Diurnal Moths Research Articles

Fine nanostructural variation in the wing pattern of a moth Chiasmia eleonora Cramer (1780)

Butterflies and moths possess diverse patterns on their wings. Butterflies employ miscellaneous colour in the wings whereas moths use a combination of dull colours like white, grey, brown and black for the patterning of their wings. The exception is some of the toxic diurnal moths which possess bright wing colouration. Moths possess an obscure pattern in the dorsal part of the wings which may be a line, zigzag or swirl. Such patterns help in camouflage during resting period. Thus, the dorsal wing pattern of the moth is used for both intra- as well as inter-specific signal communication. Chiasmia eleonora is a nocturnal moth of greyish black colouration. The dorsal hindwing possesses yellow and black colour patches. A whitecoloured oblique line crosses both left and right fore- and hindwings to form a V-shaped pattern across the dorsal wing. This V-shaped pattern possesses a UV signal. Closer to the body, the colour appears darker, which fades towards the margin. The fine nanostructural variation is observed throughout the wings. This study elucidates the wing pattern of the geometrid moth C. eleonora using high-resolution microscopy techniques that has not been described in previous studies.

Multimodal Aposematic Signals and Their Emerging Role in Mate Attraction

Chemically defended animals often display conspicuous colour patterns that predators learn to associate with their unprofitability and subsequently avoid. Such animals (i.e. aposematic), deter predators by stimulating their visual and chemical sensory channels. Hence, aposematism is considered to be ‘multimodal’. The evolution of warning signals (and to a lesser degree their accompanying chemical defences) is fundamentally linked to natural selection by predators. Lately, however, increasing evidence also points to a role of sexual selection shaping warning signal evolution. One of the species in which this has been shown is the wood tiger moth, Arctia plantaginis, which we here put forward as a promising model to investigate multimodality in aposematic and sexual signalling. A. plantaginis is an aposematic diurnal moth which exhibits sexually dimorphic colouration as well as sex-limited polymorphism in part of its range. The anti-predator function of its colouration and, more recently, its chemical defences (even when experimentally decoupled from the visual signals) have been well-demonstrated. Interestingly, recent studies have revealed differences between the two male morphs in mating success, suggesting a role of colouration in mate choice or attraction, and providing a possible explanation for its sexual dimorphism in colouration. Here, we: (1) review the lines of evidence showing the role of predation pressure and sexual selection in the evolution of multimodal aposematic signals in general, and in the wood tiger moth in particular; (2) establish gaps in current research linking sexual selection and predation as selective pressures on aposematic signals by reviewing a sample of the literature published in the last 30 years; (3) highlight the need of identifying suitable systems to address simultaneously the effect of natural and sexual selection on multimodal aposematic signals; and (4) propose directions for future research to test how aposematic signals can evolve under natural and sexual selection.

Identification of the Sex Pheromone of Female Eurata patagiata

Eurata patagiata Burmeister is a diurnal moth of the Arctiinae subfamily of Eribidae. The chemical nature of pheromones of the family has not been well studied. Calling behavior was observed. Using several chemical techniques (gas chromatography-EI-mass-spectrometry, retention indices, micro-reactions, and synthesis) and bioassays with an olfactometer and in the field, (Z, Z, Z)-9,12,15-octadecatrienal (linolenal) and (Z, Z, Z)-9,12,15-octadecatrienol (linolenol) were identified as the main sex pheromone compounds in extracts from the female glands. Behavioral assays showed that more than 90% of male moths were attracted to a mixture of the pheromones rather than to hexane (check). However, the percentage decreased when only one compound was assayed. Preliminary field experiments demonstrated that males were captured in pitfall traps with a mixture of the pheromone compounds.

昼行性の蛾(特別講演要旨,第35回大会記録)

昼行性の蛾(特別講演要旨,第35回大会記録)

フジキオビの分布,食樹,幼生期の知見

フジキオビの分布,食樹,幼生期の知見

The anti-bat strategy of ultrasound absorption: the wings of nocturnal moths (Bombycoidea: Saturniidae) absorb more ultrasound than the wings of diurnal moths (Chalcosiinae: Zygaenoidea: Zygaenidae).

ABSTRACTThe selection pressure from echolocating bats has driven the development of a diverse range of anti-bat strategies in insects. For instance, several studies have proposed that the wings of some moths absorb a large portion of the sound energy contained in a bat's ultrasonic cry; as a result, the bat receives a dampened echo, and the moth becomes invisible to the bat. To test the hypothesis that greater exposure to bat predation drives the development of higher ultrasound absorbance, we used a small reverberation chamber to measure the ultrasound absorbance of the wings of nocturnal (Bombycoidea: Saturniidae) and diurnal moths (Chalcosiinae: Zygaenoidea: Zygaenidae). The absorption factor of the nocturnal saturniids peaks significantly higher than the absorption factor of the diurnal chalcosiines. However, the wings of the chalcosiines absorb more ultrasound than the wings of some diurnal butterflies. Following a phylogenetic analysis on the character state of diurnality/ nocturnality in the Zygaenidae, we propose that diurnality in the Chalcosiinae is plesiomorphic (retained); hence, the absorbance of their wings is probably not a vestigial trait from an ancestral, nocturnal form but an adaptation to bat activity that overlaps their own. On a within-species level, females of the saturniids Argema mittrei and Samia cynthia ricini have significantly higher absorption factors than the males. In the female S. c. ricini, the higher absorption factor corresponds to a detection distance by bats that is at best 20-30% shorter than that of the male.

Estimating sampling efficiency of diurnal Lepidoptera in farmland

Setting up effective survey strategies for biodiversity monitoring in agro-ecosystems is a major task in order to detect adverse effects on biodiversity before negative changes will manifest. Here, we studied the relative costs required for the monitoring of butterflies and selected diurnal moths (Papilionoidea et Hesperioidea; Zygaenoidea: Zygaenidae) in farmland. Analysing data from a well-established Lepidoptera monitoring system in Switzerland, we assessed the influence of inspection periods, inspection frequency and transect length on counts of diurnal Lepidoptera. Furthermore, we estimated the number of transects in relation to sampling effort necessary to detect changes of a given effect size for recorded species number (and abundance). Reducing the counting frequency from seven to four inspections per season still yielded 80–90 % of the species, as long as peak abundances in summer months were included. The variation in observed species number was mostly independent of inspection frequency, but strongly increased when transect length was reduced to less than 1 km. Sedentary Lepidoptera species are especially valuable indicators as their occurrences are directly linked to local effects on biodiversity, and the proportion of recorded sedentary species was not substantially affected by reduced inspection frequency. Transects of 1–1.5 km length were generally the most cost-efficient to detect an effect on total species number of diurnal Lepidoptera in arable landscapes, given that travelling distances between transects were short. Studying effects on rare species or selected species groups would involve higher sampling intensity and costs. Surveying schemes with reduced inspection frequency and transect lengths can detect changes in species richness and total abundance of diurnal Lepidoptera cost-effectively. Facing expected changes in agricultural policy and management, the results and recommendations presented here will help to implement and improve cost-efficient Lepidoptera schemes to monitor changes in arable landscapes.

Timing is Everything: Temporal Variation in Floral Scent, and its Connections to Pollinator Behavior and Female Reproductive Success in Phlox divaricata

The study of floral traits and pollination for the plant genus Phlox has historically been focused on either surveys of general pollinator affinities across the genus or detailed research on pollinator-mediated evolution of floral color in a single species (Phlox drummondii). The purpose of this study was to explore a different kind of trait – floral scent – in Phlox divaricata, a species noted for its strong scent. Specifically, we predicted the diel emission patterns of floral scent might covary with the daily abundance of diurnal moths, identified in a previous study as the most important pollinators in a Konza Prairie population of P. divaricata. Consistent with this prediction, we documented peaks in median floral scent emissions at 1000–1200 and 1930–2130, coinciding with peaks in moth visitation and resulting seed production. Two groups of scent compounds contributed to this pattern; linalool and its associated lilac aldehyde/alcohol compounds (especially lilac aldehyde B) contributed a greater proportion to scent at 1000–1200, while aromatic compounds (including benzaldehyde and benzyl acetate) contributed a greater proportion to scent at 1930–2130 and other afternoon time periods. These volatiles are known floral attractants for several lepidopteran pollinators, including noctuid moths. However, there is an additional peak in pollinator abundance (Hemaris diurnal hawkmoths) and seed set at a time when scent production is relatively low (1400–1600) suggesting additional factors mediate both pollinator behavior and floral volatile emissions. Future studies of P. divaricata should test for the presence of destructive floral enemies that might be attracted by floral volatiles during mid-afternoon periods, as well as the importance of visual floral traits (color, shape) in attracting diurnal moths, an important functional group of pollinators that has received minimal attention in North America.

Investment in sensory structures, testis size, and wing coloration in males of a diurnal moth species: trade-offs or correlated growth?

For dioecious animals, reproductive success typically involves an exchange between the sexes of signals that provide information about mate location and quality. Typically, the elaborate, secondary sexual ornaments of males signal their quality, while females may signal their location and receptivity. In theory, the receptor structures that receive the latter signals may also become elaborate or enlarged in a way that ultimately functions to enhance mating success through improved mate location. The large, elaborate antennae of many male moths are one such sensory structure, and eye size may also be important in diurnal moths. Investment in these traits may be costly, resulting in trade-offs among different traits associated with mate location. For polyandrous species, such trade-offs may also include traits associated with paternity success, such as larger testes. Conversely, we would not expect this to be the case for monandrous species, where sperm competition is unlikely. We investigated these ideas by evaluating the relationship between investment in sensory structures (antennae, eye), testis, and a putative warning signal (orange hindwing patch) in field-caught males of the monandrous diurnal painted apple moth Teia anartoides (Lepidoptera: Lymantriidae) in southeastern Australia. As predicted for a monandrous species, we found no evidence that male moths with larger sensory structures had reduced investment in testis size. However, contrary to expectation, investment in sensory structures was correlated: males with relatively larger antennae also had relatively larger eyes. Intriguingly, also, the size of male orange hindwing patches was positively correlated with testis size.

New larval food plant associations for some butterflies and diurnal moths (Lepidoptera) from the Northern Territory and Kimberley, Australia. Part II

This paper documents 103 Lepidoptera-plant associations for eight families of butterflies/diurnal moths (Castniidae, Immidae, Hesperiidae, Papilionidae, Pieridae, Nymphalidae, Lycaenidae and Noctuidae

New larval food plant associations for some butterflies and diurnal moths (Lepidoptera) from the Northern Territory and Kimberley, Australia. Part II

New larval food plant associations for some butterflies and diurnal moths (Lepidoptera) from the Northern Territory and Kimberley, Australia. Part II

Higher mobility of butterflies than moths connected to habitat suitability and body size in a release experiment.

Mobility is a key factor determining lepidopteran species responses to environmental change. However, direct multispecies comparisons of mobility are rare and empirical comparisons between butterflies and moths have not been previously conducted. Here, we compared mobility between butterflies and diurnal moths and studied species traits affecting butterfly mobility. We experimentally marked and released 2011 butterfly and 2367 moth individuals belonging to 32 and 28 species, respectively, in a 25 m × 25 m release area within an 11-ha, 8-year-old set-aside field. Distance moved and emigration rate from the release habitat were recorded by species. The release experiment produced directly comparable mobility data in 18 butterfly and 9 moth species with almost 500 individuals recaptured. Butterflies were found more mobile than geometroid moths in terms of both distance moved (mean 315 m vs. 63 m, respectively) and emigration rate (mean 54% vs. 17%, respectively). Release habitat suitability had a strong effect on emigration rate and distance moved, because butterflies tended to leave the set-aside, if it was not suitable for breeding. In addition, emigration rate and distance moved increased significantly with increasing body size. When phylogenetic relatedness among species was included in the analyses, the significant effect of body size disappeared, but habitat suitability remained significant for distance moved. The higher mobility of butterflies than geometroid moths can largely be explained by morphological differences, as butterflies are more robust fliers. The important role of release habitat suitability in butterfly mobility was expected, but seems not to have been empirically documented before. The observed positive correlation between butterfly size and mobility is in agreement with our previous findings on butterfly colonization speed in a long-term set-aside experiment and recent meta-analyses on butterfly mobility.

Courtship Behavior of the Castniid Palm Borer,Paysandisia archon: Potential Roles of Male Scents and Visual Cues in a Day-Flying Moth

The castniid palm borer, Paysandisia archon (Burmeister) (Lepidoptera: Castniidae), is a South American moth that in the last ten years has become a major pest of palm trees in the Mediterranean region. Current knowledge on the reproductive behavior of this diurnal moth suggests the importance of both visual and chemical cues, in particular the production of a male pheromone emitted during a specific scratching behavior. Male-produced scents have diverse functions in lepidopteran sexual communication but generally act during courtship behavior, leading to complex, stereotyped courtship sequences. As a first step to understand the cues involved in mating behavior and the role of male scents in male mating success, we quantified sequences of P. archon courtship behavior using video filming. To distinguish behaviors leading to an approach of both partners from those involved in short-range courtship, sequences were divided into “approach” and “interaction” phases. Quantifications and analyses were first made by NPMANOVA analysis of behavioral event frequencies, followed by flowchart construction using transition matrix probabilities. In 90% of the observations, courting activities led to copulation, but successful sequences were highly variable and could be divided into two categories, “rapid” and “prolonged” courtship sequences. In both categories, approaches were performed by males but depended strongly on female movements, especially on female flights. The significant behavioral differences were observed after the first contact (i.e., interaction phase) where, in rapid sequences, males generally acceded to copulation without displaying scratching behavior. Conversely, in prolonged sequences, the female expressed evading behavior and male scratching frequency increased. The possible roles of male scent emission in female mate choice and the importance of visual cues in the mating behavior of P. archon are discussed.

Remarks on the spatial distribution of some butterflies and diurnal moths (Lepidoptera) in the Top End of the Northern Territory, Australia

The geographical distribution is reviewed and/or new spatial data are given for 15 species of butterflies and diurnal moths from the Top End of the Northern Territory. Three species of day-flying moths, the Zodiac Moth (Alcides metaurus) (family Uraniidae), Mimeusemia centralis (Noctuidae) and Euchromia creusa (Arctiidae), are recorded from the Northern Territory for the first time. Two extant locations of the Purple Beak butterfly (Libythea geoffroyi) from Fish River Station and Gregory National Park represent the first confirmed resident breeding populations of this species in the Northern Territory. The Monarch (Danaus plexippus) is recorded for the first time from the Top End and western Gulf Country where a large-scale range expansion occurred during April-May 2013; other records from the Darwin area comprise intentional introductions facilitated by 'butterfly releases'. New records of the Plain Tiger (Danaus chrysippus) and Northern Argus (Junonia erigone) suggest these species have limited ranges in northern Australia; both are considered to be rare vagrants or immigrants from Indonesia, East Timor, or adjacent islands. The White Migrant (Catopsilia pyranthe) appears to be a rare seasonal migrant to the Darwin area and nearby locations from further inland. The White-banded Line-blue (Nacaduba kurava) is confirmed as occurring in the Darwin area. The Samphire Blue (Theclinesthes sulpitius) and the Glistening Line-blue (Sahulana scintillata) are newly recorded from the western Gulf of Carpentaria and Gove Peninsula, respectively, extending their distribution considerably further east in the Top End. In contrast, the Plumbago Blue (Leptotes plinius) is considered to be erroneous, and accordingly this species is removed from the lepidopteran inventory for the Top End. The Orchard Swallowtail (Papilio aegeus), No-brand Grass-yellow (Eurema brigitta) and Lurcher (Yoma sabina) have narrower ranges within the Northern Territory than previously suspected, being restricted to north-eastern Arnhem Land and/or the Gulf of Carpentaria. Within the Top End, six species, including the Gove Crow (Euploea alcathoe enastri), are restricted to northeastern Arnhem Land, but three others, A. metaurus, E. brigitta, and Red-banded Jezebel (Delias mysis), are probably rare vagrants from northern Queensland.

Courtship behavior of the castniid palm borer, Paysandisia archon: potential roles of male scents and visual cues in a day-flying moth.

The castniid palm borer, Paysandisia archon (Burmeister) (Lepidoptera: Castniidae), is a South American moth that in the last ten years has become a major pest of palm trees in the Mediterranean region. Current knowledge on the reproductive behavior of this diurnal moth suggests the importance of both visual and chemical cues, in particular the production of a male pheromone emitted during a specific scratching behavior. Male-produced scents have diverse functions in lepidopteran sexual communication but generally act during courtship behavior, leading to complex, stereotyped courtship sequences. As a first step to understand the cues involved in mating behavior and the role of male scents in male mating success, we quantified sequences of P. archon courtship behavior using video filming. To distinguish behaviors leading to an approach of both partners from those involved in short-range courtship, sequences were divided into “approach” and “interaction” phases. Quantifications and analyses were first made by NPMANOVA analysis of behavioral event frequencies, followed by flowchart construction using transition matrix probabilities. In 90% of the observations, courting activities led to copulation, but successful sequences were highly variable and could be divided into two categories, “rapid” and “prolonged” courtship sequences. In both categories, approaches were performed by males but depended strongly on female movements, especially on female flights. The significant behavioral differences were observed after the first contact (i.e., interaction phase) where, in rapid sequences, males generally acceded to copulation without displaying scratching behavior. Conversely, in prolonged sequences, the female expressed evading behavior and male scratching frequency increased. The possible roles of male scent emission in female mate choice and the importance of visual cues in the mating behavior of P. archon are discussed.

Characterization of the complete mitochondrion genome of diurnal Moth Amata emma (Butler) (Lepidoptera: Erebidae) and its phylogenetic implications.

Mitogenomes can provide information for phylogenetic analyses and evolutionary biology. The complete mitochondrial genome of Amata emma (Lepidoptera: Erebidae) was sequenced and analyzed in the study. The circular genome is 15,463 bp in size, with the gene content, orientation and order identical to other ditrysian insects. The genome composition of the major strand shows highly A+T biased and exhibits negative AT-skew and GC-skew. The initial codons are the canonical putative start codons ATN with the exception of cox1 gene which uses CGA instead. Ten genes share complete termination codons TAA, and three genes use incomplete stop codons TA or T. Additionally, the codon distribution and Relative Synonymous Codon Usage of the 13 PCGs in the A. emma mitogenome are consistent with those in other Noctuid mitogenomes. All tRNA genes have typical cloverleaf secondary structures, except for the trnS1 (AGN) gene, in which the dihydrouridine (DHU) arm is simplified down to a loop. The secondary structures of two rRNA genes broadly conform with the models proposed for these genes of other Lepidopteran insects. Except for the A+T-rich region, there are three major intergenic spacers, spanning at least 10 bp and five overlapping regions. There are obvious differences in the A+T-rich region between A. emma and other Lepidopteran insects reported previously except that the A+T-rich region contains an ‘ATAGA’ -like motif followed by a 19 bp poly-T stretch and a (AT)9 element preceded by the ‘ATTTA’ motif. It neither has a poly-A (in the α strand) upstream trnM nor potential stem-loop structures and just has some simple structures like (AT)nGTAT. The phylogenetic relationships based on nucleotide sequences of 13 PCGs using Bayesian inference and maximum likelihood methods provided a well-supported a broader outline of Lepidoptera and which agree with the traditional morphological classification and recently working, but with a much higher support.

Can pollination services, species diversity and conservation be simultaneously promoted by sown wildflower strips on farmland?

Sown wildflower strips have been used to mitigate against the loss of farmland biodiversity e.g. as a part of agri-environmental schemes. In this four-year field experiment, conducted on six field parcels, the ability of wildflower strips to simultaneously promote the availability of pollination services (using bumblebee abundance as a proxy), species diversity (total species richness of bumblebees, butterflies and diurnal moths) and conservation (abundance of habitat specialist butterflies) was evaluated. The results showed that the first two indicators increased strongly and rapidly in wildflower strips until the third year of the experiment. The conservation indicator increased more slowly and this response was related to the forest cover of the surrounding landscape. Furthermore, the benefits of wildflower strips were largely independent of experimentally varied strip properties. It is concluded that wildflower strips are a flexible mitigation tool to promote different biodiversity targets in agricultural systems. Pollination services and species diversity can be promoted in different kinds of landscapes by ensuring local habitat quality. In the promotion of habitat specialists, landscape matrix quality is more critical.

Sequestration of Aristolochic Acid I from Aristolochia pilosa by Mapeta xanthomelas Walker, 1863

Sequestration of secondary plant chemicals and brightly colored bodies occur in a number of unpalatable insects. The utilization of toxic plant chemicals has been proposed as a strategy of chemical defense, while aposematic coloration may advertise unpalatability. Here, we tested for the presence of aristolochic acid I in leaves of Aristolochia pilosa and female bodies of Mapeta xanthomelas, obtained from larvae feeding on the plant, using high performance liquid chromatography with photodiode array detection and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry. The presence of aristolochic acid I in females of this conspicuous diurnal moth, an oligophagous herbivore of Aristolochia, is the first report of sequestration of aristolochic acids by an herbivore other than a species of Papilionidae.

New larval food plant associations for some butterflies and diurnal moths (Lepidoptera) from the Northern Territory and eastern Kimberley, Australia

This paper documents 122 insect-plant associations for 10 families of butterflies/diurnal moths (Castniidae, Sessidae, Immidae, Geometridae, Hesperiidae, Papilionidae, Pieridae, Nymphalidae, Lycaenidae and Noctuidae (Agaristinae)) from the Northern Territory and eastern Kimberley, of which 76 associations are newly recorded for Australia and 46 are newly recorded for the Northern Territory and/or Western Australia. Of particular note are the first recordings of the families Lecythidaceae for Anthene (Lycaenidae), Santalaceae for Theclinesthes (Lycaenidae), Vitaceae and Rubiaceae for Periopta (Agaristinae), and Vitaceae for Radinocera (Agaristinae). For Cephrenes augiades and Borbo impar (Hesperiidae), the native larval food plants and natural breeding habitats in the Northern Territory are documented for the first time. For Candalides delospila, C. erinus and C. geminus (Lycaenidae), errors in previously reported larval food plants are corrected, and for two of these species (C. delospila, C. erinus) facultative ant associations are recorded for larvae for the first time. New attendant ant associations are also recorded for several lycaenids, notably Ogyris zosine and Theclinesthes miskini, in which the larvae have obligate relationships with ants.

Revision of the Neotropical genus Yagra Oiticica (Lepidoptera: Castniidae)

The Castniidae, or butterfly moths, are characteristically colourful diurnal moths, distributed throughout the tropics except in Africa. The Neotropical representatives forage almost exclusively on monocotyledonous plants and many species are crop pests with more than 60% of the Neotropical castniids found or endemic in Brazil. Research studies that focus on taxonomy, systematics, and morphology of this group are scarce. In this study, Yagra Oiticica, a small genus restricted to south-eastern South America, is revised and the diagnostic morphological characters of male and female genitalia are illustrated. This research is part of long-term study on the Castniidae for future phylogenetic analysis.