Bothynus Hope, 1837 (Insecta, Coleoptera, SCARABAEIDAE): proposed conservation of usage by designation of Scarabaeus ascanius Kirby, 1819 as the type species

Authors

Brett C. Ratcliffe, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Andrew B. T. Smith, Research Division, Canadian Museum of Nature, P. 0. Box 3443, Station D. Ottawa, ON, KIP 6P4, CanadaFollow

Date of this Version

3-2007

Comments

Published in Bulletin of Zoological Nomenclature 64(1) March 2007. Copyright (c) 2007 International Trust for Zoological Nomenclature. Used by permission.

Abstract

The purpose of this application, under Article 70.3.2 of the Code, is to conserve the current usage of the generic name Bothynus Hope, 1837 for well-known scarab beetles of the family SCARABAEIDAE (subfamily DYNASTINAE) by designation of Scarabaeus ascanius Kirby, 1819 as the type species. The type species of Bothynus is at present Geotrupes cuniculus Fabricius, 1801, based on a misidentification. It has long been recognized that the species involved in Hope's misidentification of G. cuniculus is indeterminable. It is proposed that Scarabaeus ascanius Kirby, 18 19 is designated as the type species.