Moth Fauna Research Articles

ZOOGEOGRAPHICAL CHARACTERISTIC OF THE FAUNA OF THE GEOMETRID MOTHS (LEPIDOPTERA: GEOMETRIDAE) OF AMURSKAYA OBLAST

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.

HISTORY OF THE ERMINE MOTH (LEPIDOPTERA: YPONOMEUTIDAE) STUDY IN THE RUSSIAN FAR EAST AND ADJACENT COUNTRIES

As a result of the analysis of the history of the family Yponomeutidae study the three conditional stages were outlined mainly based on the used research methods. The first stage, which began in the first half of XVIII century and ended at the beginning of the XX century, covers the period from the first descriptions with illustrations of larva nests and the external features of the preimaginal and imaginal stages to the use of genital characters in the species identification. From the latter the second stage starts and ends before the introduction of the molecular genetic method for study of taxonomic diversity. During this stage the study of the ermine moths were expanded to comparative morphological research, elucidation of the homology of genital structures based on their functional morphology and development of taxonomy based on phylogenetic analyses. The third stage begins from the end of XX century, when researchers started to use molecular markers to solve taxonomic problems in the group. According to the results of many years of research, the fauna of yponomeutid moths has been studied in Russia and adjacent countries very unevenly and, in general, insufficiently. Currently, the species diversity of ermine moths in the Russian Far East is 38 species from 10 genera, significantly inferior to that of China (70 species of 17 genera) and less to that in Japan (46 species of 16 genera). However, the species diversity of ermine moths in the Russian Far East exceeds the known diversity of this group in Korea (25 species from 10 genera).

Additions to the fauna of casebearer moths (Lepidoptera, Coleophoridae) of Omsk Region, Russia. Results of expeditions in 2021-2023

The data on the casebearer moth family Coleophoridae from Omsk Region was summarized based on materials collected by the second author in 2021-2023. A list of 53 species is given. 25 species are new to the territory of Omsk Region. Six species are new to Asian part of Russia, among them Orthographis impalella (Toll, 1961), Orthographis uralensis (Toll, 1961), Multicoloria spumosella (Staudinger, 1859), Casignetella helgada (Anikin, 2005), Casignetella riffelensis (Rebel, 1913) and Goniodoma auroguttella (Fischer von Röslerstamm, 1841). Multicoloria perissa (Reznik, 1975) is reported for the fauna of Russia for the first time. The total number of Coleophoridae from Omsk Region is increased to 80 species.

Macromoths (Erebidae: Lepidoptera) and Geometer Moths (Geometridae: Lepidoptera) Species Diversity in Central Sindh, Pakistan

Moths are primarily nocturnal, phytophagous, pests of agriculture, night pollinators, and potential bioindicators. The current study is the first to provide information on the diversity, richness, and abundance of moth species in central Sindh, Pakistan. Moths were collected by light traps, light sheets, and insect nets. A total of 517 specimens were collected during four seasons (Winter, Spring, Summer, and Autumn) and sorted out into 2 families. Moreover, Family Erebidae was sorted out into 3 subfamilies (Arctinae, Calpinae, and Erebinae) of 5 genera (Utethesia, Chalciope, Creatonotus, Grammodes, and Eudocima) with 8 species (Utethesia pulchella Linnaeusn1758, Utethesia lotrix Cramer 1789, Chalciope mygdone Cramer 1775, Creatonotus transiens Walker 1855, Grammodes geometrica Fabricius 1775, Grammodes stolida Fabricius 1775, Eudocima phalonia Linnaeus 1763, and Eudocima maternal Linnaeus 1767) while family Geometridae was sorted out into 3 subfamilies (Sterrhinae, Ennominae, and Geometrinae) of 3 genera (Scopula, Isturgia, and Microloxia) with 5 species (Scopula pulchella Fabricius 1794, Scopula minorata Boisduval 1833, Isturgia disputaria Guenee 1858, Isturgia Pulinda Walker 1860, and Microloxia herbaria Hubner 1800). However, the family Erebidae was found to be the most prevalent with 8 species while the family Geometridae was found to be the least prevalent with 5 species. However, the family Geometridae was found to be highest in abundance with 305 specimens while the family Erebidae was found to be lowest in abundance with 212 specimens. According to the localities, the highest value (0.91) of Simpson's index (D) was recorded for Matiari; while the lowest value (0.86) was recorded for Jamshoro. The survey locations featured varied moth fauna, as evidenced by the fact that Matiari was recorded as the highest value (2.394) Shannon index (H) while Jamshoro was recorded as the lowest value (2.034).

Addition to the knowledge on the moth fauna (Insecta: Lepidoptera) of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia

Additions to the moth fauna of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia are given. We report on first observations of five species and on reconfirmation of one species after eight decades. In Croatia, we recorded the species Eublemma cochylioides (Guenée, 1852) for the first time, while Eublemma himmighoffeni (Millière, 1867) has been confirmed in the country after 85 years. We report on the first observation of five moth species for Bosnia and Herzegovina: Triodia adriaticus (Osthelder, 1931), Eumera regina Staudinger, 1892, Dryobotodes monochroma (Esper, 1790), Lithophane lapidea (Hübner, [1808]) and Nycteola columbana (Turner, 1925). Even though these records could be expected due to species general distributions, they fill the knowledge of moth diversity of both countries and the wider region.

Checklist of the Moth (Lepidopteran) Fauna of District Buner Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan

An annotated checklist of the Moth (Lepidopteran) fauna of District Buner, KP, Pakistan were presented. In the current study 563 specimens of Moth were collected. Throughout entomological investigation a total of 28 species belonging to 25 genera names asCyana hemata (Walker, 1854), Aloa lactinea (Cramer, 1777), Creatonotos transiens (Walker, 1855), Olene mendosa (Hubner, 1823), Cyana puella (Drury, 1773), Syntomoides imaon (Cramer, 1779),Spilosoma obliqua (Walker, 1855), Stigmatophora palmata (Moore, 1878),Marumba sperchius (Menetries, 1857), Psilogramma increta (Walker1865), Leucophlebia lineata (Westwood, 1847), Polyptychus dentatus (Cramer, 1777), Theretra alecto (Linnaeus, 1758),Theretra oldenlandiae (Fabricius, 1775), Biston suppressaria (Guenée, 1858), Declana atronivea (Walker, 1865), Dysgonia torrida (Guenee, 1852), Polytela gloriosae (Fabricius, 1781), Chasmina candida (Walker, 1865),Anua tirhaca (Cramer, 1777), Aegocera venulia (Cramer, 1777), Anua coronata (Fabricius, 1976), Bradina diagonalis (Guenee, 1852), Archernis capitalis (Fabricius, 1794), Dinara combusta (Walker, 1855), Phalera raya (Moore, 1849), Euthrix potatoria (Linnaeus, 1758) and Ocinara varians (Walker, 1855) were reported. The species recorded under 8 families. i.e.Family Erebidae, Family Sphingidae, Family Geometridae, Family Noctuidae, family Crambidae, Family Notodontidae, Family Lasiocampidae and Family Bombycidae. Among them the most abundant family was Family Erebidae.

The First Attempt to Assess the Taxonomic Diversity of the Nepticulidae of Armenia Resulted in the Discovery of New Species and Cryptic Taxa in the Caucasus

A taxonomic review of the Nepticulidae of Armenia is provided for the first time. Currently, the previously little-known fauna of the pygmy moths of Armenia consists of eight genera and 31 species, including seven new species described and illustrated in the current paper as follows: Stigmella armi Stonis, Dobrynina & Remeikis, sp. nov.; Stigmella garnica Stonis, Dobrynina & Remeikis, sp. nov.; Stigmella inopinoides Dobrynina, sp. nov.; Stigmella magicis Stonis & Dobrynina, sp. nov.; Stigmella ararati Stonis, Dobrynina & Remeikis, sp. nov.; Trifurcula vardenisi Stonis, Dobrynina & Remeikis, sp. nov.; and Etainia caucasi Remeikis, sp. nov. The most common Nepticulidae species in Armenia, Stigmella muricatella (Klimesch), still remains a taxonomic puzzle. However, the molecular sequences of the Armenian specimens and a specimen of S. muricatella from Greece were found to be similar, though clearly distinct from the widespread S. rolandi van Nieukerken due to numerous hypothetical mutational steps. Mitotype analysis revealed that the Ectoedemia specimens collected in Armenia do not belong to the expected widespread E. spinosella (Joannis) but are more similar to the less-known E. mahalebella (Klimesch). Moreover, some specimens from Armenia identified by us as Simplimorpha promissa (Staudinger) and Ectoedemia (Zimmermannia) longicaudella Klimesch may actually represent possible cryptic taxa, allopatric subspecies or species. However, from a practical point of view, the description of such difficult-to-diagnose taxa is inappropriate. Thus, we have refrained from describing such new taxa based solely on observed molecular differences.

Contribution to the butterfly and moth fauna of Somogy county (Lepidoptera: Macrolepidoptera)

Results of Macrolepidoptera collectings in Somogy county from 2023 are presented, along with some scattered and remarkable records from the last 5 years. The author collected data from the surroundings of Kaposvár, focusing on lesser known locations and areas that are worth further investigation. The complete list of the recorded species is given: altogether 458 species (431 Macroheterocera, 27 Rhopalocera). 27 valuable species with distributional data from the county and conservational importance are presented. 3 species are new for the fauna of Somogy county (Scopula subpunctaria (Herrich-Schäffer, 1847), Athetis hospes (Freyer, 1831), Mythimna congrua (Hübner, 1817)).

Nine aditions to the Croatian pyraloid moth fauna (Lepidoptera: Pyraloidea)

During the last few years, numerous surveys were undertaken to improve the knowledge of the Croatian pyraloid moth fauna. The first author carried out research from 2016 until 2022 on the island of Brač in Dalmatia. The second and third authors carried out research in 2018 and 2019 in the area around Zadar in Dalmatia and the region of Lika. The fourth author collected specimens in 2012 and 2022 in the area of Šibenik, Dalmatia, and the fifth author in 2008, in the area of Split, also in Dalmatia. A list of all recorded species from several locations in Dalmatia and Lika is presented, containing the first data on pyraloid moths from the island of Brač. Throughout these surveys, a total of 163 species were recorded, of which nine are new to the Croatian moth fauna. From the family Pyralidae, the following species were recorded for the first time: Aphomia foedella (Zeller, 1839), Apomyelois bistriatella (Hulst, 1887), Delplanqueia inscriptella (Duponchel, 1836), Epischnia asteris Staudinger, 1870, Melathrix coenulentella (Zeller, 1846), Phycita asselbergsi Slamka, 2019 and Phycitodes saxicola (Vaughan, 1870). From the family Crambidae the following species were reported for the first time from Croatia: Hyperlais lutosalis (Mann, 1862), and Pyrausta rectefascialis Toll, 1936. The rare and endangered thermophilic species Ostrinia quadripunctalis (Denis & Schiffermüller, 1775) and the myrmecophilous Aglossa signicostalis Staudinger, 1870 were also identified. These findings are the second records from Croatia and hereby represent a contribution to their known distribution in Croatia. The finding of two specimens identified as Evergestis infirmalis Staudinger, 1870 – previously unreported from Croatia and the Balkan Peninsula – is presented. DNA barcode data reveal a possible misidentification with all the Evergestis caesialis (Herrich-Schäffer, [1849]) identified from Croatia. Images of the imago and the genitalia, as well as the DNA barcode sequences, are also presented. With these nine additions to the checklist, the Croatian pyraloid moth fauna now numbers 406 species.

Survey on Geometrid Moth Fauna of Hmuifang Community Forest Reserve, Aizawl, Mizoram

Survey on Geometrid Moth Fauna of Hmuifang Community Forest Reserve, Aizawl, Mizoram

HISTORICAL ANALYSIS OF THE IMPACT OF THE SIKA DEER (CERVUS NIPPON) POPULATION ON THE GEOMETRID MOTHS FAUNA (LEPIDOPTERA: GEOMETRIDAE) OF THE ASKOLD ISLAND (PRIMORSKY KRAI)

Comparing of check lists of species of geometrid moths (Lepidoptera: Geometridae) collected on the Askold Island (Peter the Great Bay, Russian Far East) in 1878– 1873 and in 2021, revealed a low level of their intersection at 43.4%. An attempt to explain the significant historical change in the moth fauna by the impact on the ecosystems of the island of the local population of sika deer (Cervus nippon Temminck, 1838) was made. These deer here trends to episodic sharp increases in numbers, leading to significant damage to the vegetation cover on the island. Based on comparative areaological and ecological analyses of the old and new lists of geometrid moths, no changes have been identified that can be linked with the direct influence of deer on the population of the moths on the Askold Island. However, strong decline numbers of individuals during periods of high deer abundance, which draw indigenous populations of moths into an "extinction whirlpool", can explain the high rate of change of the moth fauna on the island.

First data on spring Geometridae (Lepidoptera) on Kuril Islands

The late-spring fauna of geometrid moths (Lepidoptera: Geometridae) from Kunashir Island is considered for the first time. Thirty-six species are listed, among which one species, Myrioblephara cilicornaria (Püngeler, 1903) is recorded for the fauna of Russia for the first time, and 7 species are newly indicated for the Kuril Islands: Cleora leucophaea (Butler, 1878), Trichopteryx fastuosa Inoue, 1958, Trichopteryx terranea (Butler, 1878), Trichopteryx ussurica (Wehrli, 1927), Esakiopteryx volitans (Butler, 1878), Eupithecia clavifera Inoue, 1955 and Eupithecia daemionata Dietze, 1904.

Preliminary observations of moth fauna of Purna Wildlife Sanctuary, Gujarat, India

Purna Wildlife Sanctuary is located in the Sahyadri range in Dang District of Gujarat State. A survey of the sanctuary was conducted to explore moth fauna from the area, as no previous work is available on this group. Thus, an attempt has been made to study the moth fauna based on collections made from April 2019 to March 2021 under the various ranges of the sanctuary. During the study, a list of 42 species referable to 39 genera and nine families have been provided.

First record of Tanaorhinus viridiluteata Walker, 1861 (Lepidoptera: Geometridae: Geometrinae) from Mizoram, India

Very little work has been done to document the moth fauna of the Mizoram state in northeast India. An emerald moth collected from three localities in Aizawl District of Mizoram was identified as Tanaorhinus viridiluteata Walker, 1861 based on morphological and molecular studies. This species has been described briefly with colour photographs of male and female genitalia. Partial mitochondrial COI gene was amplified from these specimens for molecular analysis. This study represents a first record of the genus Tanaorhinus and species T. viridiluteata from Mizoram State.

Sündiken Dağlarının Macroheterocera Faunası (Türkiye: Eskişehir)

The moths of the Sündiken Mountains are still not comprehensively known. We aimed to study the distribution of Lepidoptera in more detail, particular for some rare species with limited records. We sum up the results of the expeditions to the Sündiken Mountains in the period between 2019 and 2022. The moths were recorded from 49 stations. 113 species belonging to a total of 9 families along with four new families (Drepanidae, Lasiocampidae, Nolidae, Sphingidae) from the Sündiken Mountains were identified. All the given 113 species are recorded for the first time from moth fauna of the Sündiken Mountains and likewise, 106 species are recorded for the first time from the moth fauna of Eskişehir province. Eight species are new records for the Central Anatolia Region: Amphipoea oculea (Linn.,1761), Mythimna (Anapoma) riparia (Ram.,1829), Noctua (Paranoctua) interposita (Hb.,1790), Ascotis selenaria ([Den. & Sch.],1775), Chloroclysta siterata (Huf., 1767), Pachypasa otus (Dr., [1773]), Menophra berenicidaria (Tr., 1924), Aedia leucomelas (Linn., 1758). With this study, the number of Eskişehir lepidopters increasead from 160 to 266 species. The identified species were assessed in terms of agricultural and forest entomology and the indicator species were discussed.

New data on the fauna of pyraloid moths (Lepidoptera: Pyraloidea) of Dagestan (Russia)

58 species of pyraloid moths are reported for the East Caucasian region of Russia and the Republic of Dagestan for the first time. Among them, 13 species are new for the fauna of Russia. Additionally, we report first-time records of several pyraloid species from Kazakhstan and also from different regions of Russia: Astrakhan, Volgograd, Voronezh and Orenburg Provinces. Imagoes of four notable species are illustrated.

Plant-moth community relationships at the degraded urban peat-bog in Central Europe.

Peatlands have their own, specific insect fauna. They are a habitat not only for ubiquistic but also stenotopic moths that feed onplants limited to wet, acid and oligotrophic habitats. In the past, raised bogs and fens were widely distributed in Europe. This has changed since 20th c. Due to irrigation, modern forestry, and increasing human settlement, peatlands have become isolated islands in anagricultural and urban landscape. Here, we analyze the flora in a degraded bog situated in a large Lodz city agglomeration in Poland in relation to the diversity and composition of moth fauna. Over the last 40 years since the bog has become protected as a nature reserve, birch, willow, and alder shrubs replaced the typical raised bog plant communities due to the decreased water level. The analysis of moth communities sampled in 2012 and 2013 indicates dominance of ubiquistic taxa associated with deciduous wetland forests and rushes. Tyrphobiotic and tyrphophile moth taxa were not recorded. We conclude that the absence of moths typical of bog habitats and the dominance of common, woodland species are associated with hydrological changes, the expansion of trees and brushes over typical bog plant communities, and light pollution.

Positive shifts in species richness and abundance of moths over five decades coincide with community-wide phenotypic trait homogenisation

While some species rapidly decline, compromising vital ecosystem services, others are stable or even increasing in abundance. We studied shifts in species richness and abundance of moths over five decades in Central Sweden and examined whether and how changes were associated with phenotypic traits. We combined information from captures in a light trap in historical time (the 1970s) and contemporarily (2019) with provincial colonisation records. Both community species richness and the abundance of moths increased between the time periods. A large fraction (38%) of the 410 species were not present in both periods, 101 species had colonised the area (an estimated influx of about 2.5 new species per year), and 51 species had disappeared (an estimated local extinction rate of about 1.16 species per year). Abundance increased with an increasing number of host plants and with increasing colour pattern variation. The composition of the community shifted towards species characterised by smaller wingspan and larger ranges. The functional trait variability of the moth community was homogenised from the historical to the contemporary period, in line with reports from other species communities in modern landscapes. However, our finding of a concomitant increase in species richness and total abundance differs from the results of many recent studies of insect communities in other geographic regions.Implication for insect conservationWe conclude that the entire boreal moth fauna is undergoing a substantial biogeographical shift, changing to the moth species historically occurring at more southern latitudes. The alterations in species composition, overall abundance, and community-wide trait distribution described here may cascade up and down in the ecosystem because moths are important pollinators, herbivores, and prey.

A review of the Sphingidae (Lepidoptera) fauna of Zanzibar (Unguja) Island (Tanzania)

Currently, the hawk moth fauna (Lepidoptera: Sphingidae) of Zanzibar (Unguja) Island (Tanzania) is poorly known. The body of available literature contains records of eight species only. In this study, we present the checklist of 21 hawk moth species from Zanzibar, 13 of which are recorded for the first time.

Plume moths (Lepidoptera, Pterophoridae) reared from the Chilean endemic Steviaphilippiana (Asteraceae).

The micromoth fauna of the arid environments of the western slopes of central Andes remains poorly explored. Plants native to this area host overlooked species. A survey for micromoth larvae on the Chilean endemic Steviaphilippiana Hieron. (Asteraceae) was performed. The first records of plume moths (Lepidoptera, Pterophoridae) associated with S.philippiana are provided. Adults of Adainajobimi Vargas, 2020 and a new species of Oidaematophorus Wallengren, 1862 were reared from larvae collected on inflorescences and leaves, respectively. Oidaematophorusandresi sp. n. is described and illustrated. A phylogenetic analysis of mitochondrial DNA sequences clustered each of the two plume moths with the type species of its respective genus. These records expand the host plant range of A.jobimi and add a second species of Oidaematophorus to the Chilean fauna of plume moths.