A catalogue of the types of Platygastridae (Hymenoptera, Platygastroidea) at the Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle, Paris, with brief notes on the history of the collection
Author
Notton, David G.
text
Zootaxa
2010
2358
1
24
journal article
10.5281/zenodo.275686
ef953f73-414f-4e8a-83a7-7ec993cb2bcf
1175-5326
275686
Polygnotus marchali
: Ashmead
in
Marchal, 1900
: 112
nomen nudum
Remarks. Three specimens were found in a tube of alcohol in the MNHN labelled as ‘
Polygnotus Marchali
Ashmead
Types’ with locality and host data corresponding to that noted by
Marchal (1900)
. Unfortunately since no description was given, and the data are insufficient for publication (see ICZN 1999: Art. 12.3) the name is a nomen nudum and the specimens not
types
. This name should not to be confused with
Platygaster marchali
Kieffer, 1906
q.
v. which
is available. No subsequent description of
P. marchali
: Ashmead
could be traced in Ashmead’s publications (for bibliography see Crawford 1908;
Howard, Crawford, & Banks 1908
) and although Ashmead did publish one paper based on material received from Marchal (
Ashmead 1897
) entitled ‘Notes on some European hymenopterous parasites …; bred by Dr. Paul Marchal, The French Government Entomologist, paper No. 1’ this does not include this species and there were apparently no further papers in this series. While
P. marchali
: Ashmead
is not an available name, this material is noted for the following reasons: 1) to alert students to possible confusion, 2) in the unlikely event that a description by Ashmead is found and 3) because it is in reasonable condition, has biological data, and may be worth reexamination and formal description if found to be undescribed. The three specimens were extracted from the alcohol and mounted on card points.