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This paper provides two new distribution records from Guyana for Memphis montesino Pyrcz, 1995, extending the distribution of the species over 200 km westwards to lowland moist forests; and the first record for Memphis boliviana (Druce, 1977) from Argentina, extending its distribution over 500 km southwards.

This paper provides description for a new species from the Amazon basin, Z. falcis, sp. nov., taxonomic accounts on some spe-cies of the genus Zaretis Hubner, [1819] with notes on the taxonomy of Z. itys (Cramer, 1777) and Z. itylus (Westwood, 1850), stat. rev. and the designation of the lectotype for Zaretes [sic] pseuditys Fruhstorfer, 1909. Additionally, a mixed gynandromorph is illustrated.

The taxonomy of Memphis leonida (Stoll) is revised and an assessment of the names currently considered synonyms or subspe-cies are presented. Lectotypes of Papilio leonida Stoll and Paphia porphyrio Bates are designated, and one new status is pro-posed for Memphis editha (Comstock), stat. nov., a species currently regarded as a subspecies of M. leonida. Genitalic andwing shape and pattern characters suggest that M. leonida, occurring in the Amazon basin and the Guyanas, and M. editha, occurring in the Atlantic rain forest, are distinct species. Redescriptions, taxonomic notes, illustrations of male and female genitalia, and up-to-date distribution maps for the taxa are given.

The biology and the external morphology of Memphis appias (Hübner) immature stages collected on Croton floribundus (Euphorbiaceae) in various localities in the state of Paraná, Brazil, are described. Morphological descriptions and illustrations are given, based upon observations through stereoscopic and optic microscopes attached to camera lucida. Results are compared and discussed with immature stages of other species of Fountainea and Memphis known to date.

This paper provides the exact location of the first records from Brazil of Aricoris terias (Godman, 1903) and an updated geographic distributional map of the species, extending the known range of the species over 1300 km. This is also the first record of this species on a wet forest environment.

The external morphology of the immature stages of Hamadryas epinome (C. Felder & R. Felder, 1867) (Lepidoptera : Nymphalidae : Biblidinae) is described, including drawings, photos and scanning electron micrographs.

The biology and the external morphology of immature stages of Diaethria candrena candrena (Godart) (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae: Biblidinae) are described. Immature D. c. candrena found on Allophylus spp. (Sapindaceae) were collected in Curitiba, Parana, Brazil and reared in the laboratory. Morphological descriptions and illustrations are given, based on observations using electronic, stereoscopic, and optic microscopes, the latter two attached to camera lucida. Results are compared and discussed with immature stages of other species of Biblidinae described to date.

Accurate identification of species is fundamental to every biological research. While morphological identification is a time-consuming and skilled technique, straightforward molecular techniques require the availability of a database of previously sequenced and identified specimens. For most countries of South America, species of noctuids with available sequences are scarce, mostly restricted to species of economic importance, making molecular identification untenable. Here we sequenced the mitochondrial DNA ?barcode? region of the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I gene of 34 specimens pertaining to 26 species of South American noctuids, 20 of these for the first time. For all species, genetic distances were higher for interspecific than for intraspecific relations, supporting the utility of DNA ?barcodes? to identify species. Larger intraspecific divergences occurred in species of Agrotis and Anicla, and interspecific divergences lower than 2% occurred in about one fifth of the species, all in species of Agrotis, Feltia, and Anicla. These results will allow identifying these species using DNA ?barcodes?, either for pest management or general biological studies. Furthermore, we carried out phylogenetic analyses with those sequences and 158 other sequences of 85 species of noctuids mined from GenBank. These analyses, in every case, grouped species of the same genus suggesting that the DNA ?barcodes? region alone can be useful for lower level phylogeny in this group, recovering as monophyletic groups such as Copitarsia, Agrotis and Austrandesiita. Conversely, groups such as Mythimna (Mythimna) and the subgenera of Feltia were not recovered as monophyletic, suggesting the need for further taxonomic studies in these groups. Made available in DSpace on 2022-05-24T05:02:12Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Alexandre-Molecular-characterization-and-phylogenetic.pdf: 1808675 bytes, checksum: 178daa5d6765ad2ddd9c35e332bebf6b (MD5) Previous issue date: 2021

Theages Walker, 1855 é um gênero estritamente Neotropical constituído por 12 espécies bastante similares entre si quanto aos caracteres cromáticos, revelando-se uma considerável confusão taxonômica e nomenclatural. No presente trabalho, sob uma pespectiva de morfologia comparada, buscou-se reconhecer e elucidar o número de táxons nominais pertencentes ao gênero, bem como propor uma hipótese de relacionamento evolutivo entre eles. A análise cladística contou com 17 terminais (11 do grupo interno e seis do grupo externo) e 41 caracteres morfológicos. A busca exaustiva de pesos iguais resultou em uma única árvore mais parcimoniosa (l=142) e a de busca por pesagem implícita também gerou uma única árvore mais parcimoniosa (l=143). O gênero teve sua monofilia sustentada por oito sinapomorfias, sendo cinco únicas e três homoplásticas. Foram propostos ainda dois complexos de espécies para o gênero: (T. xanthura (T. leucophaea, T albidius)) e (T. pinasi (T. griseatum, T. hoffmanni)) (T. occultus (T. flavicaput, Theages sp. nov.))). Adicionalmente, com base na topologia obtida são fornecidos subsídios para o entendimento da evolução dos caracteres sexuais secundários encontrados no gênero. A revisão taxonômica, por sua vez, permitiu o reconhecimento de 11 espécies válidas, com a inclusão de uma espécie nova para a Colômbia e Equador. Uma sinonímia também foi proposta para o gênero: T. bricenoi torna-se sinônimo júnior subjetivo de T. flavicaput. Todas as espécies são redescritas, ilustradas e tiveram suas distribuições geográficas mapeadas e discutidas. Uma chave de identificação também é fornecida. Thaeges Walker, 1855 is a strictly Neotropical genus composed of 12 species very similar amongst themselves regarding chromatic characters, thus revealing a considerable taxonomic and nomenclatural confusion. In the present study, under the perspective of comparative morphology, the recognition and elucidation of the number of nominal taxa belonging to this genus was aimed, as well as proposing an evolutionary relationship hypothesis between them. The cladistic analysis comprised 17 terminals (11 from the ingroup and six from the outgroup), and 41 morphological characters. The exhaustive search for equal weights resulted in a single most parsimonious tree (I=142) and the implicit weight search also yielded a single most parsimonious tree (I=143). The genus\' monophyly was well supported by eight synapomorphies, five being unique and three homoplastic. In addition, two species complexes were proposed for the genus: (T. xanthura (T. leucophaea, T albidius)) and (T. pinasi (T. griseatum, T. hoffmanni)) (T. occultus (T. flavicaput, Theages sp. nov.))). Furthermore, based on the topology obtained, subsidies for the understanding of the evolution of the male secondary sexual characters found in the genus were provided. On the other hand, the taxonomic revision enabled the recognition of 11 valid species with the inclusion of a new species for both Colombia and Ecuador. Additionally, a synonym was also proposed to the genus: T. bricenoi becomes a junior subjective synonym of T. flavicaput. All species were redescribed, illustrated, and their geographical distributions mapped and discussed. An identification key was also provided.