Aphodiini

Gordon, Robert D., Bordat, Patrice, Dellacasa, Giovanni & Dellacasa, Marco, 2008, Dung beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Aphodiinae) of the Mpala Research Centre and environs, Laikipia District, Kenya, Insecta Mundi 2008 (28), pp. 1-15 : 2-3

Key to Aphodiini genera of the Laikipia plateau, Kenya

1. Elytra with less than ten striae; epistome with some large setigerous punctures, setae straight; epipleura very broad; color sericeous, brownish yellow, elytra pale, with or without preapical spots; length 5.0-8.0 mm ............................................................... Lorditomaeus Péringuey

— Elytra with ten striae; epistomal setae, epipleura, color, and length variable ............................ 2

2(1). Scutellum large, at least as long as 1/6 of sutural margin of elytra or longer ........................... 3

— Scutellum small, at most as long as 1/7 of sutural margin of elytra or shorter ........................ 5

3(2). Elytral disc regularly convex; scutellum broad, triangular; claws of male middle tarsi modified, large and unequal; color blackish, elytra mostly reddish brown; length 3.5-5.0 mm ................ .......................................................................................................... Macroretrus Péringuey

— Elytral disc more or less strongly flattened; scutellum long; claws of male middle tarsi not modified; length variable .......................................................................................................................... 4

4(3). Relatively larger body size (length 8.0-16.0 mm); elytra feebly flattened on disc; body yellow, sometimes pronotal and elytral disc dark brown, rarely completely blackish; epipharynx with anterior margin deeply excised medially, bearing 1 to 6 long spinules ...................................... .................................................................................................. Calocolobopterus Dellacasa

— Relatively smaller body size (length 5.0-12.0 mm); elytra strongly flattened on disc; pronotum black, with lateral margins yellowish; elytra yellowish with cloudy discal spot dark brown or completely blackish; epipharynx with anterior margin arcuate, spinules entirely lacking or present in varying numbers ............................................................ Neocolobopterus Landin

5(2). Seventh and ninth elytral interstices joined preapically, raised into a prominent oblique fold; body oval, elongate, glabrous, shiny; dark brown or blackish; length 2.5-4.0 mm ............................ ............................................................................................................. Plagiogonus Mulsant

— Seventh and ninth elytral interstices normally shaped; body shape and color variable ............ 6

6(5). Elytral striae not joined apically; body convex, rather stout, subshiny, glabrous; color blackish or brownish; length 5.0-7.5 mm ............................................................. Pharaphodius Reitter

— Elytral striae joined apically; body convex or elongate, shiny or not, color and size variable .... 7

7(6). Scutellum pentagonal .................................................................................................................. 8

— Scutellum triangular ................................................................................................................. 11

8(7). Hind tibiae apically fimbriate with short, equal spinules; base of pronotum not bordered; elytra dirty yellowish, usually with discal brownish spot; length 3.0-7.0 mm ..................................... .................................................................................................. Labarrus Mulsant and Rey

— Hind tibiae apically fimbriate with unequal, elongate spinules; base of pronotum not bordered; elytra yellowish or not .............................................................................................................. 9

9(8). Clypeal margin fimbriate; small species, rather stout, brownish black or brownish yellow; sometimes elytra yellowish with a scutellar blackish spot; length 2.5- 4.0 mm ........................ .................................................................................................. Mesontoplatys Motschulsky

— Clypeal margin glabrous; color and body size variable ............................................................. 10

10(9). Elytral interstices medially tectiform; striae more or less distinctly bordered at each side; color more or less dark brownish; length 3.0-5.0 mm. ............................ Pleuraphodius Schmidt

— Elytral interstices flat or convex but never tectiform medially; striae not bordered at each side; color reddish brown or reddish; length 4.0-6.0 mm. ................ Koshantschikovius Schmidt

11(7). Basal margin of pronotum bordered with marginal bead; clypeus widely rounded at sides; color blackish or brownish with reddish elytra; length 3.0-5.0 mm ..... Nobius Mulsant and Rey

— Basal margin of pronotum not bordered; clypeus rounded or angulate at sides; color and length variable ................................................................................................................................... 12

12(11). Elytral intervals with row of more or less long, erect setae on coarse punctures aligned near striae; color blackish or brownish; elytra often with cloudy yellowish or reddish discal spots; length 3.0-6.0 mm ............................................................................... Aganocrossus Reitter

— Elytral pubescence, if present, recumbent, short; color variable; body length variable ........... 13

13(12). Head and pronotum completely pubescent, or at least pubescent on sides; epistome and pronotal disc coarsely densely punctured; distal segment of male labial palpi cylindrical and feebly rounded; color yellowish or more or less dark brown; elytra with or without darker preapical spot; length 2.5-5.0 mm ....................................................................................... Trichaphodius Schmidt

— Head and pronotum glabrous; epistome and pronotal disc finely or very finely punctured; distal segment of male labial palpi elliptical and strongly flattened; color brownish; elytra yellow, more or less variegated with darker spots; length 5.0-6.0 mm .. Trichaphodioides Paulian