Notes and recommendations on taxonomy and nomenclature of Chironomidae (Diptera)

Various issues in taxonomy and nomenclature of Diptera Chironomidae are discussed, in order to formalize and explain scientific names used in the Fauna Europaea database publications. General and specific remarks point out and exemplify the most common causes for erroneous data: insufficient consultation of the primary sources ( literature and material), unjustified assumptions of type status, and uncritical handling of untested information. Recommendations are offered on how to avoid or solve such problems, and increase the stability and quality of the chironomid system. In addition to a number of changes affecting endings of species epithets, authorship, dates of publication, etc., the following acts and recognitions of nomenclature are proposed.