Key to the species of Melitturga (Australomelitturga)

Most of the useful diagnostic structures for the since known species were accurately illustrated by Eardley (1991). Consequently the illustration of the present keys to the African Melitturga Latreille, 1806 and Meliturgula Friese, 1903 species is restricted to the useful characters for the identification of the taxa described here (Figs, 1, 2, 3).

Females

1. Metasoma cuticle entirely black except the tergal margins. Namibian species ............. .................................................................................. Melitturga penrithorum EARDLEY

­ Metasoma cuticle at least partly reddish ....................................................................... 2

2. Metasoma red with some median black marks on terga. Clypeus ventral part, labrum, mandibles basis and antennae reddish­yellow. Pilosity reddish­blonde on the whole body, clearer on the face. Namibian species. .............. Melitturga barbareae EARDLEY

­ Metasoma black with reddish marks on the first tergum. Clypeus and adjacent part yellow, never reddish. Anal fringe dark. Pilosity of the anterior of the body clear .... 3

3. T(1)2­3(4) red. Face entirely black. Pilosity sparse, blonde on the pleurae and whitish on the propodeum. Anal fringe black. South­African species ..................................... ............................................................................................. Melitturga capensis FRIESE

­ Only the tergal apical depressions and the first tergal periphery discoloured or partly reddish. Pilosity whitish­grey, forming dense apical fringes on the tergal apices. Anal fringe brownish­black. North­African species .................. Melitturga albescens PEREZ

Males

1. Clypeus or clypeus and scapal ventral faces yellow; the supraclypeus and face lateral parts dark. T6 proximal part slightly convex (helmet­like), glabrous .......................... ..........................................................................................................Namibian species 2

­ Clypeus and close areas (supraclypeus and/or face lateral parts) yellow. T6 strongly convex (helmet­like); the proximal part densely hairy ................................................. 3

2. Mesosoma pilosity short, greyish. T6 lightly convex. Gonostyli with thick secondary processes (Fig.2a). ..................................................... Melitturga penrithorum EARDLEY

­ Mesosoma pilosity longer, brownish. T6 nearly undifferentiated. Gonostyli with weaker secondary processes (Fig.2b). .......................... Melitturga barbareae EARDLEY

3. Clypeus and lateral parts of face whitish­yellow. Mesonotum with 2 longitudinal lateral depressions, diverging posteriorly. Metasoma glabrous without hair fringes......... ....................................Species from South­Angola Melitturga flavomarginata PATINY

­ Lateral parts of face black. Mesonotum regularly convex. Pilosity more abundant, forming in some species fringes on the tergal apices.................................................... 4

4. Clypeus and supraclypeus pale yellow. Pilosity greyish, dense and uniform, constituting a continuous pile. Terga black. South­African species ............................................................................................ Melitturga capensis FRIESE

­ Clypeus, supraclypeus and anterior face of scapes pale yellow. Pilosity grey, short and uniform. Terga proximal part finely sculptured, matte, apical margin yellowish transparent. North­African species. .......................................... Melitturga albescens PÉREZ