Micranoplium unicolor Click here for a larger view

Diagnosis.--Key characters: Ommatidial size coarse (Fig. 39b); prosternal process expanded at apex (Fig. 18); mesal antennal spines absent; lateral projections into mesocoxae from mesosternum (Fig. 20); antennomere three about two-thirds length of pronotum (Fig. 46b); pronotum coarsely, confluently punctate (irregularly-sized); pronotum without smooth impunctate regions; elytral apices without spines (suture sometimes dentiform); femora clavate (Fig. 37b); femoral apices rounded (Fig. 26). Length: 6-9 mm.

Distribution and Diversity.--Baja California, México and eastern United States. Two species.

Discussion.--No specimens were available for dissection, disarticulation, and inclusion in the phylogenetic analysis. Therefore, discussion of phylogenetic relationships is spurious. Probably, this genus has affinities to Curtomerus or Anoplocurius, which it resembles.

Micranoplium differs from Curtomerus by the dense, coarse, irregularly-sized pronotal punctation (somewhat sparse punctation in Curtomerus) and the eyes not situated on extensions from the head when viewed from the venter as in Curtomerus. Micranoplium differs from Anoplocurius in not having the constriction of the pronotum at the posterior sixth (constriction present in Anoplocurius).