Key to the species of Nothopleurus
1. Length of ventrite V less than 0.3 times the basal width. Male .................................................................................. 2
- Length of ventrite V greater than 0.4 times the basal width. Female.......................................................................... 5
2(1). Dorsal carina of mandible strongly elevated at basal half, forming a subacute tooth ............................ N. subsulcatus
- Dorsal carina not forming a subacute tooth at basal half ............................................................................................ 3
3(2). Mandibles shorter than head; lateral outer face of mandible strongly tumid; hypostomal area with a plate, parallel to the hypostomal carina ............................................................................................................................... N. madericus
- Mandibles, usually, longer than head; lateral outer face of mandible not strongly tumid; hypostomal area without plate parallel to the hypostomal carina ........................................................................................................................4
4(3). Mandible of major male (usually longer than 40 mm) not notably narrowed at apical fourth (Fig. 36), inner face dis- tinctly oblique, in general, more or less concave; outer face of mandible of minor male distinctly tumid................... ................................................................................................................................................................... N. castaneus
- Mandible of major male (usually longer than 40 mm) notably narrowed at apical fourth (Fig. 38), inner face almost vertical; outer face of mandible of minor male not notably narrowed ....................................................... N. lobigenis
5(1). Dorsal carina of mandible strongly elevated at basal half (Fig.42).............................................................................6
- Dorsal carina of mandible not strongly elevated at basal half (Figs. 37, 39) .............................................................. 7
6(5). Hypostomal area with a plate parallel to the hypostomal carina .............................................................. N. madericus
- Hypostomal area without plate parallel to the hypostomal carina .......................................................... N. subsulcatus
7(5). Outer face of mandible tumid with the general appearance of dorsal carina, in dorsal view, wide .......... N. castaneus
- Outer face of mandible more straight with the general appearance of dorsal carina, in dorsal view, not wide ............ .................................................................................................................................................................... N. lobigenis