Tag Archives: nomenclature

Examining name-bearers at the USNM

Posted on 27 October 2013 by David Maddison

I’m at the Smithsonian Institution for the next three days, working in the United States Museum of Natural History (the “USNM”).  My main goal is to look at type specimens, especially Casey types, so that I can figure out what … Continue reading →

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Follow-up to “What should I name this beetle?”

Posted on 9 May 2013 by David Maddison

In my post “What should I name this beetle?”, I discussed a pretty, spotted beetle species that lives in the Sierra Nevadas of California and which lacks a name. I’ve recently been in discussion with Don Cameron,  an arachnologist and … Continue reading →

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The Bembidion ulkei mystery: solved

Posted on 7 May 2013 by David Maddison

In an earlier post, I discussed the mystery of Bembidion ulkei.  Here’s a quick summary:  according to Lindroth’s (1963) study, Bembidion obscuripenne is a widespread species in the west,  from California north to Washington. In contrast, Lindroth knew B. ulkei only … Continue reading →

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What should I name this beetle?

Posted on 18 April 2013 by David Maddison

Along some creek and pond shores in the Sierra Nevada of California there lives a pretty, spotted Bembidion, and this Bembidion has no name.  It belongs to the subgenus Liocosmius, a group of Bembidion that range from BC to Baja … Continue reading →

Posted in Revising Bembidiina, Taxonomic Process | Tagged , , | 9 Comments

Names approved!

Posted on 15 April 2013 by David Maddison

In two earlier posts, I wrote about the dangers of naming species after the name of the first peoples of an area, as well as the concerns about using a word from a native language. In the first of those … Continue reading →

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Names in native languages

Posted on 11 February 2013 by David Maddison

In an early post, I talked about how naming a species after the native people of an area should be done with caution, and ideally with permission.  While a name of a tribe is potentially offensive, I had thought that … Continue reading →

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Wicked and confused Bembidion

Posted on 6 February 2013 by David Maddison

There are over 1200 known species of Bembidion.  Many of them are hard to tell apart.  They are small beetles.  Maybe for this reason some taxonomists have struggled with them, and their frustration occasionally is expressed when they name new … Continue reading →

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Naming species and the danger of good intentions

Posted on 3 February 2013 by David Maddison

It can be a bit of a challenge to come up with a meaningful name for a new beetle. I’m working on a paper or two in which I will be describing several new species of Bembidiina from North America.  … Continue reading →

Posted in Revising Bembidiina, Taxonomic Process | Tagged , | 2 Comments