Authorship and date of two family-group names in the Trombidiidae (Acariformes: Parasitengona)

Abstract

M kol (2007) proposed two new family-group names in the Trombidiidae, with the type genera Dolichothrombium Feider, 1945 and Paratrombium Bruyant, 1910, respectively. However, Robaux (1969) also proposed two new family-group names based on the same two genera respectively and so did Feider (1959) for family-group names based on Paratrombium (although they used the emendation Parathrombium). The purpose of this short note is to clarify the authorship and date of these family-group names. Robaux (1969) introduced a classification of the 'Thrombidiinae s.l.' into different tribes; he erected the new tribe Dolichothrombiini with the sole genus Dolichothrombium and provided a diagnosis. M kol (2007) proposed a new classification of the Trombidiidae and proposed a “new” subfamily Dolichothrombiinae with Dolichothrombium as the sole and type genus; this is merely the first use of the previously established name in a new rank (subfamily) but incorrectly as a new name. According to Article 36 Principle of Coordination of International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature (1999), the authorship and date for both Dolichothrombiini and Dolichothrombiinae are Robaux, 1969—also for all other Dolichothrombium-based family-group names at ranks not yet used (i.e. superfamily, family, and subtribe). Feider (1959) first proposed Parathromboidea (p. 545) and Parathrombiidae (p. 546) with descriptions to enable separation of them from related superfamilies/families. Robaux (1969) erected Parathrombiini to accommodate Paratrombium (spelt as Parathrombium) and Xenothrombium and he also provided a diagnosis for the tribe. M kol (2007) proposed a “new” subfamily Paratrombiinae with Paratrombium as the type genus and provided a diagnosis; she was aware of Feider (1959, 1979) and Robaux (1969). According to the Principle of Coordination, the nomenclatural history is best explicitly summarized as below. Superfamily Paratrombioidea Feider, 1959