Phthiarella, Brailovsky, 2009

Phthiarella View in CoL species groups

However the differences to defining those species are based on color; such as the presence or absence of yellow or yellowish orange rectangular fascia at the anterior lobe of pronotal disk, and if is present reaching or not the anterolateral borders; the midline of corium behind the claval commissure with or without yellow to yellowish orange rectangular fascia reaching or not the costal border; the abdominal sterna III and IV yellow to yellowish orange or entirely green with bluish or purple iridescence, etc. Some structural characters useful to recognize the species are the length of the humeral spine of the pronotum; the shape of parameres; and the allometrics length of antennal segments I–IV.

The genus Phthiarella can be divided into three chromatic groups, as detailed below.

1- The “ decorata ” group characterized by having the coxae and trochanters yellow to yellowish orange; the femora black with green, bluish or purple metallic reflections and always with basal joint yellow to yellowish orange. Species included: P. caliginosa new species, P. decens new species, P. decorata (Stål) , P. flebilisa new species, P. glarea new species, P. ignota new species, P. lanterna new species, P. morsa new species, P. privata new species, P. sponsa (Breddin) , and P. viridiventris (Blöte) new combination ( Figs. 1‒22).

2- The “ femorata ” group characterized by having the coxae and trochanters yellow to yellowish orange; femora entirely yellow to yellowish orange. Species included: P. affinis (Distant) , P. durena new species, P. femorata (Breddin) , P. guanaya new species, P. procera new species, P. rondonia new species, P. saphisa new species, P. serrulata new species, P. sucumbiosa new species, and P. xantha new species ( Figs. 23‒42).

3- The “ dedita ” group is characterized by having the coxae and trochanters black with or without green, bluish or purple metallic reflections. Species included: P. dedita new species, P. interula new species, P. lancea new species, P. nubecula new species, and P. scintilla new species ( Figs. 43‒58).