Macrodactylini (Katovich, 2008)

Smith, Andrew B. T., 2008, South American Melolonthinae (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) classification and nomenclature: some problems and solutions, Insecta Mundi 2008 (60), pp. 1-28 : 8

Tribe Macrodactylini (southern South American taxa)

With the recent publication of a generic-level review of the tribe Macrodactylini ( Katovich 2008) , it is now possible to classify all of the described species from southern South America with some proficiency. Southern South America as here defined includes Argentina from Neuquén to Tierra del Fuego and Chile from IV Región de Coquimbo to XII Región de Magallanes. In examining numerous type specimens, it became obvious that several genera had been misidentified in many previous publications. It is also apparent that the genus Schizochelus Blanchard has been used as a taxonomic dumping ground for a number of southern South American species that really all belong in different genera.

To supplement and expand on the generic work done by Katovich (2008), a new key to the southern South American genera is given below along with a number of classification changes based on the examination of a large number of specimens (including type specimens) .