Genus
Beckerium
1 species
*Beckerium* is a monotypic Neotropical genus known from southern Mexico, specifically the state of Oaxaca. Its single species inhabits forest environments, where adults are active by day on bare clay-loam or sandy clay substrates. Named in honour of entomologist H. Becker, this small metallic beetle belongs to the subtribe Odontocheilina.
Diagnosis
DIAGNOSIS — *Beckerium* W.Horn, 1897. Monotypic; body small (~12 mm), elongate-compact, metallic; fully winged; eyes large; labrum subquadrate; diurnal, forest-floor inhabitant (bare clay-loam, sandy clay substrates). Distinguished from other Mexican Odontocheilina genera by aedeagal morphology [Moravec, 2020]. No confusion genera recorded.
Etymology
Named after H. Becker (entomologist); neuter ending -ium.
Species (1)
Distribution map — GBIF occurrences
GBIF · © OpenStreetMap · © CartoDB
Overview
*Beckerium* is a monotypic Neotropical genus known from southern Mexico, specifically the state of Oaxaca. Its single species inhabits forest environments, where adults are active by day on bare clay-loam or sandy clay substrates. Named in honour of entomologist H. Becker, this small metallic beetle belongs to the subtribe Odontocheilina.
Type species: Beckerium leptalis Moravec, 2020 [by monotypy]
1. Wiesner, J. (2020) — checklist 2. Moravec, J. (2020) — original genus description 3. Pearson, D.L. & Vogler, A.P. (2001) — Tiger Beetles: The Evolution, Ecology, and Diversity of the Cicindelids. Cornell Univ. Press, Ithaca, 333 pp. [ISBN 0-8014-3882-9] 4. Duran, D.P. & Gough, H.M. (2020) — Validation of tiger beetles as distinct family (Cicindelidae) and reclassification within Coleoptera. Systematic Entomology 45(4): 723-729. DOI: 10.1111/syen.12440 [validates Cicindelidae as separate family] 5. Gough, H.M., Duran, D.P., Kawahara, A.Y. & Toussaint, E.F.A. (2018) — A comprehensive molecular phylogeny of tiger beetles (Coleoptera, Carabidae, Cicindelinae). Systematic Entomology 43(3): 567-586. DOI: 10.1111/syen.12324 [ML phylogeny of 328 taxa, 9 gene regions] 6. Wiesner, J. (2020) — Checklist of the Tiger Beetles of the World, 2nd edition (Verzeichnis der Sandlaufkäfer der Welt, 27. Beitrag zur Kenntnis der Cicindelidae). Winterwork, Borsdorf, 534 pp. [Authoritative current world checklist] 7. Horn, W. (1908, 1910, 1915) — Coleoptera Adephaga, fam. Carabidae, subfam. Cicindelinae. In: Wytsman, P. (Ed.) Genera Insectorum, fascicles 82a, 82b, 82c. L. Desmet-Verteneuil, Bruxelles. BHL bibliography/45481 [foundational historical monograph of Cicindelidae, treating all genera known at the time]
Living Book · World Monograph 2026
Genera and Subgenera of Tiger Beetles
240 genera · 3,715 taxa · 194-character matrix · 12 months free updates