1. Scutellum with a disc or cup on dorsal surface with a central or posterior pit (a,b,c). Pronotal plate well-developed, frequently produced antero-dorsally into an anterior plate with a strong postero-lateral margin (a). Segments 2 and 3 of metasoma fused, without visible suture ...EUCOILINAE

Scutellum without a disc or cup dorsally (A, B); occasionally with raised central area, but lacking a central or posterior pit (C). Pronotal plate frequently lacking a strong posterior margin. Segments two and three rarely fused ...2

2. Apical margin of forewing distinctly emarginated (a). Dense 'foamy' setae present on propodeum and anterior of metasoma (b). Scutellar plate occasionally present, but lacking central pit (c) ...EMARGININAE

Apical margin of forewing entire (A). Propodeum and base of metasoma setose or glabrous, but never with dense, 'foamy' setae (B, C) ...3

3. Mesoscutum and scutellum completely smooth and rounded, entirely lacking sculpture (a). Petiole very short, at most as long as broad (b) ...CHARIPINAE

Mesoscutum and scutellum frequently sculptured, most often with notauli present on mesoscutum, and the scutellum crenulate to rugose; if scutellum smooth, then with distinct posterior carina and petiole long, at least 4X longer than wide ...4

4. Radial cell of forewing strongly reduced, closed, its veins thick and heavy. Metasoma with segments 2 and 3 forming a syntergum ...PYCNOSTIGMINAE

Radial cell of forewing not reduced, open or closed along anterior margin, veins typically slender (A). Metasomal tergae free (not fused) (B) ...5

5. Facial impression usually present between toruli (a). Tergite 2 of metasoma liguliform; hind tibiae in most genera longitudinally ridged or furrowed on outer margins or posteriorly. Scutellum with one or more longitudinal carinae and subapically with either a spine or foveae (b). Mesosoma sculptured, dull (b) ...ASPICERINAE

Facial impression absent (A). Tergite 2 of metasoma not liguliform. Hind tibia not longitudinally ridged or furrowed externally or posteriorly, at most with longitudinal carinae or groove internally. Scutellum usually without three longitudinal carinae or subapical fovea, though more frequently produced apically to form a spine (B). Mesosoma generally smooth and shining, with notauli present (B), occasionally dull and sculptured ...6

6. Petiole with dorsal lamellus, which partially covers the junction between the petiole and the nucha (a). Base of metasoma with a complete hairy ring (a, b). Mesoscutum dull, microcoreacious (a, b). Mesopleuron dorsally smooth and shiny, ventrally strigose (b) ... Melanips (ASPICERINAE)

Petiole lacking a dorsal lamellus, junction between petiole and nucha fully exposed (A). Base of metasoma glabrous, lacking a hairy ring (A, B). Mesoscutum lacking microcoreacious sculpture; macrosculptural elements usually present (A). Mesopleuron smooth except for distinct mesopleural carina or entirely longitudinally striate (B) ...7

7. Head, in anterior view, elongate oval to round, as wide as, or narrower than mesosoma (a). Tergite 2 of metasoma shorter than third; petiole never as long as wide (b) ...FIGITINAE

Head, in anterior view, roughly triangular, occasionally wider than mesosoma (A). Tergite 2 of metasoma longer than third; petiole at least as long as wide, generally more than twice as long as wide (B) ...ANACHARITlNAE