Genus Xiphentedon Risbec, 1957

Xiphentedon Risbec, 1957: 150 .

Cederholmia Gumovsky, 1997: 26 (as a subgenus of Entedon), syn. nov.

Type species

Xiphentedon kayovei Risbec, 1957, by monotypy and original designation.

Diagnosis

Pronotum with lateral semicircular ridge under protruding shoulders (Fig. 2F); face with V-shaped frontal sutures; propodeum with Y- or V-shaped smooth or coriaceous median strip (not carina), lateral propodeal sulcus complete (except for X. acutigena sp. nov.) (Figs 1D, 18C); prosternum with protruding flange (often with pubescence on ventral side) (Figs 22A, 27E–F, 36C–D); mesopectus densely pubescent above mesofurcal pit; notauli poorly traced as shallow depressions (Fig. 13C); mesepisternum with weak, but mostly traceable epicnemial protrusion (Fig. 22D, epp); axillula with indentated projection (Figs 12F, 16C, 18D, 19G, 20F, 24G, 28B, D, 30D, 36F); metascutellum mostly in shape of a narrow bar, barely visible in dorsal view (for example, Figs 1D, 14E, 18C–D, 19D, 21C); gaster of males (when known) with pale sub-basal spot (Figs 15C–D, 23F, 24A, 33F, 35C, 37G); WIP with broad red or violetblue field along apical margin followed by narrow blue, green and violet stripes (Figs 14B, 15B, 18B, 19C, 20C, 21B, 25A, 26B, 29B, 30B, 31C, 33H, 36B); antenna of both sexes with three-segmented funicle and two-segmented clava (males: figs 15C–D, 21E, 23G, 29G, 33F, 35C, 37G–H).

Three species groups are recognized: kayovei, danielssoni and forceps (all proposed here).

Remarks

The subgenus Cederholmia of Entedon, described by Gumovsky (1997) for two African species, E. (C.) halli and E. (C.) danielssoni, was diagnosed by the propodeal median strip. The comparison of both species with X. kayovei, the type species of Xiphentedon, suggests their prospective close relationship and supports placement within the same taxon. Since Xiphentedon is considered here to be a valid genus, Cederholmia is considered a junior synonym, with consequent new combinations of both its species.

Biology

The only available host record (for X. neserorum sp. nov.) concerns a leaf rolling weevil (Curculionoidea): perhaps either a curculionid or brentid.

Distribution

Afrotropical region: wide range of sub-Saharan countries.