Geometry Research Articles

New discoveries of Geometridae (Lepidoptera) from the extreme southwest of the Russian Far East – result of climate impact?

New founds of 4 species of East Asian Geometridae: Megabiston plumosaria (Leech, 1891), Photoscotosia lucicolens (Butler, 1878), Callabraxas fabiolaria (Oberthür, 1884), and Dysstroma cinereata (Moore, 1867) in the extreme southwest of the Russian Far East are presented and discussed due to the actual distribution and its current trends. From them Ph. lucicolens is recorded from Russia and China (Jilin) for the first time. Identity of specimens of "Photoscotosia atrostrigata" and "Dysstroma cinereata" in Barcode of Life Database is revised to Ph. lucicolens and Paradysstroma corussaria (Oberthür, 1880) respectively. These founds probably indicate northern expansion of ranges of geometrid moth in accordance with the current climatic trend of global warming. Potential harmfulness of M. plumosaria in RFE is assumed. The validity of Dysstroma cinerea cesa Koçak & Kemal, 2001, as a substitute name for Dysstroma cinereata japonica (Heydemann, 1929) is substantiated.

Flight Mill Experiments and Computer Simulations Indicate Islands Recruit More Capable Flyers of Moths

Understanding the traits related to species colonization and invasion, is a key question for both pest management and evolution. One of the key components is flight, which has been measured for a number of insect species through radar and tethered flight mill systems, but a general understanding of insect flight at a community level is lacking. In this study, we used flight mill experiments to quantify flight abilities of moth species, and simulation experiments to study which moths in mainland China have the potential for cross-island dispersal. We found that moths from superfamily Geometroidea (family Geometridae) have the weakest flight ability among the seven Lepidoptera superfamilies, which is characterized by the shortest longest single flight (LSF), the shortest time corresponding to the longest single flight (TLSF) (timecorrespondingtothelongestsingleflight), the lowest total distance flown (TDF), and the lowest average speed during the flight (VTDF). Surprisingly, the family Pyralidae (superfamily Pyraloidea) has the highest flight endurance of all 186 species of 12 families in this study, which is unexpected, given its small size and morphological traits yet it shows the longest LSF and TLSF. The comparison between species common to mainland and islands shows that flight distance (LSF) may be more important for species spread than flight speed. The results of mainland-island simulations show that when P(LSF>CD) (the proportion of individuals whose LSF is greater than the closest distance (CD) between mainland and island to the total number of individuals in the population) is less than 0.004, it is difficult for moth species to disperse to across islands without relying on external factors such as airflow. Over extended periods, with the immigration of species with strong flight abilities, islands are more likely to recruit species with stronger flight abilities.

Two new for Russia geometrid moths (Lepidoptera: Geometridae) from Primorsky Krai: recent immigrants or rare species?

Two East Asian geometrid moths, Paratrichopteryx misera (Butler, 1879) and Rheumaptera hecate hecate (Butler, 1878), are recorded from Russia for the first time. Their invasive or native status in the south part of Primorsky Krai is briefly discussed.

An inventory of geometrid moths (Lepidoptera: Geometroidea: Geometridae) of Kalakad-Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve, India

The geometrid moths of Kalakad-Mundanthurai Tiger reserve were studied during the years 2012 to 2016. Since collection of specimens was not permitted, only field notes, accompanied by photo documentation was undertaken. Two-hundred-and-sixty geometrid moths identified to various hierarchical levels of taxa and one new genus for southern India, are reported.

An approach for quantum capacitance of graphene, carbon nanotube, silicene and hexagonal boron nitride nanoscale supercapacitors by non-equilibrium Green’s function method

We introduce a comprehensive approach to calculate quantum capacitance of nanoscale capacitors as a function of applied potential difference to have resemblance to actual device operating conditions. Ab initio analysis based on the non-equilibrium Green’s functions combined with density functional theory was applied for different elementary materials and geometries for the soundness of the approach. The results of planar single layer graphene, silicene, and hexagonal boron nitride and for tubular carbon nanotube supercapacitor symmetric model systems on the quantum capacitance are presented together with widely utilized fixed band approximation at planar systems for comparison purposes. The proposed procedure not only successfully reproduced the results for planar systems in a qualitative manner but is also consistently applicable for non-planar (tubular) systems by remarking the robustness of the procedure. Our work highlights the importance of the separation spacing (such as contact distance) search in obtaining quantum capacitance for electric double layer supercapacitors. In that search procedure, it is basically aimed to minimize the charge on the leads/plates for eliminating quantum effects. Induced charge sites under the applied bias could be indicative in some degree for the possible ion adsorption/desorption from the electrolyte or redox reactions at electrode/electrolyte interface to create a double layer. So that the proposed approach on the presented study could also be treated as a qualitative measure on the quantum capacitance for realistic systems with dopants, defects, and functional groups for supercapacitor understanding.

Living, dead, and absent trees-How do moth outbreaks shape small-scale patterns of soil organic matter stocks and dynamics at the Subarctic mountain birch treeline?

Mountain birch forests (Betula pubescens Ehrh. ssp. czerepanovii) at the subarctic treeline not only benefit from global warming, but are also increasingly affected by caterpillar outbreaks from foliage-feeding geometrid moths. Both of these factors have unknown consequences on soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks and biogeochemical cycles. We measured SOC stocks down to the bedrock under living trees and under two stages of dead trees (12 and 55years since moth outbreak) and treeless tundra in northern Finland. We also measured in-situ soil respiration, potential SOC decomposability, biological (enzyme activities and microbial biomass), and chemical (N, mineral N, and pH) soil properties. SOC stocks were significantly higher under living trees (4.1±2.1kg m²) than in the treeless tundra (2.4±0.6kg m²), and remained at an elevated level even 12 (3.7±1.7kg m²) and 55years (4.9±3.0kg m²) after tree death. Effects of tree status on SOC stocks decreased with increasing distance from the tree and with increasing depth, that is, a significant effect of tree status was found in the organic layer, but not in mineral soil. Soil under living trees was characterized by higher mineral N contents, microbial biomass, microbial activity, and soil respiration compared with the treeless tundra; soils under dead trees were intermediate between these two. The results suggest accelerated organic matter turnover under living trees but a positive net effect on SOC stocks. Slowed organic matter turnover and continuous supply of deadwood may explain why SOC stocks remained elevated under dead trees, despite the heavy decrease in aboveground C stocks. We conclude that the increased occurrence of moth damage with climate change would have minor effects on SOC stocks, but ultimately decrease ecosystem C stocks (49% within 55years in this area), if the mountain birch forests will not be able to recover from the outbreaks.

Geometrid Moths (Lepidoptera, Geometridae) of the Baikal Region: Additions to the Species List and Results of DNA Barcoding

Geometrid Moths (Lepidoptera, Geometridae) of the Baikal Region: Additions to the Species List and Results of DNA Barcoding

New records of geometrid moths (Lepidoptera, Geometridae) from Sakhalin and Kunashir Islands, Russia

New records of geometrid moths (Lepidoptera, Geometridae) from Sakhalin and Kunashir Islands, Russia

Species of Geometrid Moths of the Tribe Eupitheciini (Lepidoptera, Geometridae) New to the Fauna of Kazakhstan

Species of Geometrid Moths of the Tribe Eupitheciini (Lepidoptera, Geometridae) New to the Fauna of Kazakhstan

Systematics of Problepsis wiltshirei (Prout, 1938), comb. nov. (Lepidoptera, Geometridae, Sterrhinae) – an endemic species to the Zagros Mountains in the Middle East

Within Iran, the Zagros Mountains show high biodiversity, with a wealth of endemic species. One of these is the geometrid moth Somatina wiltshirei Prout, 1938, originally described from Iran and Iraq. In the present study, one mitochondrial and up to nine protein-coding nuclear gene regions were used along with a comparative morphological examination to investigate the systematic position of this species. The results support the reclassification of this species as Problepsis wiltshireicomb. nov. Since the original species description is superficial, we provide a re-description supported by rich illustrations of morphological characters and distribution. In addition, Problepsis wiltshireicomb. nov. is reported as a new species for the fauna of Turkey. The importance of the habitat for the conservation of this species is discussed.

Геометрія проксимального відділу стегнової кістки та ризик її переломів: огляд літератури

У статті подано огляд літератури щодо впливу показників геометрії верхньої третини стегнової кістки (довжини осі стегнової кістки, шийково-діафізарного кута, міжвертлюжної відстані, горизонтального офсету, товщини кортикального шару стегнової кістки тощо) на ризик її переломів. Продемонстровані можливості методик для вимірювання показників геометрії стегнової кістки, а саме традиційної рентгенографії кісток таза, двох­енергетичної рентгенівської денситометрії, комп’ютерної томографії. Показано можливий зв’язок деяких генетичних маркерів з особливостями показників геометрії верхньої третини стегнової кістки. Також наведені результати власних досліджень вікових та статевих особливостей параметрів геометрії проксимального відділу стегнової кістки в осіб без переломів, а також у хворих старших вікових груп з внутрішньо- та позасуглобовими переломами стегнової кістки.

Complete mitochondrial genome of Hypomecis punctinalis Scopoli, 1763 and its phylogenetic position within family Geometridae

Hypomecis punctinalis Scopoli, 1763 belongs to the Lepidopteran family Geometridae. We sequenced the complete mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) of H. punctinalis. The mitogenome is 15,648 bp long and contains a typical set of genes (13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 22 tRNA genes, and two rRNA genes) and a 484 bp AT-rich region. All PCGs start with ATN codons and stop at TAA codon except for cox1 using CGA as initiation codon and nad4 and nad5 using incomplete termination codon T. Within the mitogenome, 17 intergenic spacers and seven overlaps are founded. The intergenic nucleotides are 294 bp in total and two longest intervals locate between trnGln and nad2 as well as trnCys and trnTyr . The overlap nucleotides are 47 bp in total and the maximum overlap lies between cox2 and trnLys . The AT-rich region of the mitogenome contains an ‘ATAGA + polyT’ motif, three copies of 30-bp-repeat and a short polyA tail. The phylogenetic tree shows the relationships of four subfamilies of Geometridae are (((Ennominae + Geometrinae)+Larentiinae)+Sterrhinae)) and the relationships within subfamily Ennominae are ((((Erannis+Biston)+(Jankowskia+(Hypomecis+(Apocheima+Milionia))))+Ectropis)+Abraxas)+Phthonandria)+Celenna).

A database and checklist of geometrid moths (Lepidoptera) from Colombia.

BackgroundMolecular DNA sequence data allow unprecedented advances in biodiversity assessments, monitoring schemes and taxonomic works, particularly in poorly-explored areas. They allow, for instance, the sorting of material rapidly into operational taxonomic units (such as BINs - Barcode Index Numbers), sequences can be subject to diverse analyses and, with linked metadata and physical vouchers, they can be examined further by experts. However, a prerequisite for their exploitation is the construction of reference libraries of DNA sequences that represent the existing biodiversity. To achieve these goals for Geometridae (Lepidoptera) moths in Colombia, expeditions were carried out to 26 localities in the northern part of the country in 2015–2019. The aim was to collect specimens and sequence their DNA barcodes and to record a fraction of the species richness and occurrences in one of the most biodiversity-rich countries. These data are the beginning of an identification guide to Colombian geometrid moths, whose identities are currently often provisional only, being morpho species or operational taxonomic units (OTUs). Prior to the current dataset, 99 Geometridae sequences forming 44 BINs from Colombia were publicly available on the Barcode of Life Data System (BOLD), covering 20 species only.New informationWe enrich the Colombian Geometridae database significantly by including DNA barcodes, two nuclear markers, photos of vouchers and georeferenced occurrences of 281 specimens of geometrid moths from different localities. These specimens are classified into 80 genera. Analytical tools on BOLD clustered 157 of the mentioned sequences to existing BINs identified to species level, identified earlier by experts. Another 115 were assigned to BINs that were identified to genus or tribe level only. Eleven specimens did not match any existing BIN on BOLD and are, therefore, new additions to the database. It is likely that many BINs represent undescribed species. Nine short sequences (< 500bp) were not assigned to BINs, but identified to the lowest taxonomic category by expert taxonomists and with comparisons of type material photos. The released new genetic information will help to further progress the systematics of Geometridae. An illustrated catalogue of all new records allows validation of our identifications; it is also the first document of this kind for Colombian Geometridae. All specimens are deposited at the Museo de Zoología of Universidad de Sucre (MZUS), North Colombia. DNA BINs are reported in this study through dx.doi.org/10.5883/DS-GEOCO, the species occurrences are available on SIB Colombia https://sibcolombia.net/ and the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) https://www.gbif.org/ through https://doi.org/10.15472/ucfmkh.

New records of geometrid moths of the subfamily Ennominae (Lepidoptera: Geometridae) from the Amurskaya Oblast, Russian Far East

Eleven species of geometrid moths from the subfamily Ennominae (Lepidoptera: Geometridae) are reported for the first time from Amurskaya Oblast at the extreme northwestern limit of the distribution of mixed broadleaved &amp;ndash; Korean pine (Pinus koraiensis) forests, at a great distance from their closest habitats in Khabarovsky Krai and Primorsky Krai, Russian Far East: Eilicrinia nuptaria Bremer, 1864, Eudjakonovia emundata (Christoph, 1881), Menophra senilis (Butler, 1878), Ectropis excellens (Butler, 1884), Ectropis aigneri Prout, 1930, Mesastrape fulguraria (Walker, 1860), Arichanna tetrica (Butler, 1878), Agriopis dira (Butler, 1878), Larerannis orthogrammaria (Wehrli, 1927), Phigalia verecundaria (Leech, 1897), and Phanerothyris sinearia (Guen&amp;eacute;e, 1858).

A New Genus and Species Record of Geometrid Moth (Lepidoptera) from Turkey

Kresnaia beschkovi (Ganev, 1987), which has a restricted distribution in Europe and south-western Asia, is recorded for the first time from Turkey. The species is active at night and was collected in oak forest by a UV light trap in 2018 from Batman province. It has been determined with extremely low population in the cold month. Figures of the adult male and its genitalia are illustrated. The new distributional data and ecological notes are discussed.

Wolbachia Strain wGri From the Tea Geometrid Moth Ectropis grisescens Contributes to Its Host's Fecundity.

Members of the Wolbachia genus manipulate insect–host reproduction and are the most abundant bacterial endosymbionts of insects. The tea Geometrid moth Ectropis grisescens (Warren) (Lepidoptera: Geometridae) is the most devastating insect pest of tea plants [Camellia sinensis (L.) O. Kuntze] in China. However, limited data on the diversity, typing, or phenotypes of Wolbachia in E. grisescens are available. Here, we used a culture-independent method to compare the gut bacteria of E. grisescens and other tea Geometridae moths. The results showed that the composition of core gut bacteria in larvae of the three Geometridae moth species was similar, except for the presence of Wolbachia. Moreover, Wolbachia was also present in adult female E. grisescens samples. A Wolbachia strain was isolated from E. grisescens and designated as wGri. Comparative analyses showed that this strain shared multilocus sequence types and Wolbachia surface protein hypervariable region profiles with cytoplasmic incompatibility (CI)-inducing strains in supergroup B; however, the wGri-associated phenotypes were undetermined. A reciprocal cross analysis showed that Wolbachia-uninfected females mated with infected males resulted in 100% embryo mortality (0% eggs hatched per female). Eggs produced by mating between uninfected males and infected females hatched normally. These findings indicated that wGri induces strong unidirectional CI in E. grisescens. Additionally, compared with uninfected females, Wolbachia-infected females produced approximately 30–40% more eggs. Together, these results show that this Wolbachia strain induces reproductive CI in E. grisescens and enhances the fecundity of its female host. We also demonstrated that wGri potential influences reproductive communication between E. grisescens and Ectropis obliqua through CI.

Synergistic effects of insect herbivory and changing climate on plant volatile emissions in the subarctic tundra.

Climate change increases the insect abundance, especially in Arctic ecosystems. Insect herbivory also significantly increases plant emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which are highly reactive in the atmosphere and play a crucial role in atmospheric chemistry and physics. However, it is unclear how the effects of insect herbivory on VOC emissions interact with climatic changes, such as warming and increased cloudiness. We assessed how experimental manipulations of temperature and light availability in subarctic tundra, that had been maintained for 30 years at the time of the measurements, affect the VOC emissions from a widespread dwarf birch (Betula nana) when subjected to herbivory by local geometrid moth larvae, the autumnal moth (Epirrita autumnata) and the winter moth (Operophtera brumata). Warming and insect herbivory on B. nana stimulated VOC emission rates and altered the VOC blend. The herbivory‐induced increase in sesquiterpene and homoterpene emissions were climate‐treatment‐dependent. Many herbivory‐associated VOCs were more strongly induced in the shading treatment than in other treatments. We showed generally enhanced tundra VOC emissions upon insect herbivory and synergistic effects on the emissions of some VOC groups in a changing climate, which can have positive feedbacks on cloud formation. Furthermore, the acclimation of plants to long‐term climate treatments affects VOC emissions and strongly interacts with plant responses to herbivory. Such acclimation complicates predictions of how climate change, together with interacting biotic stresses, affects VOC emissions in the high latitudes.

A check-list of Geometridae (Insecta, Lepidoptera) of the Tyumen Region of Russia

A list of 247 species of Geometrid moths from 5 subfamilies (Archiearinae &amp;ndash; 3 species, Ennominae &amp;ndash; 70 species, Geometrinae &amp;ndash; 9 species, Larentiinae &amp;ndash; 132 species, Sterrhinae &amp;ndash; 33 species) from the territory of Tyumen Region (including Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug and Khanty-Mansy Autunomous Okrug) is given. 86 species are reported for the first time. The historical overview of the Geometridae study in the Tyumen Region provided.

Sympatric occurrence of deeply diverged mitochondrial DNA lineages in Siberian geometrid moths (Lepidoptera: Geometridae): cryptic speciation, mitochondrial introgression, secondary admixture or effect ofWolbachia?

AbstractThe divergent sympatric mitochondrial lineages within traditionally recognized species present a challenge regularly faced by taxonomists and evolutionary biologists. We encountered this problem when studying the Siberian geometrid moths, Alcis deversata and Thalera chlorosaria. Within each of these species we found two deeply diverged mitochondrial lineages that demonstrated a level of genetic differentiation exceeding the standard interspecific DNA barcode threshold. Using analyses of nuclear genes, morphology, ecological preferences and Wolbachia endosymbionts, we tested five hypotheses that might explain the mitochondrial pattern observed: cryptic speciation, ancestral polymorphism, interspecific mitochondrial introgression, secondary admixture of allopatrically evolved populations and an effect of intracellular Wolbachia endosymbionts. We demonstrate that in A. deversata and Th. chlorosaria the mitochondrial differences are not correlated with differences in nuclear genes, morphology, ecology and Wolbachia infection status, thus not supporting the hypothesis of cryptic species and an effect of Wolbachia. Mitochondrial introgression can lead to a situation in which one species has both its own mitochondrial lineage and the lineage obtained from another species. We found this situation in the species pair Alcis repandata and Alcis extinctaria. We conclude that the mitochondrial heterogeneity in A. deversata and Th. chlorosaria is most likely to be attributable to the secondary admixture of allopatrically evolved populations.

The fauna of Geometrid moths of the Natural Forest Reserve &amp;ldquo;Cob&amp;icirc;leni&amp;rdquo; Republic of Moldova &amp;ndash; Preliminary data

Cob&amp;icirc;leni Natural Forest Reserve with a surface of 33.5 ha is situated near Lopatna village, Orhei district, on the right bank of the Dniester River. The aim of the study was to assess the geometrid moths (Lepidoptera, Geometridae) fauna from this reserve. The most part of entomological materials from Cob&amp;icirc;leni Natural Forest Reserve discussed in this paper were collected at the light trap during vegetation period of 2018. In the paper the list of fifty-five geometrids species is given, also their geographical distribution, ecological and trophic structure. The geometridae species collected from this reserve belong to five subfamilies. Most of the captured specimens belong to the Ennominae subfamily with 36 species, as it is typical for mesophilous meadows, followed by Sterrhinae with nine species, then Larentiinae with eight, and finally Orthostixinae and Geometrinae with only one species each. In the result of establishing of taxonomic affiliation of the entomological material collected during 2018, a new geometrid species for the fauna of the Republic of Moldova was identified: Cyclophora linearia.