Subgenus Colpellus Reichardt, 1932

Colpellus Reichardt, 1932: 32, 33. Colpellus: REICHARDT (1941): 282, 286; KRYZHANOVSKIJ & REICHARDT (1976): 201, 204; VIENNA (1980): 171; MAZUR

(1984): 84; MAZUR (1997): 250; YÉLAMOS (2002): 308; MAZUR (2004): 93.

Type species Saprinus praecox Erichson, 1834, original designation.

Diagnosis. The subgenus Colpellus differs from the subgenus Hypocacculus and subgenus Nessus by the straight carinate frontal stria elevated above eyes continuous as a strongly carinate supraorbital stria. Clypeus often carinate laterally. Frontal disc with scattered fine punctation; punctation of elytra does not form a band of dense punctures before elytral apex. Protibia on outer margin with 6–7 low teeth, topped with short denticle.

Biology. See Biology of Hypocacculus s. l.

Distribution. This subgenus includes 6 species, distributed in Afrotropical and Palaearctic Regions, with Hypocacculus (Colpellus) biskrensis (Marseul, 1876) reaching as far as India and Hypocacculus (Colpellus) praecox (Erichson, 1834) to Afghanistan (MAZUR 1997).

Species examined. Hypocacculus (Colpellus) biskrensis (Marseul, 1876), H. (C.) infensus G. Müller, 1937, H. (C.) praecox (Erichson, 1834), H. (C.) solieri (Marseul, 1862) .