Resumen

Results of a taxonomic and nomenclatorial revision of the genus Cenothyla Rivalier, 1969 with type species Cicindela consobrina Lucas, 1857 is presented with a brief history and lectotype designations in relevant taxa. The revision has confirmed that Cenothyla is clearly a delimited genus separated from the related genus Odontocheila Laporte de Castelnau, 1834 by the shape of the aedeagus, namely by the characteristic structure of the internal sac which in Cenothyla lacks any trace of a flagellum, and contains unique sclerites. Three new species are described as new for science, and one new combination is made. Consequently, the genus now comprises seven species: C. consobrina (Lucas, 1857), C. postica (Chaudoir,1860) stat. restit., C. posticoides sp. nov., C. fulvothoracica sp. nov., C. varians (Gory, 1833), C. rietscheli (Wiesner, 2007) comb. nov. and C. klichai sp. nov. It is concluded that the replacement of the name Cenothyla varians (based on Cicindela varians Gory, 1833), with the first available synonym Cenothyla cognata (based on Odontocheila cognata Chaudoir, 1843) by Cassola (1999) was invalid as in contradiction to Art. 23.9.5 (ICZN 1999). Illustrations of the habitus, diagnostic characters and variability of all species are presented in colour photographs.