Introduction

The purpose of the present paper is to bring the taxonomy of Phasmida into accordance with the requirements of the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature (1999). The genus name Ernodes is previously published for another taxon, making it a junior homonym. In accordance with Article 60 of the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature, we propose a substitute name for this genus name.

Taxonomy

Family Phasmatidae

Genus Redtenbacherus nom. nov.

Ernodes Redtenbacher, 1908. In Brunner & Redtenbacher, Ins.-Fam. Phasm., 368, 373. (Insecta: Phasmida: Verophasmatodea: Anareolatae: Phasmatidae: Platycraninae: Platycranini). Preoccupied by Ernodes Wallengren, 1891. K. svenska VetenskAkad. Handl., (N.S.) 24, no. 10, 113. (Insecta: Trichoptera: Sericostomatoidea: Beraeidae).

Remarks on nomenclatural change.— For the family Phasmatidae Redtenbacher (1908) proposed the oriental phasmid genus Ernodes of type species Ernodes sumatranus Redtenbacher, 1908, by subsequent designation Zompro & Adis (2001). It is still used as a valid genus name in Phasmida (e.g., Bradley & Galil 1977, Zompro & Adis 2001, Bragg 2001, Zompro 2004, Otte & Brock 2005). Currently, the genus Ernodes Redtenbacher, 1908 includes 3 species: Ernodes antennatus Redtenbacher, 1908; Ernodes jacobsoni Rehn, 1912 and Ernodes sumatranus Redtenbacher, 1908.

Unfortunately, the genus name was preoccupied. Wallengren (1891) had described the caddisfly genus Ernodes with the type species Rhyacophila articularis Pictet, 1834 for Trichoptera: Ernodes is still used as a valid genus name in the family Beraeidae (e.g., Morse et al., 2007). Presently, the genus Ernodes Wallengren, 1891 includes 15 species from the Western Palaearctic Region [Europe & Northern Asia (excluding China)] as E. abanticus Cakin, 1983; E. anatolicus Cakin, 1983; E. articularis (Pictet, 1834); E. botosaneanui Vaillant, 1982; E. digitatus Martynov, 1918; E. dirginensis Sipahiler, 1998; E. kakofonix Malicky, 1979; E. macahelensis Sipahiler, 1997; E. nigroauratus Mosely, 1930; E. palpatus (Martynov, 1909); E. rizeiensis Sipahiler, 1987; E. saltans Martynov, 1913; E. skipetarum Malicky, 1986; E. vicinus (McLachlan, 1879) and E. wolfgangjoosti Mey, 2004.

The phasmid genus Ernodes Redtenbacher, 1908 is therefore a junior homonym of the genus Ernodes Wallengren, 1891. Brock (2008) notes “a replacement name is needed for Ernodes” but does not propose any. In addition to this, Uvarov (1940) states that Ernodes Redtenbacher, 1908 is preoccupied by Ernodes Wallegren, 1891 (Trichoptera). Uvarov also refrained from proposing a new name for Ernodes, due to its being a synonym of Echetlus Stäl, 1875 at that time. Zompro & Adis (2001) reinstated Ernodes as valid, but were presumably unaware of Uvarov. So we propose a new replacement name Redtenbacherus nom. nov. for Ernodes Redtenbacher, 1908.

Etymology.— Named for Josef Redtenbacher who authored the generic name Ernodes. The replacement name Redtenbacherus is male in gender.

Summary of nomenclatural changes.—