Fig. 3F), which is never concave in lateral view; T1 anterior surface variable, often without tomentose setae.................................................. 14

13(12) T1 sparsely punctate, apex inflected, but not forming a tubular border (as in Fig. 2B); S1 projection short (as in Fig. 1J); mesoscutum punctation sparser dorsally posterior to median line (I> PD), with a darkened spot; body punctation not coarse; head blue with cyan-green iridescences....................................................... A. atlantica sp. nov.

- T1 densely punctate, apex inflexed forming a tubular border; S1 projection long and broad (as in Fig. 1L); mesoscutum densely punctate posterior to median line (I <0.5 PD), without darkened spot; body punctation coarse; head without cyan iridescences............................................................................ A. mulleri Cockerell, 1900

14(12) Preepisternum rugose; S1 projection long and slender (Fig. 1K); mesoscutum punctation slightly sparser posterior to median line, usually microreticulate in between; metapostnotum carinae strong......................................... 15

- Preepisternum usually punctate (rugose in some A. genalis sp. nov.); S1 projection not as above (Figs. 1J, L); mesoscutum punctation variable, usually not microreticulated; metapostnotum carinae often weakly marked...................... 16

15(14) Mid-trochanter ventral margin swollen near base (Fig. 1E); T1 dorsal surface with abundant tiny punctures, mostly black with purplish iridescences.......................................................... A. francisca Schrottky, 1902

- Mid-trochanter ventral margin almost straight (as in Fig. 1D); T1 dorsal surface with average size punctures, green with golden reflections.......................................................................... A. scabrata sp. nov.

16(14) Pronotum dorsolateral angle obtuse (Fig. 3C), reflexed upwards and with minute angle posteriorly at midlength; mandible distal part of adductor ridge inconspicuous (Fig. 1C); hypoepimeral area contiguously punctate; head always swollen after ocelli..................................................................................... A. genalis sp. nov.

- Pronotum dorsolateral angle orthogonal or with a projected acute tip (as in Figs. 3A, B), usually not reflexed upwards and without minute angle posteriorly; mandible distal part of adductor ridge conspicuous, slightly to strongly swollen; hypoepimeral area densely punctate (I <PD), but not contiguous; head usually not swollen after ocelli, eventually so in macrocephalic females........................................................................................... 17

17(16) Pronotum dorsolateral angle with a projected acute tip (Fig. 3B); T1 coarsely punctate, with dense coarse punctures after dorsolateral convexity; mesoscutum with sparser punctation (I = PD) posterior to median line; S1 ventral projection with rounded tip (as in Fig. 1L).................................................................... A. australis sp. nov.

- Pronotum dorsolateral angle orthogonal (Fig. 3A); T1 not coarsely punctate, with tiny punctures after dorsolateral convexity; mesoscutum usually with homogeneously distributed punctures dorsally, I <PD; S1 ventral projection variable ........ 18

18(17) Labrum basal elevation not well defined laterally; metapostnotum almost entirely rugulose, often without well-defined carinae; legs dark brown to black, body mostly bluish, without golden reflections..................... A. laevicarinata sp. nov.

- Labrum basal elevation well defined, transverse; metapostnotum carinate; legs usually light brown, rarely dark, body often with golden reflections................................................................................... 19

19(18) Mid-trochanter ventral margin widely rounded (Fig. 1F); S1 projection usually with rounded tip (Fig. 1L)........................................................................................ A. phoemonoe (Schrottky, 1909)

- Mid trochanter ventral margin straight (Fig. 1D); S1 projection often with acute tip (as in Fig. 1J). A. seitzi Cockerell, 1929

20(11) Sublateral surface of T2 marginal area with punctate portion usually as long as or longer than impunctate apical dark band (Fig. 3F); mesoscutum punctation usually with homogeneous interspaces (slightly sparser in A. jugalis posterior to median line), average size punctures............................................................................... 21

- Sublateral surface of T2 marginal area with punctate portion shorter than apical dark band (Fig. 3G); mesoscutum with heterogeneous punctation interspaces, with tiny to foveate punctures................................................ 22

21(20) Metapostnotum apex rugulose, without carinae; mandible distal part of adductor ridge strongly swollen (as in Fig. 1B); mid femur not flattened, about 4x longer than maximum width; mesofemoral brush with yellowish setae; mesosoma green; tergal discs metallic............................................................... A. nausicaa (Schrottky, 1909)

- Metapostnotum carinae reaching apex; mandible distal part of adductor ridge weakly swollen; mid femur flattened, about 3x longer than maximum width; mesofemoral brush with dark setae; mesosoma darkened; tergal discs darkened............................................................................................ A. jugalis (Vachal, 1911)

22(20) Mesoscutum and mesepisternum with foveate punctures (Figs. 17A, C and 34A, C); propodeum lateral carinae ending above propodeum half, mixing with foveate punctures; body usually black; head with copper and golden reflections.......... 23

- Mesoscutum and mesepisternum punctation variable, small to coarse punctures; propodeum lateral carinae ending below propodeum half; body color variable ...................................................................... 24

23(22) Preepisternum crowded punctate to rugose; mesofemoral brush with yellowish setae; mesosoma mostly green and blue with some darkened areas............................................................ A. foxiana Cockerell, 1900

- Preepisternum densely to contiguously punctate near pronotal lobe; mesofemoral brush with dark setae; mesosoma mostly black with few metallic reflections................................................ A. perimelas Cockerell, 1900

24(22) S1 with a tuberculate elevation (as in Fig. 1I); hypoepimeral area contiguously punctate; head usually with copper and golden reflections, mesosoma green and terga blue......................................... A. cydippe (Schrottky, 1910)

- S1 without elevation (Fig. 1H); hypoepimeral area densely punctate (I = 0.5 PD); body color never with the combination above............................................................................................. 25

25(24) Mesoscutum with some scattered tiny punctures, smooth to loosely imbricate in between and usually with golden and purplish iridescences; scutellum with sparse tiny punctures................................. A. thusnelda (Schrottky, 1909)

- Mesoscutum punctation size homogeneous, microreticulate in between and usually green or black; scutellum with dense average size punctures................................................................................... 26

26(25) T1 anterior surface with dense coverage of tomentose setae; mesoscutum densely punctate anteriorly, becoming sparser on disc posterior to median line, green; metapostnotum as long as metanotum, medioapical margin without transverse carinae................................................................................. A. caerulior Cockerell, 1900

- T1 anterior surface without tomentose setae; mesoscutum sparsely punctate on disc, I> PD, disc usually darkened; metapostnotum longer than metanotum, medioapical margin with transverse carinae.................................................................................................................... A. pyrgo (Schrottky, 1910)