common names

[Mario Maier]

> I remember reading somewhere that our dear old Monarch - Danaus plexippus
(whatever happened to that thread and how is the migration going?) has had
about 5 different scientific names but only one common name.  So much for
stability!  Can anyone corroborate?  Is that true or is it another tale?
>

In that case you may be right! The Monarch is an exception. I think this is
the only butterfly which is worlwide known with it's common name. Maybe also
a second butterfly - the Apollo -, too. But in almost all other cases this
doesn't work.

f.e. In Europe there is a butterfly called Hamearis lucina. There are a lot
of common names for that butterfly even in Germany! (Brauner Würfelfalter,
Braunfleckiger Würfelfalter, Frühlingsscheckenfalter, Schlüsselblumen -
Würfelfalter)
Do you know any of that names?? In Britain that butterfly is called "Duke of
Burgundy Fritillary".
Not only the different names are confusion, the names are inaccurately, too!
Fritillary suggests that this butterfly belongs to the fritillaries
group(Mellicta, Melitaea etc.) Also the German name "Scheckenfalter"
suggests that. But this is wrong, in Germany that butterfly just mimes that
group. In other countries the Hamearis species looks like Blues.

Another clue is that some species don't have any common name at all.

So I think it is okay, when you use the common names when talking to a "non
specialist" in your own language. But if you'd like to make international
conversation you should really use the latin names.  - okay, Monarch is
accepted ;-)

Best regards Mario
Homepage: http://EuropeanButterflies.com



 
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