1      Dorsal surface pale yellow with large, U-shaped black marking; dorsal surface of head transversely concave; ninth paratergites slender, width less than half the length (subgenus Arocera)

2

-       Dorsal surface yellow, orange, or red with dark brown or black macules, but not forming U-shaped marking; dorsal surface of head flat to slightly concave; ninth paratergites relatively broad, width greater than half the length (subgenus Euopta)

3

2(1)  Femora fuscous to black, except, at most basal one-fourth yellow with margin between yellow and black areas gradual, diffuse; lateral margins of black, U-shaped marking on dorsum usually entire, extending laterad over distal end of R + M vein (southern and eastern South America)

acroleuca (Perty)

-       Femora fuscous to black on distal one-half, basal one-half yellow with margin between yellow and black areas sharp, well-defined; lateral margins of black , U-shaped, dorsal marking usually emarginate near apex of corium, usually not extending laterad over distal end of R + M vein (northern and western South America)

aequinoxialis (Westwood)

3(1)   Antennal segment I fuscous or black, concolorous with rest of antennal segments

4

-        Antennal segment I yellow, orange, or red, distinctly lighter in color than rest of antennal segments

4(3)   Posterolateral angles of pygophore armed with 1-3 minute, medially directed teeth; each paramere in ectal view uniformly elongate, apex curving only slightly laterad (Colombia)

-        Posterolateral angles of pygophore unarmed; each paramere in ectal view sinuously elongate, apex curving distinctly laterad

5(4)   Posteroventral surface of pygophore with relatively deep, semicircular depression and sharply carinate ventral margin; in ectal view, lateral margin of each paramere distinctly sinuous, subapical notch well-defined (Bolivia and northern Argentina)

-        Posteroventral surface of pygphore with relatively shallow, semicircular depression, and obtusely carinate ventral margin; in ectal view, lateral margin of each paramere slightly sinuous, subapical notch not distinct (Mexico and Jamaica south to Argentina)

6(3)   Rostrum reaching onto posterior half of fifth (fourth visible) abdominal segment, often reaching onto sixth abdominal segment; dorsal surface bright orange with hemelytral membranes and ocellar areas of head black, or black with most of head, apex of scutellum, and two spots on each corium orange

-        Rostrum at most reaching on to anterior half of fifth (fourth visible) abdominal segment; dorsal surface yellow or orange with brown or black macules

7(6)   Dorsal surface mostly black with six orange spots, one on head, one on basal third of each corium, one on posterlateral angle of each corium, and one on apex of scutellum, spot on apex of scutellum sometimes continued cephalad as thin orange line (northwestern South America)

-        Dorsal surface mostly orange, sometimes with a few small black markings

8(7)   Dorsal surface usually completely orange except for black hemelytral membranes and black spot around each ocellus, sometimes with other black macules, but never in pattern described below; each paramere in ectal view not curving laterad apically (Panama and Costa Rica)

-        Dorsal surface orange except for base of head, hemelytral membranes and six small spots black: one on each basal angle of scutellum, one on each side of midline of scutellum about one-half distance from base to apex, and one on each side of midline of pronotum; each paramere in ectal view curving distinctly laterad apically (Ecuador)

9(6)   Ocelli very small, distance from each ocellus to adjacent eye at least 3-4 times diameter of ocellus; dorsal margin of each paramere in lateral and medial views concave (northwestern South America)

-        Ocelli of normal size, distance from each ocellus to adjacent eye no more than 1-2 times diameter of ocellus; dorsal margin of each paramere in lateral and medial views distinctly sinuous

10(9)  In lateral and medial views dorsal margin of each paramere with basal emargination very shallow (Mexico and northern Central America)

-         In lateral and medial views, dorsal margin of each paramere with basal emargination relatively deep (Costa Rica, Panama, and South America)

11(10) Humeral angles black; connexiva alternately fuscous and pale yellow; usually with black spots on abdominal venter (northern and eastern Brazil)

-         Humeral angles yellow; connexiva uniformly pale yellow; abdominal venter uniformly pale yellow except for some black markings on basal plates (northern and western South America)