Key to species of Phlyctinus

1. Ventrites 1 and 5 of male with erect golden setae forming two circular tufts (Fig. 3B); cavity of ventrite 5 extending over apical ⁴⁄5 of length, ventrites 2–4 with elongate tubercles at base of scales; external margin of eyes round, surface slightly conical in dorsal view (Fig. 1B). On Asteraceae in coastal habitats .............................................................................. Phlyctinus grootbosensis sp. nov.

– Ventrites 1 and 5 of male with setae more or less erect but not forming dense tufts (Fig. 3A, C), cavity of ventrite 5 extending only over apical ⅔ of length, integument of ventrites 2–4 smooth, lacking elongate tubercles at base of scales; external margin of eyes rounded, surface slightly conical or strongly conical in dorsal view (Fig. 1A, E) ................................................................................ 2

2. Cavity of ventrite 5 of male with erect setae along whole length of median area (Fig. 3C); body length> 7 mm; elytra of female with large tubercles and usually a contrasting transverse pale band on declivity (Fig. 1C); scales on prothorax dense, concealing integument, leaving only tubercles at base of setae and median carina visible; body of penis short, 0.5 × as long as apodemes; endophallus with a sclerotised plate forming a square angle below base of body of penis (Fig. 2C). Polyphagous, in inland valleys of Worcester region ................................................ Phlyctinus xerophilus sp. nov.

– Cavity of ventrite 5 of male lacking erect setae in middle, or only present in basal half (Fig. 3A, D); body length <7 mm; elytra of female with no or only small tubercles and transverse, pale, contrasting or indistinct band on declivity (Fig. 1A, D–F); scales on prothorax usually scattered, not concealing integument between tubercles and punctures; body of penis longer, more than 0.6× as long as apodemes; endophallus lacking sclerotised plate (Fig. 2A, D–F) ........................................ 3

3. Scales on elytra always consisting of a mixture of wide and very narrow, hair-like ones (Fig. 3E); elytral declivity always with small but distinct tubercles on interstriae 3–5–7; eyes strongly protruding, surface conical in dorsal view (Fig. 1A); prothorax with 2 slight cuticular depressions on each side of median line; in female, transverse band of elytra generally extending over all interstriae. Polyphagous, widespread across the Western Cape province and introduced overseas ..................... .............................................................................................. Phlyctinus callosus (Schoenherr, 1826)

– Scales of elytra only elliptical in 95% of specimens (Fig. 3F); elytra with tubercles on declivity absent or very reduced on interstriae 3–5–7; eyes very protruding, with a conical surface, or not, in dorsal view (Fig. 1 D–F); prothorax regularly convex, without cuticular depression; in female transverse band of elytra generally reduced to interstriae 1–3 (Fig. 1D, F) or lacking (Fig. 1E). Coastal habitats of the Kogelberg Nature Reserve ........................................................................... 4

4. Body integument covered with homogeneous greyish scales, a few paler spots scattered on elytra (Fig. 1E); eye margin round in dorsal view, or angled (Fig. 1E); body of penis widest near base, sides almost straight, converging apicad (Fig. 2E) ......................................... Phlyctinus littoralis sp. nov.

– Body integument covered with brown, black or pearly green scales forming more or less contrasting patterns (Fig. 1D, F); eyes protruding, surface distinctly conical in dorsal view (Fig. 1D, F); body of penis with sides convex, widest near basal ½ or near middle of length (Fig. 2D, F) ....................... 5

5. Integument of prothorax with a smooth, shiny and very distinct carina in middle of length; vestiture of elytra forming a few ill-defined paler spots in addition to transverse band, this not always visible (Fig. 1F); erect scales on ventrites 1–4 shorter than claws; copulatory sclerite with setae at base of left arm (Fig. 2F) .................................................................................. Phlyctinus aloevorus sp. nov.

– Integument of prothorax densely punctate, lacking longitudinal carina; vestiture of elytra with contrasting scattered pale spots in addition to transverse band (Fig. 1D); erect scales on ventrites 1–4 longer than claws; copulatory sclerite lacking setae at base of left arm (Fig. 2D) ...................... .......................................................................................................... Phlyctinus planithorax sp. nov.