Micracisella

Type species

Micracisella opacicollis LeConte

Adapted from Wood 1982, p. 594-608

Diagnosis

Species in the genus Micracisella are similar to those in Micracis LeConte, but they can be distinguished by the emarginateemarginate:
notched or indented
anterior margin of the eye, in some species so long it can be subcontiguoussubcontiguous:
pertaining to adjacent structures, margins, or surfaces that are in contact but are not united or fused
in the inferior margin, and also by the cylindrical shape of the scapescape:
the first and basal segment of the insect's antennae
.

Description

Species in this genus range from 1.2 to 2.5 mm in length and are approximately 3 times as long as wide. Their color varies from yellowish brown to black. The pronotumpronotum:
the upper or dorsal surface of the first thoracic segment
is usually longer than wide and asperateasperate:
of a surface or texture which is rough
anteriorly. The scutellumscutellum:
a shield-like bony plate or scale, as on the thorax of some insects
is small. The declivitydeclivity:
the apical portion of the beetle elytra that slopes downward
is convex and has hair-like setaehair-like setae:
setae that are thin and similar to a hair
; as in Micracis it is acuminateacuminate:
tapering gradually to a sharp point
in its apex. The anterior margin of the compound eye is emarginateemarginate:
notched or indented
; the eye can also be very long and subcontiguoussubcontiguous:
pertaining to adjacent structures, margins, or surfaces that are in contact but are not united or fused
below in some species. The scapescape:
the first and basal segment of the insect's antennae
is shorter than the 6-segmented funiclefunicle:
the antennal segments located between the scape and the club in some Coleoptera
and it is ornamentedornamented:
having markings or structures on the esclerotized regions of the integument, such as setae, tubercles, or granules
by a tuft of long hair. The oval clubclub:
the apical segment of the insect antennae that is enlarged or thickened such that it is anatomically differentiated from the preceding segments
has two procurvedprocurved:
pertaining to structure (antennae, setae) which is basally perpendicular to the body and whose apical part is curved anteriorly
sutures that not reach the middle. The procoxaeprocoxae:
extra segment occasionally preceding coxa (hip joint) of the first or anterior pair of legs of arthropods
are subcontiguoussubcontiguous:
pertaining to adjacent structures, margins, or surfaces that are in contact but are not united or fused
.

Distribution

United States to Colombia

World fauna

Number of species: 20, Native species: 5, Introduced species: 0

Hosts

Acras, Conocarpus, Carya, Castanea, Dipholia, Hamamelis, Mimosa, Pithecellobium, Prosopis, Quercus, Rhizophora, Rhus, Rubus, Salix, Serjania, Vitis