Genus Pentastira Kirschbaum, 1868

Type species Pentastira major Kirschbaum, 1868 (type designation by Muir 1925)

Identification key for males of Turkish and Middle East Pentastira Kirschbaum, 1868

1. Styli distinctly asymmetrical (Figs 1E, 4C,D)............................................................... 2

- Styli similar (Fig. 1F).................................................................................. 6

2. Apex of the anal tube symmetrical (Fig. 4A)................................................................ 3

- Apex of the anal tube asymmetrical (Fig. 1C).............................................. P. shul (Dlabola, 1985)

3. Aedeagus with a lateral apophysis and tooth on the left side of the theca base (Figs 1J, K, 4G)........................ 4

- Aedeagus without a distinct lateral apophysis and tooth on the left side of the theca base (Fig. 1G).................................................................................................. P. superspicata Dlabola, 1985

4. Tooth on the left side of the theca base almost straight to the end of its apex (Fig. 1J, K)............................. 5

- Tooth on the left side of the theca base distinctly tapered from the middle and bends right angle to the anteriorly (Fig. 4E,G)....................................................................................... P. eminei sp. nov.

5. Only the last third of the tooth on the left side of the theca base slightly bends to the anterior (Fig. 1K)................................................................................................. P. megista Emeljanov, 1978

- Only the last third of the tooth on the left side of the theca base slightly bends to the posterior (Fig. 1J)................................................................................................ P. major Kirschbaum, 1868

6. Apex of the anal tube symmetrical (Fig. 4A)................................................................ 7

- Apex of the anal tube asymmetrical (Fig. 1A–D)............................................................ 8

7. Teeth of aedeagus lateral apophysis split (Fig. 1M)......................................... P. rorida (Fieber, 1876)

- Teeth of aedeagus lateral apophysis adjacent (Fig. 1L)................................ P. interjecta (Linnavuori, 1957)

8. Anal tube large and wide, truncated apically, with triangular cones hanging downwards. Entire aedeagus U-shaped (Fig. 1A,B,I)....................................................................... P. bahtiarica (Dlabola, 1981)

- Anal tube with long and laminated appendage on the tip, bent at a right angle to the longitudinal axis of the tube. Aedeagus with fairly long recurved spines pointing towards, and two of which extend to the base (Fig. 1D,H)... P. torossica (Dlabola, 1957)