Zilus
Mulsant, 1850
Velvethead Lady Beetles
Zilus is a of small in the , commonly known as Velvethead Lady Beetles. The genus was established by Mulsant in 1850 and contains approximately 20 described , with many occurring in the United States. Members of this genus belong to the tribe Coccidulini within the Coccinellinae. The refers to a characteristic velvety or appearance of the region.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Zilus: /ˈzaɪləs/
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Distribution
of Zilus have been documented across the Americas, including the United States, Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean. The shows particular diversity in the southern United States and subtropical regions.
More Details
Taxonomic History
The Zilus was established by Étienne Mulsant in 1850. Gordon (1985) revised the genus for North America, describing Zilus horni. More recent additions include Zilus barbosi (Segarra, 2021) and two described by González & Aguilera (2009) from Central America.
Species Richness
The contains at least 20 described , with the majority of North species concentrated in the southern and subtropical regions of the United States.