Dynamic detection of live female tea geometrid moths using an olfactory electrochemical impedance biosensor based on pheromone-binding protein

The Geometrid Moths of Europe vol. 2, edited by Axel Hausmann

Linking taxonomic diversity and ecological traits of geometrid moths and plants in coastal dunes: Insights from a Mediterranean LTER site

Tympanal organs, crucial for anti-bat defence in moths and key for taxonomy, are often overlooked due to their fragility during dissection. Using micro-CT, we analyzed the tympanal organs of 19 geometrid species, comparing diurnal and nocturnal species to understand how predators, like bats and diurnal birds or lizards, influence tympanal morphology and its allometric relationship with body size. We hypothesized that diurnal moths, with reduced anti-bat function, would have smaller tympanal organs, irrespective of body size. Allometry was tested using phylogenetic linear regression and tympanal volume was compared across diurnal and nocturnal moths relative to the abdominal volume. We used 3D geometric morphometry, followed by comparative analysis of the shape and size of ansa, a unique “mechanical” structure for geometrids. Contrary to our hypothesis, diurnal moths had significantly larger tympanal organs, with no allometric relationship with body size. Although activity patterns had no significant effect on ansa shape and size, convergence in shape among nocturnal species, suggests a possible auditory function. This study explores how daily activity patterns and predator-prey interactions may influence sensory adaptations, with larger tympanal organs of diurnal species potentially reflecting adaptations to detect lower, “non-bat” frequencies. It also highlights non-invasive imaging techniques for studying delicate anatomical features in museum specimens.

Modeling multiscale time-frequency complex networks on Riemannian manifolds for motor imagery BCI classification with graph convolutional networks.

Identifying the environmental cues that determine the timing of developmental processes is vital to understanding the effects of climate change on populations. However, as developmental processes are inherently difficult to measure directly at the population level, the drivers and potential consequences of change in their timings remain unknown in most species. Here we explore the use of long-term monitoring data for assessments of change in the number of generations per year and its impact on abundance, demonstrating new applications for a rapidly growing data source. Data derived from a light trap in west-central Scotland operated over 56 years (1968 to 2023) showed that the small phoenix moth, Ecliptopera silaceata, switched from a univoltine to bivoltine generation pattern. This voltinism change was predicted by an increased minimum temperature in a critical time window towards the later part of the first generation’s flight period. The population shows positive density dependence and the change in voltinism has no significant negative effect on population size, indicating no evidence of a developmental trap that has been postulated for other species. These results identify some of the proximate mechanisms of developmental responses to climate change in general and in voltinism in particular, specifically highlighting the importance of sustained temperature above minimum thresholds for development. These results could also help to make predictions about future changes in population sizes under climate change and increasing voltinism, in addition to how these changes may differ between species.

A series of geometrid moths belonging to the little-known genus Dzhugesia Wehrli, 1936, were collected in southern Iran (Kerman Province). Both morphological characters and DNA barcoding confirm that the specimens represent a new species, herein described as D. alierfani Makhov & Kamyab sp. nov. Additional remarks on the diagnostic characters of the genus Dzhugesia are provided. The relationships between Dzhugesia and the closely related genera Crocallis and Scodiomima are also discussed. Furthermore, the misidentification of a specimen previously submitted to the BOLD database is corrected. This study constitutes the first record of the genus Dzhugesia from Iran. D. miatleuskii is recorded as new species for the fauna of Iran.

Abstract Disturbances play a central role in shaping biodiversity, influencing both community structure and ecosystem function. The responses of biodiversity to disturbance are inherently multidimensional, often leading to shifts in taxonomic composition, functional traits, and evolutionary dynamics within biological communities. Unraveling these dimensions offers valuable insights into ecosystem resilience and how communities adapt under changing disturbance regimes. This study examines the immediate effects of large‐scale hurricane disturbance on the taxonomic, phylogenetic, and functional dimensions of moth biodiversity in a tropical forest. We conducted monthly moth surveys in two forest types within the Luquillo Mountains of Puerto Rico, 5 months before and 6 months after Hurricanes Irma and María (September 2017). We collected 6152 individuals from 244 species across 19 families, performed DNA barcoding for phylogenetic analysis, and classified them by functional traits such as body size, coloration, and proboscis presence. Our findings show that hurricane disturbance reduced species richness across all diversity dimensions, while functional diversity among dominant species increased, suggesting potential stabilization of ecosystem functions despite reduced richness. In addition, the hurricanes altered both taxonomic and phylogenetic composition, with smaller grass‐feeding species increasing in abundance post‐hurricane, while larger arboreal‐feeding species, especially geometrid moths, declined markedly. These shifts highlight potential effects on trophic interactions, given moths' key roles as herbivores, pollinators, and prey. Although these systems have evolved under repeated hurricane disturbances, the long‐term consequences of a changing climate remain uncertain, particularly as more frequent and severe hurricanes may reset successional pathways and hinder forest recovery. By integrating multiple dimensions of biodiversity, our study provides a more holistic understanding of the complex consequences of hurricanes on insect communities and can inform conservation strategies aimed at enhancing ecosystem resilience.

The article provides a brief retrospective review of the main literature on Lep- idoptera, pests of agriculture and forestry. The given list of geometrid moths species which are mentioned as pests of agriculture and forestry in various regions and at the same time are noted in the territory of the Amur region. The current taxonomic information and information about the distribution of these species in the Amur region are listed. Information about the trophic preferences of caterpillars is also written. This article provides an assessment of the harmfulness of individual species taking into account their trophism, population density and population dynamics during the observation period. Available illustrative material has been showed for the determination of geometrid moth imago in field and laboratory conditions by plant protection specialists. The issue of the relationship of the geometrid fauna of cultivated landscapes with various landscapes of the Amur region is considered. It has been established that among geometrid moths, specialized pests have been noted as pests of agriculture and forestry. The organized use of plant protection products in agriculture in a region with pests does not come without the cost of the saved part of the crop and from the point of view of inexpediency.

The paper presents a new species of geometrid moth of the genus Catarhoe Herbulot, 1951 from Kyrgyzstan, and offers a concise taxonomic review of the genus based on existing literature and on an analysis of COI barcode mitochondrial DNA fragment in Epirrhoini. A new species and new monotypic subgenus are described: Catarhoe (Hyporhoe subgen. nov.) narynensis sp. nov. The species is distinguished by a unique set of characters in the male genitalia, which markedly differs from those of other congeneric species, and has significant genetic distances from the rest of the Catarhoe spp. but not exceeding genetic distances into the genus at whole. The current species composition of the genus Catarhoe has been clarified and includes 13 species. Taxonomic status of Catarhoe nyctichroa (Hampson, 1912), Catarhoe arachne hissarica Viidalepp, 1988, and Catarhoe semnana sensu Kemal et al. (2020) requires clarification. A high level of morphological and genetic diversity of the genus Catarhoe was revealed. The genetic distances between the morphological groups of Catarhoe spp. are comparable to those between the genera of Epirrhoini. The generic name Microcalcarifera Inoue, 1982, is revived from its synonymy with Catarhoe. The genus includes type species Microcalcarifera obscura (Butler, 1878: 450) (Cidaria), comb. rev., and two subspecies: Microcalcarifera obscura fecunda (Swinhoe, 1891), comb. rev. and Microcalcarifera obscura multilinea (Hampson, 1891), comb. rev.

Our understanding of the pollination ecology of Timonius (a dioecious genus) is limited to deducing their pollination syndrome based on floral traits. Through a series of field surveys on several populations of Timonius as a prerequisite to studying their pollination ecology, a new species from a limestone hill in northern Dered Krian National Park in Bau, Sarawak, Malaysia is described. The new species, Timonius arabii, and two other co‐occurring congeners were compared in terms of morphology and ecology, in relation to the unique site conditions. Timonius arabii is associated with phalaenophily, as inferred from its yellow, short tubular, faintly fragrant, nectar‐producing flowers which open around dusk in both staminate and pistillate individuals. The anthetic period in male flowers typically spans only one night but may last 2–3 days in female flowers. Floral visitors monitored from dusk to dawn over a 7‐day observational period show that the flowers attracted up to 23 floral visitor types/species belonging to Coleoptera, Thysanoptera, Lepidoptera, Diptera and Orthoptera, with most species belonging to moths. Two geometrid moths, Eumelea biflavata and E. florinata, have the highest visitation rate to female flowers, probably indicating their role in the pollination of the species. Further study is needed to demonstrate this, while also not excluding the potential role of other moth species as well as thrips and weevils as pollinators. Our preliminary observation provided important baseline data needed for a better understanding of the plant–pollinator relationships in Timonius.

The mulberry looper (Phthonandria atrilineata), a geometrid moth, plays a pivotal role in the destruction of mulberry trees (Morus spp.). In China, P. atrilineata is the most significant insect pest to sericulture, as it feeds on mulberry leaves and spreads diseases. The outbreak trend of P. atrilineata has been expanding yearly, causing substantial economic losses. Despite its ecological and economic importance, knowledge about the genomic background of P. atrilineata remains limited. Here, we report a chromosome-level reference genome of P. atrilineata, with a total size of 336.55 Mb, containing 15,026 protein-coding genes and 39.72% repeat sequences. These findings have the potential to shed light on the genetic basis of the destructive nature and environmental adaptation of P. atrilineata, offering valuable genomic resources for understanding genome evolution and pest management within this Lepidopteran pest.

Differences in Diel Timing of Flight May Reduce Hybridization Between Native and Introduced Geometrid Moth Congeners

By drawing insights from artistic practice and utilizing conceptual and methodological approaches from the philosophy of embodied cognition, my purpose is to investigate the transformative possibilities embedded in creatively exploring social unease. To do so, I will present an art project, Biston betularia carbonaria, which involves the performative activation of a cast of a moth chrysalis through the waving of a flag and the ignition of a black smoke grenade. Biston betularia is a lepidopteran of the family Geometridae; the most widespread species is the typica, whose white color, in the course of its evolution, has enabled it to camouflage itself on birch trunks and thus escape predators. In nineteenth-century cities, air pollution caused by industrialization darkened the bark of trees, therefore promoting the survival of the melanic species called carbonaria, characterized by its black color. As pollution diminished, the typical form gradually regained its status as the dominant species.

Based on the newly collected geometrid moths in Iraqi Kurdistan, two new geometrid species are described: Eupithecia anfala sp. n., and Eupithecia kurdistanica sp. n. Differential diagnoses and images of adult moths, male and female genitalia are presented. The status of E. kurdica Prout, 1938 has been elevated from the subspecies of E. irriguata (Hübner, 1813) to species rank based on both morphological and molecular evidences. Additionally, morphological and genetic data are presented to clarify the taxonomy of the species complex around E. unedonata Mabille, 1868. http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:1B2CE66A-3207-42CE-BF3E-3F936FA2A8CB

An Enhanced Geometric Featured Extraction Method for Real-time Oscillation Detection in Power System

A large number of geometrid moths was collected by the first author in Iraqi Kurdistan including several undescribed species and subspecies. In this paper we describe three new geometrid taxa: Idaea medianocturna walaila ssp. nov., Lulavia mahwii sp. nov. and Protorhoe drechseli nebuloides ssp. nov. We present differential diagnoses and images of adult moths and genitalia.

The advent of collaborative and soft robotics has reduced the mandatory adoption of safety barriers, pushing human–robot interaction to previously unreachable levels. Due to their reciprocal advantages, integrating these technologies can maximize a device’s performance. However, simplifying assumptions or elementary geometries are often required due to non-linear factors that identify analytical models for designing soft pneumatic actuators for collaborative and soft robotics. Over time, various approaches have been employed to overcome these issues, including finite element analysis, response surface methodology (RSM), and machine learning (ML) algorithms. Based on the latter, in this study, the bending behavior of an externally reinforced soft pneumatic actuator was characterized by the changing geometric and functional parameters, realizing a Bend dataset. This was used to train 14 regression algorithms, and the Bilayered neural network (BNN) was the best. Three different external reinforcements, excluded for the realization of the dataset, were tested by comparing the predicted and experimental bending angles. The BNN demonstrated significantly lower error than that obtained by RSM, validating the methodology and highlighting how ML techniques can advance the prediction and mechanical design of soft pneumatic actuators.

The paper provides a zoogeographical characteristic of the fauna of geometrid moth fauna (Lepidoptera: Geometridae) of Amurskaya Oblast (Far East of Russia) in the aspects of regional zoogeographic connections with neighboring territories and connections of local moth faunas with the main types of landscapes within the region. It has been established that the moth fauna of Amurskaya Oblast shows a clear similarity with the faunas of the southeastern part of the Far Eastern Federal District in terms of species composition and the participation of longitudinal and altitudinal-latitudinal groups of areas. Differences of the fauna of Amurskaya Oblast from other regions are due to its middle location on the south of the District and direct contact with the regions of Eastern Siberia. The fauna of Amurskaya Oblast is closest to that of Khabarovskii Krai in the species composition, and differs in a smaller proportion of species included in the Far Eastern group of areas. There are two faunal complexes of moths in Amurskaya Oblast: boreal (taiga), with a predominance of wide-area northern mid-latitude species, and nemoral, with a predominance of Far Eastern southern midand low-latitude species. Fauna of geometrid moths of Amurskaya Oblast south of ~53° N and west of the river Bureya is a transitional between boreal and nemoral, relatively clinal changing in the composition of the groups of areas in the direction of southeast – northwest. There is no distinct northern border of the transitional zone due to the high patchiness of the distribution of boreal and nemoral biocenoses. Communities of geometrid moths of nemoral forests occupy the extreme southeast of Amurskaya Oblast east of the river Bureya, which can be considered an only distinct boundary of westward distribution for many Far Eastern southern mid- and low-latitude species of geometrid moths. In the transitional zone, a meadow-forest subzone is distinguished, containing species of moths associated with the steppe and forest-steppe faunas of Central Asia and Northern China. Based on the structure of local moth faunas, the Siberian – East Asian faunal boundary in the Amurskaya Oblast appears as a wide sublatitudinal “transitional” zone, running from approximately 53° N latitude in the north to the lower reaches of the river Bureya (~50° N latitude) in the south of the region.

An overview of geometrid moth species (Lepidoptera: Geometridae) of the Kronotsky Nature Reserve is presented. Additionally, materials from the Bystrinsky and Nalychevo Nature Parks, the Yuzhno- Kamchatsky and Kol River protected natural areas, as well as from the Bering Island (Commander Islands National Park). An annotated list has been compiled, including 79 species, of which Biston betularia (Linnaeus, 1758) and Scotopteryx chenopodiata (Linnaeus, 1758) are listed for the fi rst time for Kamchatka. Seventy species have been recorded in the Kronotsky Nature Reserve, 39 of which are new to the reserve. About 80% of geometrid moth species known on the peninsula inhabit the reserve. For all 79 species, we provided data on the collected material, distribution in the reserve and Kamchatka Krai, relative abundance, food plants for caterpillars and other ecological features.