Name game conundrum: identical specific epithets in Microgastrinae (Hymenoptera, Braconidae)

Area of Science:

• Taxonomy and Systematics
• Entomology
• Biodiversity Informatics

Background:

• Species nomenclature is a creative process involving diverse etymological sources.
• Ambiguity in species names, particularly repeated specific epithets, can cause taxonomic confusion.
• The subfamily Microgastrinae presents a case study for analyzing naming conventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify and analyze repeated specific epithets within the Microgastrinae subfamily.
• To quantify the extent of name repetition and its impact on species identification.
• To provide recommendations for taxonomists to improve species naming practices.

Main Methods:

• Systematic review of specific epithets within the Microgastrinae subfamily.
• Data analysis of epithet repetition frequency, etymological categories, and name length.
• Categorization of etymologies based on origin (e.g., people, morphology, geography).

Main Results:

• 153 specific epithets are repeated, referring to 340 species across 52 genera.
• The majority of etymologies fall into categories of people (42%), morphology (27%), and geography (15%).
• Most repeated epithets occur twice (85.25%), with some repeated up to nine times.

Conclusions:

• Repeated specific epithets in Microgastrinae create taxonomic ambiguity.
• Standardized naming conventions and careful selection of unique epithets are crucial.
• The study provides insights into naming patterns and offers guidance for future taxonomic work.