Cissidium Motschulsky 1855

Darby, Michael, 2015, Studies of Bolivian Ptiliidae (Coleoptera) 1: The genus Cissidium Motschulsky with six new species, Zootaxa 3937 (1), pp. 179-190 : 181

Cissidium Motschulsky 1855

(as redefined to take into account all valid species)

S imilar to Dacrysoma in possessing a dumb-bell shaped antennomere 11. Dorsal surface appearing polished and shining, with long, fine, golden, semi recumbent overlapping setae sometimes giving a 'hairy' appearance. Eyes large and prominent, smaller in the females than the males. Submentum with 4/5 setae. Mentum either slightly tapering to base or with parallel sides slightly bulging medially, and with 12 setae arranged 6.2.2.2, or 10 arranged 4.4.2. Pronotum lateral margins bordered, sometimes with fine crenulations in horizontal view and sometimes appearing angulate; posterior third with/without a series of depressions, posterior margin with/without an indentation opposite the scutellum. Elytra leaving 2/4 posterior abdominal segments exposed; elliptical/oblong elliptical, finely punctured, pubescence a little shorter than on the pronotum; legs long and narrow; fully winged with wings of usual ptiliid form; mesoventral collar with a short, narrow, median extension onto the mesoventral keel, posterior margin with shallow depressions occasionally forming deeper fossae particularly at the anterior angles, either extending posteriorly to form a narrow raised, tapering keel on the surface of the mesoventrum or extending laterally to stop short of borders; meso/metaventral suture curving anteriorly to meet collar at corners, sometimes obliterated externally and only visible as an apodeme, with or without serrations posterior to hind coxae. Arms of the metendosternite very long and thin reaching almost to the anterior corners of the metaventrum. Hind coxae separated by approximately one quarter of the metaventral width, coxal plates small, either rounded or with a concave lateral margin. Metaventral margin between coxae with two pointed projections at lateral corners ranging in length between long, tapering to the width and length of a seta, or very short. Abdomen: palisade fringe on absent,; tergite VIII with a transversely oriented, closely adjacent group of round micropores along the posterior margin; tergite IX longer than other dorsal segments; tergite X (pygidium) with no distinctive features in either sex; ventrite VIII of some species with groups of setae at lateral margins sometimes appearing as two pale patches; ventrites VI–VIII with/without secondary sexual characters in males; ventrite IX of males very small and difficult to detect, rounded and with a short, forwardly pointed projection. Spermatheca either globular or ovoid/tubular. Aedeagus pointed or with rounded tip which is sometimes bent giving a beak-like appearance in profile.