1.1.3 Nomenclatorial problems in usage of some family and genus names

Abstract

This chapter reviews the nomenclatorial problems in the usage of some family and genus names so that the specialists of eriophyoid or other groups of mites may understand and avoid them in the future. It discusses some of the concepts and rules regarding family group names in the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature, followed by problems that have been found in Eriophyoidea. The name, Phytoptidae, was first proposed as “Phytopti” for the entire group of eriophyoid mites. For nearly a century, this name became widely used and long accepted in taxonomic and applied works for this group, or a subset of it. However, Newkirk and Keifer drastically altered the concept of the type genus of this group, Phytoptus , based on a reevaluation and correction of its type species. The results of their action required that the name, Phytoptidae, along with its type genus, no longer be applicable to the family of eriophyoid mites for which it had previously been used, as its type genus was moved into the Eriophyidae. They proposed Nalepellidae as a new family name to replace Phytoptidae and subsequently Nalepellidae began to be used.