The identity of Mantura obtusata (Gyllenhal 1813) (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae) – a Nordic-Central European mismatch

2008·0.22 MB·

by  Wanntorp, H-E

Ent. Tidskr. 129 (2008) The identity of Mantura obtusata
The identity of Mantura obtusata (Gyllenhal, 1813)
(Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae) – a Nordic-Central
European mismatch.
HANS-ERIK WANNTORP
Wanntorp H-E.: The identity of Mantura obtusata (Gyllenhal 1813) (Coleoptera, Chrys-
omelidae) – a Nordic-Central European mismatch. [Identiteten hos Mantura obtusata
(Gyllenhal 1813) – en nordisk-mellaneuropeisk tvistefråga.] — Entomologisk Tidskrift
129 (2): 99-101. Uppsala, Sweden 2008. ISSN 0013-886x.
The name Mantura obtusata (Gyllenhal, 1813) has long been used for different taxa by
Nordic and Central European authors. An investigation of external morphology and male
genitalia of the type specimen in Gyllenhaal’s collection in Uppsala clearly demonstrated
that it represents the species called M. ambigua Kutschera, 1862 in Central European tra-
dition. The latter name is thus a younger synonym of M. obtusata (Gyllenhal, 1813). The
earliest available name for M. obtusata, as used in Central European tradition, is Mantura
pallidicornis (Waltl, 1839).
Hans-Erik Wanntorp, Wirséns väg 19, S-18650 Vallentuna, Sweden. E-mail: hans-erik.
[email protected]
The Swedish entomologist Leonard Gyllenhaal Mantura obtusata for different species in dif-
(in his scientific works styling himself Leonardo ferent regions was unacceptable (Jansson 1942).
Gyllenhal) described the flea beetle Mantura ob- His opinion was that in order to avoid further
tusata in the third volume of ”Insecta Svecica” confusion, the name Mantura obtusata should be
(1813) as Haltica obtusata. The type material applied to the species described by Gyllenhaal,
was almost certainly from Sweden, though Gyl- M. ambigua Kutschera, reduced to synonymy,
lenhaal gives no locality, only stating ”Habitat and a new name applied to the species M. obtu-
in pratis graminosis, passim” (Lives in grassy sata as understood by Central European authors.
meadows, here and there). Since its publication, He also demonstrated that the latter, while being
Gyllenhaal’s name has been continuously ap- the more common species in Central Europe, was
plied to the same species by Nordic authors (e. unknown in the Nordic Countries.
g. Thomson 1866, Grill 1896, Aurivillius 1917, In 1951, the Austrian Alticine specialist Franz
Hansen & Henriksen 1927, Hellén 1939, Lund- Heikertinger discussed this question. He accept-
berg & Gustafsson 1986, 1995, Hansen 1996, ed Jansson’s opinion that M. obtusata (Gyllen-
Silfverberg 1992, 2004). hal) was not identical to the species so named
In 1942, the Swedish coleopterologist An- by Central European authors at the time. Heik-
ton Jansson pointed out, that in Central Europe, ertinger, however, was no friend of the ”wooden
the name Mantura obtusata (Gyllenhal) had for priority rule” and maintained that it would be
a long time been applied to a different species, extremely harmful to stability to “transfer a cen-
while the name Mantura ambigua Kutschera was tury-old name to another species”. If we refrain
used for Gyllenhaal’s species (e.g. Reitter 1912). from doing so, he said:
Jansson pointed out that the use of the name ”everything will remain in ideal quietness and
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Hans-Erik Wanntorp Ent. Tidskr. 129 (2008)
this species, while applying the name Mantura
ambigua Kutschera to Gyllenhaal’s species.
Doguet (1994) was aware of the problem and
writes in a note: ”the species described by Gyl-
lenhal should probably be attached to M. am-
bigua Kutschera”. At the same time Nordic au-
thors correctly synonymised Mantura obtusata
(Gyllenhal) with M. ambigua Kutschera (Lund-
Figure 1. Aedeagus of lectotype berg & Gustafsson 1986, 1995, Silfverberg
of Mantura obtusata (Gyllen-
1992, 2004, Hansen 1996). As Jansson (1942)
haal, 1813). The transversal
had indicated, and contrary to the promise of
rills on the ventral surface are
Heikertinger, the long-lasting use of the name
distinctive. In M. pallidicornis
(Waltl 1839) (= M. obtusata of Mantura obtusata for two different taxa, has led
Central European authors) the to much confusion, regarding the biology and
surface is completely smooth. distribution of the two species (See e.g. Gruev
Aedeagus hos lektotypen av & Döberl 1997).
Mantura obtusata (Gyllenhal
1813). Tvärräfflorna på un- Typification of Mantura obtusata (Gyllenhal,
dersidan är karakteristiska för 1813)
arten. Hos M. pallidicornis
Nobody (not even Anton Jansson) had checked
(Waltl 1839) (= M. obtusata
Gyllenhaal’s type material and there existed a
enligt mellaneuropeiska förfat-
tare), är ytan helt slät. small chance that the species might be described
from extra-Swedish material and actually repre-
sent the Central-European taxon.
limpid clarity, the past, the present and the future. The type material of the Coleoptera species,
Very well, you may object, but surely we could described in Insecta Svecica (Gyllenhaal 1813
not name the species ”obtusata Gyll.” when it is and 1827) is preserved in the Gyllenhaal collec-
not! That is also not our objective. It is enough tion of the Museum of Evolution, Uppsala, Swe-
for us that this has been the obtusata of the au- den. Haltica obtusata Gyllenhal is there repre-
thors for a hundred years: ”obtusata auct.”. Let sented by a single specimen only, a male. It was
us call it that, and the community will never be mounted obliquely on a comparatively thick pin
in doubt: It is finally and clearly defined and and bears no original label but has a red label
settled in a hundred manuals and catalogues; the with the text: ”Uppsala Univ. Zool. Mus. Gyl-
description by Gyllenhal is of no use to anyone, lenhals saml. TYP nr 1290” and a smaller label
anymore.” (Heikertinger 1951: 151, translated marked ”a”: lectotype hereby designated.
from the German text). For definitive identification I have remount-
When citing ”the autors” Heikertinger over- ed the specimen and extracted the aedeagus. Its
looks (or prefers to overlook) the widespread shape and texture confirms the identification
and continuous use of M. obtusata (Gyllenhal) of the species (Fig. 1). As expected, this speci-
in Nordic faunistic literature (which he repeat- men belongs to the taxon Mantura ambigua
edly cites in other contexts in the same paper). Kutschera, 1862, as identified by Central Eu-
Heikertinger’s words had great impact and ropean authors. There exists no ground, in this
his view is reflected in many manuals and cata- case, for reversal of precedence according to
logues on alticines (Mohr 1966, Doguet 1994, ICZN Article 23.9 (1999). Mantura ambigua
Döberl 1994, Gruev & Döberl 1997, Warcha- Kutschera, 1862 is therefore to be considered
lowski 2003, Cox 2007). All these authors ap- a junior synonym of M. obtusata (Gyllenhal,
parently accepted Heikertinger’s opinion, but 1813). The oldest available name for the spe-
evidently not his insight that Gyllenhaal was not cies referred to as Mantura obtusata, by Central
the author of the species: All use the mistaken European coleopterologists is Mantura pallidi-
combination Mantura obtusata (Gyllenhal) for cornis (Waltl, 1839).
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Ent. Tidskr. 129 (2008) The identity of Mantura obtusata
Acknowledgements Deutschen Reiches. IV. Band. – K. G. Lutz Verlag,
I am grateful to Hans Mejlon at the Museum of Evo- Stuttgart.
lution, Uppsala, for kind permission to study the type Silfverberg, H. 1992. Enumeratio Coleopterorum Fen-
noscandiae, Daniae et Baltiae. – Helsingin Hyönte-
specimen, to Manfred Döberl, Abensberg, for com-
isvaihtoyhdistys, Helsingfors Entomologiska Bytes-
ments on the contents and to Peter Hodge, Lewes, for
förening.
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Silfverberg, H. 2004. Enumeratio nova Coleopterorum
Fennoscandiae, Daniae et Baltiae. – Sahlbergia 9:1-
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