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Since its invasion of Kerala in 2014, the banana skipper Erionota torus Evans (Lepidoptera: Hesperiidae) has become a severe threat to banana farming. The present study reports phorid fly Megaselia scalaris (Loew), a prominent detritivorous insect, as a parasitoid attacking the pupa of Banana leaf roller E. torus Evans. This parasitoid was reported for the first time in the field population of banana leaf roller pupa collected from Pariyaram located at 12.0753N, 75.3049E, Kannur district of Kerala, India, during August, 2019. By using both classical and molecular methods, we were able to confirm the species. The current research suggests that M. scalaris might be included to the list of parasitoid species that are known to exist for E. torus pupa. More research is needed to determine whether or not this phorid fly can be used as an efficient biocontrol agent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Habitat loss and fragmentation have caused declines in the abundance and distribution of butterflies, particularly habitat specialists. The Chequered Skipper, Carterocephalus palaemon, has been extinct in England since 1976 after declining from the 1940s predominantly due to changes in woodland management including afforestation and the decline in traditional coppice management. To enable C. palaemon to flourish again, this species was reintroduced from Belgium to England in 2018 with the aim of establishing a resident breeding population. Here, we report on the recent reintroduction, outlining the reintroduction method used, the establishment status of the species in England, the clinical health of reintroduced individuals, and post-release monitoring results. Furthermore, we assess the habitat suitability of sites around the original release site to determine which were similar to the current re-location site and could be used for future reintroductions, and to aid the targeting of further management to increase habitat suitability. Since 2018, 128 Chequered Skipper butterflies have been reintroduced from Belgium to Rockingham Forest in England. Health examinations demonstrated that individuals were healthy, and this in part resulted in the population establishing at the first release site and the area of occupancy increasing each year to 2022. However, the reintroduced population has yet to naturally colonise other areas within Rockingham Forest and therefore is not yet a functioning metapopulation. Despite the project still being in its infancy, we are able to report on a successful five years. Implications for insect conservation: Rigorous scientific research has provided the evidence to support reintroductions, and will continue to be used to ensure the ecology and population dynamics of this species is sufficiently understood so that Chequered Skipper populations can thrive again in England. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite large numbers of reintroduction projects taking place and the high cost involved, there is a generally low success rate. Insects in particular are understudied within reintroduction ecology, with guidelines focusing on more iconic vertebrate taxa. Species distribution models (SDMs) examine the associations between species observations and environmental variables to find the conditions in which populations could survive. This study utilises two frequently used SDM approaches, a regression model (general linear model (GLM)) and a machine learning method (MaxEnt) to model habitat suitability for Chequered Skipper, Carterocephalus palaemon, butterflies, which are being reintroduced to Northamptonshire following extinction in England. We look at how SDMs using widespread remotely sensed variables could be used to inform the reintroduction process by finding areas of suitable habitat that were previously overlooked. These remotely sensed variables have the potential to inform reintroductions without extensive on the ground research as they cover huge areas and are widely available. We found that both models are successful in discriminating between presences and absences, using only a limited number of explanatory variables. We conclude that these wide-scale SDMs are useful as a first step in the decision-making process in determining appropriate sites for reintroductions, but that they are less accurate when establishing precisely where species should be placed. Implications for insect conservation: The rates of failure among species reintroductions are very high despite the large costs involved in these projects. By better utilising SDMs and remote sensing variables that cover huge areas, an increased rate of success and cost efficiency in insect reintroductions could be established. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prey often rely on multiple defences against predators, such as flight speed, attack deflection from vital body parts, or unpleasant taste, but our understanding on how often and why they are co-exhibited remains limited. Eudaminae skipper butterflies use fast flight and mechanical defences (hindwing tails), but whether they use other defences like unpalatability (consumption deterrence) and how these defences interact have not been assessed. We tested the palatability of 12 abundant Eudaminae species in Peru, using training and feeding experiments with domestic chicks. Further, we approximated the difficulty of capture based on flight speed and quantified it by wing loading. We performed phylogenetic regressions to find any association between multiple defences, body size, and habitat preference. We found a broad range of palatability in Eudaminae, within and among species. Contrary to current understanding, palatability was negatively correlated with wing loading, suggesting that faster butterflies tend to have lower palatability. The relative length of hindwing tails did not explain the level of butterfly palatability, showing that attack deflection and consumption deterrence are not mutually exclusive. Habitat preference (open or forested environments) did not explain the level of palatability either, although butterflies with high wing loading tended to occupy semi-closed or closed habitats. Finally, the level of unpalatability in Eudaminae is size dependent. Larger butterflies are less palatable, perhaps because of higher detectability/preference by predators. Altogether, our findings shed light on the contexts favouring the prevalence of single versus multiple defensive strategies in prey. Graphical Abstract [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Holistically managed urban greenspaces have human and ecological benefits. Butterflies and skippers (Papilionoidea) are particularly sensitive to human impacts and changing environmental conditions and can serve as model organisms for park management. We monitored butterflies across 18 urban parks in Cincinnati, Ohio, to explore the relationship between the amount of forested and non-forested microhabitat and Papilionoidea biodiversity. Transect counts were used to assess Papilionoidea occurrence throughout the summer of 2021. Species richness was found to significantly increase with the amount of non-forested area, while no relationships were found between forested species richness and area or total species richness and total park area. In addition to providing suggestions for urban park microhabitat management, this study updates the species checklist for Hamilton County, Ohio, adding four species. Forty-three species and 433 individuals were sighted during the study. Three species found in Cincinnati Parks were under Ohio Department of Natural Resources conservation status. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Species of the tribe Baorini of the family Hesperiidae from the Arabian Peninsula are presented with a description of Araboreliquia gen. nov. and Araboreliquia saudica sp. nov. Belenois gidica (Godart in Latreille & Godart, [1819]) (Pieridae) is first recorded in the Arabian Peninsula with the description of Belenois gidica pavlichkoisubsp. nov. Plebejus(Plebejidea) loewii kerkhofi subsp. nov. (Lycaenidae) is described from north-eastern Oman. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tagiadini and Celaenorrhinini, two closely related groups of skippers in the subfamily Pyrginae, are mainly distributed across the Oriental, Palaearctic and African regions. While some efforts have been made to explore the phylogenetic relationships within Tagiadini and Celaenorrhinini, several unresolved issues still persist. In this study, we sequenced 13 complete mitochondrial genomes from Tagiadini and Celaenorrhinini. Additionally, we extracted nuclear genes CAD, EF‐1α, IDH, MDH, RPS5 and Wingless from the public database. Through comparative analysis, we gained insights into the structure of these newly sequenced mitogenomes. Furthermore, we constructed a comprehensive phylogenetic tree for Tagiadini and Celaenorrhinini, integrating the newly obtained mitochondrial genomes and nuclear genes with previously published mitogenomes and data from the sequence read archive (SRA). The total length of the mitochondrial genomes of the 13 skipper species ranged from 15,228 bp (Seseria sambara indosinica) to 15,431 bp (Pseudocoladenia festa). The newly sequenced genomes featured the standard set of 13 protein‐coding genes (PCGs), 22 transfer RNA genes (tRNAs), 2 ribosomal RNA genes (rRNAs) and a non‐coding A + T‐rich region implicated in replication initiation. The phylogenetic analysis encompassing all mitochondrial and nuclear gene data consistently upheld the monophyly of genera within the tribes Tagiadini and Celaenorrhinini. Most of the intergeneric relationships identified in our study agreed with recent genomic discoveries, showing enhanced nodal support values in some cases. Lastly, we estimated the divergence of the Tagiadini + Celaenorrhinini branch at approximately 44.06 million years ago (Ma) during the middle Eocene epoch. The crown ages of Tagiadini and Celaenorrhinini were estimated at approximately 41.69 Ma and 38.49 Ma, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A survey of Lepidoptera was conducted in habitats including forest trails, nullah, forest gap, and small water bodies, in and around the Udanti-Sitanadi Tiger Reserve (USTR) and agroforest habitats at Nagri block in Dhamtari district of Chhattisgarh State between January 2020 and August 2022. The study recorded 95 species belonging to 69 genera. Erionota torus and Rathinda amor although common in the Indian mainland, were not documented by previous researchers. This indicates the necessity for a more thorough survey of Lepidoptera in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The authors conducted a comprehensive review of Hesperiidae species in Bhutan, scrutinizing three existing checklists and 25 new records presented by Van der Poel et al. (2023). A thorough examination of all available documents and evidence confirmed 145 Hesperiidae species in Bhutan, with four additional species listed as tentative and one as "cf." (requiring further research). The updated checklist excludes 14 species that were listed in one or more of the three existing checklists and provides justifications for not including these species. Additionally, 11 unverifiable or wrongly identified species presented by non-peer-reviewed sources were not included in the checklist. Sixteen species with no verifiable records in the last 70 years were also identified. This review provides a comprehensive and authoritative checklist of Hesperiidae species in Bhutan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mouthparts and antennal sensilla play an important role in insect foraging, recognition of hosts, and reproduction. The family Hesperiidae (order Lepidoptera), commonly known as skipper butterflies, has lineages with different habitat selection and host preferences which may be closely related to different types of sensilla. In this study, the ultrastructure of the proboscis sensilla of 17 species (5 subfamilies, 16 genera) and antennal sensilla of 13 species (5 subfamilies, 13 genera) of Hesperiidae were compared using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Three types of proboscis sensilla and eight types of antennal sensilla were ultimately observed among these selected species. We next measured some major characteristic values of the sensilla on the proboscides and antennae. Comparative analysis reveals differences in sensilla types and morphological characteristics among different subfamilies and genera. These variations are potentially related to skippers' adaptive feeding strategies and dietary preferences. The study provides vital information for comparative and functional morphology of the family Hesperiidae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Turfgrass is a prevalent ground cover type within urban areas, and is found on large swathes of commercial, residential, and recreational land. Turfgrass supports low biodiversity compared with more diverse vegetation communities. One increasingly popular method for supporting arthropod communities in urban areas is to plant wildflowers in available spaces using a commercial seed mix, which can support beneficial insects such as butterflies, bees, and natural enemies. However, the long-term impacts of these wildflower habitats on arthropod communities in turfgrass systems is poorly known. To explore this, we used pan traps to sample insects from turfgrass systems adjacent to wildflower plots over three years and quantified how different insect groups changed in abundance. We found that different insect groups had variable changes in abundance over time, with sweat bees (Halicitdae) and skipper butterflies (Hesperiidae) being less abundant two years after wildlife implementation, and predatory flies showing boosted abundance for two years post-implementation. These results point to the complex dynamics of arthropod communities in turfgrass systems following wildflower implementation and the need to study how to best maintain these habitats to support long-term biodiversity. Urbanization is rapidly influencing the abundance and diversity of arthropods. Within urban systems, managed turfgrass is a prominent land cover which can support only a limited number of arthropod groups. To allow for more arthropod biodiversity and to support beneficial insects within turfgrass, increasing numbers of land managers are choosing to partially convert turf habitat to wildflower habitat using commercially available seed mixes. However, the population dynamics of arthropod groups in these systems are poorly known, with consequentially little information on best long-term practices for managing wildflower habitats in turfgrass systems. To address this gap, we sampled insects using pan traps in turfgrass systems pre- and post-implementation of wildflower habitats and examined the change in abundance of several insect families and functional guilds. Insect groups had variable responses to wildflower habitat implementation, with some groups such as sweat bees and skipper butterflies showing a decline two years post-implementation. Other groups, such as predatory flies, were relatively more abundant one and two years post-implementation. These variable responses point to the need for more research on the long-term effects of wildflower habitats on beneficial insects in turfgrass habitats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The chequered skipper butterfly Carterocephalus palaemon was reintroduced to Fineshade Wood, England in 2018 as part of a Butterfly Conservation-led project following several years of planning. From 2019–2022, the population was sampled each May–June by the lead author, timed count volunteers, Butterfly Conservation staff, and casual observers. A novel photographic mark-recapture (PMR) technique was trialled as an alternative to mark-release-recapture (MRR). In conjunction with timed counts, PMR was used to photo-identify individual C. palaemon through each butterfly's upperside (ups) wing markings, estimate daily and gross population size, detect movements, and determine lifespan. As capture and recapture can be achieved non-invasively using PMR, habitat disturbance, the potential to influence butterfly behaviour, accelerate wing wear, affect mate selection and predation, and heighten mortality risk through handling are eliminated. We found PMR to be a viable alternative to MRR for a sensitive reintroduction of a low-density species with unique ups markings such as C. palaemon. Using capture histories generated through PMR, from a known founder population size of 42 butterflies in 2018, we estimated the population at Fineshade Wood had increased to 618 butterflies (+ 1371.43%) by 2022. Movements of up to 2.22 km over a time period of 17 days were also detected. Lastly, we discuss the implications of PMR for population sampling of other Lepidopterans, and the potential to improve cost-efficiency of the technique using machine-based learning tools. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article provides a short note on the lifecycle of the Yucca Giant-Skipper butterfly, which is a relatively understudied species. The researchers conducted a survey in Roosevelt County, New Mexico, to locate populations of this butterfly. They found that the adults were commonly found in two prairie habitats with an abundance of their hostplant, Yucca glauca. The caterpillars of this species bore into the plant crown and feed within the root, constructing a silken "tent" or "chimney" at the opening of the burrow. The researchers also observed signs of parasitism by dipteran pupae, indicating the presence of parasitoid species. The study raises questions about the life history of the Giant-Skippers and the potential impact of inbreeding depression. [Extracted from the article]

Three new species of Hesperiidae from French Guiana are described. Emmelus benmesbahi Shuey, n. sp. (Eudaminae) represents an eastern extension of this previously monotypic genus. It looks very similar to Emmelus purpurascens but has distinctive genitalia. Damas woldi Shuey, n. sp. (Hesperiinae) is closely related to the widespread neotropical "Damas clavus", a species concept that likely includes other cryptic species across its expansive range. The new species differs consistently in wing pattern and genitalic characters with neighboring populations in the Amazon basin. Metrocles nigroalbum Shuey, n. sp. (Hesperiinae) is a uniquely patterned species that can be confused with no others. All three new species are from the Kaw Mountains and coastal areas of the country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The butterfly survey was carried out in and around Vijaynagar of District Changlang Arunachal Pradesh for the first time from Jan 2021 to Dec 2022. A total of 281 species of butterfly belonging to 5 families of 147 genera namely; Papilionidae (28 sp.), Pieridae (30 sp.), Lycaenidae (61sp.), Nymphalidae (120 sp.), and Hesperiidae (42 sp.) were recorded during the present study. The family Nymphalidae was the most dominant among the recorded butterflies, followed by Lycaenidae, Hesperiidae, Pieridae and Papilionidae. From the recorded species 47 were listed under various schedules of the Indian Wildlife Protection Act 1972, of which 9 sp. were listed to Schedule I, 32 sp. to Schedule II and 6 sp. to Schedule IV respectively. The encounter of rare, endemic and endangered species indicates potential biodiversity in the region. Therefore, a more detailed and systematic investigation is necessary. Further, proper strategies and plans are required for sustainable conservation to keep these rare, endemic and endangered species from being pushed to extinction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study reports a new state record of butterfly Pale Small Branded Swift, Pelopidas thrax (Heubner 1821) and a notable range extension record of butterfly Large Branded swift, Pelopidas subochracea (Moore 1878). Here, we provide a brief differential identification of the both species based on their morphology of male genitalia along with its previous physical descriptions. The present study also clarifies why the genitalia is required for the identification of skippers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Campuses of educational institutions in India serve as important reservoirs for different faunal components, including ecologically sensitive species like butterflies. To record the diversity, status, and occurrence of butterfly fauna in Kurukshetra University Campus, Haryana, a year-long survey was done from July 2021 to June 2022. A total of 710 individuals of butterflies belonging to 39 species, 32 genera, and five families were recorded. Nymphalidae represented the highest diversity with 13 species followed by Lycaenidae (11 species), Pieridae (10 species), Papilionidae (3 species), and Hesperiidae (2 species). The number of individuals encountered was maximum in family Pieridae (n = 158) while the minimum was in family Hesperiidae (n = 4). Species richness, abundance, and diversity differed significantly (P <0.05) across the different seasons. Species richness was recorded to be the highest in summer season (35 species) followed by monsoon, post monsoon, and winter. Among the recorded species, one species, i.e., Common Baron Euthelia aconthea is protected under Schedule II of the Wildlife (Protection) Amendment Act (2022). The findings of the present study support the importance of the higher educational institution campuses in providing valuable habitat and resources for butterflies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wolbachia, one of the most ubiquitous heritable symbionts in lepidopteran insects, can cause mitochondrial introgression in related host species. We recently found mito‐nuclear discordance in the Lepidopteran tribe Tagiadini Mabille 1878 from which Wolbachia has not been reported. In this study, we found that 13 of the 46 species of Tagiadini species tested were positive for Wolbachia. Overall, 14% (15/110) of Tagiadini specimens were infected with Wolbachia and nine new STs were found from 15 isolates. A co‐phylogenetic comparison, divergence time estimation and Wolbachia recombination analysis revealed that mito‐nuclear discordance in Tagiadini species is not mediated by Wolbachia, but Wolbachia acquisition in Tagiadini appears to have occurred mainly through horizontal transmission rather than codivergence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Diversitas Journal is the property of Diversitas Journal 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.)

The article presents the results of studying the fauna of Lepidoptera in the North Kazakhstan region in the field season of 2023. An annotated check-list includes 162 species from the families Psychidae, Plutellidae, Depressariidae, Autostichidae, Gelechiidae, Pterophoridae, Pyralidae, Crambidae, Tortricidae, Cossidae, Sesiidae, Hesperiidae, Papilionidae, Pieridae, Lycaenidae, Nymphalidae, Satyridae, Drepanidae, Geometridae, Lasiocampidae, Lemoniidae, Endromididae, Sphingidae, Notodontidae, Arctiidae, Erebidae, Noctuidae. 47 species reported from the North Kazakhstan region for the first time.

RESUMO Urbanus acawoios (Lep.: Hesperiidae) é um potente desfolhador de sombreiro, Clitoria fairchildiana (Leguminosae) e o estudo da sua razão de crescimento e razão de mortalidade e crescimento com outras fontes de alimento (Leguminosae), fornecerá subsídios para o conhecimento de sua dinâmica populacional. O presente trabalho teve por objetivo determinar a razão de crescimento, avaliando-se as cápsulas cefálicas oriundas das ecdises e calcular a razão de mortalidade e sobrevivência desta espécie quando alimentada com folhas de grupos de feijão. O peso das lagartas de U. acawoios é pelo menos dobrado a cada ínstar. A razão média de mortalidade e sobrevivência foi de 0,13; 0,07; 0,13 e 0,16, para as lagartas alimentadas com folhas de feijão dos grupos cavalo, vermelho, manteiga e roxo, respectivamente, sendo a razão média de crescimento de 1,619; 1,567; 1,589 e 1,577, respectivamente.

For the first time, two species of the Hesperiidae family are recorded from the State of Kuwait. The observations of Gegenes nostrodamus (Fabricius, 1793) and Pelopidas mathias (Fabricius, 1798) started in 2021. The habitats are discussed, dorsal and ventral pictures of both genders of G. nostrodamus and P. mathias are included. For identification the genitalia of both genders were examined, and the photographs of their preparations are presented. While the male and female genitalia of G. nostrodamus were described in detail, this was not the case for P. mathias. Images of the male and female genitalia of collected specimens of P. mathias are compared with detailed drawings of Pelopidas thrax (Hübner, [1821]). The discovery of two new species for the State of Kuwait increases the total number of butterfly species to 25. [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.)

Nontarget effects from mosquito control operations are possible in habitats adjacent to areas targeted by ultra‐low‐volume (ULV) sprays of permethrin for adult mosquito control. We assessed the risks of permethrin exposure to butterflies, particularly the imperiled Klot's skipper, when exposed to ground‐based ULV sprays. Samples of larval host plant leaves (sawgrass) were collected in June (in mosquito season) and January (outside mosquito season) of 2015 from sawgrass marsh habitats of the National Key Deer Wildlife Refuge (Big Pine Key, FL, USA) and analyzed for permethrin. Permethrin detection was higher in June (detected on 70% of samples) than in January (30%), and concentrations were significantly higher in June (geomean = 2.1 ng/g, median = 2.4) relative to January (0.4 ng/g, median = 0.2). Dietary risk for 4th to 5th‐instar larvae was low based on the measured residues. The AGricultural DISPersal model (Ver. 8.26) was used to estimate permethrin residues on sawgrass following ULV sprays (deposited residues) to estimate immediate postspray risk. Estimated deposited residues (33–543 ng/g) were much higher than measured residues, which leads to a higher risk likelihood for butterfly larvae immediately after ULV sprays. The difference between estimated and measured residues, and between the two risk estimations, reflects uncertainty in risk estimates based on the measured residues. Research on modeling deposited pesticide residues following ground‐based ULV spray is limited. More research on estimating deposited pesticide residues from truck‐mounted ULV sprayers could help reduce uncertainty in the risk predictions for nontarget insects like butterflies. Environ Toxicol Chem 2024;43:267–278. Published 2023. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of SETAC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Millet Skipper butterfly Pelopidas thrax(Hübner) (Hesperiidae) is added to the Lepidoptera fauna of Corfu (Kerkyra). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seventy seven Papilionoidea species have been indicated for South Ossetia (72 – for the first time for thus territory). For three species listed in the Red Book of South Ossetia (P. apollo, I. podalirius and P. machaon) new localities are given.

The article titled "New record of Giant Redeye Gangara thyrsis thyrsis (Fabricius, 1775) (Lepidoptera: Hesperiidae) from Garhwal region of western Himalaya, India" discusses the discovery of the Giant Redeye butterfly in the Garhwal region of the western Himalayas in India. The Giant Redeye is the largest skipper butterfly in India, known for its quick darting flight. The butterfly was previously only found in the Indian peninsular region, but this new record expands its known distribution. The article provides details about the physical characteristics and habitat preferences of the butterfly, as well as information about its larval host plants. This is the first authentic record of the Giant Redeye in the Garhwal region of Uttarakhand, India. [Extracted from the article]

Possible weather and biological effects on the abundance of duskywings (Erynnis Schrank, 1804: Hesperiidae) at Roxborough State Park, Douglas County, Colorado are described over a five-year period (2018–2022). Of nine species reported from the park, four were consistently documented in all five years. Anomalous weather (temperature metrics and precipitation) in the summer of 2020 (and to a lesser degree in 2021), were coincident with abundance declines in E. telemachus Burns, 1960 in 2021 and 2022. Other relatively abundant Erynnis species demonstrated similar 2021 trends, however, E. brizo Boisduval & LeConte, [1837], E. afranius Lintner, 1878, and E. horatius Scudder & Burgess, 1870 all had relatively strong recoveries in abundance by 2022. Possible leaf palatability effects caused by an outbreak of tent caterpillars (Malacosoma californicum Packard, 1864, Family: Lasiocampidae) may have positively affected E. horatius second flight abundance in 2022. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study was conducted to compile the species composition of the diversity of butterflies in Itanagar Wildlife Sanctuary, Arunachal Pradesh. The butterflies were observed and collected in the field from April 2019 to March 2022. Old collections of the campus made by earlier workers (1996–2018), present in the Entomological Museum, Zoological Survey of India, Itanagar, India, were also studied. A total of 195 species referable to 118 genera under six families, i.e., Papilionidae, Pieridae, Nymphalidae, Riodinidae, Lycaenidae, and Hesperiidae, were recorded from Itanagar Wildlife Sanctuary for the first time. The maximum diversity of species was found in the family Nymphalidae, with 82 species under 41 genera (42%); followed by Lycaenidae, 42 species under 33 genera (22%); Hesperiidae, 34 species under 25 genera (17%); Pieridae, 18 species under 11 genera (9%); Papilionidae, 18 species under 7 genera (9%); and Riodinidae, 1 species under 1 genus (1%). Observations on the relative abundance of butterfly diversity revealed that of these 195 species, 59 species (31%) were found to be common, 72 species (36%) were uncommon, and the remaining 64 species (33%) were less common. Of 195 species, 21 were found in the Wildlife (Protection) Amendment Act 2022. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We propose a new generic combination for the Mexican skipper Pholisora tepeca Bell, 1942, transferred into the genus Bolla Mabille, 1903, based on morphological and molecular data. In addition, taxonomic notes on this species, including a redescription of the male and the first illustrations of the female genitalia, a taxonomic catalogue, and a distributional map, are provided. Finally, we show that Bolla tepeca new comb. is closely related to Bolla saletas (Godman & Salvin, 1896). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Celaenorrhinus pyrrha de Nicéville, 1889 is recorded for the first time from central Nepal. Three individuals were recorded in March and November, 2021 from 800-930 meters elevation in Pokhara, Kaski District. The species was recorded previously from Uttarakhand in the West Himalayas and Sikkim to Yunnan in the East Himalayas. Its distribution record, however, was missing from the central Himalayas. This new record is proposed to fill the distributional gap for this species in the central Himalayas. The identification is based on external morphology and the morphology of male genitalia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, we respond in detail to a recently published criticism of our previous designation of a neotype for the neotropical butterfly Telegonus fulgerator (Walch). It is our view that these criticisms are largely based on subjective claims that lack solid evidence, and conclude that there is no compelling reason for invalidating our neotype. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Red imported fire ants (Solenopsis invicta; fire ants) are an invasive species that prey on arthropods in the southern United States. Researchers examined using fire ants to control agricultural Lepidoptera pests, but minimal research has investigated the effects of fire ants on the broader butterfly community. Three ranches in Texas, USA, with known fire ant occurrence underwent treatment to remove fire ants, creating a treated section and an untreated section for each ranch. We sampled sites using colored pan traps 3 times per sampling period during 2018 and 2019. Over 2 years, we collected 1,262 butterflies across 28 species in pan traps. Average butterfly abundance was higher in treated sites than untreated sites. The majority of species collected were in the family Hesperiidae, followed by the Pieridae family. We found Hesperiidae species more often in blue pan traps and Pieridae species more often in yellow pan traps. Butterfly species that overwinter as immature stages were more abundant in treated sites than in untreated sites, which suggests there could be a connection between fire ant presence and mortality of overwintering immature stages. Our results suggest that fire ants may negatively affect butterfly communities and differentially affect certain species. Additional research is needed to understand the effects of fire ants on butterflies and the overall pollinator community, and the effectiveness of pan traps for surveying Lepidoptera. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report the first record of the larvae of a species in the butterfly genus Ochlodes (Lepidoptera: Hesperiidae) feeding on rice and causing notable damage. Based on the results of DNA barcoding of the reared adults and further investigation of male and female genitalia, we revise the status of taxon hyrcana Christoph, 1893 as a subspecies of Ochlodes sylvanus (Esper, [1778]) stat. rev. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses the sighting of the Large Branded Swift Pelopidas sinensis butterfly in Delhi, India, which is not typically found in the semi-arid areas of northwestern India. Three male butterflies were observed in a private farm compound in southwestern Delhi, indicating a range extension for this species. The article also mentions the unexpected sighting of the Chinese Windmill butterfly (Parantica sinensis) in Delhi and suggests that further research is needed to determine if these butterflies have expanded their range or if they are temporary settlers. The examination of specimens and their genitalia would provide valuable information for confirming these findings and studying wing marking patterns. [Extracted from the article]

This article, published in the Journal of Threatened Taxa, discusses the record of the Hoary Palmer Unkana ambasa butterfly species in Assam, India. The Hoary Palmer is a large skipper butterfly found in tropical forests in southern and southeastern Asia. While it has been recorded in other parts of India, this is the first confirmed record of the species in Assam. The article provides details of the observation and suggests further field investigations to determine the distribution and conservation status of this species in northeastern India. [Extracted from the article]

Se analiza el área de distribución del género Megaleas, se registra por primera vez para Colombia y se describe una nueva especie Megaleas angelae n. sp. En Altaquer- Nariño, Sur de Colombia, con base en material depositado en la colección entomológica del Instituto de Ciencias de la Universidad Nacional de Colombia Sede Bogotá. Se discuten diferencias entre Megaleas syrna y la nueva especie.

Climate change poses a severe threat to many taxa, with increased mean temperatures and frequency of extreme weather events predicted.Insects can respond to high temperatures using behaviour, such as angling their wings away from the sun or seeking cool local microclimates to thermoregulate or through physiological tolerance.In a butterfly community in Panama, we compared the ability of adult butterflies from 54 species to control their body temperature across a range of air temperatures (thermal buffering ability), as well as assessing the critical thermal maxima for a subset of 24 species.Thermal buffering ability and tolerance were influenced by family, wing length, and wing colour, with Pieridae, and butterflies that are large or darker in colour having the strongest thermal buffering ability, but Hesperiidae, small, and darker butterflies tolerating the highest temperatures.We identified an interaction between thermal buffering ability and physiological tolerance, where species with stronger thermal buffering abilities had lower thermal tolerance, and vice versa. This interaction implies that species with more stable body temperatures in the field may be more vulnerable to increases in ambient temperatures, for example heat waves associated with ongoing climate change.Our study demonstrates that tropical species employ diverse thermoregulatory strategies, which is also reflected in their sensitivity to temperature extremes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In addition, she lectures on the biodiversity and biogeography of Lepidoptera at the University of Florida and has served on or been chair of more than 23 graduate student committees. Miller's interests broadly range across systematics, taxonomy, biogeography, and life history of Lepidoptera, especially in the Castniidae, Hesperioidea, and Nymphalidae. Long-term monitoring of butterflies in the Bahamas since the 1980s by Miller and her husband, Lee, led to all-Lepidoptera surveys including micromoths in 2010. Born 28 July 1944 Current Position Research Foundation Professor University of Florida Allyn Curator of Lepidoptera McGuire Center for Lepidoptera and Biodiversity Florida Museum of Natural History University of Florida Graduate Students Ph.D. (13) M.S. (6) Publications 158 Books I The Common Names of North i I American Butterflies i (J. Y. Miller, editor) Smithsonian Press, Washington, DC I Butterflies of the West Indies i I and South Florida i (with D. S. Smith and L. D. Miller) Oxford University Press I The Butterfly Handbook i (with L. D. Miller) New Burlington Books, London Honors Fellow Entomological Society of America Honorary Member Entomological Society of America Fellow Royal Entomological Society, London Honorary Life Member The Lepidopterists' Society Honorary Research Associate Carnegie Museum of Natural History Honorary Life Member Lepidopterists' Society of Africa Service President The Lepidopterists' Society 1989-1990 Editor, I Bulletin of the Allyn Museum i (1981-present) ESA Governing Board 2003-2005 Co-Chair, Local Arrangements, ESA Annual Meeting, 2001-2002 Graph: Jackie Miller, Allyn Curator of Lepidoptera, University of Florida, 2008. [Extracted from the article]

The superfamily Papilionoidea day butterfly, which is endemic to the Cenderawasih Bay islands (Numfor, Supiori, Biak and Yapen), consists of 6 family species: the Papilionidae, Hesperiidae, Pieridae, Riodinidae, Lycaenidae and Nymphalidae families. This study aims to analyze the grouping of endemic butterflies of the Bay of Cendrawasih based on wings and colours in 4 Clusters, namely Numfor, Supiori, Biak and Yapen Islands, by applying the function of the K-Means Clustering algorithm data mining method. The grouping selection was carried out 7 times with the conclusion that Numfor had 13 types of Endemic Butterfly species, Biak had 7 Papuan Endemic Butterfly Species, Supiori had 9 Endemic Butterfly Species, and Yapen had 11 Endemic Butterfly Species. The analysis results were then retested in an application built using the Waterfall system development method and the PHP and MySQL programming languages. In addition to applying the K-Means Clustering algorithm for grouping endemic butterflies, the application created produces a butterfly distribution map that displays butterfly information based on family. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Butterflies are the bio-indicator species for monitoring the health of the ecosystem. A preliminary checklist of the butterfly diversity was prepared by a long-term survey from 2019 to 2022 in varied habitats in the agriculture landscape of the Himachal Pradesh Agriculture University (HPAU), India. The study recorded 74 butterfly species belonging to six families Nymphalidae, Pieridae, Lycaenidae, Hesperiidae, Papilionidae and Riodinidae. In addition, there are some rare records of butterfly species such as Common Wall (Lasiommata schakra), Dark Blue Tiger (Tirumala septentrionis), Ringed Argus (Callerebia annada) and Pioneer (Belenois aurota). Some butterflies are habitat specific and few also show local migration from high-elevation areas of the surrounding Dhauladhar ranges. The preliminary checklist prepared from the present study was also compared with Central University of Himachal Pradesh (CUHP) located in the similar landscape of the study area. This will help to understand the long-term effect of habitat degradation from human-modified environment and agricultural activities to facilitate effective conservation strategies to protect Himalayan ecosystem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined the diversity, abundance and evenness of butterfly pollinators in Kumaun region, Uttarakhand from March 2019 to February 2020. A total of 394 butterflies, representing 40 species and five families were collected. Nymphalidae was the most dominant family with 19 species, followed by Pieridae (9 species), Lycaenidae (9 species), Papilionidae (2 species), and Hesperiidae (1 species), respectively. Pieris canidia indica (Evans) was the most abundant species, constituting 38.3% of the total individuals. Shannon-Wiener diversity index was observed to be maximum in Site-1 (H'=1.37) than in Site- 2 (H'=1.12). Similarly, evenness was maximum in Site-1 (E=0.457), than in Site-2 (E=0.333). In addition, significant pollinator species in crops have been identified in agroecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two species of Arrhenes Mabille are recorded from Torres Strait, Queensland: Arrhenes marnas marnas (C. Felder) was first reported from Dauan and Saibai Islands in 2021, and Arrhenes dschilus dschilus (Plötz) is recorded here for the first time from Boigu Island. On the three islands the two species were all collected in lowland habitats of tall grasses. Based on the infrequent sightings of the two taxa, despite some robust collecting undertaken on two of the islands, it is possible that the two Arrhenes species (a total of 7 specimens thus far collected) may not be permanently established in Torres Strait and perhaps are intermittent, due to temporary establishments by incursions of vagrants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two new species of Ochlodes Scudder, 1872, Ochlodes pseudochraceus Zhu, Fan & Wang, sp. nov. and Ochlodes cryptochraceus Zhu, Fan & Chiba, sp. nov., are found in China and described, and Ochlodes rikuchina (Butler, 1878) stat. rev. is restored. A lectotype is designated for Pamphila ochracea Bremer, 1861, and a neotype is designated for Pamphila rikuchina Butler, 1878. Overall, the two new species are similar to Ochlodes ochraceus (Bremer, 1861). They, however, can be distinguished from the latter and other species in the genus: O. pseudochraceus has long radial spots in spaces R3-5, and the lateral process of the phallus gradually widens at the distal half in male genitalia; O. cryptochraceus has the lateral process of the phallus enlarged only at the distal tip. Based on the phylogenetic analyses of the mitochondrial COI gene, members of currently defined O. ochraceus are grouped into four clades. The genetic distances between O. pseudochraceus and O. ochraceus, O. cryptochraceus and O. ochraceus, O. rikuchina and O. ochraceus, and O. pseudochraceus and O. cryptochraceus are 3.2%, 2.1%, 1.9%, and 2.7%, respectively. Based on the molecular and morphological evidence, O. pseudochraceus, O. cryptochraceus, and O. rikuchina are treated to be distinct species. The adult habitus and male and female genitalia of the new species are illustrated as well as those of O. ochraceus and O. rikuchina. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Iguaçu National Park is the second largest (1852.62 km²) protected area in the Atlantic Forest domain and harbors the largest area of semideciduous seasonal forest in Brazil. In this study, we present 795 subspecies and 787 species of butterflies that occur in this protected area and its surrounding areas, collected over 15 years and ten months using different non-standardized sampling methods. We also searched for additional records in the literature, entomological collections, and citizen science platforms on the internet. Among the sampled taxa, six are recorded for the first time in Brazil: Emesis orichalceus Stichel, 1916, Theope p. pakitza Hall & Harvey, 1998 (Riodinidae), Elbella v. viriditas (Skinner, 1920), Apaustus gracilis ssp. n. (Hesperiidae), Deltaya sp. n. (Nymphalidae), and Symbiopsis sp. n. (Lycaenidae). Another six are listed as endangered in lists of butterflies of conservation concern. The records for some species significantly increase previously documented distributions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract 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.