On the nomenclatural status of type genera in Coleoptera (Insecta)
Authors: Bouchard Patrice , Bousquet Yves , Davies Anthony E. , Cai Chenyang 
Published: March 2024

More than 4700 nominal family-group names (including names for fossils and ichnotaxa) are nomenclaturally available in the order Coleoptera. Since each family-group name is based on the concept of its type genus, we argue that the stability of names used for the classification of beetles depends on accurate nomenclatural data for each type genus. Following a review of taxonomic literature, with a focus on works that potentially contain type species designations, we provide a synthesis of nomenclatural data associated with the type genus of each nomenclaturally available family-group name in Coleoptera. For each type genus the author(s), year of publication, and page number are given as well as its current status (i.e., whether treated as valid or not) and current classification.

Information about the type species of each type genus and the type species fixation (i.e., fixed originally or subsequently, and if subsequently, by whom) is also given. The original spelling of the family-group name that is based on each type genus is included, with its author(s), year, and stem. We append a list of nomenclaturally available family-group names presented in a classification scheme. Because of the importance of the Principle of Priority in zoological nomenclature, we provide information on the date of publication of the references cited in this work, when known. Several nomenclatural issues emerged during the course of this work. We therefore appeal to the community of coleopterists to submit applications to the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature (henceforth “Commission”) in order to permanently resolve some of the problems outlined here.

The following changes of authorship for type genera are implemented here (these changes do not affect the concept of each type genus): CHRYSOMELIDAE:FulcidaxCrotch, 1870 (previously credited to “Clavareau, 1913”); CICINDELIDAE:EuprosopusW.S. MacLeay, 1825 (previously credited to “Dejean, 1825”); COCCINELLIDAE:AlesiaReiche, 1848 (previously credited to “Mulsant, 1850”); CURCULIONIDAE:ArachnopusBoisduval, 1835 (previously credited to “Guérin-Méneville, 1838”); ELATERIDAE:ThylacosternusGemminger, 1869 (previously credited to “Bonvouloir, 1871”); EUCNEMIDAE:ArrhipisGemminger, 1869 (previously credited to “Bonvouloir, 1871”),MesogenusGemminger, 1869 (previously credited to “Bonvouloir, 1871”); LUCANIDAE:SinodendronHellwig, 1791 (previously credited to “Hellwig, 1792”); PASSALIDAE:NeleidesHarold, 1868 (previously credited to “Kaup, 1869”),NeleusHarold, 1868 (previously credited to “Kaup, 1869”),PertinaxHarold, 1868 (previously credited to “Kaup, 1869”),PetrejusHarold, 1868 (previously credited to “Kaup, 1869”),UnduliferHarold, 1868 (previously credited to “Kaup, 1869”),VatiniusHarold, 1868 (previously credited to “Kaup, 1869”); PTINIDAE:MeziumLeach, 1819 (previously credited to “Curtis, 1828”); PYROCHROIDAE:AgnathusGermar, 1818 (previously credited to “Germar, 1825”); SCARABAEIDAE:EucraniumDejean, 1833 (previously “Brullé, 1838”).

The following changes of type species were implemented following the discovery of older type species fixations (these changes do not pose a threat to nomenclatural stability): BOLBOCERATIDAE:Bolbocerus bocchusErichson, 1841 forBolbelasmusBoucomont, 1911 (previouslyBolboceras gallicumMulsant, 1842); BUPRESTIDAE:Stigmodera gueriniiHope, 1843 forNeocurisSaunders, 1868 (previouslyAnthaxia fortnumiHope, 1846),Stigmodera peroniLaporte & Gory, 1837 forCurisLaporte & Gory, 1837 (previouslyBuprestis calopteraBoisduval, 1835); CARABIDAE:Carabus elatusFabricius, 1801 forMolopsBonelli, 1810 (previouslyCarabus terricolaHerbst, 1784 sensu Fabricius, 1792); CERAMBYCIDAE:Prionus palmatusFabricius, 1792 forMacrotomaAudinet-Serville, 1832 (previouslyPrionus serripesFabricius, 1781); CHRYSOMELIDAE:Donacia equisetiFabricius, 1798 forHaemoniaDejean, 1821 (previouslyDonacia zosteraeFabricius, 1801),Eumolpus ruberLatreille, 1807 forEuryopeDalman, 1824 (previouslyCryptocephalus rubrifronsFabricius, 1787),Galeruca affinisPaykull, 1799 forPsylliodesLatreille, 1829 (previouslyChrysomela chrysocephalaLinnaeus, 1758); COCCINELLIDAE:Dermestes rufusHerbst, 1783 forCoccidulaKugelann, 1798 (previouslyChrysomela scutellataHerbst, 1783); CRYPTOPHAGIDAE:Ips caricisG.-A. Olivier, 1790 forTelmatophilusHeer, 1841 (previouslyCryptophagus typhaeFallén, 1802),Silpha evanescensMarsham, 1802 forAtomariaStephens, 1829 (previouslyDermestes nigripennisPaykull, 1798); CURCULIONIDAE:Bostrichus cinereusHerbst, 1794 forCrypturgusErichson, 1836 (previouslyBostrichus pusillusGyllenhal, 1813); DERMESTIDAE:Dermestes trifasciatusFabricius, 1787 forAttagenusLatreille, 1802 (previouslyDermestes pellioLinnaeus, 1758); ELATERIDAE:Elater sulcatusFabricius, 1777 forChalcolepidiusEschscholtz, 1829 (previouslyChalcolepidius zonatusEschscholtz, 1829); ENDOMYCHIDAE:Endomychus rufitarsisChevrolat, 1835 forEpipocusChevrolat, 1836 (previouslyEndomychus tibialisGuérin-Méneville, 1834); EROTYLIDAE:Ips humeralisFabricius, 1787 forDacneLatreille, 1797 (previouslyDermestes bipustulatusThunberg, 1781); EUCNEMIDAE:Fornax austrocaledonicusPerroud & Montrouzier, 1865 forMesogenusGemminger, 1869 (previouslyMesogenus mellyiBonvouloir, 1871); GLAPHYRIDAE:Melolontha serratulaeFabricius, 1792 forGlaphyrusLatreille, 1802 (previouslyScarabaeus maurusLinnaeus, 1758); HISTERIDAE:Hister striatusForster, 1771 forOnthophilusLeach, 1817 (previouslyHister sulcatusMoll, 1784); LAMPYRIDAE:Ototreta fornicataE. Olivier, 1900 forOtotretaE. Olivier, 1900 (previouslyOtotreta weyersiE. Olivier, 1900); LUCANIDAE:Lucanus cancroidesFabricius, 1787 forLissotesWestwood, 1855 (previouslyLissotes menalcasWestwood, 1855); MELANDRYIDAE:Nothus clavipesG.-A. Olivier, 1812 forNothusG.-A. Olivier, 1812 (previouslyNothus praeustusG.-A. Olivier, 1812); MELYRIDAE:Lagria aterFabricius, 1787 forEnicopusStephens, 1830 (previouslyDermestes hirtusLinnaeus, 1767); NITIDULIDAE:Sphaeridium luteumFabricius, 1787 forCychramusKugelann, 1794 (previouslyStrongylus quadripunctatusHerbst, 1792); OEDEMERIDAE:Helops laevisFabricius, 1787 forDitylusFischer, 1817 (previouslyDitylus helopioidesFischer, 1817 [sic]); PHALACRIDAE:Sphaeridium aeneumFabricius, 1792 forOlibrusErichson, 1845 (previouslySphaeridium bicolorFabricius, 1792); RHIPICERIDAE:Sandalus nigerKnoch, 1801 forSandalusKnoch, 1801 (previouslySandalus petrophyaKnoch, 1801); SCARABAEIDAE:Cetonia clathrataG.-A. Olivier, 1792 forIncaLepeletier & Audinet-Serville, 1828 (previouslyCetonia yncaWeber, 1801);Gnathocera vitticollisW. Kirby, 1825 forGnathoceraW. Kirby, 1825 (previouslyGnathocera immaculataW. Kirby, 1825);Melolontha villosulaIlliger, 1803 forChasmatopterusDejean, 1821 (previouslyMelolontha hirtulaIlliger, 1803); STAPHYLINIDAE:Staphylinus politusLinnaeus, 1758 forPhilonthusStephens, 1829 (previouslyStaphylinus splendensFabricius, 1792); ZOPHERIDAE:Hispa muticaLinnaeus, 1767 forOrthocerusLatreille, 1797 (previouslyTenebrio hirticornisDeGeer, 1775).

The discovery of type species fixations that are older than those currently accepted pose a threat to nomenclatural stability (an application to the Commission is necessary to address each problem): CANTHARIDAE:MalthinusLatreille, 1805,MalthodesKiesenwetter, 1852; CARABIDAE:BradycellusErichson, 1837,ChlaeniusBonelli, 1810,HarpalusLatreille, 1802,LebiaLatreille, 1802,PheropsophusSolier, 1834,TrechusClairville, 1806; CERAMBYCIDAE:CallichromaLatreille, 1816,CallidiumFabricius, 1775,CerasphorusAudinet-Serville, 1834,DorcadionDalman, 1817,LepturaLinnaeus, 1758,MesosaLatreille, 1829,PlectromerusHaldeman, 1847; CHRYSOMELIDAE:AmblycerusThunberg, 1815,ChaetocnemaStephens, 1831,ChlamysKnoch, 1801,MonomacraChevrolat, 1836,PhratoraChevrolat, 1836,StylosomusSuffrian, 1847; COLONIDAE:ColonHerbst, 1797; CURCULIONIDAE:CryphalusErichson, 1836,LepyrusGermar, 1817; ELATERIDAE:AdeloceraLatreille, 1829,BeliophorusEschscholtz, 1829; ENDOMYCHIDAE:AmphisternusGermar, 1843,DapsaLatreille, 1829; GLAPHYRIDAE:AnthypnaEschscholtz, 1818; HISTERIDAE:HololeptaPaykull, 1811,TrypanaeusEschscholtz, 1829; LEIODIDAE:AnisotomaPanzer, 1796,CamiarusSharp, 1878,CholevaLatreille, 1797; LYCIDAE:CalopteronLaporte, 1838,DictyopteraLatreille, 1829; MELOIDAE:EpicautaDejean, 1834; NITIDULIDAE:StrongylusHerbst, 1792; SCARABAEIDAE:AnisopliaSchönherr, 1817,AnticheiraEschscholtz, 1818,CyclocephalaDejean, 1821,GlycyphanaBurmeister, 1842,OmalopliaSchönherr, 1817,OniticellusDejean, 1821,ParachiliaBurmeister, 1842,XylotrupesHope, 1837; STAPHYLINIDAE:BatrisusAubé, 1833,PhloeonomusHeer, 1840,SilphaLinnaeus, 1758; TENEBRIONIDAE:BolitophagusIlliger, 1798,MycetocharaGuérin-Méneville, 1827.

Type species are fixed for the following nominal genera: ANTHRIBIDAE:Decataphanes gracilisLabram & Imhoff, 1840 forDecataphanesLabram & Imhoff, 1840; CARABIDAE:Feronia erraticaDejean, 1828 forLoxandrusJ.L. LeConte, 1853; CERAMBYCIDAE:Tmesisternus oblongusBoisduval, 1835 forIcthyosomaBoisduval, 1835; CHRYSOMELIDAE:Brachydactyla annulipesPic, 1913 forPseudocriocerisPic, 1916,Cassida viridisLinnaeus, 1758 forEvaspistesGistel, 1856,Ocnoscelis cyanopteraErichson, 1847 forOcnoscelisErichson, 1847,Promecotheca peteliiGuérin-Méneville, 1840 forPromecothecaGuérin- Méneville, 1840; CLERIDAE:Attelabus mollisLinnaeus, 1758 forDendroplanetesGistel, 1856; CORYLOPHIDAE:Corylophus marginicollisJ.L. LeConte, 1852 forCorylophodesA. Matthews, 1885; CURCULIONIDAE:Hoplorhinus melanocephalusChevrolat, 1878 forHoplorhinusChevrolat, 1878;Sonnetius binariusCasey, 1922 forSonnetiusCasey, 1922; ELATERIDAE:Pyrophorus melanoxanthusCandèze, 1865 forAlampesChampion, 1896; PHYCOSECIDAE:Phycosecis litoralisPascoe, 1875 forPhycosecisPascoe, 1875; PTILODACTYLIDAE:Aploglossa salleiGuérin-Méneville, 1849 forAploglossaGuérin-Méneville, 1849,Colobodera ovataKlug, 1837 forColoboderaKlug, 1837; PTINIDAE:Dryophilus anobioidesChevrolat, 1832 forDryobiaGistel, 1856; SCARABAEIDAE:Achloa helvolaErichson, 1840 forAchloaErichson, 1840,Camenta obesaBurmeister, 1855 forCamentaErichson, 1847,Pinotus talausErichson, 1847 forPinotusErichson, 1847,Psilonychus eckloniiBurmeister, 1855 forPsilonychusBurmeister, 1855.

New replacement name: CERAMBYCIDAE:BasorusBouchard & Bousquet,nom. nov.forSobarusHarold, 1879.

New status: CARABIDAE: KRYZHANOVSKIANINI Deuve, 2020,stat. nov.is given the rank of tribe instead of subfamily since our classification uses the rank of subfamily for PAUSSINAE rather than family rank; CERAMBYCIDAE:AmymomaPascoe, 1866,stat. nov.is used as valid overNeoamymomaMarinoni, 1977,HolopterusBlanchard, 1851,stat. nov.is used as valid overProholopterusMonné, 2012; CURCULIONIDAE:PhytophilusSchönherr, 1835,stat. nov.is used as valid over the unnecessary new replacement nameSynophthalmusLacordaire, 1863; EUCNEMIDAE:NematodinusLea, 1919,stat. nov.is used as valid instead ofArrhipisGemminger, 1869, which is a junior homonym.

Details regarding additional nomenclatural issues that still need to be resolved are included in the entry for each of these type genera: BOSTRICHIDAE:LyctusFabricius, 1792; BRENTIDAE:TrachelizusDejean, 1834; BUPRESTIDAE:PristipteraDejean, 1833; CANTHARIDAE:ChauliognathusHentz, 1830,TelephorusSchäffer, 1766; CARABIDAE:CalathusBonelli, 1810,CosnaniaDejean, 1821,DicrochileGuérin-Méneville, 1847,EpactiusD.H. Schneider, 1791,MerismoderusWestwood, 1847,PolyhirmaChaudoir, 1850,SolenogenysWestwood, 1860,ZabrusClairville, 1806; CERAMBYCIDAE:AncitaJ. Thomson, 1864,CompsocerusAudinet-Serville, 1834,DorcadodiumGistel, 1856,GleneaNewman, 1842;HesperophanesDejean, 1835,NeoclytusJ. Thomson, 1860,PhymasternaLaporte, 1840,TetropsStephens, 1829,ZygoceraErichson, 1842; CHRYSOMELIDAE:AcanthoscelidesSchilsky, 1905,CorynodesHope, 1841,EdusellaChapuis, 1874;HemisphaerotaChevrolat, 1836;PhysonotaBoheman, 1854,PorphyraspisHope, 1841; CLERIDAE:DermestoidesSchäffer, 1777; COCCINELLIDAE:HippodamiaChevrolat, 1836,MyziaMulsant, 1846,PlatynaspisL. Redtenbacher, 1843; CURCULIONIDAE:CoeliodesSchönherr, 1837,CryptodermaRitsema, 1885,DeporausLeach, 1819,EpistrophusKirsch, 1869,GeonemusSchönherr, 1833,HylastesErichson, 1836; DYTISCIDAE:DeronectesSharp, 1882,PlatynectesRégimbart, 1879; EUCNEMIDAE:DirhagusLatreille, 1834; HYBOSORIDAE:CeratocanthusA. White, 1842; HYDROPHILIDAE:CyclonotumErichson, 1837; LAMPYRIDAE:LuciolaLaporte, 1833; LEIODIDAE:PtomaphagusHellwig, 1795; LUCANIDAE:LeptinopterusHope, 1838; LYCIDAE:CladophorusGuérin-Méneville, 1830,MimolibnetisKazantsev, 2000; MELOIDAE:MylabrisFabricius, 1775; NITIDULIDAE:MeligethesStephens, 1829; PTILODACTYLIDAE:DaemonLaporte, 1838; SCARABAEIDAE:AllidiostomaArrow, 1940,HeterochelusBurmeister, 1844,LiatongusReitter, 1892,LomapteraGory & Percheron, 1833,MegacerasHope, 1837,StenotarsiaBurmeister, 1842; STAPHYLINIDAE:ActocharisFauvel, 1871,AleocharaGravenhorst, 1802; STENOTRACHELIDAE:StenotrachelusBerthold, 1827; TENEBRIONIDAE:CryptochileLatreille, 1828,HeliopatesDejean, 1834,HelopsFabricius, 1775.

First Reviser actions deciding the correct original spelling: CARABIDAE:AristochroodesMarcilhac, 1993 (notAritochroodes); CERAMBYCIDAE:DorcadodiumGistel, 1856 (notDorcadodion), EVODININI Zamoroka, 2022 (not EVODINIINI); CHRYSOMELIDAE:CaryopemonJekel, 1855 (notCarpopemon),DecarthroceraLaboissière, 1937 (notDecarthrocerina); CICINDELIDAE:OdontocheilaLaporte, 1834 (notOdontacheila); CLERIDAE: CORMODINA Bartlett, 2021 (not CORMODIINA),OrthopleuraSpinola, 1845 (notOrthoplevra, notOrthopleuva); CURCULIONIDAE:ArachnobasBoisduval, 1835 (notArachnopus),PalaeocryptorhynchusPoinar, 2009 (notPalaeocryptorhynus); DYTISCIDAE:AmbarticusYang et al., 2019 and AMBARTICINI Yang et al., 2019 (notAmbraticus, not AMBRATICINI); LAMPYRIDAE:MegalophthalmusG.R. Gray, 1831 (notMegolophthalmus, notMegalopthalmus); SCARABAEIDAE:MentophilusLaporte, 1840 (notMintophilus, notMinthophilus),Pseudadoretus dilutellusSemenov, 1889 (notP. ditutellus).

While the correct identification of the type species is assumed, in some cases evidence suggests that species were misidentified when they were fixed as the type of a particular nominal genus. Following the requirements of Article 70.3.2 of the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature we hereby fix the following type species (which in each case is the taxonomic species actually involved in the misidentification): ATTELABIDAE:Rhynchites cavifronsGyllenhal, 1833 forLasiorhynchitesJekel, 1860; BOSTRICHIDAE:Ligniperda terebransPallas, 1772 forApateFabricius, 1775; BRENTIDAE:Ceocephalus appendiculatusBoheman, 1833 forUropteraBerthold, 1827; BUPRESTIDAE:Buprestis undecimmaculataHerbst, 1784 forPtosimaDejean, 1833; CARABIDAE:Amara lunicollisSchiødte, 1837 forAmaraBonelli, 1810,Buprestis connexusGeoffroy, 1785 forPolistichusBonelli, 1810,Carabus atrorufusStrøm, 1768 forPatrobusDejean, 1821,Carabus gigasCreutzer, 1799 forProcerusDejean, 1821,Carabus teutonusSchrank, 1781 forStenolophusDejean, 1821,Carenum bonelliiWestwood, 1842 forCarenumBonelli, 1813,Scarites picipesG.-A. Olivier, 1795 forAcinopusDejean, 1821,Trigonotoma indicaBrullé, 1834 forTrigonotomaDejean, 1828; CERAMBYCIDAE:Cerambyx lusitanusLinnaeus, 1767 forExocentrusDejean, 1835,Clytus supernotatusSay, 1824 forPsenocerusJ.L. LeConte, 1852; CICINDELIDAE:Ctenostoma jekeliiChevrolat, 1858 forCtenostomaKlug, 1821; CURCULIONIDAE:Cnemogonus leconteiDietz, 1896 forCnemogonusJ.L. LeConte, 1876;Phloeophagus turbatusSchönherr, 1845 forPhloeophagusSchönherr, 1838; GEOTRUPIDAE:Lucanus apterusLaxmann, 1770 forLethrusScopoli, 1777; HISTERIDAE:Hister rugicepsDuftschmid, 1805 forHypocaccusC.G. Thomson, 1867; HYBOSORIDAE:Hybosorus illigeriReiche, 1853 forHybosorusW.S. MacLeay, 1819; HYDROPHILIDAE:Hydrophilus melanocephalusG.-A. Olivier, 1793 forEnochrusC.G. Thomson, 1859; MYCETAEIDAE:Dermestes subterraneusFabricius, 1801 forMycetaeaStephens, 1829; SCARABAEIDAE:Aulacium carinatumReiche, 1841 forMentophilusLaporte, 1840,Phanaeus vindexW.S. MacLeay, 1819 forPhanaeusW.S. MacLeay, 1819,Ptinus germanusLinnaeus, 1767 forRhyssemusMulsant, 1842,Scarabaeus latipesGuérin-Méneville, 1838 forCheiroplatysHope, 1837; STAPHYLINIDAE:Scydmaenus tarsatusP.W.J. Müller & Kunze, 1822 forScydmaenusLatreille, 1802.

New synonyms: CERAMBYCIDAE: CARILIINI Zamoroka, 2022,syn. nov.of ACMAEOPINI Della Beffa, 1915, DOLOCERINI Özdikmen, 2016,syn. nov.of BRACHYPTEROMINI Sama, 2008, PELOSSINI Tavakilian, 2013,syn. nov.of LYGRINI Sama, 2008, PROHOLOPTERINI Monné, 2012,syn. nov.of HOLOPTERINI Lacordaire, 1868.