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Etymology of the scientific species names of the beetle fauna of Germany |
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The etymology module allows to "translate" many scientific species names of the beetles from the German fauna. Often, their names are derived from Latin or ancient Greek words which describe the beetle and its properties. Those interested to learn what Harpalus rufipes actually means, have found the right place on kerbtier.de. The basis of this module is the publication "Erklärung der wissenschaftlichen Käfernamen aus Reitters Fauna Germanica" by Sigmund Schenkling, published in 1917 at K.G. Lutz in Stuttgart. I have added some editorial amendments and translated the entire work into English. |
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| Term | Meaning |
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| ater, atra, atrum (āter, ātra, ātrum) | black |
| aterrimus, a, um (atérrimus, a, um) | deep black |
| elaterii (elatērii) | on squirting cucumber, Elatērium |
| elaterinus, a, um (elaterīnus, a, um) | Elater-like |
| elateroides (elateroīdes) | genus Elater and gr. eidēs, similar |
| frater (frāter) | brother |
| lateralimarginalis, e (lateralimarginālis, e) | concerning the side, látus, láteris, and marginālis, marginate |
| lateralis, e (laterālis, e) | concerning the side, látus, láteris |
| lateripunctatus, a, um (lateripunctātus, a, um) | concerning the side, látus, láteris, and punctātus, dotted |
| lateritius, a, um (laterītius, a, um) | brick red |
| Meligethes (Meligēthes) | gr. méli, honey, and gr. gētheo, I enjoy – on flowers |
| sublateralis, e (sublaterālis, e) | somewhat distinguished by the sides |
| waterhousei (waterhōūsei) | (pron. Waterhausi), after George Robert Waterhouse of the British Museum in London, died in 1888 |
