1	Elytra unicoloured, dark to pale ferrugineous; lack distinct colour pattern (Figs 444–446); small species (length 2.9–3.3 mm)	2
–	Elytra with variable colour pattern; generally larger species	3
2	Elytra pale ferrugineous to ferrugineous (Fig. 444)	Laccophilus septicola (p. 145)
–	Elytra blackish ferrugineous (Fig. 445)	Laccophilus pullatus (p. 147)
3	Elytra blackish ferrugineous with small, pale ferrugineous spots (Fig. 446); penis as in Figs 293–294; small species (length 2.9 mm)	Laccophilus luteosignatus (p. 148)
–	Elytral colour pattern different; penis shape different; larger species (length min. 3.1 mm)	4
4	Penis strongly angled in lateral aspect (about 75–90°) (Figs 295, 301); large species, length 4.3–4.9 mm	5
–	Penis generally straighter (angle more than 100°); many species less than 4 mm in length	6
5	Elytral colour pattern distinct; with two transverse, pale, areas where irrorations reduced (Fig. 452); penis as in Fig. 301	Laccophilus guignoti (p. 157)
–	Elytral colour pattern vague, indistinct, no transverse pale areas (Fig. 447); penis as in Fig. 295	Laccophilus benoiti (p. 150)
6	Penis, lateral aspect, with small, sharp knob located close to inner curvature (Fig. 266)	7
–	Penis lacks corresponding knob (Fig. 276)	9
	[Comment: note that some specimens of Laccophilus adspersus have a resembling knob on penis, which is less sharp and pronounced]
7	Colour pattern evenly distinct in basal half of elytra (Fig. 424); penis as in Fig. 268	Laccophilus nodieri (p. 113)
–	Scutellar region with reduced, indistinct elytral colour pattern (dark ferrugineous irrorations vague) (Fig. 422); penis different	8
8	Penis, lateral aspect, with apex outline rounded (Fig. 266)	Laccophilus modestus (p. 107)
–	Penis, lateral aspect, with apex outline angled (Fig. 267)	Laccophilus cryptos (p. 111)
9	Penis apex distinct, almost bifid (Fig. 299); large species (4.6–5.1 mm)	Laccophilus vermiculosus (p. 154)
–	Penis apex different; generally smaller species	10
10	Penis apex simple, exhibits no modifications (Figs 297–298) (Madagascar)	Laccophilus addendus (p. 151)
–	Penis apex variously modified (Mainland Africa, Madagascar)	11
11	Penis robust, apex large and outline evenly curved (Fig. 270); elytral colour pattern variable Figs 426–429	(sp. complex?) Laccophilus remex (p. 118)
–	Penis less robust to quite delicate, apex smaller, often differently shaped	12
12	Penis, lateral aspect, external outline angled (curvature smooth) (Figs 275–276)	13
-	Penis, lateral aspect, external outline almost evenly curved (Figs 277, 283)	15
13	Penis apex large, distinct (Fig. 275)	Laccophilus turbatus (p. 123)
–	Penis apex, small, hardly discernible (Fig. 276)	14
14	Elytral irrorations distinct (Fig. 433); penis apex broad (Fig. 276)	Laccophilus pallescens (p. 125)
–	Elytral irrorations diffuse (Fig. 435); penis apex narrow (Fig. 278)	Laccophilus mediocris (p. 132)
15	Extreme penis apex projects forwards (Fig. 277); elytra anteriorly at suture with distinct, quite long, narrow pale area without irroration (Fig. 434)	Laccophilus trilineola (p. 130)
–	Extreme penis apex curved (Fig. 286); elytral colour pattern different	16
16	Penis, lateral aspect, inner outline with medial expansion (Fig. 285)	Laccophilus enigmaticus (p. 138)
–	Penis, lateral aspect, inner outline lacks medial expansion (Fig. 283)	17
17	Penis apex broad, truncate, and turned upwards, appears in lateral aspect, narrow (Fig. 280)	18
–	Penis apex broad, truncate but not turned upwards, appears in lateral aspect broad (Fig. 269), or shape of penis apex different (Fig. 265)	19
18	Elytral colour pattern distinct (Figs 438–439; penis as in Fig. 283	Laccophilus saegeri (p. 136)
–	Elytral colour pattern diffuse (Fig. 436); penis as in Fig. 280	Laccophilus epinephes (p. 134)
19	Penis apex broad, hooked (Fig. 269); elytral colour pattern generally distinct (Fig. 425)	20
–	Penis apex different (e.g. Fig. 265); elytral colour pattern rather diffuse (irrorations less pronounced) (e.g. Fig. 419)	21
20	Large species (body length 4.2–4.6 mm); male genitalia (Fig. 269)	Laccophilus flaveolus (p. 115)
–	Small species (body length 3.1–3.3 mm); male genitalia (Fig. 288)	Laccophilus bellus (p. 144)
21	Penis, inner outline almost evenly curved from base to apex (Fig. 286)	Laccophilus restrictus (p. 140)
–	Penis, inner outline angled, not evenly curved from base to apex (Fig. 265)	22
22	Penis apex (Fig. 265); elytral colour pattern (Fig. 420) (Madagascar)	Laccophilus olsoufieffi (p. 105)
–	Penis apex variable (Figs 261–264); elytral colour pattern (Fig. 419) (Mainland Africa)	Laccophilus adspersus (p. 97)