....... Lichnia Erichson, 1835
.......Syn. Dasychaeta Erichson, 1847

Lichnia limbata Erichson. Photos by Mary Liz Jameson.
FIGURES 2a–b. Dorsal view of labrum and mandibles showing form of the mandibles (a) dentate, Arctodium vulpinum or (b) rounded, Lichnia limbata.
Distribution of Lichnia species.

Description. Length (from the anterior margin of the prothorax to the apex of the pygidium) 4.0–8.0 mm; width 2.5–5.0 mm. Head strongly deflexed. Mandibles protruding anteriorly beyond labrum; apices rounded, strongly reflexed. Maxilla with galea 1/3 to 3/4 body length, setose; setae curved, short, dense, forming row. Labium deeply grooved longitudinally. Eye divided completely into dorsal and ventral regions by canthus; canthus densely setose, setae variable. Antenna 9-segmented. Elytron length short, not covering pygidium.

Diagnosis. Species of Lichnia are differentiated from species of Arctodium by the elongated galea in Lichnia that is at least half the length of the entire body. The galea of Arctodium is also elongated but is less than half the body length. Also, the exposed apex of the mandible of Lichnia is smooth and rounded, whereas the exposed apex of the mandible of Arctodium is bidentate.

Distribution. Species in the genus Lichnia live in central Chile from Region IV (Coquimbo) to Region VII (Maule). They are not found above 2000 meters in elevation and are most abundantly found on a variety of flowers in dry, sandy areas at lower elevations.

Composition. The genus Lichnia includes 2 species:

(click on a name for a species profile)
Lichnia gallardoi Gutiérrez, 1943
Lichnia limbata Erichson, 1835

Reference:
Hawkins, S. J. 2006. Revision of the Chilean tribe Lichniini Burmeister, 1844 (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Melolonthinae). Zootaxa 1266: 1-63.