[Taxacom] =?Windows-874?Q?Re:=20=20A=20New=20Award=20for=20Insect?= =?Windows-874?Q?=20Taxonomy=20=96=20J=20O=20Westwood=20Medal?=

[christian thompson]

Thanks, Frank
and congratulations to the Natural History Museum
and the Royal Entomological Society on their belated recognition of Systematic Entomology.

As a reminder to readers of this list, the Entomological Society America has for years awarded the THOMAS SAY Award for the best publication in insect systematics by an American author(s) or on a Nearctic taxon. Last year the award with given to Adler, Curie and Wood for their monograph of black flies of North America.

I getting older, but I believe the Germans also give a Fabrician Medal for outstanding works in Systematics.

Footnote on types of genera: A little known fact is that Fabricius himself recognized the typic species of genera in his works, especially his later volumes. One will notice that in each genus he has an extended description of the mouthparts and other characteristics of ONE species and only one species in each genus. This was the typic species. As for the "first clearly established the concept of a type species for a genus" this belongs to Latreille (1810) according to International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature, Opinion 136. Sorry, Frank, but ... ;-)

[? Should we also suggest a Francis Walker Medal for the systematist who contributes the most to naming the remaining 90% of the World Insect Fauna? Smile :-)]

Cheers

F. Christian Thompson
Systematic Entomology Lab., USDA
c/o Smithsonian Institution
MRC-0169 NHB
PO Box 37012
Washington, DC 20013-7012
(202) 382-1800 voice
(202) 786-9422 FAX
cthompso at sel.barc.usda.gov e-mail
www.diptera.org  web site

>>> "Frank Krell" <f.krell at nhm.ac.uk> 11/01/06 07:29AM >>>
A New Award for Insect Taxonomy – J O Westwood Medal