2020/04/05 by J. Poorani, R. G. Booth · 1 citation
Agricultural and Biological Sciences · #Insect-Plant Interactions and Control #Insect Pest Control Strategies #Hemiptera Insect Studies
paper · doi:10.1080/00305316.2020.1748134
openalex publication_date 2020/04/05 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2025/11/06
The nomenclature of Scymnus quadrillum Motschulsky 1858 (nec Redtenbacher 1843), S. latemaculatus Motschulsky 1858, and Scymnus (Clitostethus) fumatus Sicard 1929, all originally described from Ceylon, is discussed and clarified. Based on examination of material at the Natural History Museum, London, identified by comparison with Motschulsky’s lectotypes, Scymnus (Pullus) coccivora Ayyar, 1925, an economically important species widely distributed in the Indian region, is found to be conspecific with S. quadrillum. As S. quadrillum is a junior primary homonym of S. quadrillum Redtenbacher, 1843, S. coccivora, the next seniormost available name, should be applied for this species. Scymnus latemaculatus Motschulsky, 1858 is the correct name of the species commonly and widely distributed in the Oriental region, Middle East and Africa and identified as S. quadrillum auctt., Scymnus (Pullus) taiwanus Ohta, and Scymnus (Pullus) belophallus Capra by various authors. Scymnus (Pullus) elegans v. clathratus Sicard, 1929, currently regarded as a synonym of S. coccivora, is conspecific and synonymous with S. latemaculatus (syn. nov.) and is removed from synonymy with S. coccivora. A lectotype is designated for S. latemaculatus. Scymnus (Clitostethus) fumatus Sicard, 1929 is transferred to Axinoscymnus Sasaji (comb. nov.), briefly redescribed and illustrated.