Taxonomic review of Pharaxonotha Reitter (Coleoptera: Erotylidae: Pharaxonothinae) inhabiting cones of the cycads Zamia L. and Microcycas (Miq.) A.DC. (Cycadales) in the Caribbean Basin and Central America north of Panama, with descriptions of fve new spe

Abstract

The beetle genus Pharaxonotha Reitter (Coleoptera: Erotylidae: Pharaxonothinae) is found in the cones of cycad genera in the New World, including species of Ceratozamia Brongn., Dioon Lindl., Microcycas (Miq.) A.DC., and Zamia L. (Cycadales: Zamiaceae). The species diversity of Pharaxonotha with Zamia and Microcycas is reviewed for those occurring in The Bahamas, Belize, Costa Rica, Greater Antilles, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, and southern USA. Twelve species are recognized, and five new species are described: Pharaxonotha bahamaensis Skelley, Tang and Salzman, new species, P. chavesi Skelley, Tang and Salzman, new species, P. clarkorum Pakaluk, P. confusa Pakaluk, P. esperanzae Chaves and Genaro, P. foridana (Casey), P. grifthi Skelley, Tang and Salzman, new species, P. jamaicensis Skelley, Tang and Salzman, new species, P. kirschii Reitter, P. portophylla Franz and Skelley, P. thomasi Skelley and Tang, and P. zamiaphila Skelley, Tang and Salzman, new species. A key to species of Pharaxonotha found on Zamia and Microcycas in the region is presented.