Sesaspis Casey, 1907

Foley, Ian A. & Ivie, Michael A., 2008, A phylogenetic analysis of the tribe Zopherini with a review of the species and generic classification (Coleoptera: Zopheridae), Zootaxa 1928 (1), pp. 1-72 : 32

Key to species of Sesaspis Casey

1 Elytral sculpture reduced, at most a faint straight elevation of the 3 rd or 5 th elytral interval, and weak elevation at start of declivity; apex of elytra almost smooth, if weakly emarginate not swollen along suture....................................... 2

- Elytral sculpture well developed with any combination of distinct parallel or arcuate ridges and large nodules; apex of elytra weakly to strongly emarginate, if weakly emarginate then swollen along suture ......................................... 3

2 Elytra with faint elevation in 5 th interval; lateral margin of apical declivity smooth. Mexico, Nuevo Leon. Fig. 19 ... ......................................................................................................................................... S. doyeni (García-París et al.)

- Elytra with faint elevation in 3 rd interval; lateral margin of apical declivity weakly serrate. Mexico, Hidalgo. Fig. 18 ................................................................................................................................................. S. ashei NEW SPECIES

3 Elytra with two distinct almost straight parallel ridges from base to declivity, ridge in 3 rd terminating in small nodule before apical margin; apex of elytra strongly emarginate; antennomere 3 short and transverse subequal in size to 4; male nodules absent on all femora. Texas, New Mexico. Tamalipas. Fig. 27 ............................. S. emarginata (Horn)

- Ridge in 3 rd elytral interval weak, indistinct, or series of disconnected nodules for most of length, ridge in 5 th if present strongly arcuate; apex of elytra weakly emarginate; antennomere 3 slightly to obviously elongate, longer than 4; male nodules present on at least pro and mesofemora..................................................................................... 4

4 Elytral ridge in 3 rd interval reduced medially, distinct apically, extending almost to apical margin; apex of elytra only slightly emarginate; nodule at start of apical declivity weak, connected to ridge; vestiture of dense bristle-like setae. Mexico. Fig. 17 ........................................................................................................................... S. denticulata (Solier)

- Elytral ridge in 3 rd interval reduced to almost absent, or consisting of series of rounded nodules; 3 rd interval terminating in large round or arcuate nodule at start of apical declivity; vestiture tomentose ................................................. 5

5 Ridge in 3 rd elytral interval formed by disconnected round nodules; elytral suture at apex not swollen; nodules at start of declivity strongly rounded or conical; subgenal ridge strongly thickened with enclosed median depression or pit. Mexico, Chiapas and Central America. Fig. 26 ....................................................... S. triplehorni NEW SPECIES

- Ridge in 3 rd elytral interval indistinct, elytra flattened dorsally; elytral suture strongly to weakly swollen; nodules at start of declivity arcuate; subgenal ridge well developed but with distinct posterior bend ......................................... 6

6 Apical margin of elytra bifid with two distinct nodules, suture weakly swollen; posterior angles of pronotum obtuse and rounded; dorsal surface of head with apical margin of frons flat, margin of suprantennal ridge slightly emarginate, channels at base of suprantennal ridge straight. Mexico, Oaxaca. Fig. 28 ............................................................. ...................................................................................................................................................... S. lutosa (Champion)

- Apex of elytra with single nodule, suture strongly swollen with short ridge; posterior angles of pronotum expanded, sharpened to approximately 90° angle; dorsal surface of head with apical margin of frons concave, margin of suprantennal ridge rounded, channels at base of suprantennal ridge arcuate. Mexico. Fig. 29 .. S. sylvatica (García-París et al.)

Figures

FIGURES 16–19. Dorsal habiti. 16. Scoriaderma cordicolle, Tanzania; 17. Sesaspis denticulata, Mexico, Nuevo Leon; 18. Sesaspis ashei, Mexico, Hidalgo; 19. Sesaspis doyeni, Mexico, Nuevo Leon. Space bar = 5mm.

FIGURES 26–29. Dorsal habiti. 26. Sesaspis triplehorni, Belize; 27. S. emarginata, Texas, Comal Co.; 28. S. lutosa, Mexico, Oaxaca; 29. S. sylvatica, Mexico, Tamaulipas. Scale bar = 5mm.