Amara (Phyla), Motschulsky, 1844

Bousquet, Yves, 2012, Catalogue of Geadephaga (Coleoptera, Adephaga) of America, north of Mexico, ZooKeys 245, pp. 1-1722 : 433

Subgenus Phyla Motschulsky, 1844

Phyla Motschulsky, 1844: 238 (as Phayla ). Type species: Bembidion obtusum Audinet-Serville, 1821 designated by Netolitzky (1939: 10). Etymology. Uncertain, possibly from the Greek phylax (guard) or phyle (tribe, race), or even philia (love) since Motschulsky used the spelling Phila later (Motschulsky 1850a: 14) [feminine]. Note. Motschulsky (1844) used two different original spellings for this name, Phayla (page 238) and Phyla (pages 260-263). Since he subsequently used the spelling Phyla (e.g., Motschulsky 1869: 8), this spelling becomes the correct original spelling (ICZN 1999: Article 24.2.4). Phaula used by Bedel (1879: 26, 34) is an incorrect subsequent spelling, not an unjustified emendation since there is no demonstrably intentional change (see ICZN 1999: Article 33.2).

Microcys J.R. Sahlberg, 1908: 11. Type species: Microcys liliputanus Sahlberg, 1908 by monotypy. Synonymy established by Müller (1918: 68). Etymology. From the Greek mikros (small) and the generic name Ocys [masculine].

Diversity.

West Palaearctic Region, with nine species of which one is adventive in eastern North America.

Identification.

The species found in North America was covered in Lindroth’s (1963b: 258) monograph.

Taxonomic Note.

Maddison (2012: 561) noted that this taxon may be the sister-group of the remaining Bembidion .