Aelia

According to Staddon & Abdollahi (1999), the members of the rostrata group are larger and more robust than species of the acuminata group. The bucculae are often armed anteriorly with a tooth, and the juga lack nodular thickenings. The dorsoposterior margin of the pygophore has either three distinct emarginations, or only one medial emargination (thus resembling the acuminata group). The parameres in the rostrata group are longer than in the acuminata group, they are thicker distally, the membranous extension is outwardly directed, and the hypophysis is short with a small tooth.

1 Outer margins of juga strongly recessed before apex, apical part beyond recesses broader than area just before recesses	2
- Outer margins of juga beyond preapical recesses do not broaden	3

2(1) Hind surface of male genital segment just ventrad of central recess with two distinct teeth; apex of head rounded apically, with clearly protruding corners	furcula Fieber
- Hind surface of male genital segment without teeth; apex of head diagonally angled, without protuding corners	melanota Fieber

3(1) Bucculae anteriorly with a tooth, a tubercle, or the anterior angle pointed	4
- Bucculae without anterior teeth or points; head over 1.1 times as long as broad, juga extending far beyond apex of tylus	germari Küster

4(3) Bucculae anteriorly with elongate, pointed tooth	5
- Bucculae anteriorly with a tubercle or a sharp point	6

5(4) Larger, broader; posterodorsal margin of male genital segment with three deep emarginations; radial vein of the corium; longitudinal touch [?] at the radial vein of corium weak	rostrata Boheman
- Smaller, more slender; lateral emarginations on dorsolateral margin of genital segment flatter; longitudinal touch [?] at the radial vein of corium always very clear	notata Rey

6(4) Dorsum of abdomen black with yellow center line; second antennal segment as long as or longer than third	cognata Fieber
- Dorsum of abdomen yellow with 4 black longitudinal bands; second antennal segment clearly shorter than third	7

7(6) Large and robust, 10-12 mm long, ocher-yellow; head as broad as long, portion anterior to tylus somewhat longer	obtusa Fieber
- Smaller, 8.5-10.5 mm long, whitish-yellow; head longer than broad, shorter in front of tylus	syriaca Horváth

Comments:
China and Lodos (1960) considered A. obtusa to be a synonym of A. melanota. Brown (1962) and Voegele (1968) both considered A. syriaca to be no more than a geographical race of A. rostrata.

David A. Rider
Associate Professor of Entomology
North Dakota State University
202 Hultz Hall
Fargo, ND 58105
E-Mail: David.Rider@ndsu.nodak.edu