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IWASE: Synopsis of Life-histories Vol.8: nos.3-4
16. Neope goschkevitschii Menetries larva on Pleioblastus (Gramineae). D. P.
17. Myodesis gotama fulginia Fruhstorfer larva on Oryza, Oplismenus, etc. (Gramineae). D. L.
18. Myodesis francisca perdiccas Hewitson larva on Oplismenus, etc. (Gramineae). D. L.
19. Coenonympha oedippus annulifer Butler larva on Cyperaceae. S. L.
20. Coenonympha hero neoperseis Fruhstorfer larva on Cyperaceae. S. L.
21. Melanitis leda Linne ? larva on Gramineae. D. A.?
22. Melanitis phedima oitensis Matsumura larva on Miscanthus, Zea, Coix, Setaria, Saccharum, etc. (Gramineae). D. A.
4 Shinhanacho, Hongo, Tokyo, JAPAN
THE NAMING OF SUBSPECIES IN LEPIDOPTERA
The great proliferation of subspecific names within the Lepidoptera in the past twenty-five years has posed a problem which the authors feel is important to all lepidopterists. The purpose of this note is not to condemn the practice of naming subspecies but rather to propose that the following partly accepted criteria be observed more consistently by those who would describe new races.
1. That new subspecies be named primarily in papers which discuss the geographic variation of the entire species as fully as possible.
2. That isolated descriptions of subspecies be made only in such species as have already been analyzed in the above manner,
We feel that the advantages to be gained from such a procedure are considerable. In the first place, this would cut down the naming of populations later found to be intermediate in a cline. Secondly, it would gather the names applied to the subspecies of a species together into a few rather than many scattered publications. Thirdly, and perhaps most important, it would reduce the necessity for later writers of synonomizing numerous names found not worthy of retention when the whole species population is reviewed. One only needs to look at the taxonomy of a genus like Parnassius to see the terrific systematic confusion that can result from ill-considered, over-enthusiastic naming of infraspecific entities. We sincerely hope that the above criteria will be followed in the naming of subspecies in order that a ponderous accumulation of trivial names in the Lepidoptera can be avoided.
NICHOLAS W. GlLLHAM, Biology Labs., Harvard University, Cambridge 38, Mass., U.S.A. Paul R. EHRLICH, Dept. of Entomology, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kans., U.S.A.