Willy De Prins

Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences · Scientific Heritage Service

The genus Lecithocera Herrich-Schäffer, 1853 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo) is reviewed, with descriptions of four new species: Lecithocera katangaica Park, sp. nov., L. seydeliella Park, sp. nov., L. cornutispina Park, sp. nov., and L. lusingensis Park, sp. nov. Five species are already recorded from this country: 1) L. chloros...

In the shell family Pollicidae (Mollusca: Venerida), the genus Pollex Stephenson, 1953 was introduced as “Genus POLLEX Stephenson, n. gen.”, with Pollex obesus Stephenson, 1953 as its type species, by original designation (Stephenson 1953: 94). In the same genus, Stephenson (1953: 95) also included Pollex angulatus Stephenson, 1953 and an unnamed P...

During a project supported by Brussels Environment, the entomofauna of the Botanical Garden Jean Massart was studied in the period 2015-2021. This article discusses the results of the research on the moths (Lepidoptera) on this site. A total of 501 species was recorded. Some notable species are briefly discussed.

In this paper, problems concerning the nomenclature and taxonomic assignments of some Afrotropical and Indo-Australian species groups are presented and discussed. A detailed, annotated presentation of conflicting taxonomy in these genera is given and wrongly drawn nomenclatorial conclusions in the taxonomy of these groups are rectified. Eight incor...

In the fly family Scathophagidae (Diptera), the genus Nanna Strobl, 1894 was introduced as “(D. Nanna Becker) flavipes Fall. Zett. 2059, 6332, SS.11! Becker!” (Strobl 1894: 78), with Cordylura flavipes Fallén, 1819 as its type species. See Michelsen (2001: 323–326) for correct authorship and validity of the name Nanna Strobl, 1894 as senior synonym...

A checklist of 180 species belonging to the family Lecithoceridae (68 species of the subfamily Lecithocerinae and 112 species of the subfamily Torodorinae) is provided, with references to the original description, type species, and distribution. Twelve species which were described in Lecithocera Herrich-Shäffer by Viette (1954–1988) from Madagascar...

In 1905, O. B. Lower described Sesamia albicostata from Australia, based on one male specimen taken at Ocean Grange, near Sale, Victoria in January (Lower 1905: 175). Apart from the bibliographical records in the series Zoological Record (Sharp 1906: 262) and Archiv für Naturgeschichte (Lucas 1910: 613), the name Sesamia albicostata occurred only i...

By transferring Lecithocera paulianella Viette, 1955 to the genus Dichomeris (Gelechiidae), Park, Koo & Minet (2020: 155, 173) caused a nomenclatorial problem (see Art. 52.1) since in that genus there exists already a species Dichomeris paulianella Viette, 1957 which by this action becomes a junior secondary homonym (see Art. 53.3). Though the auth...

Abstract. The inventory of Noctuoidea (Lepidoptera), carried out at the Theniet El Had National Park (PNTEH) shows the existence of 23 taxa and three families: Notodontidae, Erebidae and Noctuidae. Identification is obtained from samples taken from 6 habitat types. This fauna list further enriches the knowledge on the entomological fauna of the Het...

An inventory of Lepidoptera in the Theniet El Had National Park (PNTEH), Algeria, revealed 86 taxa, both butterflies and moths. The specimens were collected in 68 localities distributed over ten cantons within the park in the period 2015–2017. A preliminary faunistic list is compiled as a base-line contribution to the study of adult Lepidoptera in...

The Lecithoceridae of southern Africa are reviewed, based on material preserved in the Ditsong National Museum of Natural History, Pretoria, Republic of South Africa. A total of 22 species are recognized including three new species: Idiopteryx jansei sp. nov., Lecithocera minyodes sp. nov. and Protolychnis natalensis sp. nov. Isotypa Janse, 1954 sy...

The type specimens of Lecithoceridae which are deposited in the Royal Museum for Central Africa (RMCA), Tervuren, Belgium (five species of Lecithocera Herrich-Schäffer and two of Homaloxestis Meyrick) were re-examined. The results are: 1) two species of Lecithocera are transferred to Thubdora Park and Torodora Meyrick respectively, with new combina...

This website provides an online database of Gracillariidae (Lepidoptera) on a worldwide basis, updated with the latest information obtained from 4933 published sources and from our own studies. It currently holds information on family-group names: 21 genus-group names: 149 (recognized genera: 107) species-group names: 2,720 (recognized species: 1,9...

This website provides an online database of the Afrotropical moth species (Lepidoptera), updated with the latest information obtained from 7,632 published sources and from our own studies. It currently holds information on family-group names: 563 genus-group names: 8,056 (recognized genera: 4,503) species-group names: 38,595 (recognized species: 28...

The taxonomy and nomenclature of three South-East Asian species of Amata all named leopoldi is clarified. Leopoldina leopoldi Hering, 1934 syn. n., is synonymized with Amata sperbius (Fabricius, 1787), Syntomis leopoldi Hering, 1934 is transferred to Amata as Amata leopoldi (Hering, 1934) comb. n. and Syntomis leopoldi Tams, 1935 is renamed as Amat...

This website provides an online database of the Afrotropical moth species (Lepidoptera), updated with the latest information obtained from 7,355 published sources and from our own studies. It currently holds information on family-group names: 553 genus-group names: 8,033 (recognized genera: 4,498) species-group names: 38,542 (recognized species: 2...

This website provides an online database of Gracillariidae (Lepidoptera) on a worldwide basis, updated with the latest information obtained from 4877 published sources and from our own studies. It currently holds information on family-group names: 21 genus-group names: 149 (recognized genera: 107) species-group names: 2,714 (recognized species: 1,9...

Samenvatting. Op 04 juni 2006 werd het eerste Belgische exemplaar van Caloptilia honoratella (Rebel, 1914) verzameld te Kinrooi (LI), gevolgd door een tweede ex. op 10 april 2017 te Kapellen (AN). Deze soort wordt hier voor het eerst uit België vermeld. Ze leeft bij ons uitsluitend op Acer pseudoplatanus. De Belgische vindplaatsen liggen op de noor...

Taxonomy is the basic discipline in biology. The taxonomist defines each taxon and provides a unique name for it. Of the systematic categories, the species level is crucial. When a species is described and named, great care should be taken to ensure that all information related to the name is correct. Information on ecology, biology, distribution,...

In 1862, F. Walker described Darala lineosa in the family Liparidae (now Erebidae, subfamily Lymantriinae) on a single female (he stated that it is a male but see Swinhoe 1892: 209) from Australia (Walker 1862: 269). The genus Darala is now considered a synonym of the large genus Anthela which belongs to the Anthelidae, a family entirely confined t...

Samenvatting. Enkele nieuwe provinciegegevens en andere interessante waarnemingen van Lepidoptera in 2016 worden gemeld. Enkele oudere gegevens worden eveneens vermeld. De hele lijst is alfabetisch gerangschikt. De gebruikte nomenclatuur is in overeenstemming met Fauna Europaea (www.fauna-eu.org). Abstract. Some new province records and interesting...

This website provides an online database of Gracillariidae (Lepidoptera) on a worldwide basis, updated with the latest information obtained from 4877 published sources and from our own studies. It currently holds information on family-group names: 21 genus-group names: 148 (recognized genera: 106) species-group names: 2,700 (recognized species: 1,...

This website provides an online database of the Afrotropical moth species (Lepidoptera), updated with the latest information obtained from 7,355 published sources and from our own studies. It currently holds information on family-group names: 552 genus-group names: 8,023 (recognized genera: 4,496) species-group names: 38,363 (recognized species: 28...

The diversity of Lepidoptera in several habitats of the National Park Theniet El Had (P.N.T.E.H.) was studied during twelve months of the years 2015 and 2016 in several habitats and totalising 851 specimens belonging to 17 families, 9 super families and 60 species. Among these 31 butterflies and 35 moths were recorded. the clairière (grass fields)...

This website provides an online database of the Afrotropical moth species (Lepidoptera), updated with the latest information obtained from 7,283 published sources and from our own studies. It currently holds information on family-group names: 555 genus-group names: 8,007 (recognized genera: 4,499) species-group names: 38,241 (recognized species: 28...

This publication is a completely revised and completed edition of my previous list from 1998 (De Prins 1998). The nomenclature and systematics are based on Fauna Europaea (www.fauna-eu.org) version 2.4 which was published online on 27 January 2011. This version follows the modern systematics of Lepidoptera based on a worldwide study published by a...

The entomological literature contains numerous inconsistent spellings of the syntomine Amata kuhlweinii (Lefébvre, 1832). Literature studies show that the correct spelling should read as previously cited in the headline. The date of publication should be quoted correctly as 1832.

This website provides an online database of Gracillariidae (Lepidoptera) on a worldwide basis, updated with the latest information obtained from 4832 published sources and from our own studies. It currently holds information on family-group names: 18 genus-group names: 148 (recognized genera: 106) species-group names: 2,696 (recognized species: 1,...

This website provides an online database of the Afrotropical moth species (Lepidoptera), updated with the latest information obtained from 7,702 published sources and from our own studies. It currently holds information on family-group names: 555 genus-group names: 7,995 (recognized genera: 4,494) species-group names: 38,179 (recognized species: 28...

Samenvatting. Enkele nieuwe provinciegegevens en andere interessante waarnemingen van Lepidoptera in 2015 worden gemeld. Enkele oudere gegevens worden eveneens vermeld. De hele lijst is alfabetisch gerangschikt. De gebruikte nomenclatuur is in overeenstemming met Fauna Europaea (www.fauna-eu.org). Abstract. Some new province records and interesting...

Gracillariidae (Lepidoptera) are commonly known by the leaf miner habit found in the larval stage of most species. By using worldwide, public databases on species diversity and DNA sequences available for extant gracillariid species, we determined changes in the rate of taxonomic species descriptions through time, mapped their spatial distributions...

This website provides an online database of the Afrotropical moth species (Lepidoptera), updated with the latest information obtained from 6,962 published sources and from our own studies. It currently holds information on family-group names: 553 genus-group names: 7,924 (recognized genera: 4,423) species-group names: 37,508 (recognized species: 27...

This website provides an online database of Gracillariidae (Lepidoptera) on a worldwide basis, updated with the latest information obtained from 4808 published sources and from our own studies. It currently holds information on family-group names: 17 genus-group names: 147 (recognized genera: 105) species-group names: 2,683 (recognized species: 1,...

In the present list two Lepidoptera species are mentioned for the first time for the Seychelles: Autocharis marginata and Traminda obversata. Several species are mentioned for the first time for the islands of La Digue (33), Mahé (1), Praslin (1), and Grande Soeur (1). The larval hostplant of the endemix species Glyphodes duponti is recorded as Fic...

On June 20th, 2015 several specimens of Monochroa suffusella (Douglas, 1850) were netted in Kalmthout (prov. Antwerp, Belgium). This is the first record of this species for Belgium. Information on the geographical distribution and biology of the species is provided as well as an examination of the genitalia. Samenvatting. Op 20 juni 2015 werden enk...

• Current taxonomic combination and information of 2,678 species-group names with full synonymy • Higher taxa are presented following the latest systematics retrieved from recent molecular papers • You will find information on type specimens in ALL museums housing the types of gracillariid moths • Verified country distribution data (8,798) • Verifi...

• Current taxonomic combination and information of 36,768 species-group names with full synonymy • Higher taxa are presented following the latest systematics retrieved from recent molecular papers • You will find information on type specimens in ALL museums housing types of Afrotropical moths • Verified country distribution data (67,623) • Verified...

Samenvatting. Enkele nieuwe provinciegegevens en andere interessante waarnemingen van Lepidoptera in 2013 worden gemeld. Enkele oudere gegevens worden eveneens vermeld. De hele lijst is alfabetisch gerangschikt. De gebruikte nomenclatuur is in overeenstemming met Fauna Europaea (www.faunaeur.org). Abstract. Interesting records of Lepidoptera in Bel...

Choreutis nemorana (Hübner, 1799) (Lep.: Choreutidae), is reported as a new species for Britain, from London, where it was reared from a fig tree Ficus carica L. in July 2014.

Recent advances in digital technology have completely changed the way a museum curator (of all disciplines) needs to work. Curation of collections has always been concerned with access to specimens and the information they hold. Digitisation is the most important advance that collections have seen and the curator has had to adapt accordingly. At th...

The existence in Greece of two separate morphs by external characters, but identical by male genitalia, in the Pyrgus alveus species-group complex is presented, and the probability that they may represent two distinct species is discussed.

As so many other species, Metalampra italica Baldizzone, 1977, sibling to M. cinnamomea (Zeller, 1839), has recently expanded its area northwards. The species was described from Italy, but has been recorded lately from Germany, Croatia, the Netherlands and Switzerland. Its presence in Belgium is confirmed now by examination of its genitalia.

Eumasia parietariella (Herrich-Schäffer, 1851) is a bagworm from Central and South Europe. The larva of this xero-thermophilous species feeds on mosses and lichens growing on well exposed slopes. In this paper the discovery is described of 3 caterpillars living on protected rocky slopes in the nature reserve Heid des Gattes at Aywaille (Province of...

After the first Belgian specimen of Choreutis nemorana (Hübner, 1799) was observed at Liège on 09 September 2009, leg. J.-Y. Baugnée, René Spronck and André Georis found several fig trees (Ficus carica) at Visé (prov. Liège) with frass and caterpillars of this species in September and October in 2012 and again in September 2013 some caterpillars an...

As so many other species, Metalampra italica Baldizzone, 1977, sibling to M. cinnamomea (Zeller, 1839), has recently expanded its area northwards. The species was described from Italy, but has been recorded lately from Germany, Croatia, the Netherlands and Switzerland. Its presence in Belgium is confirmed now by examination of its genitalia.

Earlier records of Chersotis cuprea (Denis & Schiffermüller, 1775 from the Belgian fauna have always been disputed, but a correctly identified specimen is deposited in the collections of the Löbbecke Museum Aquazoo at Düsseldorf. It was caught near Baraque Michel, Hautes Fagnes (province of Liège) in July 1957, leg. Loch. The occurrence in Belgium...

Samenvatting. Enkele nieuwe provinciegegevens en andere interessante waarnemingen van Lepidoptera in 2012 worden gemeld. Enkele oudere gegevens worden eveneens vermeld. De hele lijst is alfabetisch gerangschikt. De gebruikte nomenclatuur is in overeenstemming met Fauna Europaea (www.faunaeur.org). De hele lijst is alfabetisch gerangschikt volgens f...

Last updated: 17 October 2013 This website provides an online database of the Afrotropical moth species (Lepidoptera), updated with the latest information obtained from published sources and from our own studies. It currently holds information on •family-group names: 532 •genus-group names: 7,633 (recognized genera: 4,339) •species-group names:...

Last updated: 17 October 2013 This website provides an online database of Gracillariidae (Lepidoptera) on a worldwide basis, updated with the latest information obtained from published sources and from our own studies. It currently holds information on •family-group names: 17 •genus-group names: 145 (recognized genera: 103) •species-group names:...

This paper deals with two European species, Phyllonorycter mespilella (Hübner, 1805) and P. trifasciella (Haworth, 1828), that have colonized the subtropical Canary Islands. The Rosaceae leaf miner, P. mespilella, is recorded for the first time from Lanzarote and La Palma, while the Caprifoliaceae leaf miner, P. trifasciella, is recorded from Tener...

On 30 June 2012, W. Mertens photographed a specimen of Cochylis molliculana Zeller, 1847 at Middelkerke (West Flanders), det. W. Veraghtert. This is the first record of this species for the Belgian fauna.

Last updated: 10 May 2013 This website provides an online database of the Afrotropical moth species (Lepidoptera), updated with the latest information obtained from published sources and from our own studies. It currently holds information on •family-group names: 517 •genus-group names: 7,590 (recognized genera: 4,301) •species-group names: 35,4...

Last updated: 10 May 2013 This website provides an online database of Gracillariidae (Lepidoptera) on a worldwide basis, updated with the latest information obtained from published sources and from our own studies. It currently holds information on •family-group names: 17 •genus-group names: 145 (recognized genera: 103) •species-group names: 2,6...

Samenvatting. Enkele nieuwe provinciegegevens en andere interessante waarnemingen van Lepidoptera in 2011 worden gemeld. Enkele oudere gegevens worden eveneens vermeld. De hele lijst is alfabetisch gerangschikt. De gebruikte nomenclatuur is in overeenstemming met Fauna Europaea (www.faunaeur.org). meest interessante waarnemingen van Lepidoptera uit...

We show that the population ecology of the 9‐ to 10‐year cyclic, broadleaf‐defoliating winter moth ( Operophtera brumata ) and other early‐season geometrids cannot be fully understood on a local scale unless population behaviour is known on a European scale. Qualitative and quantitative data on O. brumata outbreaks were obtained from published sour...

The number of described species on the planet is about 1.9 million, with ca. 17,000 new species described annually, mostly from the tropics. However, taxonomy is usually described as a science in crisis, lacking manpower and funding, a politically acknowledged problem known as the Taxonomic Impediment. Using data from the Fauna Europaea database an...

Cumulative number of valid species of terrestrial and freshwater multicellular animals recorded in Europe. Numbers of valid species described since Linnaeus (1758) are plotted against the description year for selected phyla, major classes and major insect orders. These groups are not of equivalent taxonomic rank but were divided as such to demonstr...

A small series of Lampronia rupella ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775) was caught at Malempré (prov. of Luxembourg) on 29 May 1990, leg. W. Hogenes and deposited in the collection of the Zoological Museum, Amsterdam (now at Naturalis, Leiden). On 5 June 2011, a specimen was photographed by the second author at Ovifat (prov. of Liège). This species is...

“Order Lepidoptera Linnaeus, 1758. In: Zhang, Z.-Q. (Ed.) Animal biodiversity: An outline of higher-level classification and survey of taxonomic richness”.

Classification of Order Lepidoptera Linnaeus, 1758 (4 suborders) (15,578 genera, 157,424 species, 50/86)

For the kingdom Animalia, 1,552,319 species have been described in 40 phyla in a new evolutionary classification. Among these, the phylum Arthropoda alone represents 1,242,040 species, or about 80% of the total. The most successful group, the Insecta (1,020,007 species), accounts for about 66% of all animals. The most successful insect order, Coleo...

Interesting records of Lepidoptera in Belgium in 2010 (Lepidoptera) Some new province records and interesting observations are mentioned. The genera and species within them are given in alphabetical order. The nomenclature is according to Fauna Europaea (www.faunaeur.org). In deze vaste rubriek worden de meest interessante waarnemingen van Lepidopt...

Lepteucosma huebneriana (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), a new species for the Belgian fauna During a moth survey in the Molenbeek valley, Veltem-Beisem (province of Vlaams-Brabant, Flanders) on July 14th, 2010 5 individuals of the attractive Lepteucosma huebneriana were captured in a Skinner trap. This constitutes the first record for Belgium. The char...

Aristotelia subdecurtella, een nieuwe soort voor de Belgische fauna (Lepidoptera: Gelechidiae) Verscheidene exemplaren van Aristotelia subdecurtella (Stainton, 1858), echte pistoolmot, werden waargenomen in het natuurgebied "Kleine Netevallei" (Viersel, prov. Antwerpen) in de periode 2003–2010, leg. M. Jacobs. Dit zijn de eerste bekende Belgische e...

Non-professional taxonomists have been responsible for describing more than half of the animal species discovered in Europe from 1998 to 2007 (see also Nature 467, 788; 2010). The extraordinary current rate of description of new species makes Europe an unexpected frontier for biodiversity exploration. The Fauna Europaea database (www.faunaeur.org),...

The Afrotropical butterfly subfamily Pseudopontiinae (Pieridae) was traditionally thought to comprise one species, with two subspecies (Pseudopontia paradoxa paradoxa Felder & Felder and Pseudopontia paradoxa australis Dixey) differing in a single detail of a hindwing vein. The two subspecies also differ in their known geographic distributions (mai...

Interesting records of Lepidoptera in Belgium in 2009 (Lepidoptera) Some new province records and interesting observations are mentioned. The genera and species within them are given in alphabetical order. The nomenclature is according to Fauna Europaea (www.faunaeur.org). In deze vaste rubriek worden de meest interessante waarnemingen van Lepidopt...

We provide a comprehensive overview of those Lepidopteran invasions to Europe that result from increasing globalisation and also review expansion of species within Europe. A total of 97 non-native Lepidoptera species (about 1% of the known fauna), in 20 families and 11 superfamilies have established so far in Europe, of which 30 alone are Pyraloide...

Some leaf mines of Caloptilia fidella (Reutti, 1853) were found on Humulus lupulus L. (Cannabaceae) at the edge of the nature reserve "Ile aux Corsaires" at Angleur (province of Liège). It is the first record of the moth for Belgium and that increases the number of Belgian Gracillariidae to 98 species (De Prins & De Prins 2009, Buszko 2009, De Prin...

In deze vaste rubriek worden de meest interessante waarnemingen van Lepidoptera uit het voorbije jaar (en eventueel vorige jaren) geciteerd. Vele van de nieuwigheden in dit artikel vermeld, zijn reeds gepubliceerd op de website van de Belgische Lepidoptera (De Prins & Steeman 2003–2008). De hele lijst is alfabetisch gerangschikt volgens familie-, g...

Samenvatting. Scrobipalpa proclivella (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae), een nieuwe soort voor de Belgische fauna Op 5 oktober 2007 werden enkele bladmijnen van Scrobipalpa proclivella (Fuchs, 1886) op Artemisia absinthium gevonden te Lustin (Namur). Dit is de eerste vermelding van deze soort uit België. Résumé. Scrobipalpa proclivella (Lepidoptera: Gelec...

On 30 June 2007 a female of Coleophora salinella Stainton, 1859 was caught at light in the nature reserve "Hobokense Polder" at Hoboken (Belgium, Province of Antwerpen). This is the first record of this species for the Belgian fauna. The caterpillars mine the leaves of Atriplex and Halimione. The species is bound to salty vegetations.

The first, and until now only, Belgian specimen of Proxenus hospes (Freyer, 1831) was caught on light at Esneux (Liège) on 24 October 1996, leg. P. Cluck. This species has never been mentioned before from Belgium.

On 17 August 2008 a specimen of Clepsis dumicolana (Zeller, 1847) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) was caught at Liège, leg. J.-Y. Baugnée. It was resting on Hedera helix, in the vicinity of the Kennedy bridge. During the following days, about 40 specimens were seen in two localities of the slope to the citadel in the same city. This is the first record...

The first Belgian specimen of Platyperigea kadenii (Freyer, 1836) was observed and photographed at Moen (Province of West-Vlaanderen) on 08 July 2006. In 2007 the species was recorded from four localities in the provinces of Hainaut, Limburg, and Vlaams-Brabant.