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Submitted to: The Bulletin of Zoological Nomenclature
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal Publication Acceptance Date: 6/12/1997 Publication Date: N/A Citation: N/A Interpretive Summary: Moths in the subfamily Nymphulinae can be crop pests, but some species are also predators on other insects. In order to correctly identify these moths, the names used by scientists need to be stable and universally accepted. This papeer is an application to the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature to conserve the subfamily name Nympulinae, the only taxon in the Lepidoptera with truly aquatic caterpillars feeding on aquatic plants and a few as predators of Simuliidae, and the suppression of an older name, the Acentropinae. Use of the latter name would not reflect the general morphological and biological characteristics of the Nymphulinae, and it would cause confusion in the nomenclature of the Pyraloidea and in the aquatic weed biocontrol community. This proposal, if accepted, will maintain stability in usage and identification of this group of moths with aquatic caterpillars of interest to biocontrol workers of aquatic weeds. This information will be used by scientists and identifiers in ARS and other agencies who are charged with identifying pests or potential pests Technical Abstract: The purpose of this application is the conservation of the subfamilial name Nymphulinae Duponchel [1845] 1844 for a widely distributed subfamily of moths placed in Crambidae. The senior subjective synonym Acentropinae Stephens, 1836 is available, but it has been listed only six times as a valid name and its suppression is proposed. |
