Aphodiinae, Leach, 1815

Published, First, 2007, A review of the Aphodiinae (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) of southern South America, Zootaxa 1458, pp. 1-80 : 9-10

Key to species of Aphodiinae of southern South America

1. Head strongly convex, clypeal surface rugosely punctate and distinctly setose (Fig. 1) .............................. ............................................................................................ Argeremazus neuquen Stebnicka and Dellacasa

- Head flat to weakly convex; clypeal surface variable, smooth to tuberculate, finely to coarsely punctate, sometimes weakly setose, but never convex and distinctly setose (Figs. 2–5) ........................................... 2

2. Labrum and mandibles not visible in antero-dorsal view, hidden beneath expanded clypeus (Figs. 3–5).. 3

- Labrum and mandibles visible in antero-dorsal view (Fig. 2) [ Aegialiini ] ................................................. 7

3. Elytral intervals margined at base (most visible toward the sides) (Figs. 3, 5, 12, 13, 15, 19–21, etc.); pygidium with basal longitudinal groove (Figs. 6, 11), usually eroded in apical half (Fig. 10); elytra with internal swelling along sutural margin that fits into the pygidial groove (Fig. 6) ....................................... 4

- Elytral intervals not margined at base (Figs. 2, 4), smoothly rounded (Figs. 35, 36, 39, etc.); pygidium entirely smooth (Fig. 9), unmodified, never eroded in apical half; elytral apex at suture not enlarged, sharply edged (Fig. 9).................................................................................................................................. 5

4. Clypeus smooth, with transverse wrinkles or transverse ridges (Figs. 3, 12–15, 19–21); pronotum without grooves or rows of punctures; metafemur never greatly swollen, not larger than profemur [ Eupariini ] .... 8

- Clypeus granulate or tuberculate, never with transverse ridges (Figs. 5, 28, 29, 31–33); pronotum usually with rows of punctures; metafemur usually enlarged (not in Pleurophorus ), larger than profemur (Fig. 30) [ Psammodiini ]............................................................................................................................................ 18

5. Metatibia with apical spurs not separated by metatarsus (Fig. 7)............................................................... 6

- Metatibia with apical spurs separated by metatarsus (Fig. 8) [ Aphodiini ]............................................... 23

6. Body robust, moderately elongate, dark brown without markings, resembling a small A. granarius (Fig. 51) [ Proctophanini ] ............................................................................. Australaphodius frenchi (Blackburn)

- Body not robust, distinctly elongate and parallel-sided, yellow brown with darker markings (Figs. 49–50) [ Didactyliini ] ....................................................................... Aidophus spp. [see Erroneous Records section]