[Taxacom] Taxonomy of removing subspecies

[John Grehan]

Deer colleagues,

If subspecies are subsequently regarded as not representing any definable
entity and are eliminated what is the new status of the previous names?
This is in reference to a particular case in snails where subspecies of
Placostylus ambagiousus were all listed as new synonymies: e.g.

Placostylus ambagiosus watti n. syn.
Placostylus ambagiosus annectens n. syn.
Placostylus ambagiosus michiei n. syn. etc.

Can one 'synonymise' a subspecies name under a species when it is already
considered to be of that species?

I am no questioning the validity of removing the subspecies (a separate
issue) but whether subspecies names become new synonyms of the species name.

Thanks,

John Grehan