Dicheirus Mannerheim, 1843

Bousquet, Yves, 2012, Catalogue of Geadephaga (Coleoptera, Adephaga) of America, north of Mexico, ZooKeys 245, pp. 1-1722 : 655

Genus Dicheirus Mannerheim, 1843

Dicheirus Mannerheim, 1843 ["31 December", permit delivered on 28 March]: 211. Type species: Harpalus dilatatus Dejean, 1829 designated by Desmarest (1851: 126). Etymology. From the Greek dis (twice) and cheiros (hand), probably alluding to the trifid (mistakenly thought to be double) apical spur of the protibia (" tibiae anticae spina apicali duplici ") of the adult [masculine].

Diplocheirus Ménétriés, 1843 [29 July]: 62. Type species: Harpalus dilatatus Dejean, 1829 by monotypy. Etymology. From the Greek prefix diplo - (double) and cheiros (hand) [masculine]. Note. With the evidence available, this name should have precedence. However, the name is not in prevailing usage and for that reason it is not retained here as valid (see Principle of priority in the “Nomenclature” section).

Dichirus Agassiz, 1846: 122. Unjustified emendation of Dicheirus Mannerheim, 1843.

Dicherius Motschulsky, 1859a: 138. Unjustified emendation of Dicheirus Mannerheim, 1843.

Diversity.

Five North American species, of which two extend into northern Baja California and Guadalupe Island.

Identification.

Noonan (1968) revised the species and provided a key for their identification.