Ground-beetles of the subgenus Cryptophonus Brandm. et Z. Brandm., genus Harpalus Latr. (Coleoptera, Carabidae)

A taxonomic review of ten species of the subgenus Cryptophonus Brandmayr et Zetto Brandmayr, 1982, the genus Harpalus Latreille, 1802 is given. In addition to nine Palaearctic species, the Ethiopian H. agnatus Reiche, 1849 is also included in Cryptophonus. Harpalus cyrenaicus Koch, 1939, stat. n. from Libya, which was originally described as a subspecies of H. litigiosus Dejean, 1829, is treated as a distinct species. Harpalus tenebrosus Dejean, 1829 is treated as a polytypical species with two subspecies: H. t. tenebrosus (West Palaearctic) and H. t. paivanus Wollaston, 1867, stat. n. (Cabo Verde). A new substitute name H. melancholicus reicheianus nom. n. is proposed to replace the objective homonyms H. reichei Jacobson, 1907 (non Desbrochers des Loges, 1867) and H. ovalis Reiche, 1861 (non Motschulsky, 1844). Lectotypes are designated for H. tenebrosus Dejean, 1829, H. paivanus Wollaston, 1867, H. litigiosus Dejean, 1829, H. agnatus Reiche, 1849, H. fulvus Dejean, 1829, H. melancholicus Dejean, 1829, and H. ineditus Dejean, 1829. The status and diagnosis of Cryptophonus are discussed and a key to all the species of this subgenus is provided. Data on distribution of each species are provided. The following species are recorded for the first time: H. tenebrosus from Afghanistan, H. grilli Kataev, 2002 from India (Uttarhand), H. agnatus Reiche, 1849 from Tanzania, and H. fulvus Dejean, 1829 from Portugal.