Apis cerana hainanensis Hepburn et al.

ENGEL, MICHAEL S., 2006, A Giant Honey Bee from the Middle Miocene of Japan (Hymenoptera: Apidae), American Museum Novitates 3504 (1), pp. 1-12 : 11

Apis cerana hainanensis Hepburn et al. , nomen nudum

Apis cerana hainanensis Hepburn, Smith, Radloff, and Otis, 2001: 6 . Nomen nudum.

COMMENTS: Hepburn et al. (2001) unnecessarily introduced, into an already voluminous and confusing taxonomic literature, two additional names for forms of the widely distributed Eastern honey bee, Apis cerana (vide etiam ‘‘ abaensis ’’ under A. cerana heimifeng , infra). Both names are nomina nuda under the current ICZN rules (ICZN, 1999) and therefore are not available for usage as epithets. The name ‘‘ abaensis ’’ was proposed for a form that had already been validated under another name (heimifeng). The name A. cerana hainanensis , however, was a novel introduction for a variety on Hainan Island that had not previously been given a Latinized name. Thus, in order to retain this form as a valid subspecies it must be proposed anew. In general, however, subspecies within Apis should all be synonymized under their respective species and I have, therefore, not attempted to validate a name for this form herein. If ever validated, then this name will take its authorship and date from any later publication in cases of competing priority.