Social Media
I have added a Facebook "Like" button to Blog posts from now on.
And I have opened a Twitter account @BritLep which as a minimum I will use to inform when a new Blog post is published.
I have added a Facebook "Like" button to Blog posts from now on.
And I have opened a Twitter account @BritLep which as a minimum I will use to inform when a new Blog post is published.
MBGBI Vol 5 Tortricidae
I have acquired the new long awaited MBGBI vol 5 pt1 and pt2 covering the Tortricidae. First impressions - when first opening it, a disappointingly slim pair of volumes for the price paid, it could easily have been produced in one volume; its dimensions are larger than those of the rest of the MBGBI series so it does not make a neat set on the shelf; the photographic images in the colour plates are frankly poor and show museum specimens some of which do not appear in very good condition; the line drawings of genitalia should prove useful and are certainly an improvement of those available from Pierce & Metclafe; the only description of genital features seems to come in a stylised diagram in the introduction to each volume (in which the gnathos is incorrectly labelled as the "gnothos"); the distribution maps are said to be up to date and that should also prove useful; the species accounts avoid use of any numbering system.
Examining the text in relation to some of the images I have added this month I find: Olethreutinae divided into 5 tribes rather than the 7 of the RES checklist, Lobesiini and Endotheniini being incorporated in Olethreutini and these presented in a slightly different order with Bactrini first; no clear description of generic features, the genus account simply stating the number of species in the genus; key to the genera of Olethreutini largely relies on venation but these features do not appear to define the genus eg Lobesia reliquana keys with Lobesioides rather than with the rest of Lobesia; no key to species within the genus Lobesia, although some other genera eg Bactra do have a key to species; key to tribes of Olethreutinae gives "male without costal fold" for Olethreutini but the description of L.reliquana (which is here included in Olethreutini) states "fascia silvery white as far as fold"!!!
In distinguishing the 2 Strophedra species there is no key; the description of S.weirana doesn't mention the similarity of the two species and the description of S.nitidana simply invites you to see S.weirana to try and work out the differences; the genital differences are illustrated but not described; neither species description mentions the closely similar appearance of Pammene germmana.
I have acquired the new long awaited MBGBI vol 5 pt1 and pt2 covering the Tortricidae. First impressions - when first opening it, a disappointingly slim pair of volumes for the price paid, it could easily have been produced in one volume; its dimensions are larger than those of the rest of the MBGBI series so it does not make a neat set on the shelf; the photographic images in the colour plates are frankly poor and show museum specimens some of which do not appear in very good condition; the line drawings of genitalia should prove useful and are certainly an improvement of those available from Pierce & Metclafe; the only description of genital features seems to come in a stylised diagram in the introduction to each volume (in which the gnathos is incorrectly labelled as the "gnothos"); the distribution maps are said to be up to date and that should also prove useful; the species accounts avoid use of any numbering system.
Examining the text in relation to some of the images I have added this month I find: Olethreutinae divided into 5 tribes rather than the 7 of the RES checklist, Lobesiini and Endotheniini being incorporated in Olethreutini and these presented in a slightly different order with Bactrini first; no clear description of generic features, the genus account simply stating the number of species in the genus; key to the genera of Olethreutini largely relies on venation but these features do not appear to define the genus eg Lobesia reliquana keys with Lobesioides rather than with the rest of Lobesia; no key to species within the genus Lobesia, although some other genera eg Bactra do have a key to species; key to tribes of Olethreutinae gives "male without costal fold" for Olethreutini but the description of L.reliquana (which is here included in Olethreutini) states "fascia silvery white as far as fold"!!!
In distinguishing the 2 Strophedra species there is no key; the description of S.weirana doesn't mention the similarity of the two species and the description of S.nitidana simply invites you to see S.weirana to try and work out the differences; the genital differences are illustrated but not described; neither species description mentions the closely similar appearance of Pammene germmana.
Species added this month:
37.008 Coleophora adjectella; 49.322 Dichrorampha plumbagana; 49.382 Strophedra nitidana; 70.152 Eupithecia ultimaria (Channel Islands Pug);
37.008 Coleophora adjectella; 49.322 Dichrorampha plumbagana; 49.382 Strophedra nitidana; 70.152 Eupithecia ultimaria (Channel Islands Pug);
 37.008 Coleophora adjectella; 18/07/2014; Belfairs Woods  49.382 Strophedra ntitidana; 18/07/2014; Belfairs Woods |  49.322 Dichrorampha plumbagana ; 30/05/2014; Isle of Wight  70.152 Eupithecia ultimaria (Channel Islands Pug); 31/05/2014; Isle of Wight |
49.377 Pamenne germmana removed (misidentification) and replaced as 49.381 Strophedra weirana
989 Species presented
989 Species presented
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