Genetics, environment, and subspecies differences: the case of Polites sabuleti (Lepidoptera: Hesperiidae)

Circumstantial evidence is presented that suggests the Mourning Cloak undergoes regular seasonal up- and downslope movements in northern California. The species breeds at low elevations in spring and then disappears until autumn; its disappearance coincides with the appearance of fresh individuals in the Sierra Nevada alongside obvious hibernators.      

A review of red-eye pigmentation and diel activity patterns in skippers (Lepidoptera,Papilionoidea, Hesperiidae)

ABSTRACT

The visual systems and diel activity patterns of butterflies and moths have been studied for decades, yet understanding the underlying mechanisms that are associated with the evolution of these remains a major challenge. The order Lepidoptera is principally composed of nocturnal lineages with extreme morphological and behavioural adaptations to this lifestyle. Although most butterflies are diurnal, some clades are predominantly nocturnal, for instance, the Hedylidae. Skippers are another family that comprises multiple crepuscular and/or nocturnal lineages. Interestingly, many such lineages have red-eye pigmentation, and this morphological feature has been hypothesised to be an adaptation to the night-time lifestyle. Here, we review the occurrence and frequency of red-eye pigmentation as well as diel activity patterns in Hesperiidae. We place these data within a phylogenomic framework and provide hypotheses and predictions relative to the evolution of red-eye pigmentation in skippers with respect to diel activity. We suggest that several types of red-eye pigmentation exist in skippers, with possible structural red-eye pigmentation in some lineages of diurnal skippers. The colouration of eyes in Hesperiidae, the evolutionary mechanisms that drive these traits and the physiological underlying processes require further attention and could bring new insights into our understanding of butterfly vision systems.     

A survey of the genus Geometra Linnaeus (Lepidoptera,Geometridae, Geometrinae)

The type genus of the family Geometridae, Geometra Linnaeus, is reviewed. In addition to the 16 species known worldwide, two new species are described: Geometra neovalida sp. nov. from China, and Geometra burmensis sp. nov. from Burma (Myanmar). All the known species are redescribed. Genitalia of all species are described and illustrated, most for the first time. Generic characters based on all species are summarized. The monophyly of the genus and its relationship with allied genera are reviewed and discussed in detail. Most species fall into two species groups, named the papilionaria and smaragdus groups, on the basis of the morphology of the male genitalia. Biological information is provided where available. Illustrations of moths and genitalia are presented.     

A revision of the genus Metallolophia Warren (Lepidoptera,Geometridae, Geometrinae)

The Geometrine genus Metallolophia is revised. In addition to the 11 species known, five new species are described as new. All the known species are redescribed and lectotypes are designated for M. opalina (Warren), M. arenaria (Leech) and M. danielaria (Oberthür) (=M. arenaria (Leech)). The male of M. ocellata (Warren) and the females of M. medullosa Inoue and M. devecisi Herbulot are described for the first time. The generic characters based on all species are summarized and a key to all taxa is given. Illustrations of moths and genitalia are presented. The new and revised taxa are: Metallolophia purpurivenata sp. nov., Metallolophia cuneataria sp. nov., Metallolophia inanularia sp. nov., Metallolophia flavomaculata sp. nov., Metallolophia stueningi sp. nov. and Metallolophia ostrumaria Xue, syn. nov. (of Metallolophia albescens Inoue).     

Revision of the Neotropical genus Yagra Oiticica (Lepidoptera: Castniidae)

The Castniidae, or butterfly moths, are characteristically colourful diurnal moths, distributed throughout the tropics except in Africa. The Neotropical representatives forage almost exclusively on monocotyledonous plants and many species are crop pests with more than 60% of the Neotropical castniids found or endemic in Brazil. Research studies that focus on taxonomy, systematics, and morphology of this group are scarce. In this study, Yagra Oiticica, a small genus restricted to south-eastern South America, is revised and the diagnostic morphological characters of male and female genitalia are illustrated. This research is part of long-term study on the Castniidae for future phylogenetic analysis.     

Persistent pollen as a tracer for hibernating butterflies: the case of Hesperia juba (Lepidoptera: Hesperiidae)

Pollen grains of plants with well-defined flowering seasons may persist on insects through episodes of dormancy, such as hibernation. When readily recognizable and possibly confounding taxa can be excluded, these pollen grains can serve as direct evidence of life-history phenomena that are notoriously difficult to verify in the field. Pollen of the autumn-flowering composite Chrysothamnus nauseosus was used to demonstrate that the common montane skipper, Hesperia juba , hibernates as an adult in Sierra Nevada. This is the first demonstration of adult overwintering in a temperate-zone hesperiid and may represent the smallest butterfly known to overwinter in a cold climate.     

A revision of the new riodinid butterfly genus Pseudotinea (Lepidoptera: Riodinidae)

A revision of the new South American riodinid genus Pseudotinea is presented that includes taxonomic and ecological notes, distributional data and illustrations of adults and genital structures for all species. The systematic position of Pseudotinea within the Riodinidae, its ecology and biogeography are discussed. Five species are recognized: volcanicus Callaghan and Salazar, hemis Schaus and caprina Hewitson are transferred from Calydna (comb. n.) and two new species, P. eiselei and P. gagarini, are described here. The genus is confined to the Andes and south-east Brazil where all species are very rare and many endangered.     

A revision of the genus Stenognatha Felder (Lepidoptera: Arctiidae: Pericopinae)

The acarine faunas of supralittoral tidal debris and lichens were examined on a number of shores; differences in the faunas were attributed to different environmental factors within the two habitats. The Acari may be divided into three ecologically defined groups: (a) maritime species which are confined to the seashore, especially the supralittoral, but may venture into the upper littoral zone; (b) non-maritime species which frequent the seashore, but usually occur inland in soils, leaf litter, and/or vegetation; and (c) nomadic species which migrate freely and regularly between the littoral and supralittoral zones. On the Isles of Scilly some maritime species are absent, and are replaced by non-maritime forms. Freeliving Acari are generally preadapted to the supralittoral zone, and no specializations have been noted among the fauna.     

Aestivating sexual morphs in the aphid genus Thelaxes (Insecta: Homoptera)

The sexual morphs of the aphid Thelaxes dryophila are redescribed and compared with the sexuales of other Thelaxes species. The unusual life-cycle of the species, in which the immature sexuales pass the entire summer aestivating, is also described.     

Review of the genus Helcystogramma Zeller (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae: Dichomeridinae) from China

The genus Helcystogramma Zeller from China is reviewed. Of the 20 species treated in this paper, nine are described as new: H. imagibicuneum sp. nov., H. flavifuscum sp. nov., H. brevinodium sp. nov., H. albilepidotum sp. nov., H. angustum sp. nov., H. flavistictum sp. nov., H. furvimaculare sp. nov., H. imagitrijunctum sp. nov. and H. rectangulum sp. nov.; six are newly recorded for this country: H. flavilineolella Ponomarenko, H. bicuneum (Meyrick), H. epicentra (Meyrick), H. perelegans (Omelko et Omelko), H. fuscomarginatum Ueda and H. lutatella (Herrich-Schäffer); the previously unknown females of H. epicentra (Meyrick) and H. hassenzanensis Park et Hodges are described for the first time; H. bicuneum (Meyrick) and H. epicentra (Meyrick) are redescribed; and the misidentification of H. trijunctum (Meyrick) is clarified. These species are arranged into five species groups based on the forewing patterns and the genital characters: the flavilineolella group, the hibisci group, the perelegans group, the triannulella group and the trijunctum group. Images of the adults and the illustrations of the male and female genitalia are provided. A key to distinguish the Chinese species and three maps to show the localities of these species are included.     

Revision of the genus Adelpherupa Hampson (Lepidoptera: Pyraloidea,Crambidae, Schoenobiinae) with the description of five new species

The genus Adelpherupa is revised and now includes nine species. The following were previously described: A. flavescens Hampson, A. albescens Hampson, A. typicota (Meyrick) and A. terreus (Zeller), and there are five new species: A. costipuntalis, A. elongalis, A. aethiopicalis, A. lialuiensis and A. pontica. A. pontica was bred from rice in Malawi. Externally most species are very similar. Male and female genitalia are illustrated and additional characters for species identification are found in the tympanal organs, more specifically the sclerotizations of the zona glabra tympani.     

Three new zoophilous moths of the genus Scopula (Lepidoptera: Geometridae) from South-east Asia

Scopula lacriphaga sp. nov. from N. Thailand and S. W. China, S. haematophaga sp. nov. from N. Thailand, S. W. China, N. W. Malaysia and N.W. Indonesia, and S. malayana sp. nov. from W. Malaysia, are described with illustrations of the habiti and genitalia. Male adults are lachryphagous and/or zoophilous and imbibe various mammal body fluids from ungulates, proboscidates and man.     

A taxonomic review of the genus Nippoptilia (Lepidoptera: Pterophoridae) from Korea,with description of a new species

In the present study, we review the genus Nippoptilia of Korea. In total, four species are recognized, including a new species, Nippoptilia distigmata sp. nov., and two new records, Nippoptilia cinctipedalis (Walker) and N. issikii Yano, for Korea. All the available information, such as distributional ranges and biology of each taxon, is provided. The keys to the genus Nippoptilia in Korea are provided, along with illustrations of external and genitalic characteristics.     

Review of the genus Calamotropha Zeller (Lepidoptera: Crambidae: Crambinae) from China,with descriptions of four new species

Four new species of the genus Calamotropha Zeller are described from China: Calamotropha duofurcata sp. nov., Calamotropha abrupta sp. nov., Calamotropha aequilata sp. nov. and Calamotropha unispinea sp. nov. Three species are redescribed: Calamotropha formosella Bleszynski, 1961 Bleszynski, S. 1961. Revision of the World species of the Family Crambidae (Lepidoptera). Part I. Genus Calamotropha Zell. Acta Zool Cracov., 6(7): 137–272. pls. 20–71 [Google Scholar], Calamotropha josettae Bleszynski, 1961 Bleszynski, S. 1961. Revision of the World species of the Family Crambidae (Lepidoptera). Part I. Genus Calamotropha Zell. Acta Zool Cracov., 6(7): 137–272. pls. 20–71 [Google Scholar] and Calamotropha melli (Caradja and Meyrick, 1933 Caradja, A and Meyrick, E. 1933. Materialien zu einer Microlepidopteren-Fauna Kwangtungs. Dtsch entomol Z Iris., 47(3):123–144) [Google Scholar]). Calamotropha latella (Snellen, 1890 Snellen, PCT. 1890. A catalogue of the Pyralidina of Sikkim collected by Henry J. Elwes and the late Otto Möller, with notes by H. J. Elwes. Trans Entomol Soc Lond 1890:557–647, pls 19–20 [Google Scholar]) is newly recorded for China. Images of adults and illustrations of genitalia of the new species and the redescribed species are provided. A checklist and a key to the known Chinese species are presented, along with a map showing the distribution of these species.     

A note on the genus Pseudathyma Staudinger with description of a new species (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae)

Summary

A note is given on the status of Pseudathyma callina Grose-Smith and Pseudathyma sybillina Staudinger. A new species is described, and one name synonymized.     

Taxonomic review of a new genus,Diathera gen. n., from Southeast Asia (Lepidoptera,Geometridae: Larentiinae)

Diathera gen. n., a new larentiine genus from central and southwestern China, is described. Three new species are named and described: fluctuata sp. n., metacolorata sp. n. and brunneata sp. n. All species and their genitalia are described and illustrated. A key is provided and the monophyly of the genus and its relationships to the allied taxa are briefly discussed.