Systematics of Euptychiina butterflies

Keith Willmott, Shinichi Nakahara, and colleagues are revising the systematics of the diverse satyrine subtribe Euptychiina. This broadly collaborative project has resulted in dozens of papers describing new genera and species, and the most comprehensive phylogeny for the subtribe to date. Work is ongoing to continue to revise priority genera and name new taxa, as a basis for future research on euptychiine biology and evolution.

Learn more: ongoing research on Euptychiina.

Systematics and Classification of Ithomiini

The nymphalid butterfly tribe Ithomiini contains some 390 species and is one of the largest Neotropical butterfly radiations. Ithomiine biology has been extensively studied for many years, and these butterflies are increasingly becoming a model group for research into biogeography, evolution, genetics and conservation.

The last few decades have seen publication of nearly comprehensive phylogenies for subtribes and the tribe as a whole, and descriptions of new ithomiine species and subspecies. McGuire Center curator Keith Willmott is working with colleagues in South America and Europe to revise the systematics and classification of ithomiine genera that have not been studied in the past 50 years, containing c. 200 species.

Learn more: Illustrated Checklist of Ithomiini

Atlas of Neotropical Lepidoptera

A biodiversity summary project of the Association for Tropical Lepidoptera for the New World tropics, from the Mexican-USA border southwards, began in 1980. Under project director, J. B. Heppner, there have been completed thus far catalog parts for micro-moths, the smaller macro-moths (except Geometridae), and the butterflies (edited by Gerardo Lamas). Future catalogs will treat the remaining groups. Color synopses of the fauna of Neotropical moths and butterflies will be published as the numerous specialist authors complete their studies.

Lepidopterorum Catalogus

Since 1911, the Lepidopterorum Catalogus has been the premier catalog series for Lepidoptera of the world. Beginning in 1989 the series was renewed by the Association for Tropical Lepidoptera, with the completion of the world catalog for Noctuidae, with updated format and publication scheme. Since then, several other families have been completed, including the recent catalogs for Scythrididae (2007) and Andesianidae (2007). Several specialist authors are working on other catalogs. The series, edited by John Heppner, now gives full citations to published names for each family, plus notes on known hostplants, figures published, distribution of each species, a bibliography of all papers on the family, and figures of representative species.

Classification of Lepidoptera

Since 1998, John Heppner has been working on revised treatment of all families of Lepidoptera, with the publication of the first part of the classification. Additional parts are in progress. Coordinated book contracts include one for a “Manual of Lepidoptera” and for “American Lepidoptera”, both treatments at the family level.