Tetrophthalmus Kirby, 1827

Smith, Andrew B. T., 2004, Clarification on the Nomenclatural Status of Six Genus-Group Names in the Tribe Trichiini (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Cetoniinae), The Coleopterists Bulletin 58 (2), pp. 285-291 : 287-288

Tetrophthalmus Kirby, 1827

Tetrophthalmi: Kirby 1827 [original spelling].

Tetrophthalmus : justified emendation.

Nomenclatural Status. Available but invalid name, junior synonym of Stegopterus Burmeister and Schaum, 1840 . Kirby (1827) described this subgenus for the species Trichius sutularis . The specimen(s) Kirby described was (were) ‘‘from Java.’’ I suspect that the specimens were mislabeled because no trichiines from southeastern Asia match the description given. Later, Burmeister and Schaum (1840) indicated that they were renaming this taxon as Stegopterus (a small genus endemic to South Africa). Reasons for their failure to use Kirby’s name are unknown. Kirby’s original description of Tetrophthalmus is vague but does match specimens of Stegopterus . Stegopterus has not been used enough in the literature to qualify for the reversal of precedence criteria in Article 23.9.1.2, therefore, I have made an application to the Commission of Zoological Nomenclature to conserve Stegopterus by reversal of precedence with Tetrophthalmus . Article 82.1 of the Code instructs that the name in prevailing usage ( Stegopterus ) must be maintained until the case is ruled on by the commission. I here designate Trichius suturalis Gory and Percheron as the type species of Stegopterus since a type species has never been designated for this genus.

The chewing lice ( Phthiraptera : Amblycera: Menoponidae ) generic name Tetrophthalmus Grosse, 1885 is a junior homonym of Tetrophthalmus Kirby, 1827 . Tetrophthalmus Grosse is currently considered a junior synonym of Piagetiella Neumann, 1906 , therefore no replacement name is needed.

Type Species. Trichius sutularis Kirby, 1827 (now Stegopterus sutularis ) by monotypy.