On the origin of the recent fauna of butterflies (Lepidoptera,Rhopalocera) of Vietnam

The following types of ranges of the Vietnamese butterflies are considered: 1) narrow ranges of endemic taxa, 2) continuous and mosaic ranges, 3) disjunct ranges, and 4) vicariant ranges. The endemic butterfly taxa mostly concentrate in isolated mountain areas of central Vietnam and show relationships with the Sino- Himalayan, Malayan, and local Indo-Burmese faunas. The ranges of most Vietnamese butterflies, both eury- and stenobiont species, combine the traits of continuous and mosaic distribution. Disjunctions in the ranges of Vietnamese butterflies vary from dozens to thousands kilometers. Similar habitats in different parts of Vietnam may have different though allied butterfly species. The origin of the recent butterfly fauna is hypothesized.     

Remarks on the family-level phylogeny of butterflies (Insecta, Lepidoptera, Rhopalocera)

1. Available evidence on butterfly family-level relationships is re-examined according to the principles of phylogenetic (cladistic) systematics. 2. The assumption of a sister-group relationship between the Hesperioidea and Papilionoidea seems a reasonably substantiated working hypothesis. 3. The Papilionoid families Papilionidae, Pieridae and Lycaenidae sensu Ehrlich (1958) are definable as monophyletic entities; of Ehrlich 's two remaining families, Nymphalidae and Libytheidae, the former is paraphyletic in terms of the latter. 4. The interrelationships between the Papilionoid families may be presented as Papilionidae + (Pieridae + [Lycanidae + Nymphalidae]). 5. In a phylogenetic system any given arrangement of taxa is either correct or not: Contrary to the pheneticists' view (Ehrlich and Ehrlich 1967) phylogenetic systematists cannot accept the existence of a multitude of valid classifications.     

Diurnal butterflies (Lepidoptera, Rhopalocera) of the Solovetskie Islands (Northwestern Russia, the White Sea)

The species composition and diversity of Lepidoptera Rhopalocera were studied on the Solovetskie Islands during five years (2001–2005). Twenty-nine species of five families were recorded. The most abundant species are Leptidea sinapis, Boloria aquilonaris, Heodes virgaureae, Plebejus argus, Arcia eumedon, and Cyaniris semiargus. The fauna of these islands is poorer than local faunas of the continental northern taiga, forest-tundra, and southern tundra of Europe. The species diversity of insular assemblages of diurnal lepidopterans is lower in comparison with analogous continental assemblages. They are characterized by the mixed species composition, when species with different ecological preference occur within the same habitat.     

The fauna and ecology of butterflies (Lepidoptera,Rhopalocera) of the Kanin Peninsula and Kolguev Island

A total of 29 butterfly species in the forest-tundra and 14 species in the hypoarctic tundra were recorded on the Kanin Peninsula. Six species of butterflies were identified on Kolguev Island. The data on the fauna and distribution of species in the forest-tundra of the Kanin Peninsula are generally typical of this natural zone (Chernov and Tatarinov, 2006). The faunas of the northern part of the Kanin Peninsula and the southern part of Kolguev Island comprise fewer species, including those of the Arctic complex. This phenomenon is related to the coastal position of the regions, the cool summer and strong winds. On Kolguev Island, seasonal migrants appear simultaneously with the local species or considerably later. The most abundant species in the forest-tundra of the Kanin Peninsula are Erebia disa, Oeneis norna, Clossiana freija, Pieris napi, and Vacciniina optilete. The dominant species in southern tundra localities are Erebia euryale, E. pandrose, and Boloria aquilonaris, which coincides with the result of the 1903 research (Poppius, 1906). Only the dewy ringlet Erebia pandrose was recorded regularly in the south of Kolguev Island in 2009. In spite of the impoverished fauna of Rhopalocera some butterfly species clearly prevail in abundance and inhabit a wide range of biotopes, which agrees with the concept of compensatory mechanisms (Chernov, 2005). A high abundance of E. pandrose is a specific feature of the northern part of the Kanin Peninsula and Kolguev Island, pointing to the connection of the biota of these territories with the Subarctic regions of Fennoscandia.     

Butterflies (Lepidoptera,Rhopalocera) of West Altai

A total of 176 species of butterflies have been found in West Altai. Their distribution ranges, phenology, biological preferences, and taxonomic structure are analyzed. Numerous Siberian butterfly species from the genera Erebia, Oeneis, Clossiana, Boeberia, and Colias have been found in West Altai which may be accounted for its westernmost position in the mountain system of southern Siberia and very humid climate. At the same time, many western Palaearctic as well as few Middle Asian butterflies have been discovered in West Altai for the first time. West Altai is the region where pairs of sister species which diverged in the Western and Eastern Palaearctic can be found in secondary contact. In this study, a zone of stable secondary sympatry of Melitaea didyma (western element) and M. latonigena (eastern element) as well as that of Maculinea arion (western element) and M. cyanecula (eastern element) has been found. These findings provide the first strong evidence for the distinctness of the species in these sister pairs.     

Butterflies (Lepidoptera, Rhopalocera) in the Arctic fauna

The Arctic fauna includes 106 species of diurnal butterflies: Papilionidae (6 species), Pieridae (20), Lycaenidae (18), Nymphalidae (30), Satyridae (27), and Hesperiidae (5). Among them, representatives of the family Nymphalidae predominate as to the features characterizing the biological progress in the Arctic, as well as to the number of the most strongly pronounced arctic forms. The family Satyridae shares the first place with Nymphalidae by the number of species, but differs from the latter in the uneven or local distribution. The family Pieridae demonstrates a wide distribution of polyzonal and boreal species in the tundra zone. The distribution patterns of Lycaenidae are different in the Eurasian and Beringian-American sectors. Species of Papilionidae and Hesperiidae occur only in the southern part of the tundra zone. Each family is characterized by specific distribution in the Arctic subzones and landscapes and by latitudinal trends in its specific ratio in the faunas. There are 30 to 40 arctic species, including arctic proper (euarctic and hemiarctic) and hypoarctic, arctoalpine, arctomontane, and arctoboreal species. The species developing successfully under high-latitude conditions are Boloria chariclea, B. polaris, B. improba, Colias nastes, C. hecla, and Erebia fasciata; the first two species can be considered true euarctic forms. Specific features of the latitudinal and longitudinal distribution of the butterfly species in different parts of the Arctic are discussed.     

A new methodology for compiling national Red Lists applied to butterflies (Lepidoptera, Rhopalocera) in Flanders (N-Belgium) and the Netherlands

The compilation of the Red Lists of butterflies in Flanders and the Netherlands was based on two criteria: a trend criterion (degree of decline) and a rarity criterion (actual distribution area). However, due to the large difference in mapping intensity in the two compared periods, a straightforward comparison of the number of grid cells in which each species was recorded, appeared inappropriate. To correct for mapping intensity we used reference species that are homogeneously distributed over the country, that have always been fairly common and that did not fluctuate in abundance too much during this century. For all resident species a relative presence in two compared periods was calculated, using the average number of grid cells in which these reference species were recorded as a correction factor. The use of a standardized method and well-defined quantitative criteria makes national Red Lists more objective and easier to re-evaluate in the future and facilitates the comparison of Red Lists among countries and among different organisms. The technique applied to correct for mapping intensity could be useful to other organisms when there is a large difference in mapping intensity between two periods.     

Biogeography and systematics of Aricia butterflies (Lepidoptera,Lycaenidae)

Butterflies of the Aricia species group represent a paradigm of unresolved taxonomy, both at the genus and species levels. We studied phylogenetic relationships, biogeography, and systematics based on genetic – nuclear and mitochondrial – and morphometric – external (wings) and internal (genitalia) – data. We show that Aricia is a monophyletic genus comprising the taxa Pseudoaricia, Ultraaricia and Umpria, which are here considered junior synonyms of Aricia. The taxa allous, inhonora, issekutzi, mandzhuriana, myrmecias and transalaica, which have often been raised to species rank, are shown to probably represent subspecies or synonyms. We show that montensis is likely a good species that is sister to all A. artaxerxes populations across the Palearctic region. The species A. anteros and A. morronensis are shown to display deep intraspecific divergences and they may harbor cryptic species. We also discovered that A. cramera and A. agestis exhibit a pattern of mutual exclusion on islands, and a parapatric distribution in mainland with a narrow contact zone where potential hybrids were detected. The lack of a prezygotic barrier that prevents their coexistence could explain this phenomenon. This study will hopefully contribute to the stability of the systematics of Aricia, a group with potential for the study of the link between speciation and biogeography.     

Ecological and biogeographical effects of forest disturbance on tropical butterflies of Sumba, Indonesia

ABSTRACT. Butterfly assemblages within lowland monsoon forest were compared at four sites on Sumba, Indonesia that differed in terms of protection and exhibited associated differences in levels of human disturbance. A numerical method employing principal components analysis was devised for describing forest structure at each site. The first principal component (PRIN1) grouped attributes tending towards dense forest with closely-spaced trees, a closed canopy and a poorly developed field layer, with trees that tended to be large with the point of inversion in the upper half of the trunk. The highest values for PRIN1 were recorded within protected forest, and PRIN1 values were considered to be a useful index of forest disturbance at each site. Species diversity of butterflies was highest in unprotected secondary forest, but was not affected by lower levels of disturbance. Those species occurring at highest density in secondary forest generally had wide geographical distributions, whereas those species occurring at highest density in undisturbed primary forest had restricted ranges of distribution, in most cases with a separate subspecies on Sumba. Overall, an index of biogeographical distinctiveness decreased with increasing disturbance, and this supports the hypothesis that the most characteristic species of undisturbed climax forest have the smallest geographical ranges of distribution. Species abundance data for butterflies fitted a log-normal distribution at all but the most disturbed site. These results indicate that the pattern of proportional abundance of tropical butterfly species may be used as an ‘instantaneous’ indicator of forest disturbance, and that changes in the structure of tropical forests in S.E. Asia resulting from human disturbance, even within partially-protected forest, may result in the presence of butterfly assemblages of higher species diversity but of lower biogeographical distinctiveness, and therefore of lower value in terms of the conservation of global biodiversity.     

Ecological and faunistic review of butterflies (Lepidoptera,Hesperioidea et Papilionoidea) of Daghestan: Part 1

An ecological and faunistic review of 170 butterfly species from Daghestan based on original data is presented. The distribution and ecological characteristics of species (phenology, voltinism, biotopic distribution, population density and its dynamics, and the cycle of preimaginal stages) are described. The first part of the paper deals with the families Hesperiidae and Lycaenidae. Zoogeographic analysis and ecological characteristics of the regional fauna will be given in the second communication.     

Ecological and faunistic review of butterflies (Lepidoptera,Hesperioidea et Papilionoidea) of Dagestan: Part 2

The second part of the paper includes the list of the families Libytheidae-Satyridae, zoogeographical analysis, and ecological characteristics of the Dagestan butterfly fauna.     

A note on the diversity of World Lepidoptera (Rhopalocera)

Data are presented showing the number of butterfly species present in areas of different size. The species, area curve for South America starts at a higher value than that for Africa, indicating a greater species richness in a small area. It is also steeper, which indicates that there are more allopatric species. The relation for south-east Asia is more like that for South America than Africa.     

Occurrence patterns of butterflies (Rhopalocera) in semi-natural pastures in southeastern Sweden

Occurrence patterns of butterflies (Rhopalocera) were analysed in relation to locality characteristics, and nested patterns were evaluated, based on a survey of 100 semi-natural pastures in the county of Östergötland, southeastern Sweden. Species richness of butterflies was positively related with locality-size, but not with the density of pastures in the surroundings. Species richness was lower in heavily grazed pastures compared with localities with a low or intermediate grazing pressure. This suggests that a uniformed, heavy grazing pressure should be avoided if butterflies are to be protected, even though such a management is favourable for many vascular plants. Out of 45 analysed species, 73% exhibited a significantly nested pattern, and species regarded to be sedentary had generally a more nested pattern. Several butterflies (such as Erynnis tages, Mellicta athalia and Pyrgus malvae) are possible to use as indicators of a relatively intact butterfly community. In a short-term perspective, the great bulk of butterflies confined to semi-natural pastures would be saved if management were adapted to the requirements of butterflies only at the localities richest in species. However, for conservation strategies to be successful over a longer time, whole landscapes harbouring the majority of the species and with a high density of semi-natural pastures should be selected and be given priority for conservation.     

Butterflies (Lepidoptera,Rhopalocera) of the Curonian Spit in the Baltic Sea

Fifty-six species of butterflies are recorded from the Curonian Spit in the Baltic Sea (Kaliningrad Province). Forty-nine species have been collected by the authors in 1982–2004, and data on their abundance and local and distant migrations are provided. Seven species are included in the list based on the literature data.     

Annotated checklist of Albanian butterflies (Lepidoptera,Papilionoidea and Hesperioidea)

The Republic of Albania has a rich diversity of flora and fauna. However, due to its political isolation, it has never been studied in great depth, and consequently, the existing list of butterfly species is outdated and in need of radical amendment. In addition to our personal data, we have studied the available literature, and can report a total of 196 butterfly species recorded from the country. For some of the species in the list we have given explanations for their inclusion and made other annotations. Doubtful records have been removed from the list, and changes in taxonomy have been updated and discussed separately. The purpose of our paper is to remove confusion and conflict regarding published records. However, the revised checklist should not be considered complete: it represents a starting point for further research.     

Linnaeus's butterflies (Lepidoptera: Papilionoidea and Hesperioidea)

The names of all the species of butterflies described by Linnaeus under "Papilio" are researched. Of the 305 names treated, 243 (c. 80%) are currently valid as specific (241) or subspecific (2), 29 are junior synonyms, 14 are invalid (one of these applying to a fake), and for 13 the identity is unknown or uncertain. Six species of moths misidentified by Linnaeus as butterflies are cited in the study, but details are not included. One hundred and fifty-two lectotypes have been designated, representing about 56% of the sum of the valid names and junior synonyms. Of these, 99 were selected from specimens in the Linnean Society of London, 52 from Queen Ludovica Ulrica's collection, Uppsala, and one lectotype is a Petiver specimen from the collection of Sir Hans Sloane. Linnaeus described at least five species, possibly eight, from the literature alone. All Linnaean material examined is documented, as are 'subsequent' specimens that are associated with Linnaean material. Synonymy and homonymy are discussed and presented, as are the identities of type localities. Care has been taken to achieve a practical balance between Linnaean and current species identities. Linnaean material studied included specimens from The Linnean Society of London, Museum Ludovicae Ulricae (Uppsala University), the Clerck and De Geer collections in the Naturhistoriska Riksmuseet, Stockholm, and the collection of James Petiver, now part of the collection of Sir Hans Sloane housed in The Natural History Museum, London.     

A revision of the brassoline genus Opsiphanes (Lepidoptera: Rhopalocera)

The brassoline genus Opsiphanes is revised: 18 new subspecies are described, 12 new synonymies established, the status of nine species and subspecies is revised and 30 lectotypes are designated. Seventy-two (of 92) primary types are figured, many for the first time. Along the Andes, there is a fairly close agreement between the distribution of some of the subspecies of Opsiphanes with the recently recognized endemic centres. East of the Andes, there is no close agreement between subspecies and endemic centres; each subspecies has, in general, a distribution across several centres. A similar distribution has been noted previously in the brassoline genera Catoblepia and Selenophanes. Some subspecies, however, indicate previously unrecognized centres or subcentres in Colombia and Ecuador.