Nicagus LeConte, 1861 : 130

Paulsen, M. J. & Smith, Aaron D., 2005, A new species of stag beetle from sand dunes in west Texas, and a synopsis of the genus Nicagus (Coleoptera: Lucanidae: Aesalinae: Nicagini), Zootaxa 1050, pp. 45-60 : 48

Nicagus LeConte, 1861: 130

Generic description. Total body length 5.5–9.5 mm. Sexual dimorphism present in the following characters: shape, color, dorsal vestiture, pronotal shape, size of antennal club, metatarsus length, claw size. Color light to dark brown, females usually darker, males of some species occasionally covered with a grayish accretion. Dorsum punctate, punctures large, each bearing a setae or bristle, vestiture shorter and finer in female. Head with an anteocular process. Eye larger in males, entire (not divided by an anterior ocular canthus). Antennae 10­segmented, clavate, not geniculate; scape short, nearly 1/2 as wide as long, anterior and dorsal faces covered with bristles; club 3­segmented, strongly asymmetrical, segments subcylindrical (not lamellate), capable of being closed (but not tightly), club larger in male. Mandibles short, apex acute, internal edge densely setose, not sexually dimorphic. Pronotum convex (males or females) or explanate (some males), lateral margin angulate to broadly rounded, usually crenulate (sometimes feebly so). Procoxae contiguous. Prosternal process narrow, carinate, not produced anteriorly. Mesocoxal cavity open laterally. Trochantin not exposed. Protibia with 1 apical spur, apex of spur curved inward in male. Anterior tarsomeres 1–4 subequal in length, less than 1/3 length of tarsomere 5. Mesotibia with 2 simple apical spurs. Metatibia with 2 more or less spatulate spurs. Metatibia with external tooth variably developed, occasionally appearing carinate. Mesotarsus and metatarsus with tarsomeres 1–4 decreasing in size, metatarsus and all claws shorter in female. Arolium short but visible, apex with 2 bristles. Abdomen with 5 visible ventrites, apex of last ventrite rounded. Male genitalia symmetrical. Internal sac eversible (not permanently everted). Median lobe without paired struts at base, ventral surface concave or not. Parameres tapering or elongate, apices curved dorsally, longer than basal piece. Female genitalia with coxites densely setose; styli simple, not hooked; apex of ninth tergite rounded. Wings fully developed in both sexes.