Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
Explanation of Names
Zelus appears to be from Greco-Roman mythology. Greek
Zelos (ζελος, Latinized to
Zelus), was a minor deity and the personification of zeal, rivalry and anger. Quoting from the
Wikipedia article:
Zelus was the son of Pallas and Styx. Zelus and siblings Nike (victory), Cratos (strength) and Bia (violence) were winged enforcers who stood in attendance at the throne of Zeus.
Numbers
Nearctica
(1) lists 7 North American species in genus.
Identification
Narrow, medium-sized assassin bugs. Compare genus Repipta. Species identification of Z. renardii, Z. cervicalis, and western Z. tetracanthus is not likely to be resolved from images alone.
Range
Slater says about 12 spp. in this genus, most "restricted to southern and southwestern states".
Print References
Slater, page 124, fig. 226--exsanguinis
(3)
Hart, E. R. 1986. Genus Zelus Fabricius in the United States, Canada, and Northern Mexico (Hemiptera: Reduviidae). Annals of the Entomological Society of America. 79: 535-548.
Internet References
North Carolina State Univ. Entomology Collection lists for that state, with number pinned: cervicalis (163), longipes (39), luridus (77), tetracanthus (26).
Contributed by
Cotinis on 27 June, 2004 - 10:55am
Additional contributions by
Bug EricLast updated 26 October, 2009 - 1:07pm
