Jeffrey Glassberg Jeffrey T a x o n o m i s t s J u s t W a n n a H a v e F u n A C h e c k e r e d P a s t Thaddeus Harris was passed over for tenure at Harvard, in favor of Asa Gray. He takes his revenge in Harris’ Checkerspot, whose caterpillars feed on a plant described by Gray. by Harry Zirlin This individual was at Ward Pound Ridge Reservation, Westchester Co., NY, on June 7, 2010. One of the rationales often stated for using The genus name Chlosyne has an harbors a nice colony of Harris’ Checkerspots) Sierra Sulphur are butterflies of high altitudes scientific names is their supposed stability as interesting history in itself. When Samuel the anagrammatic moth genuses Datana and so it is appropriate that Rockslide contrasted with common or vernacular names. Scudder first described Harris’ Checkerspot and Nadata and the longhorn beetle genuses Checkerspot is named after a geologist who But if you have been around as long as I have, in 1863, and named it for the Harvard Urgleptes and Lepturges all occur. Synchloe, had the highest peak in the lower 48 states you know that in many cases the scientific entomologist Thaddeus W. Harris, he placed which, as I said, means “with spring green” named after him. names you learned long ago have changed it in the genus Melitaea. Melitaea is a large makes more sense for the genus of white Josiah D. Whitney was the chief of several times over your span of years, whereas genus of primarily Eurasian Checkerspots pierids of that name because most species the California Geological Survey (“CGS”) the common names have remained constant. none of which occurs in North America under in the group have at least an early spring which took place from 1860 through 1874. Let’s take one of my favorite butterflies, presently used taxonomy. Prior to Scudder’s brood and their underside hindwings are Geologists in the 19th Century were often Harris’ Checkerspot, as an example. In the placement of harrisii in Melitaea, the English often dusted with a green coating of scales trained in zoology, botany and paleontology second edition of NABA’s Checklist & lepidopterist, Henry Doubleday, had created (the green is actually an illusion caused by a and their surveys included recording and English Names of North American Butterflies, the genus Synchloe in 1844 and placed mixture of black and yellow scales). Euchloe, collecting the living plants and animals as well its scientific name isChlosyne harrisii. But, Crimson Patch (now known as Chlosyne another genus of whites, means “true spring as the fossils associated with the various rock if I go through the books on my shelves (I janais) in that genus. It was later determined, green” and that genus occurs here in North and soil types. Their specimens were then sent still have books) it has been known at various however, that the name Synchloe (which America as well as Eurasia. But, back to the to experts for identification and, in the cases of times as Melitaea harrisii, Charidryas means “with spring green”) was preoccupied Checkerspots. species new to science, description. Butterfly harrisii, Thessalia harrisii, and other names. by Jacob Hübner’s genus of whites of the In addition to Harris’ Checkerspot, specimens collected by the CGS were sent to Never, however, have I heard it referred to as same name which was published in 1818, three of our other checkerspots in the genus Herman Behr who, in his original description anything but Harris’ Checkerspot. Notice that meaning that Doubleday’s use of the name Chlosyne are named for scientists. Rockslide of Rockslide Checkerspot (kindly provided it is the genus name that jumps around. This Synchloe was invalid. When it turns out that Checkerspot, Chlosyne whitneyi – Gabb’s to me by J. Pelham), wrote: “I take this is because the genus name can be changed by a genus name is invalid under the Code, a new Checkerspot, Chlosyne gabbii and Hoffman’s opportunity of showing my respect for Prof. any taxonomist with an opinion on the proper name must be created to take its place. So in Checkerspot, Chlosyne hoffmanni. Rockslide Whitney and the other members of that learned generic placement, whereas the species level 1870, A.G. Butler simply scrambled the letters Checkerspot is named after Josiah Dwight party, to all of whom I am under obligations name, i.e., harrisii, is subject to rigid rules in Synchloe and created the genus Chlosyne to Whitney, the same geologist for whom Mount for the kindness with which, under all kinds of under the Code of Zoological Nomenclature. take its place. Whitney is named. The name was given to hardships, they collected materials for a Fauna And although common names are not subject The use of anagrams in scientific names this species in 1863 by the California (from of our California Lepidoptera.” Another to any rules or codes, most authors refrain in not all that unusual. In my stomping Germany) lepidopterist, Herman Behr for member of “that learned party” was William from coining new names when perfectly good grounds at Ward Pound Ridge Reservation, whom Sierra Sulphur, Colias behrii, was More Gabb (1839-1878) for whom Gabb’s names are already in common use. in Westchester County, New York (which still named. Both Rockslide Checkerspot and Checkerspot was also named by Behr in 1863. 66 American Butterflies,Fall/Winter 2012 67.