This Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) contains guidance on how to voucher Lepidoptera specimens submitted to the Darwin Tree of Life (DToL) project. The guidance specifically refers to the assembly of Lepidoptera vouchers at the Natural History Museum (NHM) in London.

For guidance on sampling and preparation for whole genome sequencing, please refer to the DToL Taxon Specific Standard Operating Procedure for the Terrestrial and Freshwater Arthropoda Working Group.

Definition: A voucher is a permanently preserved specimen that is maintained in an accessible collection. In genomics, vouchers serve as the physical evidence for the taxonomic identification of genome assemblies. 

This is version one of this SOP, and may be subject to change in the future.