Key to known Macrothemis larvae
1. The characters of larvae of all species, except M. heteronycha and M. musiva, were taken from the literature. Abdominal segment II with a dorsal hook .................................................................................................................... 2
-. Abdominal segment II without a dorsal protuberance.................................................................................................. 5
2 Dorsal protuberances on tergites VI–IX absent, total length of mature larva 15mm ...................................... meurgeyi
- Dorsal protuberances present........................................................................................................................................ 3
3. Dorsal protuberances on tergites VII–IX strongly developed, spine-like; total length of full-grown larva 13 mm ....... ..................................................................................................................................................................... inequinguis
- Dorsal protuberances on tergites VII–IX low or vestigial; total length of full- grown larva 16 mm ........................... 4
4. Dorsal protuberances on tergites VII-IX low and spine-like ................................................................................ ultima
- Dorsal protuberances on tergites VII-IX vestigial .................................................................................... aurimaculata
5. Palpal setae 4; palpal crenulations 9 .................................................................................................................... musiva
- Palpal setae more than 4; palpal crenulations 7............................................................................................................ 6
6. Labial palp with deep crenulations ............................................................................................................................... 7
- Labial palp with obsoletecrenulations .......................................................................................................................... 8
7. Mandibular formula L 1234 0 abb R 123+4yab ................................................................................................. hahneli
- Mandibular formula L 1234 ab R 1234 y abd ............................................................................................ heteronycha
8. Movable hook thick (Fig. 10) ....................................................................................................................................... 9
- Movable hook thin (Fig. 11) ..................................................................................................................... pseudimitans
9. Dorsal protuberances on abdominal segment VII–IX reduced, notably smaller than preceding ones; Antillean .......... .............................................................................................................................................................................. celeno
- Dorsal protuberances on abdominal segment VII–IX well developed, similar to preceding ones; USA to South America ............................................................................................................................................................... inacuta