Paramallocera hirta Click here for a larger view

Diagnosis.--Key characters: Ommatidial size coarse (Fig. 39b); prosternal process expanded apically (Fig. 18); mesal antennal spines present (Figs. 8b, 9b); pronotal impunctate regions present, although poorly-defined; femoral carinae absent; procoxal cavities closed laterally (Fig. 24); profemoral apices rounded (Fig. 26); meso- and metafemoral apices rounded to dentiform (Figs. 25b, 26); elytra with very sparse, translucent pubescence; posterior procoxal cavities open (Fig. 18); pronotum without transverse ridges; tibial carinae absent; spine of antennomere three acute (Fig. 45a, b); femoral shape gradually enlarged (Fig. 37c); antennomere three of males and most females about length of pronotum or more (Fig. 46c); lateral projections into mesocoxae from mesosternum absent (Fig. 20); elytral sutural spines absent; elytral apicolateral spines strong (Fig. 41a); elytra with long, erect hairs; elytra of most species with pale maculations. Length: 12-24 mm.

Distribution and Diversity.--Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Costa Rica, Colómbia, Ecuador, Panamá, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, Venezuela. Nineteen species.

Discussion.--Based on the implied weighting phylogenetic analysis, Paramallocera fell within the outgroup (Fig. 50). Paramallocera is a large, variable genus, and the specimen of P. cribripennis available for study may not have been an adequate exemplar. Therefore, no taxonomic changes were made.

The acute lateral pronotal tubercles in most specimens and the pale patterns of maculations of the elytra, covered with long, erect hairs, make Paramallocera a distinctive taxon. It is similar to Eurysthea, but Eurysthea lacks the pronotal tubercles and mesal antennal spines. Eurysthea also differs in having tibial carinae (absent in Paramallocera) and clavate femora (gradually enlarged in Paramallocera).