When complex is simpler! Suggested name changes to improve accuracy.

In our world of parasitized caterpillars there are three very commonly used identifications:

1. Hornworm Parasitic Wasp Cotesia congregata
   Applied to practically all wasp pupae that parasitize Sphinx caterpillars.

2. White Butterfly Wasp Cotesia glomerata
   Applied to most wasp pupae that parasitize the Cabbage Butterfly family Pieridae

3. Saddleback Caterpillar Wasp Cotesia empretiae
   Applied to most wasp pupae that parasitize Saddleback Caterpillars in the Acharia genus

While these terms are extremely useful in specifying the kind of caterpillar parasitized, they are inaccurate as to the exact species of Cotesia involved. Thanks @josefernandez-triana for pointing this out to my attention. I have asked if it would be possible to change each of these designations to refer to a complex of related species rather than a single species. As it is, these three species C. congregata, C. glomerata, and C. empretiae represent a whole lot of species yet to be better known, or even to be discovered. We need simplification with proper representation!

Publicado el 25 de febrero de 2020 por botanicaltreasures