Diurnal Lepidoptera Research Articles

The Diurnal Lepidoptera Fauna in Buila-Vânturarița National Park: One-Season Survey

Diurnal Lepidoptera, mostly Papilionoidaea, is a well-studied group of organisms, and its faunas are usually relatively well-documented all over Europe. However, the Romanian Lepidoptera fauna still lacks species lists from various regions, including National or Natural Parks. Buila-Vânturarița National Park is one of the protected areas that previously benefited from the implementation of several EC-funded projects that produced a management plan in 2005 in preparation for legislative changes with Romania’s accession to the EU. However, the Lepidoptera species mentioned in this older management plan are just some of the few of the EC-Habitats Directive species, and there are still insufficient information about their distribution and conservation status. There are no checklists for the Lepidoptera from the Buila-Vânturarița National Park ever published. In this study, diurnal Lepidoptera from open or semi-open habitats were inventoried in the Buila-Vânturarița National Park. A method for efficiently sampling habitats is presented and analysed. The results produced a list of 64 diurnal Lepidoptera, representing approximately 80% of the species that should be found in the National Park Buila-Vânturarița. Additionally, three Natura 2000 species were found, not previously mentioned in the Management Plan.

Temporal Variation in and Influence of Environmental Variables on a Lepidopteran Community in a Mediterranean Mid-Mountain Area

The temporal variation in a community of nocturnal and diurnal Lepidoptera was studied in a Mediterranean mid-mountain area of the SW Iberian Peninsula between 2017 and 2019. Monthly samplings that allowed for the identification of 3528 specimens, belonging to 373 species from 40 different families, also provided data on the temporal and seasonal variation in richness and the abundance (dominated by Geometridae and Noctuidae), diet type (mainly oligophagous), voltinism (mostly univoltine) and biogeography of the community, primarily Mediterranean in scope. Richness, abundance and diversity were also found to be highly positively correlated with temperature and solar radiation, and less negatively correlated with precipitation and humidity. Canonical correspondence analyses (CCAs) also indicate that temperature and radiation are the climatic variables with the greatest influence on species occurrence over the different months of the year. The CCAs gave a cumulative variance value of 84.79% when using the monthly mean values of temperature, solar radiation and minimum relative humidity, and 86.4% if only monovoltine species were considered. Guidelines to maintain diversity in the environment of the study area are provided. It is possible that the area may function as a refuge area for Lepidoptera in the face of climate change and deforestation that are occurring in the geographical environment.

Temperature seasonality drives taxonomic and functional homogenization of tropical butterflies

AbstractAimTo better understand the potential impact of climate change on butterfly assemblages across a tropical island, we model the potential for taxonomic and functional homogenization and determine climate‐ and trait‐mediated shifts in projected species distributions.LocationPuerto Rico.MethodsWe used thousands of museum records of diurnal Lepidoptera to model current (1970–2000) and forecast future (2061–2080) species distributions and combined these to test for taxonomic and functional homogenization. We then quantified climatic‐mediated effects on current and forecasted taxonomic and functional composition and, specifically, whether temperature was a primary driver, as predicted by the temperature–size rule and the thermal melanism hypotheses. Finally, we measured wing traits important in thermoregulation (size and colour) and determined trait‐mediated changes in forecasted species distributions over time.ResultsBased on ensemble model outputs, taxonomic and functional richness and turnover were predicted to vary across the island's complex topography. Our models projected an increase in taxonomic and functional richness over time, and a decrease in taxonomic and functional turnover – a signature of biotic homogenization. Under future climate scenarios, models projected a decrease in wing length and an increase in wing brightness at higher elevations. One variable, temperature seasonality, was the strongest predicted driver of both the current spatial distribution and the projected per cent change over time for not only wing traits but also taxonomic and functional richness and turnover.Main conclusionsThe species distribution models generated here identify several priority regions and species for future research and conservation efforts. Our work also highlights the role of seasonality and climatic variability on diverse tropical Lepidoptera assemblages, suggesting that climatic variability may be an important, albeit overlooked, driver of climate change responses.

Is microbiological control of the box tree moth feasible? Effectiveness and impact on non-target diurnal Lepidoptera

Recent outbreaks of the invasive alien species Cydalima perspectalis (Walker, 1859) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) have led to the widespread loss of boxwoods in Europe. Although details on its biology are not fully unraveled, the box tree moth (BTM) can be considered a major pest, severely damaging its primary host, Buxus sempervirens, ultimately affecting the associated coenosis. In European environments, box trees form the Habitat 5110, and BTM outbreaks are seriously endangering its long-term survival.The effectiveness of microbiological treatments with Bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki (Btk) on the survival of BTM was evaluated in field and controlled conditions. Given the scant specificity of Btk action, an in-depth survey of its potential impact on non-target diurnal Lepidoptera has been conducted by monitoring their communities’ changes in treated and control areas.Btk spraying was highly effective in the field, and five days after treatments larval density reduction was over 90% in all sites and years, with similar mortality trends achieved in controlled conditions.No significant short-term effects were detected either on non-target diurnal lepidopterans’ abundance or species richness.These results can be combined with the outcomes of spatially explicit models to overcome issues that, up to now, have caused the failure of appropriate strategies to control C. perspectalis. Even if no impact has been observed on non-target Lepidoptera, a rigorous plan for the application, detection and surveillance of the potential effects of microbiological treatments needs to be established.

Mediterranean university campuses enhance butterfly (Lepidoptera) and beetle (Coleoptera) diversity

Human population growth is causing an expansion of urban areas, a phenomenon known to deeply impact on the Earth’s biodiversity. Therefore, it is key to understand how to conceal urban development with biodiversity conservation. In this context, university campuses can play an important role as they usually present a large array of different environments and green areas, crucial aspects for promoting urban biodiversity as well as human-nature interactions. Several studies have analyzed the biodiversity of university campuses, however, there are still important taxonomic (e.g., insects) and geographical biases (e.g., Mediterranean hotspot) in our current understanding of these urban areas. Insects are fundamental in many ecosystems as pollinators, prey, pest controllers or decomposers among others. This further increases the need to study this group in the urban context. In this study, we have investigated diurnal Lepidoptera and ground-dwelling Coleoptera in three university campuses and three non-campus areas of the city of Granada (Spain). We used spatial and temporal replicates for each area in order to explore whether university campuses hold higher levels of insect biodiversity (e.g., species richness or common species) than other nearby urban areas. In addition, we investigated the potential influence of several additional predictors on insect diversity such as type of land cover, vegetation origin, management intensity, and distance to the outskirts. Our results suggest that Lepidoptera species and Coleoptera families are more diverse in university campuses than in other urban areas, showing also a positive association with the proportion of bare soil and herbaceous cover. Furthermore, they also seem to be benefited from low vegetation management intensity whereas Coleoptera are favored by native vegetation providing clear management recommendations in order to promote such animal groups in cities. Our study indicates that university campuses are important urban areas to preserve insect biodiversity but also highlights the heterogeneity of response among insect groups.

Pollination in Epidendrum densiflorum Hook. (Orchidaceae: Laeliinae): Fraudulent Trap-Flowers, Self-Incompatibility, and a Possible New Type of Mimicry.

The pollination and the breeding system of Epidendrum densiflorum (Orchidaceae: Laeliinae) were studied through fieldwork and controlled pollinations in cultivated plants. Pollination is exclusively promoted by males of diurnal Lepidoptera: five species of Arctiinae and four of Ithomiinae were recorded as pollinators. These male insects are known to obtain alkaloids (through the nectar) in flowers of Asteraceae and Boraginaceae. However, the flowers of E. densiflorum are nectarless, despite presenting a cuniculus (a likely nectariferous cavity). Pollinators insert their proboscides into the flowers and remove or deposit the pollinaria while searching for nectar. The floral tube is very narrow, and insects struggle for up to 75 min to get rid of the flowers. Plants are pollinator-dependent and nearly fully self-incompatible. Pollinarium removal, pollination, and fruiting success (2.85%) were very low; facts that are consistent with the patterns globally observed in deceptive (rewardless) orchids. Nilsson's male efficiency factor (0.245) was also low, indicating pollen loss in the system. Based on our field observations, we suggest that the fragrance of E. densiflorum likely mimics these plants that are normally used as a source of alkaloids by male Lepidoptera, a hypothesis that we intend to test in the future.

Scented at day and night: diel variation in the floral scent chemistry of the threatened tree Amburana cearensis (Leguminosae) and effects of this variation on its pollinators

The reproductive success of most angiosperms depends on pollinators. A combination of floral traits, including olfactory cues, are involved in attracting these animals. The emission and chemical composition of floral volatile organic compounds (VOCs) is often associated with the sensory preferences of the most frequent floral visitors. However, the relationship between VOCs and nocturnal and diurnal pollinators is poorly known in tropical dry forests. Our study describes the dynamics of floral scent chemistry throughout the anthesis of Amburana cearensis (Leguminosae) and its association with floral visitors in the Caatinga dry forest, one of the largest expanses of seasonally dry tropical forest (SDTF) in the world. The species is a threatened tree with high socioeconomic importance in the Caatinga and other SDTFs of South America (exploited for timber and medicinal uses). Its flowers emit an intense, pleasant and sweet fragrance throughout anthesis, starting at ∼16:00 h and ending at ∼15:00 h of the following day (lasting 23 h). We used dynamic headspace sampling and gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC-MS) to collect and analyze the floral scent within a natural population. The fragrance of A. cearensis was characterized by the dominant presence of monoterpenes, especially linalool and (Z)-linalool oxide (furanoid) and (Z)-linalool oxide (pyranoid), as well as (E,E)-α-farnesene and an aromatic benzenoid, benzyl alcohol. The relative proportions of floral VOCs emitted by A. cearensis changed during anthesis, with a marked presence of linalool in daytime samples (day: 45% / night: 27%) and furanoid (Z)-linalool oxide at night (day: 12% / night: 29%). The dominance of benzyl alcohol, linalool and its oxides in the floral scent of A. cearensis is possibly related to the attraction of nocturnal and diurnal Lepidoptera as pollen vectors. Indeed, we observed six species of butterflies and seven species of moths pollinating the flowers of A. cearensis in 41 h of observations. However, other terpenoids in the fragrant blend possibly contribute to the attraction of additional diurnal floral visitors, including bees, which are also effective pollinators. The continuous scent production throughout anthesis, and the changes in floral scent with a peak of linalool production during the day, may be related to the wide spectrum of pollinators of A. cearensis. This association between floral visitors and dynamics of VOCs presentation may therefore increase the reproductive success of the species, which only blooms every two years and is strictly self-incompatible.

New insights on glass industry wasteland ecosystems

Glass manufacturing operations lead to an increasing number of abandoned slag heaps contaminated with metallic trace elements (MTE). However, the relative influence of edaphic factors on the biodiversity of glasswork wastelands is still poorly understood although closely related to sustainable land management practices. Therefore, the objectives of this research were to provide new insights into glasswork wastelands through the investigation of (i) Orthoptera, diurnal Lepidoptera, plant communities, and (ii) abiotic parameters in the topsoils.To that end, biodiversity indices were computed from ecological inventories performed on the herbaceous layer. In addition, soil samples were taken from the topsoil layer (0–10 cm) to assess agronomic properties, actually (CEC-exchangeable) and potentially bioavailable MTE fractions (DTPA-extractable) and pseudo-total MTE contents. On the one hand, the studied site was able to support a substantially higher than excepted biodiversity with orthopteran assemblages similar to grasslands and a diurnal Lepidoptera diversity comparable to urban parks. We also noted a positive influence of plant richness on the diurnal Lepidoptera community structure. On the other hand, topsoil analysis revealed a severe Pb contamination (1800–3100 mg kg−1) and a high potentially bioavailable Pb fraction (800–1300 mg kg−1). However, CEC-exchangeable MTE concentrations were all below the analytical quantification limits. Moreover, the site was characterized by a medium soil fertility.From these results, Pb contamination does not appear to be a primary limiting factor for the establishment of these communities. We assume that glasswork wasteland ecosytems are more affected by soil fertility or land management practices. To conclude, these sites are able to provide biodiversity ecosystem services, acting as wildlife sanctuaries for Orthoptera and diurnal Lepidoptera, and strategic metals by phytoextraction in a circular economy model. Thus, wasteland management practices should consider the local-scale drivers of biodiversity in order to reach at least the zero net loss of biodiversity.

Pace of life and mobility as key factors to survive in farmland – Relationships between functional traits of diurnal Lepidoptera and landscape structure

Agricultural intensification is known to lead to biotic homogenization by selecting against habitat and resource specialist species, but most studies on this phenomenon have been limited to certain parts of the landscape diversity gradient. We aimed to reveal the relationships between functional traits of diurnal Lepidoptera and landscape structure along a wide environmental gradient from nature reserves to intensive farmland in Baden-Württemberg, SW Germany. Butterflies and burnet moths were sampled along 1500 m long transects using ‘Pollard walk’ in 99 sites. Twenty nature reserves, 39 grassland-dominated and 40 arable-dominated agricultural landscapes were selected as study sites. Landscape structure was assessed within a 100 m buffer around each transect. The RLQ method and the ‘fourth-corner’ approach were combined to find statistical relationships between environmental factors and functional traits of Lepidoptera. We found a strong environmental gradient determined by landscape diversity and proportion of arable fields. Mobility, voltinism and overwintering stage were significantly correlated with these environmental variables. Butterflies with high mobility, high voltinism and non-larval overwintering stage were most abundant in landscapes with high proportion of arable fields and low landscape diversity. The second environmental gradient explained much less variance and separated less-intensively managed grasslands in nature reserves from conventionally managed grasslands in agricultural landscapes. Habitat specialization was correlated with this gradient as specialist butterflies were more abundant in grasslands in nature reserves. Larval diet breadth was not correlated with any environmental gradient or variable. We conclude that the mobility trait syndrome – comprising mobility, voltinism and overwintering stage – is independent from habitat and resource specialization and plays a primary role in shaping diurnal Lepidoptera communities in intensive agricultural landscapes with high cover of arable fields. We suggest that insect monitoring schemes should include some simple assessment of environmental variables to gain insight into the functioning of ecological communities beyond abundance trend estimations.

CHARACTERISTICS OF THE DEVELOPMENT CYCLES OF DIURNAL LEPIDOPTERA (LEPIDOPTERA: HESPERIOIDEA, PAPILIONOIDEA) ON THE TERRITORY OF UDMURTIA

The typology of the life cycles of diurnal lepidoptera of Udmurtia is carried out using such ecological and biological indicators as the duration of generation development (number of years), the level of voltinism during the growing season, seasonal features of the imago flight, development stages at which the winter diapause occurs and its territorial confinement. On this basis, 24 types of cycles have been singled out. Species with annual development (96.7 %) and one generation during the growing season (76.4 %) are strongly predominant. According to the timing of flight, the bulavous are divided into 5 phenological groups, the proportion of which is as follows: spring - 13.8 %, pre-summer - 11.4 %, early-summer - 36.6 %, mid-summer - 35.8 %, late-summer - 2.4 %. Wintering of species is carried out at all stages of development with a predominance of larval diapause (61.5 %). Such species as Vanessa atalanta and V. cardui have the status of ex-regional migrants. The latter species is characterized by diapause-free polycyclic development throughout the year. In addition, the forms of facultative bivoltinism and summer diapause are considered.

ANALYSIS OF THE DISTRIBUTION AND STRUCTURE OF DIURNAL LEPIDOPTERA (LEPIDOPTERA: HESPERIOIDEA, PAPILIONOIDEA) RANGES IN UDMURTIA

The article analyzes the zonal landscape distribution and the structure of the diurnal lepidoptera ranges on the territory of the Udmurt Republic. The zonal indicators of the dynamics of the species richness of lepidoptera in the region have the following form: the southern taiga - 100 species, the subtaiga as a whole-122 species, including the northern band of the subtaiga-107 species, the southern band of the subtaiga-119 species. The zonal trend is based on the significant participation of the regional fauna of the regional representatives. The general indicators of the numerical participation of structural and arealographic groups in the fauna are as follows: 46 species are located within the generalized part of the area in the region; 22 species are located near the periphery of the area; 42 species are located on the border of the area; 13 species are located on the periphery of the area. The main share of lepidoptera located in the marginal parts of their ranges is made up of southern subboreal (steppe and non-morale) and subboreal-subtropical representatives (72 species). The proportion of such species among the northern geographical groups - the Hypo-Arctic and boreal (16 species) is significantly lower. The most important biochorological units that determine the conditions for the distribution and localization of bulavous are uplands, forest landscapes on the sands, as well as the valleys of large and medium-sized rivers in the southern part of the region.

Flower-visiting and pollen-carrying arthropods of Leucojum aestivum L. (Amaryllidaceae) in wild, reintroduced and ex situ populations

Leucojum aestivum L. is a wetland-dependent perennial geophyte occurring in Europe and western Asia. It is self-incompatible, with high level of fruit-set and seed-set. Yet, its pollinators are poorly known. Here, we present the most recent research on potential pollinators of L. aestivum. We collected data on flower-visiting and pollen-carrying arthropods in three populations of the species in the River Po plain (N-Italy), where L. aestivum occurs mainly in forests with Alnus glutinosa and Fraxinus sp. pl. close to rivers. We studied a wild population, a new reintroduced population and an ex situ population located at the Botanical Garden of the University of Pavia. Our study identified 18 arthropod taxa carrying L. aestivum pollen; the soft-winged flower beetle Dasytes plumbeus (Coleoptera: Melyridae) and the sac-spider Clubiona sp. pl. (Araneae: Clubionidae) were the most frequent visitors. Hymenoptera only occasionally visited L. aestivum flowers (e.g. the sweat bee Lasioglossum punctatissimum). D. plumbeus, the long-horned beetle Grammoptera ruficornis (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae), Clubiona sp. pl. and L. punctatissimum resulted in the taxa with the highest average abundance of pollen grains on their body suggesting a potential role in L. aestivum pollination. Differences in flower-visiting and pollen-carrying arthropods were observed between the three populations, with a decreasing taxonomic diversity of visiting species from the wild population to the ex situ population. Our results, based on direct observation in the field, are partially in contrast with a previous study on L. aestivum pollinators that suggested diurnal and nocturnal Lepidoptera and occasionally bees as main pollinators for the species.

High diversity of diurnal Lepidoptera associated with landscape heterogeneity in semi-urban areas of Loja City, southern Ecuador

Urbanization rates are increasing worldwide; therefore, urban and semi-urban ecosystems are the focus of various studies that explore their importance for biodiversity conservation. In the order Lepidoptera high species diversity has been observed in areas with distinct levels of disturbance. In Ecuador, most efforts to study the diversity of butterflies have been concentrated in protected natural areas, whereas studies in semi-urban or urban areas are limited. In this study, we measured the diversity of diurnal Lepidoptera in two semi-urban areas, in southern Ecuador. We visited these areas during the dry season, in the hours of peak butterfly activity, and recorded the species and abundances of each. We estimated relative abundances, evenness, and beta diversity to characterize butterfly assemblages. We found high abundance and richness of Lepidoptera species and low similarities between the two semi-urban areas (Jaccard index = 0.21). Highest species richness was observed in the most heterogeneous area in terms of vegetation composition, owing to the type of management that it receives. Four species represented 50% of the total abundance observed in both sites, and various singletons were registered. This pattern of dominance is characteristic of disturbed areas, where generalist species adapt easily to anthropic environments. However, we also found relatively high richness and abundance of the members of the tribe Ithomiini, which are mostly present in primary forests. Our findings highlight the importance of semi-urban areas for conservation of butterfly diversity and the crucial role of proper management of anthropic areas to preserve biodiversity in this changing world.

Sexual communication in diurnal moths: behaviors and mechanisms

Butterflies and moths have substantially different daily activities; butterflies are diurnal, while moths are largely nocturnal or crepuscular. Diurnal moths are subject to different evolutionary pressures that affect several aspects of their behavior and physiology, particularly sexual communication. In this review, species of diurnal moths and the behaviors and mechanisms of their sexual communication are summarized. Diurnal moths are day–flying insects whose partner–finding strategies include visual, olfactory and auditory signals. Males of diurnal Lepidoptera find mating partners using olfactory cues (e.g., sex pheromones) over relatively long distances, or visual (e.g., compound eyes) and/or auditory cues (e.g., ears) over short distances, or even act in combination with the three types of signals. Pheromone–binding proteins and histamine and visual genes play important roles during the signal conduction of sexual communication in diurnal moths. However, the regulatory mechanisms of acoustic communication in day–flying moths are unclear. Understanding this information may help us to explore the evolution of sexual communication in Lepidoptera and to improve biotechnological control strategies against harmful day–flying moths.

A New Species of Sun-Moth, Synemon kimberleyensis sp. nov. (Lepidoptera: Castniidae), from the Kimberley in Western Australia

The Australian endemic castniid tribe Synemonini represents a substantial radiation of diurnal Lepidoptera, especially in the southern temperate areas of the continent. The tropical areas of northern Australia support considerably fewer species, however, much of the fauna is presently undescribed. Here we diagnose, describe and illustrate a new castniid, Synemon kimberleyensissp. nov., from the remote Kimberley region of northwestern Australia. Synemon kimberleyensissp. nov. is allopatric and closely related to S. phaeoptilaTurner, 1906 from the Top End, Wet Tropics and Cape York Peninsula, Australia. This pair of species is part of an ecological set of six Synemon species that are a characteristic component of the tropical savannah woodlands, which occur extensively across the monsoon tropics of northern Australia and, as far as is known, all specialize on Poaceae as their larval host plants, especially the genus Chrysopogon Trin.

Efecto de la matriz ganadera sobre mariposas diurnas (Lepidoptera: Rhopalocera) en fragmentos de bosque seco, Patía (Cauca, Colombia)

El Patía, (Cauca, Colombia) es una zona caracterizada por ser vulnerable a intervenciones antrópicas y fenómenos naturales, lo cual motiva a realizar estudios que reflejen las dinámicas ecológicas empleando organismos indicadores biológicos como las mariposas. Esta investigación evaluó el efecto de la matriz ganadera sobre la comunidad de mariposas diurnas (Lepidoptera: Rhopalocera) en Las Martas y La Pachuca, dos fragmentos de bosque seco del Patía. Se emplearon dos métodos de captura: jama entomológica y trampas van Someren Rydon cebadas con pescado y banano descompuestos, establecidos en dos transectos de 300 m cada uno, para cada fragmento. Los muestreos se realizaron entre septiembre 2014 y febrero 2015. Entre los dos fragmentos se registraron 679 individuos, distribuidos en seis familias Nymphalidae (61,12 %), Pieridae (19,00 %), Hesperiidae (13,99 %), Papilionidae (2,65 %), Lycaenidae (2,21 %) y Riodinidae (1,03 %), 14 subfamilias y 81 especies. El coeficiente de Jaccard obtuvo 0,43 de similitud entre la comunidad de lepidópteros diurnos, compartiendo 35 especies del total registrado. La eficiencia del muestreo estuvo entre 48,38 y 67,9 %, sugiriendo continuar con los muestreos en los fragmentos. Se concluye que existe un fuerte efecto de la ganadería extensiva en la comunidad de lepidópteros diurnos, sin embargo, las especies que se registraron como euritopas y estenotopas pueden ser clave para elaborar planes de conservación basados en corredores biológicos.

Altitudinal and seasonal distribution of butterflies (Lepidoptera, Papilionoidea) in Cerro Bufa El Diente, Tamaulipas, Mexico.

Butterflies are one of the most recognized and useful groups for the monitoring and establishment of important conservation areas and management policies. In the present study, we estimate the richness and diversity, as well as the association value of submontane scrub, oak forest, and cloud forest species at Cerro Bufa El Diente, within the Sierra de San Carlos priority land region, located in the Central-western region of Tamaulipas, Mexico. Three sampling sites were established based on criteria of vegetation distribution per altitudinal floor. One site for each altitudinal floor and vegetation type. Sampling was carried out in permanent transects on a monthly basis at each site, using an aerial entomological net and ten Van Someren-Rydon traps, during four sampling periods: early dry season, late dry season, early wet season and late wet season. In total, 7,611 specimens belonging to six families, 20 subfamilies, 32 tribes, 148 genera and 243 species of the study area were collected. Nymphalidae was the most abundant family with 3,454 specimens, representing 45.38% of total abundance in the study area. Lower abundance was recorded in Hesperiidae (19.17%), Pieridae (16.41%), Lycaenidae (10.17%), Papilionidae (5.12%), and finally Riodinidae (3.74%). The highest species richness was presented in the family Hesperiidae with 34.57% of the total obtained species followed by Nymphalidae (30.45%), Lycaenidae (15.23%), Pieridae (9.88%), Papilionidae (5.76%), and Riodinidae (4.12%). Twenty-seven species were categorized as abundant, these species, Anaea aidea (Guérin-Méneville, 1844), Libytheana carinenta larvata (Strecker, 1878), Pyrgus oileus (Linnaeus, 1767), Mestra amymone (Ménétriés, 1857) and Phoebis agarithe agarithe (Boisduval, 1836) presented the highest number of specimens. Sixty-five species were considered common, constituting 41.73% of the total number of butterflies, 63 frequent (9.76% of the total abundance), 55 limited (2.54%) and 33 rare (0.43%). The greatest number of specimens and species, as well as alpha diversity, were presented on the lowest altitudinal floor, made up of submontane scrub, and decreased significantly with increasing altitude. According to the cluster analysis, low and intermediate altitude sites constitute an area of distribution of species that prefer tropical conditions, while the third-floor site forms an independent group of high mountain species. The greatest abundance and richness of species, as well as alpha diversity, was obtained during the last wet season, decreasing significantly towards the early dry season. Moreover, through the use of the association value, 19 species were designated as indicators, three for the last altitudinal floor, three for the intermediate and 13 for the first. The present work represents the first report of the altitudinal variation in richness, abundance and diversity of butterflies in the northeast of Mexico. These results highlight the importance of the conservation of this heterogeneous habitat and establish reference data for the diurnal Lepidoptera fauna of the region.

ADDITIONS TO THE FAUNA OF DIURNAL LEPIDOPTERA (LEPIDOPTERA: HESPERIOIDEA, PAPILIONOIDEA) OF UDMURTIA AND THE KIROV REGION WITH REMARKS ON THE FAUNA OF THE VYATKA-KAMA INTERFLUVE

The article provides information about the first findings of 3 species of day butterflies in the territory of the Udmurt Republic ( Erynnis tages L.) and the Kirov region ( Leptidea morsei Fent., Euphydryas intermedia Mеn..). Taking into account the new data, the total number of butterflies in the fauna of Udmurtia is 124 species, for the Kirov region - 127 species. On the basis of the original material and analysis of literary data, a list of diurnal Lepidoptera of the Vyatka-Kama interfluve with indications of the status of their stay has been compiled. In total, taking into account the materials on the Eastern Predkamsky district of the Republic of Tatarstan, the fauna of day butterflies of the Vyatka-Kama interfluve includes 129 resident species, 8 species of irregular migrants, 1 extinct species and 4 species of uncertain status of stay.

Diversity and ecology of diurnal Lepidoptera in Belezma National Park (Aurès, Algeria)

To establish a list of existing diurnal Lepidoptera in the Belezma National Park (Aurès, Algeria) and produce a first report on the health of its forest environments using these species as bio-indicators, 192 surveys were carried out between March 2010 and February 2011. This sampling comprised four stations among different habitats; three forests (cedar, oak, pine) and a wasteland. This allowed us to identify 896 individuals, representing 30 species: 29 Rhopalocera (Nymphalidae, Pieridae, Lycaenidae and Hesperiidae) and only 1 species of diurnal Heterocera belonging to the family Arctiidae. The wasteland proved to be the richest station with 18 species and also the most diversified and balanced station (H′ = 3.49 bits; E = 0.84). It is followed by cedar forest (17 species; H′ = 3.16 bits; E = 0.77) and oak forest (12 species; H′ = 2.58 bits; E = 0.72). Finally, the pine forest (9 species; H′ = 2.56 bits; E = 0.81) was the least diversified station. Correspondence Analysis of the most characteristic butterflies at each station revealed that despite continual efforts of park services to safeguard forest formations, especially cedar forests, butterflies still suffer from population depletion.

Patterns of species richness and endemism of butterflies and day-flying moths in the monsoon tropics of northern Australia

Patterns of species richness and endemism were analyzed for 154 resident/breeding diurnal Lepidoptera in 153 grid cells (100 km × 100 km) based on a recently published set of spatial distribution maps (range-map and atlas data) in the western and central Australian Monsoon Tropics biome of northern Australia (~1.2 million km2). Biodiversity hotspots were then identified on the basis of coincidence of high values of species richness, endemic richness and weighted endemism. Spatial and environmental variables accounting for significant variation in species and endemic richness were determined using multivariate generalized linear models. Broad patterns of species and endemic richness showed a pronounced north-south latitudinal gradient that was significantly correlated with mean annual rainfall, from the wetter northern coastal areas to the drier southern inland areas of the semi-arid zone. Analysis of weighted endemism identified three putative centers of endemism: the Top End (north-western corner), the Kimberley (northern) and Arnhem Land (Gove Peninsula). Overall, the north-western corner of the Top End (86,860 km2) – including the Arnhem Land Plateau (Kakadu NP-Nitmiluk NP and Warddeken IPA), reserves in the Darwin region, Litchfield NP, the Tiwi Islands, Fish River-Daly River, and Cobourg Peninsula (Garig Gunak Barlu NP) – is a major biodiversity hotspot for the conservation of diurnal Lepidoptera based on congruent patterns of species richness, endemic richness and weighted endemism. Large discrepancies between actual survey lists (atlas data) and inferred lists (range-map data) indicate the need for further inventory of the National Reserve System, particularly for several reserves identified as significant for diurnal Lepidoptera diversity (Marri-Jabin IPA, Djukbinj NP, Warddeken IPA and Nitmiluk NP).