Latin names

[rangersarah2]

Please could people use English names (if available) as well as Latin? I'm nowhere near Latin standard and am finding it all very confusing

[Jason Green]

Afternoon Sarah,

Originally Posted by rangersarah2

Please could people use English names (if available) as well as Latin? I'm nowhere near Latin standard and am finding it all very confusing

Sure, I always try to. Which particular area are we talking about? Insects, plants, birds, fungi... I'm sure the relevance of common names and use of Latin depends largely on what you're discussing. For instance, birds. All UK birds have common names, so Latin isn't so pressing. However, with insects we have, among many many thousands of others, about 7,000 ichneumon wasp species - so common names for these would be impossible!!!

Just to outline a bit about Latin...
Take the Buff-tailed Bumblebee as an example. The Latin for this species is Bombus terrestris; the Genus is Bombus, and is shared with other species of bumblebee. The terrestris bit is the species - used to identify a specific species. Now, to put this as a more familiar analogy, take my name. I am Jason Green. Green is my surname, and is shared with other family members. So, the surname is like Bombus. Jason is more unique, and identifies me among family members more specifically.

You may have seen a photograph of a bee that appears black and yellow, but it lacking a view of the rear end. You know it's a bee, but you're not sure which one. You may chhose to call it just a Bee, or you may use Latin. In this case you'd say Bombus sp. Remember, Bombus is the Genus, a name part that is unique to bees and shows that each is related. Because you can't see the vital bit say, the colour of the abdomen tip, you can't be more specific to go as far as Species - the terrestris part - and so you have to stop at the Genus. Some insects you may only be able to get as far as Genus, because they may need examination of the genetalia under a microscope. Barr the more distinctive ones, you may only be able to get down as far as subfamily with ichneumons.

If you want to say 'Several species of Bombus' - say 'Bombus spp.' with the extra P after sp. meaning plural.

Now, classifications - I find Latin names come hand in hand with an understanding of where they fit in with classifications. There are Orders; such as Hymenoptera - these include bees, ants and wasps. Then Families. These include Apidae - bees, Ichneumonidae - ichneumon wasps, and Vespidae - common black-yellow wasps for one, etc. Being more specific there are superfamilies like Apoidea. This encapsulates Apidae and other fairly-related families such as Megachilidae - Leaf-cutters. Next-up, sub-families seperate and bunch-up still further within families.

I hope this helps! I'm off for a lay-down...

Take care,

Jason

[loripo]

Thank you Professor Green Like Sarah I'd like to know both - I am learning but find myself wondering just what the Greek/Latin mean. (In fact I've just been looking up 'longiceps' and trying to find out in which ways the 'new' bug varies - it's going to have DNA tests done in Holland I think). We need a glossary in WAB

[Jason Green]

Thanks Lori, you're too kind! I've never thought to look up what longiceps means, or indeed how any Latin name is decided upon - I've personally just taken each as it comes. The different families usually have a common description as opposed to a name, such as Thomisidae being Crab Spiders, Oedemeridae being generally Flower Beetles and Ptychopteridae being Phantom Craneflies.

The majority of insects I should think lack common names. Take the Muscidae fly Myospila meditabunda. There is no common name for this fly, so you will mostly see it referred to as Myospila meditabunda, a Muscid fly. That's how I write it down, as do many others.

[2dogs2000]

I prefer common names for most things as I work with children (7/11 years) and this means more to them, but I am also interested in their scientific names, even though I can never remember them.

[loripo]

Myospila meditabunda, a Muscid fly - thats fine - I would be happy to know that I could generally refer to & recognise 'a Muscid fly' and have its scientific name for reference.
By the way meditabunda means 'earnestly considering' - some fly then

[Jason Green]

Thanks Lori, interesting. Earnestly considering... no idea why they called it that!

[Venger]

Longiceps (L:longus) long (L:ceps) head : long head


Easy!

[rangersarah2]

Thanks Jason, a brilliant first lesson. Now - instead of thick mud - it's more like soup.
Lori - your Muscid fly is a perfect example of what I'm looking for. I was looking through the spider section, and noticed that I thought I knew some of the spiders in one id, but couldn't confirm them because the answer was in Latin.

Jason - may I give you a shout next time i get confused........urrrm, that might keep you busy

[Jason Green]

That'll be a pleasure!