Species on Lepidoptera.pro: common names

You got the things right, though there's still a con. Lots of species simply don't have common names. This website is not for high professionals but all interested in lepidoptera. :)

Thanks! I've already noticed that but anyway some common names do exist. Also if species in the catalogue were provided with common names, it would be way more handy (or more familiar) to amateurs :) For me personally the "blues" sounds way better than Lycaenidae. :)

The "common names" case can be divided into two parts such as of common names in general and of the use of common names on Lepidoptera.pro.
So speaking in general, common names of lepidoptera are so-called monikers or nicknames, which can be contrived and used by anyone and anywhere, thus they are usually not fixed and can't be trusted reference. On the contrary, scientific names are not some quirky invention of highbrow gentlemen for their own communication within "circle of privilege", but the one and only standard system of species names, in which each of them is fixed and referenced to those who introduced one (and where and why this or that). Say, "John Smith" is a proper, scientific name, whilst "Johnny" or "Jo" are nicknames, or "common name".
On this website species Latin names are definitely basic, though common ones are used as well as a search option and info. Then again, registered users are allowed to add common names ("Add info" link on each species description page in Russian version, not yet in English though), which can be even without references compared to so-called "proved" info sections of the website that can't be added with no reference. Now it's about 600 species (Russian version) completed with common names.
So if any of you have time to add common names, in Russian version you have all the tools to realize it. Also need to notice that most of species lack common names or have such roughly translated from Latin.
Summary: "John Smith" are and will be used as a basic form of species name on Lepidoptera.pro, but "Jo" and whatever else will serve as well and seen on species description page, autosuggested while searching species, in the right column of the Catalogue page, and now also on the Taxonomy page (font a little bit more pale than usual not to outweigh the main Latin name). All these valid for Russian version.
Notice: all mentioned above can be mostly extrapolated to use of common names in other languages as well, for one in English, though speaking of the very English common names, there's a difference since they have at least one trusted source of common names, which can be considered as accredited, so they traditionally use them often and widely even in scientific circles. Nevertheless, English common names are still monikers even not as much volatile and thus less valuable as Russian ones.
P.S. I dared to add the name of the post with a few clarifying words for this is rather popular question on the website.

Hi! Thanks for your reasonable elaboration. I agree on many points, there is this scientific system already working and well-done, no need to change it. Still I started this thread about the very website structure not thinking of changing "John Smith"s to "Jo"s whatsoever. Other websites use Latin names as well, but don't ignore common names what as I think does widen horizons and also don't deter amateurs off. Move closer to them! Your "nicknames", "Jo"s and "roughly translated from Latin" sound a bit obnoxious as to common "Black-veined White" or "Large White" or "Small Tortoiseshell" or "clouded yellows" or even "Old World Swallowtail". Still I believe that many butterflies and moths, birds and plants that grow, fly and crawl in Russia have their well-known and fixed common names (even "roughly translated from Latin"), and it seems rather imprudent to reject them.

Viktor! I am not qualified entomologist (as most of users therein), don't use common names though, neither try to keep them in mind. As for your remark "sound a bit obnoxious as to common "Black-veined White" or "Large White" or "Small Tortoiseshell" or "clouded yellows" or even "Old World Swallowtail"", I'd like to say that clouded yellows (meant the genus Colias) are presented at least by 4 species here in my region. "Large White" is a name of every white-colored butterfly of the genus Pieris. Also, one who lives in Vladivostok knows Black-veined White as Aporia hippia not Aporia crataegi, or Old World Swallowtail does as Achillides maacki not Papilio machaon, not to mention pierid and clouded yellow butterflies. So common names can quite vary as to species depending on where they're used. Even can be inversed when a common name combines several different species. So why to confuse yourself with all these minor common names?

The reason of using Latin names as basic ones I briefed above as did Alexandr and Dmitry. Still there is nothing to argue as common names are added everywhere on the website including catalogue and also autosuggested while searching (start your search with "swallowtail" or "yellow" and you'll get the list of all the species with such common names or parts of names). Some species do lack common names, but it's just a matter of time to complete the info. Since lately not only administrators/moderators of the website can do that but any registered user is free to add some data.

To Dmitry: You do contradict yourself! You said you didn't know common names and at once shared such curious facts. So as I suggested before, let's move closer to amateurs. :) Me personally, I'm pretty interested in how butterflies and moths are named in Russian Far East and why so. Please don't prune things down and tell me the basics as at least these I know. Large White is a unique name of one species as well as Black-veined White, whilst Aporia hippia has different common name on there.
The subfamily Coliadinae includes some beautifully named species such as brimstone. Anyway, if you're against confusing yourself with common names, so others can be of different opinion..:)
To Petr: Thank you for your clear explanation. Neither am I about to make revolution in taxonomy. Just want you all to understand my point of view. I have no intention to study an order of insects named lepidoptera. Just I like butterflies and moths that fly here, in Altai, all around, and I'm merely a photographer and nature enthusiast. So I found this website and was glad to get some new info and offer some photos of mine, which were kept unused. So I found it rather unhandy that the website taxonomy lacked common names of subfamilies and genera, which I had been used to (sorry for that:)).
Also! Neither I regard this whole discussion as dispute or anything of the kind. Just wanted to shake up your routine:) Bore to see your everyday "Moved to", "Agree", "Goes to", "Ok, corrected"..... Kidding!
P.S. Don't scowl!
Viktor

Ah, all but a few supraspecies taxa don't have common names compared to the names of species.

Meh...!

So since now supraspecies taxa may be as well searched by common name, say Lycaenidae by "blues" (please note this is only available in Russian version). Yet the offer of supraspecies taxa common names is still quite limited.

Good morning! Already tried that. Thanks, now it's way more handy and clear. So check species once, twice and voila, get to know its Latin name. :) Besides, I don't need Russian common names as to foreign species beyond Russian-speaking countries. I think real, my interest will barely ever go far beyond the former USSR. I am as much respectful of some Heterocera moth from Madagascar as indifferent from the practical side :) Dmitry, you're brilliantly briefed all your thoughts in just three letters :) Kind of "if you only knew at least a small bit of what I know, you wouldn't stick your nose into the machinery of this whole structure that reins the World of Lepidoptera". No objections! I know that I know nothing, just I'm fascinated with life.
Petr, don't get sad about this Parnassius phoebus, I'll find it out one day. Let's wait for the summer, we've got lots of various Parnassius on here in mountains. Haven't yet set to work. :)
Whatever, I like your website more and more, some small details are really well-thought-out. And the search is fab!

It's not what I think of you but of the use of common names. I see you're from Ust-Kamenogorsk! Nearly countryman.

Dmitry, looked through your collection, that's striking! Did you really catch them all yourself?! World of countries you were in! Envy!
So where are you from originally? Altai?

Kokshetau.

Viktor! I was late to read this thread, quite short of time lately. I have a story to tell about what happened at the end of 50s in the past century that I heard in the 80s from Oleg Leonydovitch Kryzhanovsky (leading USSR and Russian carabidologist, now sadly late). So they were preparing this guide to insect pests to publish and (please abstain from drawing parallels) some "supervisors" insisted that each species in the guide would have Russian common name. So did they start inventing those. There was this beetle from the family Scarabaeidae called Pentodon idiota. As all Scarabaeidae were called "khrushchi" (chafers) and the genus group related to the genus Pentodon was called "navozniki" (dung beetles) and their larvae occasionally damaged corn crops, then a new name was "khrushch-navoznik kukuruzny" (corn dung chafer), "idiota" in Latin. Now let's remember who was the General Secretary in the late 50s and also his epic corn project in the north of the USSR. Once as a copy of the guide appeared before censors in The First Department... that was the story! I'm not against common names in general but as for insects... It's ok with such names as Peacock, Red Admiral, maybe a dozen more... You got caught in your own trap when said about "yellows", to which you referred brimstone that actually doesn't belong to the genus Colias (or those yellows) ;) Let this website be added with common names, though any user here should realize as soon as possible that Russian common names are kind of general thing and mostly inexact, they could be somehow useful for the first connection but if you're really interested in some precise data of what you photographed or spotted, then... you've got to dig into some complex Latin, alas.

Viktor. I believe too that common names need to be added. Most butterflies and moths of Russia (and of the USSR) have common names which also mentioned in popsci literature and used as well amidst the non-pros. As for localities and local common names of species, not an issue for anybody and never was. There are local common names of elk or bear, yet we always know which we talk about. As this website is to a large audience, it could be added with as many common names as possible. Then again, all Erebia butterflies in Siberia for instance have Russian synonyms, which are largely used in scientific circles such as Irkutsk State Agricultural Academy, Irkutsk State University, Irkutsk State Pedagogical University. Neither I'm a pro, just an amateur naturalist, though I observe nature and keep communicating with pros of all levels.
Dmitry, your comparison of Aporia crataegi with Aporia hippia isn't actually correct since there are both in Russian Far East and locals (non-pros) know the difference; though colors of these butterflies hardly differ, their behaviours are distinctive.

To Yury: thanks for the support. :) I've already thought I'm kind of unique. Even I tried to explain that I wasn't against of Latin, but for using of both Latin and Russian common names in Russia, which we can see in many scientific works. No complaints to the website and moderators, I see this is still being developed and improved, and common names are as well used and added. Good luck then! Waiting for spring!

From Yury to Viktor: Imagine that those Latin names of species I'd use when writing an article for a local newspaper about butterflies. It's just no one will read it. I've been working since 2001 at a regional newspaper plus collaborating with five editorial boards, have publications on websites. Wish all lepidoptera.ru colleagues a Happy New Year!

Latin convenient and accurate, as it is the same for all regions of the country .In different places can be many different names for the same individual with Russian names and go and sometimes try to understand what is at stake. Latin, all local names are united into one. Therefore, even from the other person. Latin name of the country who sees clearly what is at stake.

All it is, is only a "special" in this case, the same ought to be replaced by "species"; -)

-muzhu Wife: 'What are you all foebis yes foebis (Phoebis)! Vaughn have their garden full of jaundice flies! "