THE BUTTERFLIES OF PALAEARCTIC ASIA SERIES

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The reference serial publication project covers particular parts of Palaearctic Asia with purpose to provide a substantial body of faunistic and taxonomic information on the butterflies and skippers. It is designed as a tool for identification of all species-group taxa accompanied with full-colour illustrations, data on ecology, taxonomy and distribution and comprehensive review of the literature. The publication is addressed to both professional and amateur lepidopterists who are interested in the Papilionoidea and Hesperioidea not only of Asia but of entire Holarctics.

The series is based upon faunistic surveys of the butterflies pursued three major aspects: A study of literary sources, inclusive all original descriptions, allowed to verify names, check their spelling, exact dates of the taxa establishment, synonymies, to inspect different taxonomic treatments by different authors at different time, to monitor species range expansion or reduction, to trace out the history of butterfly studies in a particular area, to reveal the mistakes and errors and to trace them out in subsequent publications in order to prevent them in future; Field studies. Only under field observations it is possible to cast a glance over the entire environmental situation, specificity of the life conditions, life cycle, behaviour, population size and to collect material for further laboratory examination. A study of major collections holding material from particular areas allowed to replenish the distribution, variation and phenology data. An examination of the type material deposited in these collections was the most important prerequisite for reliable identification of the species-group taxa. The publication of The Butterflies of Palaearctic Asia series is a result of long-standing intense field studies, bibliographic and museum search by the authors and colleagues, professional and amateur lepidopterists.