Butterflies and ants: The communicative domain

Associations with ants, termed myrmecophily, are widespread in the butterfly family Lycaenidae and range from mere co-existence to more or less specific mutualistic or even parasitic interactions. Secretions of specialized epidermal glands are crucial for mediating the interactions. Transfer of nutrients (carbohydrates, amino acids) from butterfly larvae to ants plays a major role, but manipulative communication with the help of odour signals is also involved. By means of myrmecophily, lycaenid butterflies largely escape ant predation, and certain species gain protection through attendant ants or achieve developmental benefits from ant-attendance. Benefits to the ants range from minimal to substantial food rewards. While most lycaenid species maintain facultative relationships with a variety of ant genera, highly specific and obligatory associations have convergently evolved in a number of butterfly lineages. As a corollary, communication systems are largely unspecific in the former, but may be highly specialized in the latter. The sophisticated communication between obligate myrmecophiles and their host ants is tightly connected with the evolutionary rise of specialized life-cycles and thus is a source of augmenting diversity within the butterflies.     

Microstructures and nanostructures of high Andean Penaincisalia lycaenid butterfly scales (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae): descriptions and interpretations

The scales of one high Andean eumaeine lycaenid butterfly species with pale dorsal coloration and four species with vivid dorsal colour were investigated using field emission scanning electron microscopy. The micro‐ and nanostructures are illustrated, described, measured, and interpreted. The vivid colours in the species are caused by a pepper‐pot nanostructure of Urania‐type scales. This nanostructure is a three‐dimensional lattice within the body of the individual scale. The scales of the non‐vivid orange species are lacking this nanostructure and the surfaces of their scales show high microstructure irregularities. This absence of vivid colour may be correlated with thermal regulation. The irregularity of the scale microstructures suggests a heavy environmental pressure on the populations sampled. Previously unknown structural variations of Urania‐type scales are also described. The existence of closed scale microcell structures, explained as an apomorphic character in the tribe Eumaeini, most probably evolved independently several times. It is hypothesized that scale micro‐ and nanostructure modifications develop syntopically within a population, which in turn can lead to rapid diversification.     

Observations on the spectral reflectances of certain high Andean Penaincisalia and Thecloxurina,with the description of a new species (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae: Eumaeini)

The eumaeine hairstreak species Thecloxurina tegulina Bálint and Boyer, sp. n. from SW Peru, department Apurímac (type locality: Karkatera, NW of Ampay, 3,200 m, 13°34′286″S; 72°58′501″W) is described on the basis of qualitative and quantitative wing pattern, male genital and spectral characters. The spectral reflectance of the closely related genera Penaincisalia and Thecloxurina are investigated and compared. It is demonstrated that the spectral characteristics of the two genera are qualitatively differing, and the taxa investigated representing the two genera (Penaincisalia:Thecloxurina = 3:5) also have characteristic species dependent reflectance peaks measured at normal incidence.     

中国婀灰蝶属Albulina─新亚种记述(鳞翅目:灰蝶科)

中国婀灰蝶属Ａｌｂｕｌｉｎａ─新亚种记述（鳞翅目：灰蝶科）王治国（河南省科学院，郑州４５０００３）关键词灰蝶科，分类，婀灰蝶属，新亚种，中国本文记述河南省婀灰蝶属Ａｌｂｕｌｉｎａ１新亚种，模式标本保存在河南省科学院。婀灰蝶秦岭亚种Ａｌｂｕｌｉｎａｏｒ...     

安徽省蝶类新记录——安灰蝶(Ancema ctesia)

2015年8月采用样线调查法对安徽省查湾省级自然保护区的蝶类资源进行了调查,经鉴定,安灰蝶Ancema ctesia为安徽省新记录种.简要描述了该种的形态特征,并提供了雄虫成虫图片.该次发现希望能为进一步发现安徽省蝶类新记录种提供新的思路.     

A new genus and three new species of parasitoid wasp from Papua New Guinea and redescription of Trigonophatnus Cameron (Hymenoptera,Braconidae, Rogadinae)

ABSTRACT

Two new pill millipede species, namely Hyleoglomeris hoanglien sp. nov. and H. fanxipan sp. nov., are described from high elevations (approximately 2,800–2,900 m) of the Hoang Lien National Park, northern Vietnam. A new species, H. hoanglien sp. nov. is clearly distinguished by the telopods being short, stout and incrassate, femora strongly condensed, tibia without modifications, syncoxital lobe bifid trapeziform, and syncoxital horns with an apical seta and a spine. Hyleoglomeris fanxipan sp. nov., is diagnosed by the telopods being long and robust, tibia without modifications, syncoxital lobe roundly trapeziform, and syncoxital horns truncated at tip. COI-based DNA barcodes of the two species are also provided for the first time in the genus Hyleoglomeris. The K2P genetic distance between the two new species is 0.148. In addition, an identification key to the Vietnamese Hyleoglomeris species is also provided.

http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:6DEFED42-0D65-4F50-9D24-A0923B9D1709     

福建华灰蝶属（鳞翅目：灰蝶科）1新纪录种--斜线华灰蝶Wagimo asanoi Koiwaya的记述

本文记述华灰蝶属（鳞翅目：灰蝶科）福建分布1新纪录种,斜线华灰蝶（又名朝野华灰蝶）Wagimo asanoi Koiwaya,1999,该种标本由作者参加福建农林大学植物保护学院昆虫采集队,在福建省建宁县闽江源国家级自然保护区内采获。     

青海灰蝶研究

对分布在青海省内的灰蝶科Lycaenidae的种类进行了系统的汇总整理,共36种,隶属于3亚科,25属;并与全国及邻近省区进行了比较,作出了区系分析．     

中国蝴蝶新种记述(Ⅲ)(鳞翅目)

记载采自湖南省的中国蝴蝶2新种,模式标本保存在湖南省东安县第一中学。