Anurocampa (Lepidoptera: Notodontidae): two new species, systematics and immature stages.

Notodontidae (Lepidoptera, Noctuoidea) comprise over 4,000 described species distributed worldwide, among which nearly half are restricted to the Neotropics. Morphology of adults and immatures of Notodontidae have been broadly investigated and many larval, pupal, and adult characters were found to be synapomorphies of subfamilies and tribes. Despite this, the current classification of Notodontidae remains unsettled as most recent classification systems are contradictory due to reliance on incomplete global sampling and, many taxa, especially in the Neotropics, are still informally classified as incertae sedis. Anurocampa Herrich-Shäffer was recently treated as an incertae sedis genus, and immature and adult characters may provide further evidence for its systematic position among the Notodontidae. With this goal in mind, the present study describes the immature stages of Anurocampa mingens Herrich-Shäffer from Brazil and describes two new species in the genus from Costa Rica based on morphology and mitochondrial DNA: Anurocampa markhastingsi Chacón and St Laurent sp. nov. and Anurocampa abelardochaconi Chacón and St Laurent sp. nov. and discusses the systematic position of Anurocampa.

Immature Stages, Description of Female, and Redescription of Male of Apatelodes kotzschi Draudt, 1929 (Lepidoptera: Bombycoidea: Apatelodidae).

The genus Apatelodes Packard, 1864 comprise more than half of the known Apatelodidae species, but most of its species are placed in the genus without precise justification. The result is a heterogeneous group of species, probably forming a polyphyletic arrangement. Despite being relatively large moths and relatively abundant in light traps, only little information on the natural history and morphology of the Apatelodes immature stages has been published, and only one species is fully described including its immature stages. Aiming to increase the knowledge and provide information towards the definition of the identity of this genus, the present study describes the immature stages, provides a redescription of the male, the first description of the female of Apatelodes kotzschi Draudt, 1929, and we compare and discuss the morphological similarities among Apatelodes species. In general, the immatures of Apatelodes exhibits apparently well-conserved morphological characters, including the gross chaetotaxy configuration. Most differences are found in larval coloration patterns (mainly in the last instar larvae), pupa texture, and cremaster morphology. In contrast, imagos wings and genitalia are rich sources of diagnostic characters which can be used to identify species. However, there are still large gaps in the knowledge of the morphological characters and natural history of most species in the genus that hampers a more robust delimitation of the genus Apatelodes.

Butterflies (Lepidoptera: Papilionoidea) of Iguaçu National Park and surrounding areas in southern Brazil: a long-term survey, with six new records for the Brazilian fauna / As Borboletas (Lepidoptera: Papilionoidea) do Parque Nacional do Iguaçu e arredores no Sul do Brasil: um inventário de longo prazo, com seis novos registros para a fauna brasileira

Abstract 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.

Resumo O Parque Nacional do Iguaçu é a segunda maior Unidade de Conservação (1.852,62 km²) no domínio Mata Atlântica, abrigando a maior área de Floresta Estacional Semidecídua no Brasil. Neste estudo apresentamos uma lista com 795 subespécies e 787 espécies de borboletas que ocorrem nesta Unidade de Conservação e seus arredores, coligida ao longo de 15 anos e dez meses através do uso de diferentes métodos de amostragem não padronizados. Nós também procuramos por registros adicionais na literatura, coleções entomológicas e plataformas de ciência cidadã na internet. Dentre os táxons amostrados, seis são registrados pela primeira vez para o Brasil: 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) e Symbiopsis sp. n. (Lycaenidae). Outras seis espécies são consideradas ameaçadas de extinção em listas de borboletas de interesse para a conservação. Os registros de algumas espécies aumentam significativamente as suas distribuições previamente documentadas.

A new species of Pantelodes (Lepidoptera: Bombycoidea: Apatelodidae) from Southern Bahia, Brazil.

A recent taxonomic study revealed that specimens so far identified as Apatelodes satellitia (Walker, 1855) are in fact representatives of a complex of cryptic species. A new genus was established to hold this complex of species, namely Pantelodes Herbin, 2017. Here we describe a new species of Pantelodes from Southern Bahia Atlantic Forest based on morphological and molecular characters. Pantelodes camacana Orlandin Carneiro sp. nov. is compared with other Pantelodes species and their phylogenetic relationships are discussed.

Investigation of electrophysiological precursors of attentional errors in schizophrenia: Toward a better understanding of abnormal proactive control engagement.

Impaired cognitive control has been associated with the occurrence of attentional errors in those with schizophrenia. However, the extent of altered proactive or reactive control underlying such errors is still unknown. Twenty-two patients with schizophrenia and 21 healthy matched controls performed a detection task (i.e., the continuous temporal expectancy task). Electrophysiological measures of proactive and reactive control were based on two periods of interest: during the target presentation (the critical window) and four trials before the critical window. Regarding the proactive mode, patients with schizophrenia exhibited a specific decrease in frontal midline theta power during the critical window before a miss compared to a correct detection. In contrast, the contingent negative variation amplitude was altered regardless of the response type, four trials before the critical window. Regarding the reactive mode, a reduced P3 amplitude was revealed later before a miss than a correct detection with differences apparent only two trials before the critical window in patients with schizophrenia, whereas it was observable up to four trials prior in healthy controls. Moreover, only the P3 amplitude reduction in patients with schizophrenia predicted the miss rate and was anti-correlated with the clinical symptoms. Thus, our results revealed a specific impairment of the proactive goal-updating process before an error and an altered implementation of the endogenous proactive mode engagement regardless of the response type. The results also highlighted the strong relationship between the disrupted reactive mode and the increased rate of attentional errors and severity of the clinical symptoms of schizophrenia.

A review of the Neotropical skipper genus Sodalia Evans, 1955 (Lepidoptera: Hesperiidae: Hesperiinae) with the description of a new species.

The Neotropical skipper genus Sodalia Evans, 1955 and its respective species are revised. Sodalia includes five species: S. sodalis (Butler, 1877) (type species), S. argyrospila (Mabille, 1876), S. coler (Schaus, 1902), S. petiti Gaviria-Ortiz, Dolibaina A. Warren sp. nov. (described from low to mid elevations of the western Andes of Ecuador and from the Cordillera de la Costa in Venezuela), and Sodalia spangla (Evans, 1955) comb. nov. hitherto combined with Mnasitheus Godman, 1900. Lectotypes for Pamphila sodalis Butler, 1877 and Achlyodes argyrospila Mabille, 1876 are designated. The genus and species are redescribed and illustrations of relevant morphological characters necessary for identification are provided, as well as updated distributional maps.

Taxonomic revision of the genus Panca Evans, 1955 (Hesperiidae: Hesperiinae: Hesperiini: Moncina) with the description of two new species.

The South American genus Panca Evans, 1955 and its respective species are revised. Previous to this study, the genus included solely its type species, Lerodea subpunctuli Hayward, 1934, until Panca moseri Dolibaina, Carneiro O. Mielke, 2017 was described recently. However, as a result of a broader morphological study including closely related genera, we here propose that Panca assembles 12 species, most of which inhabit open environments such as the Cerrado biome and the natural grasslands of the Atlantic Forest biome. Eight species formerly included among other genera of Moncina are here combined with Panca: Panca satyr (Evans, 1955) comb. nov., Panca tobiasi (Mielke, 1992) comb. nov., Panca trogon (Evans, 1955) comb. nov., Panca steinhauseri (Dolibaina A. Warren, 2015) comb. nov., Panca acroleuca (Plötz, 1884) comb. nov., and Panca mirnae (O. Mielke, Dolibaina, Carneiro A. Warren, 2015) comb. nov. (all formerly in Artines Godman, 1901), Panca paulo (Bell, 1932) comb. nov. (formerly in Eutocus Godman, 1901), and Panca mictra (Evans, 1955) comb. nov. (formerly in Vidius Evans, 1955). Additionally, two new species are described from Brazil: Panca puri Medeiros, O. Mielke Casagrande sp. nov. (from Pará, Pernambuco, Minas Gerais, Rio de Janeiro and Paraná) and Panca xavante Medeiros, O. Mielke Dolibaina sp. nov. (from Mato Grosso, Goiás, Distrito Federal and Minas Gerais). A neotype for Apaustus acroleuca Plötz, 1884 is designated. Illustrations of the male and female genitalia and distribution maps are presented for all the species of Panca and an identification key is provided for both sexes.

A new species of Pheraeus Godman, 1900 (Hesperiidae, Hesperiini, Moncina) restricted to Rio Doce Valley, Brazil.

A new species of Pheraeus Godman, 1900, P. guandu Saraiva, Carneiro, Mielke Casagrande sp. nov., restricted to the Rio Doce Valley (Espírito Santo and Minas Gerais, southeast Brazil) is described. Adults of the new species are illustrated and compared with phenotypically closest species, Pheraeus argynnis (Plötz, 1884), together with the diagnostic characters present in the male and female genitalia. This new species is here solely described because it is known to occur in a restricted region crossed by the Rio Doce. This region has been extensively transformed in recent decades by agriculture, livestock, construction of hydroelectric and tailing dams, and more recently by a dam failure, thus potentially impacting the habitat of this species.

Oviposition of Minstrellus grandis (Lepidoptera: Riodinidae) in a harmful ant-plant symbiosi

The oviposition behavior of the rare butterfly Minstrellus grandis (Callaghan, 1999) (Lepidoptera: Riodinidae) is recorded for the first time. Two females laid eggs on the old leaves of an unidentified Triplaris sp. (Polygonaceae), a myrmecophytic plant typically known as 'Triplaria' or 'novice' tree, inhabited by aggressive 'taxi' ants of the genus Pseudomyrmex sp. (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). These observations suggest that M. grandis caterpillars live associated with one of the most harmful types of Amazon ant-plant symbiosis. (AU)

Insect (Hexapoda) diversity in the oceanic archipelago of Fernando de Noronha, Brazil: updated taxonomic checklist and new records

ABSTRACT Hexapods, commonly known as insects, are a neglected taxonomic group in the Fernando de Noronha archipelago, with unanswered questions about their species richness and the ecological processes in which they are involved (e.g., colonization, introduction, establishment, and extinction). Herein, we provide an updated Hexapod checklist with current nomenclatural combinations. The entomofauna of the Fernando de Noronha archipelago is currently composed of 453 species in 21 orders. The orders, and their respective number of species, are: Blattaria (9), Coleoptera (118), Collembola (29), Dermaptera (3), Diplura (1), Diptera (134), Embioptera (1), Hemiptera (29), Hymenoptera (59), Isoptera (2), Lepidoptera (25), Mantodea (1), Neuroptera (3), Odonata (5), Orthoptera (11), Phasmatodea (1), Phthiraptera (6), Psocoptera (3), Siphonaptera (1), Thysanoptera (10), and Zygentoma (2). The archipelago has 263 new taxon records (family + genera + species). Thirty-eight species (3.39%) were described from local specimens and most of them are likely endemic species. This study more than doubles our knowledge (from the previous 190 records) of the entomofauna in this large Brazilian archipelago. This study also provides a baseline for studies on its conservation status and for implementing future environmental management programs.

Taxonomic revision of the genus Tarmia Lindsey, 1925 stat. rev. (Hesperiidae: Hesperiinae: Hesperiini: Moncina) with the description of a new species from the Andes.

The genus Tarmia Lindsey, 1925, long considered a junior synonym of Phanes Godman, 1901, is here revised and its status is revalidated based on morphological evidence. Two Andean species are included in Tarmia: the type species, T. monastica Lindsey, 1925 comb. rev., and a new species herein described, Tarmia greeneyi A. Warren, Medeiros, Dolibaina O. Mielke sp. nov., from Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia. The male's symmetrical valvae and aedeagus with a twisted median portion, and the very wide ductus bursae of the female genitalia support Tarmia as valid genus apart of Phanes. Illustrations of the main diagnostic characters of both sexes and a distribution map are provided for the species of Tarmia.

Taxonomic revision of Artines Godman, 1901 (Hesperiidae: Hesperiinae: Moncini) with the description of nine new species.

The genus Artines Godman, 1901 and its respective species are revised. The results shows that Artines consists of 15 species distributed from Mexico to Bolivia, Paraguay, southern Brazil and northern Argentina. Nine new species are described: Artines panama Medeiros Carneiro sp. nov. from Panama, Artines solange Medeiros O. Mielke sp. nov. from Brazil (Maranhão), Artines delfos Medeiros Casagrande sp. nov. from Brazil (Amazonas), Artines litoralis Medeiros Dolibaina sp. nov. from Brazil (from Paraíba to Espírito Santo), Artines liege Medeiros, O. Mielke Casagrande sp. nov. from Brazil (central region of Brazil, from Pará to Paraná), Argentina (Misiones) and Paraguay (Alto Paraná), Artines bamba Medeiros O. Mielke sp. nov. from Brazil (Acre and Amazonas) and Peru (San Martin and Madre de Díos), Artines angelica Medeiros sp. nov. from Brazil (Acre, Pará, Maranhão and Mato Grosso), Peru (Madre de Díos) and Bolivia (La Paz), Artines cofus Medeiros Dolibaina sp. nov. from Brazil (Acre and Rondônia) and Peru (Madre de Díos and San Martin) and Artines donia Medeiros Carneiro sp. nov. from Brazil (Rondônia and Goiás). A neotype for Thracides aepitus Geyer, 1832 and a lectotype for Artines atizies Godman, 1901 are designated. Genitalia of both sexes are illustrated and distribution maps for all species are provided. The females of Artines aepitus (Geyer, 1832), Artines focus Evans, 1955 and Artines aquilina (Plötz, 1882) are illustrated for the first time. An identification key is provided for males.

Biotic Potential and Life Tables of Chrysodeixis includens (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), Rachiplusia nu, and Trichoplusia ni on Soybean and Forage Turnip.

Loopers such as Chrysodeixis includens (Walker), Rachiplusia nu (Guenée), and Trichoplusia ni (Hübner) are important defoliators in soybean, sunflower, and crucifer crops, respectively, in countries of the Americas. The biotic potential of these polyphagous species of Plusiinae was comparatively examined considering crop rotation and succession scenarios in which crucifer crops are cultivated during or after Brazilian winter. All the species developed and reproduced on soybean (BRS 133 Embrapa) and forage turnip (Cati AL 1000, Wolf Seeds do Brasil). The development of C. includens was similar on both host plants. The survival of R. nu was lower on forage turnip than on soybean. In contrast, T. ni performance (survival, fecundity, pupal weight) was better on forage turnip than on soybean. This suggests that in crop rotation and succession scenarios of soybean after brassicacea, C. includens is likely to have a higher number of generations per year and could be potentially more harmful.

First record of Peridroma saucia Hübner (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in transgenic soybeans

ABSTRACT The widespread cultivation of transgenic soybeans has caused significant changes in the spectrum of Lepidoptera larvae, both in the number of species as well as on their densities in the field. Transgenic crops producing Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) insecticidal proteins have successfully reduced the incidence of the most common caterpillars infesting soybeans, namely Anticarsia gemmatalis (Lepidoptera: Erebidae) and Chrysodeixis includens (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). However, lepidopteran species not previously recorded on the crop have been recently found, and are of concern due to the possibility of adaptation to the genetically modified cultivars. The occurrence of Peridroma saucia Hübner (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) is described for the first time in Brazil feeding on genetically modified soybean cultivars.

Transcriptomic Response to 1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D in Human Fibroblasts with or without a Functional Vitamin D Receptor (VDR): Novel Target Genes and Insights into VDR Basal Transcriptional Activity.

The vitamin D receptor (VDR) mediates vitamin D actions beyond bone health. While VDR activation by 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D (1,25D) leads to robust transcriptional regulation, less is known about VDR actions in the absence of 1,25D. We analyzed the transcriptomic response to 1,25D in fibroblasts bearing a severe homozygous hereditary vitamin D resistant rickets-related p.Arg30* VDR mutation (MUT) and in control fibroblasts (CO). Roughly 4.5% of the transcriptome was regulated by 1,25D in CO fibroblasts, while MUT cells without a functional VDR were insensitive to 1,25D. Novel VDR target genes identified in human fibroblasts included bone and cartilage factors CILP, EFNB2, and GALNT12. Vehicle-treated CO and MUT fibroblasts had strikingly different transcriptomes, suggesting basal VDR activity. Indeed, oppositional transcriptional effects in basal conditions versus after 1,25D activation were implied for a subset of target genes mostly involved with cell cycle. Cell proliferation assays corroborated this conjectured oppositional basal VDR activity, indicating that precise 1,25D dosage in target tissues might be essential for modulating vitamin D actions in human health.

A new species of Wahydra from Ecuador (Hesperiidae, Hesperiinae, Anthoptini).

Recent taxonomic studies on the genus Wahydra Steinhauser, 1991, have described five new species in the past two years, from high elevations in the Andes Mountains. A markedly distinct species of Wahydra is herein described and illustrated based on a single male specimen from Ecuadorian Andes, Wahydra graslieae A. Warren, Carneiro Dolibaina, sp. nov. The new species is compared with other species of Wahydra, as well as with the somewhat similar species Lerema viridis (Bell, 1942) and Tigasis viridenex (Weeks, 1901).

Phenological patterns of Spodoptera Guenée, 1852 (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) is more affected by ENSO than seasonal factors and host plant availability in a Brazilian Savanna.

The identification of factors responsible for the population dynamics is fundamental for pest management, since losses can reach 18% of annual production. Besides regular seasonal environmental factors and crop managements, additional supra-annual meteorological phenomena can also affect population dynamics, although its relevance has been rarely investigated. Among crop pests, Spodoptera stands out due to its worldwide distribution, high degree of polyphagy, thus causing damages in several crops in the world. Aiming to distinguish the relevance of different factors shaping population dynamics of Spodoptera in an ecosystem constituted of dry and rainy seasons, the current study used circular statistics to identify phenological patterns and test if its population fluctuation is driven by El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) effect, seasonal meteorological parameters, and/or host plant availability. Samplings were done in an intercropping system, in the Brazilian Savanna, during the new moon cycles between July/2013 and June/2016. Species were recorded all year round, but demonstrated differently non-uniform distribution, being concentrated in different seasons of the year. Population fluctuations were mostly affected by the ENSO intensity, despite the contrasting seasonal meteorological variation or host plant availability in a 400-m radius. Studies involving the observation of supra-annual phenomena, although rare, reach similar conclusions in relation to Neotropical insect fauna. Therefore, it is paramount to have long-term sampling studies to obtain a more precise response of the pest populations towards the agroecosystem conditions.

Interseasonal variation of Chrysodeixis includens (Walker, [1858]) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) populations in the Brazilian Savanna

Abstract Chrysodeixis includens (Walker, [1858]) is currently the main plusiine pest in the Americas, not only because of the damage caused to soybean, but also with several crop species in a broad geographical range. However, its population dynamics is still poorly understood, despite outbreak records that are common across different locations in the Americas. The current study aimed at identifying phenological patterns of C. includens emphasizing its differences among the three years of sampling effort in an intercropping area of the Brazilian Savanna. Thereafter, we tested whether the El Niño size effect, meteorological factors, or soybean, corn and wheat cycles, are better predictors of its monthly abundance. The insects were collected with a light trap during five consecutive nights (repetitions) during 35 new moons. In total, 2026 specimens were collected in all months of the year although not consecutively. Across each year, monthly abundance of C. includens was non-uniform, characterized by sharp population peaks concentrated in the rainy season. These peaks varied from January until March, depending on the year sampled. We found that the local soybean cycle and El Niño effect to significantly influence the species abundance across the entire period of study. These results aid in understanding the species population dynamics and its status as a pest, providing evidence of factors that determine its phenological patterns. Although it presents a very defined phenology, the population dynamics of C. includens varies significantly between years and locations, which demonstrates the importance and need to monitor local populations of larvae and adults for its management.

Monotypic no longer: a new species of Panca Evans (Lepidoptera: Hesperiidae: Hesperiinae: Moncini) from South America.

A new species belonging to the previously monotypic genus Panca Evans, 1955, P. moseri Dolibaina, Carneiro & O. Mielke sp. nov., from grasslands areas of Peru, Bolivia and Brazil is described. Adults and male and female genitalia of the new species are illustrated, described in detail, and compared with the type species of the genus, Lerodea subpunctuli Hayward, 1934, and with its externally most similar and sympatric species, Vidius mictra Evans, 1955. The systematic position of the genus Panca and its association with lowland open natural habitats of South America are discussed.

Immature stages of Temenis laothoe meridionalis Ebert (Lepidoptera, Nymphalidae, Biblidinae)

ABSTRACT The external morphology and life cycle of the immature stages of Temenis laothoe meridionalis Hübner, [1819] (Lepidoptera, Nymphalidae, Biblidinae), associated with Serjania laruotteana (Sapindaceae) in Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil, are described and illustrated with photographs and images from scanning electron microscopy. Special aspects of the external morphology are compared to the immature stages of other species of Biblidinae.