Semiotus is a genus of beetle belonging to the family Elateridae. It includes about 85 large sized (14–48 mm) and colourful click beetles with bright integument. The colouration is usually yellow with longitudinal black, orange or reddish stripes. The Neotropical genus occurs from Mexico to Argentina and Chile.

The genus was described by Johann Friedrich von Eschscholtz, the zoology professor of the University of Tartu.

There is a close genus Semiotinus Pjatakowa, 1941, which initially included one species Semiotinus banghaasi Pjatakowa, 1941. S. A. Wells (2003) proposed to transfer 15 species, formerly placed in Semiotus Eschscholtz into the genus Semiotinus.

R. Golbach (1969) suggested for species of the genera Semiotus Eschsch., Semiotinus Pjatakowa and Oistus Cand. the new subfamily Serniotinae.

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