Forewing Length Research Articles

Effects of mulberry leaf enrichment with Lepidium sativum L. seed powder suspension on the economic parameters of Bombyx mori L

The phytochemicals of high nutritional and functional properties in Lepidium sativum L. (garden cress) seeds have nominated their seed powder (regardless of the concentration used) for enrichment of mulberry leaves in order to enhance Bombyx mori L. larval feeding, and consequently to gain ground in sericulture industry. As expected, B. mori larval feeding on L. sativum-enriched mulberry leaves showed not only a remarkable increase in mean values of certain economic parameters of B. mori, such as cocoon weight, cocoon shell weight, pupal weight, and egg yield, compared with the control group, but also showed a phenomenal increase in egg counts (on average, ca. 958–1256 eggs laid per female moth) and a significant increase in egg size (measured as egg surface area and egg volume). Male or female moth larval diet has significantly influenced the reproductive performance or fitness of both sexes of B. mori in terms of large-sized moths (measured as forewing, hind femur, and hind tibia lengths) and highly fecund moths (i.e., increased fecundity and spermatophore counts per female moth, and large-sized eggs). On the basis of B. mori female moth reproductive index, the female moths from L. sativum-fed larvae proved to have a lower reproductive index compared to their corresponding value for females of the control group, indicating more efficient utilization of larval resources for B. mori reproduction. Quantification of the three main physiological resources viz., protein, lipid and carbohydrate in the internal reproductive tract of B. mori female moths at death has nominated the female moth abdomens, or simply their bodies, as being a reasonable natural source of protein, lipid, and carbohydrate, to be involved in certain manufactures (e.g., pet feed formulations) instead of discarding them as a source of environmental pollution. Evidently, the L. sativum seed powder is of considerable interest because it remarkably improves the performance of such an economically important insect, B. mori. This is the first study for evaluating the efficacy of L. sativum seed powder in sericulture field to enhance B. mori productivity parameters.

Reduced size in a montane butterfly at its warm range boundaries

Abstract Variation in insect size is often related to temperature during development and may affect the persistence of populations under future climate warming if smaller individuals have reduced fitness. Montane species are particularly vulnerable to climate‐driven local extinctions due to range retractions at their warm range margins, and so we examined spatial and temporal variation in body size in the butterfly Erebia epiphron (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) in the United Kingdom, where it is restricted to two montane regions in England and Scotland. We examined spatial and temporal variation in body size in relation to temperature. We sampled 19 populations (6–15 individuals per population) in England and Scotland between 2018 and 2019 spanning elevations from 380 to 720 m and examined museum specimens collected between 1890 and 1980. We examined individual body size (forewing length) and its relationship with the local temperature of sites, as well as temporal variation in body size over the last century in relation to the temperature during larval development. The forewing lengths of field‐collected individuals in England were on average 7%–8% smaller than in Scotland (England, mean = 14.9 mm, Scotland, mean = 15.9 mm), and warmer sites also had smaller individuals (0.13 mm reduction in wing length per 1°C increase in local site mean temperature). However, we found no effect of temporal temperature variation on body size changes during larval development. The observed smaller body size in English populations could have impacts on fecundity and dispersal ability. Future work should seek to understand the life‐cycle lengths, genetics and phenotypic plasticity of these two populations to evaluate potential explanations for regional differences.

Impact of Apis cerana cerana (Hymenoptera: Apidae) body size on newly built cell size

The influence of cell structure size on the morphological development of honey bees has been widely studied. However, the effect of the honey bees' body size on the cell size they build remains unclear. This study investigated the influence of the body size of Apis cerana cerana on the structure size of newly built honey cells, worker cells, and drone cells. Accordingly, we established colonies of A. c. cerana with large and small body-size workers. We then analyzed the birth weight and seven external morphological characteristics of workers, as well as the depth and diameter of their newly built honey cells, worker cells, and drone cells. We found significant differences in the birth weight, proboscis length, thorax width, right forewing length, femur length, tibia length, and metatarsus length of the right hindleg, and total length of the 3rd and 4th tergite of workers from large-body-size colonies (LBSC) and small-body-size colonies (SBSC). Also, the depth and diameter of the newly built cells by LBSC were significantly larger than those by SBSC. The body size of workers positively correlated with the size of newly built cells. This study emphasizes the influence of workers' body size on the structural dimensions of newly constructed cells, providing insights into the comb-building biology of A. c. cerana.

Morphology and morphometric of Tetragonula biroi bees at three different altitudes in South Sulawesi, Indonesia

Abstract. Prastiyo A, Nuraeni S, Budiaman. 2024. Morphology and morphometric of Tetragonula biroi bees at three different altitudes in South Sulawesi, Indonesia. Biodiversitas 25: 1993-2002. Tetragonula biroi Friese 1898 is a stingless bee species that plays an essential role in pollination and environmental conservation. This research is important because bees play a crucial role as pollinators for the sustainability of plants, and morphometric measurements can reveal patterns of adaptation and the potential production of products generated by these bees. This research aims to analyze the morphological and morphometric variations of T. biroi at three different altitudes in South Sulawesi. The study was conducted from November 2023 to January 2024, with sampling points in lowland (158 meters above sea level or masl), midland (417 masl), and highland (709 masl), using Principal Component Analysis (PCA) test using XLSTAT and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) test using program SPSS. Observations of T. biroi morphology at the three locations were generally similar, with a black body color tinged with brown and characteristic hamuli numbering five. The morphometric analysis involved measuring body dimensions of T. biroi across 35 characters/sections of the external body, and the one-way ANOVA test results showed that the dominant characters significantly influencing were body length (BL) and length of fore wing, including tegula (WL1). T. biroi bees at lowlands tend to have smaller bodies, measuring 3.73±0.09 mm, while those at higher altitudes tend to have larger bodies, measuring 4.09±0.14 mm. This indicates adaptation to environmental conditions such as temperature (26.75C), humidity (81%), and dominant vegetation (Cocos nucifera L.) in lowland, which influence bee adaptation, as well as in midland and highland areas. This research provides a better understanding of morphological and morphometric variations in T. biroi bees at various altitudes in South Sulawesi. The morphology and morphometrics description of bees is crucial in determining the growth and production of a species.

High variation of worker cell and morphology between two adjacent populations of honey bee, Apis cerana (Hymenoptera, Apidae)

Honey bee population inhabiting among different geographic regions often exhibit distinctive traits and phenotypes as a means of enhancing their adaptation to local environmental conditions. Morphological difference of worker was used to reflect the honey bee population locality adaptation and as one of the important markers of species evolution. Here, four comb cell and seven morphology characters of honey bee Apis cerana from two adjacent populations of Yunnan Province were measured to explore the effect of local adaptation on worker comb cell and morphology. Results showed that the characters of worker comb cell and morphology was significant difference between samples from these two local populations of A. cerana. It was separated into two groups which corresponding into the general A. cerana geographic population of Yungui Plateau and South Yunnan base on worker comb cell and morphology character. The worker comb cell size and morphology of A. cerana from Qujing were found to be significantly larger than those from Cangyuan. The indices that showed the most significantly different between populations were cell depth and right forewing length. Moreover, a strong positive correlation was observed between the cell diagonal diameter and the right forewing length, with a correlation coefficient 0.575. In conclusion, honey bee A. cerana population appear high variation in comb cell and morphology to adapt the locality environment. The forewing length of worker was the most significant variation indices between geographic populations, and could be as an indicator of worker cell and morphology among different A. cerana geographic populations.

The influence of geographical area on morphometric parameters of the honey bee in Serbia

In this study, morphological characteristics were measured on worker honey bee samples collected from seven different locations covering the territory of the Republic of Serbia. Three samples were taken from the territory of AP Vojvodina, namely from the Southern Banat District (Vršac; I), the South Bačka District (Bač; II), and the West Bačka District (Crvenka; III). The worker bees from the central Serbia originated from different sites namely, the Rasina District (Aleksandrovac; IV), the Zlatibor District (Lučani; V), Pešter (Sjenica; VI), and the Bor District (Negotin; VII). From each sample, 15 bees were randomly selected, and their front right wings were dissected and mounted on slides in two rows. After wing preparation, they were scanned using an Epson Perfection V600 Photo scanner with a resolution of 4800 dpi. The measurement included a total of 14 parameters, 11 of which were the angles on the forewing, while the other parameters analyzed were the forewing length and width and the cubital index. The results have shown that there is a high statistically significant difference between the localities in the characteristics examined in this study. From a total of 11 angles analyzed, statistical significance (p0.01) of average values between the localities was determined for the following angles: A4, J16, K19, L13, N23, G18, and O26. The analysis of the results of the front wings length and the cubital index has shown a significant difference between the groups of honey bees. The average forewing length across all locations in the study was 9.17mm, while the average forewing width was 3.43. The difference in terms of the average forewing width was not statistically significant between the locations. The values of the cubital index ranged from 2.28 to 2.79, with an average of 2.49 across all locations.

Potential strategic allocation of nuptial gift proteins of the neotropical katydid Conocephalus ictus (Orthoptera Tettigoniidae)

In many katydids, the male feeds his mate with a large gelatinous spermatophore. While providing large spermatophores can increase female fecundity and lifespan, it may also decrease their sexual receptivity, benefiting male fitness. Allocating resources to these edible gifts may entail a lower apportionment of them to other functions, generating a trade-off between somatic and reproductive functions. Despite their effect on male and female fitness, little is known of the compounds associated with katydid spermatophores. Our study found 177 different putative proteins in the spermatophore of Conocephalus ictus, with no correlation between male body size with spermatophore mass, number, concentration and mass of proteins. However, we did observe a negative relationship between male forewing length and protein concentration, and a negative relationship between the mass of the spermatophore transferred to the females and their body size, suggesting a resource allocation trade-off in males, but also strategic transference of resources based on female quality.

Eyespot variation and field temperature in the Meadow Brown butterfly.

Since the classic work of E.B. Ford, explanations for eyespot variation in the Meadow Brown butterfly have focused on the role of genetic polymorphism. The potential role of thermal plasticity in this classic example of natural selection has therefore been overlooked. Here, we use large daily field collections of butterflies from three sites, over multiple years, to examine whether field temperature is correlated with eyespot variation, using the same presence/absence scoring as Ford. We show that higher developmental temperature in the field leads to the disappearance of the spots visible while the butterfly is at rest, explaining the historical observation that hindwing spotting declines across the season. Strikingly, females developing at 11°C have a median of six spots and those developing at 15°C only have three. In contrast, the large forewing eyespot is always present and scales with forewing length. Furthermore, in contrast to the smaller spots, the size of the large forewing spot is best explained by calendar date (days since 1st March) rather than the temperature at pupation. As this large forewing spot is involved in startling predators and/or sexual selection, its constant presence is therefore likely required for defence, whereas the disappearance of the smaller spots over the season may help with female crypsis. We model annual total spot variation with phenological data from the UK and derive predictions as to how spot patterns will continue to change, predicting that female spotting will decrease year on year as our climate warms.

The tiniest of the spongillaflies: Sisyborina arrietty sp. nov. from Senegal (Neuroptera: Sisyridae)

A new species of Sisyborina Monserrat, 1981 (Neuroptera: Sisyridae), Sisyborina arrietty sp. nov., is described from Senegal, representing the first record of the family from the country. With a body length of 1.6–1.8 mm and fore wing length of 2.4–2.5 mm, the new species is the smallest known representative of Sisyridae. An identification key is provided for the males of known Sisyborina species.

The invasive spongy moth, Lymantria dispar japonica (Lepidoptera: Erebidae) in South Korea

Abstract Lymantria dispar japonica (Lepidoptera: Erebidae), commonly known as the spongy moth, is predominant and widely distributed in Japan. However, between 2021 and 2023, L. d. japonica was simultaneously discovered in several regions of South Korea. Lymantria dispar japonica was distinguished from Lymantria dispar asiatica on the basis of adult forewing length and wing patterns and their genetic distance ranged from 0.065% to 0.588% in the COI gene. Here, we provide a description of this subspecies and details of its sampling locations. The discovery of L. d. japonica is of great importance to the forests of South Korea. Therefore, this study presents an opportunity to investigate new strategies for advancing the efforts to detect and eliminate threats related to this pest in the future.

Body Characteristic of Drones of Different Origin

Abstract Computer-based methods help beekeepers and scientists in apidology and bee research. Using software Optika Vision Pro in this study, three body morphological characteristics has been applied to honeybees’ drones (Apis mellifera carnica) of different origin in identification of difference among them. All three measured body morphological characteristics (body length, forewing length, and head length) were statistically different between drones originated from colonies with mated queens and drones originated from colonies with unfertilised queen and/or with unfertilised worker bee(s), respectively, thus making them potentially more successful in queen fertilization and secondary colony development and productivity.

DIVERSITY OF STINGLESS BEES, Tetragonula sp. (HYMENOPTERA: APIDAE) IN TAMIL NADU, INDIA

The present study was conducted to find the diversity of stingless bees (Tetragonula sp.) in Coimbatore, Madurai, Dindigul, and Trichy districts in Tamil Nadu, India. Adult worker bees were collected from feral stingless bee colonies from 16 locations, four from each district. The collected stingless bees were preserved in 70% alcohol (ethanol) and examined under a Leica stereo zoom microscope. Seventeen morphometric key characteristics were measured to know the diversity of stingless bees. The results revealed that two species of stingless bees, Tetragonula iridipennis and T. laeviceps were prevalent in the four selected districts of Tamil Nadu. Four vital morphometric characters of the worker bees namely the head width, the forewing length, the hind tibial length, and the whole body length helped to distinguish the two Tetragonula sp. Among all the locations, the bees collected from L1- Insectary, TNAU, Coimbatore had much higher values of the above four morphometric characters (1.67mm ± 0.04, 3.69mm ± 0.02, 1.53mm ± 0.01 and 3.98mm ± 0.14 respectively) and were identified to be T. laeviceps based on these key morphometric characters. The bees from rest of the 15 locations which had the morphometric values 1.59 to 1.61 mm, 3.20 to 3.41mm, 1.34 to 1.43mm and 3.51 to 3.65mm respectively were categorized as T. iridipennis.

Length-Based Morphometric Study of the Morphologically Resembling Butterfly Species Within the Genus Graphium (Lepidoptera: Papilionidae)

The genus Graphium within the family Papilionidae comprises several species that exhibit morphological resemblance. Due to this criterion, their identification and discrimination through morphology is notably challenging. Therefore, in this study, we employed a length-based morphometric approach to reveal the ability of the characters to discriminate the five Graphium species that demonstrates the morphological resemblance; Graphium sarpedon, Graphium bathycles, Graphium doson, Graphium eurypylus, and Graphium evemon. The morphometric measurement of the total of 50 specimens was carried out by using seven characters measured from the wing and body regions. Multivariate statistical analyses such as Discriminant Function Analysis (DFA) and Cluster Analysis (CA) were utilized to assess the discriminatory ability of the morphometric data. While comparing between species, all morphometric characters were significantly different (p < 0.05). The results of DFA showed that two out of seven characters utilized have the lowest values of Partial’s Wilks Lambda; body length (1.165), and forewing length (1.183), therefore are suggested as the two most significant characters for the discrimination of the Graphium species. There are great overlapping patterns between the five species when plotting a scatter plot graph except for G. bathycles that formed nearly distinct group. In Cluster Analysis, G. sarpedon tends to be closer to G. evemon by having the lowest value of agglomeration (0.061). Our findings underscore the potential of length-based morphometric analysis as a supporting quantitative tool for resolving taxonomic ambiguities and enhancing species identification particularly within complex genera such as Graphium.

Length-Based Morphometric Study of the Morphologically Resembling Butterfly Species Within the Genus Graphium (Lepidoptera: Papilionidae)

The genus Graphium within the family Papilionidae comprises several species that exhibit morphological resemblance. Due to this criterion, their identification and discrimination through morphology is notably challenging. Therefore, in this study, we employed a length-based morphometric approach to reveal the ability of the characters to discriminate the five Graphium species that demonstrates the morphological resemblance; Graphium sarpedon, Graphium bathycles, Graphium doson, Graphium eurypylus, and Graphium evemon. The morphometric measurement of the total of 50 specimens was carried out by using seven characters measured from the wing and body regions. Multivariate statistical analyses such as Discriminant Function Analysis (DFA) and Cluster Analysis (CA) were utilized to assess the discriminatory ability of the morphometric data. While comparing between species, all morphometric characters were significantly different (p < 0.05). The results of DFA showed that two out of seven characters utilized have the lowest values of Partial’s Wilks Lambda; body length (1.165), and forewing length (1.183), therefore are suggested as the two most significant characters for the discrimination of the Graphium species. There are great overlapping patterns between the five species when plotting a scatter plot graph except for G. bathycles that formed nearly distinct group. In Cluster Analysis, G. sarpedon tends to be closer to G. evemon by having the lowest value of agglomeration (0.061). Our findings underscore the potential of length-based morphometric analysis as a supporting quantitative tool for resolving taxonomic ambiguities and enhancing species identification particularly within complex genera such as Graphium.

Morphometrics of Intraspecific Populations of Stingless Bee <i>Tetragonula iridipennis</i> Smith from Southern Tamil Nadu

Stingless bees also referred to as meliponine bees and morphological characteristics of these differ depending on are the species and environmental kinds. The current study explores morphology and morphometrics of Tetragonula iridipennis Smith in Tamil Nadu, India. The morphometrics of worker bees were compared over locations. The bees captured in the Kolli hills were significantly larger than those collected elsewhere. The mean value of head length (HL) (1.43 mm), head width (HW) (1.68 mm), antennal length (AL) (1.98 mm), hind leg length (HLL) (3.54 mm) and forewing length (FL) (3.84 mm) were recorded. The results revealed variance of four principal components (PC) reaching 82.4%, as (PC1) 38.58%, (PC2) 20.95%, (PC 3) 19.75% and (PC4) 8.10%. The characters of FL, HW, FW (forewing width), HLL, AL, OOD (ocello ocular distance), HTW (hind tibial width) and HL were the most discriminative in the principal component analysis.

A new species of Neurocossus (Lepidoptera: Cossidae: Cossinae) from India with a catalogue of the genus

A new species Neurocossus albuquerci sp. nov. of the rare poorly studied oriental genus Neurocossus Yakovlev, 2011 (Cossidae: Cossinae) is described from India. The new species clearly differs from all known species of the genus in the very small size (fore wing length 9 mm), poorly developed reticulate pattern on fore wing and very wide uncus with semicircular apex. The article also contains an illustrated catalogue of the genus Neurocossus.

Characteristics Morphology and Morphometry Lepidotrigona terminata (Hymenoptera: Meliponini) in Central Sulawesi

Stingless bees are eusocial bees belonging to the Apidae family and the Meliponini subfamily. This study aims to describe the morphological and morphometric and nest structure characteristics of Stingless bee Lepidotrigona terminata from Parigi Moutong Regency. This study used the roaming method with a purposive sampling technique. Obtained morphological and morphometry data were analyzed using the Principal Component Analysis (PCA) method with PAST4 software. The morphological characters of Lepidotrigona terminata had a dominant black body, on the thorax, black scutum and scutellum covered with brown hair and yellow packaging on the edges. The tegula is brown, the tibia on the legs is black, the hind tibia is slightly hairy (plumose), antennae with 11 flagellomeres, the number of hamuli is 8. The most dominant character in the formation of seven groups of stingless bees in this study were Hamuli Number (HN), Fore Wing Length (FWL), and Length of Forewing Including Tegula (WL1). There are differences in character size compared to the same or different species in other areas.

Widespread butterflies follow inconsistent trends in the Bergmann's rule and flight morphometry: Implications for conservation in the Western Himalaya

The Bergmann's rule relating eco-geographic pattern in body size of species with latitude/elevation, remain unexplored among different animal taxa including insects from the Indian Himalayan Region that ranges in elevation and environmental conditions. The applicability of the rule was tested using body size data set of natural adult male populations of six butterfly species that were common in abundance and occur over a range of elevations in the Western Himalaya. The influence of changes in body size on flight related morphometry was also explored to understand the adaptative and dispersal strategies of the species across elevations. Among the various morphometric traits, the principal component analysis revealed that the forewing length was the most reliable measure of determining the body size clinal pattern in butterflies. Species Danaus chrysippus, Danaus genutia and Vanessa indica strongly followed the Bergmann's rule, while Papilio polytes followed the converse Bergmann's rule. By contrast, Pieris brassicae and Catopsilia pomona exhibited a moderate clinal pattern and partially followed the converse of the rule. The flight related morphometric indices namely, wing load and aspect ratio varied among species and showed no regular pattern along elevational gradients. The results suggested inconsistent trends in intra-specific morphometric variations of widespread butterfly species, crucial to comprehend their conservation strategies in the Western Himalaya.

Comparisons of body size for native and exotic Hymenoptera established in New Zealand

ABSTRACT Body size is a fundamental component of morphology, related to many physiological and ecological traits, and is influenced by a variety of biotic and abiotic factors. Body size may also have a role in influencing the establishment of exotic species. We compared the body size of New Zealand native species, accidentally introduced exotic species, and deliberately introduced species of Hymenoptera. Specimens in the New Zealand Arthropod Collection were used to measure body and forewing length. Linear mixed effects regression models were used to compare the overall body sizes between biostatus groups, and specifically between species within a genus and family. A total of 2231 specimens were measured from 740 species of Hymenoptera, comprising 503 native, 201 exotic, and 36 biocontrol species. There was a strong positive correlation between body length and forewing length (R 2 > 0.97). Overall, the average body size of species did not differ significantly between native and accidentally introduced exotic species, but deliberately introduced biocontrol species were significantly smaller than native species. Exotic species had greater interspecific variation in body size than either native or biocontrol species. There were no significant differences in the body sizes of native and exotic species within the same genus or same family. Levene’s tests revealed there was equal variance between biostatus groups at the genus level but unequal variance at the family level. This study provides a large dataset on a key morphological trait, body size, that can be used to further examine how morphology can be shaped by, and influence, ecological communities, and interactions between species.

Comparative effect of various powder diets on growth of big‐eyed bug Geocoris ochropterus (Fieber) (Hemiptera: Geocoridae)

AbstractApplication of powder diets may promote development of the predator Geocoris ochropterus (Fieber) when densities are low in greenhouses or fields. Development and nymphal survival ratio of G. ochropterus fed on different powder diets including silkworm pupae (A), crickets (B), silkworm pupae and sunflower seed (C) and crickets and sunflower seed (D) were examined. Total average development period was 30.14 days for instars fed on silkworm pupae, 34.43 days for instars fed on crickets, 26.28 days for instars fed on silkworm pupae and sunflower seed and 29.67 days for instars fed on crickets and sunflower seed, and they were significantly different. Head width, body length, forewing length, dry body weight of adults and sex ratio were not affected by the different diets. There were significantly different found in survival rates among the diets when the nymph reached 5th instar. Results indicate that the combination powder of silkworm pupae and sunflower seed will promise as an alternative diet in the greenhouses to maintain the population of G. ochropterus.