Comparative morphology of three species of Stenocerus (Coleoptera, Anthribidae, Anthribinae)

Abstract

Detailed studies of exoskeleton, mouthparts, wing venation, endosternites, retal plates and male and female terminalia, has been used to improve the systematics and evolutionary studies of the Neotropical anthribids. In this approach S. fulvitarsis (type-species of the genus), S. longulus and S. frontalis were carefully compared including descriptions and illustrations of characters never studied. Among the species examined, S. frontalis display a distinct mimetic pattern with flies of the family Sarcophagidae. The hypothesis that this species does not belong in the genus Stenocerus when compared with the type-species and S. longulus is discussed based mainly on position of the eyes, lack of lateral carinae, lamina of metendosternite longer than arms and median rods of ovipositor narrowed in the proximal region.