Aphis viminalis Hartig, 1841

Brunet, Bryan M. T., Raupach, Michael J., Rehage, Heinz-Otto, Havill, Nathan P. & Foottit, Robert G., 2023, Discovery of the primary aphid (Hemiptera: Aphidomorpha) and scale insect (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha) type specimens from the collection of Theodor Hartig (1805 - 1880), Zootaxa 5369 (1), pp. 89-116 : 100-101

Aphis viminalis Hartig, 1841

Aphis viminalis Hartig, 1841: 369 . HOLOTYPE: (327 [7.03]), Salix .

Aphis viminalis Boyer de Fonscolombe, 1841 (senior primary homonym— Hottes, 1930a: 184).

Pterocomma salicis salicis ( Linnaeus, 1758) (senior synonym—Börner, 1952: 67, “ P. (C.) salicis ). Valid

Specimens. A single pinned alate (327) collected from willow in Kirchhof, Germany, on June 10, 1837.

Remarks. The specimen appears to lack the large, swollen and brightly coloured siphunculi characteristic of this species. Interestingly, Hartig (1841) also did not mention this distinctive character in his description. The current synonymy with Pterocomma salicis ( Linnaeus, 1758) was proposed by Börner (1952) without justification. Thus, given that he was unlikely to have seen Hartig’s type material the synonymy may be incorrect. The name Aphis viminalis Hartig, 1841 is also in conflict with Aphis viminalis Boyer de Fonscolombe, 1841 [= Tuberolachnus salignus ( Gmelin, 1789) ]. Since the date of publication of Hartig (1841) cannot be reliably placed it is considered to be published on December 31, 1841 (Article 21.3.2). Boyer de Fonscolombe’s name, however, was published on March 17, 1841, and therefore has priority. A replacement name may be necessary for A. viminalis Hartig if its synonymy with P. salicis is not supported since there are no other available synonyms.