S. Mahunka szerk.: Folia Entomologica Hungarica 62. (Budapest, 2001)

FOLIA ENTOMOLOGICA HUNGARICA ROVARTANI KÖZLEMÉNYEK LXII 2001 pp. 177-184 Plebeius Kluk, 1780 or Plebejus Kluk, 1802? (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae) Zs. Bálint, C. S. Guppy, N. G. Kondla, K. Johnson and Ch. J. Durden Plebeius Kluk, 1780 or Plebejus Kluk, 1802? (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae) — The historical and modern use of the spellings Plebeius and Plebejus (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae) for the butterfly genus is reviewed, within the context of the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature. There are two literature citations for the names: Kluk (1780) and Kluk (1802), and also an additional spelling, Plebeyus. We conclude that the appropriate name to use for this genus of butterflies is Plebejus Kluk, 1780, and provide recommendations to the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature to ensure stable usage ofthat name. We also conclude that the author and date of the genera Nymphalis, Heliconius, and Dernaus (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) is Kluk, 1780. Key words: Plebeius, Plebejus, Plebeyus, taxonomy, priority, stability, Nymphalis, Heliconius, Dunaus, ICZN. INTRODUCTION The generic names Plebeius Kluk, 1780 and Plebejus Kluk, 1802 have both been used for the same group of "blue" butterflies (Lycaenidae) in modern publications. There has been considerable informal discussion, but little documentation, regarding which name should be used for the genus. This confusion between use of the two generic names is long standing in nature, and needs to be resolved within the context of the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature (ICZN). MATERIALS AND METHODS: THE PROBLEM The International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature (1954), in Opinion 278, placed three generic names (Danaus, Plebejus and Nymphalis - Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) of Kluk (1802) on the Official List of Generic Names in Zoology. The Official List is maintained and published by the Commission, citing available generic names that have been ruled upon in the Opinions of the Commission. To avoid confusion, it must be noted that the List of Available Names in Zoology is a different list, that