Madoniella
Pic, 1935
Madoniella is a of in the , established by Maurice Pic in 1935. The genus comprises approximately 11 described distributed primarily in North America, with most species described in the early 20th century and two additional species described by Opitz in 2010 and 2011. Species in this genus are part of the diverse Cleridae family, commonly known as checkered beetles due to their often striking color patterns. The genus name honors the Italian Pietro Magistretti, whose nickname was 'Madoni'.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Madoniella: /məˌdoʊniˈɛlə/
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Distribution
North America; recorded from the western United States including California and Arizona, with at least one species (Madoniella dislocata) having a broader eastern distribution based on its original description from eastern North America.
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Etymology
The name Madoniella honors Pietro Magistretti (1874-1966), an Italian who specialized in . Magistretti was affectionately known as 'Madoni' among colleagues, and the suffix '-ella' is a common diminutive used in scientific .
Taxonomic History
The was established by French Maurice Pic in 1935. Two were transferred from other genera: Madoniella dislocata was originally described as Clerus dislocatus by Thomas Say in 1825, and Madoniella merkeli was originally described as Cymatodera merkeli by George Henry Horn in 1896. The most recently described species are Madoniella aktis (2010) and Madoniella cracentis (2011), both described by West Indian entomologist Seán E. Opitz.