Plectonotum
Gorham, 1891
Species Guides
1Plectonotum is a of soldier beetles ( Cantharidae, Dysmorphocerinae) first described by Gorham in 1891. The genus is predominantly Neotropical, with substantial diversity in Peru where at least 16 have been described from montane and lowland regions. The type species P. excisum and related are characterized by elongated body forms typical of the subfamily.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Plectonotum: //ˌplɛktəˈnoʊtəm//
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Identification
Members of Plectonotum can be distinguished from related in Dysmorphocerinae by features of the pronotum and male genitalia; specific characters include the shape of the pronotal margins and the structure of the . The genus is most similar to Hyponotum Wittmer, from which it differs in pronotal and genitalic . Identification to level requires examination of male genitalia and pronotal details.
Distribution
Neotropical; confirmed records from Colombia and Peru (Amazonas, Huanuco, Cajamarca, Pasco, and Ancash regions). Peruvian have been collected from both lowland Amazonian and Andean montane localities.
Similar Taxa
- Hyponotum WittmerBoth belong to Dysmorphocerinae and share elongated body forms; distinguished by pronotal shape and male genitalia structure, with keys available for separation of South American .
More Details
Taxonomic history
Plectonotum ruficolle Wittmer, 1988 was renamed P. neoruficolle nom. nov. due to homonymy with P. ruficolle Pic, 1926. A lectotype was designated for P. longissimum (Pic, 1927) in 2020.