The purpose of this list is not to compete with, or claim legitimacy over, any other established or proposed lists, but to present an objective treatment of scientific butterfly names. In fact, it is not called a "list". It is intended to be an index of available names for anyone interested in obtaining an "unfiltered" record of described taxa, and for researchers and authors intending to construct lists of their own. The TC-ISBN follows a strict set of guidelines and chronological progression as much as possible. The guiding premise is that all listed taxa are presented accurately with respect for the work of researchers within a chronological time frame. Thus, each taxa is first viewed as it was originally described, then reexamined in light of more recent research which compels changes in the nomenclature. In many cases, there was never any actual published work to justified a change in usage (authors or listers simply made the changes). This may mean that some taxa, currently treated generally as subspecies of one or another species, may be re-elevated to the status of their original description. If the status of a described taxon is changed or revised by means of a published study, that change is reflected in the index. With every published change or revision, the most recent one is reflected, and it is assumed that researchers will use every available tool and published source upon which to refine our knowledge of butterfly taxonomy. The editor of the TC-ISBN will not make any changes based on unpublished "expert opinion" or "common knowledge". The bottom line is that no changes are allowed to the index unless published in a scientific journal, bulletin or other forum intended as a monograph or similar-level treatment. New taxa introduced in books of a regional scope will be added as long as they comply with the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature and revised treatment of a taxon will need to be explained in detail. No changes are allowed from field guides, books or summary lists intended for a generalist audience.

The treatment published in the Lepidopterists’ Society Memoir No. 3 - "Supplement to: A Catalogue/Checklist of the Butterflies of America North of Mexico" forms the TC-ISBN taxonomic baseline for any and all changes in nomenclature. Any departure from this list is explained in a separate "Notes" section for each genus that provides the exact literature reference upon which that change is based. Some changes first introduced in the Miller & Brown list without explanation, or without published work as a basis, will be reversed, to the dismay of some. However, the TC-ISBN editor will be open to suggestions and input is solicited. Difficult or "problem" cases will be open to suggestion from anyone knowledgeable in the subject, who can shed light on the situation at hand, but published work always forms the basis of any change. If anyone feels compelled to disagree with any of the established treatments listed in the TC-ISBN, we welcome them to either point out existing work supporting their view, or invite them to submit a paper to TILS for publication in The Taxonomic Report (TTR). TTR is a forum for taxonomic descriptions, revisions or treatments and is open to all.