Case 3745 — Heteronychus Dejean, 1833 (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Dynastinae): proposed conservation of usage by conserving Heteronychus cricetus Hausmann, 1807 as the type species

Abstract

Abstract. The purpose of this application, under Articles 70.2 and 80 of the Code, is to conserve the current and universal usage of the genus name Heteronychus Dejean, 1833 for a genus of rhinoceros beetles (Scarabaeidae: Dynastinae). Several species in this genus are important pests in Africa, Asia and Australia. The correct, long-overlooked type species is Geotrupes syrichtus Fabricius, 1775, designated by Duponchel (1845), is currently recognized as a valid species and the type species of Syrictes Prell, 1935, a genus placed in a different tribe of Dynastinae. Acceptance of this type species would transfer a widely used name from an economically important to a rarely cited genus, and the economically important genus would need to be named by the scarcely used subjective junior synonym Heteronychidius Paulian, 1954 with a dubious taxonomic identity. To conserve the usage of the widely used name Heteronychus, it is proposed that all type fixations for this genus preceding that of Heteronychus cricetus H...