Key to the species of Opius in Southern Iran

1. Mesonotum with medio-posterior mesoscutal depression (Figs 5 E, 10E, 11E, 14E, 17E).............................. 2

- Mesonotum without medio-posterior mesoscutal depression (Figs 3 E, 4E, 6E, 77E, 8E, 9E, 12E, 13E, 15E, 16E).......... 6

2. Sternaulus with granulose sculpture (Fig. 14 D)........................................ Opius (Opiostomus) riphaeus

- Sternaulus smooth or absent (Figs 5 D, 10D, 11D, 17D)........................................................ 3

3. Propodeum rugose sculpture (Fig.5 F)................................................ Opius (Allotypus) damnosus

- Propodeum smooth (Figs 10 F, 11F, 12F) (subgenus: Agnopius)................................................. 4

4. Recurrent vein antefurcal (Fig. 10 H).............................................. Opius (Agnopius) nowakowskii

- Recurrent vein postfurcal (Figs 11 H, 17H).................................................................. 5

5. Thorax short, its length 1.2 X as long as height (Fig. 17 D); temple 0.45 X as long as longitudinal eye diameter (Fig. 17 A); first metasomal tergites faintly rugose and without lateral caraina, metasomal tergites entirely weakly granulose (Fig. 17 I), body yellowish (Fig. 19 F)............................................................. Opius (Agnopius) tirolensis

- Thorax elongated, its length 1.6 X as long as height (Fig. 11 D); temple 0.80 X as long as longitudinal eye diameter (Fig. 11 A); only first metasomal tergite rugose and with two lateral convergent carina (Fig. 11 I), body black except legs yellow (Fig. 18 H)............................................................................. Opius (Agnopius) novosimilis

6. Sternaulus rugose (Fig. 4 D)........................................................ Opius (Gastrosema) caucasi

- Sternaulus smooth or absent (Figs 3 D, 6D, 7D, 8D, 9D, 12D, 13D, 15D, 16D)..................................... 7

7. Metasoma behind petiole with granulose sculpture at least or only at the base of first tergite, second tergite finely granulate (Fig. 13 I), propodeum rugose (Fig. 13 F)......................................... .. Opius (Merotrachys) penetrator

- Metasoma (Figs 3 I, 6I, 7I, 8I, 9I, 12I, 15I, 16I) and propodeum smooth (Figs 3 F, 6F, 7F, 8F, 9F, 12F, 15F, 16F)............8

8. Thorax about 0.5 X as long as height (Figs 3 D, 12D), (Subgenus Pendopius)..................................... 9

- Thorax 0.25–0.4 longer than height (Figs 6 D, 7D, 8D, 9D, 16D, 16D)...........................................10

9. Length of first flagellomere 3 X as long as wide; head 1.6 X as long as wide (Fig. 12 B)........ Opius (Pendopius) pendulus

- Length of first flagellomere 1.7 X as long as wide; head 2 X as long as wide (Fig. 3 B)......... Opius (Pendopius) bajariae

10. Second radial segment (r2) about 2 X as long as second cubital cross vein or longer (Figs 15 H, 16H), (Subgenus Allophelbus)................................................................................................... 11

- Second radial segment (r2) as half as long as second cubital cross vein or shorter (Figs 6 H, 7H, 8H, 9H)................ 12

11. Stigma elongated, 0.84 X as long as R1a, gradually merging into metacarpus (Fig. 1 H); clypeus 4 times as wide as height (Fig. 16 B); first abdominal tergites 1.4 X as long as its width at apex, metasoma with sparse short hairs (Fig. 15 I)............................................................................................. Opius (Allophlebus) tabificus

- Stigma medium sized, 0.75 X as long as R1a, wider at base (Fig. 15 H); clypeus 3 times as wide as height (Fig. 15 B); first metasomal tergite as long as its width at apex, metasoma with six rows of regular long hairs (Fig. 15 I).................................................................................................... Opius (Allophlebus) staryi

12. Hind femur 5 X as long as its maximum width (Fig. 9 G).............................. Opius (Opiothorax) minusculae

- Hind femur 3.0–3.5 X as long as its maximum width (Figs 6 G, 7G, 8G).......................................... 13

13. Temple 0.8 X as long as eye diameter (Fig.8 A) face, gena and clypeus with long setae (Fig. 8 B)................................................................................................ Opius (Hyponoydus) latipediformis

- Temple as long as eye diameter (Figs 6 A, 7A), face, clypeus, gena without long setae (Figs 6 B, 7B)................... 14

14. Head behind eye widened (Fig. 6 C), height of compound eye 2.2 X as long as length (Fig. 6 A), antenna 27-segmented; mesoscutum brown, with two reddish longitudinal stripes (Fig. 6 E); length of femur 3 X as long as its width (Fig. 6 G), legs entirely yellow (Fig. 18 D)......................................................... Opius (Hyponoydus) flavipes

- Head behind eye not widened (Fig. 7 C), height of compound eye 1.8 X as long as its length (Fig. 7 A), antenna 31-segmented; mesoscutum black, without longitudinal stripes (Fig. 7 E), length of femur 3.5 X as long as its width (Fig. 7 G), legs dark brown (Fig. 18 E).................................................................... Opius (Hyponoydus) latidens