Case 3645Orthezia characias[Bosc d'Antic], 1784 (Insecta, Hemiptera, ortheziidae): proposed validation of the generic and specific names as available

Abstract

The purpose of this application, under Articles 78.1 and 81.1 of the Code, is to conserve the established usage of the genus-group name Orthezia and species-group name characias, both with the author Bosc d'Antic (1784) and to maintain the latter as the type species of Orthezia. The original proposal of the name of this scale insect by Bosc d'Antic, intended to be done in the binominal fashion of Linnaeus, was actually done as a hyphenated uninominal originally spelled both as d' Orthezia-Characias and Orthezia-Characias. It is proposed that this be interpreted as a generic name, whereby universal usage of the subsequent spelling Orthezia since at least 1843 now causes the latter to be deemed the correct original spelling of the generic name. Despite universal attribution of the specific name characias to Bosc d'Antic (1784), this name is unavailable from that work and under Article 11.6.1 should be reattributed to Amyot & Serville (1843). To avoid confusion, however, the Commission is requested to validate the availability of O. characias under the authorship of Bosc d'Antic (1784).