Genus Semiardistomis Kult, 1950

Semiardistomis Kult 1950: 301 . Type species: Clivina labialis Chaudoir, 1837, by original designation. Ciegler (2000: 11, 43); Ball and Bousquet (2001: 45, 74)

Ardistomiellus Kult 1950: 303 . Type species: Clivina viridis Say, 1823, by original designation. Synonymy established by Whitehead [in Reichardt] (1977: 392).

Description. Head: Clypeus with lateral lobes distinct but not prominent, or indistinct (Fig. 20). Antennomere 2 shorter than antennomere 3. Prothorax: Proepisternum without diagonal band of sculpture. Elytra: Striae punctate in most species studied, punctures with setae or not. Lateral margin prolonged beside basal extremity as carina joining stria 3 (Fig. 26), except in S. puncticollis . Metathorax (underside): Metasternum with setae (particularly in front of metacoxae), without row of punctures along metepisternal suture. Abdomen: Visible abdominal sterna 3–6 with accessory setae. Suture between visible abdominal sterna 2 and 3 erased at middle. Legs: Ventral surface of protibia with several setae on basal half along middle (Fig. 27).

Species studied. S. brittoni (Kult); S. cyaneolimbatus (Chevrolat); S. deletus (Putzeys); S. emdeni (Kult); S. labialis (Chaudoir); S. marani (Kult); S. pallipes (Dejean); S. propinquus (Putzeys); S. puncticollis (Dejean); S. semipunctatus (Dejean); S. viridis (Say) .

Diversity and Geographical Distribution. Twelve species of Semiardistomis are recorded by Lorenz (1998: 136). However, a number of species included by him in Ardistomis belong to this genus; this is so for S. cyaneolimbatus (Chevrolat), S. deletus (Putzeys), S. labialis (Putzeys), S. laevistriatus (Fleutiaux & Sallé); S. ovatus (Putzeys), S. pallipes (Dejean), S. propinquus (Putzeys), S. rotundipennis (Putzeys), S. rugosus (Putzeys) and S. semipunctatus (Dejean) (see Kult 1950; Nichols 1988a; pers. observ.). The species range, collectively, from eastern United States south to Argentina, including the West Indies.