This annotated list arranges the 3693 species of Noctuoidea known from North America into six families (Doidae, Notodontidae, Erebidae, Euteliidae, Nolidae, Noctuidae) and further arranges these into subfamilies, tribes, and subtribes, based on the most recent phylogenetic information. All changes from the previous list in 1983 are documented in 716 taxonomic notes and 331 literature references. These changes include documentation for 367 new species that have been described since the 1983 list, 230 species added through new records or taxonomic changes, and 259 species that are removed or synonymized. A total of 166 taxonomic changes are proposed in the list.

"Moths and butterflies (Lepidoptera) are one of the most diverse and economically important groups of insects, with approximately 157,000 species worldwide. This book establishes a definitive list of the species that occur in BC, and clarifies erroneous records in past works. It provides a knowledge baseline that will be useful to resource and conservation managers, biodiversity researchers, taxonomists, amateur collectors, and naturalists."--Back cover.

Represents the first comprehensive study of these moths in North America north of Mexico using modern systematic procedures involving assessment of a number of morphological and biological characters in relation to their phylogenetic status. This study also represents a worldwide generic study made in conjunction with the revision of the North American species, primarily to ascertain realistic generic limits and the placement of the various genera once included in the heterogeneous concept of the family. Extralimital genera are noted in a catalog of generic names associated with the Glyphipterigidae.

This checklist of the Lepidoptera (butterflies and moths) of Alberta lists 2367 species reported to occur in the province, as well as 138 species whose occurrence in Alberta is probable. Each species entry includes adult flight time and distribution status in the Cordilleran, Boreal, and Grasslands ecozones, as well as references to taxonomic works and to the literature and public collection sources of the records. Detailed notes on taxonomy, nomenclature, distribution, habitat, and biology are given for 1524 of the listed species. An additional section provides details on 171 species erroneously reported from Alberta in previous works. The authors hope it will be a useful resource for anyone carrying out species-level work on Lepidoptera in western Canada, or taxonomic work on Lepidoptera in general. An introductory section provides a general overview of the order Lepidoptera and the natural regions of Alberta, and the history and current state of knowledge of Alberta Lepidoptera. Each of the 63 families (and selected subfamilies) occurring in Alberta is briefly reviewed, with information on distinguishing features, general appearance, and general biology. The list is accompanied by an appendix of proposed nomenclature changes, consisting of revised status for 25 taxa raised from synonymy to species level, and new synonymy for 20 species-level and one genus-level taxa here considered to be subjective synonyms, with resultant revised synonymy for one taxon and formalization of seven new combinations.

Concerns about global biodiversity are rising dramatically, yet we are lagging behind in the most basic prerequisite for its understanding and conservation: the inventory. Insect species may make up five or ten times the number of all other plant and animal species combined, and as such they represent one of the major challenges in biosystematic science. The World Catalogue of Insects series is an initiative compiling worldscale, authoritative catalogues of monophyletic insect taxa. Each volume in the series contains standard nomenclatoral information on all names pertaining to the taxon treated, including type locality and distribution to the extent this is relevant. Additional information is optional, e.g., location, status and condition of types; biology; bibliographical information; pest status; vector status; etc. This volume five focuses on Tortricidae (Lepidoptera). (Series: World Catalogue of Insects)