Common Names Committee
Information on submissions of new names or changes in current Entomological Society of America (ESA) or Entomological Society of Canada (ESC) common names is detailed in the CNC Rules of Order.
If you are interested in having the WFIWC-CNC assist you with submitting a common name to ESA and/or ESC, please fill out the Submission Form and email it to the WFIWC Common Names Committee (wfiwc.cnc@gmail.com).
We highly recommend considering multiple organisms simultaneously to ensure the most appropriate name is chosen in relationship to other species that may also need common names in the future. We provide an example of this kind of group evaluation for Buprestid species, and for “spruce engravers”, along with a blank EXCEL template.
Many past submissions were made in support of current efforts to update Western Forest Insects (see list under Western Forest Insects) but other common names have been proposed for exotic insects or insects with no common name listed in Western Forest Insects. For a list of all past submissions made by the WFIWC-CNC, please see below. Proposals under the active comment period through WFIWC as well as those submitted to ESA/ESC for review can also viewed below.
Submission Form
Past Submissions (1986-Present)
WFIWC: Provide Feedback on Active Proposals
Submissions Out For ESA/ESC Review
Furniss, R.L., & Carolin, V.M. (1977, reprinted 1992). Western Forest Insects. Miscellaneous publication 1339. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service. 654 p.
Western Forest Insects Book Revision
Many common names were used in “Western Forest Insects” that are not officially recognized by either the Entomological Society of America (ESA) or Entomological Society of Canada (ESC). A list of these insects can be found here. Information for considering numerous similar insects concurrently can be found above (see group evaluation). If interested in advancing approved common names to match or improve on those used in the 1977 publisher version, or if you have high quality insect images for the revision, please contact Iral Ragenovich or the WFIWC Common Names Committee.