Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
Cotinis Burmeister, 1842.
The genus is *frequently* spelled "Cotinus" but this is the genus of the
smoketree,
Eleagnus.
Explanation of Names
From Greek
cotin, meaning wild olive or
oleaster (
Eleagnus). The usual suffix is
us, thus
cotinus (1). This is also the origin given by Blatchley
(2).
Numbers
Eight species of Cotinis occur in the southern half of the United States and northern Mexico
(3)Identification
Large, oval, somewhat depressed beetles. Usually velvety green with brownish highlights and some areas of metallic green. Clypeus (upper mouthpart) has a horn-like process at apical margin. Scutellum covered by pronotal process
(4).
Range
North American species (nearctica.com) are: boylei, impius, mutabilis, nitidus. C. nitidus is widespread in eastern North America. C. mutabilis (syn. texana?) is widespread in western North America: Texas, Arizona, New Mexico. C. mutabilis also found in deep south? Apparently texana is sometimes split out as a separate species, and this is found in Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona.
There is taxonomic disagreement at the species level in this genus, making statements about range rather problematic.
See Also
Note how the scutellum is covered by a pronotal projection in Cotinis (left), but is uncovered in Euphoria (right):
Print References
Borror, entry for
cotin, =us (1)
Blatchley, description of genus
Cotinis (2)
Arnett et al.,
American Beetles, volume II
(3)
Dillon and Dillon, p. 551, fig. 424--shows pronotal process
(4)
