Mallocera glauca Click here for a larger view

Diagnosis.--Key characters: Ommatidial size coarse (Fig. 39b); prosternal process widened, not planar, expanded apically (Fig. 18); mesal antennal spines present (Figs. 8b, 9b); elytral humeri without tooth at epipleural margin; pronotum with impunctate regions; femoral carinae absent; procoxal cavities widely open laterally (Fig. 17); lateral projections into mesocoxae from mesosternum absent (Fig. 20); profemoral apices rounded (Fig. 26); meso- and metafemoral apices dentiform (as in Fig. 25b); pronotum without distinctive circular callus at base; profemora gradually enlarged (Fig. 37c); meso- and metafemora linear (Fig. 37d); tibial carinae present; elytra with dense patterns of golden and/or silver pubescence; elytral apices usually moderately to strongly spinose laterally and weakly so suturally. Length: 14-18 mm.

Distribution and Diversity.--Nicaragua to Argentina and Brazil. Seven species.

Discussion.--Mallocera has the dense silver and golden pubescence characteristic of the Mallocera and allies clade (Fig. 59). It differs from Pseudomallocera in lacking femoral carinae. Mallocera differs from Appula in having procoxal cavities open laterally (Appula species have procoxae closed laterally) and usually having a broader facies. Mallocera differs from Neomallocera in having the elytral apex strongly spined laterally and weakly so suturally (Neomallocera lacks spines on elytral apex).