Banasa is allied to the genus Acrosternum Fieber, but can be distin guished from it and all other New World genera by the following combi nation of characters.
Metasternum subelevated and notched posteriorly; anteriorly directed abdominal tubercle originating on 3rd (2nd visible) abdominal sternite ap posed to metasternal notch; tubercle (even when well developed) extending to but not between metacoxae. Mesosternum bilaterally tumid with median, flattened, pubescent carina. Ostiolar rugae elongate, sinuate, continued to near metapleural edge. Head length subequal to width; tylus and jugae sub equal. First antennal segment short, not attaining apex of head. Anterolat eral thoracic margin entire or subcalloused, never reflexed. Tip of scutellum always rounded. Paratergite VIII of female with spiracles present.
Banasa is a New World genus, and is particularly diverse in the tropical regions. Species can be difficult to discriminate due to high structural similarity among species, and high variation in size and color within species. This leaves the male genitalia as the most reliable feature on which to determine species identification.
