Zyzzyva

Zyzzyva Template:IPAc-en is a genus of South American weevils, often found on or near palm trees.<ref name="Andrews 2017">Template:Cite news</ref> It was first described in 1922 by Thomas Lincoln Casey Jr., based on specimens obtained in Brazil by Herbert Huntingdon Smith.<ref name="Casey 1922"/>Template:Rp

Casey describes Zyzzyva ochreotecta in his book Memoirs on the Coleoptera, Volume 10:<ref name="Casey 1922">Template:Cite book</ref>Template:Rp Template:Blockquote

Etymology

Zyzzyva has achieved notoriety for being the last word in several English-language dictionaries.<ref name="Martin 2017">Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="Storer 1981">Template:Cite news</ref> Casey is commonly credited with naming the genus, although the etymology of the word is unclear.<ref name="Storer 1981"/><ref name="Martin 2017"/><ref name="Andrews 2017"/> One theory is that the word was inspired by Zyzza, a former genus of leafhoppers.<ref name="Martin 2017"/> An entomologist at New York's Museum of Natural History speculated that Casey made up the word as a joke, "to have the last word."<ref name="Storer 1981"/>

Species

There are three accepted species within this genus.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

• Zyzzyva ochreotecta Casey, 1922
• Zyzzyva rufula Hustache, 1951
• Zyzzyva squamosa (C.H.Boheman, 1844)

See also

• Aaaaba
• Aaadonta
• Zyzzogeton, a leafhopper, another "last entry"
• Zyzzyxdonta alata
• Zyzzyzus
• Zzyzx (disambiguation)

References

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