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We present an annotated checklist of the species of Bombycidae, Saturniidae and Sphingidae collected in the Utría National Natural Park, Chocó, Colombia. We used mercury light trap for 31 days in four different habitats. We found 35 species: 19 Saturniidae, 15 Sphingidae and 1 Bombycidae. Eighteen species are recorded for the first time in the department of Chocó. These include the Chocó endemic Syssphinx chocoensis, the first specimen of Manduca dalica dalica, in a Colombian collection, and the fifth instar of Isognathus scyron. Our results agree with the lunar phobia hypothesis. This work is the first approach to the diversity of these families in the Utría National Park.

We present an annotated checklist of the species of Bombycidae, Saturniidae and Sphingidae collected in the Utría National Natural Park, Chocó, Colombia. We used mercury light trap for 31 days in four different habitats. We found 35 species: 19 Saturniidae, 15 Sphingidae and 1 Bombycidae. Eighteen species are recorded for the first time in the department of Chocó. These include the Chocó endemic Syssphinx chocoensis, the first specimen of Manduca dalica dalica, in a Colombian collection, and the fifth instar of Isognathus scyron. Our results agree with the lunar phobia hypothesis. This work is the first approach to the diversity of these families in the Utría National Park. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the northeastern United States, pitch pine ( Pinus rigida Mill.)–scrub oak (Quercus ilicifolia Wang.) communities are increasingly threatened by development and fire suppression, and prioritization of these habitats for conservation is of critical importance. As a basis for local conservation planning in a pitch pine–scrub oak community in southeastern Massachusetts, we developed logistic-regression models based on multiscale landscape and patch variables to predict hotspots of rare and declining bird and moth species. We compared predicted moth distributions with observed species-occurrence records to validate the models. We then quantified the amount of overlap between hotspots to assess the utility of rare birds and moths as indicator taxa. Species representation in hotspots and the current level of hotspot protection were also assessed. Predictive models included variables at all measured scales and resulted in average correct classification rates (optimal cut point) of 85.6% and 89.2% for bird and moth models, respectively. The majority of moth occurrence records were within 100 m of predicted habitat. Only 13% of all bird hotspots and 10% of all moth hotspots overlapped, and only a few small patches in and around Myles Standish State Forest were predicted to be hotspots for both taxa. There was no correlation between the bird and moth species-richness maps across all levels of richness (r =−0.03, p = 0.62). Species representation in hotspots was high, but most hotspots had limited or no protection. Given the lack of correspondence between bird and moth hotspots, our results suggest that use of species-richness indicators for conservation planning may be ineffective at local scales. Based on these results, we suggest that local-level conservation planning in pitch pine–scrub oak communities be based on multitaxa, multiscale approaches. En el noreste de Estados Unidos, las comunidades de pino (Pinus rigida Mill.)–encino (Quercus ilicifolia Wang.) están cada vez más amenazadas por el desarrollo y la supresión de fuego y la priorización de esos hábitats es de importancia crítica. Como una base para la planeación de conservación local de una comunidad de pino–encino en el sureste de Massachussets, desarrollamos modelos de regresión logística con base en variables a nivel de paisaje multiescala y de fragmento para predecir las áreas críticas para especies de aves y polillas raras y en declinación. Para validar los modelos comparamos las distribuciones esperadas de polillas con registros observados de la ocurrencia de especies. Posteriormente cuantificamos el traslape entre áreas críticas para evaluar la utilidad de aves y polillas raras como taxa indicadores. Los modelos predictivos incluyeron variables en todas las escalas consideradas y resultaron en tasas promedio de clasificación correcta (punto de corte óptimo) de 85.6% y 89.2% para modelos de aves y polillas, respectivamente. La mayoría de los registros de ocurrencia de polillas estuvo dentro de 100 m del hábitat predicho. Sólo hubo traslape en 13% del total de áreas críticas para aves y en 10% del total de áreas críticas para polillas, y se predijo que sólo unos cuantos fragmentos dentro y alrededor del Bosque Estatal Myles Standish serían áreas críticas para ambos taxones. En todos los niveles de riqueza (r =−0.03, p = 0.62), no hubo correlación entre los mapas de riqueza de especies de aves y polillas. La representación de especies en áreas críticas fue alta; sin embargo, la mayoría de las áreas críticas tenía protección limitada o carecía de ella. Dada la falta de correspondencia entre las áreas críticas para aves y polillas, nuestros resultados sugieren que el uso de indicadores de riqueza de especies para la planeación de conservación puede ser inefectivo en escalas locales. Con base en estos resultados, sugerimos que la planeación de conservación a escala local en comunidades de pino–encino se base en métodos que consideren taxones y escalas múltiples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]