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Notiphila rufitarsis
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Subspecies
Original description
Synonyms
Notiphila rufitarsis Waltl, 1837 (nec Macquart, 1851)
Notiphila nigripes Waltl, 1837 (nec Macquart, 1851) (unclear synonym)
Hydrellia rufitarsis Meigen, 1838 (unclear synonym)
Note: the species "hiding" behind these names cannot currently be
identified with any known
species of Ephydridae. The original description of all of these names
is insufficient and the
whereabouts of the type specimen(s) are not known. It is very likely
that these names are synonyms of other Ephydridae (not necessarily a
Notiphila) or even other dipteran species. Thus, it is also virtually
impossible to synonymize them as I do here, but I will give my reasons
for doing so below:
Notiphila rufitarsis and Notiphila nigripes were described by Waltl on
the
same page. Waltl first describes N. rufitarsis, and then N.
nigripes. Since the types are
lost the identity of these names will probably remain a mystery
forever. However, apart from minimal size differences the two
descriptions given by Waltl are basically identical. Thus, I think it
is legitimate to synonymize these names
here.
Meigen has obviously been aware of the specimens of Waltl and probably
was also aware of Waltls intention to name them, because Meigen
published the same (or similar) names just one year after Waltl and for
all of these names he did not give his usual "from the collection
of...", but just stated "from Bavaria", thus obviously referring to
Waltls specimens that all were collected around Passau (Bavaria). It is
unclear, why Meigen obviously copied the names and descriptions, but
did not give Waltl as the author, or at least stated that he saw the
specimens in Waltl´s collection. Irrespective of Meigen´s
reasons, the name Hydrellia rufitarsis is obviously referring to
Waltl´s Notiphila rufitarsis and, intriguingly, Meigen´s
description reads like a copy of the descriptions of Waltl´s
rufitarsis and nigripes. Thus, I think the name can be synonymized with
the two names coined by Waltl.
Identification
Distribution
Only known from the original description: near Passau (Bayern).
Biology
This page has been
updated on April 2, 2011
This site is online since May 31, 2005
Copyright © by Nikola-Michael Prpic. All rights reserved.
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