 Maevia inclemens is the type species for the genus Maevia (C.L. Koch, 1850) ,: 2-3 which includes another 10 species in May 2011. The species name is derived from Latin adjective inclēmens "cruel, harsh" or "rough". The species was first called Attus inclemens, and other names including Attus vittatus, Maevia pencillata, and Maevia vittata .: 2-3 Also the two male forms look and behave so differently that they were originally considered two distinct species. In 1955 Robert Barnes chose M. inclemens ,: 1 and this has become the standard name.
