A junior homonym was detected recently among the katydid genera, and the following replacement name is proposed: Beierotettix nom. nov. for Colobotettix Beier, 1960. Accordingly, new combinations are herein proposed for the species currently included in this genus: Beierotettix marginatus (Brunner von Wattenwyl, 1895) comb. nov. and Beierotettix viridis (Beier, 1960) comb. nov.
Introduction
The purpose of the present paper is to bring the taxonomy of katydids into accordance with the requirements of the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature (1999). In an effort to reduce the number of homonyms in Tettigoniidae, I found recently a katydid genus whose name had been previously published for a different taxon, making it a junior homonym. In accordance with Article 60 of the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature, I propose a substitute name for this genus name.
Order: Orthoptera
Suborder: Ensifera
Superfamily: Tettigonioidea Krauss, 1902
Family: Tettigoniidae Krauss, 1902
Subfamily: Pseudophyllinae Burmeister, 1838
Tribe: Cocconotini Brunner von Wattenwyl, 1895
Genus Beierotettix nom. nov.
Colobotettix Beier, 1960. Tierreich 74: 173. (Insecta: Orthoptera: Ensifera: Tettigonioidea: Tettigoniidae: Pseudophyllinae: Cocconotini). Preoccupied by Colobotettix Ribaut, 1948. Bull. Soc. Hist. nat. Toulouse, 83, 58. (Insecta: Hemiptera: Cicadomorpha: Membracoidea: Cicadellidae: Deltocephalinae: Athysanini).
Remarks on nomenclatural change.— The neotropical and nearctic Colobotettix Beier, 1960 was established for a katydid genus with the type species Colobotettix viridis Beier, 1960 from Central America, Guatemala in Tettigoniidae. It is still used as a valid genus name in Orthoptera (e.g., Otte 1997, Eades et al. 2007). For the present, the genus includes only two species as Colobotettix marginatus (Brunner von Wattenwyl, 1895) and Colobotettix viridis Beier, 1960.
Nevertheless the name Colobotettix is already occupied. Ribaut (1948) established a European leafhoppers genus Colobotettix with the type species Thamnotettix morbillosus Melichar, 1896 from Austria in the family Cicadellidae. It is still used as a valid genus name in Hemiptera (e.g., Oman et al. 1990, Söderman 2007). It is a European monotypic genus. It is distributed in Austria, Czech Republic, Finland, France, Germany, Poland, Switzerland (Ribaut 1952; Nast 1972, 1987; Ossiannilsson 1983; Remane & Fröhlich 1994; Holzinger 1996; Günthart & Mühlethaler 2002; Nickel & Remane 2002; Nickel 2003).
Thus the katydid genus Colobotettix Beier, 1960 is a junior homonym of the genus Colobotettix Ribaut, 1948 (Hemiptera). In accordance with Article 60 of the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature, Fourth Edition (1999), I suggest here that the name Beierotettix be erected as a replacement name for Colobotettix Beier, 1960.
Etymology.— from M. Beier the author of the junior homonym Colobotettix. It is masculine in gender.
Summary of nomenclatural changes.—
Beierotettix new replacement name
= Colobotettix Beier, 1960 (non Ribaut, 1948)
Beierotettix marginatus (Brunner von Wattenwyl, 1895) comb. nov.
= Nannotettix marginatus Brunner von Wattenwyl, 1895
= Colobotettix marginatus (Brunner von Wattenwyl, 1895)
Type locality: Northern America, Mexico, Orizaba.
Beierotettix viridis (Beier, 1960) comb. nov.
= Colobotettix viridis Beier, 1960
Type locality: Southern America, Central America, Guatemala.