World Genera Research Articles

Diaphorina pfanderae Aléné and Burckhardt sp. nov. (Hemiptera: Psylloidea: Psyllidae) and its association with ants on Ozoroa pulcherrima (Anacardiaceae)

ABSTRACT Diaphorina (Psyllidae: Diaphorininae) is a large Old World genus with an unusually wide range of host plants. Its most prominent member is undoubtedly the Asian citrus psyllid, Diaphorina citri, one of the most devastating citrus pests in tropical Asia and the New World where it is adventive. Recently, the species also was discovered in Africa where it appears to be spreading quickly. Detection and correct identification is difficult due to the presence of over 50 described and many undescribed native species. Morphological differences between species are small, and there are no diagnosable species groups (with one exception: the Diaphorina amoena group). Here we define a second, putatively monophyletic species group, the Diaphorina albomaculata group, consisting of six Afrotropical species. In two of the species, it was observed that the immatures were tended by ants. One of the members of the D. albomaculata group is Diaphorina pfanderae Aléné and Burckhardt sp. nov., developing on Ozoroa pulcherrima (Anacardiaceae) in West Cameroon. Here, adults and immatures are described and diagnosed with illustrations. Diaphorina pfanderae differs from the other species of the D. albomaculata group in the fore wing pattern and details of the male and female terminalia as well as details of the chaetotaxy in immatures. Keys are provided for the identification of the adults and last-instar immatures of the species of the D. albomaculata group. Immatures of D. pfanderae showed a preference for young leaves, a characteristic shared by other psyllids. The species has always been associated with the three ant species Camponotus congolensis, C. flavomarginatus and Crematogaster sp. (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). The first two species often build soil shelters around the psyllid colonies situated on twigs, stems or leaves of O. pulcherrima. urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:4418BAB6-B6B7-459C-B75E-9CDC8971E054

The Neotropical green lacewing genus Ceraeochrysa Adams (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae)-new synonymies and combinations, a new species, and an updated key to species.

Ceraeochrysa Adams, 1982, with ~60 species, is a diverse and relatively well studied New World genus of green lacewings. However, nomenclatural problems and misidentifications persist; undescribed species continue to be found; and species determinations remain difficult. Here, we address several problematic issues within the genus, and we justify the following taxonomic changes: Part 1 synonymizes Ceraeochrysa rafaeli Adams Penny syn. n. and Chrysopodes (Chrysopodes) nigropictus Freitas Penny syn. n. with Ceraeochrysa discolor (Navás). Part 2 identifies Ceraeochrysa adynatos (Freitas Penny) comb. n. as the new name for Chrysopodes (Chrysopodes) adynatos Freitas Penny. Part 3 renames Chrysopa sarta Banks as Ceraeochrysa sarta (Banks) comb. n, and identifies it as conspecific with Ceraeochrysa berlandi (Navás) syn. n. Part 4 names Chrysopa poujadei Navás as Ceraeochrysa poujadei (Navás) comb. n. and also identifies its new synonyms-Chrysopodes (Chrysopodes) laevus (Navás) syn. n. and Ceraeochrysa forcipata Freitas Penny syn. n. Part 5 redescribes the enigmatic Ceraeochrysa silvanoi (Navás) and recognizes Ceraeochrysa tucumana (Navás) syn. n. as its junior synonym. Part 6 describes a new Ceraeochrysa species: Ceraeochrysa paraensis Sosa sp. n. from Brazil. Finally, to help facilitate species identifications, Part 7 incorporates all new species and all taxonomic changes made since the last revision of the genus (2009) into an updated key to the currently valid species of Ceraeochrysa. Lectotypes are designated for three species: C. discolor Navás, C. sarta Banks, and C. tucumana Navás.

Pollen Morphology of the Genus Tragopogon (Asteraceae)

Tragopogon L. (Cichorioideae, Lactuceae, Scorzonerinae) is an Old World genus with 150 species. Pollen morphology has proved useful in the systematics of some genera and species of Asteraceae as well as in that of some of its genera and species. The pollen morphology of 24 taxa of the genus Tragopogon was investigated in detail by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The pollen grain type ranged from suboblate, oblate-spheroidal to prolate-spheroidal in equatorial view and hexagonal, obtuse-hexagonal to hexagonal-angular in polar view. In this study separation of the species of the sections Majores, Profundisulcati, Sosnovsky, Chromopappus, Rubriflori according to Flora Iranica is presented from the other species of Tragopogon. T. jezdianus, T. porphyrocephalus, T. rezaiyensis are suggested to belong to Rubriflori section. The results indicate that the palynological characters of the genus Tragopogon are valuable for taxonomic applications and are useful for classification.

Systematics of the “Giant” Ricinulei (Ricinoididae: Ricinoides) of West Africa, with Descriptions of Five New Species and Comparative Morphology of the Male Copulatory Apparatus

The Ricinulei Thorell, 1876, or “hooded tick-spiders,” are among the rarest and least studied arachnid orders. RicinoidesEwing, 1929, the only Old World genus of extant ricinuleids, with 11 species described from tropical West Africa, is the most neglected of the three genera currently recognized. A lack of attention to the systematics of Ricinoides has created a disparity between its taxonomic diversity and that of the New World genera, CryptocellusWestwood, 1874, and PseudocellusPlatnick, 1980, in which many new species have been described in recent decades. The present contribution provides a revised diagnosis of Ricinoides, which includes two new, putative synapomorphies for the genus and addresses the systematics and morphology of a group of West African species, which includes the world's largest ricinuleids and the type species of the genus. This group of nine species, referred to as the “giant” Ricinulei, shares a unique combination of characters, many of which appear to be unique to the group, and appears to be monophyletic. Four species of this group are redescribed, with revised diagnoses, based on reexamination of the type material: Ricinoides afzelii (Thorell, 1892), from Sierra Leone; Ricinoides atewaNaskrecki, 2008, from Ghana; Ricinoides feae (Hansen, 1921), from Guinea-Bissau; and Ricinoides westermannii (Guérin-Méneville, 1838), from Togo. Five new species are described, raising the number of species in the genus to 16: Ricinoides eburneus, sp. nov., and Ricinoides taii, sp. nov., from Côte d'Ivoire; Ricinoides iita, sp. nov., from Nigeria; Ricinoides kakum, sp. nov., from Ghana; and Ricinoides nzerekorensis, sp. nov., from Guinea. Comparative illustrations of the adult morphology are presented for all nine species. The male copulatory apparatus is described and illustrated in detail, and new terminology and characters presented. The female spermathecae are described and illustrated for six species in which the females are known, representing the first illustrated comparison of these structures in African ricinuleids. Geographical distribution records are revised and updated for the different species, and their distributions mapped.

Phylogeny of true ladybird beetles (Coccinellidae: Coccinellini) reveals pervasive convergent evolution and a rapid Cenozoic radiation

AbstractCoccinellini, the ‘true ladybirds’, is a large, cosmopolitan tribe of lady beetles with immense variability in colour and form that include many commonly recognized species and major biocontrol agents, as well as some ubiquitous invasive species. In this study, we performed phylogenetic analyses of molecular and morphological data. For the molecular analysis, we gathered DNA sequence data from 164 species in 57 genera (and outgroups) from five nuclear genes [CAD (two fragments), TOPO, WGL, 3059fin] and one mitochondrial (COI) gene. The morphological analyses comprised 301 terminals and 61 discrete characters that were analysed by parsimony (MP). Our phylogenetic analyses indicate a monophyletic Coccinellini (former Coccinellinae) containing previously recognized tribes [Coccinellini, Discotomini, Halyziini, Singhikaliini and Tytthaspidini (incl. Bulaeini)]. Coccinellini is further divided into four main clades as follows: the Coccinella group (Clade A; incl. former Tytthaspidini), the Cycloneda group (Clade B), the Hippodamia group (Clade C) and the Synonycha group (Clade D; incl. former Halyziini, Singhikaliini and Discotomini). The phylogenetic relationships between them are: (A, (B, (C, D))). Our analyses also indicate that several currently recognized genera of Coccinellini are para‐ or polyphyletic. Based on our phylogenetic results, new generic groups are defined for Coccinellini, and new generic amendments are proposed as follows: Micraspis Chevrolat sensu n. (Oriental and Australian species), Microcaria Crotch sensu n. (=Bothrocalvia Crotch) (incl. Coelophora Mulsant species) and Phrynocaria Timberlake sensu n. (incl. Coelophora species). Further possible synonyms are discussed, for example, Coccinella Linnaeus (incl. Lioadalia Crotch), Psyllobora Chevrolat (including Oxytella Weise) and Xanthadalia Crotch (incl. Declivitata Fürsch and the African species of Micraspis). The large Clade D, the Synonycha group, with 26 predominant Old World genera, contains the two notable, large and non monophyletic genera Calvia Mulsant and Coelophora that confound the relationships throughout the clade. Additionally, we performed ancestral state reconstruction of selected morphological characters traditionally used in the classification of this group, revealing their homoplastic nature. We also found that the traditional synapomorphy of the tribe, that is, female colleterial glands, closely resemble structures used in symbiotic relationships in other beetles. We used the results of our phylogenetic inferences to estimate divergence times of the tribe and major clades of Coccinellini.

(2806) Proposal to conserve the name Cistus violaceus (Helianthemum violaceum) against C. racemosus (Cistaceae)

(2806) Proposal to conserve the name <i>Cistus violaceus</i> (<i>Helianthemum violaceum</i>) against <scp><i>C</i>. <i>racemosus</i></scp> (<i>Cistaceae</i>)

Revision of the Old World genus Mesocomys Cameron (Hymenoptera: Eupelmidae).

The Old World genus Mesocomys Cameron (1905) (Hymenoptera: Eupelmidae: Eupelminae) is revised. Eleven species, including two newly described species, are recognized and keyed in two previously established species groups, the albitarsis and the pulchriceps species groups sensu Gibson (1995), but with additional features provided to distinguish members of the two groups. Five species are recognized in the pulchriceps group-Mesocomys anelliformis n. sp., M. longiscapus n. sp., M. orientalis Ferrière, 1935, M. pauliani Ferrière, 1951, and M. pulchriceps Cameron, 1905. Seven species are assigned to the albitarsis group, but one, M. aegeriae Sheng, 1996 is treated as a nomen dubium; the six recognized and keyed species in the albitarsis group are M. albitarsis (Ashmead, 1904), M. breviscapis Yao, Yang Zhao, 2009, M. menzeli (Ferrière, 1930b), M. obscurus (Ferrière, 1930b) revised stat., M. superansi Yao, Yang Zhao, 2009, and M. trabalae Yao, Yang Zhao, 2009. Within the albitarsis group, the species are further discussed relative to two newly established species subgroups, the albitarsis subgroup for M. albitarsis, M. menzeli and M. obscurus, and the aegeriae subgroup for M. aegeriae, M. breviscapis, M. superansi and M. trabalae. Females of the albitarsis subgroup possess a finely sculptured mesoscutal medial lobe in combination with partly infuscate fore wings and/or at least partly pale flagellum, whereas females of the aegeriae subgroup possess a much more coarsely sculptured mesoscutal medial lobe and hyaline fore wings in combination with a dark flagellum. Members of the albitarsis species group are restricted to the Oriental and eastern Palaearctic regions except for a single female of the aegeriae subgroup seen from Algeria that is provisionally identified as M. breviscapis; members of the pulchriceps group are restricted to the Afrotropical region except for M. orientalis from the Oriental region. Newly placed in synonymy are M. aegeriae Sheng, 1998 under M. aegeriae Sheng, 1996 n. syn., M. sinensis Yao, Yang Zhao, 2009 under M. breviscapis Yao, Yang Zhao, 2009 n. syn., M. atulyus Narendran, 1995 under M. orientalis Ferrière, 1935 n. syn., M. vuilleti (Crawford, 1912) under M. pulchriceps Cameron, 1905 n. syn., and Semianastatus orientalis Kalina, 1984 and Mesocomys kalinai Özdikmen, 2011 under M. albitarsis (Ashmead, 1904) n. syns. Lectotypes are newly designated for M. menzeli, M. obscurus, M. orientalis, M. pauliani, M. pulchriceps and M. vuilleti. Morphological features characteristic of the genus and of the highly dimorphic sexes are described and illustrated, and the species are keyed, described, and illustrated through macrophotography. Phylogenetics are discussed for the genus, the two species groups, and species within the pulchriceps group. Distribution and host records are also summarized for each species.

Кабардино-черкесские фитонимы и ботаническая научная номенклатура

For the first time in the Kabardino-Circassian language, on the basis of the international code of botanical nomenclature (ICBN, Vienna Code), the names of the main taxonomic units (type, family, genus) of the plant world and their representatives are given.

The karyotype of Adenia and the origin of the base number x = 12 in Passifloroideae (Passifloraceae).

Adenia is an Old World genus of Passifloroideae closely related to Passiflora. The two genera comprise the large majority of Passifloroideae species, although most studies are concentrated on Passiflora. Cytological analyses reveal that changes in chromosome numbers played an important role in the evolution of Passiflora, whereas in the remaining genera little is known, hindering the identification of the base number of the family. Here we analyzed the chromosome number and the 35S rDNA sites of three species of Adenia and reevaluated the base number (x) of the subfamily Passifloroideae and the family Passifloraceae, including chromosome data for Turneroideae and Malesherbioideae. The chromosome number of Adenia species seemed to be stable with 2n = 24 or 48 and one or two pairs of rDNA sites, very similar to Passiflora subgenus Astrophea, suggesting a common ancestral karyotype with x = 12. Differently, Turneroideae and Malesherbioideae present x = 7. A whole genomic duplication detected after the separation of Passifloroideae and Malesherbioideae suggests that the base number of Passifloraceae most probably was x = 7, which by dysploidy and polyploidy generated x = 12 for the subfamily Passifloroideae.

Comparative morphology and ontogenetic patterns ofBdallophytumspecies (Cytinaceae, Malvales): insight into the biology of an endoparasitic genus

Cytinaceae are root endoparasitic plants with only three genera. Their biology is largely unknown, and most knowledge of the family is based on the Old World genus Cytinus. Here, we studied all three species of the New World Bdallophytum from Mexico. We describe their morphoanatomy, floral development, and embryology, highlighting the unique traits of Bdallophytum compared with two other genera of the family and members of Malvales. Both B. americanum and B. andrieuxii are dioecious, whereas B. oxylepis is gynomonoecious. The floral size and the number of floral organs vary within and among species, which appears to be common in Cytinaceae. The flowers of Bdallophytum exhibit synorganization in sexual organs, a synandrium in male flowers, and a gynostemium in bisexual flowers of B. oxylepis. Unisexual and bisexual flowers are zygomorphic at the early developmental stages. The unisexual flowers become actinomorphic in later development, while the bisexual flowers of B. oxylepis remain zygomorphic. The androecium of Bdallophytum has key traits shared with some Malvales, such as the fused filaments in Malvaceae and Sarcolaenaceae and the connective appendage shared with Dipterocarpaceae. Our results suggest that a unitegmic ovule is a unique trait for Bdallophytum. This is proposed here as a putative synapomorphy for Bdallophytum.

Insights into the Systematics of Tribe Duranteae (Verbenaceae) II: A Taxonomic Revision of the New World Genus Duranta

A comprehensive taxonomic treatment for the New World genus Duranta L. (Duranteae, Verbenaceae) is presented for the first time. The genus consists of shrubs or small trees that are largely distributed in the Neotropics. The analyses of the morphological features support the recognition of 31 Duranta species. Duranta repens L. var. canescens Moldenke and D. mutisii L. f. serrulata Moldenke are elevated to the species rank. The previously misunderstood identity of D. obtusifolia Kunth is here untangled and properly discussed, while D. buxifolia Poir., endemic to the Caribbean, and D. xalapensis Kunth, endemic to Mexico, are resurrected from the synonymy of D. triacantha Juss. and D. erecta L., respectively. Eight taxa are here synonymized: D. brachypoda Tod. (= D. erecta), D. repens var. lopez-palacii Moldenke (= D. canescens P. Moroni), D. repens var. serrata Moldenke (= D. stenostachya Tod.), D. sprucei Briq. var. breviracemosa Moldenke (= D. mutisii), D. arida subsp. serpentina R. W. Sanders &amp; Judd (= D. arida Britton &amp; P. Wilson), D. peruviana var. longipedicellata Moldenke (= D. peruviana Moldenke), D. parvifolia Moldenke (= D. vestita), and D. vestita var. glabrescens Moldenke (= D. vestita Cham.). Duranta cajamarcensis Moldenke and D. parviflora Turcz. are reclassified as belonging to genera Citharexylum L. and Priva Adans., respectively. Lectotypes are designated for the names D. recurvistachys Rusby (second-step), D. rostrata Pasq., and D. xalapensis Kunth. Furthermore, D. penlandii Moldenke is reported for the first time in Colombia.

The New World ant parasitoid genus Orasema (Hymenoptera: Eucharitidae).

A key is provided to 16 recognized species groups, plus several species not assigned to species group, of Orasema Cameron (Eucharitidae), a widespread New World genus of myrmicine ant (Formicidae: Myrmicinae) parasitoids ranging from northern Argentina to southern Canada. Eight of the species groups are revised, of which five are newly established; keys are given to the species of each treated group, 22 species are newly described, and detailed life histories of several well-documented species are discussed. Revised are the Orasema coloradensis group (four species: O. coloradensis Wheeler, O. iridescens n. sp., O. scaura n. sp., and O. violacea Ashmead), the Orasema bakeri group (six species: O. bablyi n. sp., O. bakeri Gahan, O. dubitata n. sp., O. polymyrmex n. sp., O. taii Chien Heraty, and O. texana Gahan), the Orasema tolteca group (two species: O. castilloae n. sp. and O. tolteca Mann), the Orasema sixaolae group (newly established, with four species: O. brachycephala n. sp., O. nebula n. sp., O. sixaolae Wheeler Wheeler, and O. tinalandia n. sp.), the Orasema acuminata group (newly established, with two species: O. acuminata n. sp. and O. cerulea n. sp.), the Orasema peraltai group (newly established, with two species: O. chrysozona n. sp. and O. peraltai n. sp.), the Orasema johnsoni group (newly established, with two species: O. johnsoni n. sp. and O. spyrogaster n. sp.), and the Orasema heacoxi group (newly established, with two species: O. heacoxi n. sp. and O. masonicki n. sp.). Newly described or treated species not placed to species group are O. brasiliensis (Bréthes), O. cirrhocnemis n. sp., O. monstrosa n. sp., O. mutata n. sp., O. psarops n. sp., and O. roppai n. sp. Species concepts and relationships are based on morphology and a recently published molecular phylogeny.

Two new Eulophinae genera (Chalcidoidea: Eulophidae) from the Neotropical region.

Two new Eulophinae genera, Elasmarion and Celesterion, are described based on material from sweep-net and malaise trap samples mainly from Costa Rica. The new genera are each represented by a single species, both described here, E. longipes and C. reticulatum spp. nov. The material for both groups is abundant and strongly female biased, 119 females and two males in Elasmarion, and 63 females and two males in Celesterion. Elasmarion is similar to the Old World genus Eulophomorpha Dodd, and a table with distinguishing characters is included, it also has some morphological features similar to the genus Elasmus Westwood. Celesterion does not show close morphological similarity to any genus in the Eulophinae. The biology is unknown for both species.

A new species of Limnocoris Stål (Heteroptera: Naucoridae: Limnocorinae) and new state records for species of the genus in Mexico.

The New World genus Limnocoris Stål includes 73 described species, of which 13 are distributed in North America. A new species, Limnocoris rodriguesi Reynoso n. sp., from Mexico is described and illustrated, bringing the total number of species distributed in the country to eight. An updated checklist of the Mexican fauna of Limnocoris is presented and includes new state records for six species: Limnocoris hintoni La Rivers, L. inornatus Montandon, L. insularis Champion, L. lutzi La Rivers, L. pygmaeus La Rivers, and L. signoreti Montandon. Additionally, distribution maps for each of the species of Limnocoris in Mexico are presented.

Rediscovery of Glenurus incalis Banks (Neuroptera: Myrmeleontidae), and notes on the Brazilian species of Glenurus Hagen.

The antlion species, Glenurus incalis Banks is the most enigmatic species of this New World genus. It was described almost 100 years ago based on a single female collected in the Peruvian Amazon, which until today remained as the only known specimen. Herein I report four new specimens of Glenurus incalis, which were used to thoroughly redescribe the species and to expand its distribution to Brazil. Notes on the other Brazilian species of Glenurus is also presented, including the first record of G. heteropteryx Gerstaecker to the country.

A remarkable new species of spittlebug and a second living New World genus in the Clastopteridae (Hemiptera: Cercopoidea).

A new species of Neotropical spittlebug (Hemiptera: Cercopoidea: Clastopteridae), Paraclastoptera erwini sp. n., is described and illustrated from Orellana, Ecuador. This species exhibits unique features differentiating it from all known Clastoptera and serves as the genotype for a new genus Paraclastoptera gen. n. This is the second extant New World genus for the Clastopteridae, hitherto represented solely by the widespread, abundant and speciose genus Clastoptera.

First member of the New World genus Diceroderes from early Miocene Mexican amber (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Tenebrioninae: Toxicini)

A new fossil species belonging to the extant Central American genus Diceroderes Solier, 1841 (Tenebrionidae: Tenebrioninae: Toxicini) is described based on an exquisitely preserved male specimen from early Miocene Mexican (Chiapas) amber (~23–16 Ma). High-resolution X-ray microtomography was used to document fine anatomical detail of soft tissues, including well-preserved male genitalia. Diceroderes jiangkuni sp. nov. can be most readily differentiated from congenerics by the clypeus with a transverse row of tubercles, apices of pronotal horns strongly angled upwards in the male, elytra rounded in lateral view, and all male tibiae lacking apical spines. This represents the first fossil record of Toxicini from Mexican amber and indicates that the genus persisted in the region since the early Miocene.

Studies in Colombian Ensifera and adjacent countries: Gigagryllus, a new genus of giant field crickets (Orthoptera: Gryllidae) with comments on current Neotropical Gryllinae classification.

Gigagryllus omayrae n. gen et n. sp., a new genus of giant field cricket, from the middle Magdalena of Colombia, more precisely from the department of Tolima, in the region of the Armero tragedy, for which this species is dedicated to the memory of Omayra Sanchez, a symbol of the most terrible natural tragedy that has occurred in the recent history of Colombia. Gigagryllus n. gen. is one of the largest genera in America, with a size similar to Titanogryllus, Megalogryllus and some species of Gryllita. The classification of the American Gryllinae is discussed, and a key to the American genera is provided. Besides, genera groups are proposed for the subtribe Brachytrupine (Gryllini) taxa, which differs from Old World genera. Geogryllus n. syn. and Rubrogryllus n. syn. are synonymized under Gryllita and Cophogryllus americanus is considered as nomen dubium, ruling out the presence of subtribe Cophogryllina in America.

A multilocus phylogeny of the non-photosynthetic parasitic plant Cistanche (Orobanchaceae) refutes current taxonomy and identifies four major morphologically distinct clades

Phylogenetic relationships of and within non-photosynthetic parasitic lineages are notoriously poorly known, which negatively affects our understanding of parasitic plants. This is also the case for Cistanche (Orobanchaceae), an Old World genus with about two dozen species, whose relationships have not yet been addressed using molecular phylogenetic approaches. Here we infer phylogenetic relationships within the genus, employing a taxonomically and geographically broad sampling covering all previously distinguished infrageneric groups and most of the currently recognized species. A combined matrix of three plastid markers (trnL-trnF, including the trnL intron and the intergenic spacer (IGS), trnS-trnfM IGS and psbA-trnH IGS) and one nuclear marker (ITS) was analyzed using maximum parsimony, maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference. Cistanche falls into four well-supported and geographically differentiated clades: East Asian Clade, Northwest African Clade, Southwest Asian Clade and Widespread Clade. Of those, only the East Asian Clade corresponds to a previously recognized taxonomic section, whereas the others either contain members of two or three sections (Widespread Clade and Southwest Asian Clade, respectively) or have not been taxonomically recognized so far (Northwest African Clade). Whereas the Southwest Asian Clade exhibits strong phylogenetic structure among and partly within species (the East Asian Clade and the Northwest African Clade are monospecific), phylogenetic resolution within the Widespread Clade is often low and hampered by discrepancies between nuclear and plastid markers. Both molecular and morphological data indicate that species diversity in Cistanche is currently underestimated.

Review of Aphotaenius Cartwright, 1952 (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Aphodiinae: Eupariini)

The New World genus Aphotaenius Cartwright (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Aphodiinae: Eupariini) is reviewed. Three new species are described: Aphotaenius elegans Skelley and Vaz-de-Mello, Aphotaenius gaucho Skelley and Vaz-de-Mello, and Aphotaenius hamelae Skelley and Vaz-de-Mello. A key with diagnostic images for all included species is provided.