The type-material of Arctiinae (Lepidoptera, Erebidae) described by Burmeister and Berg in the collection of the Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales Bernardino Rivadavia (Buenos Aires, Argentina).

Hernan Beccacece,Fernando Navarro,Benoit Vincent

doi:10.3897/zookeys.421.6666

Abstract

Carlos G. Burmeister and Carlos Berg were among the most important and influential naturalists and zoologists in Argentina and South America and described 241 species and 34 genera of Lepidoptera. The Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales Bernardino Rivadavia (MACN) housed some of the Lepidoptera type specimens of these authors. In this study we present a catalogue with complete information and photographs of 11 Burmeister type specimens and 10 Berg type specimens of Phaegopterina, Arctiina and Pericopina (Lepidoptera, Erebidae, Arctiinae, Arctiini) housed in the MACN. Lectotypes or holotypes were designated where primary type specimens could be recognized; in some cases we were not able to recognize types. The catalogue also proposes nomenclatural changes and new synonymies: Opharus picturata (Burmeister, 1878), comb. n.; Opharus brunnea Gaede, 1923: 7, syn. n.; Hypocrisias jonesi (Schaus, 1894), syn. n.; Leucanopsis infucata (Berg, 1882), stat. rev.; Paracles argentina (Berg, 1877), sp. rev.; Paracles uruguayensis (Berg, 1886), sp. rev.

Highlights

Karl Hermann Konrad Burmeister or Carlos Germán Conrado Burmeister (15.I.1807– 02.V.1892) and Friedrich Wilhelm Karl Berg or Carlos Berg (02.IV.1843–19.I.1902) (Fig. 1) were among the most important and influential zoologists in Argentina and were directors of the Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales Bernardino Rivadavia (MACN).Burmeister was born in Stralsund (Prussia, current-day Germany) and followed his studies there until 1825
Thanks to the support of his protector Alexander von Humboldt, he made a voyage of exploration in Brazil from September 1850 to March 1852. He had a mission in Argentina and Uruguay from 1856 to 1860. He resigned his professorship in zoology in 1861 to become director of the MACN
Carlos Burmeister died due to his injuries May 2, 1892. Among his many publications, he published his manual of entomology in 5 volumes (1832–1855) and “Description physique de la République Argentine: d’après des observations personnelles et étrangères” in 4 volumes (1876–1886)

Summary

Introduction

Karl Hermann Konrad Burmeister or Carlos Germán Conrado Burmeister (15.I.1807– 02.V.1892) and Friedrich Wilhelm Karl Berg or Carlos Berg (02.IV.1843–19.I.1902) (Fig. 1) were among the most important and influential zoologists in Argentina and were directors of the Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales Bernardino Rivadavia (MACN).Burmeister was born in Stralsund (Prussia, current-day Germany) and followed his studies there until 1825. A male syntype included in the Burmeister collection with a green label with the inscription “Patag[onia]” and a red label with the inscription “Lectotype ♂ Antarctia severa Berg designated by Beccacece, Vincent & Navarro.” We hereby designate it as lectotype [MACN].

Results

Conclusion