Aztecarpalus
Ball, 1970
Species Guides
1Aztecarpalus is a of ground beetles established by George Ball in 1970. It contains nine described , most of which were originally described by Henry Walter Bates in 1882 and later transferred to this genus. The genus belongs to the tribe Harpalini within the Harpalinae. Species are distributed in Mexico and Central America.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Aztecarpalus: /æzˌtɛkˈɑrpələs/
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Identification
Members of Aztecarpalus can be distinguished from related by characters of the male genitalia and specific features of the elytral microsculpture, as established in Ball's 1970 revision. The genus was erected to accommodate previously placed in other harpaline genera that share a distinctive combination of morphological traits.
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Distribution
Mexico and Central America. have been recorded from Mexican states including Veracruz, and from Central American countries.
Similar Taxa
- HarpalusAztecarpalus was separated from Harpalus based on distinct male genitalia structure and elytral characteristics; superficially similar in general body form but differs in diagnostic morphological details
- Other Harpalini generaBall's 1970 revision distinguished Aztecarpalus from related through detailed comparative of the and integumentary
More Details
Taxonomic history
Most were originally described by H.W. Bates in 1882 under other generic names and were transferred to Aztecarpalus when Ball erected the in 1970. Two species (A. hemingi and A. whiteheadi) were described by Ball in 1976.
Etymology
The name combines 'Aztec' referring to the geographic region of Mexico associated with Aztec civilization, with 'carpalus' from the common carabid genus root indicating ground beetle affinity.