---

From Sabrosky's revision (1983), discussing Desmometopa varipalpis:

Males of this species are very distinctive because of the elongate fusiform palpi, unique in the genus and comparable only to singaporensis which also has a large palpus but a capitate one. However, females are much less distinctive ... Two characteristics distinguish varipalpis from singaporensis in both sexes, and these are useful for females: (1) in varipalpis the fronto-orbital plates are broad throughout, without an obvious break between the upper and lower orbital plates, whereas in singaporensis the fronto-orbital plates are narrower, especially the lower orbital plate, and there is a distinct break and narrowing from upper to lower sections; (2) the cheek is wider in varipalpis ...
The antennae are usually entirely black in singaporensis, but with reddish 1st and 2nd segments in varipalpis.
Males of varipalpis have the additional characteristic of elongate fusiform palpi, but in a few cases, almost always small individuals, the palpi are relatively short and small and in such cases they appear less acute apically.