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SPLITTING NORTHERN PEARLY-EYE

A 2003 paper in The Taxonomic Report advocates separating out the northern populations into, at least, a subspecies borealis. At present BG has 7 images ranging from NC to ME. The NC individuals look different enough from the ME specimen to suspect that these could be different taxa. If the split was made then I would place the MA, WI, ME specimens in borealis and leave the NC and IL specimens in anthedon. I can add specimens from NB. Any pros or cons?
Detailed info at http://www.tils-ttr.org/ttr/ttr-4-5.pdf
Contributed by Tony on 31 January, 2006 - 7:11am

to borealis or not to borealis
If there's a recognizable difference (recognizable in photos, that is) between the proposed taxa, I'm all for distinguishing them in the guide. Once you have them separated, you can change the rank of the taxa to species subspecies, race, variation or whatever infraspecific categories you have available(some would have to be "No Taxon" nodes, of course), depending on how the scientific consensus evolves. It's even pretty easy to put them back together if the distinction turns out to be wrong.

The main thing is that you're providing more information about variation within the parent taxon. As long as you're clear enough in the info page remarks about the tentative nature of the classification, I don't see that there's any harm.
… Chuck Entz, 9 February, 2006 - 8:05pm

Sorry you haven't heard from anyone.
We just don't know enough to have a helpful opinion. Hope you get a response. We're interested in the answer.
… john and jane balaban, 7 February, 2006 - 7:15pm

 
I read the article...
and looked some things up online. It does seem to be accepted as a subspecies. I wouldn't be opposed to adding it as a subspecies for now and waiting upon the DNA testing to prove it's a new species someday. I'm sure you know a lot more about this than I do, so I'm comfortable with your decision.
… Lynette Elliott, 9 February, 2006 - 2:40pm

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