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【Objective】 The purpose of the study was to investigate the butterfly community structure and species diversity in Wenshan city. 【Method】 According to the climate types, altitude gradient and administrative areas of Wenshan city, butterflies were systematically investigated by grid method from July 2019 to October 2020. A total of 31 transect lines were set up in 15 towns. Each transect was 1-2 kilometres in length, with an average of 1-3 lines per town. Insect nets were used to collect butterflies along the route. 【Result】 A total of 1338 collected butterfly specimens were classified into 5 families, 76 genera and 115 species. Nymphalidae was the dominant family, with the 48 species in 32 genera, accounting for 41.74% of the collected samples. The second was Lycaenidae, with 26 species in 21 genera, accounting for 22.61% of the collected samples. The Hesperiidae was only 8 species in 8 genera, accounting for 6.96% of the collected samples. The diversity index of butterflies in all families ranged from 1.8993 to 3.0162, of which Nymphalidae was the highest (3.0162), followed by Lycaenidae (2.7355) and Pieridae (1.8993) being the lowest. The dominant family was the Nymphalidae, and the dominant species were Eurema hecabe, Danaus genutia and Ariadne ariadne. There were temporal and spatial differences in butterfly diversity in Wenshan city. In terms of seasonal distribution, the diversity index (3.5463), richness index (14.3276) and evenness index (0.7701)in autumns were higher than those in summers, which the diversity index, richness index and evenness index in summers were 2.9437, 10.8301 and 0.7078, respectively. In altitude distribution, the diversity index (3.4528) and richness index (13.9578) were the highest at 1400-1600 meters, and the lowest were 1.4898 and 1.4771 at 1800-2000 meters. The evenness index was the highest at 2000-2200 meters (0.9499), and the lowest was at 1200-1400 meters (0.7417). The dominance index was the highest in the range of 1800-2000 m. In the administrative region, the diversity index of Bozhu town was the highest (3.1918) and Baxin town was the lowest (1.9338). The richness index was the highest in Kaihua town (8.8766) and the lowest in Pingba town (2.7678).【Conclusion】 There was a high diversity of butterflies in Wenshan city, and the diversity of butterflies varies in different seasons, altitudes and administrative regions, which might be related to the local natural environment, human disturbance and the biological characteristics of butterflies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of SHILAP Revista de Lepidopterologia is the property of Sociedad Hispano-Luso-Americana de Lepidopterologia and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Here, we present new molecular and morphological evidence that contributes towards clarifying the phylogenetic relations within the family Hesperiidae, and overcomes taxonomic problems regarding this family. First, nine new complete mitogenomes, comprising seven newly sequenced species and two samples of previously sequenced species collected from different localities, were obtained and assembled to analyze characteristics. The length of the mitogenomes ranges from 15,284 to 15,853 bp and encodes 13 protein-coding genes, two ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes, 22 transfer RNA (tRNA) genes, and a control region. Two model-based methods (maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference) were used to infer the phylogenetic relationships. Based on the mitogenomic phylogenetic analyses and morphological evidence, we claim that the lineage that comprises two Asian genera, Apostictopterus Leech and Barca de Nicéville, should be a tribe Barcini stat. nov. of the subfamily Trapezitinae, Pseudocoladenia dea (Leech, 1894), P. festa (Evans, 1949), and Abraximorpha esta Evans, 1949 are considered distinct species. Finally, we suggest that Lotongus saralus chinensis Evans, 1932 should belong to the genus Acerbas de Nicéville, 1895, namely Acerbas saralus chinensis (Evans, 1932) comb. nov.. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding how landscape composition affects pollinator abundance is crucial for conserving the sustainability of the symbiotic relationship between plants and pollinators. However, field evidence on the effect of landscape composition and spatial scales on the abundance of each pollinator group is biased toward bee pollinators, and non‐bee pollinators tend to be excluded. This study aims to evaluate the effect of landscape composition at various spatial scales on diverse taxonomic groups of pollinators, including non‐bee pollinators. We selected 22 grasslands with varying landscape compositions in Shiroi City, Chiba Prefecture, Japan. We recorded the abundance of pollinators and floral resource availability at these sites. The effects of landscape composition within a 100–1000 m radius and the floral resource availability were analyzed using Bayesian generalized linear mixed models to determine whether these factors affected the abundance of each pollinator group. As a result, the difference in important factors among the pollinator groups was detected; Scoliidae, Lycaenidae, Stomorhina obsoleta, and Sphaerophoria were influenced by the landscape composition, whereas Bombus diversus and Hesperiidae were not. Scoliidae was affected by the proportion of agri‐field and forest areas within a 500–1000 m radius. St. obsoleta and Sphaerophoria showed different response patterns to the proportion of urban land within a 100 m radius. B. diversus and Hesperiidae were influenced by floral resource availability. Our study suggests that considering the spatial scales of landscape composition on the target species is essential to plan effective conservation measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The herbicides not only produce a lethal effect on herbs but also indirectly harm those species which use herbs as host plants during their life cycle. The adverse effect of herbicide is comparatively more than any insecticide found in the agricultural industry. Herbicides act as enzyme inhibitors that block the synthesis of essential biomolecules in herbs. Action mechanisms in which herbicides act on the plant body as well as the classification of the herbicides according to their mode of action have been recorded. Lethal effects of herbicides cause qualitative and quantitative losses of herb‐weeds and associated beneficial herbs from crop fields that lead to the decline in diversity of butterfly population. Lack of food sources, alteration of life cycle and morphological anomalies are found as a result of herbicidal interference on enzymatic reactions in butterflies. Beneficial organisms and pollinators are included within the affected ones. We selected the butterfly as it is recognized as a good indicator species. The effects of two graminicide fluazifop‐p‐butyl and sethoxydim, and a surfactant (like 'Preference' that help to increase penetration) were evaluated on Icaricia icarioides blackmorei and Pieris rapae in the laboratory. Glyphosate and glufosinate ammonium (GLA) kill milkweed plants (Asclepias sp.) by blocking the 5‐enolpyruvylshikimate‐3 phosphate synthase (EPSPS) enzyme. 2,4,5‐trichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4,5‐T), an herbicide used in forest and nature reserves, is toxic to springtails (Onychiurus quadriocellatus) upon direct contact resulting a disastrous effect on Monarch. Fifth instar caterpillars of skipper butterfly Calpodes ethlius die when they are fed GLA‐treated host plants. Atrazine and S‐metolachlor are the two other herbicides which are thought to have a role on milkweed plant whose leaves are the food of the larvae. Triclopyr, sethoxydim, and imazapyr are the three herbicides that reduced the adult emergence of Behr's metalmark butterfly. The objective of the study is to provide precise information regarding the relationship between herbicides and butterflies as well as the recommendation of feasible strategies for butterfly conservation with respect to weed management. Research Highlights: 1.Herbicides effect butterfly population directly or indirectly.2.Herbicidal effect varies within the species of butterfly.3.Adverse effect of herbicides impact on the life cycle stages that ultimately change their natural activities.4.Feasible strategies and future studies have been recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Common banded awl butterfly, Hasora chromus (Cramer, 1780) (Hesperiidae: Lepidoptera) is a defoliator of Pongamia or Indian beech tree, Millettia pinnata (L). (Fabaceae). The younger instar caterpillar feeds on the newly emerged leaf buds of M. pinnata. The later instar caterpillars move to feed on the older leaves resulting in complete defoliation of the tree. Mass feeding of caterpillars of H. chromus was recorded in the avenue plantation of ICAR-National Bureau of Agricultural Insect Resources (NBAIR) Yelahanka Campus, Bengaluru from March to April 2022. After the completion of the feeding phase of the caterpillars in M. pinnata, the caterpillars usually pupate in the leaves during a normal situation. An unusually high population of caterpillars during this outbreak, they were not pupating on Pongamia for want of sufficient leaves due to severe defoliation. The caterpillars started coming down from Pongamia trees in large numbers like 'armyworms' and moving to other plants in the vicinity for pupation. We documented different plant species in the area for pupation by the later instar caterpillars. The caterpillars were found to pupate on 38 different species of plants from 22 different families. The mean number of rolls made by the late instar caterpillar for pupation in different plants ranged between 0.60 to 4.40 per leaf with a mean number of 1.00 to 5.83 pupae per leaf roll. The caterpillars also preferred tiny leaflets of Caesalpinia pulcherrima for pupation by mere webbing together of the leaflets. The mean number of pupae per stem in C. pulcherrima was 38.40 ± 19.58. On average, the mature caterpillar webbed 5.60 leaflets for enclosing their pupae. Predation of the later instar caterpillars during the movement towards the plants by birds (Corvus splendens Vieillot, 1817, Acridotheres tristis L.), solitary wasp Polistes sp., black ant Camponotus compressus (Fabricius, 1787), and red ant Oecophylla smaragdina (Fabricius, 1775) was documented. Documentation of plants preferred for pupation and pupation behavior will help in the conservation of the naturally occurring population of H. chromus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Global South has witnessed increasing sampling of its immense biological diversity during the past century. However, the diversity of many regions remains unknown, even at pristine and highly threatened places, such as in the Atlantic Forest; and for bioindicator, umbrella, and flagship groups. The present study reports the first butterfly list of the Parque Estadual Intervales, São Paulo, Brazil and surroundings, a key protected area in the last massive continuous of the Atlantic Forest. We compiled data from museums and four years of field work, under three sampling methods. We also aimed at providing resources to support conservation efforts by analyzing 27 years of climatic data (detailed in the Supplementary Material, in English and in Portuguese), discussing our results also for non-academics, and producing scientific outreach and educational material. A companion article dealt with the experiences of science outreach and capacity development, and illustrated the butterfly catalogue of the species sampled in the park. We found 312 species that sum to 2,139 records. The museum had 229 species (432 records), and we sampled 142 species (1,682 individuals), in a total effort of 36,679 sampling hours (36,432 trap and 247 net and observation hours). The richest families were Nymphalidae (148 species) and Hesperiidae (100 species). Most species were sampled exclusively by active methods (79.8%), but other sources (passive sampling, citizen science, etc.) also found unique records. We found the highest diversity metrics from January to May, and we demonstrated that winter months had less richness and abundance. We illustrated the 20 species common to all regions, and listed those that were found more than seven months in the year, as well as the most abundant species in trap sampling, with forest dwellers as well as species common to open and fragmented areas. The dominant species in our trap datasets was the iridescent white morpho, Morpho epistrophus (Fabricius, 1796), and we suggest it to become the park butterfly mascot. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a rapidly changing world, a complete understanding of a butterfly species' natural history and information about each of the life stages from egg to adult is more important than ever. For many butterfly species, records on life history strategies and habitat requirements are often lacking, especially for immature stages. The salt marsh skipper (Panoquina panoquin) is one such example of an understudied species. As a specialist of salt marshes, studying these immature stages is important for understanding how this species interacts with and uses its habitat. The goal of this study was to fill in gaps in our knowledge of the natural history and habitat preferences of the salt marsh skipper. We conducted field surveys of ovipositing females in three Virginia coastal marshes (5 sites) between May and October 2021. In doing so, we characterized host plant use and oviposition microhabitat. We also tracked eggs and larvae to assess survival in relation to natal host plant. We observed the oviposition of 32 eggs, 15 of which were on Distichlis spicata and 17 on Spartina alterniflora. All life stages used S. alterniflora, including feeding by larvae, confirming this species as a novel host plant. S. alterniflora was the most abundant grass in egg plots and we found no difference between random and egg plot microhabitat. In the microhabitat analysis, we found that host plant use was largely associated with the more abundant of the two grasses in a plot. D. spicata, however, was preferred in cases of up to 26% more S. alterniflora cover relative to D. spicata. Lastly, we documented an overall successful hatching rate of 19% with equal risk of egg mortality on both host plants. While our results still indicate that the salt marsh skipper is a specialist, it has a broader range of habitat and might be able to cope with marsh decline better than previously thought. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new subspecies of Pyrgus (Lepidoptera: Hesperiidae) is described: Pyrgus cacaliae hebsgaardi Bjerregård & Mølgaard, ssp. nov. Pyrgus cacaliae (Rambur, 1839) is a rare and local butterfly endemic to Europe with known populations in the Pyrenees, the Alps, Rila Mountains in Bulgaria and the Carpathian Mountains in Romania. However, the populations in the Carpathian Mountains have turned out to be both morphologically and genetically different from all other populations in Europe and are now considered to refer to the taxon Pyrgus cacaliae hebsgaardi Bjerregård & Mølgaard, ssp. nov. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During two trips in the spring (May 2018, April 2019) and one in the late summer (September 2021), the butterfly fauna of the Serra de Arrábida Natural Park in central Portugal was inventoried. The park is located along the Atlantic Ocean in the Sado estuary and is therefore subject to a mild maritime climate with quite a lot of rainfall in spring. The forests of the Natural Park are of the Mediterranean maquis type and are home to colonies of Leptotes pirithous (Linnaeus, 1767), Lampides boeticus (Linnaeus, 1767), Callophrys rubi (Linnaeus, 1758) (Lycaenidae), Muschampia proto (Ochsenheimer, 1808) (Hesperiidae), Charaxes jasius (Linnaeus, 1767) (Nymphalidae) and Zerynthia rumina (Linnaeus, 1758) (Papilionidae). Egg-laying Vanessa virginiensis (Drury, 1773) (Nymphalidae) was observed in the maquis but successful reproduction (e.g. a successful caterpillar stage) could not be confirmed. In and along the vineyards of the Natural Park, with Moscatel as the most famous grape, there are populations of Euchloe crameri (Butler, 1869), Euchloe belemia (Esper, 1800) (Pieridae) and Pyronia bathseba (Fabricius, 1793) (Nymphalidae). Iphiclides feisthamelii (Duponchel, 1832) (Papilionidae) and Melanargia ines Hoffmannsegg, 1804 (Nymphalidae) are species of the rocky area in the park such as the Serra do Louro. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Indo-Australian genus Caltoris has over 15 species distributed from India through south China and SE Asia into New Guinea and Solomon Islands. Based on wing colouration, characters of male genitalia, and early larval stages on the host plant Phragmites karka, a new subspecies of Caltoris bromus (Leech, 1894), C. b. sadasiva ssp. nov., is described from the coastal lakes and mangrove associated swamps of Kerala, southern India on the western slopes of the Western Ghats. This is the first record of C. bromus from Western Ghats and Peninsular India. This extends the distribution range of the species from NE India to south-western India, adding it to the butterfly fauna of the Western Ghats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The butterfly fauna of Silent Valley National Park (SVNP) and its buffer zone in Kerala is discussed. Of the 335 species listed from the Western Ghats (WG) and 326 from Kerala, 269 species were recorded from inside the boundaries of the core of SVNP, while an additional 21 species were confirmed from its buffer zone making a total of 290 species as an aggregate for SVNP and its environs. This included 19 species of Papilionidae, 26 Pieridae, 85 Nymphalidae, one Riodinidae, 82 Lycaenidae, and 77 Hesperiidae. Thirty-one species were strictly endemic to the Western Ghats and 63 species were listed in schedules of WPA 1972, and 19 species were in the IUCN Red Lists. The region harbours 89% of all butterflies of Kerala (326 species), and 87% of those seen in the Western Ghats (335 species). About 11% of butterfly fauna of SVNP is endemic to the Western Ghats. Silent Valley and adjoining regions have 86% of all IUCN Red listed species listed for Kerala and the WG. The region also holds 91% of the species listed under WPA known from Kerala and 90% of those listed from WG. Thus, SVNP and its environs are one of the richest regions with respect to butterflies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The present study deals with the butterfly diversity in Soraipung Range of Dehing Patkai National Park. The site was chosen on the basis that it lies in between Eastern Himalaya and Indo-Burma which is acclaimed as global biodiversity hotspot. Results: A total of 92 butterfly species belonging to 5 families were recorded during the study of which 13 species were listed as protected under various schedules of the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 and 11 species were restricted to the Eastern Himalaya, India. Members of the Nymphalidae family were found to be dominant with (41) number of species followed by Papilionidae (17), Lycaenidae (16), Hesperiidae (10) and the least Pieridae (8). The maximum diversity is obtained in Nymphalidae family: where Shannon–Wiener Diversity Index (H′) is 3.604584 and Evenness (E) is 0.970651 while the minimum diversity is in Pieridae family where Shannon–Wiener Diversity Index (H′) is 1.936217 and Evenness (E) is 0.970651. Conclusions: The study reveals that Soraipung range is rich in butterfly diversity but on the contrary their study is poorly documented. During the survey 13 threatened species and 11 species restricted to the Eastern Himalaya have been also documented in the National Park, thus making it an important butterfly habitat in the state. Therefore, its necessary to conduct more study as well as research on the butterflies in Dehing Patkai National Park for effective conservation and management programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The diversity of Papilionoidea is still poorly known in much of Central America, especially within families such as Hesperiidae. Honduras remains one of the least studied of all the countries in the region, but efforts are underway to expand on a recent list of species and have already produced noticeable results. This paper discusses an ongoing, long-term assessment that is being conducted at a single site, Emerald Valley Nature Reserve, and provides a list of 704 species recorded to date. Finds of particular significance include the discovery of the recently described Emesis eleanorae Gallardo & Grishin, 2021 (Riodinidae) and at least 111 new records for Honduras. This survey demonstrates the importance of conserving species-rich, Premontane Wet Forest formations which remain under constant threat by human encroachment and ensuing anthropogenic practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Boletín Científico Centro de Museos de Historia Natural is the property of Universidad de Caldas and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Butterflies represent a diverse group of insects, playing key ecosystem roles such as pollination and their larval form engage in herbivory. Despite their importance, comprehensive global distribution data for butterfly species are lacking. This lack of comprehensive global data has hindered many large‐scale questions in ecology, evolutionary biology, and conservation at the regional and global scales. Here, I use an integrative workflow that combines occurrence records, alpha hull polygons, species' dispersal capacity, and natural habitat and environmental variables within a framework of species distribution models to generate species‐level native distributions for butterflies at a global scale in the contemporary period. The database releases native range maps for 10,372 extant species of butterflies at a spatial grain resolution of 5 arcmin (~10 km). This database has the potential to allow unprecedented large‐scale analyses in ecology, biogeography, and conservation of butterflies. The maps are available in the WGS84 coordinate reference system (EPSG:4326 code) and stored as vector polygons in the GEOPACKAGE format for maximum compression, allowing easy data manipulation using a standard computer. I additionally provide each species' spatial raster. All maps and R scripts are open access and available for download in Dryad and Zenodo, respectively, and are guided by FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable) data principles. By making these data available to the scientific community, I aim to advance the sharing of biological data to stimulate more comprehensive research in ecology, biogeography, and conservation of butterflies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Butterflies play an ecological role in nature by serving as bio-indicators for maintaining habitat quality and ecosystem stability. The diversity and spatial distribution of butterflies in four habitats, i.e., roadside, garden, plantation and forest, were assessed from March to June 2021 to document the checklist of butterfly species on the campus during the spring and the summer seasons in Rain Forest Research Institute, Jorhat, India. In the present study, 613 individuals from 44 species belonging to five families, i.e., Nymphalidae, Pieridae, Lycaenidae, Papilionidae and Hesperiidae, were recorded by transect walk method. The maximum richness and abundance of butterfly species was found during the summer season (May–June). The family Nymphalidae recorded the highest percentage of species and individuals among the sampled butterfly families during both the seasons. This family also showed the highest Simpson dominance index, Shannon diversity index and Margalef index during both the seasons. The analysis of alpha diversity indices showed the highest values of Simpson dominance index, Shannon diversity index and Margalef index in the roadside and garden habitat and the lowest in the plantation habitat. The models on abundance distribution (ADM) showed a significant difference in butterfly species composition in the forest habitat during the spring season and both the forest and plantation habitats during the summer season. Among the sampled butterfly species, six were categorized as threatened under Schedules II and IV of India's Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972. The outcomes of this study highlight the relevance of this institutional campus as a butterfly's preferred habitat, offering a rich environment for butterfly conservation and future research studies. The study will further aid in the long-term conservation efforts of the butterfly species and their habitats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several individuals of Pseudocoladenia dan fabia (Evans, 1949) and Pseudocoladenia fatua (Evans, 1949) are reported from Sunsari and Dhankuta districts of East Nepal. Identifications were based on external characters and genital structures of examined specimens. This is the first record of P. fatua from Nepal, while a previous report of P. dan fabia from Nepal was doubtful and we here confirm for the first time its occurrence in Nepal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We obtained whole genome shotgun sequence reads for a number of Firetip skippers (subfamily Pyrrhopyginae), including all known species from the genera Yanguna Watson, 1893 and Gunayan Mielke, 2002 and representative species of Pyrrhopyge Hübner, [1819]. Phylogenetic analysis of their protein-coding regions unexpectedly revealed that Yanguna tetricus Bell, 1931 was not monophyletic with the other species of Yanguna (type species Pyrrhopyga spatiosa Hewitson, 1870). Instead, Y. tetricus formed a phylogenetic lineage as ancient as other three genera in its clade (Pyrrhopyge, Yanguna and Gunayan) that rapidly diversified from their ancestor. Therefore a new genus, Guyanna Grishin, gen. n. (type species Yanguna tetricus), is proposed for this lineage. The specimen that we sequenced was the Y. tetricus holotype in the Natural History Museum, London, leaving no doubt that we are dealing with this species. Genomic sequencing and comparison of specimens from museum collections offers a powerful strategy to reveal unforeseen phylogenetic relationships, and sequencing of primary types ensures that the conclusions are accurate in terms of nomenclature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated for the first time species richness, abundance of butterflies and disturbed habitats in Souk Ahras Forest. The assessment of butterflies' diversity and relative abundance was conducted from July 2019 to July 2021. We recorded 60,696 individuals of 49 butterfly species belonging to six families (Papilionidae, Pieridae, Lycaenidae, Nymphalidae, Hesperiidae and Sphingidae). Nymphalidae was dominant by 19 species, followed by Lycaenidae 13 species, Pieridae 10 species, Hesperiidae 4 species, Papilionidae 2 species and diurnal moths 'Sphingidae' with only one species. The highest number of species was recorded in oaks groves (medium high altitude) with 35 species; in terms of abundance, grassland (low altitude) dominates in number (n = 20,094). The lowest species diversity (S = 7) and number of individuals (n = 1227) were recorded in the Dense tree stratum scrub station which records significant water pollution. We notice that the abundance of butterflies was important during the spring and summer periods but less important during the winter. Landscape composition and habitat influence butterfly diversity and their dynamics. Many species used more than one distinct habitat type, or just one special habitat; we suggest that vegetation cover is an important mechanism for butterfly diversity persistence in forest ecosystems mosaics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of SHILAP Revista de Lepidopterologia is the property of Sociedad Hispano-Luso-Americana de Lepidopterologia and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Species distribution models (SDMs) use spatial relationships between species occurrence and habitat (predictor) variables to generate maps of habitat suitability across a region of interest. These maps are frequently used in recovery planning efforts for endangered species, but they are influenced by data availability, selection of predictor variables, and choice of model type. Ground validation is necessary to robustly evaluate map accuracy, but it is rarely done, making it difficult to determine which modeling approach is best-suited for a given species or region. To address this uncertainty, we used two SDM types (Maxent and GLM) and two methods of selecting predictor variables to build four SDMs for an endangered prairie butterfly (Dakota skipper, Hesperia dacotae) in two regions of Manitoba, Canada. We then conducted field-based habitat suitability assessments at 120 locations in each region to enable direct comparisons of model output and accuracy. We found that soil type and surrounding landcover (grassland versus cropland) were important predictors of species occurrence regardless of region, predictor selection method, or model type. Cross-validation statistics indicated that most SDMs performed well (AUC > 0.7), but ground validation revealed that the habitat suitability maps they generated were inaccurate (Cohen's kappa < 0.4). Maxent models produced more accurate maps than GLMs, likely because false species absences adversely affected the latter, but only one Maxent-based map was accurate enough to help locate sites for future field investigations (Cohen's kappa > 0.3). Our results emphasize the importance of ground-validating SDM-based habitat suitability maps before incorporating them into species recovery plans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the main consequences of globalization is the intensification of biological introductions. Because of their negative impact on environments, the early detection and monitoring of introduced species through molecular approaches is gaining increased uptake. This study assembles 2,278 DNA barcode records to examine contemporary patterns of sequence variation in mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase I (COI) in five butterfly species introduced to the Nearctic, with a focus on Pieris rapae Linnaeus (Lepidoptera: Pieridae) and Thymelicus lineola Ochsenheimer (Lepidoptera: Hesperiidae). Parameters of genetic diversity were low (i.e., h < 0.606, p < 0.0039) for Nearctic populations of all analyzed species. Those of P. rapae and T. lineola showed marked genetic differentiation from their source populations in the Palearctic. Haplotype distributions in their Nearctic populations exposed a starburst pattern with a few common haplotypes known from Palearctic, and infrequent haplotypes diverging from them at only one or two nucleotide sites. Some uncommon haplotypes were only found in the Nearctic suggesting they originated after invasion, while others also occur in the Palearctic. This study provides an example of genetic paradox of invasion, where species often rapidly expand their distribution and become dominant in the new habitat despite their depleted levels of sequence variation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: A decline in the number and diversity of pollinators has been observed worldwide. Various butterfly species are also threatened by extinction. One of the less studied reasons for the pollinator decline are pathogens, although it is known that they can be transmitted between cultivated and some wild pollinator species. The objective of our study was to determine whether pathogenic honeybee viruses can be transmitted to butterflies. Butterfly and bee samples from four locations in Slovenia were analyzed using the molecular method RT-PCR. We considered six bee viruses and found very low levels of four of them, i.e., acute bee paralysis virus (ABPV), black queen cell virus (BQCV), Lake Sinai virus 3 (LSV3), and Sacbrood bee virus (SBV), in the butterfly samples compared to the bee samples, although these viruses were present in large amounts in honeybees from the same locations. The results of our study indicate that butterflies are probably contaminated with bee viruses when they visit the same flowers as honeybees. Therefore, based on the very low viral load, we believe that butterflies are unlikely to be threatened by bee viruses and that they are not important as vectors of viral infection to other pollinators. Several pathogens are important causes of the observed pollinator decline, some of which could be transmitted between different pollinator species. To determine whether honeybee viruses can be transmitted to butterflies, a total of 120 butterflies were sampled at four locations in Slovenia. At each location, butterflies from three families (Pieridae, Nymphalidae, Hesperiidae/Lycenidae) and Carniolan honeybees (Apis mellifera carnica) were collected. The RNA of six honeybee viruses, i.e., acute bee paralysis virus (ABPV), black queen cell virus (BQCV), chronic bee paralysis virus (CBPV), deformed wing virus A (DWV-A), Sacbrood bee virus (SBV), and Lake Sinai virus 3 (LSV3), was detected by a specific quantitative method (RT-PCR). The presence of ABPV, BQCV, LSV3, and SBV was detected in both butterflies and honeybees. All butterfly and bee samples were negative for CBPV, while DWV-A was detected only in honeybees. The viral load in the positive butterfly samples was much lower than in the positive bee samples, which could indicate that butterflies are passive carriers of bee viruses. The percentage of positive butterfly samples was higher when the butterflies were collected at sampling sites with a higher density of apiaries. Therefore, we believe that infected bees are a necessary condition for the presence of viruses in cohabiting butterflies. This is the first study on the presence of pathogenic bee viruses in butterflies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study of ecological interactions between plants, phytophagous insects and their natural enemies is an essential but challenging component for understanding ecosystem dynamics. Molecular methods such as DNA barcoding can help elucidate these interactions. In this study, we employed DNA barcoding to establish hostplant and parasitoid interactions with hesperiid butterflies, using a complete reference library for Hesperiidae of continental Europe and north-western Africa (53 species, 100% of those recorded) based on 2934 sequences from 38 countries. A total of 233 hostplant and parasitoid interactions are presented, some recovered by DNA barcoding larval remains or parasitoid cocoons. Combining DNA barcode results with other lines of evidence allowed 94% species-level identification for Hesperiidae, but success was lower for parasitoids, in part due to unresolved taxonomy. Potential cases of cryptic diversity, both in Hesperiidae and Microgastrinae, are discussed. We briefly analyse the resulting interaction networks. Future DNA barcoding initiatives in this region should focus attention on north-western Africa and on parasitoids, because in these cases barcode reference libraries and taxonomy are less well developed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The desert sand-skipper Croitana aestiva Edwards is endemic to central Australia, a region with a semi-arid climate. The species was known from a total of eight specimens collected in 1966 and 1972 at three locations west of Alice Springs but was then not positively recorded for the next 35 years, leading to its listing nationally as an Endangered species. In February 2007 a population was rediscovered during targeted surveys following a significant rainfall event, leading to the broader question of how climate influences its life cycle. In this paper I describe the species' distribution, listing all the localities at which the species was observed during targeted surveys from 2007 to 2010. Adult phenology of one population over this period is presented, along with that for the closely related inland sand-skipper Croitana arenaria arenaria Edwards, which occurs in the same area. The desert sand-skipper is now known from 13 extant locations, of which 11 are new. This species has a calculated Extent of Occurrence of 1141 square kilometres and an Area of Occupancy of 48 square kilometres, but the true distribution is likely to be greater. Adults of both Croitana Waterhouse taxa are entirely dependent on adequate rainfall for emergence, with more adults after greater rainfall. Both taxa are threatened by the increased frequency and intensity of wildfires promoted by buffel grass (Cenchrus ciliaris L.) (Poaceae) an exotic pasture grass, as well as climate change. Implications for insect conservation: Baseline distributional information presented in this paper will be essential for monitoring and future assessments of conservation status. Understanding adult phenology will be crucial to future conservation efforts as the impacts of climate change in central Australia become clearer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background We describe three new species of the previously monotypic genus Creagrura Townes from Central and South America: C. alejandromasisi sp. n. and C. rogerblancoi sp. n. from Costa Rica and C. allpahuaya sp. n. from Peru, all of which emphasise the unknown parasitoid insect diversity yet to be revealed in the tropics. New information Host relationships of the two Costa Rican species are described in detail. In addition, it is inferred that the Creagrura wasps find and oviposit in the caterpillar when it is exposed at night, rather than when it is concealed during daylight hours. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Butterfly assemblages were studied from 2004 to 2007 at sites along the San Diego River. The purpose was to provide baseline information in the face of possible river improvement projects. We sampled in a protected area and in urban environments in hopes of identifying butterfly assemblages associated with a variety of riparian types. Multivariate analysis identified environmental variables significantly associated with butterfly assemblages such as riparian rank, soil moisture, air temperature, wind speed, nectar abundance, and forb & graminoid richness. There were significant correlations between butterfly species richness, butterfly abundance and a variety of environmental variables, including % shade. Sites located in the Mission Trails Regional Park contained unique butterfly species and were considered high value reference sites. Some butterflies of conservation interest were encountered such as: Panoquina errans Skinner, 1892 (Hesperiidae), Zerene eurydice Boisduval, 1855 (Pieridae), Tharsalea hermes W.H. Edwards, 1870 (Lycaenidae), and Apodemia virgulti Behr, 1865 (Riodinidae). A butterfly-centric metric was derived using species richness and significant variables identified via multivariate analysis to aid in management/monitoring of San Diego riparian sites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This suggests that I H. radiata i is morphologically more adapted to pollination by hawkmoths than that by skippers, and that hawkmoths are likely to be more reliable I H. radiata i pollinators. (f) The hawkmoth T. oldenlandiae visiting a flower after fringe removal. gl The tremendous variation in floral presentation among different orchid species is often ascribed to specialized interactions between each orchid and its narrow spectrum of pollinators (Cozzolino & Widmer, 2005). Keywords: floral display; floral evolution; flower morphology; foraging efficiency; grip; hawkmoth; landing platform; lip (labellum); pollination success; visual attraction EN floral display floral evolution flower morphology foraging efficiency grip hawkmoth landing platform lip (labellum) pollination success visual attraction 1 5 5 09/05/22 20220901 NES 220901 Most angiosperms depend on animals for pollination and have evolved floral traits tailored to pollinators with diverse morphologies and behaviors. [Extracted from the article]

The butterfly tribe Tagiadini Mabille, 1878 is a large group of skippers. Although there are a few species which are limited in distribution to some countries in the Oriental or Afrotropical region, the main radiation of the tribe is in China. In the present study, we constructed the first detailed molecular phylogeny of the Chinese species in the tribe based on mitochondrial and nuclear genes, and investigated its history of larval hostplants association. Maximum likelihood phylogeny strongly supports for monophyly of Tagiadini from China and confirms the most recent accepted species in the tribe. The controversial position of some species are presented and discussed. The systematic relationship of larval hostplants and Tagiadini species match well in phylogeny tree. They show conservatism in evolution of larval hostplant use. Moreover, the divergence time estimates and ancestral-area reconstructions provide a detailed description about the historical biogeography of the Tagiadini from China. The Chinese species of the tribe very likely originated from a combined ancestral area between Himalaya-Hengduan Mountains and Southern China region in the late Ecocene and expanded to the other regions. A dispersal-vicariance analysis suggests that dispersal events have played essential roles in the promotion of diversification in this tribe and distribution of extant species, and geological and climatic changes have been important factors driving current distribution patterns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Guatemala has a great diversity of butterflies, although there have been few intensive surveys on Lepidoptera in the country so far. We present an updated list of 218 species in 149 genera, 19 subfamilies, and six families of butterflies sampled at two seasonally dry forests in the Salamá and Motagua valleys in central and eastern Guatemala, by integrating new data from field surveys conducted in 2014-2021 into our previously published data (Yoshimoto et al. 2018, 2019), with Amblyscirtes elissa elissa Godman, 1900, Repens florus (Godman, 1900), and Niconiades nikko Hayward, 1948 (Hesperiidae: Hesperiinae) as new country records. We collected a hairstreak species, Chalybs hassan (Stoll, 1790) (Lycaenidae: Theclinae), at the Motagua Valley site, representing the second record for Guatemala since the early 20th century, after we rediscovered it at the Salamá Valley site in 2011 and 2012 (Yoshimoto and Salinas-Gutiérrez 2015). Nymphalidae and Hesperiidae had larger numbers of species than the other four families at both sites. In Pieridae and Nymphalidae, species composition was similar between the sites, whereas in Lycaenidae, Riodinidae, and Papilionidae it differed more greatly between the sites. These results confirm the relatively high lepidopteran diversity of Guatemalan dry forests, noteworthy for the small areas that comprise the study sites, and represent marked similarities and differences in butterfly fauna and phenology within these forests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Trapezitinae skippers are restricted to Australia and New Guinea. Despite decades of taxonomic work, their systematics and phylogeny remain little understood. To resolve the composition of genera and determine their evolutionary relationships, we inferred a comprehensive multilocus molecular phylogeny of Trapezitinae. Our results recover a monophyletic Trapezitinae as sister to Barcinae, with a poorly resolved backbone possibly indicating an early rapid radiation. We recover two main clades comprising all currently described genera, including the previously contentious Prada Evans, 1949 but excluding Tiacellia Evans, 1949. Several genera are recovered as paraphyletic or polyphyletic, rendering the classification of Trapezitinae incompatible with the new phylogeny. Therefore, we synonymize Motasingha Watson, 1893 syn. nov. and Oreisplanus Waterhouse & Lyell, 1914 syn. nov. with Hesperilla Hewitson, 1868 and Neohesperilla Waterhouse & Lyell, 1914 syn. nov. with Toxidia Mabille, 1891. To reflect the placement of Anisynta dominula outside of Anisynta , we describe the new genus Atkinsia Braby & Toussaint gen. nov. , which includes the sole species Atkinsia dominula (Plötz, 1884) comb. nov. Two species of Toxidia and two species of Signeta Waterhouse & Lyell, 1914 are placed into Timoconia Strand, 1909, yielding four new combinations: Timoconia melania (Waterhouse, 1903) comb. nov. , Timoconia peron (Latreille, 1824) comb. nov. , Timoconia flammeata (Butler, 1882) comb. nov. and Timoconia tymbophora (Meyrick & Lower, 1902) comb. nov. Thus, Signeta Waterhouse & Lyell, 1914 syn. nov. is now regarded as a junior synonym of Timoconia. Overall, our phylogeny has provided the basis for 20 nomenclatural changes at the species and subspecies level, including 14 new combinations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The butterflies diversity in the Amazon is still poorly known, although there is an expectation that new species will be discovered and recorded in this region. The information generated in field work has as its central point the knowledge of the species and their ecological relationships. For the systematization of this information, it is necessary that it be available in reference collections. Thus, biological collections are essential for the historical record of animal diversity of a given ecosystem, besides serving as a tool in practical classes, as a deposit of voucher species, and as an aid in the correct comparison and identification of collected specimens. The aim of this study was to know the diversity of butterflies deposited in the Entomological Collection of the Universidade Federal do Acre - Campus Floresta, municipality of Cruzeiro do Sul, Acre state, Brazil, in order to identify the butterflies deposited in this collection at the taxonomic family level. A total of 419 individuals were counted, being possible to identify 379 specimens, distributed among the families Nymphalidae (83%), Pieridae (12%), Papilionidae (3%) and Hesperiidae (2%). The lack of preventive maintenance of this collection resulted in 40 damaged specimens, which were not in a condition to be identified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Copyright of Boletín Científico Centro de Museos de Historia Natural is the property of Universidad de Caldas and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of R.A.R.E - Association Roussillonnaise d'Entomologie is the property of Association Roussillonnaise d Entomologie and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Taxonomic status and phylogenetic position of some skippers within Hesperiidae remains a controversial issue, here, we sequenced and analyzed the complete mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) of Abraximorpha davidii, one of species in Hesperiidae. This mitogenome is 15,469 bp long and encodes 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 22 transfer RNA genes (tRNAs), and two ribosomal RNA unit genes (rRNAs). The overall base composition of the mitogenome is A 40.2%, T 41.4%, C 11.2%, and G 7.2%, with a high A + T content of 81.6%. Except for cox1 starting with CGA, all other PCGs start with the standard ATN codons (seven ATG and five ATT). Most of the PCGs terminate with the stop codon TAA, whereas cox1, cox2, nad5, and nad4 end with the incomplete codon T−. Phylogenetic analysis showed that A. davidii is closely related to Daimio tethys and Tagiades vajuna, then this clade clusters Ctenoptilum vasava and Celaenorrhinus maculosa.

Advertising escape ability could reduce predatory attacks. However, the effectiveness of certain phenotypic cues (e.g., color, shape, and size) in signaling evasiveness is still unknown. Understanding the role of such signals in driving predator learning is important to infer the evolutionary mechanisms leading to convergent evasiveness signals among prey species (i.e., evasive mimicry). We aim to understand the role of the color pattern (white patches on dark background) and morphology (extended butterfly hindwings) in driving learning and avoidance of escaping prey by surrogate avian predators, the European blue tit. These cues are common in butterflies and have been suspected to advertise escape ability in nature. We use dummy butterflies harboring shape and color patterns commonly found in skippers (family Hesperiidae). The prey models displayed the studied phenotypical cues (hindwing tails and white bands) in factorial combinations, and we tested whether those cues were learned as evasive signals and were generalised to different phenotypes. Our results suggest that hindwing tails and white bands can be associated with prey evasiveness. In addition, wild blue tits might learn and avoid attacking prey models bearing the studied phenotypic cues. Although blue tits seem to have an initial preference for the phenotype consisting of white patches and hindwing tails, the probability of attacking it was substantially reduced once the cues were associated with escaping ability. This suggests that the same morphological cues might be interchangeable as preference/avoidance signals. Further investigation of the salience of hindwing tails vs. white bands as cues for escaping ability, revealed that predators can associate both color pattern and shape to the difficulty of capture, and possibly generalize their aversion to other prey harboring those cues. More studies with larger sample sizes are needed to confirm this trend. Altogether, our results highlight the hitherto overlooked role of shape (butterfly hindwing tails) for signaling prey unprofitability.

[Display omitted] • We present a densely sampled phylogeny of the skipper butterflies (Hesperiidae) including 563 species representing 353 genera. • We comprehensively discuss the tribe Tagiadini of Pyrginae, and recognize 15 tribes and largely clarify the taxonomic position of taxa assigned to incertae sedis within the subfamily Hesperiinae. • A new genus (Hyarotoides gen.n.) is described, two genera (Zea reinst.stat. and Sepa reinst.stat.) are reinstated as valid, and four subtribes for Astictopterini and several new combinations are proposed. Despite considerable research efforts in recent years, the deeper phylogenetic relationships among skipper butterflies (Hesperiidae) remain unresolved. This is primarily because of limited sampling, especially within Asian and African lineages. In this study, we consolidated previous data and extensively sampled Asian and African taxa to elucidate the phylogenetic relationships within Hesperiidae. The molecular dataset comprised sequences from two mitochondrial and two nuclear gene regions from 563 species that represented 353 genera. Our analyses revealed seven subfamilies within Hesperiidae: Coeliadinae, Euschemoninae, Eudaminae, Pyrginae, Heteropterinae, Trapezitinae, and Hesperiinae. The systematics of most tribes and genera aligned with those of prior studies. However, notable differences were observed in several tribes and genera. Overall, the position of taxa assigned to incertae sedis in Hesperiinae is largely clarified in this study. Our results strongly support the monophyly of the tribe Tagiadini (Pyrginae), and the systematics of some genera are clarified with comprehensive discussion. We recognize 15 tribes within the subfamily Hesperiinae. Of these, nine tribes are discussed in detail: Aeromachini, Astictopterini, Erionotini, Unkanini (new status), Ancistroidini, Ismini (confirmed status), Plastingini (new status), Gretnini (confirmed status), and Eetionini (confirmed status). We propose four subtribes within Astictopterini: Hypoleucina subtrib.n. , Aclerosina, Cupithina, and Astictopterina. Furthermore, we describe a new genus (Hyarotoides gen.n.) and reinstate two genera (Zea reinst.stat. and Sepa reinst.stat.) as valid. Additionally, we propose several new combinations: Zea mytheca comb.n., Sepa bononia comb.n. & reinst.stat., and Sepa umbrosa comb.n. This study, with extensive sampling of Asian and African taxa, greatly enhances the understanding of the knowledge of the skipper tree of life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article details the appearance of the Papilio demoleus Linnaeus, 1758, otherwise known as the Lime, Lemon or Chequered Swallowtail, in Cyprus in 2021. Topics discussed include the butterfly species' dispersal from the Gulf states to the Mediterranean, its observation at Al Qaryatayn in western Syria in 2003, and its arrival in Mediterranean Turkey.

Butterfly diversity at different habitats in Kannur District, Kerala state, was investigated using the line transect method. A total of 155 individuals involving 26 species and five families (Papilionidae, Pieridae, Nymphalidae, Lycaenidae, and Hesperiidae) were identified. Nymphalidae and Pieridae were found to be the dominant families. Butterfly diversity has been observed higher in stream banks and forest areas compared to other habitats. Butterfly species included in the schedules of WPA, 1972 were also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of SHILAP Revista de Lepidopterologia is the property of Sociedad Hispano-Luso-Americana de Lepidopterologia and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of SHILAP Revista de Lepidopterologia is the property of Sociedad Hispano-Luso-Americana de Lepidopterologia and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Hesperilla crypsargyra binna Johnson and Wilson is a butterfly which has a limited distribution on the Lamington Plateau in southern Queensland. In September 2016, a prescribed burn of the area where the butterfly occurs resulted in extensive burning of the H. c. binna larval food plant. Annual observations made of the butterfly population from November 2016 to 2021, indicated that, despite the burn, the butterfly population survived well. In addition, the egg and first-instar larva are described. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The occurrence of Telicota paceka affinis Rothschild from Torres Strait, Queensland is clarified, with new Australian records from Dauan and Saibai Islands. Both sexes are illustrated and compared with the Australian mainland subspecies T. paceka mesoptis Lower. Material based on previous records of T. paceka mesoptis from Mer Island (a male in 1989) and Erub Island (four specimens in 1973 and 1984) were examined and have been incorrectly identified: these specimens are Telicota augias krefftii (W.J. Macleay). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]