KEY TO THE SPECIES OF APHOTAENIUS

1. Metaventrite with distinct, large punctures medially, becoming foveate laterally (Figs. 21, 45); clypeus always sharply toothed on each side (Figs. 6–7, 20, 44); Nearctic (Mexico-USA) ................................................. 2

1ʹ. Metaventrite lacking distinct punctures, when present fine to minute (Figs. 15, 27, 33); clypeus angulate or broadly rounded on each side (Figs. 8–13); South America ............ 3

2. Elytral striae with smaller punctures, punctures near base weakly encroach upon intervals, similar in size to coarse pronotal punctures (Figs. 4, 6, 20); elytra with lateral and apical intervals distinctly convex, but not cariniform; eastern USA .......................... ......................... A. carolinus (Van Dyke)

2ʹ. Elytral striae with larger punctures, punctures near base encroach upon interval, larger than coarse pronotal punctures (Figs. 7, 44); elytra with lateral and apical intervals nearly cariniform between striae; Mexico (Nuevo León, Tamaulipas) .......... A. howdeni Cartwright

3. Head posteriorly with band of punctures distinctly larger than on upper clypeus (Figs. 8–10) ................................................. 4

3ʹ. Head posteriorly with punctures similar in size and distribution as on upper clypeus (Figs. 11–13) ............................................... 6

4. Clypeal margin broadly to narrowly rounded on each side (Figs. 9–10); elytral intervals with scattered punctures, lacking carinate appearance (Figs. 14, 26), rarely appearing carinate on declivity ............................................... 5

4ʹ. Clypeal margin with distinct angulation or tooth on each side (Figs. 8, 32); elytral intervals on most of disc and declivity with row of punctures on each side of middle, eroding sides, giving a carinate appearance (Figs. 5, 32); Bolivia (Santa Cruz), Brazil (Minas Gerais) ...................................... A.elegans Skelley and Vaz-de-Mello,new species

5. Larger, length> 3 mm; posterior margin of pronotum more angular, weakly lobe-like (Fig. 26); clypeus smooth, glossy (Fig. 9); Colombia (Antioquia, Boyacá, Cundinamarca, Magdalena, Norte de Santander), Venezuela (Táchira) ................. A. convexus (Harold)

5ʹ. Smaller, length <3 mm; posterior margin of pronotum bluntly rounded, not lobe-like (Fig. 14); clypeus alutaceous, dull (Fig. 10); Bolivia (Santa Cruz) ................... A. cambeforti Chalumeau

6. Coarse pronotal punctation restricted to posterior third of disc (Figs. 11, 50); Brazil (Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina) ................. ....................... A. plaumanni Cartwright

6ʹ. Coarse pronotal punctation evenly distributed over disc (Figs. 12–13) ......................... 7

7. Clypeal margin angulate on each side (Figs. 12, 41); Bolivia (Santa Cruz) .................... .......................... A. hamelae Skelley and Vaz-de-Mello, new species

7ʹ. Clypeal margin rounded on each side (Figs. 13, 38); Brazil (Rio Grande do Sul) ........... ........................... A. gaucho Skelley and Vaz-de-Mello, new species