Key to the Iranian Laemostenus species from Zagros and Central zone (Adapted from Casale, 1988 and Lohaj & Mlejnek, 2007)

1 Elytral base strongly concave, humeri strongly pointed forwards. Pronotum cordiform, strongly narrowed to base, which is as wide as half of elytral width......................................... L. (Sphodroides) cordicollis (Chaudoir, 1854)

- Elytral base straight or slightly concave. Pronotum elongate-cordiform, rectangular or subquadrate; pronotal base distinctly

wider than half of elytral width.......................................................................... 2 2 Meso- and metatibiae without apical brush of setae; upperside black. Pronotum slightly shining. Male mesotibiae straight, not curved. Claws with denticulation......................................... L. (Laemostenus) luristanus Casale, 1988

- Not this combination of characters....................................................................... 3

3 Head elongated, with only posterior pair of supraorbital setae; pronotum with only antero-lateral pair of setae; elytra more or less parallel; upperside dark brown to black, sometimes with slight blue shine; aedeagus with median lobe short and arcuated (subgenus Iranosphodrus). Central zone of Iran ............................................................. 4

- Not this combination of characters (subgenus Antisphodrus)................................................... 6

4 Profemori with tooth; antennomere 3 stout, shorter than antennomeres 1+2. Kerman ....................................................................................................... L. (I.) rudichae Lohaj & Casale, 2011

- Profemori without tooth; antennomere 3 slender, as long as antennomeres 1+ 2. Yazd................................5

5 Mesosternum without tooth; metepisternum as long as wide (Fig. 23). Pronotum elongate-cordiform................................................................................ L. (I.) yazdensis Muilwijk, Tahami & Lohaj sp. nov.

- Mesosternum with small tooth; metepisternum longer than wide (Fig. 28), pronotum cordiform.................................................................................. L. (I.) troglophilus Muilwijk, Tahami & Lohaj sp. nov.

6 Male protarsi not dilated ( aequalis species-group). Kohgiluyeh and Boyer–Ahmad and Fars ..........................7

- Male protarsi dilated. Zagros Mts........................................................................ 8

7 Both supraorbital setae present. Body more convex, larger, 12.5–16.8 mm. Kohgiluyeh and Boyer–Ahmad............................................................................ L. (A.) aequalis Muilwijk & Malek Hosseini, 2016

- Anterior supraorbital setae missing. Body less convex; smaller, 11.3–11.5 mm. Fars .......................................................................................... L. (A.) zakariyiensis Muilwijk Tahami & Lohaj sp. nov.

8 Mesosternum with teeth before mesocoxae. Body flattened. Metatibiae with scattered pubescence at ventral sides. Elytral striae superficial, without or with very fine punctation ( glasunowi species-group (part.). Zagros Mts................... 9

- Mesosternum without teeth before mesocoxae. Body more convex; metatibiae with apical brush of setae at ventral side; elytral striae impressed and punctate.......................................................................... 10

9 Eyes larger, slightly reduced, almost as long as temples; pronotum subquadrate, slightly sinuated toward hind angles. Elytral striae without punctation. Body larger, 13–14.5 mm. Lorestan, Zardeh–Kuh Kurang Mts........................................................................................................ L. (A.) mirzayani (Morvan, 1974)

- Eyes smaller, strongly reduced, as long as about half of the width of temples; pronotum slightly cordiforme. Elytral striae with fine punctation. Body smaller, 11.5 mm. Kuhe Dena Mts.............................. L. (A.) iranicus (Dvořák, 1982)

10 Humeri not pronounced. Elytra ellipsoid. Median lobe of aedeagus inflated, without prominent apex ( zagrosensis speciesgroup). Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari and Fars............................................................... 11

- Humeri more pronounced. Elytra oblong-elliptical. Median lobe with prominent apex ( glasunowi species-group (part.).. 13

11 Only posterior supraorbital setae present. Elytra small ellipsoid. Pronotum cordiform; Fars ....................................................................................... L. (A.) farsicus Muilwijk, Tahami & Lohaj sp. nov.

- Both supraorbital setae present. Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari...................................................12

12 Temples prominent, eyes reduced, slightly convex, longer than half of width of temples........................................................................................ L. (A.) zagrosensis Muilwijk, Tahami & Lohaj sp. nov.

- Temples not prominent, eyes strongly reduced, flat, shorter than half of width of temples...................................................................................... L. (A.) speleophilus Muilwijk, Tahami & Lohaj sp. nov.

13 Both supraorbital setae present. Lorestan ............................... L. (A.) deconincki Casale & Quéinnec, 2001

- Only posterior supraorbital setae present. Fars ................... L. (A.) shirazensis Muilwijk, Tahami & Lohaj sp. nov.