A new species Stereodytis eclipsia Tomura & Hirowatari sp. nov. from Japan is described. Images of the imagos, male and female genitalia, larval biology, feeding habits, and molecular data are provided. Additionally, its systematic position and the possibility that this species was invasive in recent years are discussed.
Lepidoptera , Animals , Female , Male , Animal Distribution , Genitalia/anatomy & histology , Japan , Lepidoptera/anatomy & histology , Lepidoptera/classification
A brief review of the taxonomical history of the genus Paroxyplax Cai, 1984 and its allied genera, including Oxyplax Hampson, 1893, Ploneta Snellen, 1900, Orthocraspeda Hampson, 1893, and Darna Walker, 1862, is presented. Two new species of Paroxyplax and one of Oxyplax are described: Paroxyplax nanlingensis sp. nov., P. fusca sp. nov., and Oxyplax bannaensis sp. nov.; three species are reported for the first time in China: Ploneta diducta Snellen, 1900, Orthocraspeda sordida Snellen, 1900, and Darna sybilla (Swinhoe, 1903). Two genera, Ploneta and the true Darna are known for the first time from China. The adults and genitalia of all the treated species are illustrated. A checklist with distribution data for the species of the treated genera is provided.
Lepidoptera , Animals , Animal Distribution , China , Genitalia/anatomy & histology , Lepidoptera/anatomy & histology , Lepidoptera/classification
Nine new species of Oecophoridae are described from central and southern Chile: Corita morai Urra, Encolia flava Urra, Endrosis apablazai Urra, Gildita versicolora Urra, Glorita nahuelbutensis Urra, Nagehana maulina Urra, Nagehana parvula Urra, Pirquelia vidali Urra, Zulemita chimbarongensis Urra. Diagnostic characteristics, geographic distribution data, photographs of adults and illustrations of the genital structures of males and females are provided.
Lepidoptera , Animals , Female , Male , Animal Distribution , Chile , Genitalia , Lepidoptera/anatomy & histology , Lepidoptera/classification
Abstract Introduction: The Loxicha Region of Oaxaca, Mexico, has been historically important for the study of Nymphalidae, second in the Papilionoidea for species richness. Describing the diversity patterns of this butterfly clade in Loxicha can improve our understanding of the evolutionary history of the Sierra Madre del Sur, the Mexican Pacific slope, and Mexico in general. Objective: To describe the temporal and spatial patterns of Nymphalidae diversity along an elevational gradient (80-2 600 m), and to compare Loxicha's fauna with other regions in Mexico. Methods: We obtained 28 756 records from 21 sites in the Loxicha Region, representing seven years of sampling. We estimate and analyze the diversity, endemism, and distributional patterns for three elevational levels and five vegetation types. We estimated species composition and similarity with other regions of the Pacific and Atlantic slopes. Results: We identified 189 taxa, including species and subspecies, from 85 genera and ten subfamilies of Nymphalidae. Loxicha contains 46 % of the species in the family recognized for Mexico, including ten endemic species and 56 endemic subspecies. Cloud forest and low elevations were the most diverse habitats for this family. There is a clear divergence between the Atlantic and Pacific faunas, and the Sierra Madre del Sur has two faunal components. High-elevation sites in Oaxaca, and in the neighboring state of Guerrero, have a distinctive fauna, apparently isolated from low-elevation sites, revealing an archipelagic distribution for cloud forest Nymphalidae. Conclusions: The Loxicha Region is one of the richest areas for Nymphalidae in Mexico. Distribution on the Pacific slope is determined by geographical history and ecological conditions, including elevation. Nymphalidae can be used to test hypotheses of biogeographic regionalization in Mexico.
Resumen Introducción: La Región Loxicha de Oaxaca, México, ha sido históricamente importante para el estudio de Nymphalidae, segunda en riqueza de especies en Papilionoidea. Describir los patrones de diversidad de este taxón de mariposas en Loxicha puede mejorar nuestra comprensión de la historia evolutiva de la Sierra Madre del Sur, la vertiente del Pacífico mexicano y México en general. Objetivo: Describir los patrones temporales y espaciales de la diversidad de Nymphalidae a lo largo de un gradiente altitudinal (80-2 600 m), y comparar la fauna de Loxicha con otras regiones de México. Métodos: Obtuvimos 28 756 registros de 21 sitios de la Región Loxicha, que representan siete años de muestreo. Estimamos y analizamos la diversidad, el endemismo y los patrones de distribución para tres niveles altitudinales y cinco tipos de vegetación. Estimamos la composición de especies y la similitud con otras regiones de las vertientes del Pacífico y Atlántico de México. Resultados: Identificamos 189 taxones, incluyendo especies y subespecies, de 85 géneros y diez subfamilias de Nymphalidae. Loxicha contiene 46 % de las especies de la familia reconocidas para México, incluidas diez especies endémicas y 56 subespecies endémicas. El bosque mesófilo y las elevaciones bajas fueron los hábitats más diversos para esta familia. Existe una clara divergencia entre las faunas del Atlántico y del Pacífico, y la Sierra Madre del Sur tiene dos componentes faunísticos. Los sitios de elevaciones altas en Oaxaca, y en el estado vecino de Guerrero, tienen una fauna distintiva, aparentemente aislada de los sitios de elevaciones bajas, lo que revela una distribución archipelágica para los Nymphalidae del bosque mesófilo. Conclusiones: La Región Loxicha es una de las zonas más diversas para Nymphalidae en México. La distribución en la vertiente del Pacífico está determinada por la historia geográfica y las condiciones ecológicas, incluida la elevación. Nymphalidae puede usarse para probar hipótesis de regionalización biogeográfica en México.
Animals , Lepidoptera/classification , Mexico
Eight new species of the genus Irepacma Moriuti, Saito & Lewvanich, 1985 are described based on specimens collected in China: I. bispicifera Wang, sp. nov., I. curticylindra Wang, sp. nov., I. denticulata Wang, sp. nov., I. flaviptera Wang, sp. nov., I. longiflagellata Wang, sp. nov., I. rotunda Wang, sp. nov., I. spiculosa Wang, sp. nov., I. tengchongensis Wang, sp. nov. Periacma isomora Meyrick, 1910 is transferred to the genus Irepacma: I. isomora (Meyrick, 1910), comb. nov. Images of adults and genitalia are provided.
Lepidoptera , Animals , Animal Distribution , Animal Structures , China , Genitalia , Lepidoptera/anatomy & histology , Lepidoptera/classification , Organ Size
The genus Nephelobotys is newly recorded from Laos and two new species Nephelobotys denticulatus sp. nov. and Nephelobotys forcipatus sp. nov. are newly described. Nephelobotys evenoralis (Walker, 1859) comb. nov., is also newly reported from Korea. Illustrations of adults and genitalia are provided. The differences with related genus Torulisquama Zhang & Li, 2010 are briefly discussed.
Lepidoptera , Animals , Genitalia , Laos , Lepidoptera/classification
The subfamily Lypusinae of Korea is reviewed with three species including a new species, Agnoea danguni Sohn, sp. nov. belonging to nominotypical subgenus, and two species of Agnoea belonging to the subgenus Tubuliferodes Toll, 1956: A. (T.) digitiella Kim, 2020 and A. (T.) josephinae (Toll, 1956). The female characters of A. digitiella are described for the first time. Additional collecting records are provided for A. digitiella and A. josephinae. Photographs of the habitus and the genitalia are provided for all three species of Agnoea known so far from Korea.
Lepidoptera/anatomy & histology , Lepidoptera/classification , Animals , Female , Genitalia , Republic of Korea
As a reviewer, John Brown received the first Lepidoptera manuscript submitted to Zootaxa in 2002. Within a year he was persuaded by a colleague to volunteer as its first Lepidoptera section editor. As submissions increased, he realized that he needed assistance, so in July 2005 he enlisted Robert Robbins (U.S. National Museum of National History), and the two editors split the submissions-Brown covered moths and Robbins butterflies. As submissions continued to grow, Robbins stepped down and Brown was again the sole editor. Owing to the ever-increasing manuscript load, in 2007 Brown submitted a proposal to several colleagues, inviting them to become Lepidoptera section editors, with the concept that the more editors there were, the fewer manuscripts each would have to handle, and their duties would include papers primarily in their area of expertise. The solicitation was successful, with four new subject editors coming on board in 2007: Lawrence Gall for macrolepidoptera families, Michael Toliver for butterflies, Jean-François Landry for microlepidoptera families, and Shen-Horn Yen for Pyraloidea and Zygaenoidea; the last two are still section editors today. Over the next 13 years, numerous editors came and went-turnover in editorship was always viewed as a positive way to involve new scientists and interject fresh ideas. From 2001 to 2020, a cumulative total of 21 scientists have served as Lepidoptera Section editors (Table 1), representing 14 different countries.
Lepidoptera/classification , Animals , Butterflies/classification , Moths/classification , Periodicals as Topic
In this paper the North African species of the genus Oiketicoides Heylaerts, 1881, are revised. In total there are 16 species of which Oiketicoides algeriensis sp. nov., Oiketicoides albomaculatus sp. nov., Oiketicoides pseudochottella sp. nov., Oiketicoides numidicum sp. nov., Oiketicoides maroccensis sp. nov., Oiketicoides maghrebensis sp. nov., Oiketicoides imazigheni sp. nov. and Oiketicoides atlanticum sp. nov. are described here as new for science. The subspecies described as Oiketicoides febretta lambessa (Heylaerts, 1889) is treated here as belonging to the species rank and a lectotype is formally fixed.
Lepidoptera/classification , Africa, Northern , Animals
The Procridinae are a subfamily of Zygaenidae and are generally perceived as difficult group as the examination of genital structures are needed for the correct identification of most species in Europe. In Croatia, 11 species belonging to this subfamily were recorded so far, but the records for most of them are rather scarce, and based on a limited amount of published data. In order to bridge the gap in knowledge, 188 specimens belonging to this subfamily were collected across Croatia in the last decade. From the collected material nine species have been identified while the historical records of two of them, T. ampellophaga and J. budensis have not been confirmed. Of the recorded species, J. globulariae and A. mannii were the most common ones while almost all other species were rather local or rare. For each of other species this work significantly expands their known distribution in Croatia.
Lepidoptera , Animals , Croatia , Lepidoptera/classification , Lepidoptera/physiology , Moths
Four new species of the genus Locheutis Meyrick, 1883 are described. Locheutis pingxiangensis Wang, sp. nov., L. similempolaea Wang, sp. nov. and L. spinellosa Wang, sp. nov. are described from China; L. elliptica Wang, sp. nov. is described from Thailand. Locheutis jiangkouensis Wang, 2004 and L. tianmushana Wang, 2002 are redescribed, with the female of L. tianmushana described for the first time. Images of adults and available genitalia are provided as well as a key to the species based on male genitalia.
Lepidoptera , Animal Distribution , Animals , Female , Genitalia , Lepidoptera/classification , Male , Moths
In this paper, twelve Pyraloidea species are newly recorded in the Turkish fauna. A new species of Pyralidae (Phycitinae), Ancylosis igdirensis sp. nov. is described. And, the female genitalia of Sciota campicolella Erschoff, 1874 is described for the first time. The pictures related to the species are illustrated.
Lepidoptera , Animal Distribution , Animals , Female , Genitalia , Lepidoptera/anatomy & histology , Lepidoptera/classification , Moths , Turkey
Abantiades penneshawensis Moore Beaver sp. nov. and Abantiades rubrus Moore Beaver sp. nov. are described as new. Both species are endemic to Kangaroo Island, and although both are related to species that occur on the Australian mainland and other islands, they are distinguished from those sister and phenotypically similar species by morphology and mtDNA (COI) barcodes. These two new species raise the number of Abantiades species on Kangaroo Island to six, three being endemic, and 45 species in the genus for the whole of Australia. There are now 13 species of Hepialidae (one undescribed) known from Kangaroo Island and we discuss the potential effects of recent catastrophic fire on some distributions.
Lepidoptera , Animals , Australia , DNA, Mitochondrial , Islands , Lepidoptera/classification , Moths
Two new species of the genus Stenoloba Staudinger, 1892 (S. mediana, sp. n. and S. fuscobrunnea, sp. n.) are described from Cambodia and Laos respectively, and a new species of the genus Victrix Staudinger, 1879 (V. noloides, sp. n.) from China is described. Stenoloba chlorographa Kononenko Ronkay, 2001 is reported for the first time from China (Xizang), and new distributional data for recently described Stenoloba species from Malaysia are presented.
Lepidoptera , Animal Distribution , Animal Structures , Animals , China , Asia, Eastern , Lepidoptera/classification , Moths
Functional food webs are essential for the successful conservation of ecological communities, and in terrestrial systems, food webs are built on a foundation of coevolved interactions between plants and their consumers. Here, we collate published data on host plant ranges and associated host plant-Lepidoptera interactions from across the contiguous United States and demonstrate that among ecosystems, distributions of plant-herbivore interactions are consistently skewed, with a small percentage of plant genera supporting the majority of Lepidoptera. Plant identities critical for retaining interaction diversity are similar and independent of geography. Given the importance of Lepidoptera to food webs and ecosystem function, efficient and effective restoration of degraded landscapes depends on the inclusion of such 'keystone' plants.
Food Chain , Herbivory/physiology , Lepidoptera/physiology , Plants , Animals , Biodiversity , Conservation of Natural Resources , Ecosystem , Geography , Lepidoptera/classification , Plants/classification , Species Specificity , United States
Mitochondrial genomes (mitogenomes) have been widely used for studies on phylogenetic relationships and molecular evolutionary biology. Here, the complete mitogenome sequence of Spilosoma lubricipedum (Noctuoidea: Erebidae: Arctiinae) was determined (total length 15,375 bp) and phylogenetic analyses S. lubricipedum were inferred from available noctuid sequence data. The mitogenome of S. lubricipedum was found to be highly A + T-biased (81.39%) and exhibited negative AT- and GC-skews. All 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs) were initiated by ATN codons, except for cox1 with CGA. All tRNAs exhibited typical clover-leaf secondary structures, except for trnS1. The gene order of the S. lubricipedum mitogenome was trnM-trnI-trnQ-nad2. The A + T-rich region of S. lubricipedum contained several conservative features common to noctuid insects. Phylogenetic analysis within Noctuoidea was carried out based on mitochondrial data. Results showed that S. lubricipedum belonged to Erebidae and the Noctuoidea insects could be divided into five well-supported families (Notodontidae + (Erebidae + (Nolidae + (Euteliidae + Noctuidae)))).
Genome, Mitochondrial , Moths/genetics , AT Rich Sequence , Animals , Genes, rRNA , Insect Proteins/genetics , Lepidoptera/classification , Moths/classification , Phylogeny , RNA, Transfer/genetics
Fraxinellone is a naturally occurring degraded limonoid isolated from many species of plants in Meliaceae and Rutaceae. Besides structural modification of the lead compounds, the toxicology study of the lead compounds is also a very important procedure to develop insecticidal agents. Herein the toxicology study of fraxinellone was carried out as the ovicidal agent against the eggs of two lepidopteran insects Mythimna separata Walker and Bombyx mori Linaeus. Fraxinellone selectively exhibited an ovicidal activity against the eggs of M. separata. After treatment with fraxinellone, the eggshells of M. separata were shrinked, whereas those of B. mori had no obvious change. The dynamic process of M. separata embryo development demonstrated that the distinct difference between the treated eggs and the control ones was obvious at the second day after treatment, especially, the control embryo finished blastokinesis, whereas the treated ones were still laid at pre-reversion status and a lot of yolk can be seen around the embryo. It ultimately resulted in the eggshell withered and the egg hatching inhibited.
Benzofurans/toxicity , Insecticides/toxicity , Lepidoptera/classification , Lepidoptera/growth & development , Animal Shells/drug effects , Animals , Benzofurans/chemistry , Bombyx/classification , Bombyx/drug effects , Bombyx/embryology , Crystallography, X-Ray , Insecticides/chemistry , Larva/drug effects , Larva/growth & development , Lepidoptera/drug effects , Meliaceae/chemistry , Molecular Structure , Plant Extracts/chemistry , Plant Extracts/toxicity , Rutaceae/chemistry , Species Specificity
To determine the systematic status of family Limacodidae within Lepidoptera, the complete mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) of Thosea sinensis (Lepidoptera: Zygaenoidea: Limacodidae) was sequenced. The genome is 15,544 base pairs (bp), including 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), two ribosomal RNAs (rRNAs), 22 transfer RNAs (tRNAs), and an AT-rich region. These characteristics are similar to of other lepidopterans. The gene order of T. sinensis is identical to that of Ditrysia lepidopterans. The nucleotide composition of the T. sinensis mitochondrial genome is highly biased toward A + T nucleotides (81.1%) and exhibits negative AT and GC skew. All the other 13 PCGs except cox1 are initiated by ATN codons. All tRNA genes are folded into the typical cloverleaf secondary structure, except for trnS1, which lacked the dihydrouridine (DHU) stem. There are 20 intergenic spacer regions ranging from 1 to 56 bp in length, and two gene overlap regions throughout the entire genome. The AT-rich region includes the ATAGA motif, followed by a 19-bp poly T stretch, a microsatellite-like (AT)10, and a poly-A element. Analysis of phylogenetic relationships indicated that T. sinensis belongs to the Limacodidae, and the monophyly of each lepidopteran family was well supported.
Lepidoptera/classification , Lepidoptera/genetics , Moths/classification , Moths/genetics , Phylogeny , Animals , Base Sequence , Computational Biology/methods , Gene Order , Genes, Insect , Genes, Mitochondrial , Genome, Mitochondrial , Genomics/methods , High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing , Molecular Sequence Annotation , Sequence Analysis, DNA
Rather little is known about the dietary richness and variation of generalist insectivorous species, including birds, due primarily to difficulties in prey identification. Using faecal metabarcoding, we provide the most comprehensive analysis of a passerine's diet to date, identifying the relative magnitudes of biogeographic, habitat and temporal trends in the richness and turnover in diet of Cyanistes caeruleus (blue tit) along a 39 site and 2° latitudinal transect in Scotland. Faecal samples were collected in 2014-2015 from adult birds roosting in nestboxes prior to nest building. DNA was extracted from 793 samples and we amplified COI and 16S minibarcodes. We identified 432 molecular operational taxonomic units that correspond to putative dietary items. Most dietary items were rare, with Lepidoptera being the most abundant and taxon-rich prey order. Here, we present a statistical approach for estimation of gradients and intersample variation in taxonomic richness and turnover using a generalised linear mixed model. We discuss the merits of this approach over existing tools and present methods for model-based estimation of repeatability, taxon richness and Jaccard indices. We found that dietary richness increases significantly as spring advances, but changes little with elevation, latitude or local tree composition. In comparison, dietary composition exhibits significant turnover along temporal and spatial gradients and among sites. Our study shows the promise of faecal metabarcoding for inferring the macroecology of food webs, but we also highlight the challenge posed by contamination and make recommendations of laboratory and statistical practices to minimise its impact on inference.
DNA Barcoding, Taxonomic , Diet/veterinary , Passeriformes , Animals , Feces , Food Chain , Lepidoptera/classification , Scotland , Seasons , Sexual Behavior, Animal
Phauda flammans Walker belongs to Phaudidae (Lepidoptera), which is a holometabolous and leaf-eating pest that harms trees. So far, there is no mitochondrial (mt) genome reported of Phaudidae. Herein, we sequenced and annotated the complete mt genome of P. flammans representing the first mt genome of Phaudidae and predicted the secondary structures of its RNAs in this study. This mt genome is 15470 bp long consisting of 13 protein coding genes (PCGs), 22 tRNAs, 2 rRNAs and the control region, which are usually conserved in insects. Most PCGs used the standard ATN start codons and complete TAA/TAG termination codons. Almost all of tRNA genes exhibited cloverleaf secondary structures except that the dihydorouridine (DHU) arm of tRNASer(AGN) was absent. The phylogenetic analyses using both Bayesian inference (BI) and maximum likelihood (ML) methods all supported that Phaudidae was a single family being the sister group to Zygaenidae. More mt genomes are needed to better understand the phylogenetic relationships within Zygaenoidea in the future.
Genome, Insect , Genome, Mitochondrial , Lepidoptera/classification , Lepidoptera/genetics , Phylogeny , Animals , Computational Biology/methods , Genomics/methods , Molecular Sequence Annotation , Nucleic Acid Conformation , RNA, Ribosomal/chemistry , RNA, Ribosomal/genetics , RNA, Transfer/chemistry , RNA, Transfer/genetics
