Checklist of Lepidoptera - 2nd ed.

[Pete Eeles]

A second edition of the checklist used by UK Butterflies was published a few months ago, and I thought I'd summarise a few things here. The publication is A checklist of the Lepidoptera of the British Isles, second edition, by David Agassiz, Stella Beavan and Bob Heckford.

I was delighted that, after quite a few correspondences with the authors, I've been added to the list of contributors - quite an honour to have my name associated with such a significant publication! Anyway - the changes are fairly minimal and, as far as the butterflies are concerned, are:

58.004 - The Dappled White has changed species from simplonia to crameri. I know this will make Guy happy since he's been lobbying for this for years

59.018 - Argynnis pandora is now named 'Cardinal or Mediterranean Fritillary', recognising a vernacular name in common use.

59.030 - Nymphalis xanthomelas is now named 'Scarce Tortoiseshell or Yellow-legged Tortoiseshell, also recognising a vernacular name in common use.

B41 - Apatura ilia has been given the name 'Lesser Purple Emperor'.

B45 - Satyrium spini has been given the name 'Blue Spot Hairstreak'.

B46 - Satyrium ilicis has been given the name 'Ilex Hairstreak'.

Several errors in the first edition have also been corrected although, as with all publications, new errors may creep in. The Chalk Hill Blue had its vernacular name changed in the first checklist, but has mistakenly reverted back to Chalkhill Blue. This will be amended in the first update to this second edition, which will be published in due course in the Entomologist's Record and Journal of Variation.

In addition to absorbing these changes on UKB, I've also taken the opportunity to refine the distribution status of all species in terms of resident, extinction, migrant, vagrant and uncertain, based on the information in British and Irish Butterfly Rarities (Eeles, 2023). Some of this information has also been absorbed in the checklist itself.

Full Taxonomic listing: https://www.ukbutterflies.co.uk/taxonomy.php

Notes on the UKB alignment with the checklist: https://www.ukbutterflies.co.uk/webpage ... my_agassiz

Cheers,

- Pete