Diario del proyecto Lepidoptera of Alberta

2023 was a great year for discoveries as a number of Alberta Lepidopterists and Naturalists were out observing cool bugs or conducting survey work. An amazing four new species were added to Alberta Species List! Below are the new additions.

Eurhinosea flavaria and Stamnoctenis morrisata were discovered in Castle Wildland Provincial Park by David Laurie (@physicsdave ) near the Castle Mountain Resort. The records can be found at the following links:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/187711079
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/187847581

Sidus Sallow (Eupsilia sidus): The first record of this species was photographed by Laura (@laurajb ) near Golden Spike. The record can be found at the following link: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/114097315

Todd's Bird-dropping Moth (Tarache toddi): The first record of this species found during a trip to the Onefour Heritage Rangeland Natural Area last June by Greg Pohl(@gpohl ) and Doug Macaulay (@mothmaniac ) . The records can be found at the following links:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/169117025

To date, survey work has led to the documentation of 2672 species in the province. This works out to about 49% of the Lepidoptera species known in Canada including 65 families of Lepidopterans. Though I suspect we have likely found the lion’s share of species that reside here, there are likely many more, especially micro-lepidoptera awaiting discovery.

Numerous additions have been made since Pohl et al.'s 2018 "Annotated checklist of the moths and butterflies (Lepidoptera) of Canada and Alaska" thanks to members of the Alberta's Lepidopterist Guild and other Lepidoptera enthusiasts.

To learn more about this project or to see the draft species list visit: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/375958747_AB_Checklist

One June 13th during a trip with Greg Pohl (@gpohl), we ran across a new species of Noctuidae moth that had not been recorded in Alberta or Canada. Several specimens of Tarache toddi, a small bid-dropping mimic, were found at the site. It was recently confirmed, see link to record below.

https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/169117025

The purpose of this project is to survey, develop and update species lists for Lepidoptera present in Alberta’s unique parks and protected areas located in all the various ecoregions of Alberta. Data collected from these parks is used to update Alberta’s provincial species list that was published by Pohl et al. in 2010. Also, data collected will be used to continually evaluate the S-rank status of each species found in Alberta aligning with the NatureServe guidelines.

During 2022 we were able to visit several of Alberta’s parks and protected areas. The visited parks included the following protected areas: Dillberry Provincial Park, Wainwright Dunes Ecological Reserve, Sir Winston Churchill Provincial Park and Kleskun Hills Natural Area.

Overall we volunteered 33 days totaling 169 hours surveying Lepidopterans in parks and protected areas. An additional 350 hours were spent identifying, curating, evaluating species at risk rankings and developing species lists.

To learn more about this project and to see the report visit: https://www.researchgate.net/project/Lepidoptera-of-Alberta-2

In Alberta, there are currently three species of Caenurgina (Pohl et al. 2018). Two species are considered difficult to decipher but the following is an attempt to ease the frustration. I have done my best to provide a key using Alberta specimens that show the separating features.

*This key is a DRAFT, a work in progress and will require improvements so please provide suggestions.

Here is the link to the key: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/378238323_Alberta_Key_to_Caenurgina_species_key

In Alberta, there are currently nine species of Dysstroma (Pohl et al. 2018). This Genus is one of the most challenging Gemetriidae groups and often leaves you guessing to confirm a specimen’s identity. The following key is an attempt to help those brave enough to venture into drilling down a specimens identity. I have done my best to provide a key to help users narrow down specimens / photos based on visible features. Despite my best attempts here, most species require a dissection to confirm their identity.
*This key is a DRAFT, a work in progress and will require improvements so please provide suggestions.

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/378237000_Alberta_Dysstroma_species_key_last_updated_September_4_2022

"A new western azure species, Celastrina asheri, is described from the northwestern United States and southwestern Canada. A lectotype is designated for Lycaena pseudargiolus var. nigrescens Fletcher, 1903 to secure the identity of that name. C. asheri broadly overlaps with the northeastern range of C. echo (W. H. Edwards, 1864) but is usually very distinct from that species. C. lucia (W. Kirby, 1837) is narrowly sympatric with C. asheri in British Columbia, the southwest corner of Alberta and along the Rocky Mountains in Montana. As far as is known, C. asheri uses only red osier dogwood (Cornus sericea) and possibly oceanspray (Holodiscus discolor) as larval foodplants, while C. echo and C. lucia use a wide variety of larval foodplants. A lack of past research and confusion as a “form” of C. echo obscured the identity of C. asheri."

https://archive.org/details/t-report-10-3-celastrina-asheri

To date, survey work has led to the documentation of 2649 species in the province. This works out to about 49% of the Lepidoptera species known in Canada including 65 families of Lepidopterans. Though I suspect we have likely found the lion’s share of species that reside here, there are likely many more, especially micro-lepidoptera awaiting discovery.

Numerous additions have been made since Pohl et al.'s 2018 "Annotated checklist of the moths and butterflies (Lepidoptera) of Canada and Alaska" thanks to members of the Alberta's Lepidopterist Guild and other Lepidoptera enthusiasts.

To learn more about this project or to see the draft species list visit: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/375958747_AB_Checklist

Th is checklist documents the 2367 Lepidoptera species reported to occur in the province of Alberta, Canada, 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. The entry for each species includes the scientific
name, the author and year of publication of the original description, occurrence status, provincial distribution (according to ecoclimatic region), and adult phenology. The most recent taxonomic references are given, and common names are listed for butterflies and conspicuous moth species. The sources of specimen- and literature-based records are provided for each species. An additional 138 species whose occurrence in Alberta is probable are appended to the list. For 1524 of the listed species and subspecies, annotations 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.

To learn more visit: http://www.biology.ualberta.ca/facilities/strickland/Checklist_of_Alberta_Lepidoptera_2010.pdf