Heterischnus olsoufieffi ( Heinrich, 1938 )

Pos, Davide Dal, Claridge, Brandon, Diller, Erich, Noort, Simon Van & Giovanni, Filippo Di, 2023, Still counting: new records, nomenclatural notes, and three new species of Phaeogenini (Hymenoptera, Ichneumonidae, Ichneumoninae) from the Afrotropical region, European Journal of Taxonomy 868, pp. 1-71 : 42-44

Heterischnus olsoufieffi ( Heinrich, 1938)

Figs 22–23

[ Aethiopischnus olsoufieffi ] Heinrich, 1936: 244. Nomen nudum.

Aethiopischnus olsoufieffi Heinrich, 1938: 128 (original description, key).

Heterischnus olsoufieffi – Yu & Horstmann 1997: 489 (catalogue). — Yu et al. 2012 (catalogue); 2016 (catalogue). — Rousse et al. 2013: 54 (diagnosis, key, images).

Heterischnus olsoufieffi – Townes & Townes 1973: 221 (catalogue). — Diller & Schönitzer 1999: 295 (key).

Original type series

Syntypes: 2 ♀♀, 3 ♂♂; MZPW.

Heinrich (1938: 128) described the species based on 5 specimens from different locations in Madagascar without designating any of them as the name-bearing type. Rousse et al. (2013: 54), referring to the type series, employed the terms “ holotype ” and “ paratype ”. This latter usage of the terms is incorrect. Holotypes are designated in the original description or are implied when only one specimen is described ( ICZN 1999: 73.1). In this case, Heinrich (1938: 128) mentioned more than one specimen in the type series and did not choose any of them as holotype. Moreover, the employment of the term “ holotypus ” does not constitute a valid lectotype designation either ( ICZN 1999: article 74.5). A more in-depth study of the MZPW collection will be required prior to the designation of a lectotype; therefore, for the moment, the specimens of the original type series should be referred to as syntypes ( ICZN 1999: article 73.2).

Type locality

Madagascar: Ankaratra, Fianarantsoa, Perinet & Tsinjoarivo.

Material examined

MADAGASCAR • 1 ♀; Province Fianarantsoa, Miandritsara Forest , 40 km S of Ambositra; 20°47.56′ S, 47°10.54′ E; 825 m a.s.l.; 27 Dec. 2005 – 5 Jan. 2006; M. Irwin and R. Harin’Hala leg.; in low altitude rainforest; MA-29-61; Malaise trap; CASLOT 0050173; D. Dal Pos det.; CAS ENT8437500 • 1 ♂; same collection data as for preceding; 27 Feb.–8 Mar. 2006; MA-29-46; CASELOT# 0050174; D. Dal Pos det.; CAS ENT8437594 • 1 ♀; Province Fianarantsoa, Parc National Ranomafana ; 21°15.05′ S, 47°24.43′ E; 1130 m a.s.l.; 27 Nov.–2 Dec. 2006; M. Irwin and R. Harin’Hala leg.; radio tower at forest edge; D. Dal Pos det.; DDPC 0000032 .

Distribution

MADAGASCAR: Alaotra-Mangoro; Haute Matsiatra; Vakinankaratra regions ( Heinrich 1938); Amoron’i Mania region (new record); Vatovavy-Fitovinany region (new record) ( Fig. 23A–B ).

Remarks

In the description of Aethiopischnus africanus, Heinrich (1936: 244) introduced the name “Ae. Olsoufieffi Hein. ” without providing any other detail. Aethiopischnus olsoufieffi reappeared later on in Heinrich (1938: 127), but this time it was accompanied by a formal description and was designated as the type species of the genus Aethiopischnus . Townes & Townes (1973: 221) and Diller & Schönitzer (1999: 295) reported “ Heinrich, 1938 ” as the authorship of the species, while Yu & Horstmann (1997: 489) and Rousse et al. (2013: 54) retained “ Heinrich, 1936 ”.

When Heinrich (1936: 244) introduced olsoufieffi , he did by comparing it with A. africanus . However, according to ICZN (1999: article 13.1. 1 & 13.1.2) a new name after 1930 must be accompanied “ by a description or definition that states in words characters that are purported to differentiate the taxon ” or “ by a bibliographic reference to such a published statement. ”. Basically, if the original statements allow the construction of a conclusion that can be used as a description or differential diagnosis, then the name should be considered available. However, from Heinrich’s (1936: 244) comparison, it is impossible to differentiate olsoufieffi from africanus . The statement “ Dem Ae. Olsoufieffi Heinr. nahestehend, aber von dunklerer, unbestimmterer Grundfarbe, Fühlergeissel ohne weisse Zeichnung. Schläfen relativ schmaler. Wengen und Schläfen dichter punktiert. Thyridien kaum noch angedeutet [= Close to the species Ae. Olsoufieffi Heinr. , but of darker, more indistinct ground colour, antennal flagella without white markings. Temples relatively narrower. Cheeks and temples more densely punctured. Thryridia hardly indicated]” is too vague and does not allow a clear separation between the two species. Before Heinrich (1936), also africanus (the species with which olsoufieffi was compared) was not known and the comparison could not be anchored to a previous species hypothesis. Therefore, Aethiopischnus olsoufieffi Heinrich, 1936 is hereby deemed a nomen nudum (unavailable) and the available name is Aethiopischnus olsoufieffi Heinrich, 1938 .

The circumstances that led Heinrich (1936) to introduce the name olsoufieffi are probably due to a publication issue. Reading the introduction, it seems clear that Heirnich’s (1938) monograph was meant to be published before Heinrich’s (1936) work, but a contingent situation delayed the publication of the Malagasy work.

The three additional CAS specimens represent the first record of the species since the original description, as well as an expansion of its distributional range to the Amoron’i Mania and Vatovavy-Fitovinany regions ( Fig. 23A–B ).

Figures

Fig. 22. Heterischnus olsoufieffi (Heinrich, 1938), ♀ (CAS). A. Habitus, lateral view. B. Head, frontal view.

Fig. 23. Distribution of Heterischnus olsoufieffi (Heinrich, 1938). A. Previous (blue dots) and new records (yellow stars). B. Previous (blue) and new (yellow) regional records.