Lexiphanes Gistel, 1848

Agrain, Federico A., Chamorro, Maria Lourdes, Cabrera, Nora, Sassi, Davide & Roig-Junent, Sergio, 2017, A comprehensive guide to the Argentinian case-bearer beetle fauna (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae, Camptosomata), ZooKeys 677, pp. 11-88 : 42-43

Lexiphanes Gistel, 1848 Fig. 22

Lexiphanes Gistel, 1848: 123; Balsbaugh 1966: 660.

= Monachus Chevrolat 1836 (not Kaup 1829, not Flemming 1822).

= Monachulus Leng 1918.

Type species.

Cryptocephalus saponatus Fabricius [= Lexiphanes saponatus (Fabricius)], designated by Balsbaugh (1966: 660).

Diagnosis.

Lexiphanes may be most commonly confused with Stegnocephala and less so with Cryptocephalus . Both genera in Monachulina have shorter antennae (rarely surpassing half of entire body length) with antennomeres anteriorly expanded (less so in Lexiphanes ). Also, the intercoxal prosternal process is wide and bilobed with small lateral projections and the anterior margin of intercoxal prosternal process uniformly concave ( Chamorro-Lacayo and Konstantinov 2004). Lexiphanes can be distinguished from Stegnocephala by the more uniform rounded shape of the pronotum, which lacks basolateral depressions. The prothoracic anterior opening in Lexiphanes has a circumference, best viewed anteriorly, with the dorsal and ventral margins on the similar vertical plane (in lateral view). In general, Stegnocephala is larger, more robust, and colorful than Lexiphanes .

Distribution.

This genus is restricted to the New World, from México to Argentina with over 100 species. 11 of which are present in Argentina.

Remarks.

Balsbaugh (1966) revised the North American species of this genus. The limits of the subtribe, genera, and species need revision. Information is lacking for Central and South American species that are known only from their original descriptions in the 19th century. The presence of denticles on the posterior margin of pronotum is shared with Cryptocephalina, therefore Monachulina may not be a natural group, and may be a synonym of Cryptocephalina. This hypothesis remains to be tested.

Argentinian species checklist.

1. Lexiphanes anthracinus (Burmeister, 1877) (Patagonia, RNO).

2. Lexiphanes biplagiatus (Boheman, 1858) (BAS, CTS).

3. Lexiphanes coenobita (Suffrian, 1863) (TUC).

4. Lexiphanes consimilis (Suffrian, 1863) (BAS).

5. Lexiphanes ebeninus (Burmeister, 1877) (SCZ).

6. Lexiphanes flavifrons (Burmeister, 1877) (Patagonia, SCZ).

7. Lexiphanes granarius (Suffrian, 1863) (Argentina).

8. Lexiphanes modestus (Boheman, 1858) (Argentina).

9. Lexiphanes nigritulus (Boheman, 1858) (BAS).

10. Lexiphanes ornatipennis (Jacoby, 1908) (TUC).

11. Lexiphanes saucius (Burmeister, 1877) (BAS).