Laothoe austauti (Staudinger, 1877)

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Nomenclature

Tribe: Smerinthini

Genus: Laothoe

Species:

Laothoe austauti (Staudinger, 1877)

Usage:

valid

Reference:

Notes sur quelques Lépidoptères d'Algérie 190

Type data:

Holotype [♂] Algeria: Nemours [Ghazaouet], v«.1877» (“frère de M. Austant”) [????]. Staudinger, 1878, Petites Nouv. ent. 2: 203, stated that the holotype was a male. Danner, Eitschberger & Surholt, 1998, Herbipoliana 4 (1): 115, stated that they did not find any type material in MNHU.

Taxonomic Notes:

Synonymized with Smerinthus populi by Cuisine, 1887, Bull. Soc. ent. Fr. 1887: 120. Reinstated as a geographic variety by Staudinger, 1901, in Staudinger & Rebel, Cat. Lepid. Pal. Faunen. 1: 99. Transferred to Laothoe by d'Abrera, 1987, Sphingidae Mundi: 92. Reinstated as a species by Eitschberger, Danner & Surholt, 1989, Atalanta 20: 262.

Nomenclature notes:

Smerinthus austauti was proposed conditionally should further specimens show that it represented a species distinct from Smerinthus [= Laothoe populi] populeti.The original spelling used by Staudinger, 1877, Petites Nouv. ent. 2: 190, was actually "austanti". Kitching & Cadiou (2000: 129) (STI18788) stated: "It is clear in retrospect that the original spelling of Smerinthus austanti Staudinger (1877: 190) is incorrect and that Staudinger intended to name the species in honor of the son of Jules-Leon Austaut. However, Article 32(c)(ii) of the [Third Edition of the International] Code [of Zoological Nomenclature (1985)] states that there must be evidence of an inadvertent error within the original publication itself in order for an original spelling to qualify as an "incorrect original spelling" that must then be corrected. Recourse cannot be made to external sources of information. There is no evidence of sources intentional error in Staudinger's paper. Indeed, Staudinger referred to Austaut twice as "M. Austant". Furthermore, Bellier de la Chavignerie (1878) used spelling austanti in a reply paper in the very next issue of Petites Nouvelles entomologiques. Unfortunately, therefore, the original spelling of austanti must stand". However, the incorrect (but accurate) subsequent spelling, austauti, has been in prevailing usage since 1878 and so under Article 33.3.1 of the Fourth Edition of the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature (1999), this subsequent spelling and its attribution to Staudinger (1877) are to be preserved and austauti deemed to be the correct original spelling. This name is also applicable to the spring generation form.