Migdilybs biguttatus (Thunberg, 1822) Thunberg, 1822

Kondorosy, Előd, Rédei, Dávid & Mejlon, Hans, 2014, Taxonomic corrections to species of Rhyparochromidae (Hemiptera: Heteroptera) described by Carl Peter Thunberg, Zootaxa 3838 (5), pp. 567-574 : 570

Migdilybs biguttatus (Thunberg, 1822) , new combination

( Figs. 4–5 )

Lygaeus biguttatus Thunberg, 1822b: 4 . Syntype (s): Capensis [= South Africa]; depository not stated.

Migdilybs furcifer Hesse, 1925: 77 . Syntype (s) (♂): S.-W. Africa (doubtfully); SAMC; new subjective synonym. Migdilybs furcifer capensis Hesse, 1925: 78 . Syntype (s) (♂): South Africa: Cape Province, Cape Town; SAMC. Elevated to species rank by Scudder (1963: 1248), synonymized by Slater (1972: 166), with Migdilybs furcifer .

References. Scudder (1963): 1248 ( furcifer , in key), Slater (1964): 1046 ( furcifer , furcifer capensis , catalogue, distribution), Slater (1972): 160 ( furcifer , in key), 166 ( furcifer , redescription, figures, intraspecific variability, synonymy, larvae, distribution, host plant, behaviour), Ueshima & Ashlock (1980): 760 ( furcifer , karyotype, meiosis), Deckert (1990): 154 ( furcifer , diagnostic characters).

Type material examined. Lygaeus biguttatus . Lectotype (present designation) ♀ ( Fig. 4 ): “Uppsala Univ. Zool. Mus . / Thunbergsaml. nr. 18544 / Lygaeoides biguttatus / Cap. TYP” [red, printed]; “ LECTOTYPUS / Lygaeus biguttatus / Thunberg, 1822 / desig. Kondorosy, 2013” [with red frame, printed]; “2 guttatus / Cap. 14” [handwritten, pinned in the drawer next to the specimen ( Fig. 5 )]; deposited in UPSZ.

Discussion. Based on the ancient label pinned next to the specimen ( Fig. 5 ) the single female deposited in Thunberg’s collection in UPSZ is recognized as part of the original type series and it is hereby designated as a lectotype.

Lygaeus biguttatus has apparently never been mentioned after its original description; it was not included (perhaps due to erroneous omission) in the catalogue of Slater (1964). Reexamination of a syntype (hereby designated as lectotype) revealed that it is identical with Migdilybs furcifer described subsequently from Southwestern Africa and Cape Province ( Hesse 1925). Although the name Lygaeus biguttatus was not used after 1822, “automatic” conservation of the name Migdilybs furcifer (reversal of precedence) under Article 23.9 of the current edition of the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature ( ICZN 1999) is not possible because the conditions under Article 23.9.1.2 are not met. Although Lygaeus biguttatus is a widely overlooked name, Migdilybs furcifer is also not frequently cited, therefore we do not consider conservation of the junior name necessary. As a consequence, the following new subjective synonymy is proposed: Migdilybs biguttatus (Thunberg, 1822) = Migdilybs furcifer Hesse, 1925 , syn. nov.

Lygaeus biguttatus Thunberg, 1822 is a senior primary homonym of Lygaeus biguttatus Montrouzier, 1858 (now in Mirrhina Distant, 1920, Targaremini) described from New Caledonia. The two species are apparently not related taxonomically, Thunberg’s species was not cited since 1822, and Montrouzier’s species is of unknown identity ( Stål 1874, Slater 1964) with the type material apparently lost. As the validity of the junior homonym is in question we refrain from replacing the junior homonym in the present work, but rather prefer to leave the problem for a future revision of Mirrhina potentially connected with an application for a Commission ruling for maintaining the prevailing usage (cf. ICZN 1999, Articles 23.9.5 and 82).

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 7. Lectotypes of three of Thunberg’s species and selected relevant labels. 1 – 3, Lygaeus ater Thunberg, 1822; 4 – 5, Lygaeus biguttatus Thunberg, 1822; 6 – 7, Cimex caffer Thunberg, 1784. Scales in mm; labels not to scale.