1 (edited by Paul Leonard 17-07-2018 08:43:21)

Topic: Input/reporting issue - Lepidoptera dictionary?

It may may only be me who sees this as an issue but, here goes:

When inputting/importing butterfly records against the 'standard' Agassiz, Beavan & Heckford lepidoptera checklist, butterfly records cannot be entered using their binomials which, for some reason, aren't available and consequently have to be entered using their trinomials. This is arguably already a possible source of input error due to the possibility of selecting the wrong subspecies.

When reporting using the wizard, records entered using a past iteration of the dictionary when binomials were available are not extracted unless the genus only is included in the search criteria.

To date, I have only knowingly had this happen to me when dealing with leps so I am unable to say whether it applies with other taxon groups. Has anyone else come across this apparent anomaly?

Thanks,

Paul

Biological Records Officer
Rotherham MBC
Rotherham Biological Records Centre

2

Re: Input/reporting issue - Lepidoptera dictionary?

Which butterfly binomials are not available? I've checked a few and all those with trinomials also have the binomial option in the Agassiz checklist

3

Re: Input/reporting issue - Lepidoptera dictionary?

It may or may not be a related/same problem but searching for the common name (e.g. Orange-tip) only brings up a single subspecies (i.e. not the species or other subspecies).

Charlie Barnes
Information Officer
Greater Lincolnshire Nature Partnership

4 (edited by Paul Leonard 31-07-2018 11:17:08)

Re: Input/reporting issue - Lepidoptera dictionary?

Apologies for the hiatus, I work part-time! To resume, if I enter 'cearg' (Holly Blue) for instance, my available options are limited to C.a. argiolus & C.a. britanna i.e. no binomial (C. argiolus). More often than not, recorders do not submit species records identified to subspecies and so the binomial is most appropriate for capturing these records. This is also the case with Meadow Brown (Maniola jurtina). Five options (subspecies) are available with no binomial option. As these options are presented in alphabetical order, the prevalent UK subspecies insularis appears third in the list. Lack of familiarity with various taxon groups (we all tend to be 'specialists' of one kind or another) could easily lead to the selection of the wrong subspecies, especially when the binomial isn't available. As Charlie says, in the case of Orange-tip, only A.c. britannica is available, so it isn't just me who is experiencing the issue! Apologies for the long-winded post but, if it helps with understanding and raising the issue ...

Paul

Biological Records Officer
Rotherham MBC
Rotherham Biological Records Centre

5 (edited by charliebarnes 31-07-2018 11:26:02)

Re: Input/reporting issue - Lepidoptera dictionary?

I'm given the option of the binomial (attached). Are you on the latest dictionary? I seem to recall Chris may have added in some of the binomials that were missing from the Agassiz list but may be wrong.

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Charlie Barnes
Information Officer
Greater Lincolnshire Nature Partnership

6

Re: Input/reporting issue - Lepidoptera dictionary?

Ah yes, this may well be the answer. We are overdue a dictionary update; however, it calls into question the consistency of dictionary versions and what is included in them. In previous iterations, the availability of binomials for lepidoptera was not an issue as I have been able to enter species records against them. What reason is there to include them in one version and omit them in the next, only to reinstate them in a subsequent version?

Thanks,

Paul

Biological Records Officer
Rotherham MBC
Rotherham Biological Records Centre

7

Re: Input/reporting issue - Lepidoptera dictionary?

I believe binomials are absent in the Agassiz checklist - they (the old ones) are still present in the species dictionary (and usable) but when the Agassiz was made the preferred lepidoptera checklist in Recorder, it made the most up to date list impossible to use, hence binomials being added ("manually") to the Agassiz checklist. Chris can probably explain better than me.

Charlie Barnes
Information Officer
Greater Lincolnshire Nature Partnership

8

Re: Input/reporting issue - Lepidoptera dictionary?

Many thanks for the clarification Charlie.

Paul

Biological Records Officer
Rotherham MBC
Rotherham Biological Records Centre

9

Re: Input/reporting issue - Lepidoptera dictionary?

Oh, when I said missing in the Agassiz checklist I meant the paper copy. I.e. the electronic version was initially a direct copy of the paper one. This is probably the most useful thread: https://forums.nbn.org.uk/viewtopic.php?id=6168 !

Charlie Barnes
Information Officer
Greater Lincolnshire Nature Partnership

10

Re: Input/reporting issue - Lepidoptera dictionary?

This is very enlightening - or it will be when I have the opportunity to read it! It will teach me to do a search before posting repeat queries!!

Thanks again,

Paul

Biological Records Officer
Rotherham MBC
Rotherham Biological Records Centre

11

Re: Input/reporting issue - Lepidoptera dictionary?

Can I just check that this is expected behavior for importing butterfly records?

I am trying to import using English names but in the search box it only matches to the trinomial rather than the binomial from the Agassiz list in most cases

Gordon Barker
Biological Survey Data Manager
National Trust

12

Re: Input/reporting issue - Lepidoptera dictionary?

Gordon Barker wrote:

Can I just check that this is expected behavior for importing butterfly records?

I am trying to import using English names but in the search box it only matches to the trinomial rather than the binomial from the Agassiz list in most cases

This is precisely what I am finding; this is not particularly helpful, as I've already described.

Paul

Biological Records Officer
Rotherham MBC
Rotherham Biological Records Centre

13

Re: Input/reporting issue - Lepidoptera dictionary?

Just bumping this back up to the top. If Recorder is sticking with the idea of preferred checklists, then we need common names for binomials.

Charlie Barnes
Information Officer
Greater Lincolnshire Nature Partnership