Immature stages of the butterfly Magneuptychia libye (L.) (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae, Satyrinae)

The immature stages of the butterfly Magneuptychia libye (L.) are described, and their morphology is compared with other Neotropical Satyrinae.     

Immature stages of the Brazilian crescent butterfly Ortilia liriope (Cramer) (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae)

We provide the first information on the morphology of the immature stages (egg, larva, and pupa), oviposition and larval behavior, and host plant, for the Brazilian crescent butterfly Ortilia liriope (Cramer), based on material from Santarém Municipality, Pará State, Northern Brazil. Females of O. liriope lay eggs in clusters. After hatching, larvae eat the exochorion and remain gregarious in all but the final instar. The host plant recorded in the study site is Justicia sp. (Acanthaceae). Despite the scarcity of data on the immature stages of Neotropical Melitaeini, we can already say that some morphological and behavioral traits observed in the immature stages of O. liriope are also present in all known genera in this tribe.     

Immature stages of Hipparchia Fabricius and the systematics of the 'Satyrus series>> (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae: Satyrinae)

Abstract. Characters of potential use from the eggs and larvae of four species of Hipparchia (subgenera Hipparchia, Parahipparchia, Neohipparchia and Pseudotergumia ) are described. These characters, together with previously published information on larval, pupal and adult morphology, are used to construct a seventy-one character matrix for Hipparchia and four other genera of the 'Satyrus series' (Miller, 1968): Arethusana, Kanetisa, Chazara and Satyrus . The cladistic relationships among these genera and the relative contribution of adult and immature data sets are discussed. A list of possible synapomorphies of the immature stages of the 'Satyrus series' is proposed.     

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.     

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.     

Biology and morphology of the immature stages of Hermeuptychia atalanta (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae: Satyrinae)

This paper describes the morphology of the immature stages (egg, larva and pupa) and larval behavior of the butterfly Hermeuptychia atalanta, a common and widespread species of satyrinae in South America. Eggs are white and spherical, laid singly on leaves of grasses. The first instar has a light-green body and dark-brown head; all remaining instars present body and head capsule light green. Larvae have no spines, and general morphology is similar to other species of the subtribe Euptychiina.     

The Disphragis notabilis (Schaus) species-group in Costa Rica (Lepidoptera,Notodontidae)

The four described taxa in the Disphragis notabilis (Schaus) species-group are reviewed, including the types and their dissected genitalia. Disphragis hemicera (Schaus), stat. rev., is elevated to species rank, D. normula (Dognin) is retained as a synonym of D. notabilis, D. sobolis Miller is confirmed as distinct from D. hemicera, and D. bifurcata sp. n., is newly described. Both D. hemicera and D. bifurcata occur in Costa Rica. The known ranges of the other species are outlined. Defining characters of each species are presented and a key to species is provided. Unusual variation in the genitalia is noted.     

Immature stages and the systematic position of Orthotelia sparganella (Thunberg) (Lepidoptera: Yponomeutoidea)

The larva and pupa of Orthotelia sparganella (Thunberg, 1794), the type species of the genus Orthotelia Stephens, 1829, are redescribed and some notes are given on the adult morphology. The nomenclature, distribution and biology of the species are reviewed. The systematic position of Orthotelia is discussed and the genus is transferred from the Yponomeutidae sensu lato to the Glyphipterigidae, as a separate, monogeneric subfamily, the Orthoteliinae Herrich-Schäffer, 1857.     

B chromosome variation in Euphydryas colon (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae)

Cytogenetic analysis of an Idaho population of the checkerspot butterfly, Euphydryas colon, has revealed considerable inter- and intra-individual variation in chromosome number which turns out to be a classic case of B chromosome variation. The basic chromosome complement of the species is n (, )=31. The A chromosomes were aligned equatorially at mitotic metaphase and metaphase II, and axially at metaphase I, indicating a restriction of centric activity at the first meiotic division. No failure of pairing between homologous A chromosomes was observed and, although a marked asynchrony of chromatid separation was found to be characteristic of mitotic telophase and telophase II, the frequency of macrospermatid formation was low. The B chromosomes were at least partly heterochromatic but exhibited some variation in both pycnosity and size. Mitotically stable B-containing individuals showed a preponderance of unpaired Bs at first metaphase and these divided at either first or second anaphase. The presence of Bs was associated with a heightened production of abnormal spermatids particularly in individuals with high numbers of B chromosomes. Among the 25 individuals sampled, 21 carried from 1–6 B chromosomes, and of these 14 were mitotically stable. In all 7 unstable individuals the mean number of B chromosomes per cell exceeded the modal number. Assuming that the modal number represents the zygotic number, these results suggest that a mechanism to boost the number of B chromosomes exists in males of E. colon.     

The species of the genus Zethera Felder (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae,Satyrinae)

The butterfly genus Zethera Felder, endemic to the Philippines and northern Sulawesi, is shown to include six species, four of which comprise the Z. pimplea (Erichson) superspecies. Type data is given for all nominal taxa, and a key to the species recognised is presented, together with data on their variation and distribution. Attention is drawn to the zoogeographic subregions of the Philippine islands, as originally described by Semper, and illustrated by the Zethera species. Their mimicry is also noted, with particular reference to its sex-limitation in the Z. pimplea superspecies, and non-limitation in Z. incerta (Hewitson) and Z. hestioides C. & R. Felder. The need to demonstrate whether or not Zethera represents a true monophyletic unit is briefly discussed.     

Simulation of movement and egglaying inDanaus plexippus (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae)

A model simulating the movement and oviposition of monarch butterflies over a female's life time is presented. The model's predictions compare favourably with observed data and suggest that females who lay eggs in an optimal fashion should have low directionalities in areas with high host plant density (patches and single plants) and high directionalities in areas with low host plant density. The model also provides one means of combining individual animal processes and spatial heterogeneity into population dynamics.     

残锷线蛱蝶线粒体基因组全序列及其系统学意义(英文)

对残锷线蛱蝶(Parathymasulpitia)(鳞翅目:蛱蝶科)线粒体基因组全序列进行了测定。结果表明:残锷线蛱蝶线粒体基因组全序列全长为15268bp,除了在trnS1(AGN)和trnE基因之间有一段121bp长的基因间隔外,其基因的排列顺序及排列方向与大多数已测鳞翅目物种基本一致。在蛋白质编码基因中,除cox1以CGA作为其起始密码子之外,其余12个蛋白质编码基因都以标准的ATN作为起始密码子。此外,除nad4基因以单独的T为终止密码子,其余12个蛋白质编码基因都以TAA结尾。除trnS1(AGN)缺少DHU臂之外,22个tRNA基因都显示典型的三叶草形二级结构。除A+T富集区外的非编码序列中,线粒体基因组共含有11个基因间隔区。其中,最长的一个121bp的基因间隔区位于trnS1(AGN)和trnE之间,其A+T含量高达100%。另外,和其他鳞翅目物种一样,在其A+T富集区的3’端有一段长达18bp的poly-T结构。A+T富集区内部没有明显的小卫星样多拷贝重复序列,而含有一些微卫星样的重复结构。本研究基于13种蛋白编码基因序列的组合数据,用最大似然法和贝叶斯法对蛱蝶科几个主要亚科间共9个代表物种间的系统发生关系进行了分析。结果表明,本研究的结果与前人的分子系统学研究结论基本吻合(其中,线蛱蝶亚科和釉蛱蝶亚科互为姐妹群),而与形态学的研究结论不一致。     

Biogeographic history of the butterfly subtribe Euptychiina (Lepidoptera,Nymphalidae, Satyrinae)

Peña, C., Nylin, S., Freitas, A. V. L. & Wahlberg, N. (2010). Biogeographic history of the butterfly subtribe Euptychiina (Lepidoptera, Nymphalidae, Satyrinae).—Zoologica Scripta, 39, 243–258. The diverse butterfly subtribe Euptychiina was thought to be restricted to the Americas. However, there is mounting evidence for the Oriental Palaeonympha opalina being part of Euptychiina and thus a disjunct distribution between it (in eastern Asia) and its sister taxon (in eastern North America). Such a disjunct distribution in both eastern Asia and eastern North America has never been reported for any butterfly taxon. We used 4447 bp of DNA sequences from one mitochondrial gene and four nuclear genes for 102 Euptychiina taxa to obtain a phylogenetic hypothesis of the subtribe, estimate dates of origin and diversification for major clades and perform a biogeographic analysis. Euptychiina originated 31 Ma in South America. Early Euptychiina dispersed from North to South America via the temporary connection known as GAARlandia during Eocene–Oligocene times. The current disjunct distribution of the Oriental Palaeonympha opalina is the result of a northbound dispersal of a lineage from South America into eastern Asia via North America. The common ancestor of Palaeonympha and its sister taxon Megisto inhabited the continuous forest belt across North Asia and North America, which was connected by Beringia. The closure of this connection caused the split between Palaeonympha and Megisto around 13 Ma and the severe extinctions in western North America because of the climatic changes of the Late Miocene (from 13.5 Ma onwards) resulted in the classic ‘eastern Asia and eastern North America’ disjunct distribution.     

Bionomy of Anicla mahalpa Schaus, 1898 (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae: Noctuinae), in the laboratory

The genus Anicla Grote, 1874 is composed of eleven species; their larvae are harmful, mainly to native and cultivated grasses, but up to now, there is information available of only two species. This study aims at detailing the bionomy of A. mahalpa Schaus; the data were obtained from a laboratory rearing under the following settings: 20 +/- 2 masculineC, 70 +/- 10% relative humidity and 12 hours of photoperiod. Larvae were fed on ryegrass, Lolium multiflorum Lam. (Poaceae). The results expressed by the mean and respective standard error for the periods of each phase, in days, were the following: egg 6.00 +/- 0.00, larva 36.47 +/- 0.44, pre-pupa 5.23 +/- 0.21, pupa 23.60 +/- 0.37, and adult: longevity 15.24 +/- 0.75 with pre-egg-laying-periods of 5.29 +/- 0.32; egg-laying period, 9.64 +/- 0.81, and post-egg-laying period, 0.71 +/- 0.27 days. The mean number of egg-laying cycles per female was 7.36 +/- 0.20 and 2,014.21 +/- 78.93 eggs per female. Eggs, which are subspheric, have a diameter of 0.76 +/- 0.01 mm; larvae passed through six instars; their head capsules width, provided a mean ratio of growth of 1.482. Pupae presented a mean width and length of 6.07 +/- 0.06 and 17.24 +/- 0.19 mm, respectively and weight of 0.33 +/- 0.01 g.     

Complete mitochondrial genome of the nerippe fritillary butterfly, Argynnis nerippe (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae)

The complete mitochondrial genome sequence of the nerippe fritillary butterfly, Argynnis nerippe, which is listed as an endangered species in Korea, is described with an emphasis on the A+T-rich region. The 15,140-bp long circular molecule consisted of 13 protein-coding genes, two rRNA genes, 22 tRNA genes and 1 control region, known in insect as the A+T-rich region, as found in typical metazoans. The 329-bp long A+T-rich region located between srRNA and tRNA(Met) possessed the highest A/T content (95.7%) than any other region of the genome. Along with the several conserved sequences found typically in the lepidopteran insects the genome contained one tRNA(Met)-like and tRNA(Leu)(UUR)-like sequence in the A+T-rich region.     

Early Stages and Biology of Melitaea robertsi Butler, 1880 (Lepidoptera,Nymphalidae)

The external morphology of the egg (including the chorion), the last instar larva, and the pupa of Melitaea robertsi Butler, 1880 from East Iran is described; data on the host plant of the species are given.

     

Host plant-based territoriality in the white peacock butterfly,Anartia jatrophae (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae)

Mate locating behavior of Anartia jatrophaewas studied near Ochopee, Collier County, Florida. Males were individually marked, and focal animal samples were used to determine activity, residency, and interactions with other butterflies. We recaptured more than half of 53 marked males within the study area on subsequent days. Marked males restricted non-feeding activity to roughly circular areas typically less than 15 m in diameter. Males showed considerable site fidelity and chased both conspecifics and a variety of other insects. Typically, encountered individuals flew away, and the resident peacock male returned to perch near his previous perch. Encounters with conspecific males averaged 38 sec, three times longer than with other insects. Such site fidelity combined with aggressive interactions indicates territorial behavior. When male density more than doubled, site fidelity decreased, resident turnover increased, and areas that had not been defended at lower density were defended. Without exception, defended sites contained the larval host, Bacopa monnieri.In butterfly mating systems, defense of host plants appears to be much less common than defense of natural features such as landmarks.