Miltesthus marginatus Click here for a larger view

Diagnosis.--Key characters: Ommatidial size coarse (Fig. 39b); prosternal process widened apically, not planar (Fig. 18); mesal antennal spines present (Figs. 8b, 9b); pronotum with impunctate regions, without longitudinal rugosities or transverse ridges; femoral carinae absent; procoxal cavities closed laterally (Fig. 24); femoral apices rounded (Fig. 26); posterior procoxal cavities open (Fig. 18); mesotibial carinae present (Fig. 22); femora clavate (Fig. 37b); spine of antennomere three acute; pronotum and head without dense yellow or white pubescence; third antennomere deeply sulcate (Fig. 45a), remaining antennomeres not appearing carinate; suture of elytra darkened; elytral apices truncate to dentiform (as in Fig. 41b-d). Length: 14-15 mm.

Distribution and Diversity.--Guatemala to Panamá. Monotypic.

Discussion.--Although Miltesthus possesses the three synapomorphies for Elaphidiini, it fell within the outgroup taxa based on the implied weighting analysis (Fig. 50). I have retained its position within Elaphidiini because I think more character analysis is needed within related tribes before major taxonomic decisions are made.

The combination of clavate, unspined femora, dark suture of elytra, truncate to dentiform elytral apices, and coarsely, confluently punctate pronotum make this monotypic taxon easy to recognize.