Taxonomic comments and corrections in Buprestidae (Coleoptera)

THE PAN-PACIFIC ENTOMOLOGIST 83(1):8&84, (2007) Taxonomic comments and corrections in Buprestidae (Coleoptera) Plant Pest Diagnostic Laboratory, California Department of Food & Agriculture, 3294 Meadowview Road, Sacramento, California, 95832, U.S.A. e-mail: cbellamy@cdfa.ca.gov Abstract. Discussion about several taxonomic acts involving various genus-groups in Buprestidae from the recent Catalogue of Palaearctic Coleoptera, Volume 3 (2006) is given. That catalogue's considerations of the species composition in the following genus-groups are discussed: Amorphosoma Laporte, 1835 and Vanroonia Obenberger 1923; the structure and composition of the Buprestis Linnaeus, 1758 genus-group; and the Meliboeus Deyrolle, 1864 genus-group including Bourgoinia Obenberger, 1926, Lakhonia Descarpentries & Villiers, 1967, Meliacanthus Thery, 1942, Meliboeoides ThCry, 1942, Melixes Schaefer, 1950, Nalanda Thery, 1904 and Tonkinula Obenberger 1923, genera vs. subgenera vs. synonyms. Comments about the gender of Trachys Fabricius, 1801, are discussed. New replacement names for Psiloptera (Lampetis) mimosae cyanea (Alfieri 1976) (preoccupied by Psiloptera cyanea (Kerremans 1898), Sambus dohertyi (Thery 1931) (preoccupied by Sambus dohertyi Thery 1926) and Sphenoptera (Buprestochila) purpuriventris Bellamy 1986 (preoccupied by S. (s. str.) purpuriventris Kraatz, in Heyden & Kraatz 1882) are proposed: Lampetis mimosae kubani, nom. nov., Sambus barkeri nom. nov. and Sphenoptera (Buprestochila) malawiensis nom. nov. Key Words. Coleoptera, Buprestidae, new catalogue, taxonomic discussion, new names. The recent publication of the Catalogue of Palaearctic Coleoptera, Volume 3, which includes the sections on Buprestidae in various taxon groups by Bily (2006); Bily, Volltovitsh & Kuban (2006); Jendek (2006); Kuban (2006); Kuban & Volkovitsh (2006); Volkovitsh (2006) and Volkovitsh & Kalashian (2006) presents a complete modern classification of the family for this biogeographical region. In addition to the annotated checklist (rather than a full catalogue), there are 21 pages (pp. 40-60) of "new acts and comments" including new replacement names, type species designations, resurrected names, new combinations and assignments, new assignments of invalid names, and new and reconfirmed synonyms. The majority of these taxonomic acts are valid and necessary, however I question the need to make several of the changes discussed below. The underlying reason for these discussions now is to substantiate the classification planned for the nearly complete world catalogue (Bellamy, in prep.) As much as I appreciate the great effort that produced this new Palaearctic catalogue, the limited data on the following cases are not presented in a convincing manner. For most of these situations I choose to not alter the structural classification to the world catalogue, as further study and detail are needed before these sparsely argued cases can be accepted. Following the erection of the genus Vanroonia by Obenberger (1923), species earlier placed in Amorphosoma Laporte (1835) from the Old World were transferred therein (e.g., Bellamy 1988, 1992, 1995). Kuban et al. (2001) treated the "Oriental Amorphosoma A thus suggesting that only three Afrotropical species (V. africana (Obenberger, 1928), the type species of Vanroonia, V. coraeboides Obenberger 1923

2007 BELLAMY: BUPRESTID TAXONOMY 8 1 and?7 guinae Obenberger, 1958) belonged to this genus and all other species belonged to Amorphosoma. Indeed, in Kuban (2006, p. 41), four species of Vanroonia are formally transferred to Amorphosoma, leaving the remainder without strict Palaearctic distribution in limbo. Exactly where the split between these two genera lies remains poorly defined, but I don't think that there is sufficient data published to propose a classification where one group is solely Afrotropical, while the other older genusgroup name includes species from the Neotropical, Oriental and Palaearctic regions, a biogeographical pattern that I do not find in any other buprestid genus nor higher taxon. Thus I prefer to treat the five Neotropical species in Amorphosoma and the remaining 21 species in Vanroonia; the Australian A. tasmanicum Germar, 1848 remains incertae sedis until the type can be located and placed. With virtually no discussion, the concepts of Kurosawa (1988) regarding the classification of the Buprestis genus-group have been reversed in the Palaearctic catalogue. Kurosawa (1988) made a case for recognizing three genera: Buprestis, Cypriacis Casey, 1909 and Yamina Kerremans, 1903, whereas Kuban (2006, pg. 41, 42) simply lists the latter two taxa as subgenera of Buprestis under the heading "New combinations and assignments". The lack of discussion is worrisome because it contributes to the impression that such significant taxonomic acts can be made in passing or by whim, without the same level and amount of detail we require and expect when erecting new higher taxa. The synonymy of Cypriacis (Himalobuprestis) Kurosawa 1988 under Cypriacis (Akiyamaia) Kurosawa 1988, now as Buprestis (Akiyamaia), is warranted (from earlier personal communication with V. ~ u b a ~ ) but again lacks discussion. The resurrection of Buprestis (Ancylocheira) Eschscholtz, 1829, long considered a synonym of Buprestis, as a subgenus is also without discussion or background. Despite my reservations about the insufficient supporting detail and commentary, I will follow this condensed classification for Buprestis. Kuban (2006, p. 52) proposed the wholesale synonymy of the following genera under Meliboeus: Bourgoinia Obenberger, 1926, Lakhonia Descarpentries & Villiers, 1967, Meliacanthus Thery, 1942, Tonkinula Obenberger 1923, Melixes Schaefer, 1950 and Nalanda Thery, 1904, after reducing Meliboeoides Thery, 1942 to subgenus rank. Such wide-ranging genus-group name synonymy proposals are clearly beyond the scope of a strictly Palaearctic catalogue. Melixes was originally proposed as a subgenus of Meliboeus and contains only two Palaearctic species. Bourgoinia contains three Afrotropical species. Nalanda is essentially an Asian genus, with species occurring in both the Palaearctic and Oriental regions. Lakhonia, Meliacanthus and Tonkinula are very small (1 to 3 spp.) Oriental region genera. Without including other genera that belong to the Meliboeus genus group (see Bellamy 1990), e.g., the Afrotropical Kamosia Kerremans 1898 (18 spp.), Kamosiella Bellamy 1988 (2 spp.), Melibaeopsis Kerremans, 1903 (13 spp.) and Xenomerius Obenberger, 1924 (9 spp.), the synonymies proposed by Kuban (2006) neither remedy existing confusion or stabilize the classification. GENDER OF PHAENOPS DEJEAN, 1833 Article 30.1.4.3 (ICZN 1999) states "a compound genus-group name ending in -ops is to be treated as masculine, regardless of its derivation or of its treatment by its

82 THE PAN-PACIFIC ENTOMOLOGIST Vol. 83(1) author"; this was the exact wording of Article 30(a)ii found in the previous edition of the ICZN (1985). However, in Opinion 1826 (ICZN 1996), the genus Phaenops was ruled to be feminine. Thus I found it surprising that Kuban (2006:387) used Phaenops as masculine. Many would support returning to the more consistent masculine definition for the -ops ending in keeping with the definition found the ICZN, but I am unaware that Opinion 1826 has been overturned or amended. One of the more contentious debates in buprestid taxonomy is about the proper gender for the second oldest genus-group name: Trachys Fabricius, 1801. Kuban (2006, p. 50) stated that both the proper spelling for the higher taxon names derived from this genus-group name and the gender have been improperly defined. A subsequently published application (Bily & Kuban 2006) to the International Commission for Zoological Nomenclature is referred to, stating that Trachysini and Trachysina are correct based on Trachys as a feminine name. Should this case be published and decided in favor of the applicants = opinion, then all workers should consider the case closed and follow with the appropriate spelling of species with feminine endings. However, a number of buprestid workers believe that the masculine spelling is correct based on Greek meaning and transliteration and that is how the imminent world catalogue is treating the approximately 640 valid species currently listed within Trachys. Larnpetis rnirnosae kubani, nom. nov. is proposed as the replacement name for Psiloptera (Larnpetis) rnirnosae cyanea (Alfieri) 1976:99 (preoccupied by Psiloptera cyanea (Kerremans) 1898:280). When Alfieri (1976) recognized Thkry's (1936) Egyptian aberration of P. (L.) rnirnosae as a valid subspecies, he was unaware of the earlier use of the species-group name by Kerremans, currently a junior subjective synonym of L. arnaurotica (Klug, 1855). The replacement name is chosen to acknowledge the work of V. Kuban who coordinated the recent effort to catalogue the Palaearctic buprestid fauna. Sarnbus barkeri nom. nov. is proposed as the replacement name for S. dohertyi (Thkry 1931:2 as Brachycisseis) from Papua New Guinea (preoccupied by S. dohertyi Thkry 1926: 190 from Sulawesi). With the recent synonymy of the genus Brachycisseis Thkry 1931 under Sambus Deyrolle 1864 by Kuban (2006:45), this case of homonymy must be corrected. The replacement name is chosen to honor Shelley Barker for his many contributions to our knowledge of Australian buprestids and especially for the recent, beautiful volume on Castiarina (Barker 2006). Sphenoptera (Buprestochila) rnalawiensis nom. nov. is proposed as the replacement name for S. (Buprestochila) purpuriventris Bellamy 1986:4 1 from Malawi (preoccupied by S. (s. str.) purpuriventris Kraatz, in Heyden & Kraatz 1882:314 from Uzbekistan). When I first described S. (B.) purpuriventris (Bellamy 1986), I checked the standard reference available then (and now), the buprestid fascicles of the Junk & Schenkling Coleopterorum Catalogus (Obenberger 1930) to find out if the name was preoccupied. Unfortunately Obenberger (1930:234) misspelled the Kraatz taxon as 'purpureiventris', which is not the original spelling. Thus a new name is proposed to correct this case of homonymy.

2007 BELLAMY: BUPRESTID TAXONOMY 8 3 MEA CULPA The discussion of Polycesta castelnaudi Saunders, 187 1 by Kuban (2006, p. 52) is essentially the same as was published earlier by Bellamy (2006, p. 146). However, what I published was sent to me by Mr. Kuban in late 2005 without any indication that it would be subsequently published by him. In my attempts to complete a world catalogue without including any new taxonomic acts therein, I had wrongly assumed that Mr. Kuban was contributing the details of a situation that needed correction and I added it to a short manuscript. Thus Mr. Kuban should receive all credit for working out the details of the situation with this taxon. LITERATURE CITED Alfieri, A. 1976. The Coleoptera of Egypt. Mkmoires de la Sociktk entomologique d'egypte 5: 1-36 1. Barker, S. 2006. Castiarina, Australia's richest jewel beetle genus. Australian Biological Resource Study, Canberra, 341 pp. Bellamy, C. L. 1986. New distributional and biological records for Sphenoptera Solier with a new species from Malawi (Coleoptera, Buprestidae). Journal of the Entomological Society of Southern Africa 49(1):3944. Bellamy, C. L. 1988. New genera, species and synonymy in African Coroebini (Coleoptera, Buprestidae, Agrilinae). The Coleopterists Bulletin 42(2): 173-192. Bellamy, C. L. 1990. The Meliboeus Deyrolle generic group, and further nomenclatural changes, in the Afrotropical Coroebini Bedel (Coleoptera: Buprestidae: Agrilinae). The Coleopterists Bulletin 43(4) (1989):315-324. Bellamy, C. L. 1992. Studies on the Indian Coroebini (Coleoptera: Buprestidae) I. Coleomania: Insect Biosystematics l(1): 5-8. Bellamy, C. L. 1995. The Malesian Coroebini, Part I. Introduction, nomenclatural changes and the description of a new genus and species from Sabah (Coleoptera: Buprestidae). The Coleopterists Bulletin 49(1):1-7. Bellamy, C. L. 2006. Nomenclatural notes and corrections in Buprestidae (Coleoptera). The Pan- Paclfic Entomologist 83(3/4): 145-1 58. Bily, S. 2006. New nomenclatorial and taxonomic acts, and comments. Buprestidae: Anthaxiini. pp. 58-60. Catalogue. Buprestidae: Chrysochroinae: Paratassini. p. 350; Buprestinae: Anthaxiini, pp. 369-381. In: I. Lobl & A. Smetana (Eds.). Catalogue of Palaearctic Coleoptera. Volume 3. Scarabaeoidea-Scirtoidea-Dascilloidea-Buprestoidea-Byrrhoidea. Bily, S. & V. Kuban. 2006. Case 3335. Trachys Fabricius, 1801 (Insecta, Coleoptera): proposed fixation of the feminine gender of the genus and the form of derivation of family group names based on Trachys. Bulletin of Zoological Nomenclature 63(3): 172-1 76. Bily, S., M. G. Volkovitsh & V. Kuban. 2006. Catalogue. Buprestidae: Galbellinae, p. 342 In: I. Lobl & A. Smetana (Eds.). Catalogue of Palaearctic Coleoptera. Volume 3. Scarabaeoidea- Scirtoidea-Dascilloidea-Buprestoidea-Byrrhoidea. Heyden, L. F. J. D. von. & G. Kraatz. 1882. Kafer um Samarkand, gesammelt von Haberhauer. Deutsche Entomologische Zeitschrift 24:297-338. ICZN. 1985. International Code of Zoological Nomenclature. Third Edition. International Trust for Zoological Nomenclature, 338 pp. ICZN. 1996. Opinion 1826. Melanophila Eschscholtz, 1829 and Phaenops Dejean, 1833 (Insecta, Coleoptera): conserved by the designation of Buprestis acuminata De Geer, 1774 as the type species of Melanophila. Bulletin of Zoological Nomenclature 53(1):60-61. ICZN. 1999. International Code of Zoological Nomenclature. Fourth Edition. International Trust for Zoological Nomenclature, 306 pp. Jendek, E. 2006. New nomenclatorial and taxonomic acts, and comments. Buprestidae: Agrilus. p. 60. Catalogue. Buprestidae: Agrilinae: Agrilini: Agrilina: Agrilus, pp. 388403. In: I. Lobl & A. Smetana (Eds.). Catalogue of Palaearctic Coleoptera. Volume 3. Scarabaeoidea- Scirtoidea-Dascilloidea-Buprestoidea-Byrrhoidea. Kerremans, C. 1898. Buprestides du Congo et des regions voisines. Annales de la Sociktk entomologique de Belgique 42:272-329.

84 THE PAN-PACIFIC ENTOMOLOGIST Vol. 83(1) Kuban, V. 2006. New nomenclatorial and taxonomic acts, and comments. Buprestidae: various groups. pp. 40-52. Catalogue. Buprestidae: Chrysochroinae: Chrysochroini, Chalcophorini, Dicercini, Poecilonotini. pp. 342-352. Buprestinae: Actenodini. p. 369; Buprestini, Chrysobothrini, Coomaniellini, Kisanthobiini, Melanophilini, Thomassetiini. pp. 381-388; Agrilinae: Agrilini: (without genus Agrilus), Aphanisticini (& M. Y. Kalashian), Coraebini, Trachysini, pp. 403421. In: I. Lobl & A. Smetana (Eds.). Catalogue of Palaearctic Coleoptera. Volume 3. Scarabaeoidea-Scirtoidea-Dascilloidea-Buprestoidea-Byrrhoidea. Kuban, V., K. Majer & J. Kolibac. 2001. Classification of the tribe Coraebini Bedel, 1921 (Coleoptera, Buprestidae, Agrilinae). Acta Musei Moraviae, Scientiae biologicae (Brno) 85(2000): 185-287. Kuban, V. & M. G. Volkovitsh. 2006. Catalogue. Buprestidae: Julodinae, pp. 325-330. In: I. Lobl & A. Smetana (Eds.). Catalogue of Palaearctic Coleoptera. Volume 3. Scarabaeoidea- Scirtoidea-Dascilloidea-Buprestoidea-Byrrhoidea. Kurosawa, Y. 1988. Reorganization of Buprestis and its allies (Coleoptera, Buprestidae). Kontyzi 56(2):261-279. Obenberger, J. 1923. ~ ada novqch rodfi Eeledi Buprestidae (Coleoptera). Une serie de nouveaux genres de Buprestides. Acta Entornologica Musaei Nationalis Pragae 1 : 1344. Obenberger, J. 1930. Buprestidae 2. In: W. Junk & S. Schenkling (Eds.). Coleopterorurn Catalogus, W. Junk, Berlin, Volume 12, Pars 111:213-568. ThCry, A. 1926. Recherches synonymiques sur les Buprestides et descriptions d'espkces nouvelles. Bulletin et Annales de la Sociiti entornologique de Belgique 66(4):149-182. Thery, A. 1931. Description du genre Brachycisseis (Col. Buprestidae) Bulletin da la Sociktk entornologique de France 1931 (2):2&29. Thery, A. 1936. Description de Buprestides nouveaux de la Faune Egyptienne et remarques synonymique (Coleoptera). Bulletin de la Sociiti Royale Entornologique d'egypte 20:3-15. Volkovitsh, M. G. 2006. New nomenclatorial and taxonomic acts, and comments. Buprestidae: Polycestinae and Buprestinae. pp. 56-8; Catalogue. Buprestidae: Polycestinae, pp. 330-342. In: I. Lobl & A. Smetana (Eds.). Catalogue of Palaearctic Coleoptera. Volume 3. Scarabaeoidea-Scirtoidea-Dascilloidea-Buprestoidea-Byrrhoidea. Apollo Books, Stenstrup, 690 pp. Volkovitsh, M. G. & M. Y. Kalashian. 2006. New nomenclatorial and taxonomic acts, and comments. Buprestidae: Chrysochroinae: Sphenopterini. pp. 53-56; Catalogue. Buprestidae: Chrysochroinae: Sphenopterini, pp. 352-369. In: I. Lobl & A. Smetana (Eds.). Catalogue of Palaearctic Coleoptera. Volume 3. Scarabaeoidea-Scirtoidea-DascilloideaBuprestoidea-Byrrhoidea. Received 1 Nov 2006; Accepted 17 Nov 2006. Publication date 29 Mar 2007.