Alienosternus, Martins, 1976

Key to Alienosternus View in CoL adults

According to the most recent key to Alienosternus species ( Martins 2003), the new species can be inserted as follows (translated and modified).

1. Head and prothorax reddish orange; elytra metallic green; antennae and legs black. Brazil ( Rondônia, Mato Grosso) .............................................. Alienosternus metallicus Martins, 1976 View in CoL

– Overall colour brown to brownish red ................................................................................................ 2

2. Elytra with lateral carina from humerus to posterior fifth; elytral apex emarginate, with outer angle spiniform and rounded at sutural angle ( Figs. 1–4 View Figs ). Colombia (Bolívar) .............. ....................................... Alienosternus sanjacintero García, Botero, and Martínez View in CoL , new species

– Elytra without lateral carina or with lateral carina restricted to anterior half, elytral apex truncate, and unarmed ............................................................................................................................ 3

3. Pronotum scabrous, microsculptured, with indistinct alveolus and a few granules; males with prosternal process elevated at centre and mesoventral process laterally elevated, ridged at centre, without setae in those elevations (males of A. wappesi unknown) .......................... 4

– Pronotum with alveolus and granules, sternal processes of males without modifications or with modifications different .................................................................................................................. 5

4. Surface of prosternum and prosternal process microsculptured, subrugose; prosternal process wider (width at narrowest point about half of procoxal cavity width) ( Figs. 5–8 View Figs ). Bolivia ( Santa Cruz) ........................ Alienosternus wappesi García, Botero, and Martínez , new species

– Surface of prosternum only microsculptured laterally; prosternal process smooth, and narrower (about 1/4 of procoxal cavity width). Brazil ( Mato Grosso, Goiás, Maranhão, Minas Gerais, Bahia) .................................................... Alienosternus solitarius (Gounelle, 1909)

5. Antennae of males without sexual pilosity; males with posterior half of prosternum with transverse row of setae. Females with wide prosternal process, not narrowed between the procoxae. Brazil ( Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul, Goiás, Maranhão, Alagoas, Sergipe, Piauí, Bahia, Minas Gerais) ................................................ Alienosternus cristatus (Zajciw, 1970)

– Antennae of males with sexual pilosity; males with sternal processes without row of setae. Females with prosternal process laminiform between the coxae. Argentina ( Salta, La Rioja, San Juan) ................................................................................ Alienosternus simplex Martins, 1976 .