Key to species of Empidideicus known from Iran

1. Occiput completely black1 (Figs. 7 c, e & f).................................................................................................................. 2

- Occiput yellow laterally (Figs. 7 a, b & d) ................................................................................................................... 4

2. Scutellum mostly black with narrow yellow margin (Fig. 7 e); mid coxa with sclerotised square flap-like projection basolaterally (Fig. 4) ................................................................................. E. legulicoxa Gharali & Evenhuis, sp. nov.

- Scutellum completely yellow (Figs. 8 a–f); mid coxa without a basal projection......................................................... 3

3. Dorsum of mesonotum completely black, without longitudinal stripes; prescutellar area completely black (Fig. 8 f)2 ...................................................................................................................... E. persicus Gharali & Evenhuis, sp. nov.

- Dorsum of mesonotum with three black longitudinal stripes (Fig. 8 d), if stripes coalesced3 prescutellar area and interhumeral marks yellow ....................................................................... E. greatheadi Gharali & Evenhuis, sp. nov.

4. Vein R4+5 turned upward, meeting Costa at level of CuA1; vein M1+2 shorter than half of M2 (Fig. 2 b) ......................... ..................................................................................................................... E. ebellicus Gharali & Evenhuis, sp. nov.

- Vein R4+5 straight, meeting Costa well beyond the level of CuA1; vein M1+2 longer than half of M2 (Figs. 1 b & 5b) .. ...................................................................................................................................................................................... 5

5. Second antennal flagellomere as long as or longer than first flagellomere (Fig. 1 a); furca well sclerotised around genital orifice (Fig. 1 g) ................................................................................... E. amicus Gharali & Evenhuis, sp. nov.

- Second antennal flagellomere much shorter than first flagellomere (Fig. 5 a); furca without sclerotised area around genital orifice (Fig. 5 g) .......................................................................... E. matricarius Gharali & Evenhuis, sp. nov.