Key to the subgenera and species of Micronecta occurring in Iran (based on males)

1. Median lobe of sternum VII without long and thick setae; free lobe of tergum VIII sigmoid-shaped; left paramere with sickleshaped apex.......................... subgenus Sigmonecta Wróblewski, 1962: M. (S.) quadristrigata Breddin, 1905

- Median lobe of sternum VII with long setae; free lobe of tergum VIII and left paramere not as above.................. 2

2. Median lobe of sternum VII with two long setae (Fig. 3A); shaft of left paramere variable but not plate-like...... subgenus Dichaetonecta Hutchison, 1940 ......................................................................... 3

- Median lobe of sternum VII with three to six (usually four) long setae; shaft of left paramere usually plate-like... subgenus Micronecta Kirkaldy, 1897 ............................................................................. 4

3. Pronotum length shorter than median head length (Fig. 2A); free lobe of tergum VIII posteriorly strongly broadened (Fig. 3B); apical part of left paramere slightly twisted and sinuate (Fig. 3C, D).................... M. (D.) pusilla (Horváth, 1895)

- Pronotum about as long as median head length; free lobe of tergum VIII sub-rectangular; apical part of left paramere not twisted and not sinuate.............................................................. M. (D.) desertana Distant, 1920

4. Shaft of right paramere slender, mostly parallel sided and strongly bent at distal part (Figs. 5E, 7E).................... 5

- Shaft of right paramere clearly broad, thicker and more gently curved at distal part (Figs. 9E, 10F).................... 6

5. Body elongate, more than twice as long as broad (Fig. 4A); left paramere with a notch along lateral margin near base (Fig. 5D); prestrigilar flap on segment V as in Fig. 5B..................................... M . (M.) anatolica Lindberg, 1922

- Body oval, 1.9 times as long as broad (Fig. 6A, B); left paramere without a notch along lateral margin near base (Fig. 7D); prestrigilar flap on segment V as in Fig. 7B.................................. M . (M.) carpatica Wróblewski, 1958

6. Median lobe of sternum VII with more than four setae; left paramere narrow apically (Fig. 10E); right paramere with truncate apex............................................................................................... 7

- Median lobe of sternum VII with four long setae; left and right parameres not as above............................. 8

7. Hemelytra without dark pattern; right paramere finely dentate, base without a distinct hump on mesial side........................................................................................ M. (M.) mesmini Poisson, 1939

- Hemelytra with dark pattern; right paramere smooth, base with a distinct hump on mesial side (Fig. 10F)................................................................................... M. (M.) poweri (Douglas & Scott, 1869)

8. Hemelytra without distinct dark pattern; left paramere with digitate process before apex....... M. (M.) wui Lundblad, 1933

- Hemelytra with distinct dark pattern; left paramere with saddle-shaped process at apex (Fig. 9D)................................................................................................. M. (M.) griseola Horváth, 1899