Genus Cactophagus LeConte

Cactophagus LeConte 1876:331 .

Phyllerythrurus Chevrolat 1885a:92 .

Paradiaphorus Chevrolat 1885b:287 . New synonymy.

Cactophagoides Champion 1910:89 . New synonymy. Eucactophagus Champion 1910:96 .

Type species: Sphenophorus validus LeConte 1858:80 . Designation by monotypy.

This is a large tropical genus with about 60 described species. There are 28 species of Cactophagus known from Costa Rica and 24 from Panama with 18 species shared between the two countries. The genus occurs from the southern United States to Argentina.

Herein I group all species that lack a lateral line on the aedeagus (with the exception of Rhodobaenus species) as Cactophagus . This includes the previously recognized genera Cactophagoides Champion (with two described Costa Rican species) and Paradiaphorus Chevrolat (with a single described Brazilian species). When the extent of variation within species of Cactophagus is considered, it is quite clear that both forms are autapomorphic Cactophagus . Were they to be considered distinct at the generic level then a further breakdown of remaining Cactophagus species into a number of smaller genera would be necessary.

Species of Cactophagus are associated generally with monocotyledons such as arums ( Araceae), orchids ( Orchidaceae), bromeliads (Bromeliadaceae), palms ( Arecaceae), and bananas ( Musaceae) but at least two species are associated with cacti ( Cactaceae). Adults of most species are diurnal. The genus was revised by Vaurie (1966, 1967). Immature stages were described by Anderson (1948).