Problems encountered in mapping the Lepidoptera and their solution

Summary

When planning a mapping scheme the first problem is the choice of the check list for the group under consideration — should it be the latest list or that of the standard work of identification? At the national level this choice will often be easy but at the international level there may well be conflicts of opinion.

A second problem is the competence of the recorders to identify the species correctly. All Lepidopterists are not necessarily competent to identify all the species and the works of identification may not be adequate for all species.

To overcome these problems in Britain we have produced lists of difficult species and illustrated guides to the critical species to augment the existing literature. Many recorders are not trained professional entomologists and for them we hold an annual course on identification and collecting techniques in collaboration with the Field Studies Council in Britain and in the Republic of Ireland to help the Records Centre at An Foras Forbartha, Dublin.