Suphisellus Crotch 1873:397

The source of the genus name Suphisellus and its genotype have been problematic. In discussing the genus Colpius, Crotch (1873:397) stated "This genus appears to me very near Suphis, the type of which is a globose and similarly marked species (S. cimicoides), but which I have not seen. If these two were shown to be congeneric, the species above under Suphis might receive the name Suphisellus." The species he placed under Suphis were Noterus bicolor Say, Suphis lineatus Horn, and Suphis puncticollis Crotch. Crotch was correct in recognizing the similarity between Suphis and Colpius, as the two are now considered congeneric under Suphis. The three species Crotch included under Suphis are now placed in Suphisellus.

In 1880, Sharp (1880-1882:269) erected the genus Canthydrus for a portion of the noterids previously included within Hydrocanthus, noting later (1880- 1882:839) "This genus has been mixed with Hydrocanthus, but was separated by Crotch so far as regards the North American species; he suggested for it the name of Suphisellus, but not in a formal manner - only as it were hypothetically, and I have thought it on the whole better to use a new name." Thus, the three species of "Suphis" of Crotch moved to Canthydrus.

In 1921, Zimmermann (1921:187) described the genus Suphisellus for the American species previously included in Sharp's genus Canthydrus. Zimmermann then described four new species of Suphisellus, the first of which was Suphisellus variicollis Zimmermann 1921:397. Zimmermann's paper makes no note of Crotch's use of Suphisellus.

Guignot (1946) identified or designated genotypes of numerous aquatic beetles. For Suphisellus, he states (Guignot 1946:116) "Suphisellus Zimm. - Type: variicollis Zimm., que je designe."

Leech (1948:403) apparently had not seen Guignot's paper, and wrote under Suphisellus, "Genotype: There is no indication in the literature at hand that a genotype has been assigned. I hereby designate Noterus bicolor Say, 1831:5, as the type of Suphisellus Crotch." In the following paragraph, Leech states "The species of this genus occur in the New World, and previous to Zimmermann's paper [1921] on the South American forms, were included in Canthydrus Sharp. However, the name chosen by Zimmermann had already been proposed, albeit obscurely, by Crotch."

Leech (1970) discussed these problems and concluded that it was correct to credit the genus to Crotch (1873:397), with the genotype Noterus bicolor Say (1831:5), fixed by subsequent designation by Leech (1948:403). Suphisellus Zimmermann (1921:187) should be considered a junior synonym (and homonym). Guignot (1946:116) was in error designating as a genotype, a species not originally included in Suphisellus by Crotch.

Suphisellus is represented in the Americas north of Colombia by 17 species. The South American species are numerous, poorly known, and in need of revision (Young 1979).

Checklist of Suphisellus

US, US Territories, and Canada

Key to species of Suphisellus

Literature Cited

Crotch, G. R.

• 1873. Revision of the Dytiscidae of the United States. Trans. Amer. Entomol. Soc. 4:383-424.

• 1946. Genotypes des Dytiscoidea et des Gyrinoidea. Rev. Francaise d'Entomol. 13:112-118.

• 1948. Contributions toward a knowledge of the insect fauna of Lower California. No. 11. Coleoptera: Haliplidae, Dytiscidae, Gyrinidae, Hydrophilidae, Limnebiidae. Proc. California Acad. Sci. 24(11):375-484 + pls. 20-21.

• 1970. Copelatus glyphicus (Say) and Suphisellus bicolor (Say), water beetles new to California and presumably introduced (Coleoptera: Dytiscidae and Noteridae). Proc. California Acad. Sci. 37:237-247.

• 1880-1882. On aquatic carnivorous Coleoptera or Dytiscidae. Sci. Trans. Royal Dublin Soc. 2(new series), part 2:179-1003 + plates vii-xviii.

• 1979. Water beetles of the genus Suphisellus Crotch in the Americas north of Colombia (Coleoptera: Noteridae). Southwest. Nat. 24(3):409-429.

• 1921. Beitrage zur Kenntnis der sudamerikanischen Schwimmkaferfauna nebst 41 Neubeschreibungen. Arch. Naturgeschichte 87(3):181-206.