University of Nebraska - Lincoln DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln Center for Systematic Entomology, Gainesville, Insecta Mundi Florida June 1991 On the Nomenclature and Classification of the Meloidae (Coleoptera) Richard B. Selander Florida State Collection of Arthropods, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Gainesville, FL Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/insectamundi Part of the Entomology Commons Selander, Richard B., "On the Nomenclature and Classification of the Meloidae (Coleoptera)" (1991). Insecta Mundi. 416. https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/insectamundi/416 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Center for Systematic Entomology, Gainesville, Florida at DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. It has been accepted for inclusion in Insecta Mundi by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. Vol. 5, No. 2, June 1991 65 On the Nomenclature and Classification of the Meloidae (Coleoptera) Richard B. Selander Florida State Collection of Arthropods P. 0. Box 147100 Gainesville, Florida 3261 4-7100 Abstract menclature (International Commission on Zoologi- Forty-three available family-group names (and three cal Nomenclature 1985). unavailable names) in Meloidae are listed as a basis for establishing nomenclatural priority. Available genus- Family-Group Names in Meloidae group names, 256 in number, are listed alphabetically In the present century Wellman (1910a), with indication of the type species of each; this is fol- Borchmann (1917), and Kaszab (1969) have pub- lowed by a list of 23 names proposed or used at the genus-group level that are unavailable in zoological lished classifications of the Meloidae to the generic nomenclature. Finally, a classification of the family or subgeneric level on a worldwide basis. None of Meloidae to the subgeneric level is presented in which the three paid much attention to the priority of names at the family-group and genus-group levels are family-group names, nor in general have the many treated in a manner consistent with the provisions of the authors who have dealt with restricted segments of International Code of Zoological Nomenclature. This the meloid fauna. Kaszab's (1969) method of classification recognizes three subfamilies (Eleticinae, assigning authorship was particularly confusing. In Meloinae, and Horiinae), 10 tribes, 15 subtribes, 116 violation of the ICZN and general practice in genera, and 66 subgenera. The subtribes Pyrotina and zoology, he gave authorship to the first author to Lydina (properly Alosimina), of the tribe Cerocomini, are use a name at a particular taxonomic level. For combined with the subtribe Lyttina. The tribe Steno- example, Eupomphini was credited to Selander derini, of the subfamily Horiinae, is defined to include Stenodera ~schscholtz.~~is~asta Selander is transferred (1955b)but Eupomphina to Kaszab (1959) (actually from Cerocomini to Meloini. Recently proposed changes both names belong to LeConte (1862 [1861-621), in classification at the genus-group level are incorpor- who first used a family-group name (Eupomphae) ated. In addition, Gynapteryx Fairmaire and Germain is based on Eupompha LeConte). placed in the synonymy of Picnoseus Solier; Afromeloe The first family-group names applied to blister Schmidt and Lampromeloe Reitter, formerly treated as beetles were Horiales and Cantharidiae, both subgenera of Meloe Linnaeus, are elevated to full generic proposed by Latreille (1802). Horiales was based on rank; and Zonitolytta Pic is reduced to subgeneric rank the genus Horia Fabricius. Cantharidiae was based in Nemognathu Illiger. on a misapplication of the generic name Cantharis Linnaeus (1758), the type genus of the soldier Introduction beetle family Cantharidae. This misapplication The first part of this work is a chronological began with Geoffroy (1762) and continued through list of family-group names in Meloidae in which most of the 19th century, despite the fact that the type genus of the nominal taxon denoted by Geoffroy's unjustified use of Cantharis was rejected each name is specified. The second is an alphabeti- as early as 1775 by Fabricius, who proposed the cal list of genus-group names in which the type name Lytta for the taxon in question. Gyllenhal species of the nominal taxon denoted by each (1810), one of the earliest workers to accept Fabri- available name is specified. The third is a classifi- cius' interpretation, did not suggest substituting for cation of the Meloidae to the subgeneric level. Cantharidae a family-group name based on Lytta Throughout the work the acronym ICZN Fabricius, as a few later authors were to do, but denotes the International Code of Zoological No- coined the name Melooides, based on Meloe Lin- naeus (1758). Well before the middle of the 19th Insecta Mundi century it was generally accepted that Horiu Eleticides Wellman (1910a: 221). Eletica Dejean (1834 Fabricius and its close allies could be placed in the [1833-371). same family with other blister beetles, which came Calospastides Wellman (1910a: 221). Calospasta to be known as Cantharidae (the soldier beetles at LeConte (1862 [1861-621). that time being called Telephoridae) or, less com- Gynaecomelodides Wellman (1910a: 221). Gynaw- meloe Wellman (1910a). monly except in North America, as Meloidae. Early Cysteodemides Wellman (1910a: 221). Cysteodemus in the 20th century the application of Cantharis to LeConte (1851). meloids was finally abandoned, and the family Apterospastides Wellman (1910a: 221). Apterospasta became known universally as Meloidae. LeConte (1862 [1861-621). In view of its provenance, Cantharidae (and Horniides Wellman (1910a: 221). Hornia Riley (1877). variants) is not a legitimate family-group name Derideides Wellman (1910a: 221). Deridea Westwood with reference to blister beetles. Further, while the (1875). family-group name based on Horiu has been Tricraniides Wellman (1910a: 221). Tricrania LeConte applied at the subfamily and tribal level, it has (1860). never been used to refer to the blister beetles as a Zonabriini Reitter (1911: 393). Zonabris Harold (1879). whole. In order to legalize retention of the name Stenoriides Parker & Boving (1924: 32). Stenoria Meloidae for the blister beetles it will be necessary Mulsant (1857). Apalides Parker & Boving (1924: 33). Apalus Fabricius to apply to the ICZN to give precedence to Melo- (1775). oides Gyllenhal (1810) over Horiales Latreille Tetraonycidae Boving & Craighead (1931: 59). Tetm- (1802). onyx Latreille (1805). Forty-three available and three unavailable Epicautini Denier (193513: 151). Epicauta Dejean (1834 family-group names are listed below chronological- [1833-371). ly (and within a single work in order of appear- Meloetyphlini Borgmeier (1937: 248). Meloetyphlus ance), together with the type genus of the nominal Waterhouse (1872). taxon denoted by each name. The unavailable Tegroderini Dillon (1952: 373). Tegrodera LeConte names do not meet the requirements of ICZN Art. (1851). 13(a). Pyrotini MacSwain (1956: 67). Pyrota Dejean (1834 [1833-371). Ertliini Kaszab (1959: 71). Ertlia Borchmann (1942) Available Names (preoccupied). Horiales Latreille (1802: 182). Horia Fabricius (1787). Spasticini Kaszab (1959: 72). Spastica Lacordaire Melooides Gyllenhal (1810: 481). Meloe Linnaeus (1859). (1758). Megetrina Kaszab (1959: 80). Megetra LeConte (1859). Cerocomatida Leach (1815~:105). Cerocoma Fabricius Lydina Kaszab (1959: 87). Lydus Latreille (1803). (1775). Leptopalpina Kaszab (1959: 102, fig. 97). Leptopalpus Mylabrites Castelnau (1840: 266). Mylabris Fabricius GuBrin-MBneville (1829-44). (1775). Calydina Kaszab (1960: 134). Calydus Reitter (1896). Nemognathites Castelnau (1840: 280). Nemogmtha Prolyttini Selander (1960b: 25). Prolytta Kaszab (1959). Illiger (1807). Protomeloini Abdullah (1965b: 43). Protomeloe Abdul- Lyttoides Solier (1851: 278). Lytta Fabricius (1775). lah (1965). Alosimates Mulsant (1857: 358). Alosimus Mulsant Xenospastina Selander (1966: 467). Xenospasta Selan- (1857). der (1966). Zonitaires Mulsant (1857: 372). Zonitis Fabricius Anthicoxenina Selander (1966: 470). Anthicoxenus (1775). Fairmaire and Germain (1860). Sitarates Mulsant (1857: 393). Sitaris Latreille (1802). Eospastina Selander (1966: 474). Eospasta Selander Macrobases LeConte (1862 [1861-621: 272). Macrobasis (1966). LeConte (1862 [1861-621). Ertlianina Selander (1966: 478). Ertliana Selander Eupomphae LeConte (1862 [1861-621: 274). Eupompha (1964) (replacement name for Ertlia Borchmann). LeConte (1858b). Morphozonitini Kaszab (1969: 242). Morphozonitis Pic Phodagae LeConte (1862 [1861-621: 274). Phodaga (1922). LeConte (1858b). Sybarides Wellman (1910a: 221). Sybaris Stephens Unavailable Names (1832). Cissitini Kaszab (1966a: 187). Cissites Latreille (18044. Cordylospastides Wellman (1910a: 221). Cordylospasta Nomen nudum under ICZN Art. 13(a). Horn (1875). Vol. 5, No. 2, June 1991 Palaestrina Kaszab (1969: 244). Palaestra Castelnau Aksentjev (1988: 571) proposed to transfer (1840). Nomen nudum under ICZN Art. 13(a). Copobaenus Fairmaire and Germain (1863: 263) Kaszab (1969) gave the date for Palaestrina as 1959, from Meloidae to Pedilidae. Although one meloid but I cannot find the name in his work before 1969. species [Spastics bicolor (Pic 1896)l was described Stenoderini Selander (196413: 1057). Stenodera Esch- originally in Copobaenus, the genus itself was scholtz (1818). Nomen nudum under ICZN Art. named in the family Pedilidae and has never been 13(a).