1. Metapleuron with a large patch of fine setae
immediately above the hind coxa; scape and legs bright yellow (Fig. 58)
(males similarly setose) ... 2
─ Metapleuron without or with only scattered sparse setae above the hind
coxa (Figs 64, 62); scape and legs darker (Fig. 58) ... 3
2. Gena with dense white, somewhat thickened pilosity (Fig. 58);
posterior propodeal margin with distinct angular corner
(Fig. 57); patch of setae above hind coxa predominantly oriented
posteriorly (Fig. 60); mesoscutum sculptured throughout
(Fig. 57) ...
Scelio chapmani
─ Gena with sparse, brown, thin pilosity (Fig.
48); posterior propodeal margin
appearing rounded and without truncate margin, with
only extremely short straight edge (Fig. 45); patch of setae above hind coxa predominantly oriented ventrally (Fig. 46); mesoscutum with a narrow strip of obliterated sculpture along humeral
margin (Fig. 45) ...
Scelio ardelio
3. Lateral T2–T5 with anterior half glabrous, posterior half with dense,
thick, white setae (Figs 68, 80) ... 4
─ T2–T5 laterally with pilosity more or less evenly distributed
throughout, pilosity frequently sparse, and most often thin
and brown (Figs 62, 98) ... 5
4. Metasoma narrow (Fig. 67); sculpture of S3–S6 fine, relatively
compact and predominantly longitudinal (Fig. 72); S3
medially sculptured more or less throughout, at most with a thin band of
obliterated sculpture along midline (Fig. 72); S2
felt field extremely reduced, pinch-like and not strongly elevated; scape bright yellow; body often with metasoma lighter
(brown) than mesosoma ...
Scelio dupondi
─ Metasoma broad (Fig. 79); sculpture of S3–S6 longitudinal but
somewhat irregular, particularly at base of S2 which is rugulose, with larger gaps between interstices (Fig. 84); S3 medially
smooth, with sculpture more or less absent throughout
(Fig. 84); S2 felt field well developed and elevated on a keel-like
projection; scape dark golden yellow; body often
concolorous and dark brown throughout ...
Scelio janseni
5. Gena in lateral view narrow, with three well-defined carinae present
(orbital, genal, occipital, Fig. 102: orbc, gc, occ) at
narrowest point, and frequently genal well developed throughout; gena
with sparse, shorter and usually brown but
sometimes off-white setae whose tips are not typically overlapping;
never with fine pilosity at base of lateral T1 (Fig. 97) (eye in
lateral view large) ... 6
─ Gena in lateral view broad or without a single distinctly larger genal
carina between orbital and occipital carinae (Fig. 89); gena with thick white setae whose tips may or may not overlap
adjacent setae; often with micropilosity at base of
lateral T1 (Fig. 85) ... 7
6. Pilosity on the pronotal shoulder, mesonotum, and lateral gena
completely white (Figs 39, 40); reticulations of the
mesoscutum relatively fine and somewhat more dense (Fig. 39); villus
elongate, narrow, and somewhat curved ventrally;
scape dark brown; mesoscutum with only slight bulge anteromedially,
sculpture not composed of large cells; notauli
percurrent, edges faint but clearly present (South Africa) ...
Scelio
albatus
─ Pilosity on the mesoscutum brown, on gena white or brown, on pronotal
shoulder white and brown; reticulations of the
mesoscutum relatively robust, and larger (Fig. 99); villus variably
developed, but often somewhat thicker (Fig. 100);
scape yellow or brown, only rarely dark brown (these individuals large
and dark) (widespread; there are three general forms
that key here, see Comments) ...
Scelio taylori
7. Pronotal nucha smooth throughout, nearly glabrous (Fig. 87, pn);
mesoscutum more or less flat; dorsal head between
lateral ocelli with some very slightly polished and bulging areas with
irregular microsculpturing typically in the form of
punctures; scape yellow in basal, becoming brown towards apex, rarely
completely yellow and then legs beyond coxae
concolorous throughout ...
Scelio mauritanicus
─ Pronotal nucha with at most a small smooth and glabrous patch
anteriorly, if small smooth patch present then bounded
laterally with slight transverse sculpture that fades medially; dorsal
head between lateral ocelli variably developed, but
typically sculptured throughout; mesoscutum usually bulging slightly in
anterior third; scape entirely yellow or nearly
entirely brown with at most slightly yellow base or apex ... 8
8. Pilosity of dorsal pronotal shoulder short and thicker, predominantly
brown, concolorous with dorsal mesonotal setae
(Fig. 51); mesonotum very robustly sculptured, with large cells (Fig. 51); gena in lateral view very broad (Central African
Republic, single female) ...
Scelio bayanga
─ Pilosity of dorsal pronotal shoulder elongate, predominantly white or
off-white, typically lighter than dorsal mesonotal
setae, often distinctly so; mesonotum variously sculptured, with smaller
more compact cells; gena in lateral view of
moderate width ... 9
9. Frons below anterior ocellus with brown pilosity continuing to near
lower margin of eye, pilosity below this white (Figs. 93 &95); A3 bright yellow; pilosity of frons somewhat sparse, setae thick,
and slightly truncate (Figs. 93 & 95); (frons somewhat
narrowed between eyes; metasoma relatively depressed; Ivory Coast) ...
Scelio phaeoprora
─ Frons below anterior ocellus at most with few brown setae immediately
adjacent to ocellus, setae otherwise white (Figs. 63 & 65); A3 brown to dark brown; pilosity of frons variously
developed, setae truncate or pointed ... 10
10. Gena with dense, bushy pilosity (Fig. 78); eye bulging towards
anterior (Figs 75, 78); A1 yellow, A3 onwards light
brown to brown (T3 and often T2 with tendency for more reticulation in
sculpture) ...
Scelio exophthalmus
─ Genal pilosity not distinctly bushy; eye not distinctly bulging in
lateral view; A1 yellow or brown, A3 onwards varying ...
11
11. Sculpture of face relatively fine, with dorsoventral trend, with
large interstices between carinae (Fig. 63); sculpture of mesonotum well-impressed, fine, somewhat longitudinal, particularly on
medial mesoscutellum (Fig. 65); scape brown
(villus often slightly concave ventrally and relatively narrow; head ovoid; sculpture of lateral margins of metasomal tergites very slightly obliterated or smoothed in parts;
darker individuals) ...
Scelio copelandi
─ Sculpture of the face variable, but in general reticulate, without
dorsoventral trend, and typically somewhat denser (Fig. 35); sculpture of mesonotum moderately impressed, relatively densely
reticulate (Fig. 36); scape brown or yellow; villus
variously formed (see Comments for information on the several
morphotypes presently included in this relatively
polymorphic species) ...
Scelio aphares
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