Status of Pseudopyrochroa types in the Museum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris (Coleoptera: Pyrochroidae: Pyrochroinae)

Abstract

Fifty-eight species and subspecies presently attributed to the Asian fire-colored beetle genus Pseudopyrochroa, were described by Maurice Pic (55 species) and L. Fairmaire (3 species). The status of this material, deposited in The Museum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris, is discussed. One or more syntypes or paratypes were confirmed for 53 species and subspecies names. No type material for P. nigripennis is deposited at the Paris Museum. The remaining four names: P. vitalist Pic, P. atriceps Pic, P. modesta Pic, and P. unicolor Pic are considered incertae sedis. Lectotypes are designated for 46 species and subspecies and paratypes are confirmed for Pseudopyrochroa klapperichi Pic.

I concur with a previously published synonym (junior synonym listed first, throughout): Pyrochroa dimidiata Blair = Schizotus rotundicollis Pic. At the generic level, I propose Pyrochromima Pic as a NEW SYNONYM of Pseudopyrochroa Pic. I also propose eight NEW SYNONYMS at the species level: Pyrochroa rubriceps Pic = Pyrochroa cardoni Fairmaire, Pseudopyrochroa taiwana Kôno = Pseudopyrochroa depressa Pic, Pyrochroa lyciformis Pic = Pyrochroa donckieri Pic, Pseudopyrochroa nepalensis Paulus = Pyrochroa harmondi Pic, Pyrochromima dentaticollis Pic = Pyrochroa melanocephala Blair, Pseudopyrochroa angustata Pic = Pyrochroa melanocephala Blair, Pseudopyrochroa testaceitarsis diversithorax Pic = Pyrochroa indica Pic, Pyrochroa testaceitarsis notaticollis Pic = Pyrochroa testaceitarsis Pic.