Data on expert assessments of colour pattern variation in Erebidae and Noctuidae moths in Sweden

Besides variation among animal species in ground colour and in the number, size, shape, and distribution of pattern elements, there is also considerable intraspecific variation in colour patterns that can manifest both between populations inhabiting different environments, and among individuals within populations. In previous investigations into the consequences of inter-individual variation in colour patterns in moths we have relied on a discrete classification with three categories: non-variable; variable; or highly variable colour patterns, as jointly assessed by Per-Eric Betzholtz and Markus Franzén (e.g., Forsman et al. 2015, 2016, Franzén et al. 2019). Here we provide the raw data from the anonymized assessments of colour pattern variation of 489 species of Erebidae and Noctuidae moths in Sweden performed by twelve lepidopterologists with extensive experience and expertise of the moth fauna in Sweden. In addition, the raw data (on a discrete scale) provided by the experts is used ...