Key to species of the genus Aulonastus

(females)

* species occurring in the Nearctic region.

1. Setae f2 and h2 subequal in length.............................. A. sturnellus Skoracki, Hendricks and Spicer, 2010 *

- Setae h2 3–8 times longer than f2 ......................................................................... 2

2. Setae c1 and se subequal in length........................................................................ 3

- Setae c1 1.2–1.5 longer than se ........................................................................... 5

3. Length ratio of setae f1: f2 1:2.8–3....................................................................... 4

- Length ratio of setae f1: f2 1:1.4–2................................................... A. lusciniae Skoracki, 2002

4. Setae h2 21 times longer than h1 and f1. Setae c1 and d2 subequal in length. Each medial branch of peritremes with 1 chamber, each lateral branch with 6 chambers.................................................... A. pipili Kethley, 1970 *

- Setae h 2 11–12 times longer than h1 and f1. Setae c1 1.2 times longer than d2. Each medial branch of peritremes with 2 cham- bers, each lateral branch with 5 chambers........................... A. pirangus Skoracki, Hendricks and Spicer, 2010 *

5. Setae f2 twice as long as f1 ............................................................................. 6

- Setae f2 2.8–4 times longer than f1 ....................................................................... 8

6. Propodonotal shield constricted posteriorly, bearing bases of setae ve, si and c1. Setae e2 1.5–2 times longer than d1 ................................................................ A. emberizicus Skoracki, Hendricks and Spicer, 2010 *

- Propodonotal shield rectangular in shape, bearing bases of setae ve, si, se and c1. Setae e2 and d1 subequal in length...... 7

7. Length of agenital setae ag1 and ag2 55................................................ A. anthus Skoracki, 2011

- Length of agenital setae ag1 and ag2 80–95............................................ A. fringillus Skoracki, 2011

8. Length ratio of setae f1:f2 1:2.8–3.3...................................................................... 9

- Length ratio of setae f1:f2 1:4........................................................................... 12

9. Each medial branch of peritremes with 1 chamber.......................................................... 10

- Each medial branch of peritremes with 2 chambers......................................................... 11

10. Each lateral branch of peritremes with 6 chambers. Hysteronotal shield punctate in posterior part. Length ratio of setae ag1: ag2 2:1. Length of setae se 120–125....................... A. pteroptochos Sikora, Kaszewska and Skoracki, 2014

- Each lateral branch of peritremes with 4–5 chambers. Hysteronotal shield apunctate in posterior part. Length ratio of setae ag1: ag2 1.2–1.4:1. Length of setae se 140–145..................... A. euphagus Skoracki, Hendricks and Spicer, 2010 *

11. Hysteronotal shield apunctate, setae d1 situated near anterior margin of this shield. Length of setae ag2 40–50. All coxal fields sparsely punctate.................................................... A. henicorhina Sikora and Skoracki, 2012

- Hysteronotal shield punctate in posterior part, setae d1 situated on anterior margin of this shield. Length of setae ag2 65–80. All coxal fields apunctate.............................................. A. prunellae Bochkov and Mironov, 1999

12. Propodonotal shield constricted posteriorly, bearing bases of setae ve, si and c1. Agenital setae ag1 and ag2 subequal in length

................................................................................. A. lanius Skoracki, 2011 - Propodonotal shield rectangular in shape, bearing bases of setae ve, si, se and c1. Agenital setae ag1 1.2–1.5 times longer than ag2 ............................................................................................... 13 13. Lengths of setae se, d2, e2 and ag2 145–170, 130–145, 35–45 and 60–70, respectively............ A. loxius Skoracki, 2011

- Lengths of setae se, d2, e2 and ag2 125, 105–120, 20 and 50–55, respectively................... A. albus Skoracki, 2002