Helops Fabricius, 1775 (Insecta, Coleoptera, TENEBRIONIDAE): proposed conservation of usage by designation of Tenebrio caeruleus Linnaeus, 1758 as the type species

The purpose of this application, under Article 70.2 of the Code, is to conserve the current usage of the widely used name Helops Fabricius, 1775 for a genus of tenebrionid beetles from Western Palaearctic, Nearctic and Neotropical Regions by designation of Tenebrio caeruleus Linnaeus, 1758 as the type species. The type species of Helops Fabricius, 1775 is at present Tenebrio lanipes Linnaeus, 1771 (currently Stenomax lanipes). The use of the original designation would seriously affect the nomenclatural stability of long-recognized generic and subtribal concepts in the tribe HELOPINI. It is proposed that all type fixations for the nominal genus Helops Fabricius, 1775 before that of Tenebrio caeruleus Linnaeus, 1758 by Hope (1840) be set aside.