Lasiocampidae Species Research Articles

New records of Lasiocampidae (Lepidoptera) from Zanzibar Island with taxonomic notes and description of one new species of Odontopacha Aurivillius, 1909.

Seven genera and seven species of Lasiocampidae are newly recorded from the Zanzibar Island (Unguja): Bombycopsis C. & R. Felder, 1874 with Bombycopsis nigrovittata Aurivillius, 1927; Pallastica Zolotuhin & Gurkovich, 2009 with an unidentified species; Dollmania Tams, 1930 with an unidentified species; Mallocampa Aurivillius, 1902 with Mallocampa leighi Aurivillius, 1922; Eucraera Tams, 1930 with Eucraera witti Prozorov, 2016; Philotherma Möschler, 1887 with Philotherma montibia Strand, 1912; and Odontopacha Aurivillius, 1909 with Odontopacha fenestrata Aurivillius, 1909. The species are followed with taxonomic notes updating the status and distribution of the taxa. Bombycopsis nigrovittata is shown to have the maximum p-distance of 0.3% in cytochrome c oxidase I from Bombycopsis pallida Joannou & Krüger, 2009. Two specimens of Pallastica sp. from Zanzibar are different in wing coloration but identical genetically, both are 0.8-1.2% far from sequenced specimens collected in southern Malawi and eastern Zimbabwe and altogether 3.0-3.8% far from the Zambian and Malawian populations considered to be Pallastica pallens (Bethune-Baker, 1908). The barcoding revealed two distinct lineages of Dollmania in Tanzania with a p-distance of 3.5-3.7% between them, neither can be attributed to either Dollmania marwitzi (Strand, 1913) or Dollmania reussi (Strand, 1913) until the primary types or fresh topotypes are sequenced. The species Ph. montibia is taken out from the synonymy to Philotherma rosa (Druce, 1887) and is stated to be a bona species because of the difference in wing pattern and p-distance of 5.7-5.9%. A new species of the genus Odontopacha - Odontopacha dargei sp. n. - is described from southern Kenya and northern Tanzania where it occurs sympatrically with O. fenestrata. It differs from O. fenestrata by the paler coloration with the spotted external fascia on both wings and a p-distance of 3.04-3.65%. Lectotypes for D. marwitzi and Ph. montibia are established. Mallocampa leighi is recorded from Tanzania for the first time. Females of Chrysopsyche lutulenta Tams, 1923 earlier recorded from Zanzibar Island are figured and the species is recorded from DRC for the first time.

<p><strong>Lappet moths (Lepidoptera: Lasiocampidae) of Manipur, north east India: an updated checklist</strong></p>

An updated checklist of 35 species of Lasiocampidae from Manipur is presented in this report. The survey has been carried out for assessment of Lasiocampidae fauna of Shirui Mountains and surrounding areas of Manipur during 2016 to 2019. The materials collected during the survey were identified from 15 genera containing 24 species. 17 species were reported for the first time from Manipur. The 5 species viz. Euthrix improvisa, Eteinopla narcissus, Kunugia burmensis, Kunugia xichangensis, and Arguda viettei are new addition to known Indian Lasiocampidae fauna. Key words: Lasiocampidae, Moth, Manipur, North East India, New record, Shirui Mountain

Comparative mitochondrial genome analysis of Dendrolimus houi (Lepidoptera: Lasiocampidae) and phylogenetic relationship among Lasiocampidae species.

Dendrolimus houi is one of the most common caterpillars infesting Gymnosperm trees, and widely distributed in several countries in Southeast Asia, and exists soley or coexists with several congeners and some Lasiocampidae species in various forest habitats. However, natural hybrids occasionally occur among some closely related species in the same habitat, and host preference, extreme climate stress, and geographic isolation probably lead to their uncertain taxonomic consensus. The mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) of D. houi was extracted and sequenced by using high-throughput technology, and the mitogenome composition and characteristics were compared and analyzed of these species, then the phylogenetic relationship was constructed using the maximum likelihood method (ML) and the Bayesian method (BI) based on their 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs) dataset, which were combined and made available to download which were combined and made available to download among global Lasiocampidae species data. Mitogenome of D. houi was 15,373 bp in length, with 37 genes, including 13 PCGs, 22 tRNA genes (tRNAs) and 2 rRNA genes (rRNAs). The positions and sequences of genes were consistent with those of most known Lasiocampidae species. The nucleotide composition was highly A+T biased, accounting for ~80% of the whole mitogenome. All start codons of PCGs belonged to typical start codons ATN except for COI which used CGA, and most stop codons ended with standard TAA or TAG, while COI, COII, ND4 ended with incomplete T. Only tRNASer (AGN) lacked DHU arm, while the remainder formed a typical “clover-shaped” secondary structure. For Lasiocampidae species, their complete mitochondrial genomes ranged from 15,281 to 15,570 bp in length, and all first genes started from trnM in the same direction. And base composition was biased toward A and T. Finally, both two methods (ML and BI) separately revealed that the same phylogenetic relationship of D. spp. as ((((D. punctatus + D. tabulaeformis) + D. spectabilis) + D. superans) + (D. kikuchii of Hunan population + D. houi) as in previous research, but results were different in that D. kikuchii from a Yunnan population was included, indicating that different geographical populations of insects have differentiated. And the phylogenetic relationship among Lasiocampidae species was ((((Dendrolimus) + Kunugia) + Euthrix) + Trabala). This provides a better theoretical basis for Lasiocampidae evolution and classification for future research directions.

A New Record of Lasiocampidae (Lepidoptera) and a Checklist for the Turkish Fauna

A new Lasiocampidae species, Streblote solitariaZolotuhin, 1991, is reported for Turkey. A figure of the adult male and its new distributional data are presented. All known Lasiocampidae moths in Turkey are listed.

Two moth species of Lasiocampidae (Lepidoptera: Lasiocampoidea) recorded for the first time in Bhutan

During our survey of the moth fauna at Tsirang, Sarpang, Dagana and Gelephu districts of Bhutan we recorded nine species of Lasiocampid moths. In the present paper, we report the records of two species, Kunugia siamka Zolotuhin, 2002 and Alompra roepkei Tams, 1953 which are new to Bhutan.

The complete mitochondrial genome of Trabala vishnou guttata (Lepidoptera: Lasiocampidae) and the related phylogenetic analyses.

The bluish yellow lappet moth, Trabala vishnou guttata is an extraordinarily important pest in China. The complete mitochondrial genome is sequenced and determined firstly, which is based on traditional PCR amplification and primer walking methods with a length of 15,281bp, including 13 protein-coding (PCG) genes, 22 transfer RNA (rRNA) genes, two ribosomal RNA (tRNA) genes, and an A+T-rich region. The gene order and orientation of the T. vishnou guttata mitogenome were identical to the other sequenced Lasiocampidae species. The overall nucleotide composition of T. vishnou guttata is A (40.27%), T (40.59%), C (11.58%) and G (7.56%), respectively. All the PCGs initiate with the three orthodox start codons ATN except for coxI with CGA start codon. Three PCGs (coxI, coxII and nad4) used incomplete stop codon T, while the other 10 PCGs terminate with complete stop codon TAA. All tRNA genes have a typical clover-leaf structure except for the absence of a dihydrouridine arm in trnS (AGN). The length of A+T-rich region is 383bp. Phylogeny is established to reveal the genetic relationship between T. vishnou guttata and other lepidopteran species based on 13 PCGs nucleotide sequences of the sequenced species (32 taxa) by Maximum likelihood and Bayesian methods. Phylogenetic analyses presents that T. vishnou guttata and its closely related species (Dendrolimus taxa) are clustered on Lasiocampidae group. It is a sister clade relationship between Lasiocampidae and other families in Bombycoidea with a bootstrap value of 83% and a posterior probability of 0.75. This study supports that Lasiocampidae may be independent from Bombycoidea.

Silkworm Moths Inventory in Their Natural Tapia Forest Habitat (Madagascar): Diversity, Population Dynamics and Host Plants

Endemic silk moths (Lepidoptera: Lasiocampidae) in Madagascar have been collected and exploited for centuries by local populations either for food or as a source of silk cocoons from which textiles are made. Moth natural forest habitat has also been degraded, leading to a drastic decrease in silk moth populations. However, very few scientific reports highlighted these observations well known by the local people. We have inventoried silk moths species in tapia (Uapaca bojeri Baill.) forests located in the central highlands of Madagascar. Inventories have been conducted during one year from August 2009 to July 2010 by sampling transects in Imamo forests. Three species of Lasiocampidae belonging to two genera were found: Borocera cajani Vinson, Borocera marginepunctata Guérin-Méneville and Europtera punctillata Guenée. These three silk moth species are endemic to Madagascar but only one (B. cajani) is commercially exploited in the silk industry. The habitat, host plants, abundance, life cycle and feeding behaviour of these species in their natural habitat are described.

Changes in the suprageneric classification of Lasiocampidae (Lepidoptera) based on the nucleotide sequence of gene EF-1α

The nucleotide sequences of nuclear gene EF-1α were determined for 49 species of Lasiocampidae from Eurasia and Africa. Based on these data, the phylogeny of the family was reconstructed using the minimum evolution, maximum parsimony, maximum likelihood, and Bayesian inference methods. The molecular genetic research confirms the monophyly of Malacosominae which is treated as a separate subfamily. The genus Euthrix appears to be paraphyletic. The group of genera similar to Arguda, previously united with Odonestis in the tribe Odonestini, proved to be a separate lineage; contrary to the earlier assumption, the genera do not seem to be related. On the other hand, the genera Argonestis and Odonestis were found to be closely related and therefore were placed in the same tribe. The position of the genus Macrothylacia remains obscure. The genus Stoermeriana de Fr. et Witt is also para- or polyphyletic and consists of several independent lineages whose status remains to be determined. The new classification supports synonymization of Pinarinae with Lasiocampinae. The rank of subfamily is not supported for the Neotropical Macromphaliinae, which is downgraded to a tribe, Macromphaliini stat. n., within Poecilocampinae. The genus Hypopacha, previously considered within Macromphaliinae, is transferred to Poecilocampini; the close relation between Poecilocampini and Macromphaliini is additionally supported by the presence of a member of Poecilocampini in the New World. A new tribe, Argudini Zolotuhin trib. n., is established.

Peculiarities of island endemism in Lasiocampidae (Lepidoptera)

The distinctive features of island endemism in Lasiocampidae are extensive adaptive radiation and vicariance. These phenomena are especially typical of archipelagoes, where different taxa occur on closely located islands. The diverse ecological conditions of the islands determine the presence of a great number of subordinate taxa. Owing to the reduced flight activity, the species of Lasiocampidae are characterized by a high level of endemism on isolated islands. Islands of continental origin (Sumatra, Borneo) have a lower level of endemism, with centers on the mountain ranges. The endemism level is much higher in islands of biogenic origin (the Philippines). The Pacific islands have a higher index of specific endemism. At the same time, the islands of mixed and oceanic origin have low species diversity by a large fraction of endemic taxa. The boundaries of species distribution are determined not only by the landscape or climatic factors but also by biological ones.

Larval Sociality in Three Species of Central-place Foraging Lappet Moths (Lepidoptera: Lasiocampidae): A Comparative Survey

We studied three species of Lasiocampidae with social, tent-building caterpillars in Northern Bavaria, viz. Eriogaster lanestris, Eriogaster catax, and Malacosoma neustria. We used key life-history data (number of larval instars, sizes and weights of eggs, caterpillars, and moths, size of egg clutches) as well as behavioral data (activity patterns, tent-building behavior, trail following behavior) for a comparative study. Although larvae of all three species are active only in spring, show overlapping habitat requirements, and use the same major host-plant ( Prunus spinosa) with only minor differences in phenology, they show markedly different life-history and behavioral strategies. E. catax lays comparatively few but large eggs while E. lanestris lays more but smaller eggs. M. neustria lays the smallest eggs but large clusters. E. lanestris caterpillars build a large tent with an accessible interior while those of E. catax build a small tent that is only used as a resting and molting platform. M. neustria shows a flexible behavior, may abandon the primary tent and build a new one several times. M. neustria colonies also subdivide and reunite regularly while Eriogaster colonies stay together until larvae become solitary. In E. lanestris all tentmates of a colony are highly synchronized while foraging or resting. Instead, in E. catax small subgroups leave the tent for foraging while at every time the majority rests on the tent. M. neustria caterpillars forage more or less individually and only synchronize by night. Results are discussed in relation to other species of the genera Eriogaster and Malacosoma and with regard to the evolution and diversification of caterpillar sociality.

Trail Following as a Rare Phenomenon among Non-social Lappet moth Larvae (Lepidoptera: Lasiocampidae)

[Article] Within the Lasiocampidae sociality among caterpillars occurs quite frequently. FITZGERALD & COSTA [1986] suggested that sociality might originate in the ability of solitary ancestral species to mark and follow trails whereas other authors emphasize adaptations to adult morphological constraints as most important selective factors. In this laboratory study we tested whether solitary caterpillars of seven species of Lasiocampidae are able to mark their pathways and follow these trails during a second encounter (solitary trail following). Only caterpillars of Dendrolimus pini (Linnaeus 1758) proved to be able to recognize previously marked trails again. In D pini trails are . marked by dragging the tip of the sternum of the last abdominal segment along the substrate. No silk is used for additional marking in contrast to reports from other non-social larvae in Lepido­ ptera which exhibit trail following behaviour. This study suggests that solitary trail following is of minor importance for the evolution of sociality in the Lasiocampidae.

Eucalypt-Feeding Insects Bite off More Than They Can Chew: Sabotage of Induced Defences?

Plant chemical defences that are induced by insect attack have evolved in a wide variety of species, including deciduous and coniferous trees (Rhoades 1979). The forests and woodlands of Australia are dominated by the genus Eucalyptus, which comprises several hundred species of evergreen trees. As yet, there is no evidence that induced defences occur in eucalypts. However, here we report that several species of eucalypt-feeding insects chew off and discard partially-eaten leaves, and we propose the hypothesis that these insects are sabotaging the transmission of induced defences to neighbouring leaves. We have observed larvae from four families of Lepidoptera and one family of Hymenoptera chewing off partially-eaten eucalypt leaves on which they have been feeding. It has been observed on Eucalyptus melliodora, E. viminalis, E. leucoxylon and E. pauciflora. The behaviour of all insect species involved is remarkably similar and is described in some detail for Anthela varia (Anthelidae) on E. leucoxylon (Fig. 1). After feeding on a leaf for up to an hour or more, the larva moves on to the stem and starts chewing around the petiole at the base of the leaf (Fig. 1A). Chewing results in characteristic girdling of the petiole (Fig. 1B), and continues until the leaf falls from the plant (Fig. 1C). The insect then chews on the petiole stump for a few more minutes (Fig. 1D). The complete behavioural sequence (A-D) is very deliberate and may take 10 min or more. If the insect is disturbed, as in Fig. 1B, it will quickly resume chewing, rather than abandon the task. We have also seen the cup moth Doratifera quadriguttata (Limacodidae) (Fig. 2) and two other species in the same family removing partially-eaten leaves. Additionally, it has been noted in two unidentified species of Geometridae and one species of Lasiocampidae. We have also observed partially-eaten eucalypt leaves being cut off by two species of sawfly, Perga affinis and Perga sp. (Fig. 3). Sawfly larvae often feed gregariously, and when a group moves from a leaf, the last larva to depart performs the petiole-chewing. On many occasions we have seen two or more larvae of P. affinis co-operate in chewing off a leaf on which they and other larvae had been feeding. There are only a few records in the literature of insects, all lepidopteran larvae, chewing off partiallyeaten leaves (Scriber 1975, Heinrich and Collins 1983). Damaged leaves may act as searching cues for birds (Heinrich and Collins 1983) and parasitoids (Faeth 1987), however three pieces of evidence lead us to argue that removal of feeding evidence is not the primary function of the behaviour we have observed on eucalypts. Firstly, obligate leaf-removal would be expected if natural enemies using leaf damage as a searching cue had provided the effective selective pressure for this behaviour. However, petiole-chewing behaviour is not obligate in most of the species we have observed. For instance, D. quadriguttata larvae often move from a partially-eaten leaf without chewing it off, suggesting that leaf removal occurs as a facultative response to an immediate stimulus. Induced defences can be mobilized very rapidly (Carroll and Hoffman 1980), however the strength of the response is likely to vary between occasions. Such variation may determine whether an insect

EVALUATION OF IMMUNOELECTROOSMOPHORESIS ON CELLULOSE POLYACETATE FOR ASSESSING PREDATION OF LEPIDOPTERA (TORTRICIDAE) BY COLEOPTERA (CARABIDAE) SPECIES

AbstractImmunoelectroosmophoresis (IEO) on cellulose polyacetate strips was found to be a rapid, convenient, and highly sensitive procedure for detecting prey antigens (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) in predators (Coleoptera: Carabidae). The antisera employed were induced with whole-body extracts of larvae of Choristoneura rosaceana Harris, Grapholitha molesta Busck, and Cydia pomonella L. Extracts of single larvae gave IEO reactions to a dilution of at least 1/1024 (mg fresh wt./μl diluent), when using as little as 1–3μl of the reactants. Larval antigens of G. molesta, C. pomonella, or C. rosaceana were detectable in laboratory-fed Pterostichus melanarius III. for c. 24, 48, or at least 72 h, respectively. Antigens of all prey species were detectable in Amara sp. and Harpalus affinis Schr. for at least 72 h.All antisera also reacted to some extent with 10–15 other Lepidoptera species and reacted slightly with extracts from starved carabids. Manipulations with the antisera (e.g. dilution, cross-absorption, and (or) antibody selection) eliminated reactions with carabids and species of Lasiocampidae, Gracillariidae, and Geometridae, but not with all species of Tortricidae or Noctuidae. The broad antigenic similarities observed among Lepidoptera appear to preclude reliable use of immunoprecipitin procedures for assessing natural predation on specific prey, unless specific antisera can be produced.