Butterflies and Moths of the World
Classification
The higher classification used in this catalogue follows, as far as possible van Nieukerken et al., 2011. In: Zhang, Z.-Q. (Ed.). Animal biodiversity: An outline of higher-level classification and survey of taxonomic richness'. Order Lepidoptera Linnaeus, 1758. This in turn largely follows that in the Handbook of Zoology (Kristensen 1998), and the later update (Kristensen et al. 2007). Recent molecular studies of Ditrysia (Regier et al. 2009; Mutanen et al. 2010) are responsible for several novelties, such as the position of the butterflies (Papilionoidea) and the synonymy of Sesioidea with Cossoidea.
The catalogue currently includes 142 named families and 258 named subfamilies in 46 named superfamiles. In cases where the superfamily or family are unknown the expressions 'Superfamily unassigned' and "Family unassigned' are used respectively. Where a family is divided into subfamilies, but a genus-group name is unassigned to a subfamily the expression "Subfamily unassigned" is used.
A total of 32,165 genus-group names are included of 23,706 (c.73%) are available names and 771 (c.2%) are objective replacement names.
The classification of the moth family Sphingidae follows Kitching & Cadiou, 2000. Hawkmoths of the World. An annotated and illustrated revisionary checklist (Lepidoptera: Sphingidae). The Natural History Museum, London & Comstock Publishing Associates A division of Cornell University Press. vii, 227 pp. The classification includes tribes for some subfamilies and subtribes for some tribes.
Where a subfamily is divided into tribes but a genus-group name is unassigned to a tribe the expression 'Tribe unassigned" is used; and where a tribe is divided into subtribes but the genus-group name is unassigned to a subtribe the expression 'Subtribe unassigned' is used.
The classification of the butterflies and skippers follows Lamas, Häuser, de Jong, Nielsen, Robbins & Vane-Wright. 2004. Global standards for higher classification and family group names of the butterflies (Lepidoptera) updated by Gerardo Lamas (2008). (http://www.ucl.ac.uk/taxome/gbn/Lamas_Genera_04ii08.xls). The classification includes tribes for some subfamilies and subtribes for some tribes.
The classification of the moth family Tortricidae follows Gilligan, T. M., J. Baixeras, J. W. Brown & K. R. Tuck. 2012. T@RTS: Online World Catalogue of the Tortricidae (Ver. 2.0). The classification includes tribes for some subfamilies.
Last updated 11-June-2013 Dr B R Pitkin