Gnathodracon Razowski, 2012

Aarvik, Leif & Prins, Willy De, 2017, The importance of correct labelling of types: an example in Tortricidae (Lepidoptera) and its rectification, Zootaxa 4347 (3), pp. 595-597 : 595

Confusion of two new species in the genus Gnathodracon Razowski, 2012

Razowski (2012) proposed the new genus Gnathodracon in which he placed five new species. Unfortunately, the descriptions and illustrations of two of the species are mixed. When comparing specimens with the descriptions and figures in Razowski’s paper, it is clear that Razowski figured the adults of one species under one name and its genitalia under another name. Even though the captions to the figures indicate otherwise, the adults in figures 14 and 15 belong to the species described as G. orbiculina (also the name indicates this), and the adult in figure 11 belongs to the species described as G. lukimayumbe (e.g. “wing rubbed”). The figures of the male genitalia of the two species are labelled correctly. There is further confusion because under the description of G. orbiculina , it is stated: “Wing span of one female 16 mm,”, but later it is stated: “Female genitalia unknown.”, and in the last line states: “ Paratypes 3 identically labelled males.” The female genitalia on slide 00401 (figure 9, labelled as G. lukimayumbe ) actually belong to G. orbiculina . The correct associations of the numbers in Razowski’s paper are as follows: figures 2, 9, 14 and 15 belong to G. orbiculina and figures 5 and 11 belong to G. lukimayumbe . The mistake in Razowski’s publication stems from switching the labels belonging to the holotypes of G. orbiculina and G. lukimayumbe . To prevent future confusion we present corrected figures of the adults, labels, and genitalia of the holotypes of the two species and the single female paratype of G. orbiculina ( Figs. 1–9 ). The labels of the holotypes have now been placed under the correct specimens, and the material is deposited in the Royal Museum for Central Africa (RMCA), Tervuren, Belgium. During a recent visit (01 October 2017) by the authors to the Institute of Systematics and Evolution of Animals, Polish Academy of Sciences, Krakow (ISEA), it was observed that paratypes of G. orbiculina were placed under the correct label, “ Gnathodracon orbiculina ”, in the collection. This confirms that the information given in the present paper is correct.

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 9. Gnathodracon spp. 1 – 3: Gnathodracon lukimayumbe Razowski, 2012; 1. — Holotype ♂, 2. — Holotype labels, — Holotype labels, 3. — Holotype male genitalia; 4 – 9: Gnathodracon orbiculina Razowski, 2012; 4. — Holotype ♂, 5. — Holotype labels, 6. — Holotype male genitalia, 7. — Paratype ♀, 8. — Paratype labels, 9. — Paratype female genitalia.