subgen. Patagoschema subgen. nov.

Type species: Tetragonoschema patagonicum Obenberger, 1922 (present designation).

Small to medium-sized, dark bronze, subcylindrical and rather convex species, elytra completely or partly red- or purple-bronze (Figs. 3, 4, 42); elytra convex, without lateral and preapical depressions, only with a flat, medial, triangular depression at anterior third; elytral apices obliquely angled to the widely rounded apices, elytral epipleura narrow, not reaching elytral suture (Fig. 58); frons convex with weak postclypeal depression; pronotum regularly, rather strongly convex, sometimes with two small, weakly developed, rounded depressions; antennae and tarsi reddish-brown; entire dorsal surface with short or very short, white pubescence; aedeagus short, spindleshaped (Figs. 72–74).

Distribution. Eastern and southern Argentina (prov. Neuquén, San Juan, San Luis, Santa Cruz).

Etymology. The name is derived from the name of the southernmost part of South America (Patagonia) and from the name of the nominotypical subgenus ( Tetragonoschema) to emphasise the distribution of the included species.

Differential diagnosis. The subgenus Patagoschema subgen. nov. differs from the nominotypical subgenus by distinct pubescence of the entire dorsal surface, convex elytra without lateral and apical depressions, very short, regularly spindle-shaped aedeagus, narrow elytral epipleura not reaching elytral suture and by pale antennae and tarsi.

Species included: Tetragonoschema patagonicum Obenberger, 1922 (type species), T. torresi Cobos, 1959 and T. (P.) cobosi sp. nov.