Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
Explanation of Names
Likely from New Latin
arillus meaning "dried grapes", or "a wrapper". The derived botanical term
aril is an outgrowth of a seed (its "wrapper")
(1), (Internet searches). This perhaps refers to the dry, gray appearance of the insect.
Another possible, though less likely, root is Greek
ari, warlike
(1).
Numbers
Nearctica
(2) lists one North American species,
cristatus.
Other species in the genus are
neotropical:
Arilus carinatus (Forster, 1771), known from South America, including Brazil (
ITIS, Internet searches)
Arilus depressicollis (Stal, 1859), Central America (Biologia Centrali-Americana, Internet searches)
Arilus gallus (Stal, 1872), Central America (Biologia Centrali-Americana, Internet searches)
Remarks
The author of this genus,
Carl Wilhelm Hahn (1786-1835) is rather obscure--he is known, mostly, for his work on spiders. The publication for this genus is Hahn's
Die wanzenartigen Insecten: getreu nach der Natur abgebildet und beschrieben (
Bug-like Insects: shown and described faithfully after nature). Biodiversity Heritage Library links:
volume 1,
p. 33--description of
Arilus serratus
illustration of
Arilus serratus
Print References
Borror, entries for
ari,
arill (1)
Biologia Centrali-Americana Insecta. Rhynchota. Hemiptera-Heteroptera. Volume II (1897-1901) by George C. Champion see Tab 17 (
link)
Contributed by
Troy Bartlett on 16 February, 2004 - 12:32pm
Additional contributions by
cotinisLast updated 15 November, 2009 - 8:51pm
