WHY COLLECTLEPIDOPTERA?

The role of museums and collections

Why do people collect?Hobby – for fun and

entertainment.

Why do people collect?Hobby – for fun and

entertainment.Curiosity – what is it?

Why do people collect?Hobby – for fun and

entertainment.Curiosity – what is it?To gather data to answer

questions. For scientists, these may be ecological,

biological, or phylogenetic.

What constitutes a useful adult Lepidoptera specimen?

Well prepared (features visible to facilitate identification)pinned correctlywings spread (wing fringe)

Morphological features in tact (also for identification)mouth parts and antennaeabdomen

Reliable dataLocation (including latitude/longitude)DateCollectorHosts or other associations

What information can be obtained from a specimen?

FROM SPECIMENSAssess variation in morphological characters (dissections)Assess phenotypic variation (comparing long series)Discover novel features (SEMs)Tissue samples for DNA analyses (legs or entire specimens)

FROM DATAGeographic distribution (range)Temporal distribution (flight period)Plant associations (larval hosts)

How can the information be used?Specimens represent the raw material upon which all systematic,

morphological, ecological, and faunistic studies are based. Collection = library of information (morphological, biological,

geographic, etc.).

Document biodiversity – how many species are there?Prepare faunal surveys – what species occur in a place?Prepare monographic treatments – diagnoses and descriptions.Tissue samples for DNA analyses – relationships.Assess bio-control agents – is this species host specific?Assess invasive species – is this species new to this place?Manage pest species – when and where does it occur?

The specimens may become vouchers for all kinds of studies….or even Types of new species!

No comprehensive guides to Lepidoptera

Holland’s (ca. 1910) moth book – an oldie but a goodieCovell’s (ca. 1980) book on eastern mothsPowell and Opler’s (2008) moths of western North

American

Websites – Moth Photographer’s group Lynn Scott’s Lepidoptera Images

MONA – Moths of America north of MexicoMonographic treatments of specific genera, tribes or

families

How man specimens are in Lepidoptera collections worldwide?

British Museum – ca. 8 millionParis Museum – ca. 4-6 millionVienna Museum – ca. 3.5 millionAmerican Museum – ca. 3.5 millionMcGuire Center – ca. 3 (to 9) millionU.S. National Museum – ca. 3 millionCanadian National Collection – ca. 1.5 millionMost easily accessible when in public

institutions.

How are species described?Consult the scientific literature – catalogs,

checklists, monographic treatments, faunistic work.

Borrow material from institutional collections and usually from private collections, as well.

Circumscribe “species” and compares them against type specimens.

Write the results, complete with illustrations.Submit to a scientific journal for peer review.Paper is reviewed and returned to author for

revisions.Journal publishes the paper.

How are species named?

International Code of Zoological Nomenclature

The name must be published.The name must include only

charactersof the Latin alphabet.

The name of a species may be derived fromLatin (or Latinized), Greek, or an “arbitrarycombination of characters.”

How are species named?International Code of Zoological

Nomenclature

“Recommendation 25C: Responsibility of Authors forming new names. Authors should exercise reasonable care and consideration in forming new names to ensure that they are chosen with their subsequent users in mind and that, as far as possible, they are appropriate, compact, euphonious, memorable , and do not cause offence.”

How are species named?International Code of Zoological

Nomenclature

Easy ways to Latinize names:

Patronyms – “i”, “ae” “orum”Place names – “ensis”Others – “ana”, “ella”, etc.

Tautonomy – okayHomonymy – avoid

How are species named?William Kearfott species names:

bobanacocanadodanafofanagoganahohanakokanalolanamomananonanapopanaroranasosanatotanavovanazozana

How are species named?William Kearfott species names:

bobana dandanacocana fandanadodana gandanafofana handanagogana kandanahohana mandanakokana nandanalolana pandanamomana randananonana sandanapopana tandanarorana vandanasosana wandanatotanavovanazozana

How are species named?William Kearfott species names:

bobana dandana baracanacocana fandana caracanadodana gandana daracanafofana handana faracanagogana kandana haracanahohana mandana maracanakokana nandana naracanalolana pandana yaracanamomana randananonana sandanapopana tandanarorana vandanasosana wandanatotanavovanazozana

How are species named?

Edward Meyrick’s response:“On some impossible

scientific names in Micro-lepidoptera.”

“…openly and obviously based on a barbarous and unmeaning gibberish.”

How are species named?Some interesting names:

Abra cadabra – a fossil molluskAgra vation – carabid beetleAgra culture – carabid beetleAh ha – an Australian waspCastnia inca dincadu – a castniidCephise nuspecez – a skipperEubetia bigaulae – a tortricid mothPieza kake –flyPieza pi - flyPiera rhea - fly

How are species named?Some interesting generic names:

Phrygonidia – oak mothDyaria – pyralid mothBatman – a fishJerapowellia – tortricid mothDoa – mothOops – a beetle (x2)Polychisme, Dolichisme,

Peggichisme – true bugsSayonara – a fish

Do theses names pass the test?International Code of

Zoological Nomenclature

Recommendation 25C: Responsibility of Authors forming new names. Authors should exercise reasonable care and consideration in forming new names to ensure that they are chosen with their subsequent users in mind and that, as far as possible, they are appropriate, compact, euphonious, memorable , and do not cause offence.

CONCLUSIONSCollect a lot of LepidopteraPrepare them wellLabel then accuratelyMake the available to experts

POSSIBLE RESULTSLegs for DNAData for monographic revisionDocument a new host/range extension/invasiveGet a patronym!