Euwallacea – Bark and Ambrosia Beetles of the World

A group of morphologically similar species have been treated in the literatureas fornicatus Eichhoff. The taxonomy of these species was studied by Gómez et al. (2018) and treated as 4 separate species. Smith et al. (2019) re-examined the group and came to different conclusions in terms of nomenclature. Consequently the distributions and hosts listed under the name of fornicatus may refer to this species.

Euwallacea similis

By | September 19, 2025

Motschulsky (1863) described Anodius denticulus from 6 syntypic specimens mounted on the same pin. Wood (1969:117) noted that the upper 5 specimens were conspecific with perforans Wollaston and designated the uppermost specimen as the lectotype, thereby also confirming Motschulsky’s name as a junior synonym. He noted that the lowermost specimen was similis Ferrari 1867. Mandelshtam & Nikitsky (2008: 16) essentially rejected Wood’s lectotype designation, choosing the lowermost specimen instead. This would have the effect of removing denticulus from synonymy with perforans while also making similis Ferrari junior synonym. Regardless of their arguments, the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature does not allow designation of a new lectotype, once one has already been designated. Consequently Wood’s treatment is followed and that of Mandelshtam & Nikitsky is rejected.