Fritillary phylogeny, classification, and larval host plants: reconstructed mainly on the basis of male and female genitalic morphology (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae: Argynnini)

Species-level phylogeny of the Butterfly tribe Argynnini is established based on 141 characters derived from wing and genitalia morphology of both sexes. The Argynnini can be divided into three subtribes; Yrameina comprising Yramea and Boloria s . l ., Argynnina comprising Prokuekenthaliella , Issoria , Brenthis , and all the 'large fritillary' species joined in the genus Argynnis s . l . and a new subtribe Euptoietina comprising only the genus Euptoieta . The classical genus Issoria s . l . is polyphyletic regarding Yramea and possibly paraphyletic regarding the two Afrotropic species baumanni and hanningtoni ; these two species are tentatively transferred to the old genus/subgenus Prokuekenthaliella . Surprisingly, one Afrotropic species, Issoria smaragdifera is closely related to the East Palaearctic Issoria species. A revised classification of Argynnini is proposed based on the obtained phylogeny. Studies of larval host plants based on the obtained phylogeny suggest that the ancestral Argynnini used Passiflora and Violaceae, but already the ancestor of Yrameina + Argynnina was probably specialized on Violaceae. Whereas the Boloria species have turned to other food plants such as Dryas , Vaccinium and Salix on several occasions, only Brenthis among the Argynnina use other host plants than Viola (mainly Rosaceae). The habit of laying eggs away from the food plant has probably evolved twice within Argynnina.  © 2006 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society , 2006, 89 , 627–673.     

Geographical patterns of evolution in Neotropical Lepidoptera: differentiation of the species of Melinaea and Mechanitis (Nymphalidae,Ithomiinae)*

Abstract Biosystematic analysis incorporating abundant new field data from many parts of the Neotropics has led to an ordered revision of the mimetic ithomiine genera Melinaea and Mechanitis. The various polytypic species of these general probably served as prime movers for the differentiation of other mimetic butterflies in Quaternary forest refuges. The revisions are presented in the form of supplements to the works of Richard M. Fox on these genera, with analyses based on his divisions. Seven species (or monophyletic species-groups) and sixty-three well-differentiated geographic subspecies (six of these described here for the first time) are recognized in Melinaea. Specimens are illustrated which demonstrate intergradation between refuge-derived subspecies. Five species and fifty-two differentiated subspecies are recognized in Mechanitis, whose members are more abundant and gregarious, more plastic, and apparently more vagile than those of Melinaea, resulting in fewer clear-cut mimetic associations, more extensive blurring of differentiation patterns, and apparently fewer incipient biological species in this genus than in Melinaea.     

Structure, mechanism and mechanical properties of pupal attachment in Greta oto (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae: Ithomiinae)

The structure and mechanism of pupal attachment are described for the nymphalid Greta oto using electron microscopy, and high‐speed and time‐lapse photography. The cremaster is composed of a 3‐D array of hooked setae that engage with silk fibers spun into layers in a pad on the lower leaf surface. Each seta comprises a shaft terminating in a strongly curved hook, tipped with two lateral barbs. These hook into the silk pad, which is densely laid and built‐up in the central portion, flattening out peripherally. Time‐lapse photography showed that silk pad construction by fifth instar larvae is completed in four distinct spinning movements, producing a random fiber arrangement. It is proposed that such a fiber arrangement provides isotropic strength, giving greater flexibility to the attachment. The cremaster is attached to the silk pad by a series of lateral movements of the pupa's posterior abdomen. This movement, together with the shape of the setal hooks, is thought to be integral to the attachment process. Tensile loading tests showed that attachment failure is due to the breakage of the silk pad, which undergoes gradual destruction before releasing the cremaster. The attachment was found to have high tensile strength and fracture toughness, both of which suggest that it has evolved for the dual purpose of preventing the pupa being pulled from the leaf by a predator and preventing the attachment being weakened by wind, which causes the pupa to swing.     

Higher-level phylogeny of Hydrophilinae (Coleoptera: Hydrophilidae) based on larval, pupal and adult characters

Abstract.  A phylogenetic analysis, at a tribal and subtribal level, of the subfamily Hydrophilinae was conducted. The analysis was based on twenty-nine taxa (twenty-three genera) and 148 characters (fifty-eight from immature stages and bionomics, and ninety from adults). According to the present study, Hydrophilinae is monophyletic, and except for the tribe Hydrophilini which appears as polyphyletic (it includes the subtribes Hydrophilina, Hydrobiina, and Acidocerina), the remaining tribes are monophyletic. The tribes Berosini and Chaetarthriini form the basal clade of Hydrophilinae. One unexpected result is the relationship between the subtribe Hydrobiina and the tribe Sperchopsini, which form a well-supported clade. The final tree has the following structure: (((((Sperchopsini Hydrobiina) (Anacaenini Laccobiini)) Acidocerina) Hydrophilina) (Berosini Chaetarthriini)). The results partially disagree with the phylogeny presented by Hansen, in 1991, which was based mostly on adult characters. Several evolutionary trends are briefly discussed: the types of egg case, the morphology of the clypeolabrum, mouthparts, legs, and breathing adaptations in larvae.     

A molecular phylogeny of the neotropical butterfly genus Anartia (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae)

While Anartia butterflies have served as model organisms for research on the genetics of speciation, no phylogeny has been published to describe interspecific relationships. Here, we present a molecular phylogenetic analysis of Anartia species relationships, using both mitochondrial and nuclear genes. Analyses of both data sets confirm earlier predictions of sister species pairings based primarily on genital morphology. Yet both the mitochondrial and nuclear gene phylogenies demonstrate that Anartia jatrophae is not sister to all other Anartia species, but rather that it is sister to the Anartia fatima-Anartia amathea lineage. Traditional biogeographic explanations for speciation across the genus relied on A. jatrophae being sister to its congeners. These explanations invoked allopatric divergence of sister species pairs and multiple sympatric speciation events to explain why A. jatrophae flies alongside all its congeners. The molecular phylogenies are more consistent with lineage divergence due to vicariance, and range expansion of A. jatrophae to explain its sympatry with congeners. Further interpretations of the tree topologies also suggest how morphological evolution and eco-geographic adaptation may have set species range boundaries.     

A phylogenetic reassessment of Hyalenna Forbes and Dircenna Doubleday, with a revision of Hyalenna (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae: Ithomiinae)

Abstract.  A morphological study of adults and immature stages and a cladistic analysis were conducted to clarify the relationships amongst members of the sister nymphalid butterfly genera Dircenna Doubleday and Hyalenna Forbes. Two species formerly included in Dircenna , Ithomia paradoxa Staudinger and Dircenna hugia Schaus, clustered with Ithomia perasippa , the type species of Hyalenna . Therefore, the first two species are transferred from Dircenna to Hyalenna ( comb.n .). Hyalenna and Dircenna as now conceived are both monophyletic and well supported by morphological apomorphies and branch support measures. The taxonomy and classification of Hyalenna are reviewed and seven species and twenty-four taxa are recognized, including one new species, Hyalenna buckleyi sp.n. , and eleven new subspecies: Hyalenna paradoxa incachaca ssp.n. , H. perasippa valencia ssp.n. , H. perasippa ortygiosa ssp.n. , H. perasippa solitaria ssp.n. , H. buckleyi pomacocha ssp.n. , H. alidella exsulans ssp.n. , H. alidella cinereola ssp.n. , H. alidella vesca ssp.n. , H. sulmona balsamica ssp.n. , H. sulmona hyalina ssp.n. and H. sulmona tersa ssp.n. A key for the identification of all taxa, and illustrations of male and female genitalia for all species and adult specimens of all taxa (where known), are presented. The natural history of each species is summarized and the immature stages of H. paradoxa and H. sulmona are described for the first time.     

Genetic (RAPD) Diversity between Oleria onega agarista and Oleria onega ssp. (Ithomiinae, Nymphalidae, Lepidoptera) in North-Eastern Peru

Oleria onega agarista Felder and Felder and Oleria onega ssp. nov. are two Ithomiinae subspecies from north-eastern Peru, that differ for some morphological and behavioural traits. Two contact zones are known near the town of Tarapoto: Ahuashiyacu, where both subspecies cohabit but do not seem to hybridise, and Estero (near the village of Shapaja), where they apparently hybridise. Genetic differences between the two subspecies and between populations were investigated with random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers. Both Cluster and Principal Coordinates Analyses (CCoA and PCoA) performed using these data, provided a clear but weak discrimination between the two subspecies. Genetic diversity is much higher within the populations than between them. Moreover, the geographically more distant populations are grouped together by the genetic data. Morphological traits on the wing patterns of the hybrids are intermediary between the two butterflies subspecies, while RAPDs data place them closer to O. onega agarista than to O. onega ssp. The individuals of the Ahuashiyacu population are clearly separated into two groups, those of O. onega ssp. and O. onega agarista, by both morphology and RAPDs data. Moreover, none of those individuals show RAPD similarity with the hybrids, suggesting that hybridisation has not occurred in this population.     

Molecular phylogeny,larval case architecture,host–plant associations and classification of European Coleophoridae (Lepidoptera)

Bauer, F., Stübner, A., Neinhuis, C. & Nuss, M. (2012). Molecular phylogeny, larval case architecture, host–plant associations and classification of European Coleophoridae (Lepidoptera). —Zoologica Scripta, 41, 248–265. Several attempts based on adult morphology have aimed at classifying the megadiverse Coleophoridae, either by defining species groups or by splitting the large genus Coleophora into many smaller genera. A previous cladistic analysis focussing on larvae suggests monophyly of some case type groups as well as host–plant associations with a preference for certain plant tissues and growth forms. Here, a first molecular phylogeny for Coleophoridae is presented to test these partly contradicting hypotheses. Bayesian statistics is applied to different partitioning strategies of a COI + wingless data set (1815 bp) for 105 European species, revealing eight monophyletic species groups. A broader defined Coleophora with internal groups is better supported than the division into many genera. Goniodoma Zeller, 1849 syn. rev. and Metriotes Herrich‐Schäffer, 1853 syn. n. are nested within Coleophora Hübner, 1822. Seven species are transferred to Coleophora: C. auroguttella ( Zeller, 1849 ) comb. rev., C. limoniella Stainton, 1884 comb. rev., C. millierella (Ragonot, 1882) comb. n., C. nemesi (C?pu?e, 1970) comb. n., C. sinica (Li & Zheng, 2002) comb. n. (from Goniodoma) as well as C. jaeckhi (Baldizzone, 1985) comb. n. and C. lutarea (Haworth, 1828) comb. n. (from Metriotes). None of the formerly suggested case types is synapomorphic for any of the recovered clades. In contrast, cases built from glossy silk that turns black or dark brown is synapomorphic for the vibicella group. Some clades have radiated on certain plant taxa along with a specialisation in specific tissues, for example, the clade containing the saturatella (leaf miners) and frischella (seed miners) groups is associated with Fabaceae, the albella group (seed miners) with Caryophyllales and the serpylletorum group (leaf miners) with Lamiaceae. Calculating an index of host specificity for all studied species confirms significant differences between seed and leaf feeders on herbaceous plants, but not between leaf feeders on herbaceous and woody plants.     

Homologies in the colour patterns of the genus Charaxes (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae)

The phylogenetically and morphologically diverse patterns of Charaxes can be reduced to a simple set of pattern elements which can be homologized throughout the genus. At least five types of correspondence (homologies) exist among pattern elements: those between (1) species, (2) forewing and hindwing, (3) dorsal and ventral wing surface, (4) serial wing-cells, and (5) individual pattern elements within a single wing-cell. Differences in Charaxes colour patterns result from the distortion, elaboration, enlargement, reduction or loss of individual pattern elements. Further variation is often the result of dislocation of pattern elements from their serial homologues in neighbouring wing-cells, and fusion of individual pattern elements to create larger areas of colour. The type of analysis presented in this paper should be broadly applicable within the Lepidoptera and may prove useful in studying the systematics of colour patterns and the evolution of the developmental system that gives rise to them.     

Homologies in the colour patterns of the genus Heliconius (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae)

The colour patterns of Heliconius butterflies are composed from a relatively simple set of pattern elements whose homologues are recognizable throughout the genus. Although Heliconius colour patterns look quite different from those of most nymphalids, these pattern elements are seen to derive from the generalized nymphalid groundplan. The differences arise primarily from the loss or positional shift of certain pattern elements, a high degree of fusion between individual pattern elements, and, in the forewing, asymmetries of the pattern elements relative to the wing-cell midline. The scheme of homologies we present is consistent with what is currently known about the comparative morphology and developmental physiology of colour pattern formation in Lepidoptera, and provides a framework for the interpretation of developmental, evolutionary and genetic studies in Heliconius.     

Vertical stratification of ithomiine butterfly (Nymphalidae: Ithomiinae) mimicry complexes: the relationship between adult flight height and larval host-plant height

Data are presented which confirm previous findings that sympatric mimicry complexes dominated by unpalatable Neotropical ithomiine butterflies (Nymphalidae: Ithomiinae) are vertically stratified by height of flight. Flight height of ithomiine species is positively correlated with the height of their larval host-plants. Thus members of a mimicry complex utilize host-plants of similar heights. Non-mimetic British woodland butterflies also show a positive relationship between flight height and host-plant height, which suggests that the relationship is independent of mimicry. I propose that female butterflies fly at heights which maximize the probability of encountering their larval host-plants, and that males fly at similar heights to females in order to maximize the probability of encountering potential mates. Female butterflies probably encounter plants of similar heights to their larval hosts more frequently than they encounter plants of other heights. I suggest that butterfly species may therefore be more likely to make host shifts to plant species of a similar height to their current host-plants. Finally, I discuss how the relationship between flight height and height of larval host-plants, coupled with microhabitat-dependent selection on colour pattern, could lead to the evolution in sympatry of vertically stratified mimicry complexes.     

Molecular phylogeny of the tribe Candalidini (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae): systematics,diversification and evolutionary history

The butterfly tribe Candalidini is geographically restricted to Australia and mainland New Guinea and its adjacent islands. With 60 species and subspecies, it represents a large radiation of Papilionoidea in the Australian region. Although the species-level taxonomy is relatively well understood, the number of genera is uncertain, varying from two to eight. We reconstructed the phylogeny of the Candalidini based on a 13-locus hybrid enrichment probe set (12.8 Kbp: COI, Thiolase, CAD, CAT, DDC, EF1-a, GAPDH, HCL, IDH, MDH, RPS2, RPS5, Wingless), including all previously recognized genera and 76% (28/37) of the species-level diversity of the tribe. Maximum likelihood analysis recovered the Candalidini as a strongly supported monophyletic group. In conjunction with morphological characters, the phylogeny provided a robust framework for a revised classification in which we recognize four genera, 37 species and 23 subspecies. The genus Nesolycaena Waterhouse & R.E. Turner is considered in synonymy with Candalides Hübner, and four other genera are not recognized, namely, Holochila C. Felder, Adaluma Tindale, Zetona Waterhouse and Microscena Tite. Of the four valid genera, the absimilis group (23 species) is placed in the newly described genus Eirmocides Braby, Espeland & Müller gen. nov. (type species Candalides consimilis Waterhouse). The erinus group (six species) is assigned to Erina Swainson, which is reinstated. Chrysophanus cyprotus Olliff is assigned to Cyprotides Tite, which is also reinstated as a monotypic genus. The remaining seven species are placed in Candalides sensu stricto. Overall, we propose 47 new nomenclatural changes at the species and subspecies levels, including the synonymy of Holochila biaka Tite as Eirmocides tringa biaka (Tite) syn. nov. et comb. nov. and recognition of Candalides hyacinthinus gilesi M.R. Williams & Bollam as a distinct species Erina gilesi (M.R. Williams & Bollam stat. rev. et comb. nov. A dated phylogeny using Bayesian inference in BEAST2 and biogeographical and habitat analyses based on the DEC model in BioGeoBEARS indicated that the ancestor of the Candalidini most likely evolved in rainforest habitats of the mesic biome in situ on the Australian plate of Southern Gondwana during the Eocene (c. 43 Ma). A major period of diversification occurred in the Miocene, which coincided with aridification of the Australian continent, followed by a further episode of radiation in montane New Guinea during the Plio-Pleistocene. This published work has been registered on ZooBank by the authors: Michael Braby: http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:author:4D3A7605-EBD0-40F6-A5F2-7F67F59E3D60 ; Marianne Espeland: http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:author:00D6F9F9-3902-4A8B-846F-720AB32922A6 ; Chris Müller: http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:author:15FE5F26-7596-46C2-9697-1FD92A692D0D ; http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:47D5CA34-C294-4FBD-84B6-1C2A82B7CADF .     

Phylogeny and diversification of the cloud forest Morpho sulkowskyi group (Lepidoptera,Nymphalidae) in the evolving Andes

The monophyletic Morpho sulkowskyi butterfly group, endemic of Andean cloud forests, was studied to test the respective contributions of Mio‐Pliocene intense uplift period and Pleistocene glacial cycles on Andean biodiversity. We sampled nine taxa covering the whole geographical range of the group. Two mitochondrial and two nuclear genes were analysed using a Bayesian method. We established a dated phylogeny of the group using a relaxed clock method and a wide‐outgroup approach. To discriminate between two hypotheses, we used a biogeographical probabilistic method. Results suggest that the ancestor of the M. sulkowskyi group originated during the Middle–Late Miocene uplift of the Eastern Cordillera in northern Peru. Biogeographical inference suggests that the M. sulkowskyi and Morpho lympharis clades diverged in the northern Peruvian Andes. The subsequent divergences, from the Late Miocene to the Late Pliocene, should have resulted from a dispersal towards the Northern Andes (M. sulkowskyi clade), after the closure of the West Andean Portal separating the Central and Northern Andes, and a southwards dispersal along the Peruvian and Bolivian Eastern Cordilleras (M. lympharis clade). Only a few divergences occurred at the very end of the Pliocene or during the Pleistocene, a period when the more recent uplifts interfered with Pleistocene glacial cycles.     

Molecular systematics and phylogeny of the ‘Marbled Whites' (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae,Satyrinae, Melanargia Meigen)

Abstract. We investigated genetic divergence and phylogenetic relationships amongst all known species of Palaearctic butterflies of the genus Melanargia using sequence information from three genes [mitochondrial cox1 barcode region (658 bp), ribosomal 16S rRNA (c. 518 bp), and nuclear wg (404 bp)]. Results show a lack of DNA divergence among several poorly characterized taxa, as well as deep divergences within and between others. We corroborated the molecular information with morphological and genitalic characters as well as with geographic data. We revise the taxonomy of Melanargia, and propose a new systematic scheme for the group. We revive some previous synonymies (M. lucasi meadwaldoi stat. rev. , M. ines fathme stat. rev. , M. ines jahandiezi stat. rev. , M. meridionalis tapaishanensis stat. rev. ), revise the status of some subspecies into species (M. transcaspica stat. nov. , M. lucida stat. nov. , M. wiskotti stat. nov. ) and of several species into subspecies of other taxa (M. evartianae sadjadii stat. nov. , M. larissa hylata stat. nov. , M. larissa grumi stat. nov. , M. larissa syriaca stat. nov. , M. larissa titea stat. nov. , M. lugens montana stat. nov. , M. epimede ganymedes stat. nov. ), revise the status of subspecies and transfer them to other species (M. larissa lorestanensis stat. nov. , M. larissa iranica stat. nov. , M. larissa karabagi stat. rev. , M. larissa kocaki stat. nov. , M. transcaspica eberti stat. nov. ), and propose new synonymies (M. larissa titea = M. titea standfussi syn. nov. = M. titea titania syn. nov. , M. leda leda = M. leda yunnana syn. nov. , M. lugens lugens = M. lugens ahyoui syn. nov. , M. lugens hengshanensis = M. lugens hoenei syn. nov. , M. halimede halimede = M. halimede gratiani syn. nov. , M. asiatica asiatica = M. asiatica dejeani syn. nov. , = M. asiatica elisa syn. nov. , = M. asiatica sigberti syn. nov. ).     

Phylogeny of the Nymphalidae (Lepidoptera)

A generic-level phylogeny for the butterfly family Nymphalidae was produced by cladistic analysis of 234 characters from all life stages. The 95 species in the matrix (selected from the 213 studied) represent all important recognized lineages within this family. The analysis showed the taxa grouping into six main lineages. The basal branch is the Libytheinae, with the Danainae and Ithomiinae on the next branch. The remaining lineages are grouped into two main branches: the Heliconiinae-Nymphalinae, primarily flower-visitors (but including the fruit-attracted Coeini); and the Limenitidinae (sensu strictu), Biblidinae, and the satyroid lineage (Apaturinae, Charaxinae, Biinae, Calinaginae, Morphinae, Brassolinae, and Satyrinae), primarily fruit-attracted. Data partitions showed that the two data sets (immatures and adults) are very different, and a partitioned Bremer support analysis showed that the adult characters are the main source of conflict in the nodes of the combined analysis tree. This phylogeny includes the widest taxon coverage of any morphological study on Nymphalid butterflies to date, and supports the monophyly and relationships of most presently recognized subgroups, providing strong evidence for the presently accepted phylogenetic scheme.     

A fake Heliconius (Lepidoptera, Nymphalidae)

Four ‘doubtful species’ are listed in catalogues of the genus Heliconius. All are non–existent: (1) H. Carolina (Herbst) is a forgery made from trimmed fragments of at least three butterflies, the two identifiable ones both beingH. erato; (2) H.cinereo–fuscus (Goeze) is a faded specimen of H.ricini; (3) H.arcuatus (Goeze) is so inadequately described that its identity cannot be determined, although it is apparently some species of heliconiine or ithomiine;(4)H.euclea (Godart) is the valid senior name of an ithomiid in the genus Hypothyris.     

Higher level phylogeny of Satyrinae butterflies (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) based on DNA sequence data

We have inferred the first empirically supported hypothesis of relationships for the cosmopolitan butterfly subfamily Satyrinae. We used 3090 base pairs of DNA from the mitochondrial gene COI and the nuclear genes EF-1alpha and wingless for 165 Satyrinae taxa representing 4 tribes and 15 subtribes, and 26 outgroups, in order to test the monophyly of the subfamily and elucidate phylogenetic relationships of its major lineages. In a combined analysis, the three gene regions supported an almost fully resolved topology, which recovered Satyrinae as polyphyletic, and revealed that the current classification of suprageneric taxa within the subfamily is comprised almost completely of unnatural assemblages. The most noteworthy findings are that Manataria is closely related to Melanitini; Palaeonympha belongs to Euptychiina; Oressinoma, Orsotriaena and Coenonympha group with the Hypocystina; Miller's (1968). Parargina is polyphyletic and its components group with multiple distantly related lineages; and the subtribes Elymniina and Zetherina fall outside the Satyrinae. The three gene regions used in a combined analysis prove to be very effective in resolving relationships of Satyrinae at the subtribal and tribal levels. Further sampling of the taxa closely related to Satyrinae, as well as more extensive sampling of genera within the tribes and subtribes for this group will be critical to test the monophyly of the subfamily and establish a stronger basis for future biogeographical and evolutionary studies.     

Boloria phylogeny (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae): tentatively reconstructed on the basis of male and female genitalic morphology

Abstract. The phylogeny of Boloria s.l. is reconstructed on the basis of sixty-three characters from the genital morphology of both sexes of twenty-nine taxa. Three unique and several homoplasious autapomorphies support the monophyly of Boloria. The genus is divided into two well-supported clades, one comprising the subgenera Boloria s.str. and Proclossiana and one comprising the subgenus Clossiana. Although the phylogeny of Clossiana remains largely uncertain, perhaps due to a rapid and recent speciation in some groups, it can be divided into two groups. A more subordinate group (the polaris group) appears well supported by a highly specialized phallus. Morphological evidence supports a clade comprising B.(C.) chariclea and both Palaearctic and North American B.(C.) titania populations. Possibly these taxa form a superspecies complex where B.(C.) chariclea is paraphyletic with regard to the different B.(C.) titania populations: molecular studies will be needed to test this hypothesis.     

Cuticular lipid diversification in Lasiommata megera and Lasiommata paramegaera: the influence of species, sex, and population (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae)

Numerous studies have investigated the presence and the effectiveness of volatile pheromones in Lepidoptera. Conversely, very few studies have focused on the composition and the perception of the relatively low volatile components of cuticular mixtures. Yet, cuticular lipids are implied in the recognition processes of several solitary and social insects. In the present study, the cuticular signatures of the satyrid butterflies Lasiommata megera and Lasiommata paramegaera were examined by gas chromatography. General linear model and discriminant analyses on chemical data clearly revealed large differences between sexes, which showed the same diversification pattern in both species. Moreover, a strong diversification between the two species was found, as were differences among populations. These results represent a first step in demonstrating the communicative function of cuticular compounds in the L. megera / paramegaera complex. Moreover, the discrimination among different species and populations on the basis of cuticular mixtures could represent a platform for studying chemotaxonomy and chemical biogeography in butterflies, as already found in several other insect groups.  © 2007 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society , 2007, 91 , 703–710.