An identification key to Scolopocryptops species of East Asia
1. LBS 7 with well-developed spiracles (Figs 14D, 15E)....................................................... 2.
- LBS 7 lacking spiracles............................................................................... 3.
2. Ultimate tergite with median suture...................................... S. broelemanni broelemanni (East China)
- Ultimate tergite lacking median suture..................................... S. broelemanni esulcata (South Vietnam)
3. Cephalic plate with complete lateral margination........................................................... 7.
- Cephalic plate lacks lateral margination or this margination is much shortened.................................... 4.
4. Length of the ultimate leg up to 40% of body length.................................... S. zhijinensis (South China)
- Length of the ultimate leg less than a 30% of body length.................................................... 5.
5. Ultimate tergite lacks lateral margination...................................................... S. melanostoma (Taiwan, Philippines, E Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, South Vietnam)
- Ultimate tergite with definite lateral margination........................................................... 6.
6. Cephalic plate lacks lateral margination; 3 basal antennal articles with sparse minute setae....... S. curtus (Japan, Taiwan)
- Cephalic plate with very short, but definite tracks of lateral margination in posterior half; 1 basal antennal article with sparse minute setae........................................................................... S. elegans (Japan)
7. Length of the ultimate leg more than 40% of body length; tarsus 1 and 2 of leg 22 each with well-developed spur.............................................................................................. S. longipes (China)
- Length of the ultimate leg less than a 30% of body length; leg 22 with 1 tarsal spur at most.......................... 8.
8. Tergites 8–18(20) with complete paramedian sutures (Fig. 2C)................................................ 9.
- Tergites without complete paramedian sutures (Figs 5 DF, 8C)................................................ 10.
9. Tergites colored uniformly................................... S. rubiginosus (Taiwan, China, Korea, Japan, Vietnam)
- Tergites with some accumulations of dark pigment............................ S. nigrimaculatus (China, South Korea)
10. Tergites 6–20 with very characteristic deep “drop-like” longitudinal median depression bordered by paramedian keels (Figs 112CD, 12B)................................................................. S. hoanglieni n. sp. (Vietnam)
- Tergites lacking deep “drop-like” longitudinal depression (Figs 5 DF, 8C)....................................... 11.
11. Tergites 6–20 with four longitudinal keels............................................... S. quadristriatus (Japan)
- Tergites lacking longitudinal keels...................................................................... 12.
12. Two basal antennal articles sparsely setose dorsally. Ultimate sternite tongue-shaped. Tibia and tarsus of ultimate leg (Fig. 9D) very densely setose............................................. S. capillipedatus (Korea, Taiwan, Japan, Vietnam) + “ S. ogawai ” (Japan) + ” S. mushashiensis ” (Japan, South Korea)
- Two basal antennal articles virtually lacking setae dorsally. Ultimate sternite trapeziform. Distal articles of ultimate leg not setose (Figs 6 AC), rarely with numerous setae (Fig. 6E)........ S. spinicaudus (Korea, China, Taiwan, Japan, Vietnam) + S. nipponicus (Japan)