Phyllobaenus Dejean (Hydnocerinae), 1833

Chapman, Eric G., Leavengood, John M. & Dupuis, Julian R., 2025, The Cleridae and Thanerocleridae of eastern North America, with illustrated keys, updated distributions, and special emphasis on the Kentucky fauna, Zootaxa 5639 (1), pp. 1-88 : 27-30

Key to species of Phyllobaenus Dejean (Hydnocerinae) in eastern North America

1. Elytra bi- or tricolorous ( A–E), excluding pale midelytral fascia (if present); pronotum variable....................... 2

1’. Elytra unicolorous ( F), excluding pale midelytral fascia (if present); pronotum also unicolorous, matching elytral color.... 8

2(1). Elytra tricolorous; head, pronotum and at least basal elytra red to reddish-orange; pale midelytral macula-like fascia of variable width, often with black anterior to fascia, and posterior to macula entirely black for apical third ( Couplet 1: A).................................................................................... Phyllobaenus knausii (Wickham)

2’. Elytra bicolorous, even if only due to a black sutural margin, the elytral tips infuscated, or the elytral bases or humeri with a macula (sometimes weak) ( Couplet 1: B–E)............................................................... 3

3(2’). Elytra with a testaceous, orange or red macula in the basal third, with the remainder of the elytra black; pronotum and head entirely black ( A, B)................................................................................... 4

3’. Elytra variably patterned ( C–E), but IF elytra have a testaceous macula in the basal third THEN some marking will be present on the head and/or pronotum ( E)......................................................................... 5

4(3). Elytral humeri each with a distinct red macula of variable size, sometimes internally arched ( Couplet 3: A).................................................................................. Phyllobaenus humeralis (Say) (in part)

4’. Elytra with a more suturally positioned testaceous macula, perhaps appearing as a single macula divided at the elytral suture ( Couplet 3: B).................................................... Phyllobaenus subaeneus (LeConte) (in part)

5(3’). Elytra with testaceous, red or orange spanning nearly the entire lateral margins of the elytra ( A–C), with either entire elytral length ( A) or apical half ( B) internally black; head and pronotum typically black................................... 6

5’. Elytra lacking distinctly colored margins with contrasting black interior (at least in apical half) ( D, E); head and pronotum variable............................................................................................. 7

6(5). Basal half of elytra red-orange, with red-orange extending along lateral margins nearly to the elytral apex ( Couplet 5: B, C)......................................................................... Phyllobaenus schusteri (LeConte)

6’. Only lateral elytral margins testaceous ( Couplet 5: A).............................. Phyllobaenus lateralis (Gorham)

7(5’). Head entirely black; elytra quite variable, but most often with large basal and anteapical elytral maculae ( Couplet 5: D).............................................................................. Phyllobaenus pallipennis (Say)

7’. Head testaceous, typically with a black central macula or vitta that may expand to cover most of central head; elytra quite variable, but most often largely testaceous from base to mid-elytra, suturally and laterally margined in black and apically black ( Couplet 5: E)................................................................ Phyllobaenus verticalis (Say)

8(1’). Elytral humeri weakly produced, making body appear more elongate ( A, B); body largely shiny, submetallic greenish-black, with reddish-orange legs................................................... Phyllobaenus tricondylae (LeConte)

8’. Elytral humeri strongly produced, body at least somewhat more robust ( C, D); body and leg color variable.............. 9

9(8’). Body shiny, entirely metallic blue-green; legs almost always entirely orange ( Couplet 8: C).................................................................................................... Phyllobaenus rufipes (Newman)

9’. Body variable; legs mostly black ( Couplet 8: D), particularly meso- and metafemora, and generally more testaceous than orange when pale.................................................................................... 10

10(9’). Elytral ground color black ( A, B, C)..................................................................... 11

10’. Elytral ground color green to greyish-green ( Couplet 13: A–E)................................................ 13

11(10). Elytra and pronotum more densely pubescent, obscuring shininess/punctation and never with mid-elytral fascia; legs mostly black; no elytral fascia ( A); elytra often upturned or tumescent just anterior of apex ( B)............................................................................................... Phyllobaenus subaeneus (LeConte) (in part)

11’. Elytra and pronotum less densely pubescent, not obscuring shininess/punctation ( C, E); legs variable; elytral fascia may be present ( E); elytra not apically upturned or tumescent ( D).................................................... 12

12(11’). Elytra often with a pale midelytral fascia; elytra more coarsely, closely punctate, margins more distinctly serrulate ( A).............................................................................. Phyllobaenus unifasciatus (Say)

12’. Elytra lacking a fascia; elytra more smooth, with smaller punctures, margins less distinctly serrulate ( B)..................................................................................... Phyllobaenus humeralis (Say) (in part)

13(10’). Elytra with postmedial fascia of hairs ( A), elytral coloration, or both ( B); legs generally with black femora and testaceous tibiae ( C).................................................................. Phyllobaenus maritimus Wolcott

13’. Elytra lacking a fascia or marking of any kind ( D); front and middle legs often nearly entirely testaceous ( E)..................................................................................... Phyllobaenus pubescens (LeConte)