Amblycheila Say, 1830

Bousquet, Yves, 2012, Catalogue of Geadephaga (Coleoptera, Adephaga) of America, north of Mexico, ZooKeys 245, pp. 1-1722 : 196-197

Genus Amblycheila Say, 1830

Amblycheila Say, 1830a: 67. Type species: Manticora cylindriformis Say, 1823 by original designation. Etymology. From the Greek amblys (blunt, obtuse) and cheila (lip, by extension labrum [upper lip]), probably alluding to absence of teeth on the apical edge of the labrum of adults of this genus contrary to those of the genus Cicindela [feminine].

Amblychila Agassiz, 1846: 16. Unjustified emendation of Amblycheila Say, 1830.

Amblyprosopa Gistel, 1850: 75. Unnecessary replacement name for Amblycheila Say, 1830.

Chaleposomus Chaudoir, 1861a: 337. Unnecessary replacement name for Amblycheila Say, 1830. Etymology. From the Greek chalepos (difficult, severe, harsh) and soma (body) [masculine].

Diversity.

Seven species (Pearson et al. 2006: 48) in western North America (five species) and northern Mexico (two species: Amblycheila nyx Sumlin from west-central Coahuila and Amblycheila halffteri Mateu from San Luis Potosí).

Identification.

Vaurie (1955) reviewed the species and offered a key for their identification. Subsequently one new North American species, Amblycheila hoversoni Gage, was described in 1991. Pearson et al. (2006: 22) field guide includes a key to the North American species.

Faunistic Note.

The record of Amblycheila halffteri from “Texas” (Bousquet and Larochelle 1993: 52) is in error. The species is known so far only from San Luis Potosí in Mexico.