Subfamily Larentiinae Research Articles

Perizomini (Lepidoptera: Geometridae: Larentiinae) are polyphyletic

Recent advances in molecular systematics have led to an emerging understanding of the phylogenetic history of the family Geometridae. These studies have basically confirmed the traditional subdivision of the subfamily Larentiinae into tribes but unsolved problems remain. Here we test the monophyly of the tribe Perizomini, and evaluate the division of this tribe into genera using Bayesian and maximum likelihood analyses of one mitochondrial and eight nuclear gene fragments. We show that the Eurasian members of Perizoma Hübner, 1825, Mesotype Hübner, 1825 and Gagitodes Warren, 1893 together form a monophyetic tribe Perizomini. However, Martania Mironov, 2000 is not closely related to these genera, but is considered to belong to Melanthiini according to the results of the phylogenetic analyses. Morphological evidence supporting this rearrangement is discussed. The Nearctic Larentia basaliata Walker, 1862 was shown to belong in the genus Martania as M. basaliata (Walker, 1862) comb. nov. and being specifically distinct from the morphologically similar Palaearctic M. taeniata. Three other studied ‘Perizoma’ species from the New World were similarly placed far from Perizomini in the phylogenetic tree, and were not related to each other. We conclude that both the tribe Perizomini and the genus Perizoma are polyphyletic which indicates that the group needs a global revision. It remains an open question whether Perizomini have a worldwide distribution as previously assumed, or is this tribe confined to the Palaearctic region.

The complete mitochondrial genome of Hydrelia parvulata (Staudinger, 1897) (Lepidoptera: Geometridae)

In this study, the complete mitochondrial genome of Hydrelia parvulata (Staudinger, 1897) was firstly sequenced by high-throughput sequencing. As a circular DNA molecule, it is 15,407 bp in length (GenBank accession number: MN962739), which consists of 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 22 transfer RNA (tRNA) genes, 2 ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes, and an AT-rich region. The nucleotide composition is A (39.8%), C (11.6%), G (8.2%), and T (40.4%). Based on the sequences of complete mitogenome from 10 geometrid species as ingroups and 3 bombycid species as outgroups, the phylogenetic trees were constructed using maximum likelihood (ML) method. The results showed that H. parvulata has a close evolutionary relationship with Operophtera brumata in the subfamily Larentiinae, which is a clade strongly supported by the bootstrap value of 100% and a sister-group with the subfamily Ennominae.

«Aлтынемел» мемлекеттік ұлттық табиғи паркі қарыстаушылар (Lepidoptera, Geometridae) фаунасы

As a result of the analysis of literature data and the collected entomological material, revision of collections, we registered 38 species of geometrid moths in the territory of the State National Natural Park “Altyn-Emel”, which are part of 19 genera from 3 subfamilies. In terms of species diversity, among the identified geometrid moths, representatives of the subfamily Sterrhinae prevail — 32 species, the subfamily Geometrinae — 6 species, and from the subfamily Larentiinae only 1 species. The geometrid moths fauna of the State National Natural Park” Altyn-Emel” is a complex zoogeographic complex, significantly enriched with Turanian and Eurasian elements. The zoogeographic complexity of the fauna is explained by the geobotanical and landscape-ecological features of the area. As a result of the research, an uneven distribution of the geometrid moths in biotopes was noted. Depending on the biotope occupied by the species, geometrid moths are subdivided into 3 main groups: mesophiles, xerophiles, and mesoxerophiles. The largest number of species belong to xerophiles — 22, which prefer steppe biotopes and steppe stony stations. Mesophiles are represented by 10 species. These species prefer floodplain and meadow biotopes of different types. 6 species — mesoxerophiles, most of which occupy meadow areas in steppe biotopes.

Data of Geometridae (Lepidoptera) from the Korean Peninsula in the collections of the Hungarian Natural History Museum – subfamily Larentiinae

Data of Geometridae (Lepidoptera) from the Korean Peninsula in the collections of the Hungarian Natural History Museum – subfamily Larentiinae

Larval food plants of Australian Larentiinae (Lepidoptera: Geometridae) - a review of available data.

BackgroundIn Australia, the subfamily Larentiinae (Lepidoptera: Geometridae) comprises over 45 genera with about 270 species described so far. However, life histories of the Australian larentiine moths have barely been studied.New informationThe current paper presents a list of larval food plants of 51 Australian larentiine species based on literature references, data from specimen labels and own observations. Some Australian habitats are shown. Possible relationships among the taxa based on food preference of the larvae are discussed. Additionally, a list of Australasian larentiine species from the genera occurring in Australia and their food plants is presented.

List of primary types of the larentiine moth species (Lepidoptera: Geometridae) described from Indonesia - a starting point for biodiversity assessment of the subfamily in the region.

BackgroundThe Indonesian geometrid moth fauna is rich and diverse, yet it is poorly studied. This is particularly the case for the second largest geometrid subfamily Larentiinae which comprises moths with predominantly high mountainous distribution in the tropics. The present study provides a first inventory of the primary type specimens of larentiine moth species (Lepidoptera: Geometridae) described from Indonesia.New informationThe list of species described from Indonesia is arranged alphabetically by the tribe, genus, and species, and presents data on 251 species and subspecies. For each species type status, type locality, depository, and a full reference to the original description are listed. Synonyms with Indonesian type localities are included. The study indicates a large part of the Indonesian geometrid fauna belong to the tribe Eupitheciini.

Review of the species of Visiana Swinhoe from the Papua New Guinea region (Lepidoptera: Geometridae: Larentiinae)

The genus isiana Swinhoe which belongs to the subfamily Larentiinae (Lepidoptera: Geometridae) is widely distributed within the Indo-Australian region. The present study is the first extensive review of historic Visiana specimens from the Papua New Guinea region deposited in the Natural History Museum (London, UK) and Australian National Insect Collection (Canberra, Australia). The species examined are as follows: V. hyperctenista (Prout) from the Bismarck Archipelago, V. vinosa (Warren) from the eastern part of Papua New Guinea, V. ranensis (Prout), stat. nov. from the Moluccas (Indonesia), and four newly described species V. horista, sp. nov. from Bougainville Island, V. grandivinosa sp. nov. from New Britain, V. variovinosa, sp. nov. from the eastern part of Papua New Guinea, and V. morobensis, sp. nov. from the Morobe province. The lectotype is designated for V. hyperctienista. Redescriptions of V. hyperctenista, V. vinosa and V. ranensis are provided, the four new species are described, figures of all seven species are shown. The species V. hyperctenista and V. horista are treated as a sister-group, the diagnostic characters are defined. A checklist of the known Papuan species of the genus Visiana is provided.

Phylogenetic diversity of geometrid moths decreases with elevation in the tropical Andes

Species diversity of geometrid moths (Lepidoptera, Geometridae) has previously been shown to be extremely and constantly high along a continuously forested elevational gradient in the Andes of southern Ecuador. We analysed samples taken from 32 sites between 1999 and 2011 in northern Podocarpus National Park and adjacent areas from 1020 to 2916 m a.s.l. We conjecture that high elevation habitats were historically mostly colonised by species from lower elevations, and that environmental filtering (e.g. through host plant specificity or temperature tolerance) constrained colonisation from lower elevations, which would yield a pattern of elevationally decreasing phylogenetic diversity. We analysed elevational phylogenetic patterns by means of: 1) the nearest‐taxon index (NTI), 2) DNA barcode‐based terminal branch lengths (TBLs) from maximum‐likelihood phylogeny, 3) the subfamily composition of the local assemblages, and 4), the rarefied number of morphologically defined genera per site.We counted a total of 1445 species. NTI values significantly increased with elevation, both in a conventional and a rarefaction approach. TBLs decreased significantly with elevation. Subfamily composition profoundly changed with elevation, particularly expressed as an increased proportion of the subfamily Larentiinae and decreased fractions of Sterrhinae and Geometrinae. The number of genera in equally rarefied species resamples significantly decreased with elevation. We conclude that environmental filtering indeed contributed to an altitudinal decrease in moth phylodiversity, but these constraints prevented only relatively few clades from colonising high elevation habitats.

A morphological review of tribes in Larentiinae (Lepidoptera: Geometridae)

Tribes of looper moths (Geometridae: Larentiinae) are reviewed. The tribe Dyspteridini Hulst is reinstated (previously synonymous with the Trichopterygini Warren). A new subtribe, Aplocerina, is separated from the Chesiadini Pierce, and the group Ortholithinae Pierce is dealt with as Scotopterygini Warren, the sister taxon to Xanthorhoini. Morphological traits for 22 of 23 larentiine tribes represented in the Holarctic fauna are listed and illustrated. A taxonomy of the subfamily Larentiinae is proposed and supported, using morphological data based on chemical communication structures and male genitalia. A new combination is presented: Melanthia mandshuricata (Bremer), transferred from Mesoleuca Hübner (Larentiini)

Musculature of the male terminalia in geometrid moths of the subfamily Larentiinae (Lepidoptera, Geometridae)

The morphology of the male terminalia of 16 species belonging to 12 tribes of Larentiinae was studied; for 12 species and 4 tribes it was done for the first time. No clear diagnosis of Larentiinae based on the features of the male genital musculature can be given since the apomorphic position of M1, M4, and M7 muscles may originate independently in different tribes. The primitive Larentiinae retain the pattern of genital musculature plesiomorphic for Geometridae. Muscles M11 (Melanthiini: Anticollix sparsata) and M22 (Asthenini: Euchoeca nebulata and Hydrelia flammeolaria) are described for the first time for the family Geometridae.

Molecular phylogeny of Eois (Lepidoptera, Geometridae): evolution of wing patterns and host plant use in a species-rich group of Neotropical moths

Strutzenberger, P., Brehm, G., Bodner, F. & Fiedler K. (2010). Molecular phylogeny of Eois (Lepidoptera, Geometridae): evolution of wing patterns and host plant use in a species-rich group of Neotropical moths. —Zoologica Scripta, 39, 603–620. Eois is a pantropical genus of Geometridae moths with currently 250 valid described species, the majority of which occur in the Neotropics. Eois is a prominent component of Andean moth communities locally accounting for up to ∼10% of geometrid individuals. We address the evolution of wing patterns and host plant use in Neotropical Eois and provide a preliminary assessment on the monophyly and biogeographic history of the entire genus as well as affinities within the subfamily Larentiinae. We applied Bayesian, maximum likelihood and maximum parsimony methods of phylogenetic reconstruction to a 142 taxon dataset of partial COI (1220 bp) and Ef1α (1066 bp) sequences resulting in the largest taxon set of geometrid moths analyzed in a molecular phylogenetic study so far. Monophyly of Eois was always strongly supported. Ten monophyletic clades were found with good support, seven of which have characteristic wing pattern phenotypes. Only one wing pattern type occurs in two clades. Trophic associations with representatives of the family Piperaceae occur in all 8 (of 9) Neotropical clades for which host information is available. Apart from feeding on Piper, at least two Eois species in Ecuador feed on Peperomia, and one on Manekia (all Piperaceae); two further species live on Hedyosmum (Chloranthaceae). Species feeding on Peperomia, Manekia and Hedyosmum are usually nested in Piper-associated clades. Single records of associations with Gesneriaceae and Monimiaceae are scattered in otherwise Piperaceae-associated clades. These patterns suggest multiple parallel host shifts away from Piper as ancestral food plant. Old World Eois were recovered as monophylum and sister to Neotropical Eois. Within the subfamily Larentiinae the genus Eois has previously been placed close to the tribe Eupitheciini, but this was not supported in our phylogenetic analyses.

Systematic position of Lythriini revised: transferred from Larentiinae to Sterrhinae (Lepidoptera, Geometridae)

The tribe Lythriini is a small group of diurnally active geometrid moths consisting of a single Palaearctic genus Lythria with five species. The systematic placement of Lythriini has remained controversial: though traditionally it has been placed into the subfamily Larentiinae, a number of morphological characters link this tribe with the subfamily Sterrhinae. A molecular phylogenetic study was conducted to verify the systematic position of Lythriini, using sequences of both mitochondrial and nuclear genes: elongation factor 1α (EF-1α), wingless (wgl), 28S rRNA expansion segment D2 (28S D2), cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 (COI) and NADH dehydrogenase subunit 1 (ND1) (a total of 3784 bp). Phylogenetic analysis reliably demonstrated that Lythriini belong to the subfamily Sterrhinae. Therefore, we propose to remove tribe Lythriini from Larentiinae and unite it with Sterrhinae. Moreover, our analysis supports the monophyly of both Sterrhinae and Larentiinae. However, although both morphological data and interspecific genetic distances insinuated that Lythria cruentaria and L. sanguinaria are sister species, the latter formed a clade of sister taxa together with L. purpuraria.

Die Puppen der Spanner Mitteleuropas. Unterfamilie Larentiinae, Tribus Lythriini, Xanthorhoini, Larentiini und Cidariini (Lepidoptera, Geometridae)

The pupae of Geometridae in Central Europe. Subfamily Larentiinae, Tribus Lythriini, Xanthorhoini, Larentiini and Cidariini (Lepidoptera, Geometridae) The pupae of Central European Lythriini, Xanthorhoini, Larentiini and Cidariini (Lepidoptera, Geometridae, Larentiinae), 24 genera and 57 species, are characterized, described and figured and a key for the determination of species as well as some data on the biology and habitats are added. The present system of these groups is discussed on the basis of the pupal characters.

Pljushtchia prima, new moth genus and species from Tadjikistan (Lepidoptera: Geometridae)

A new genus and species of geometrid moths from Tadjikistan is described and its position in the taxonomic structure of the subfamily Larentiinae is analysed. The new genus is grouped, based on the parsimony analysis of 38 morphological characters, to coniferous-feeding genera of the tribe Cidariini as follows: (Thera (Pennithera (Protothera (Pljushtchia gen. n. Heterothera)))). Pljushtchia is characterised by the antennae, unipectinate in males and flat, serrate in females, by a reduced haustellum, the venation of wings and the structure of the genitalia. The Thera firmata species group is validated as a genus Protothera. The tribe Cidariini includes four groups of related genera and is most speciose in southeastern Asia.

Bergmann's rule does not apply to geometrid moths along an elevational gradient in an Andean montane rain forest

ABSTRACTAim Bergmann's rule generally predicts larger animal body sizes with colder climates. We tested whether Bergmann's rule at the interspecific level applies to moths (Lepidoptera: Geometridae) along an extended elevational gradient in the Ecuadorian Andes.Location Moths were sampled at 22 sites in the province Zamora‐Chinchipe in southern Ecuador in forest habitats ranging from 1040 m to 2677 m above sea level.Methods Wingspans of 2282 male geometrid moths representing 953 species were measured and analysed at the level of the family Geometridae, as well as for the subfamily Ennominae with the tribes Boarmiini and Ourapterygini, and the subfamily Larentiinae with the generaEois,EupitheciaandPsaliodes.Results Bergmann's rule was not supported since the average wingspan of geometrid moths was negatively correlated with altitude (r = −0.59,P < 0.005). The relationship between body size and altitude in Geometridae appears to be spurious because species of the subfamily Larentiinae are significantly smaller than species of the subfamily Ennominae and simultaneously increase in their proportion along the gradient. A significant decrease of wingspan was also found in the ennomine tribe Ourapterygini, but no consistent body size patterns were found in the other six taxa studied. In most taxa, body size variation increases with altitude, suggesting that factors acting to constrain body size might be weaker at high elevations.Main conclusions The results are in accordance with previous studies that could not detect consistent body size patterns in insects at the interspecific level along climatic gradients.

Faunal composition of geometrid moths changes with altitude in an Andean montane rain forest

AbstractAim The objective of this study was to describe and interpret the changes in faunal composition in the moth family Geometridae (Lepidoptera) along a small‐scale elevational gradient in a tropical montane rain forest. This gradient was compared with a large‐scale latitudinal gradient in Europe.LocationInvestigations were carried out in the province Zamora‐Chinchipe in southern Ecuador along a gradient ranging from 1040 to 2677 m above sea level at twenty‐two sites.Methods Moths were sampled with light‐traps in three field periods in 1999 and 2000 and subsequently sorted and determined to species or morphospecies.Results We analysed 13,938 specimens representing 1010 species of geometrid moths. The proportional contribution of subtaxa to the local geometrid fauna changes along the elevational gradient at all systematic levels considered. While proportions of species of the subfamilies Ennominae, Sterrhinae and Geometrinae significantly decrease, the proportion of Larentiinae increases with increasing altitude. Changes also occur within the subfamilies Ennominae and Larentiinae. The host–plant specialist ennomine tribes Cassymini, Macariini and Palyadini completely vanish, and the proportion of the tribe Boarmiini decreases at high altitudes. In contrast, the remaining tribes (mostly comprising polyphagous species) either do not show proportional changes (Azelinini, Nacophorini, Nephodiini, Ourapterygini) or even increase (Caberini, ‘Cratopteragroup’). Within Larentiinae, the species proportion of the genusEoisdecreases, whereas concomitantly the proportion ofEupitheciaincreases. There is a remarkable similarity between the altitudinal patterns in Ecuador and those found along the latitudinal gradient in Europe.Main conclusions Species of the subfamily Larentiinae seem to be particularly well‐adapted to harsh environmental conditions, towards both high altitudes and latitudes. They might disproportionately profit from lower predation at higher altitudes. Many changes in the faunal composition can be explained by expected host–plant requirements of the species involved. Our results show that diversity estimates based on taxon ratios which are assumed to be constant must be regarded with caution because such ratios can change rapidly along environmental gradients.

A sclerite from a late Cretaceous moth (Insecta: Lepidoptera) from Rakaia Gorge, Canterbury, New Zealand

A second Cretaceous insect fossil known from New Zealand—the apical part of a sclerite from the abdomen of an adult lepidopterous insect—from Rakaia Gorge, Canterbury, is described. The fragment is interpreted as the broken off, apical part of the sacculus free arm of one of the paired valvae of the male genitalia of a species of Lepidoptera. Its affinities possibly lie with the subfamily Larentiinae of the family Geometridae and possibly with the genus Helastia Guenée.

Systematics of the Genus Heterothera Inoue (Lepidoptera, Geometridae: Larentiinae)

sized geometrid moths in the subfamily Larentiinae, which are widely spread in the Palaearctic and Oriental regions. The genus was erected by Inoue (1943) based on the following characters: the absence of uncus, long anal tube, stout and flat saccus, weakly sclerotized costa and a well developed sacculus. The monophyly of the genus Heterothera s.s. was first defined by Viidalepp (1980). He listed seven apomorphies for the genus: the bifid saccus, the absence of an uncus, the membranous ductus and corpus bursae without signum, the simple sterigma, the distinct sacculus, the presence of cornuti on the vesica, and the filiform male antenna. Two synapomorphies out of seven, the bifid saccus and the absence of uncus, were unique to Heterothera s.s. However, the character ‘absence of uncus’ was found to be incorrect. Inoue (1982) proposed a new genus Viidaleppia for the species of Asaphodes sensu Viidalepp (1980). Later, he (Inoue 1986) described the characters of the genus Viidaleppia as: doubly bipectinated male antenna, strongly sclerotized costa and pointed apex of forewing, sclerotized and plate-like sacculus, well developed apical projection of the sacculus, numerous spinular cornuti, well developed sterigma, and a broad ductus bursae. However, the genus Heterothera s.s. was found to be paraphyletic in relation to Viidaleppia and the latter was synonymized with Heterothera in a cladistic analysis of the Cidariini sensu Herbulot (Choi 1997; see ‘Diagnosis and monophyly’ for synapomorphies).