Mesostenus, Gravenhorst, 1829

Herrera-Florez, Andres Fabian, Diaz, John Alexander Pulgarin & Quiroz-Gamboa, Jhon A., 2017, A new species of Mesostenus Gravenhorst (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae: Cryptinae) from Colombia, Zootaxa 4306 (4), pp. 593-600 : 598

Key to the group of species of Mesostenus with black and white metasoma

1 Epomia present.......................................................................................2

- Epomia absent........................................................................................5

2 Propodeal apophyses absent.............................................................. M. modicus Cresson

- Propodeal apophyses present............................................................................3

3 Propodeal apophyses distinct but short and flat, about 0.5 × as long as its basal width...... M. pallipleuris Kasparyan & Ruiz

- Propodeal apophyses conspicuously projected...............................................................4

4 Clypeus with lower margin almost straight; apex of apophyses depressed. Fore wing 7.8 mm ....... M. trjapitzini Kasparyan

- Clypeus forming a rounded pyramid with the apex in the lower 0.3; its apical margin weakly arched. Fore wing 5.4–7.0 mm length...................................................................... M. laevicoxis Kasparyan& Ruiz

5 Posterior transverse carina complete........................................... M. hypsipilaphagous Herrera-Florez

- Posterior transverse carina centrally interrupted..............................................................6

6 Propodeal apophyses conspicuously projected.................................................. M. euoplus Porter

- Propodeal apophyses low and inconspicuous................................................................7

7 Clypeus in profile strongly convex.............................................. M. scapularis Kasparyan & Ruiz

- Clypeus in profile weakly convex.........................................................................8

8 Juxta-coxal carina a short stub............................................................. M. pluvialis Porter

- Justa-coxal carina defined for a considerable distance basad...................................... M. nepomis Porter