54. Prosopis eximius Smith, 1860

Fig. 53

Prosopis eximius Smith, 1860b: 131–132, ♀.

Type material examined

Holotype

INDONESIA • ♀; Bac. [Bachian]; [21 Oct. 1858 – 13 Apr. 1859]; OUMNH, ENT-HYME2811.

Other material examined

INDONESIA • 1 ♂; Gil. [Gilolo]; [either 1 Feb.–1 Mar. 1858 or 14 Sep.–1 Oct. 1858]; OUMNH (of no type status) .

Type locality

Bachian [= Bacan].

Notes

Baker (1993: 211) wrote the following:

“A ♀ in the UMO type collection, labelled ‘Bac.’ [white disc], ‘ Prosopis eximius Smith’ (Smith) and ‘ eximius HOLOTYPE Det. M.A. Lieftinck 1955 ’ is, as recognized by Lieftinck, the holotype of this species. It is intact and in good condition, other than that the R fore-wing is torn from apex to base.

A ♂ in the same collection, labelled ‘Gil.’ [white disc], ‘ Prosopis eximius Smith’ [blue paper, Smith], and ‘This is a ♂! Designated as the ALLOTYPE. Det. M.A. Lieftinck 1955 ’, no doubt the basis of Smith’s 1862 record from Gilolo, has no type status and has been labelled accordingly”.

Hirashima & Lieftinck (1982: 11–13) did not mention that they revised the type of P. eximius, which is strange because the type is clearly marked with a holotype label placed by Lieftinck in 1955 (Fig. 53A). The male from Gilolo was also not mentioned, which is peculiar. Further study is required. Michener (1965: 146) incorrectly spelt the name as Palaeorhiza exima .

Current status

Palaeorhiza (Heterorhiza) eximia (Smith, 1860) (Hirashima & Lieftinck 1982) .

Distribution

Indonesia (Maluku: Bacan,? North Maluku: Halmahera) (Smith 1860b, 1862; Hirashima & Lieftinck 1982; Ascher & Pickering 2024).