Comment on the proposed conservation of the generic names Gnorimus Le Peletier de Saint-Fargeau & Serville, 1828 and Osmoderma Le Peletier de Saint-Fargeau & Serville, 1828 (Insecta, Coleoptera) (Case 3349)

I would like to register my support for the proposal by Krell et al. to conserve the generally used names Gnorimus and Osmoderma for two related genera of scarab beetles of conservation importance. These names are well used outside taxonomic circles because of the large size, beauty and rarity of the beetles concerned. Instability in scientific names that are frequently used by the non-scientific public breeds disrespect for scientific nomenclature in general, and leads to increased reliance on a secondary system of vernacular nomenclature. These beetles already suffer from an assortment of vernacular names, such as ‘Noble Chafer’, ‘Variable Chafer’, ‘Hermit Beetle’, ‘Flower Hermit Beetle’, ‘Russian Leather Beetle’ and ‘Odor-of-Leather Beetle’. It would be unfortunate if these loosely applied, artificial constructs were to prove more stable than the scientific nomenclature.