Pharaxonotha Reitter, 1875

Skelley, Paul E. & Tang, William, 2020, Two new species of Pharaxonotha Reitter among the early-diverging lineages, with a key to the species of the genus (Coleoptera: Erotylidae: Pharaxonothinae), Insecta Mundi 2020 (837), pp. 1-11 : 3-4

Key to species of Pharaxonotha Reitter

1. Head in lateral view robust, convex dorsally especially anteriorly; post-ocular ridge present (temple), tooth-like in dorsal view; male with small tooth at apex of last abdominal ventrite; USA (Texas, Louisiana) to Panama in nature, Europe and elsewhere in stored products, rarely associated with cycads................................................................ P. kirschii Reitter

— Head in lateral view narrowed anteriorly, flattened dorsally; post-ocular ridge indistinct, usually lacking; male lacking modified last abdominal ventrite; widespread in the Neotropics, associated with cycad cones............................................................................... 2

2(1). Head with supraocular line; elytra lacking marginal bead at base............................... 3

— Head lacking supraocular line; elytra with marginal bead at base............................... 4

3(2). Head with weak supraocular line; pronotal disc with distinct basal sulcus on each side; Cuba with Microcycas calocoma (Miq.) A.DC. ............................. P. esperanzae Chaves and Genero

— Head with strong supraocular line; pronotal disc lacking basal sulcus; Mexico (Veracruz) with Ceratozamia tenuis (Dyer) D.W.Stev. and Vovides. ................ P. mexicana Santiago-Jiménez et al.

4(2). On Ceratozamia tenuis in Mexico (Veracruz).......................... P. tenuis Santiago-Jiménez

— On Zamia from Bolivia (Santa Cruz) to Mexico, USA (Florida) and the Caribbean................ 5

5(4). All tibiae strongly triangularly dilated toward apex, tibiae appearing shortened; protibia with lateral apical tooth small and no gap in the apical row of spinules; Honduras (Cortés) with Zamia onan-reyesii C.Nelson and Sandoval................................. P. thomasi Skelley and Tang , n. sp.

— Not all tibiae strongly dilated toward apex, usually not appearing shortened; protibia usually with strong lateral apical tooth and a gap in apical row of spinules near tooth; widespread................ 6

6(5). Anterior pronotal angles projecting forward slightly, angle distinct; USA (Florida) and West Indies to Puerto Rico......................................................................... 7

— Anterior pronotal angles not projecting forward, angle indistinct, broadly rounded; Mexico to Bolivia..................................................................................... 8

7(6). Elytral strial punctures coarse, impressed; striae weakly grooved, intervals convex; USA (Florida) with Zamia integrifolia L.f................................................. P. floridana (Casey)

— Elytral strial punctures fine to coarse, not impressed; striae evident only by rows of punctures, intervals flat; Puerto Rico with Zamia erosa O.F.Cook and G.N.Collins and Z. portoricensis Urb. .................................................................. P. portophylla Franz and Skelley

8(6). Pronotal hind angle and elytral humerus rounded, lacking angulation or small denticle; body small, length <2.1 mm; Panama ( Panamá) with Zamia cunaria Dressler and D.W.Stev. and Z. ipetiensis D.W.Stev. .............................................. P. taylori Skelley and Tang , n. sp.

— Pronotal hind angle and elytral humerus with angulation or small denticle; body larger, length> 2.1 mm; Bolivia to Central America............................................................. 9

9(8). Antennomere XI distinctly larger than IX; Bolivia (Santa Cruz) and Brazil (Mato Grosso) with Zamia bolivana (Brongn.) A.DC. ................................ P. cerradensis Skelley and Segalla

— Antennomere XI equal to or smaller than IX; Costa Rica..................................... 10

10(9). Body length 2.1–2.4 mm; scutellary striole with 7–9 punctures; elytral disc with fine interval punctures less than 1/4 diameter of strial punctures; northeastern Costa Rica (Heredia) east of Continental Divide with Zamia neurophyllidia D.W.Stev. ........................... P. clarkorum Pakaluk

— Body length 2.8–3.6 mm; scutellary striole with 9–11 punctures; elytral disc with coarser interval punctures more than 1/2 diameter of strial punctures; southern Costa Rica (Puntarenas) west of Continental Divide with Zamia fairchildiana L.D.Gómez and Z. pseudomonticola L.D.Gómez ex D.W.Stev. and Sabato. ................................................ P. confusa Pakaluk