Annotated checklist of the moths and butterflies (Lepidoptera) of Canada and Alaska
Series: Pensoft Series Faunistica, No. 118
Publisher: Pensoft Publishers
Published: 2018
Place of publication: Sofia, Bulgaria
Language: eng
Format: hardback
Number of pages: 580
ISBN-13: 9789546429094
First sentence: Over a century ago, C. Gordon Hewitt (1911, 1912) proposed producing a list of the Lepidoptera (and
other insects) of Canada, to update the preliminary list by the Natural History Society of Toronto (NHST)
(1883). That project got as far as the assembly of a group of experts (including A. Gibson, H.H. Lyman,
A.F. Winn, and F.H. Wolley Dod who were responsible for the Lepidoptera), before it was derailed by the
first World War and the untimely deaths of some of the key proponents. Now, over a century later, we
have realized that goal of producing a comprehensive list of the Lepidoptera of Canada.
Description: A definitive species list is the foundation of biodiversity and conservation work. As we deal with massive climatic changes in the Anthropocene, knowing which species make up our diverse ecosystems will be critically important if we wish to protect and restore them.
The Lepidoptera, moths and butterflies, are the fourth-largest insect order in terms of global diversity, with approximately 158,000 described species. Here we report the distributions of 5431 species that occur in Canada and Alaska, as well as 53 species that have been reported from the region but not yet verified. Additionally, 19 species are listed as interceptions or unsuccessful introductions, and 52 species are listed as probably occurring in the region.
The list is based on records from taxonomic papers, historical regional checklists, and specimen data from collections and online databases. All valid species and their synonyms, and all Nearctic subspecies and synonyms are included, except for butterfly subspecies (and their synonyms) that have never been reported from the region. The list is presented in taxonomic order, with the author, date of description, and original genus provided for each name.
Notes: URL: https://books.pensoft.net/books/13080