A peer-reviewed open-access journal ZooKeys 38: 1–549 (2010) Annotated list of the Lepidoptera of Alberta, Canada 1 doi: 10.3897/zookeys.38.383 MONOGRAPH www.pensoftonline.net/zookeys Launched to accelerate biodiversity research An annotated list of the Lepidoptera of Alberta, Canada Gregory R. Pohl1, Gary G. Anweiler2, B. Christian Schmidt3, Norbert G. Kondla4 1 Editor-in-chief, co-author of introduction, and author of micromoths portions. Natural Resources Canada, Northern Forestry Centre, 5320 - 122 St., Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T6H 3S5 2 Co-author of macromoths portions. University of Alberta, E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum, Department of Biological Sciences, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T6G 2E3 3 Co-author of introduction and macromoths portions. Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Canadian National Collection of Insects, Arachnids and Nematodes, K.W. Neatby Bldg., 960 Carling Ave., Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1A 0C6 4 Author of butterfl ies portions. 242-6220 – 17 Ave. SE, Calgary, Alberta, Canada T2A 0W6 Corresponding authors: Gregory R. Pohl ([email protected]), Gary G. Anweiler ([email protected]), B. Christian Schmidt ([email protected]), Norbert G. Kondla ([email protected]) Academic editor: Donald Lafontaine | Received 11 January 2010 | Accepted 7 February 2010 | Published 5 March 2010 Citation: Pohl GR, Anweiler GG, Schmidt BC, Kondla NG (2010) An annotated list of the Lepidoptera of Alberta, Canada. ZooKeys 38: 1–549. doi: 10.3897/zookeys.38.383 Abstract Th is checklist documents the 2367 Lepidoptera species reported to occur in the province of Alberta, Can- ada, based on examination of the major public insect collections in Alberta and the Canadian National Collection of Insects, Arachnids and Nematodes. Records from relevant literature sources published since 1950 and from selected older works are also included. Th e entry for each species includes the scientifi c name, the author and year of publication of the original description, occurrence status, provincial distri- bution (according to ecoclimatic region), and adult phenology. Th e most recent taxonomic references are given, and common names are listed for butterfl ies and conspicuous moth species. Th e sources of speci- men- and literature-based records are provided for each species. An additional 138 species whose occur- rence in Alberta is probable are appended to the list. For 1524 of the listed species and subspecies, annota- tions are given, with selected information on taxonomy, nomenclature, distribution, habitat, and biology. An additional section provides details on 171 species erroneously reported from Alberta in previous works. Introductory sections to the volume provide a general overview of the order Lepidoptera and review the natural regions of Alberta, the state of knowledge of their Lepidoptera faunas, and the history and current state of knowledge of Alberta Lepidoptera. Each of the 63 families (and selected subfamilies) oc- curring in Alberta is briefl y reviewed, with information on distinguishing features, general appearance, and general biology. A bibliography and an index of genus-level, species-level, and subspecies-level names Copyright G.R. Pohl, G.G. Anweiler, B.C. Schmidt, N.G. Kondla. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attri- bution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. 2 Gregory R. Pohl et al. / ZooKeys 38: 1–549 (2010) are provided. Th e 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. Status is revised for the following taxa, which were previously treated as junior subjective synonyms or as subspecies and are herein raised to species status: Carterocephalus mandan (Edwards, 1863); Hes- peria manitoba (Scudder, 1874); Colias elis Strecker, 1885; Nymphalis j-album (Boisduval & LeConte, [1835]); Euphydryas bernadetta Leussler, 1920; Speyeria leto (Behr, 1862); Boloria myrina (Cramer, 1777); Coenonympha inornata Edwards, 1861; Colostygia circumvallaria (Taylor, 1906); Xanthorhoe delectaria Cas- sino & Swett, 1922; Xanthorhoe lagganata Swett & Cassino, 1920; Scopula quinquelinearia (Packard, 1870); Spodolepis danbyi (Hulst, 1898); Hyalophora gloveri (Strecker, 1872); Smerinthus ophthalmica Boisduval, 1855; Furcula borealis (Guérin-Méneville, 1844); Furcula occidentalis (Lintner, 1878); Acronicta cyanescens Hampson, 1909; Oligia rampartensis Barnes & Benjamin, 1923; Anarta nigrolunata Packard, 1867; Anarta columbica (McDunnough, 1930); Anarta montanica (McDunnough, 1930); Leucania dia (Grote, 1879); Euxoa adumbrata thanatologia (Dyar, 1904); and Euxoa furtivus (Smith, 1890). Th e following new synonymies are proposed, with the valid name presented fi rst: Xanthorhoe algidata (Möschler, 1874) (= Xanthorhoe dodata Cassino & Swett, 1920), Macaria signaria (Hübner, 1809) (= Melanolophia unipunctaria W. S. Wright, 1916; Semiothisa marmorata Ferguson, 1972; Macaria? submar- morata Walker, 1861), Speranza occiduaria (Packard, 1874) (= Diastictis andersoni Swett, 1916), Caen- urgina crassiuscula (Haworth, 1809) (= Caenurgina distincta (Neumoegen, 1884)), Tarache augustipennis Grote, 1875 (= Conacontia fl avicosta Smith, 1900), Acronicta dactylina Grote, 1874 (= Acronicta hesperida Smith, 1897), Acronicta grisea Walker, 1856 (= Acronicta tartarea Smith, 1903), Acronicta lupini Grote, 1873 (= Merolonche ursina Smith, 1898), Fishia yosemitae (Grote, 1873) (= Fishia enthea Grote, 1877; Fishia betsia Smith, 1905; Fishia instruta Smith, 1910), Sutyna privata (Walker, 1857) (= Anytus profundus Smith, 1900), Mniotype ducta (Grote, 1878) (= Xylophasia versuta Smith, 1895), Mniotype tenera (Smith, 1900) (= Xylophasia miniota Smith, 1908; Hadena ferida Smith, 1908), Anarta decepta (Grote, 1883) (= Trichoclea postica Smith, 1891), Protorthodes incincta (Morrison, 1874) (= Taeniocampa utahensis Smith, 1888; Orthodes akalus Strecker, 1898). Th e following revised synonomy is proposed, with the valid name presented fi rst: Xanthorhoe lagganata Swett & Cassino, 1920 (= Xanthorhoe incursata var. harveyata Cas- sino & Swett, 1922). One new generic synonymy is proposed, with the valid name appearing fi rst: Idia Hübner, 1813 (= Reabotis Smith, 1903), resulting in one new combination. Six species are transferred from Trichoclea Hübner to Sideridis Hübner, resulting in six new combinations. Keywords Alberta; Lepidoptera; checklist; distribution; faunistics Annotated list of the Lepidoptera of Alberta, Canada 3 Nomina si nescis, perit et cognitio rerum. —Linnaeus 1737 (Unless you know the names, your knowledge of these matters perishes.) Dedications To our forebears in Alberta lepidopterology: Frederic H. Wolley Dod and Kenneth Bowman To my parents, Elfriede and Raymond Pohl, who built my fi rst nets and insect boxes and who encouraged my early entomological pursuits; and to my wife, Barbara, and my children, Amelia and Colin, for supporting my continued entomological endeavors.—GRP To Dr. George Ball, who secured the Bowman collection for future generations and who welcomed me into the Strickland Museum; and to my wife, Judy Weisgarber—always supportive, often alone.—GGA To the late Ernest Mengersen, teacher and moth-mentor extraordinaire during my early moth-hunting years; and my wife Margo and children, Lucas and Jonah, for their support.—BCS To my parents, George and Ruth Kondla, for encouraging my childhood natural history interests, and especially to my spouse, Trudy, for tolerating my butterfl y obsession and providing much fi eld assistance over the years.—NGK Th e Alberta Lepidopterists’ Guild 4 Gregory R. Pohl et al. / ZooKeys 38: 1–549 (2010) Table of Contents Acknowledgments 8 Part 1 – Introduction and Background Information 11 Introduction 11 General Overview of the Lepidoptera 12 Classifi cation of the Lepidoptera 13 Collecting and Observing Lepidoptera 15 Conservation of the Lepidoptera 16 Natural Regions of Alberta 19 Canadian Shield Natural Region 19 Boreal Forest Natural Region 21 Foothills Natural Region 22 Rocky Mountain Natural Region 23 Parkland Natural Region 24 Grassland Natural Region 26 History of Lepidoptera Research in Alberta 27 Current State of Knowledge of Lepidoptera in Alberta 30 Resources for Lepidopterists 31 Lepidoptera Collections in Alberta 31 Identifi cation Tools 32 Lepidopterists’ Groups 34 Summary of Alberta’s Lepidoptera Diversity 34 Format of the Checklist 39 Higher Taxonomy 39 Species and Subspecies Concepts 40 Family-Level Introductory Paragraphs 40 Format of Species Entries 41 Notes Section 46 Excluded Taxa 47 Abbreviations Used in the List 47 Index 47 Part 2 – Lepidoptera Species Recorded from Alberta 48 Section 1. Micromoths 48 1. Eriocraniidae – sparkling archaic sun moths 48 2. Acanthopteroctetidae – archaic sun moths 48 3. Hepialidae – ghost moths 49 4. Nepticulidae – pygmy eye-cap moths 50 5. Opostegidae – white eye-cap moths 50 6. Heliozelidae – shield bearer moths 51 Annotated list of the Lepidoptera of Alberta, Canada 5 7. Adelidae – fairy moths 51 8. Prodoxidae – prodoxid moths 52 9. Incurvariidae – leafcutter moths 53 10. Tischeriidae – trumpet leafminer moths 54 11. Tineidae – fungus moths 54 12. Acrolophidae – tube moths 56 13. Psychidae –