Key to species of the subgenus Ceropales Latreille from China

1. Propodeum conspicuously flat, rarely convex at its entire length viewed from the side, and with deep longitudinal groove medially; frons usually remarkably flat anterior to antennal sockets and bent in obtuse-angle on 2/3 away from antennal sockets; ocelli forming acute triangle, or at most a right-angled triangle; scutellum and postscutellum remarkably raised, much higher than mesonotum in lateral view..................................................................... 2

- Propodeum more or less convex basally and flat or only moderately convex in declivous part; longitudinal furrow at most short or only impressed medially; frons usually convex; ocelli forming obtuse triangle; scutellum and postscutellum moderately raised, only slightly higher than mesonotum in lateral view..................................................... 4

2. Lateral side of propodeum with a conspicuous, deep oblique suture medially....................................... 3

- Lateral side of propodeum without a conspicuous oblique suture medially, only rather shallowly impressed............................................................................... Ceropales (C.) longisulcata Lu & Li, sp. nov.

3. Temple distinctly broader than one third of greatest width of eye (6:15); orbital groove undeveloped and short, along outer orbit at most by its lower 1/3 length (♀)............................................. Ceropales (C.) ligea Bingham

- Temple narrower than one third of greatest width of eye (13:40); orbital groove remarkably developed, broad, and at least half length of outer eye margin (♀ ♂)...................................... Ceropales (C.) yunnanensis Lu & Li, sp. nov.

4. Postnotum with nearly parallel margins; head and mesosoma matte, coriaceous-granulated; second joint of mid tarsus about thrice as long as wide...................................................... Ceropales (C.) variegata (Fabricius)

- Anterior and posterior margins of postnotum not parallel; head and mesosoma usually not matte, at least weakly shining; second joint of mid tarsus about twice as long as wide........................................................... 5

5. Last gastral segment pointed apically (♀); frons with larger and conspicuous punctures; body much more extensively yellow: frons largely, whole pronotum, scutellum, metanotum largely, two large spots on propodeum, terga I–II with yellow broader than their half, coxae, etc..................................................... Ceropales (C.) altaicus Morawitz

- Last gastral segment broadly truncate apically (♀); frons matte, with dense small contiguous punctures and without conspicu- ous, larger punctures, latter present only between ocelli and eye, rarely frons also with larger punctures ( C. trjapitzini ♀ ♂, C. magnifica ♂); body with much less yellow color............................................................. 6

6. Frons with dense, small punctures and few large punctures only between ocelli and eye; punctures of mesopleuron 2 × diameters apart; tarsal joints of ♂ sometimes remarkably shortened................................................... 7

- Frons with dense, small punctures and scattered larger punctures; punctures of mesopleuron 1 × diameter apart below tegulae; tarsal joints of ♂ normal, not shortened.................................................................... 8

7. Propodeum with longitudinal furrow medially, with transverse furrow basally, posterolateral angle rounded; gastral tergum III entirely black, usually tergum I with ivory or yellowish white spots laterally, tergum II mostly with a continuous band apically, terga IV–V often with a medial spot; fore tarsi remarkably dilated (♂)......... Ceropales (C.) maculata maculata Fabricius

- Propodeum without longitudinal furrow medially, relatively smooth basally, posterolateral angle trapezoidal shaped; gastral tergum III, also terga II–VI (VII) with apical ivory bands, tergum I with continuous or narrowly interrupted broad band (♀) or with lateral spots (♂); fore tarsi never broadened (♂)........................ Ceropales (C.) erythropoda Gussakovskij

8. Propodeum with coarse carinae, especially distinct on propodeal enclosure; frons relatively rather deeply punctured; lateral margin of pronotum yellowish-brown, translucent; gastral tergum III black, without yellow spot (♂).................... 9

- Sculpture of propodeum fine, not coarsely rugose; frons matte (♀) or sparsely punctured (♂); lateral margin of pronotum black; gastral tergum III black, with trace of a small yellow spot apically (♂)..................................... 10

9. Gastral sternum VI conspicuously long, ventral margin sinuate in lateral view (♀) (Fig 4. g); clypeus without punctures; meta- pleuron without large puncture......................................... Ceropales (C.) longabdominalis Jiang et Li

- Gastral sternum VI normal, ventral margin flat in lateral view (♀); clypeus with scattered punctures; metapleuron with dense, large, punctures medially................................................ Ceropales (C.) magnifica Gussakovskij

10. Propodeum at most with microscopically fine, transverse rugulosity basally; frons with dense, small, contiguous punctures, except male also with a few large punctures; gastral tergum I with interrupted, large yellow band medially....................................................................................... Ceropales (C.) solskii Radoszkowski

- Sculpture of propodeum irregular and coarser rugose basally; frons with dense, small, contiguous punctures mixed with some distinct larger ones (♀ ♂); broad yellow band of gastral tergum I, continuous medially..... Ceropales (C.) trjapitzini Moczar