The status of Barbitistes serricauda (Fabricius, 1794) (Ensifera: Phaneropteridae) -a re-assessment. -In this paper, we examine the taxonomic and nominal status of a widespread species of European bush-cricket, Barbitistes serricauda (Fabricius, 1794) (Ensifera: Phaneropteridae). The name B. serricauda has almost exclusively been applied to a species occurring mainly north of the Alps from Spain through Central Europe to the Black Sea. A re-examination of two syntypes of B. serricauda has now

more »

... vealed that they represent a different species occurring on the south side of the Alps in France, Italy and Switzerland, currently treated as B. obtusus Targioni-Tozzetti, 1881. Therefore, the species from the south side of the Alps should be called B. serricauda (instead of B. obtusus), while a new name would have to be found for the species from the north side of the Alps (hitherto B. serricauda). Considering the long established and well-defined use of B. serricauda and B. obtusus, this scenario would inevitably result in severe confusion and nomenclatural instability. Hence, a formal request will be submitted in December 2004 to the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature to preserve the accustomed use of these names. Meanwhile, we suggest maintaining the prevailing usage in both cases. We furthermore discuss the status of Barbitistes obtusus alpinus Fruhstorfer, 1920, for which an invalid neotype was designated in a recent publication.