Keys for the identification of the species of Cholovocera, adults only

(except male of Ch. afghana, unknown)

1. Last visible ventrite with apical margin truncated or emarginated, bearing a brush of marginal setae, and a slight triangular depression proximal to the emargination (Fig. 6A) .......................... 2 (males)

– Last visible ventrite with apical margin rounded, not emarginated, and without such depression (Fig. 5A) ............................................................................................................................ 8 (females)

2. Aedeagus with short median lobe, not longer than the basal piece (Figs 16, 18) ............................. 3

– Aedeagus with long median lobe, longer than the basal piece (Figs 15, 19–22) .............................. 4

3. Median lobe of aedeagus with a rounded apex, curved to the right in ventral view (Fig. 16A). Paramere with an elongated apex bearing a variable number of long apical setae (Figs 16B, 17). Pronotum with lateral margins as in Fig. 11D. Terminal antennomere shaped as an equilateral triangle (Fig. 13G) .................................................................... Cholovocera punctata Märkel, 1838

– Median lobe of aedeagus with a pointed apex, not curved to the right in ventral view (Fig. 18A). Paramere with a very short apex bearing two short subapical setae (Fig. 18B, 18D). Pronotum with lateral margins as in Fig. 11B. Terminal antennomere not shaped as an equilateral triangle (Fig. 13E)................................................................. Cholovocera formiceticola (Rosenhauer, 1856)

4. Length of median lobe of aedeagus less than twice the length of the basal piece in ventral view (Figs 19, 22)....................................................................................................................................... 5

– Length of median lobe of aedeagus more than twice the length of the basal piece in ventral view (Figs 15, 20, 21)................................................................................................................................. 6

5. Median lobe of aedeagus subrectangular, with a short acutely-pointed triangular apex in ventral view (Fig. 22A). Paramere with a short, triangular, pointed apex, bearing two short setae (Fig. 22B). Terminal antennomere with a sinuous internal margin (Fig. 13F)....................................................... ................................................................................. Cholovocera occulta Delgado & Palma sp. nov.

– Median lobe of aedeagus subrectangular only on its basal half, with a long, tapering, pointed and curved to the right apex in ventral view (Fig. 19A). Paramere with a short, trapezoidal apex, bearing several long setae (Fig. 19B). Terminal antennomere with a straight internal margin (Fig. 13A) ...... ....................................................................................................... Cholovocera attae (Kraatz, 1858)

6. Median lobe of aedeagus tapering markedly in its distal third, with a round tip in ventral view (Fig. 20A). Paramere with a short, quadrangular apex, with an irregular tip bearing five medium setae (Fig. 20A–B)................................................................ Cholovocera gallica (Schaufuss, 1876)

– Median lobe of aedeagus tapering in its distal two-thirds in ventral view (Figs 15A, 21A). Paramere with a longer than wide apex, bearing several medium setae (Figs 15B, 21B)................................. 7

7. Median lobe of aedeagus tapering gradually, with a pointed tip in ventral view (Fig. 15A), and sinuous in lateral view (Fig. 15C). Paramere with a conical, curved and acute apex (Fig. 15B, D)... ................................................................................................. Cholovocera formicaria Victor, 1838

– Median lobe of aedeagus tapering abruptly, with a round tip in ventral view (Fig. 21A), and curved in lateral view (Fig. 21C). Paramere with a trapezoidal round, not curved, apex (Fig. 21B, D)......... ........................................................................................... Cholovocera balcanica (Karaman, 1936)

8. Metatibiae long, with curved and sinuous margins (Fig. 14F, H, N)................................................. 9

– Metatibiae long or short, with straight margins............................................................................... 11

9. Metatibiae as in Fig. 14H. Spermatheca as in Fig. 7E. Terminal antennomere as in Fig. 12E ............ ................................................................................................. Cholovocera formicaria Victor, 1838

– Metatibiae as in Fig. 14F or 14N. Spermatheca as in Fig. 7D, G. Terminal antennomere as in Fig. 12D or 12H .............................................................................................................................................. 10

10. Metatibiae as in Fig. 14F. Spermatheca as in Fig. 7D. Terminal antennomere as in Fig. 12D. Prosternal process as in Fig. 4D .............................................................. Cholovocera gallica (Schaufuss, 1876)

– Metatibiae as in Fig. 14N. Spermatheca as in Fig. 7G. Terminal antennomere as in Fig. 12H. Prosternal process as in Fig. 4H ................................................................. Cholovocera punctata Märkel, 1845

11. Metatibiae short, as in Fig. 14B, D ................................................................................................. 12

– Metatibiae long, as in Fig. 14A, J, L ................................................................................................ 13

12. Metatibiae as in Fig. 14B. Habitus as in Fig. 10B, with round elytral apex. Prosternal process as in Fig. 4B. Spermatheca unknown..................................................... Cholovocera attae (Kraatz, 1858)

– Metatibiae as in Fig. 14D. Habitus as in Fig. 10C, with pointed elytral apex. Prosternal process as in Fig. 4C. Spermatheca as in Fig. 7B .................................. Cholovocera balcanica (Karaman, 1936)

13. Total body length more than 1.55 mm. Spermatheca as in Fig. 7A. Prosternal process as in Fig. 4A .................................................................................................. Cholovocera afghana Johnson, 1977

– Total body length less than 1.55 mm. Spermatheca as in Fig. 7C or 7F. Prosternal process as in Fig. 4F or 4G.................................................................................................................................... 14

14. Spermatheca as in Fig. 7C. Prosternal process as in Fig. 4G .............. Cholovocera occulta sp. nov.

– Spermatheca as in Fig. 7F. Prosternal process as in Fig. 4F ................................................................ ................................................................................. Cholovocera formiceticola (Rosenhauer, 1856)

Species included in Cholovocera, which we regard as belonging to other genera

Besides the eight species belonging to the genus Cholovocera described above, there are six other beetle species that have either been described in this genus or transferred to it, but which we do not consider to be members of Cholovocera . In our opinion, the morphological characters of these six species do not fit our definition of Cholovocera, and some of them occur in regions far outside the geographic range of this genus.