Amyotea hamata

hamata (Strachia) Walker 1867b: 342. [Figs 81–82]

Original data: “ a, b. New Guinea. Presented by W. W. Saunders, Esq.” [holotype and a specimen representing Var. β]

HOLOTYPE ♁: red-margined holotype disc; “S”; “ Strachia hamata Walker’s catal.”; “Saunders. 65 . 13.”; “NHMUK 010592380”. Fourth and fifth right and left antennomeres missing; left hemelytron disjointed; left membranous wing deteriorated (Fig. 81).

NON-TYPE [formerly considered as type] ♀ (var. β): green-margined type disc; “ ASOPUS HAMATUS ”; “Wallace”; “Saunders 65 . 13.”; “N.Guin. S.W.”; “NHMUK 010592379”. Left antenna, and right anterior and middle legs missing (Fig. 82).

Current status: Amyotea hamata (Walker, 1867) (see Schouteden 1907: 54).

Notes: Walker (1867b: 342) mentioned a variety of this species: “ Var. β.—Scutellum with a cruciform pale luteous stripe”. We have found this female specimen in the collection (as listed above) but according to the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature (ICZN 1999: Art. 72.4. 1) varieties are not to be counted as part of the type series, therefore we consider only the specimen with the uniformly coloured scutellum as the holotype. This specimen, presented by William W. Saunders to the Museum in 1865, was collected early in 1861 by Charles M. Allen, Alfred R. Wallace’s assistant; the handwritten “S” on the disc label may stand for Sorong or “Saylee” [Sele] (Baker 1996: 195). While “ ASOPUS HAMATUS. ” is not the original combination, this is one used by Walker (1868: 533).