[Deliry C. 2026] – Ajustements de la World Odonata List - In : Odonates du Monde (Histoires Naturelles) (2004-[2026]) – Version 71891 du 21.12.2025. – odonates.net
Je me propose de mettre ici les principaux courriers échangés dans de le cadre des ajustements de la WOL.
@ du 20 décembre 2025
A reading of the taxonomic elements of the recent article by Dow et al. (2025) reveals some inaccuracies, some of which are unexpected to resolve for the WOL.
Dow R.A. & al. 2025 - Odonata of the Kampar Peninsula: the first systematic survey of Odonata in Peat Swamp Forest in Sumatra. - Zootaxa, 5732 (1), 18 décembre 2025 : 1-70. - BiB
An article by Kirby gives two dates, 1893 and 1894, but the correct date, duly verified, is 1894. There are in fact two articles by Kirby that year with descriptions.
[a] Kirby W.F. 1894 - Catalogue of the described Neuroptera Odonata (Dragonflies) of Ceylon, with Descriptions of New Species. - J. of the Linnean Society, Zoology, XXIV (473-590 : n°157), 10 juillet 1894 : 545-566 + 2 pl. - BiB
[b] Kirby W.F. 1894 - IV. On a small collection of Odonata (Dragonflies) from Queensland, with descriptions of five new species. - Annals and Magazine of Natural History, Series 6 (14) : 15–21. - PDF LINK - BiB
I am providing the list of new taxa formed by Kirby (1894a, 1894b) for review. I have highlighted in bold the date corrections that I have identified. Please note that three binomials are orphaned... I will investigate whether they can be attributed to a particular species or not.
The following synonym should be added to Brachygonia oculata : Microdiplax delicatula by Selys Longchamps, 1889. Revealed by Dow et al. (2025), it is present, for example, in Steinmann (1997)... I think this is an oversight.
The situation is probably less straightforward, and there are two schools of thought regarding the management of taxa associated with phyllis: one follows Davies & Tobin (1985) and Bridges (1994) and is used in the World Odonata List, which consists of a system of synonyms. The second is in line with Kirby (1890), taken up by Steinmann (1997) and different XXᵉ s. authors, which gives only a few synonyms and the main ones as subspecies of Rhyothemis phyllis. The study of biogeography, type localities, and cross-references probably gives a mixed picture, and in my opinion, most of the synonyms given to phyllis so far should be reserved without attribution or taken up again using Steinmann's (1997) method... the first method makes all names doubtful (cf. nomen dubium) insofar as the question needs to be investigated further as proposed by Kosterin & al. (2025).
That being said, I will get to the point with a few « necessary » adjustments:
PJ (ci-contre) : Libellula variegata was not describe by Linnaeus, but by Johansson in 1763 (printed date, or, maybe 1764 publication possible, but all catalogs from that period remain at 1763). The story of this binom is interesting. Burmeister (1839) or Rambur (1842) deals with Systema Naturae ed. 1767 and give in fact Libellula variegata Linnaeus, 1767. But in this edition Linnaeus, which give the good source forget in the wake of the structure of his presentation, to write Johansson as descriptor. The real description is done in a serie of miscellaneous works directed (dir. publisher) by Carl von Linné in seven volumes, Amoenitates Academicae : in the sixth one, we have on the CXXXI dissertation a work of Boas Johansson which give to dragonflies species : Libellula variegata Johansson, 1763 (= Rhyothemis variegata (Johanssson, 1763)) and Libellula carolina Johansson, 1763 (= Tramea carolina (Johansson, 1763)) two corrections to do for the WOL because the first revisors are false too. Kirby (1890) give the quite good version : Libellula variegata Johansson, 1764 and Steinmann (1997) give the same one ! Davies & Tobin (1985) and Bridges (1994) give the correct date, but had not make the verification probably influenced by Burmeister (1839) and Rambur (1842) these one working in fact on Systema Naturae ed. 1767 were Linnaeus himself forget the good descriptor ! The solution is quite correct : Libellula variegata Linnaeus, 1763 ! The is for me no doubt about the descriptor : the latin presentation is : "as president D.D.Car. von Linné, proposed by Boas Johansson of Kalmar, Uppsala 1763, June 23". Kalmar is a city in southwestern Sweden, and Uppsala is the city where the journal is published. The conclusion is Libellula variegata Johansson, 1763 : Rhyothemis variegata (Johansson, 1763) and Libellula carolina Johansson, 1763 : Tramea carolina (Johansson, 1763)… it needs to read Garrison to see what he says on that option. I will do (nothing : Libellula carolina Linnaeus, 1763).
You can add Libellula indica Fabricius, 1781 which is a Coromandel taxonyme (New Zealand) in Museum Banks, Fabricius making the association with Libellula arria Drury, 1773. The synonymy with variegata is confirmed by Davies & Tobin (1985) and Bridges (1994) for example.
Libellula histrio Fabricius, 1787 is correct, no need to add anything. But, the version Libellula histrio Burmeister, 1839 (nec Fabricius, 1787) is correct. I would remind you that this last binom, is a synonym for Erythrodiplax berenice. Correction non faite sur la WOL
We have Rhyothemis obscura Brauer, 1868 (nomen nudum), it is a binom (Brauer 1868b). The description was done later : Rhyothemis phyllis obscura Ris, 1913. The two versions or, only the second one may be done. Correction non faite sur la WOL
You can add, if desired, Libellula euphrosine de Hann in Burmeister, 1839 (nomen nudum) which is probably a collection label name, reported by Burmeister (1839) himself under Libellula phyllis, known as de Hann in litt.. Corrigé en omettant le nomen nudum.
@ du 21 décembre 2025 : ajustements
I have checked the adjustments made to the WOL and I see that almost everything has been taken into account. It seems that the “omissions” are oversights, so I will point them out.
We have Libellula histrio Fabricius, 1787 simply because Burmeister (1839) is later. This is justified for Libellula histrio Burmeister, 1839 (nec Fabricius, 1787) (synonym of Erythrodiplax berenice), but not for Libellula histrio Fabricius, 1787, here, otherwise we would have dozens of cases to adjust in this way!
We have Rhyothemis obscura Brauer, 1868 (nomen nudum), it is a binom (Brauer 1868b). The description was done later : Rhyothemis phyllis obscura Ris, 1913. The two versions or, only the second one may be done : I understand that nomina nuda is an accepted choice then the two names be useful.
The correct version is : Libellula euphrosine de Hann in Burmeister, 1839 (nomen nudum).
[b] Brauer F. 1868 - Verzeichniss der bis jetzt bekannten Neuropteren im Sinne Linné's. Zweiter Abschnitt. - Verhandlungen K.K. zoologisch-botanischen Gesellschaft Wien, 18 : 711-742. - ONLINE Burmeister H. 1839 - Handbuch der Entomologie. - Enslin, Berlin [Libellulina : 805-862]. - ONLINE Fabricius J.C. 1781 - Species insectorum. - Bohnii, Hamburgi et Kilonii, Tome 1 : 552 pp. - ONLINE Fabricius J.C. 1787 - Mantissa insectorum sistens species. Tome 1. - Christ Gotti, Hafniae : [Libellula] : p.336 et seq. Johansson B. 1763 - Centuria insectorum rarorium. - Amoenitates Academicae, vol. 6, dissertation CXXI, 23 juin 1763 (Upsala) : 384-415. - ONLINE Kirby W.F. 1890 - A synonymic catalogue of Neuroptera Odonata or Dragonflies with an appendix of fossil species. - Gurney & Jackson, London : 202 pp. - PDF LINK Linnaeus C. 1767 – Systema naturae. 12ᵉ édition. – Holmiae. Rambur P. 1842 - Histoire naturelle des insectes : Névroptères. - Roret, Paris : 534 pp. - ONLINE Ris F. 1913 et 1919 - Libellulinen III. - Collections Zoologiques du baron Edm. de Selys Longchamps, fasc. XV et XVI (1) (1913), XVI (2) 1919, Catalogue systématique et descriptif, Hayez, Bruxelles : 1278 pp. - ONLINE Steinmann H. 1997 - World Catalogue of Odonata. 2 volumes. - Walter de Gruyter.
