Key to the subgenera of Anthaxia

1 Subhumeral lobe small, weakly prominent or almost absent, lateral, elytral emargination shallow or almost missing (Figs. 26– 29); elytra subparallel in anterior half or two thirds, arcuately tapering posteriorly in posterior half or third, exceptionally weakly caudiform (Fig. 11); lateral sides of abdomen not visible from above (Figs. 1–5, 11–13)......................(2)

- Subhumeral lobe large, sometimes almost angulate, lateral, elytral emargination deep and wide (Figs. 30–34, 37–39); elytra usually tapering posteriorly from humeri to apex; lateral sides of abdomen well-visible from above (Figs. 6–10, 14–16)........................................................................................................(3)

2 Usually multicolorous or brightly coloured species (Figs. 1, 3), only rarely unicolorously bronze, green or blue (Figs. 2, 4, 5, 11); pronotum weakly convex usually with wide (sometimes very deep) lateroposterior depressions (Fig. 1) only rarely almost regularly convex (Figs. 4, 5); pronotum rarely simply ocellate (Figs. 4, 5), usually with rather complicate sculpture consisting of transversely widened cells, longitudinal or transverse rugae or with concentric, fine wrinkles (Figs. 1–3, 40–42); sexual dichromatism often well-developed, only exceptionally absent; larval development in broad-leves plants, very rarely in Conifers; Palaearctic region, several species in Oriental region.......................................... Anthaxia s. str.

- Black, dark bronze (Fig. 12), only exceptionally blue, blue-violet or green species (Fig. 13) without pronotal or elytral pattern; pronotum more or less regularly convex, lateroposterior depressions usually small, shallow, only exceptionally deep; pronotal sculpture usually rougher consisting of coarse, polygonal cells (often longitudinally prolonged along lateral margins) with large central grains (Fig. 43); pronotum very often with four small, rounded depressions at midlength (Fig. 12); sexual dichromatism absent, sometimes expressed only by different colouration of frons; larval development in Conifers; Holoarctic region............................................................................... Melanthaxia Richter, 1949

3 Multicolorous species with typical elytral pattern (Fig. 17); frons flat or very deeply depressed; pronotal sculpture rather complicated: long, transverse rugae on posterior half, often combined with small, fine, polygonal and concentric cells on anterior half and longitudinal rugae along lateral margins (Fig. 50); anal sternite of female apically, deeply notched often with S-shaped lateral margins; antennae of male very long, always overlapping midlength of lateral, pronotal margins (Fig. 17), very often reaching posterior pronotal angles when laid alongside; parameres often laterally enlarged or with lateral teeth or spines (Fig. 74); south-eastern Asia................................................................ Merocratus Bílý, 1989

- Usually uni- or bicolorous, only rarely multicolorous species; frons flat, convex or weakly depressed; pronotum more or less regularly convex with weak lateroposterior depressions, sculpture homogeneous consisting of oval or polygonal cells with or without central grains sometimes with transverse rugae on disc (Figs. 44–48) or with medial, longitudinal depression and transverse or oblique, medial and lateral rugae (Figs. 52–54); anal sternite of female apically notched or simply rounded; antennae much shorter usually reaching midlength of lateral, pronotal margins when laid alongside, or shorter...........(4) 4 Frons convex or strongly convex (Fig. 18); vertex very wide (2.5–3.5 times as wide as width of eye); eyes large, projecting beyond outline of head which is much wider than anterior pronotal margin; golden green to blue-green species usually with the typical, elytral and pronotal pattern (Fig. 18, 51), rarely entirely golden-green; south-eastern Asia.......................................................................................................... Thailandia Bílý, 1990

- Frons flat, weakly convex or slightly depressed, vertex much narrower (0.3–2.5 times as wide as width of eye—e.g. Figs. 6– 10); head as wide as anterior pronotal margin or narrower; eyes not or (rarely) very weakly projecting beyond outline of head; colouration varies from unicolorously black or bronze to bi- or tricolorous.......................................(5)

5 Pronotum with a shallow or deep, medial longitudinal depression; pronotal sculpture consisting of simple punctures and transverse rugae, often combined with polygonal cells with central grains (Figs. 52–54); anal ventrite of female simply rounded; male meso- and metatibiae not modified; parameres always without lateral spines, median lobe without lateral serrations (Fig. 76); sexual dichromatism usually very weak, exceptionally strong; usually robust species; southern Africa............................................................................................... Capanthaxia subgen. nov.

- Pronotum without medial longitudinal depression, more or less convex, only with lateroposterior depressions; pronotal sculpture usually consisting of oval or polygonal cells which can be transversely enlarged and sometimes combined with fine, longitudinal rugae along lateral margins (Figs. 44–49); anal ventrite of female very often apically notched; male meso- and metatibiae usually modified (curved with inner serrations or spines—Fig. 8–10); parameres in some species with lateral teeth or spines, median lobe very often with lateral serrations (Figs. 62–73)...........................................(6)

6 Generally larger and stouter (5.5–16.0 mm) species with typical colouration: green with silky lustre, pronotum usually with two black, longitudinal stripes (Fig. 6), elytra of female sometimes green-violet or violet and pronotum often with orange lateral sides (Fig. 7); vertex very narrow (0.3–0.6 times as wide as width of eye); frons flat or weakly depressed; pronotum weakly convex, laterally flattened, sculpture consisting of rather rough, polygonal cells with central grains, cells often transversely enlarged on disc (Fig. 44); male antennomeres widened and terminal antennomeres often bicolorous (Fig. 6); elytra flattened, with well-developed lateral groove, sculpture very dense, homogeneous; male metafemora more or less swollen, rarely simple, male meso- and metatibiae often with inner serrations or teeth (Fig. 6); aedeagus slender, spindle-shaped, parameres without lateral spines, median lobe without lateral serrations (Fig. 60); mostly western Palaearctic, one species in China, two in Ethiopia ............................................................... Cratomerus Solier, 1833

- Generally smaller, tiny (2.5–11.0 mm) species; vertex flat or weakly convex, usually wider (0.5–2.5 times as wide as width of eye); male antennae unicolorous, only rarely weakly or strongly enlarged; pronotum moderately to strongly convex, with weak or moderately deep lateroposterior depressions; pronotal sculpture finer consisting of simple, rounded or polygonal cells with or without central grains, often with fine, transverse or lateral longitudinal rugae (Figs. 45–49); male metafemora simple, male metatibiae very often with finely to strongly serrate inner margin (Figs. 8–10); elytra more convex, with weak lateral groove, sculpture usually much less dense, less homogeneous; aedeagus of various shapes (Figs. 61–73): elongate, spindle-shaped, short and robust, parameres often with lateral spines or narrowed at apical half, median lobe very often laterally serrate; anal ventrite of female nearly always apically notched...........................................................(7)

7 Frons usually weakly convex, rarely flat, vertex generally narrower (0.5–1.5 times as wide as width of eye); antennae of male very often enlarged (Figs. 15–16); pronotum very convex, lateroposterior depressions very weak or almost absent, anterior third of lateral margins strongly rounded, pronotum looks somewhat “inflated” at anterior half (Figs. 14–16); posterior angles rectangular or acute, more or less prolonged, sometimes inserted in small notch in humeral callosity (Fig. 25); pronotal sculpture usually homogeneous consisting of fine, rounded, polygonal or weakly widened cells, rarely also with fine longitudinal rugae along lateral margins (Figs. 48) or entire pronotal disc with very fine, simple punctation (Fig. 49); elytra rather flattened, strongly narrowing from humeri to apex, lateral portions of all abdominal sternites usually clearly visible from above (Figs. 14–16); anal ventrite of female always notched apically; aedeagus slender, spindle-shaped (Fig. 61–63); from Thailand to the Middle East, southern Europe, Sahel, Eastern and South Africa ............................. Richteraxia subgen. nov.

- Frons flat, weakly depressed or rarely finely convex, vertex generally wider (0.5–2.5 times as wide as width of eye); antennae of male not enlarged; pronotum less convex or flattened, latroposterior depressions shallow to deep and wide, anterior third of lateral margins weakly or very weakly rounded (Figs. 8–10); posterior pronotal angles rectangular or obtuse-angled; sculpture usually consisting of rounded or polygonal cells which are often transversely widened and combined with fine, transverse rugae or fine, lateral, longitudinal wrinkles (Fig. 46), sometimes pronotal sculpture also homogeneous consisting only of rounded cells (Fig. 45) or simple punctures (Fig. 47); elytra usually regularly convex, moderately tapering posteriorly or almost subcylindrical, usually only last 3 (4) abdominal ventrites well-visible from above (Figs. 9–10); anal ventrite of female usually apically notched or emarginate, rarely rounded; aedeagus of various shape (Figs. 64–73): tubuliform, spindle-shaped, widened or subcylindrical, often dorsoventrally bent; parameres often with lateral spines, median lobe often with serrate lateral margins; entire distribution area of the genus Anthaxia except for northern parts of Asia and Europe.................................................................................................... Haplanthaxia Reitter, 1911