Cleridae, Latreille, 1802

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 : 9-18

Key to the Genera of Cleridae of eastern North America

1. Fourth tarsomere small, indistinctly set at base of tarsomere five ( A) [ Korynetinae ]................................. 2

1’. Fourth tarsomere not distinctly reduced, similar in form to tarsomeres II–III ( B)................................... 11 2(1). Apical three antennomeres forming loose club that is as long or longer than the combined length of the funicle (antennomeres between the scape (1 st antennomere) and club) ( A–E)......................................................... 3

2’. Apical three antennomeres forming a club that is not as long as combined length of the funicle ( F, G).................. 9

3(2). External margin of protibia with partial to complete row of spines ( A, B)......................................... 4

3’. External margin of protibia simple ( C, D), or crenulate-serrulate ( E) (in Chariessa , which has distinctly lobed to antler-like antennae; F)......................................................................................... 5

4(3). Elytra dark brown-black with testaceous maculae often forming fasciae, sometimes connected by a sutural marking ( A); funicular antennomeres not densely setose, antennal club composed of three antennomeres whose combined length are not longer than length of remainder of antenna including the scape ( B)......................... Madoniella dislocata (Say)

4’. Elytra black, immaculate ( D); funicular antennomeres densely setose; antennal club comprised of three antennomeres whose combined length is longer than length of remainder of antenna including the scape ( C)........ Pyticeroides laticornis (Say)

5(3’). Antennae with 10 antennomeres ( A, B).................................................................... 6

5’. Antennae with 11 antennomeres ( C, D).................................................................... 7 6(5). Eyes coarsely granulated ( A); pronotum abruptly expanded at middle, testaceous to orange, with lateral dark vittae or maculae ( C); elytra testaceous with dark markings ( E), dark with sutural and lateral margins orange ( F), or entirely testaceous ( G)................................................................................................. Cregya

6’. Eyes finely granulated ( B); pronotum not abruptly expanded at middle, entirely black or red ( D), sometimes with central black marking; elytra entirely black or red to yellow with variable dark markings ( H, I)......... Pelonides quadripunctata (Say)

7(5’). Pronotum abruptly expanded at middle and heavily sculptured ( A); lichen mimic coloration ( D); elytral punctation coarser and sparser, more distinct ( D)...................................................... Pelonium leucophaeum (Klug)

7’. Pronotum not abruptly expanded at middle, smooth, not sculptured ( B, C); elytra dark, generally unicolorous, punctation much finer and denser, surface smoother ( E, F).................................................................. 8

8(7’). Anterior margin of protibia crenulate-serrulate ( A); body more robust, elytra weakly oblong to strongly ovate ( B).. Chariessa

8’. Anterior margin of protibia not crenulate-serrulate ( C); body more linear, elytra quite parallel ( D).......... Neorthopleura

9(2’). Lateral pronotal carina entire ( A—arrows); elytra unicolorous ( D, E) or bicolored ( C), but lacking a pale, midelytral fascia; body form broad to ovate ( C, D, E)...................................................................... 10

9’. Lateral pronotal carina not entire ( B); dark elytra with a pale midelytral fascia ( F); body form narrow-rectangulate ( F)................................................................................ Tarsostenus univittatus (Rossi)

10(9). Interstitial spaces of elytra polished, surface smooth and glossy ( A); elytra broadened in posterior half ( Couplet 9: E); pronotum typically unicolorous orange and elytra typically unicolorous blue-black ( Couplet 9: E)........ Lebasiella pallipes (Klug)

10’. Interstitial spaces of elytra gritty, surface nearly subrugose ( B); elytra not broadened in posterior half ( Couplet 9: C, D); pronotum and elytra metallic blue-green ( Couplet 9: D) or pronotum and basal elytra orange-red ( Couplet 9: C)... Necrobia

11(1’). Antennae short, with round-oblong one-segment club [ Clerinae : Hydnocerini ; A, B]............................... 12

11’. Antennae variable, but if possessing a one-segmented club then the segment is elongate or spatulate ( C), never round-oblong.................................................................................................. 14 12(11). Tarsal unguis with well-developed bifidity ( A).................................................... Phyllobaenus

12’. Tarsal unguis simple or with small tooth near base ( B, C)..................................................... 13

13(12’) Third antennomere more elongate, about twice as long as wide ( A); body more elongate ( C)............... Neohydnocera

13’. Third antennomere about as long as wide or slightly longer ( B); body more robust ( D)........ Wolcottia pedalis (LeConte)

14(11’) Antennae distinctly to indistinctly capitate, with the apical three antennomeres forming a compact or loose club [ Clerinae , in part; A–D].......................................................................................... 15

14’. Antennae of variable form, not terminating in a three-segmented capitate club ( E–H).............................. 19 15(14). Antennal club indistinct, with one or two anteapical segments only slightly larger than the preceding funicular segments ( A, B)................................................................................................ 16

15’. Antennal club distinct, loose ( C) to compact ( D, E)......................................................... 17

16(15). Eyes coarsely granulated ( A); body more elongate ( C); pronotum brown; elytra brown, with three round to irregular testaceous maculae at the base, middle and apex of elytra ( C)....................................... Opilo domesticus (Sturm)

16’. Eyes finely granulated ( B); body more robust ( D–F); pronotum red and/or black; elytra black or red and black, with two irregular pale fasciae (the antemedial fascia finer, the postmedial fascia broader) ( D–F)..................... Thanasimus

17(15’) Elytra entirely black to purpurescent, not metallic; pronotum orange-red, with or without central black macula ( A); terminal maxillary palpomere cylindrical ( Couplet 18: A).................................. Placopterus thoracicus (Olivier)

17’. Elytra with markings ( B–D), even if only a fascia of pale setae or a humeral spot, sometimes metallic; pronotum variable; terminal maxillary palpomere cylindrical, trigonal or subtrigonal ( Couplet 18: B)................................. 18

18(17’) Terminal maxillary palpomere cylindrical ( A); antennal club with antennomeres more rounded ( C)............ Enoclerus

18’. Terminal maxillary palpomere trigonal or subtrigonal ( B); apical three antennomeres forming a quadrate, flat club ( D)................................................................................................. Trichodes

19(14’) Procoxal cavities posteriorly open—proepimeron ( A—left arrow) not reaching procoxal process ( A—right arrow) [ Clerinae , in part]............................................................................................ 20

19’. Procoxal cavities posteriorly closed—proepimeron ( B—left arrow) reaching procoxal process ( B—right arrow), closing off coxal cavities [ Tillinae ]............................................................................... 21

20(19). Pronotum and elytra reddish to brown, with small yellow elytral maculae ( A); antennae distinctly serrate ( B—lower arrow); femora notably thickened at distal half ( B—upper arrow); eyes more coarsely granulated ( C). Priocera castanea (Newman)

20’. Pronotum pink-orange with black markings and elytra dull black ( D), sometimes with pale vittae (mimics of Lampyridae ); antennae weakly serrate ( E—lower arrow); femora not notably thickened in distal half ( E—upper arrow); eyes finely granulated ( F).............................................................. Perilypus ornaticollis (LeConte)

21(19’) Apical antennomere flattened and elongate, as long or much longer than combined length of preceding four antennomeres ( A —male, B —female); eyes strongly emarginate ( C)................................... Monophylla terminata (Say)

21’. Last antennomere not flattened and elongate, either much shorter than combined length of preceding four antennomeres ( D), or if longer, cylindrical ( E); eyes emarginate or not........................................................... 22

22(21’). Each elytron with a subbasal swelling bearing a tuft of long, dark setae ( A —upper arrow); elytra with a distinct midelytral fascia, straight and often ivory-colored ( A —lower arrow); antennomeres IV–IX of males strongly serrate ( A), antennomeres IV–IX of females moderately serrate; only known from the Florida Keys and the Everglades................................................................................................. Callotillus eburneocinctus Wolcott

22’. Elytral surface lacking subbasal swellings or tufts of long dark setae ( B–D); elytra with ( D) or without ( B, C) midelytral fascia, variable form but never ivory-colored; antennae weakly serrate to filiform ( B–D); widespread....................... 23

23(22’). Elytral punctation coarse, extending to apex ( A, D); last antennomere as long or longer than preceding two antennomeres combined ( B —male, C —female); body entirely brown, never with elytral maculae or fasciae ( A).................................................................................................. Lecontella brunnea (Spinola)

23’. Elytral punctation feebly to moderately coarse, usually not extending to apex or when extending to apex these are shallow and feebly impressed ( F, G); last antennomere not longer than preceding two antennomeres ( E); body coloration highly variable, from all brown ( H) to bicolored ( I) to fasciate ( Couplet 24: B, C)............................................. 24

24(23’) Body length 9.0–14.0 mm, elongate ( A–D); pronotum and elytra variable in color (only Cymatodera bicolor has a red pronotum and blue-black elytra as in D); last antennomere slightly longer to much longer than preceding antennomere........................................................................................................ Cymatodera

24’. Body length less than 7.0 mm, robust ( E); pronotum red and elytra unicolorous blue-black ( E); last antennomere only slightly longer than preceding antennomere ( F).......................................... Cymatoderella collaris (Spinola)