Last week (late March 2024) Doug Macaulay published a new checklist for the lepidoptera of BC, totalling 2901 species. In contrast, our curated BC Leps checklist only contains 2841, a full 60 species fewer. So wherein lies the difference? Excitement! Drama!

For people who aren’t familiar, the BC Leps site list is the result of specific, knowledgable individuals (Dave Holden, Greg Pohl and Crispin Guppy) reviewing and confirming sightings on iNaturalist for BC and entering stub entries for species that aren’t yet observed, but we know are here. I then wrote a script that pings iNat every day for this information and gathers them up to publish on the BC Leps site at the link above. So the idea is it’ll be the definitive, curated list for BC that’ll stay up to date over time.

We were talking about this in last night’s meeting. Some initial feedback from Lars Crabo and others confirmed that a lot of the differences were simple taxonomical changes, but that still wouldn’t account for all.

I’ll keep reviewing this below when I have time, but here are the differences I’ve tracked so far. I’ve added notes for each at the bottom of the page.

Taxon changes
- purple are species no longer expected in BC
- blue have taxon updates
- orange are taxonomic synonyms

Names in green aren't on the BC Leps list & need confirmation

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Taxon changes (rows in blue)

• The three Enypia species are moved to Sabulodes; here the iNat list is more up to date.
  • See paper, 2019
  • Cited on MPG
  • iNat taxon swap page
• Catoptria oregonica -> Catoptria oregonicus
  • iNat taxon swap page
• Lycaena spp. -> Tharsalea
  • reference?
• Lycaena phlaeas. NA observations are now considered Lycaena hypophlaeas which was previously considered a subspecies of L. phlaeas.
  • See MPG notes
• Prochoreutis pernivalis -> Pseudocaloreas pernivalis
  • Updated in 2021, see MPG
• Tinagma giganteum -> Tinagma gigantea
  • Synonym? Taxon change listed on iNat in 2022 by Greg Pohl
• Caloreas leucobasis, multimarginata – > new genus: Neocaloreas
  • Updated in 2022, MPG.
• Drepana bilineata -> Falcaria bilineata
  • Updated in 2023, Annotated Taxonomic Checklist of the Lepidoptera of North America North of Mexico.
• Speyeria genus -> Argynnis
  • Zhang et al. 2020, Speyeria is subgenus of Argynnis.
• Grapholita species split into 3 genera.
  • Grapholita conversana, caeruleana, lunatana, imitativa, vitrana -> Ephippiphora genus
  • Grapholita libertina, packardi, prunivora -> Aspila genus
  • See iNat notes.
• Ypsolopha rubrella
  • Old species name for ochrella.
• Epelis truncataria -> Macaria truncataria
  • Interesting one, I wouldn’t have pegged this as a Macaria. Been toggled between Macaria and Epelis; most recent is the 2023 Annotated Taxonomic Checklist of the Lepidoptera of North America North of Mexico, setting it to Macaria.
• Arctia alpina -> Acerbia alpina
  • Synonym?
• Annettenia eremonoma -> Perittia eremonoma
  • MPG
• Odontosia elegans -> Pheosidea elegans
  • MPG
• Cochylis dubitana
  • Moved to Neocochylis genus in 2020, see MPG notes.
• Perizoma basaliata
  • Moved to Martania genus in 2019, see MPG notes.
• Perizoma grandis
  • Moved to Martania genus in 2019, see MPG notes.
• Prorella leucata
  • Moved to Eupithecia genus in 2023, see MPG notes.
• Prorella mellisa
  • Moved to Eupithecia genus in 2023, see MPG notes.
• Pyrgus communis
  • Note on MPG that this was an older taxonomical placement, but no mention of when it changed. Now Burnsius communis.
• Venusia duodecemlineata, Venusia obsoleta
  • Now placed in Nomenia genus. See MPG for duodecemlineata and obsoleta.
• Protoperigea anotha, posticata, umbricata
  • Now placed in Caradrina genus. See MPG for anotha, posticata, umbricata.
• Protorthodes curtica, oviduca, rufula
  • Now placed in Trichopolia genus. See MPS for curtica, oviduca, rufula.
• Olethreutes glaciana, heinrichana, inquietana, metallicana, nordeggana, schulziana, septentrionana, turfosana
  • Now placed in Phiaris genus.
  • O. minaki is now Phiaris dissolutana
• Olethreutes mengelana
  • Now in the Argyroploce genus. MPG.
• Oligocentria pallida
  • Moved to Iannasa pallida. See iNat.
• Oligocentria semirufescens
  • Moved to Oedemasia semirufescens. See iNat.
• Schizura concinna
  • Moved to Oedemasia concinna. See iNat.
• Schizura unicornis
  • Moved to Coelodasys unicornis. See iNat.
• Oidaematophorus brucei
  • Oidaematophorus brucei -> Hellinsia brucei
  • See MPG.
• Dioryctria xanthoenobares
  • MPG treats this as a synonym for Dioryctria auranticella. This is already on the BC list.
• Hellinsia pectodactylus
  • North American observations split into an H. Stramineus complex.
• Lobophora canavestita [Powdered bigwing moth]
  • Synonym for Lobophora nivigerata.

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Species no longer considered to be found in BC (rows in purple)

• BC Herpetogramma thestialis records west of BC should now be considered a new species: Herpetogramma aquilonalis.
  • See 2021 paper
• Loxostege sticticalis is now considered a Eurasian species; in North America it’s Loxostege munroealis.
  • See notes on MPG
• Macaria notata
  • This was split in 2023. M. ulsterata was re-instated for NA species while M. notata was retained for Eurasian species.
• Boloria selene
  • Split in 2022. NA B. selene have been split into separate species: Boloria myrina. See iNat.
• Minoa murinata
  • Eurasian species. Introduced in BC in 1994 to tackle invasive spurge species. This paper from 2015 says it was never established. No evidence from other sources.
• Limenitis archippus
  • Plenty of records from Washington and Alberta, but nothing on MPG, bugguide or iNat. A note in the 2018 Canadian checklist says it was extirpated from BC due to spraying for the codling moth. Last known observation as in 1930 in Lillooet.

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Species needing confirmation (rows in green)

I’ve heard that BOLD data alone isn’t reliable enough to confirm a species. Seems like the bulk of number of these may be based on those records. However, the Annotated checklist of the moths and butterflies (Lepidoptera) of Canada and Alaska (2018) does list some species in provinces due to BOLD data. Not sure where the line is drawn.

• Alucita adriendenisi – the 2018 Annotated checklist of the moths and butterflies (Lepidoptera) of Canada and Alaska lists this as “Erroneous but probable” (EP).
• Bondia shastana. MPG and bugguide don’t reference any records north of California. BOLD lists a single record.
• Pyrausta antisocialis. MPG and bugguide only cite sightings in Arizona; iNat has a single one in western Montana identified by BOLD.
• Ectoedemia populella.
  • There are a few unconfirmed BC observations of this on iNat, all from gall photographs, not individuals.
  • Bugguide lists all observations from Eastern NA, as does MPG.
• Udea beringialis. Evidence needed here.
  • MPG lists it as found in BC but I haven’t heard of any observations. Bugguide doesn’t list the species.

Several Coleophora species which look probable. These are easily overlooked and tough to ID without dissection.

• Coleophora canadensisella
  • Looks very possible for BC. The larvae feed on Cornus canadensis which are common here – all records on iNat are of the leaves. BOLD lists a few records from BC.
• Coleophora comptoniella
  • Attractive moth. No records for BC on MPG, nor on BOLD.
• Coleophora glissandella
  • BOLD lists some records, but I couldn’t find anything else besides.
• Coleophora puberuloides
  • One BOLD report from Smithers, BC.
• Coleophora sparsipulvella
  • Looks very possible for BC. MPG lists observations here.

• Euthyatira lorata
  • Didn’t see any reports on iNat, MPG or BOLD in BC. But comes up as far north as Seattle.
• Phiaris siderana
  • bugguide only lists observations from California. Nothing on BOLD for BC.
• Phtheochroa birdana
  • MPG lists it as an east coast NA species, as does bugguide; BOLD lists a couple of records from BC.
• Crambus rickseckerellus
  • MPG, bugguide, iNat all list as California species. BOLD has records from BC.
• Elachista cucullata
  • Some range differences here, depending on source. MPG lists it as east coast + California; bugguide just east coast; iNat east coast and Oregon. BOLD alone reports several from BC.
• Myelopsis minutularia
  • Looks very probable. MPG, iNat and bugguide all list it as present in BC. Libby has a sighting using BOLD. Quite distinctive – any other likely candidates?
• Ortholepis rhodorella
  • MPG and iNat list as east coast; species not listed on bugguide. BOLD has BC sightings.
• Acleris inana
  • MPG lists as east coast species + observations in Alberta; iNat lists it as east coast. No BOLD IDs.
• Acleris macdunnoughi
  • MPG lists it from Washington and Alberta; bugguide from Washington. iNat has a single sighting (my own) from September (appropriate time of year) up in Prince George. BOLD has none.
• Aethes fernaldana
  • One sighting from Okanagan on iNat; MPG lists California but uses BC sighting image. No species listed on bugguide.
• Niditinea sabroskyi
  • iNat, MPG, bugguide list as East Coast species. BOLD has one BC record.
• Tischeria ceanothi
  • MPG lists records from California only; no observations on bugguide. iNat lists one from WA but most California.
• Crambus sperryellus
  • MPG, bugguide list records only from California; iNat lists one from BC with a few others north of California.
• Euchloe naina
  • Looks possible. Worth speaking to Crispin Guppy about. MPG treats as aynonym of Euchloe ochracea. Nothing on iNat other than deep in the Yukon.
• Clemensia albata
  • MPG, bugguide show it’s an East coast species. 2 records from around Seattle on iNat ID’d as this species and not C. umbrata.
• Aroga eriogonella
  • Species not listed on bugguide; MPG reports one sighting from Washington, rest from further south. BOLD lists one sighting collected in Cawston.
• Aroga paraplutella
  • Just one sighting on iNat from BC – my own, near Osoyoos. MPG and bugguide also lists one from the same location, but I think it’s also just due to my one record.
• Dichrorampha incanana
  • MPG and bugguide and iNat list this as an exclusively East Coast species. BOLD lists a few records from BC.
• Epinotia removana
  • No observations on MPG, bugguide or iNat. BOLD lists a single one.
• Elachista herbigrada
  • No records on bugguide; MPG has two but none from BC. Several records on BOLD.
• Elachista illectella
  • MPG and bugguide list this as an Eastern species. iNat has one sighting from Alberta, but again mostly Eastern. BOLD has records from BC.

Cauchas: looks like a recent revision (2023). No records as noted, but the taxonomy may be new. Worth a closer look.

• Cauchas clarkei
  • No records on bugguide or iNat. MPG has only one, not from BC. No records on BOLD.
• Cauchas elongata
  • No records on bugguide or iNat. MPG has only one, not from BC. No records on BOLD.
• Cauchas lobata
  • No records on bugguide, iNat or MPG. No records on BOLD.
    
• Argyresthia alternatella
  • MPG, bugguide and iNat list it as an Eastern species. BOLD has a record from BC.
• Argyresthia annettella
  • MPG, bugguide and iNat all list it as an Eastern species. BOLD has several records from BC.
• Blastobasis glandulella
  • Bugguide lists it coast to coast, but not BC. MPG the same. iNat has a few records, some of my own.
• Chionodes flavicorporella
  • MPG shows a scattered range; couldn’t locate it on bugguide; single sighting from out East on iNat.
• Chionodes flavicorporella
  • Looks possible. Has a wide range according to iNat, MPG and bugguide. BOLD has records.
• Elachista ossuaria
  • Species not listed on bugguide, no iNat observations. MPG lists Alberta records. BOLD lists records.
• Elachista perniva
  • Nothing on iNat; species not listed on bugguide; a few records from the Great Plains on MPG. Single record from BC on BOLD.
• Epermenia infracta
  • Only a handful of records on MPG, nothing from BC. Not much on iNat and one record from Colorado on bugguide. Several records on BOLD.
• Pelochrista juncticiliana
  • Hazy taxonomical status here, perhaps? MPG lists the species (none in BC); bugguide refer to group only; iNat lists a few records, none yet from BC.
• Pelochrista medullana
  • Another introduced species to BC but couldn’t find any details. No data on MPG at all and no BOLD records.
• Chionodes tessa
  • Looks possible. Libby has a sighting from Vancouver Island on iNat; several BOLD records; MPG lists it in BC (probably same sighting)
• Chionodes theurgis
  • Nothing on iNat or bugguide. MPG has records but far away from BC. BOLD has records.
• Chionodes whitmanella
  • MPG and bugguide both report records from Washington; iNat has nothing. BOLD has records.
• Chrysoesthia drurella
  • MPG and bugguide list species in East and California. iNat similar. No records on BOLD.
• Coleotechnites mackiei
  • MPG lists records only from California; iNat lists nothing; bugguide doesn’t recognize species. BOLD has a record from BC.
• Coleotechnites macleodi
  • Looks possible. MPG lists BC records; bugguide only Washington; iNat just East Coast. BOLD lists a few.
• Filatima obscuroocelella
  • Listed on the Canadian checklist as appearing in Alberta based on BOLD. Nothing on bugguide, MPG or iNat for the province.
• Limenitis archippus
  • Plenty of records from Washington and Alberta, but nothing on MPG, bugguide or iNat. A note in the 2018 Canadian checklist says it was extirpated from BC due to spraying for the codling moth. Last known observations
• Sarata caudellella
  • Looks probable. A handful of sightings on iNat with MPG listing one from Vancouver Island.
• Eupithecia columbrata
  • One sighting on iNat; nothing on MPG or bugguide.
• Dysstroma rutlandia
  • Looks probable. One sighting on iNat and one on MPG, but distinctive moth.
• Gnorimoschema banksiella
  • 2018 checklist states it may be conspecific with pedmontella which is present in BC. iNat and MPG have some East Coast observations.
• Gnorimoschema gracile
  • Single observation from California. No inat, bugguide or MPG records.
• Eulithis explanata
  • Couple of sightings from BC on iNat from the Peace region + area. MPG lists it as far west as Alberta.
• Sinoe chambersi
  • Bugguide: nothing close to BC; same for MPG. BOLD has records from BC.
• Caloptilia populetorum
  • MPG lists as present in BC; BOLD lists a couple of records in BC.
• Parornix dubitella
  • MPG lists as East Coast species; single BOLD record.
• Parornix loganella
  • Very little information. BOLD lists a few records, but that’s pretty much it.
• Parornix obliterella
  • MPG and bugguide just list as East Coast. BOLD lists a single record from BC.
• Phyllocnistis insignis
  • MPG lists as East Coast, iNat mostly as well; BOLD lists several from BC.
• Phyllonorycter fragilella
  • MPG doesn’t list anything in the West. BOLD lists several for BC.
• Phyllonorycter holodisci
  • MPG lists it in BC. A few observations from iNat but they’re all of the leaf-mining larvae.
• Phyllonorycter junoniella
  • Nothing on MPG for BC; couple of BOLD records from Haida Gwaii.
• Phyllonorycter latus
  • Nothing on MPG for BC; BOLD lists a few records.
• Atalopedes campestris
  • Nothing on MPG for BC; iNat has records from Washington, but nothing further north. Nothing on BOLD.
• Euphilotes battoides
  • MPG lists a few observations from BC; seems like the taxonomy is in flux; iNat lists a complex.
• Mompha metallifera
  • Not much info. MPG lists one record on the East Coast; iNat has nothing. Single record on BOLD.
• Mompha murtfeldtella
  • Nothing for BC on MPG, iNat or bugguide. BOLD has records.
• Stigmella betulicola
  • Nothing much on MPG or bugguide; BOLD has one record from BC.
• Stigmella fuscotibiella
  • Nothing much on MPG or bugguide; BOLD has one record from BC.
• Stigmella salicis
  • Nothing on MPG. Bugguide lists a group. Looks like the taxonomy is in flux. iNat lists it as a Eurasian species.
• Brachionycha borealis
  • MPG lists it from north-eastern BC. Nothing on bugguide. BOLD has a single sighting.
• Chrysodeixis chalcites
  • Nothing on MPG; iNat lists mostly as a Eurasian species; species not listed on bugguide.
• Parnassius phoebus
  • Nothing on BC for MPG; mentions it’s a name under review.
  • Anstenoptilia marmarodactyla
  • No BC observations on MPG; bugguide lists it for BC; iNat has a few sightings for BC.

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Synonyms (rows in orange)

• Olethreutes deprecatorius == Olethreutes deprecatoria
• Sorhagenia nimbosa == Sorhagenia nimbosus
  • regarded as a synonym. MPG.
• Crambus ainsliellus == Crambus ainslieellus
  • The latter in the BC Leps list is considered the correct spelling, as per MPG.
• Acleris obtusana
  • Not sure about this guy. Looks like a synonym with A. fuscana but hard to follow. Bugguide lists A. fuscana but not A. obtusana, MPG details the taxonomy but still lists A. obtusana.
• Pelochrista smithiana
  • Synonym with Pelochrista agricolana.
• Henricus contrastana
  • Synonym of Henricus edwardsiana. MPG mentions that contrastana was incorrectly placed as the senior synonym.
• Gnophos macguffini
  • Synonym for Charissa turfosaria. See MPG.
• Coryphista meadii
  • Synonymized with Rheumaptera meadii in 2019. See MPG.
• Rheumaptera undulata
  • Synonym with Hydria undulata. See MPG. Seems like this may be the most up to date name.
• Phymatopus behrensi
  • Mispelling of behrensii. See MPG.
• Manduca quinquemaculata
  • Seems to be a synonym of quinquemaculatus, but even doesn’t list it or clarify. But in the blurb it mentions this name (incorrectly?).
• Lobophora magnoliatoidata, montanata, simsata
  • Synonmym of Lobophora canavestita. See MPG.
• Acronicta dactylina
  • Synonym of Acronica insita. See iNat.
• Amydria effrentella
  • Mispelling fix: Amydria effrentella -> Amydria effrenatella
• Gnorimoschema subterraneum
  • Synonym of Gnorimoschema subterranea
• Gnorimoschema contrarium
  • Seems to be a synonym of Gnorimoschema contraria
• Gnorimoschema albangulatum
  • Seems to be a synonym of Gnorimoschema albangulata