Myths and reality: critical remarks on M.L. Danilevsky’s monograph, “Longicorn beetles (Coleoptera, Cerambycoidea) of Russia and adjacent countres. Part 1”. Moscow: HSC, 2014. 518 p.
The present paper is devoted to a detailed analysis and critiques of the most doubtful, disputed or erroneous assertions, as well as of the diverse mythical data which M.L. Danilevsky’s monograph, “Longicorn beetles (Coleoptera, Cerambycoidea) of Russia and adjacent countres. Part 1”, abounds with....
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Southern Scientific Centre of the Russian Academy of Science, Federal state budgetary institution
2016-07-01
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| Series: | Кавказский энтомологический бюллетень |
| Online Access: | http://www.ssc-ras.ru/ckfinder/userfiles/files/28_AI%20Miroshnikov.pdf |
| Summary: | The present paper is devoted to a detailed analysis and critiques of the most doubtful, disputed or erroneous assertions, as well as of the diverse mythical data which M.L. Danilevsky’s monograph, “Longicorn beetles (Coleoptera, Cerambycoidea) of Russia and adjacent countres. Part 1”, abounds with. The real publication date of this book is found to be May 2015, not 2014 as stated therein and on some websites. Exactly this date is suggested to be considered as the actual publication date of all new taxa (1 genus, 5 subgenera, 1 species and 27 subspecies) described in the monograph. The largely poor structure of the book is noted as one of its main defects, this being clear from the complete absence of a general part with its conventional introductory chapters usually contained in such large monographs. Keys to taxa of all levels and their detailed differential diagnoses that constitute one of the most important parts of any serious taxonomic work are likewise missing. Complete failure in a whole number of statements and conclusions concerning the biological features and systematic positions of many species in the tribe Lepturini, in particular, Stictoleptura Casey, 1924 and Paracorymbia Miroshnikov, 1998, is revealed as being based on fabrications, scientifically unproven arguments, deep contradictions and rather dubious characteristics. When discussing these groups, certain Nearctic genera are used in the present paper for comparative purposes, namely, Brachyleptura Casey, 1913 and Toxoleptura Miroshnikov, 1998. The new synonymy, Batesiata Miroshnikov, 1998 (subgen. pro Paracorymbia Miroshnikov, 1998) = Pyrrholeptura Lazarev, 2016 (subgen. pro Stictoleptura Casey, 1924), syn. n., is established, which is directly associated with Danilevsky's conclusions. Some approaches of the monograph’s author to the establishment of new species-group taxa are considered as at times being beneath criticism, representatives of the genus Cortodera Mulsant, 1863 taken as examples. Numerous manipulations by M.L.Danilevsky of literature data, including their disregard or hiding in cases convenient to him, are disclosed. Absolutely astounding, unreal interpretations of various published data by other authors, sometimes also deeply affecting moral and ethical aspects, are shown. Critical remarks are given on rather numerous discourses and statements of the author of the monograph that are mostly related to this or that information on representatives of such genera as Rhaesus Motschulsky, 1875, Aegosoma Audinet-Serville, 1832, Neoxymirus Miroshnikov, 2013, Enoploderes Faldermann, 1837, Rhagium Fabricius, 1775, Brachyta Fairmaire, 1865, Alosterna Mulsant, 1863, Vadonia Mulsant, 1863, Anoplodera Mulsant, 1839, Robustanoplodera Pic, 1954, Lepturobosca Reitter, 1913, Pachytodes Pic, 1891, Stenurella Villiers, 1974, Necydalis Linnaeus, 1758, etc. Etymology of new scientific names advanced is often either completely ignored or sometimes perplexing. The book abounds with printing mistakes and inaccuracies so much that even their approximate number is too hard to count. The monograph is most deeply upsetting in crudely misinterpreting or hiding a huge amount of scientific evidence, thus misleading the reader. |
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| ISSN: | 1814-3326 1814-3326 |