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Journal of the Lepidopterists' Society 32(2), 1978, 116-117
A NEW NAME FOR PAPILIO CERES CRAMER, [1776], NEC FABRICIUS, 1775 (NYMPHALIDAE, DANAINAE)
Gerardo Lamas
Museo de Historia Natural "Javier Prado," Apartado 1109, Lima—100, Peru
and Department of Entomology, National Museum of Natural History,
Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D. C. 20560
ABSTRACT. Lycorea pieteri, nomen novum, is proposed as a replacement name of Papilio ceres Cramer, [1776], pre-occupied by Papilio ceres Fabricius, 1775.
Papilio ceres, a danaine described by Cramer ([1776]: 141, 152, pi. 90, fig. A) from "Surinam" is a junior primary homonym of Papilio ceres Fabricius (1775: 504), an African nymphaline. The only author who seems to have noticed this homonymy is Billberg (1820: 77). Under his new genus Epimetes, Billberg introduced the name sebethis, as follows:
Sebethis Brasil. Eg. Ceres Fbr.
As can be surmised from other examples elsewhere in his work, the above notation indicates that Billberg was proposing his name sebethis as a substitute for ceres Fabricius, and that he had a specimen (or specimens) from "Brazil" in his collection (Eg. = Auctor hujus operis). What is not clear is if Billberg considered ceres Cramer to be the senior name, or if he intended to write "Cr." instead of "Fbr." after ceres, and just made a lapsus calami. However, in at least one other instance, Billberg gives preference to a junior Cramerian name over a Fabrician one, under the genus Amaryssus Dalman (minos Cramer, [1780] versus astenous Fabricius, 1775).
Whatever Billberg's true intention was, it is his action which counts here, and the result was the unfortunate introduction of an invalid junior synonym of Papilio ceres Fabricius (currently known as Najas ceres (Fox et al., 1965) or Euphaedra ceres Auctt.; the correct nomenclatorial status of this species is not yet settled, cf. Cowan, 1974).
Therefore, Papilio ceres Cramer still needs a replacement name, and under the provisions of Article 60(b) of the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature I hereby propose pieteri, in the combination Lycorea pieteri, nom. no v. This name is a masculine noun after the patronym of Pieter Cramer.
Acknowledgments Mr. William D. Field, Smithsonian Institution, kindly read and com-
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mented on the manuscript. This paper was prepared during the tenure of a post-doctoral fellowship at the National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution.
Literature Cited
Billberg, G. J. 1820. Enumeratio insectorum in Museo Billberg. [Holmiae], Gadel. [iv] + 138 p.
Cowan, C. F. 1974. Comments supporting the four outstanding requests affecting butterfly generic names (Insecta, Lepidoptera). Bull. Zool. Nomencl. 30(3/4): 133-134.
Cramer, P. [1776]. De uitlandische Kapellen voorkomende in de drie Waereld-Deelen Asia, Africa en America. Amsteldam, J. S. Baalde and J. Van Schoonhoven & Comp.; Utrecht, Barthelemy Wild. 1(8): 133-155, pis. 85-96.
Fabricius, J. C. 1775. Systema Entomologiae, sistens insectorum classis, ordines, genera, species, adiectis synonymis, locis, descriptionibus, observationibus. Flens-burgi et Lipsiae, Korte. [iv] + [xii] + [xvi] + 832 p.
Fox, R. M., A. W. Lindsey, Jr., H. K. Clench & L. D. Miller. 1965. The Butterflies of Liberia. Mem. Amer. Entomol. Soc. 19: [4] + ii + 438 pp., 1 pi., 233 figs.