Taxacom: nomen nudum and synonymy question

[John Grehan]

Dear colleagues,

  Krulikowsky 1908 (ref below)  listed under the species name Hepialus
hectus, a subspecific name as ''ab. [aberration] male decorata Krul. K. 1
Ex'

Nielsen et al (2000) in their world catalog of Hepialidae, listed decorata
under Phymatopus hecta as a junior synonym, but also as a nomen nudum.
Would I be correct to understand that if the name 'decorata' is a nomen
nudum (having no description or illustration), then it cannot be listed as
a synonym since there is no way to know if it were really a form of
Phymatopus hecta or even of any other Hepialidae? (and that's assuming the
individual were competent at least to recognize whether a moth was a
hepialid or not.

Feedback, if any, greatly appreciated.

John Grehan

Krulikowsky, L. 1908 Neues Verzeichnis der Lepidopteren des Gouvernements
Kasan (?stl. Russland). Deutsche Entomologische Zeitschrift 'Iris' 21:
202-272.

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