Key to species of Synopeas found in the northwest of Iran

1. Notauli present (Fig. 4)....................................................... Synopeas calecai Buhl & Asadi sp. nov.

– Notauli entirely absent ...................................................................................................................... 2

2. Occiput with complete carina ........................................................................................................... 3

– Occipital carina incomplete or absent ............................................................................................... 4

3. Occipital carina strong and complete; scutellum posteriorly with a semitransparent lamella ............ ...................................................................................................... Synopeas lugubre Thomson, 1859

– Occipital carina complete; scutellum not as above ................................ Synopeas pinnei Buhl, 2009

4. Occiput rounded without carina ........................................................... Synopeas cryptus Buhl, 2004

– Head with a weak occipital carina .................................................................................................... 5

5. Mid lobe of mesoscutum clearly situated above level of base of scutellum (a leveled gap present); frons finely coriaceous with some transverse wrinkles above antennae ..... Synopeas rhanis Walker, 1836

– Scutellar line continuous with line of mesoscutum (no leveled gap present); frons finely coriaceous ......................................................................................................................................... 6

6. Scutellum in lateral view slightly sloping downwards to strongly curved propodeal carinae; metasoma as long as head and mesosoma combined ...................................... Synopeas euryale (Walker, 1835)

– Scutellum in lateral view much sloping downwards to a small keel just above the slightly curved propodeal carinae; metasoma shorter than head and mesosoma combined ........................................ ....................................................................................................... Synopeas inerme Thomson, 1859