Psammoecus, Latreille, 1829

Karner, Michael, 2012, A revision of African Psammoecus (Coleoptera, Silvanidae) and descriptions of two new species from the collection of the Musée royal de l’Afrique centrale, European Journal of Taxonomy 17, pp. 1-31 : 28-29

Key to species

1. Lateral margins of pronotum without teeth; only anterior and posterior groups of small teeth present ............................................................................................................................................................. 2

– Lateral margins of pronotum with various number of large or small teeth ......................................... 3

2. 3 rd antennomere shorter than 2 nd; elytral rows of punctures narrower than interstices.......................... .................................................................................................................... lateralis ( Grouvelle, 1899)

– 3 rd antennomere longer than 2 nd; elytral rows of punctures somewhat wider than interstices............... .................................................................................................................. longicornis Schaufuss, 1872

3. Body length 3.40-4.20 mm; lateral margins of pronotum with very small teeth; 1 st antennomere more than three times as long as 2 nd ......................................................................... grandis Grouvelle, 1908

– Body length not more than 3.30 mm; lateral margins of pronotum with distinct teeth, 1 st antennomere less than three times as long as 2 nd ....................................................................................................... 4

4. Interstices of lateral striae of elytra with small, distinct spines; pronotum with large lateral teeth, bases of tooth II and III connate............................................................................. spinosus Grouvelle, 1882

– Interstices of lateral striae of elytra without spines, often with tubercles; lateral teeth of pronotum always well separated .......................................................................................................................... 5

5. 1 st antennomere less than two times as long as 2 nd ............................................................................... 6

– 1 st antennomere more than two times as long as 2 nd ............................................................................ 8

6. 3 nd antennomere longer than 2 nd ............................................................ marginicollis Grouvelle, 1908

– 3 rd antennomere as long as 2 nd ............................................................................................................. 7

7. Striae on elytral disc narrower than interstices; lateral teeth of pronotum with narrow bases.............. .................................................................................................................. personatus Grouvelle, 1919

– Striae on elytral disc wider than interstices, lateral teeth of pronotum with wide bases....................... ....................................................................................................................................... leleupi sp. nov.

8. Maximum pronotal width near middle (excluding lateral teeth) ......................................................... 9

– Maximum pronotal width in anterior third (excluding lateral teeth)..................................................11

9. Lateral teeth of pronotum slender............................................................... hacquardi Grouvelle, 1889

– Lateral teeth of pronotum triangular, with wide bases ...................................................................... 10

10. Elytral striae distinctly wider than interstices; humeral swelling, a transverse band in the middle of elytra, elytral suture along posterior two thirds and elytral apex dark; parameres short, stout, fused with basal piece................................................................................................ simoni Grouvelle, 1892

– Elytral striae slightly wider than interstices; elytra with dark, transversal band at beginning of posterior portion, sometimes with darkened suture near elytral apex; parameres spatula-shaped, distinctly separated from basal piece............................................................................... luchti sp. nov.

11. Elytrae with darkened humeral area, wide dark band across middle and darkened suture near apex; paramera slender............................................................................................ laetulus Grouvelle, 1914

– Elytrae with round macula and darkened suture near apex .............................................................. 12

12. Lateral margin of pronotum with 4 distinct teeth between small posterior tooth and anterior group of small teeth.......................................................................................... trimaculatus Motschulsky, 1858

– Lateral margin of pronotum with 5 distinct teeth between small posterior tooth and anterior group of small teeth................................................................................................... parallelus Grouvelle, 1919