Pentastirini Emeljanov, 1971

Tribe Pentastirini Emeljanov, 1971

Identification key to genus-groups of American Pentastirini (males)

1 More than 7 (often 10+) teeth on the apex of the basitarsus of the hind leg.................... Pentastiridius Kirschbaum View in CoL

- Seven teeth on the apex of the basitarsus of the hind leg ( Fig. 4 View FIGURE 4 )................................................ 2

2(1) Endosoma, in ventral view, forming a loop by curving left ( Fig. 6A View FIGURE 6 ), then right to disappear behind the dorsal surface of the aedeagus............................................................................................ 3

- Endosoma in ventral view not completing a full loop to disappear behind the dorsal surface of aedeagus................ 7

3(2) Aedeagal complex not dorsoventrally compressed, aedeagal processes directed dorsad and ventrad, wings marked irregularly in fuscous, veins dappled with pale and dark markings; Neotropical............................. Pictoliarus gen. nov.

- Aedeagal complex dorsoventrally compressed, without processes directed dorsad and ventrad, wings generally unmarked.. 4

4(3) Moderately-sized to larger species (~ 4–7 mm); brick-red to dark brown, frons with pale lateral maculae usually present, eyes mottled with red speckling; U.S. and Mexico............................................................... 5

- Larger species (> 7 mm); yellow, face uniform in color or with dark central maculation, eyes without red speckling; Neotropical.......................................................................................... 6

5(4) Costal cell of forewing sclerotized and densely setaceous, forewing with approximately 20 apical cells (RA 4-branched, RP 4-branched, MP 1 3-branched); southwestern U.S.................................................. Oliaronus Ball View in CoL

- Costal cell of forewing not sclerotized or densely setaceous, forewings with approximately 13 apical cells or less (RP 3+4 forked); U.S. and Mexico....................................................... Melanoliarus View in CoL s.l. (in part): aridus -group

6(4) Face with central dark maculation (lateral margins pale), apex of endosoma greatly broadened, anal tube (dorsal view) rounded, apex rounded, weakly emarginate or with apical projection (e.g., Fennah 1971, fig. 104); Belize to Brazil.................................................................................................. Cyclopoliarus Fennah View in CoL

- Face pale without dark maculation, apex of endosoma not broadened, anal tube elongated with medially emarginate apex ( Fennah 1944a, fig. 7); Panama............................................................. Oliarissa Fennah View in CoL

7(2) Apex of anal tube developed into a recurved spine, directed ventrocephalad; small (~ 3–5 mm), dark taxa; mainly Antillean and adjacent, also SW USA and Mesoamerica..................................... Melanoliarus (Melanoliarus) Fennah

- Apex of anal tube lacking recurved spine.................................................................. 8

8(7) Medioventral process of pygofer elongate ovoid (apex blunt, length about equal to that of lateral projections) with preapical ventral transverse keel (e.g., Mead & Kramer 1982, fig. 320); anal tube (dorsal view) with apex deeply incised medially (e.g., Mead & Kramer 1982, fig. 316), forming broad truncate process in caudal view; second tarsomere of hind leg with platellae; western (mostly northwestern) Nearctic............................................ Reptalus (Pererepa) Emeljanov View in CoL

- Medioventral process of pygofer much shorter than lateral projections (usually half or less); anal tube (dorsal view) with apex rounded, blunt, or weakly incised; second tarsomere of hind leg lacking platellae; widespread......................... 9

9(8) Antillean; base of ventral periandrium with three prominent processes ( Hendrix & Bartlett 2024a, fig. 2), endosoma bulbous and relatively compact bearing one apical process; medioventral process higher than wide (half to ¾ length of lateral margins), apex narrowed to obtuse or elongate apex (lateral margins serrate); size ~4.0– 5.5 mm ................ Nivcentia Holzinger View in CoL

- Continental (except slossoni -group) and widespread; slossoni -group with periandrium lacking sinistral process ( Mead & Kramer 1982, fig. 67), endosoma elongated with apex enlarged (bearing one or more apical processes), medioventral process small and elongated (much shorter than lateral margins of pygofer), size 6+ mm................ Melanoliarus View in CoL s.l. (in part)