Family Xiphocentronidae Ross

Living species of Xiphocentron (type species: Xiphocentron bilimekii Brauer) are known from the southwestern USA through Central America and the Caribbean (Mexico, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, and Cuba) into South America (Flint et al. 1999). Adults lack ocelli. The maxillary palps are elongate with terminal segment 5 equal to or greater in length than segments 1–4 and with suture-like cross striae. The mesoscutal setose warts are quadrate. The genus is further characterized by the forewing venation (Schmid 1982): Sc is fused to R1 at crossvein r1-sr, forks 1, 2, and 4 are present, the discoidal and thyridial cells are closed, the median cell is open, and Cu2 and A1 reach the wing margin separately. The foreleg has 0, 1, or 2 apical tibial spurs, but always lacks preapical spurs; the middle legs have 2 preapical and 2 apical spurs; and the hind legs have 4 tibial spurs in the female, but in the subgenera Xiphocentron and Rhamphocentron some males have 2 preapical spurs and 1 modified apical spur.