Moth Fauna Research Articles

Determinants of diversity in afrotropical herbivorous insects (Lepidoptera: Geometridae): plant diversity, vegetation structure or abiotic factors?

AbstractAim This study was conducted to investigate the potential of predicting alpha diversity and turnover rates of a highly diverse herbivorous insect family (Geometridae) based on vascular plant species richness and vegetation structure.Location The study was carried out on the south‐western slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro within a wide range of habitats between 1200 and 3150 m elevation.Methods The floristic and structural composition of the vegetation was recorded at 48 plots of 400 m2. Geometrid moths were sampled manually at light sources located at the plot centres. Principal components analysis, redundancy analysis and multiple linear regression were used to explore how alpha diversity and species turnover of geometrid moths are related to vegetation structure and plant species richness.Results Alpha diversity of geometrid moths was significantly correlated with species diversity patterns in the most common vascular plant families (R2 = 0.49) and with plant structural parameters (R2 = 0.22), but not with overall floristic diversity. Species turnover of geometrid moths was strongly linked to diversity changes in a range of plant families (40% explained variance), less strongly to changes in vegetation physiognomy (25%), and only weakly to overall floristic diversity (5%). Changes in elevation were a better predictor of both alpha diversity and species turnover of geometrid moths than any principal component extracted from the vegetation data.Main conclusions Vegetation composition, diversity and structure all showed significant correlations with the diversity and species composition of geometrid moth assemblages. Nevertheless, in most cases relationships were indirect, via environmental parameters such as temperature and humidity, which influenced both vegetation and moth fauna. Possible direct links between geometrid diversity and potential food plants were much weaker. The lack of a significant correlation between overall plant species richness and geometrid diversity indicates that tropical geometrid moths may not be very selective in their food plant choice. Accordingly, a clear correlation between floral diversity and herbivore species richness must be regarded as overly simplistic, and the diversity of vascular plants cannot universally be used as a suitable biodiversity indicator for diverse insect taxa at higher trophic levels.

Дополнения к фауне пядениц (Lepidoptera: Geometridae) Ростовской области

Дополнения к фауне пядениц (Lepidoptera: Geometridae) Ростовской области

Moth Diversity at Gunung Halimun-Salak National Park, West Java

A study on moth fauna with focus on macro-moths was conducted at Gunung Halimun-Salak National Park from January to December 2007. The aims of the study were to acquire information of macro-moth diversity and to access the composition of the species at this area. Another objective of the research was to explore undescribed species of moths that inhabit this park. The result showed that a year collecting time with four sampling sites recorded only about 86% of estimated value in this park (846 of 983 species). Index diversity based on Fisheries ? is high. In addition, the number of families recorded from this park is also high, 29 families, or about half of the moth families that occur in Indo-Malayan region. Citiis site was the highest among other sites in term of the diversity index, while Gunung Botol is the lowest. These two sites have a few species in common. In general, Geometridae, Noctuidae, and Pyralidae dominate across all sites. The other significant finding of the research is that Dudgeonidae that has never been recorded from Indonesia was found at Citiis site. Key words: diversity, macro-moths, similarity

Analysis of insect distribution in the Northern Hemisphere by the example of the subfamily Arctiinae (Lepidoptera, Arctiidae). 2. Species level

An attempt is made to apply cluster analysis to comparison of local faunas in the Northern Hemisphere at the species level by the example of the subfamily Arctiinae (Lepidoptera, Arctiidae). A total of 200 North African, Eurasian (New Guinea inclusive), and North American (north of the United Mexican States) local faunas have been considered. It is found that the circumarctic fauna is clearly separated from the Palearctic and Nearctic ones, being closer to the former only at the level of genera. Therefore, it is not reasonable to recognize the united European-Canadian subprovince of the boreal belt according to the tiger moth faunas. The Palearctic tiger moth fauna is characterized by relatively smooth variations within the boreal, subboreal, and western subtropical belts. The fauna gradually changes from the Amur catchment area to South China, Himalayas, and India so that all fauna types of these regions are closely related to one another and, to a lesser extent, to equatorial fauna types of Southeast Asia islands. The boundary between the Palearctic and Oriental (Indo-Malayan) provinces should be drawn north of the Yangtze catchment area. The most dramatic fauna change at the species level takes place between North China and the Yangtze catchment, and at the genus level, between Northern and Northeastern China. It is reasonable to establish a broad transition area between the two zoogeographic provinces in Eastern Asia. On the grounds of the nonuniform tiger moth fauna, the South Chinese-East Himalayan subprovince should be assigned to the Oriental (Indo-Malayan) province rather than the Palearctic one, as was repeatedly proposed. The Southwest-Asian fauna (Arabian Peninsula and southern Iran) is transitional between the Palearctic, African, and Oriental ones. Many African taxa penetrate to the west and south of the Arabian Peninsula, whereas Oriental and Paleotropical species penetrate to southern Iran. It is reasonable to elevate considerably the rank of the Quinghai-Tibet highland fauna by distinguishing its habitat as a separate zoogeographic subprovince, because the similarity between this fauna type and any other Palearctic fauna at the species level is much less than between temperate faunas of the Palearctic and Nearctic. The assignment of this fauna to the Palearctic is confirmed only at the genus level.

Species diversity and persistence in restored and remnant tallgrass prairies of North America: a function of species’ life history, habitat type, or sampling bias?

1. The re-assembly of native animal communities in restored landscapes is a relatively unexplored phenomenon for many taxa. Specifically, ecologists lack the ability to generalize about how species traits, habitat size, habitat type (here, remnant prairie vs. restored grassland), and temporal variation interact to affect species diversity or species' persistence probabilities. 2. To investigate these relationships, moth communities from 10 prairie remnants and restorations were sampled over a 3-year interval and a combination of NMDS ordination, logistic regression, and repeated measures anova were used to test hypotheses regarding how life history variables and habitat characteristics determine the degree to which restored habitats develop a moth fauna similar to remnants. 3. Within sampling years, restored tallgrass prairies that were >or= 7 years old possessed lepidopteran species assemblages that were generally similar to those in prairie remnants. Community similarity, however, was driven by common moth species likely to also occur in the surrounding agricultural habitat. Species persistence was significantly influenced by a series of trait combinations identified using principal components analysis. Temporal variation independent of habitat type or patch size was the most significant determination of variation in species composition among sites. 4. These results suggest that lepidopteran persistence in restored landscapes is at least partially determined by species' life history attributes. The correlation between sampling year and species richness suggests that both weather effects on species voltinism and interannual differences in sampling bias may make it difficult for land managers to detect changes in species abundance following disturbance or habitat management. 5. Species may not necessarily possess specific life history traits that reduce extinction risk or enhance recolonization probabilities in the highly modified agricultural landscape of the Midwestern USA. Rather, voltinism, fecundity, body size, and host plant specialization may influence the ability of species to maintain populations in the greater agricultural landscape or to escape mass mortality following disturbances imposed by prairie management.

Contribution to the geometrid moth fauna of Volgograd Province, 1 (Lepidoptera: Geometridae)

Twelwe species of geometrid moths are reported as new to the fauna of Volgograd Province of Russia.

Population Changes of Moths (Insecta: Lepidoptera) from Mt. Wolchul National Park, Jeollanam-do, Korea

We investigated the moth fauna and monthly changes in moth populations at three sites - Dogapsa, Gyungpodae and Muwisa - in Mt. Wolchul National Park, Jeollanam-do, South Korea. From February to October, 2006, we collected a total of 1677 individuals comprising 348 species in 14 families. Monthly changes in the abundance of species and individuals showed an M-shaped pattern, with the highest peak in June and a second high peak in August. The diversity of the three dominant families (Noctuidae, Geometridae and Pyralidae) at the three sites varied, possibly due to differences in vegetation and other environmental factors. Diversity at Dogapsa was relatively higher than Gyungpodae and Muwisa, but, the fauna at Dogapsa more closely resembled Muwisa than Gyungpodae. 28 species occurred at the same time in all three sites, included the families Geometridae (14 species), Noctuidae (9 species), Pyralidae (2 species), Arctiidae (1 species), Nolidae (1 species), and Limacodidae (1 species). The present study provided baseline information about biodiversity and phenological patterns of moth abundance and permitted evaluation of moth biodiversity as a monitoring tool for vegetation structure and environmental change.

К фауне пядениц (Lepidoptera, Geometridae) Ростовской области

К фауне пядениц (Lepidoptera, Geometridae) Ростовской области

Lepidoptera of Terskij seashore of the Kola Peninsula, Northwestern Russia

The fauna of moths and butterflies of the Western part of the Kola Peninsula is reasonably well documented, while data from Eastern part are scarce, and only five species have so far been recorded from the White Sea shore between Kuzomen and Ponoi. Here we report the results of sampling conducted on June 29–July 2, 2004, in 14 sites along a 150 km stretch between Kuzomen and Pulonga. Among 146 collected species of Lepidoptera, 12 are recorded for the first time from the Kola Peninsula, which increased the regional fauna to 688 species. For Udea nebulalis, which is for the first time reported from Russia, we provide additional records from Karelia.

Lepidoptera of the Taymyr peninsula, northwestern Siberia

The annotated list of 155 species of Lepidoptera, in addition to five records on unidentified species with known generic affinity, from the Taymyr national district is the first comprehensive account from this area. It is based on the results of the collecting trip of 2002, and on old materials collected by different researchers, and all published records collected by intensive bibliographic search and through consultations with colleagues. Four species erroneously reported from Taymyr are excluded from the list; 65 species are new for this district, including Clepsis mehli that is new to Russia and East Palaearctic, and Argyroploce mengelana reported from Asia for the first time. Records of 32 species are based exclusively on earlier publications; occurrence of other species is confirmed by the investigated material (listed in the paper). We expect that some hundreds of species are still yet to be discovered in Taymyr. The fauna of moths and butterflies of Taymyr is clearly more similar to that of East Palaearctic or Polar Ural than to that of northwestern Europe. In an European perspective, this fauna looks quite exotic and may resemble one that existed in Europe during the ice ages.

Lepidoptera fauna of Lesotho

By the end of the year 2004, 393 species belonging to 225 genera and 24 familie of Lepidoptera have been recorded from Lesotho, amongst which 115 butterfly and 278 moth species, i.e. 13.03 % and 3.65 % of the southern African butterfly and moth fauna re- spectively. The most species rich families included Noctuidae, Lycaenidae and Geometri- dae. Many species are probably endemic or near-endemic to the Maloti/Drakensberg region. A total of 39 species (9.9 %) are known from the type locality alone. Five Lesotho species: Torynesis pringlei (vulnerable, endemic to Lesotho), Lepidochrysops loewen- steini (rare), L. oosthuizeni (rare), Metisella syrinx (rare, dependent on rare plant - Tham- nocalamnus tesselattus) and Aloeides dentatis maseruna (insufficiently known) are listed in the South African Red Data Book (HENNING &H ENNING 1989). In the present paper, 66 species new for Lesotho are listed. For each listed species all records of occurrence in Lesotho are listed, with details on locality and source of information, as well as the global distribution of this species.

Montane Andean rain forests are a global diversity hotspot of geometrid moths

AbstractAim Andean forests are known to be a major diversity hotspot for vascular plants and vertebrates, but virtually nothing is known about the diversity of arthropods. We examined whether montane rain forests in southern Ecuador are also a diversity hotspot for arthropods, and chose geometrid moths as a model group.Location The study area in southern Ecuador (Province Zamora‐Chinchipe, 79° W, 04° S) covers c. 40 km2, with 39 collecting sites within an elevational range of 1040–2677 m a.s.l. Thirty‐five of the sites were situated in an area c. 2.5 km2. Additional qualitative sampling was carried out in the same area and up to an elevation of 3100 m.Methods Nocturnal moths were collected quantitatively and qualitatively using portable light towers consisting of two 15 W fluorescent tubes, and diurnal moths were collected qualitatively using an insect net. Insects were sampled in six fieldwork periods in the years 1999–2003. As diversity measures, Fisher's alpha of the log‐series distribution as well as eight estimators of total species richness were applied.Results A total of 1266 species were recorded, 63% of which were identified to named species, whereas the remainder are likely to include many undescribed species. Quantitative samples at light towers collected 35,238 specimens representing 1223 species. The extrapolated species number for these data is 1420 (incidence coverage estimator). Twenty‐one additional nocturnal species and 22 exclusively diurnal species were sampled qualitatively at elevations between 1040 and 3100 m. The pooled value of Fisher's alpha for all quantitative samples is 246 ± 3.Main conclusions The diversity of Geometridae documented here is much higher than anywhere else in the world, even without the inclusion of additional species from adjacent lowland rain forests. The number of recorded species in this small area corresponds to more than 6% of the known world fauna of geometrid moths. Our study emphasizes the importance of protecting the remaining montane Andean rain forests. For setting priorities in conservation, more studies on insect diversity are urgently required in other regions of the Andes, since montane forests are being destroyed at an alarming rate.

Fauna of Protected Areas - 15: Insect fauna of Peppara Wildlife Sanctuary, Kerala

In a study on the insect fauna of Peppara Wildlife Sanctuary 227 species were collected of which 206 species were identified. The insects recorded in this study mostly belonged to Lepidoptera, Coleoptera and Hemiptera. Lepidoptera contained four species of butterflies having protected status (Papilio budha, Hypolimnas missipus, Mycalesis anaxias and Castalius rosimon) besides four species (Papilio paris tamilana, Cyrestis thyodamas, Kaniska canace and Tirumala septentrionis dravidarum) that were rather rare and having restricted distribution. The moth fauna was very rich comprising mostly of arboreal feeding forms indicating a fairly undisturbed forest patch in the area. The fauna included the Atlas Moth Attacus atlas. The pest species identified in this study were mostly associated with graminaceous plants or herbaceous ground vegetation. Beetles were present in abundance being dominated by phytophagous and scavenger forms, the former feeding mostly on herbaceous ground flora and the latter associated with animal excreta. Among bugs, most species collected were phytophagous forms. The hymenoptera contained several species of solitary bees and wasps. Over 20 species of dipteran flies were collected. The leaf insect Phyllium (?) crurifolium and two species of unidentified damselflies (Odonata) were also recorded from the study area.

Conservation of New Zealand's tussock grassland moth fauna

New Zealand has a relatively rich moth fauna associated with tussock grasslands, reflecting the historic importance of plant communities containing native grasses in the New Zealand landscape. Extensive grassland communities were most common in the eastern and central regions of New Zealand's South Island where what now remains of these communities is contained within more than 350 Pastoral Leases managed for pastoral farming. Because these various grassland communities are distributed from coastal areas to the limit of vegetation on mountains there has been an uneven human impact. Grasslands at sea-level (including those on sand dunes and alluvial plains) have almost been eliminated while those in montane valleys have until now escaped intensive development. Alpine grasslands, like those of montane areas are now much less woody as a result of both Polynesian and more recent burning. From the late 1970s, based on public concern that continuing development was eliminating the natural landscapes and conservation values of the distinctive tussock grasslands of the South Island, a concerted programme of identification of the broad conservation values of the remaining grassland dominated regions was initiated. Implementation of the recommendations in the resulting published reports relating to priority areas for conservation and the subsequent full-scale review of Pastoral Leases has resulted in the formation of large grassland Conservation Parks and the reservation of a multitude of smaller areas, based on a suite of recreation, landscape and biological values. This important ongoing Tenure Review process has important implications for the conservation of tussock grassland biota including numerous native moths and their habitats.

An overview of the Tasmanian geometrid moth fauna (Lepidoptera: Geometridae) and its conservation status

A brief review of the geometrid fauna of the large island of Tasmania and a simple analysis of its conservation status and threats are presented. The fauna comprises 310 species of which Ennominae contribute slightly less than half the total and Larentiinae one third; 23% of the geometrid fauna is endemic at species level. Mixed eucalypt-rainforest is identified as the richest wet forest habitat in geometrid species. Using distribution data at 10 km resolution, the most widespread and most restricted taxa are identified. The conservation status of Lepidoptera living above 800 m is relatively good. However, coastal species and those associated with herb-rich native grasslands are under some pressure from habitat change. Three species of geometrid moths are listed as threatened in Tasmania’s Threatened Species Protection Act 1995 but several others may qualify for listing.

An overview of the Tasmanian geometrid moth fauna (Lepidoptera: Geometridae) and its conservation status

An overview of the Tasmanian geometrid moth fauna (Lepidoptera: Geometridae) and its conservation status

Conservation of New Zealand?s tussock grassland moth fauna

Conservation of New Zealand?s tussock grassland moth fauna

Discovery of the previously unrecorded family Copromorphidae Meyrick (Lepidoptera) in Japan, with description of a new species and autapomorphies for the family

Abstract Copromorpha kijimuna sp. nov., which is closely related to C. pleurophanes Meyrick (Copromorphidae), is described from the Ryukyus, Japan, with illustrations of the adult stage, including its genitalia, and of the immature stage. The larva bores into the fruit of Ficus virgata (Moraceae). Descriptions of the immature stages of the genus are given for the first time. The lectotype of C. pleurophanes, including its genitalia, is illustrated. Both the family and the genus are newly added to the Japanese moth fauna. Autapomorphies for the Copromorphidae are proposed on the basis of larval and pupal characters.

Determinants of lepidopteran community composition and species diversity in eastern deciduous forests: roles of season, eco‐region and patch size

Ecologists have long recognized that factors operating at both local and regional scales influence whether a given species occurs in an ecological community. The relative roles of variables manifested at local and regional scales on community structure, however, remain an unexplored issue for many faunas. To address this question, we compared the community composition and species diversity of forest Lepidoptera between (i) large forest tracts in historically glaciated and unglaciated regions of the eastern deciduous forest in North America, and (ii) large and small forest patches within a highly fragmented forest landscape. Specifically, we used seasonally stratified sampling to test whether regional and local differences in moth communities were related to variation in stand structure and floristic composition. At the local scale, we tested three alternative hypotheses describing the effects of patch size on moth species richness: species impoverishment, species replacement, or species supplementation.Cluster analysis revealed significant compositional differences in moth communities sampled between (i) early and late seasons, (ii) glaciated and unglaciated forest eco‐regions, and (iii) large and small forest patches. Canonical correspondence analysis suggested that floristic variation at regional scales had a greater role in determining moth community composition than local vegetation or patch‐size effects. Species richness was higher in the glaciated North Central Tillplain, and was attributable to a more diverse herbaceous feeding moth assemblage. Finally, we found evidence that both species impoverishment and species replacement processes structure the moth fauna of small woodlots; the richness of moths with larvae that feed on woody plants decreased with patch area, but herbaceous feeding species increased in diversity in smaller patches. Thus, our results suggest that local and regional differences in moth community structure are mediated by differences in host‐plant resources attributable to regional biogeographic history and local differences in patch size. Because community composition appeared to be more sensitive to environmental variation than species richness, we suggest that monitoring lepidopteran species diversity in forests will not detect significant changes in species composition due to environmental change.

An inventory of the moth fauna (Lepidoptera) of Jatinga, Assam, India

707 Abstract An inventory of the moth fauna of a tiny North Eastern locality, Jatinga in North Cachar Hills (Haflong: Assam: latitude 24 to 28 18’ N, longitude 89 46’ E to 97 4’ E) is prepared for the first time. It includes 81 species referable to the genera Aetholix Lederer, Agathodes Guenee, Agrotera Schrank, Arthroschista Hampson, Bocchoris Moore, Botyodes Guenee, Chalcidoptera Butler, Diaphania Hubner, Dichocrocis Lederer, Glyphodes Guenee, Hemopsis Kirti and Rose, Herpetogramma Lederer, Heterocnephes Lederer, Hymenia Hubner, Indogrammodes Kirti and Rose, Ischnurges Lederer, Lamprosema Hubner, Limbobotys Munroe, Lygropia Lederer, Maruca Walker, Meroctena Lederer, Nagiella Munroe, Nausinoe Hubner, Nevrina Guenee, Notarcha Meyrick, Pagyda Walker, Palpita Hubner, Patania Moore, Phostria Hubner, Pionea Guenee, Polythlipta Lederer, Pramadea Moore, Prophantis Warren, Prorodes Swinhoe, Pycnarmon Lederer, Rhagoba Moore, Samea Guenee, Satanastra Meyrick, Sisyrophora Lederer, Syllepte Hubner, Synclera Lederer, Tangla Swinhoe, Tetridia Warren and Toxobotys Munroe and Mutuura of the subfamily Pyraustinae; 39 species belonging to the genera Achaea Hubner, Alamis Guenee, Anisoneura Guenee, Anua Walker, Artena Walker, Caranilla Moore, Chalciope Hubner, Cocytodes Guenee, Dysgonia Hubner, Entomogramma Guenee, Ercheia Walker, Eupatala Ragonot, Grammodes Guenee, Hypopyra Guenee, Lagoptera Guenee, Lygniodes Guenee, Mocis Hubner, Ophisma Ochsenheimer, Parallelia Hubner, Pericyma HerrichSchaffer, Phyllodes Boisduval, Pindara Moore, Thyas Hubner and Trigonodes Guenee of the subfamily Catocalinae; 44 species pertaining to the genera Aedia Hubner, Amphigonia Guenee, Anereuthina Hubner, Anomis Hubner, Asta Walker, Bamra Moore, Calyptra Ochsenheimer, Chrysopera Hampson, Delgamma Moore, Episparina Berio, Episparis Walker, Ericeia Walker, Eudocima Billberg, Fodina Guenee, Hamodes Guenee, Hulodes Guenee, Hypocala Guenee, Hypospila Guenee, Ischyja Hubner, Koptoplax Hampson, Lacera Guenee, Ommatophora Guenee, Oraesia Guenee, Othreis Hubner, Oxyodes Guenee, Platyja Hubner, Ramadasa Moore, Rhytia Hubner, Serrodes Guenee, Speiredonia Hubner, Sympis Guenee and Trichopolydesma Berio of the subfamily Ophiderinae; and 16 species belonging to the genera Acronicta Oschsenheimer, Apsarasa Moore, Athetis Hubner, Callopistria Hubner, Callyna Guenee, Chasmina Walker, Craniophora Snellen, Dipterygina Sugi, Eutamsia Fletcher, Prospalta Walker, Spodoptera Guenee and Yepcalphis Nye of the subfamily Acronictinae. In all, 180 species have been recorded from this locality, which is situated in one of the biodiversity hot spots in India. It has been made out that the spot be given due attention both by the Entomologists and Ornithologists. The fruit piercing for juice sucking and skin piercing for blood sucking behaviour of certain Ophiderinae taxa have been quoted to attract the attention of Lepidopterists in India. It has also been emphasized that the life history studies and location of the larval host plants of non-pest species are essential from the conservation point of view.