Re: Unknown Scientific Name?
I have just tried running the NBN Record Cleaner to check records of Coleoptera exported from Mapmate. I was pretty horrified to discover thousands of records marked as failed on the basis of Unknown Scientific Name.
Most of these fall into the category of species whose names have changed relatively recently. I assume, however, that the names used on the NBN Gateway are the same as those used by the Cleaner. If so, consider this case :
Ophonus puncticeps is the current name for the species that was previously known as Harpalus puncticeps. Entering Ophonus puncticeps on the Gateway shows no species found. However, entering Harpalus puncticeps produces Ophonus (Metophonus) puncticeps. Harpalus puncticeps is given as a synonym, but Ophonus puncticeps is not. Is this why these records are marked as failed? Is it because the person who worked on this part of the species dictionary failed to include the name which is used by the vast majority of British coleopterists? I don't know anyone who uses these Genus (Subgenus) Species names.
Most importantly, what can I do about it? The names can't be changed in Mapmate. There are many species in this category.
Richard Wright