Subspecies

[Paul (ELG)]

While agreeing in part with Dr James Adams' feelings on the butterfly
species being "over-split" and the moths under-studied, I wonder if there
are other influences bearing on the matter.

Here in England, the majority of the 2,000 odd species of moths have been
well studied - not with the same enthusiasm perhaps as the 65 butterflies
graced upon us, and the situation remains much the same with few subspecies
being split out in the moths.

Being mostly nocturnal, I would suggest that there may be less influences
acting upon the moth adult species than the butterflies - little has been
shown that moth species "mimic" others in any way, although the same
factors of isolation or seperation would apply as with butterflies.

Conceding to Dr Adams, I must admit that the families of moths where the
most subspecies or races have been noted are probably the Saturniids -
yes......... the most studied!

Finally, Anthony Cynor wrote:
"I wonder what the splitters would do with the human species!"

My guess, Tony, is that they would do as they've always done - split us
into White and Black, Rich and Poor.

If people with so little imagination had been given the job of splitting
the Lepidoptera, we wouldn't have quite so many subspecies as we do now!

Paul W. Batty
The Entomological Livestock Group has over 550 members Worldwide.
Website:  http://www.pwbelg.clara.net/index.html