Megaphloeus Opitz, 2010

Opitz, Weston, 2010, New taxa of Epiphloeinae Kuwert (Cleridae) and Chaetosomatidae Crowson (Coleoptera: Cleroidea), Insecta Mundi 2010 (123), pp. 1-28 : 16-17

Megaphloeus Opitz , new genus

Type Species. Epiphlaeus setulosus Thomson, 1860: 60 . By present designation.

Diagnosis. Specimens of Megaphloeus may be distinguished from superficially similar specimens of Opitzius Barr and Epiphloeus . However, in all the members of Megaphloeus the last maxillary palpomere is conical, not broadened as it is in specimens of the other aforementioned genera.

Description. Size: Length 4.0-10.0mm; width 1.2-3.0 mm. Form: Oblong subrectangulate. Vestiture: Cranium vested profusely with stout white setae, with tuft of white setae in ocular notch and posterior border of eye; pronotum loosely matted with stout white setae; elytral disc vested with primary (1 o) setae and secondary (2 o) setae, 1 o setae stout, erect, 2 o setae short, decumbent; elytral trichobothria prominent near epipleuron. Head: Cranium rugosely punctate; eyes very bulgy, finely faceted, ocular notch angle acute at innermost point; antenna inserted at lower angle of eye incision, comprised of 11 antennomeres, clavate; labrum deeply incised; tormal processes horizontal and not welded; mandible robust, dentes shallow, mandibular pinicillus very small; maxilla, terminal palpomere long-digitiform, laterolacinia present; labium, terminal palpomere short-digitiform; frons not very wide; gular sutures strongly converging; gular processes very small and widely separated. Thorax: Pronotum transverse, lateral tubercle prominent, anterior margin curvate, posterior margin transverse, anterior transverse depression well developed, disc of pronotal proper with elevations and depressions, paralateral tumescences usually prominent, depressed obliquely at sides where discal trichobothria are prominent; pronotal projection slightly extended to middle; lateral carina not extended to anterior margin of pronotum and posteriorly confluent with pronotal hem; procoxal cavities open; interprocoxal process linear, not laterally expanded distally; metendosternite without furcal lamina; elytra oblong subrectangulate, punctations small, profusely distributed on elytral disc and consistent in size throughout disc, epipleural margin extended throughout elytral length but considerably narrowed in posterior third, elytral trichobothria present near epipleural margin; mesoscutellum transverse; profemora particularly robust; tibial spur formula 0-1-1, tarsal pulvilli formula 3-3-2, anterior margin of tibia spinous; tarsal claws with large basal denticle. Abdomen: Narrows to posterior, six visible sterna.

Distribution. The members of this genus are distributed from western México to mid-eastern Argentina.

Etymology. The genus name Megaphloeus is masculine and is a compound Greek name that stems from adjective megas (= large) and phloeus (= on bark). However, my intent is to call attention to the large number of species in this genus which will be dealt with in another publication.