Wing Markings Research Articles

A new genus and three new species of noctuid moths from western United States of America and Mexico (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae, Noctuinae, Eriopygini)

The genus Rhabdorthodesgen. n. is described for three previously unnamed noctuid moths from the mountains of south-western United States and Mexico. It is assigned to subfamily Noctuinae, tribe Eriopygini. Rhabdorthodespattersonisp. n. from the United States and Rhabdorthodesdurangosp. n. and Rhabdorthodespetersonisp. n. from Mexico are described. These moths are small, dull gray brown, and lack highly diagnostic wing markings, but are distinctive structurally. The adults and genitalia of both sexes are illustrated and distribution maps are presented. Two species eponyms honor persons who have facilitated the study and enjoyment of moths in North America by creating moth-specific websites.

One hundred years of solitude ended: A second species of Marmasoma White, 1916 (Diptera, Bombyliidae, Bombyliinae, Eclimini) from Australia.

Known as a monotypic genus for over a century, Marmasoma White, 1916 is an endemic Australian bee fly genus belonging to the tribe Eclimini of the subfamily Bombyliinae. A new species: Marmasoma hortorum sp. nov. is described based on a series of specimens from Western Australia and South Australia. This new species can be easily distinguished from the congener by the inconspicuous pale wing markings and mostly white to pale yellow scales on the body, as well as characters of both male and female genitalia. M. sumptuosum is found in south-eastern Australia, including Tasmania, and some specimens have been collected on Kangaroo Island, South Australia. M. hortorum sp. nov. occurs in south Western Australia, and a pair of specimens has been taken just north of Port Augusta in South Australia. A key to species of Marmasoma is provided.

Studies on the Intraspecific Variations in <I>Rhyothemis variegata variegata</I> (Linnaeus) (Odonata: Libellulidae)

Variations in the wing markings of male and female representatives of Rhyothemis variegata variegata (Linnaeus) collected from different parts of North-West India have been studied and illustrated in detail.

New Species of Neopanorpa (Mecoptera) from Vietnam, with a Key to the Species of Mecoptera of Vietnam

Abstract. Sixteen species of scorpionflies have been reported from Vietnam, consisting of 13 Neopanorpa and three Bittacus species. One of these scorpionflies from the Central Highlands of Vietnam with hood-shaped hypovalves was determined to be a new species and is described herein as Neopanorpa cucullata, n.sp. A second new species, Neopanorpa ellengreeni, n. sp., with golden yellow wing membranes and Y-shaped wing markings is described from northern Vietnam. COI DNA analysis of 16 of 17 species of Vietnamese Mecoptera are presented using a neighbor-joining tree indicating that the new species are approximately as distinct from the extant species as the extant species are from each other. A key is provided for all 17 Vietnamese Mecoptera.

Taxonomic review of the moth family Thyatiridae (Lepidoptera) from Yunnan province, China

A total of 22 genera and 79 species of Thyatiridae (Insecta: Lepidoptera) from Yunnan, China are reviewed. Forty of these species are examined in detail, and the wing markings and genitalia of the male/female adults are illustrated. The following five species are recorded from Yunnan for the first time: Psidopala undulans (Hampson, [1893]), Tethea (Tethea) punctorenalia (Houlbert, 1921), Toxoides sichuanensis Zhuang, Owada & Wang, 2014, Mimopsestis basalis sinensis László, Ronkay, Ronkay & Witt, 2007 and Betapsestis brevis (Leech, 1900). Two new species, Parapsestis naxii sp. n. and Parapsestis tachengensis sp. n., are described and their DNA bar codes are provided using genbank accession number. Type species of genus Parapsestis, Parapsestis argenteopicta, we also provide its genbank accession number. Stenopsestis bruna Jiang, Yang, Xue & Han, 2015 is synonymized with Toxoides sichuanensis Zhuang, Owada & Wang, 2014. Biogeographical features of the family in Yunnan are also briefly discussed.

Potential for interspecific hybridization between Zizina emelina and Zizina otis (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae)

Environmental changes such as global warming and biological invasion caused by human activities raise the possibility of secondary contact between the endangered butterfly species Zizina emelina and its sibling species Zizina otis in Japan. To assess the possible risks from their habitats overlapping, we investigated the potential for hybridization and the development of F1 individuals. We observed successful mating of the two sibling species under artificial conditions. The presence of a postzygotic hybridization barrier was supported by the delay of larval development only in females; a delay did not occur in males. Existence of the barrier was also supported by a decreased egg hatching rate in one brood; this was likely associated with infection with Wolbachia, a bacterium manipulating the reproductive capability of its host. The size and wing markings of F1 hybrid individuals were intermediate between those of the two species. These results suggest that, if Z. emelina and Z. otis are distributed sympatrically in the future, there is a possibility of introgression and reproductive interference between the two species, which would increase the risk of decline of each species.

Two new species of the genus Terrobittacus Tan & Hua, 2009 (Mecoptera: Bittacidae) from southwestern China with a key to species

Two new species of hangingflies, Terrobittacus rostratus sp. nov. and Terrobittacus angustus sp. nov., are described and illustrated from Yunnan, southwestern China, increasing the species number of Terrobittacus Tan & Hua, 2009 to six. Terrobittacus rostratus sp. nov. differs from its congeners by wings devoid of markings and epandrial appendages slightly longer than half the length of the gonocoxites. Terrobittacus angustus sp. nov. can be recognized by wing markings along R5 distally. A key to species of the genus is updated to include the two new species.

A morphology based key to the genera of the tribe Nemoriini (Lepidoptera: Geometridae, Geometrinae).

A diagrammatic key to the genera of the Nemoriini tribe (Lepidoptera, Geometridae) is presented and illustrated. The genera studied exhibit two main character sets, corresponding to the Nemoria lineage and the Phrudocentra lineage. The spatulate type of uncus is associated with multicolor wing markings on both hemispheres. A rod-shaped uncus, often slightly bulbed at its tip, is common in the Neotropics, the genera involved having their wing markings reduced to white lines or brown-grey vein marks on a plain green ground color.

A small badge of longevity: opposing survival selection on the size of white and black wing markings

According to handicap principle, exaggerated ornamental traits are supposed to exert costs on their bearers. However, there is much less theoretical and practical consensus about whether and under which conditions ornament expression should positively correlate with survival. We measured age‐related variation and survival selection on the size of white wing patches and black wing tips in a long‐lived monogamous seabird, the common gull Larus canus. Males had larger white patches than females but patch size showed concave relationship with age irrespective of sex, suggesting that white patch size was prone to senescence in both sexes. Extent of wing tip abrasion correlated negatively with the size of white patch, suggesting, in agreement with the Zahavian handicap hypothesis that only individuals with largest ornaments are able of maintaining them and not paying cost of displaying them. Areas of white wing patches and black wing tips correlated negatively. Irrespective of sex, survival selection favored birds with larger white wing patches and smaller black wing tips, which suggests that white and black wing markings may have coevolved as reverse components of a single ornament. Altogether, our results provide an evidence for the case where survival selection on ornamental traits in females is not weaker than in males. Absence of sex differences with respect to most of observed patterns is consistent with a prediction that among monogamous long‐lived species with biparental care, mutual mate choice leads to evolution of elaborate ornamental traits in both sexes.

Revision of the genus Gryposmylus Krüger, 1913 (Neuroptera, Osmylidae) with a remarkable example of convergence in wing disruptive patterning.

The charismatic lance lacewing genus Gryposmylus Krüger, 1913 (Osmylidae: Protosmylinae) from South East Asia is revised with a new species (Gryposmylus pennyi sp. n.) described from Malaysia. The genus is diagnosed and both species in the genus redescribed and figured. An extraordinary example of morphological convergence is presented, with disruptive camouflaging wing markings in Gryposmylus pennyi sp. n. being remarkably similar to the South American green lacewing Vieira leschenaulti Navás (Chrysopidae).

Discovery of a fourth species of Shaanxiana(Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae: Theclinae) from China.

Shaanxiana langi sp. n. (Theclinae: Theclini), a fourth species of the genus Shaanxiana, is described from Guangxi province, China. It is similar to the recently described S. australis from Guangdong, but S. langi males can be distinguished from the latter by their lack of orange scales within the underside submarginal wing markings, and the medially protruding uncus of the genitalia. The female is notable for its extensive pale blue upperside wing coloration, requiring re-characterization of the genus with respect to sexual dimorphism. Both male and female genitalia of S. langi sp. n. are illustrated and described in detail, together with S. takashimai.

Calibrated UV reflectance photography of Hebomoia glaucippe sulphurea

Abstract Ultraviolet (UV) reflective and absorbent markings on wings of male Hebomoia glaucippe sulphurea butterflies are important visual markers used in mating to differentiate them from other species. The objective of our study was to determine whether these markings deteriorate in museum collections over time. We first characterized quantitatively the UV reflective and UV absorbent wing markings from fresh and naturally aged male H. glaucippe sulphurea using UV reflectance microphotography, which was calibrated with handmade reflectance standards. The results of calibrated UV reflectance photography were then compared qualitatively with the same markings using visible light photography, transmitted and reflected visible light microscopy, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). A UV-converted Nikon D200 with a Baader Ultraviolet Venus lens filter was used to record UV reflective and UV absorbent wing markings of the specimens. The handmade reflectance standards were prepared using magnesium oxide, plaster, and carbon, photographed alongside the specimens, and used to calibrate the photographs. The easily and affordably produced handmade reflectance standards were effective in calibrating the UV reflectance digital photographs, which allowed for each pixel of the digital photographs to be used for optical densitometry measurements. Quantitative data from calibrated UV reflectance photography demonstrated little evidence of deterioration in the UV reflective markings, although there was clear deterioration in the UV absorbent markings. This quantitative data, along with the calibrated UV photographs themselves, offered complementary documentation to visible light microscopy and SEM images. Results show that both visible-spectrum and UV markings fade in naturally aging museum specimens. We conclude that by using calibrated UV reflectance photography, a relatively inexpensive technique, a baseline and eventual degradation of Lepidoptera wing markings may be quantified and may provide valuable data to clarify the mechanisms behind this degradation. With the rate of change quantified, and the mechanisms of fading understood, it is hoped that preventative measures can be taken in the future to remedy this loss of valuable data in collections.

Combining Taxonomic and Functional Approaches to Unravel the Spatial Distribution of an Amazonian Butterfly Community.

This study investigated the spatial distribution of an Amazonian fruit-feeding butterfly assemblage by linking species taxonomic and functional approaches. We hypothesized that: 1) vegetation richness (i.e., resources) and abundance of insectivorous birds (i.e., predators) should drive changes in butterfly taxonomic composition, 2) larval diet breadth should decrease with increase of plant species richness, 3) small-sized adults should be favored by higher abundance of birds, and 4) communities with eyespot markings should be able to exploit areas with higher predation pressure. Fruit-feeding butterflies were sampled with bait traps and insect nets across 25 km(2) of an Amazonian ombrophilous forest in Brazil. We measured larval diet breadth, adult body size, and wing marking of all butterflies. Our results showed that plant species richness explained most of the variation in butterfly taxonomic turnover. Also, community average diet breadth decreased with increase of plant species richness, which supports our expectations. In contrast, community average body size increased with the abundance of birds, refuting our hypothesis. We detected no influence of environmental gradients on the occurrence of species with eyespot markings. The association between butterfly taxonomic and functional composition points to a mediator role of the functional traits in the environmental filtering of butterflies. The incorporation of the functional approach into the analyses allowed for the detection of relationships that were not observed using a strictly taxonomic perspective and provided an extra insight into comprehending the potential adaptive strategies of butterflies.

Familial Clarification of Saucrosmylidae stat. nov. and New Saucrosmylids from Daohugou, China (Insecta, Neuroptera).

BackgoundSaucrosmylids are characterized by the typically large body size, complicated venation and diverse wing markings, which were only discovered in Middle Jurassic of Daohugou, Ningcheng county, Inner Mongolia, China.Principal FindingsSaucrosmylinae Ren, 2003, originally included as a subfamily in the Osmylidae, was transferred and elevated to family rank based on the definitive synapomorphic character. The updated definition of Saucrosmylidae stat. nov. was outlined in detail: presence of nygma and trichosors; diverse markings on membrane; complicated cross-veins; distal fusion of Sc and R1; expanded space between R1 and Rs having 2–7 rows of cells that should be a synapomorphic character of the family; proximal MP fork. And the previous misuses of Saucrosmylidae are also clarified. Furthermore, a new genus with a new species and an indeterminate species of Saucrosmylidae are described as Ulrikezza aspoeckae gen. et sp. nov. and Ulrikezza sp. from the Middle Jurassic of Daohugou, Inner Mongolia, China. A key to genera of Saucrosmylidae is provided.Conclusions/SignificanceThe intriguing group represents a particular lineage of Neuroptera in the Mesozoic Era. The familial status of Saucrosmylidae was firstly advanced that clarified the former incorrect citation and use of the family name. As an extinct clade, many species of the saucrosmylids were erected just based on a single fore- or hindwing, and it should be realized that providing more stable characters is necessary when describing new lacewing taxa just based on an isolated hindwing. It is vital for the systematics of Saucrosmylidae.

Life & evolution: Butterfly spots can mimic eyes to scare birds: Test revives old idea about wing marks' role in evolution

Life & evolution: Butterfly spots can mimic eyes to scare birds: Test revives old idea about wing marks' role in evolution

New representative of the family Panorpodidae (Insecta, Mecoptera) from Eocene Baltic Amber with a key to fossil species of genus Panorpodes

Panorpodidae (short-faced scorpionflies) is a species-poor family of scorpionflies (Mecoptera). Fossils are extremely rare but indicate that this group was diverse in the past. Up to now, three species of the genus Panorpodes have been described from Eocene Baltic amber, as well as a possible panorpodid from the Lower Eocene of Patagonia. Panorpodes gedanensis sp. n. is the fourth species to be recognised in amber material. Wing markings are the most important character in the taxonomy of fossil short-faced scorpionflies. The new species described here shows a new pattern of markings – five dark spots and a terminal band. The Eocene representatives of the genus Panorpodes display different patterns of wing markings: highly transparent wings in P. brevicauda (Hagen, 1856), transparent wings with dark bands and spots in P. weitschati Soszynska-Maj and Krzeminski, 2013, narrow transparent bands on a dark background in P. hageni Carpenter, 1954 and regular spots in P. gedanensis sp. n. This past diversity and distribution emphasises the relictual status of extant Panorpodidae. A key to fossil species of the genus Panorpodes based on characters of the forewing is provided.

Morphological outcomes of gynandromorphism in Lycaeides butterflies (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae).

The genitalia of male insects have been widely used in taxonomic identification and systematics and are potentially involved in maintaining reproductive isolation between species. Although sexual selection has been invoked to explain patterns of morphological variation in genitalia among populations and species, developmental plasticity in genitalia likely contributes to observed variation but has been rarely examined, particularly in wild populations. Bilateral gynandromorphs are individuals that are genetically male on one side of the midline and genetically female on the other, while mosaic gynandromorphs have only a portion of their body developing as the opposite sex. Gynandromorphs might offer unique insights into developmental plasticity because individuals experience abnormal cellular interactions at the genitalic midline. In this study, we compare the genitalia and wing patterns of gynandromorphic Anna and Melissa blue butterflies, Lycaeides anna (Edwards) (formerly L. idas anna ) and L. melissa (Edwards) (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae), to the morphology of normal individuals from the same populations. Gynandromorph wing markings all fell within the range of variation of normal butterflies; however, a number of genitalic measurements were outliers when compared with normal individuals. From these results, we conclude that the gynandromorphs’ genitalia, but not wing patterns, can be abnormal when compared with normal individuals and that the gynandromorphic genitalia do not deviate developmentally in a consistent pattern across individuals. Finally, genetic mechanisms are considered for the development of gynandromorphism in Lycaeides butterflies.

Morphological variation of the Scorpionfly Panorpa obtusa Cheng (Mecoptera: Panorpidae) with a new synonym.

BackgroundThe overabundance of synonyms is an unavoidable by-product of taxonomic practice in insects. How to reduce or even eliminate synonymy has long been a great challenge for insect taxonomists. The scorpionflies Panorpa obtusa Cheng, 1949 and Panorpa leei Cheng, 1949 (Insecta: Mecoptera: Panorpidae) were originally described from Taibaishan in the Qinling Mountains with identical collection data and both are based on a single gender, the former on a male and the latter on two females. However, whether P. leei is conspecific with P. obtusa or a good species remains an unsolved problem.ResultsOn the basis of intensive morphological comparison of 93 males and 53 females of scorpionflies collected from the type locality using light and scanning electron microscopy, we found P. obtusa has considerable morphological variation (especially the wing markings and genitalia in both male and female), and Panorpa leei is totally comprised of one of the morphs of P. obtusa.ConclusionsIn combination with identical type localities and overlapping morphological variation, P. leei Cheng is proposed as a junior subjective synonym of P. obtusa Cheng. To avoid synonyms, taxonomists should pay more attention to individual variation and base decisions on a series of specimens to describe new species.

Mesozoic lacewings from China provide phylogenetic insight into evolution of the Kalligrammatidae (Neuroptera)

BackgroundThe Kalligrammatidae are distinctive, large, conspicuous, lacewings found in Eurasia from the Middle Jurassic to mid Early Cretaceous. Because of incomplete and often inadequate fossil preservation, an absence of detailed morphology, unclear relationships, and unknown evolutionary trends, the Kalligrammatidae are poorly understood.ResultsWe describe three new subfamilies, four new genera, twelve new species and four unassigned species from the late Middle Jurassic Jiulongshan and mid Early Cretaceous Yixian Formations of China. These kalligrammatid taxa exhibit diverse morphological characters, such as mandibulate mouthparts in one major clade and siphonate mouthparts in the remaining four major clades, the presence or absence of a variety of distinctive wing markings such as stripes, wing spots and eyespots, as well as multiple major wing shapes. Based on phylogenetic analyses, the Kalligrammatidae are divided into five principal clades: Kalligrammatinae Handlirsch, 1906, Kallihemerobiinae Ren & Engel, 2008, Meioneurinae subfam. nov., Oregrammatinae subfam. nov. and Sophogrammatinae subfam. nov., each of which is accorded subfamily-level status. Our results show significant morphological and evolutionary differentiation of the Kalligrammatidae family during a 40 million-year-interval of the mid Mesozoic.ConclusionA new phylogeny and classification of five subfamilies and their constituent genera is proposed for the Kalligrammatidae. These diverse, yet highly specialized taxa from northeastern China suggest that eastern Eurasia likely was an important diversification center for the Kalligrammatidae. Kalligrammatids possess an extraordinary morphological breadth and panoply of adaptations during the mid-Mesozoic that highlight our conclusion that their evolutionary biology is much more complex than heretofore realized.

History of the northern silvery blue (Glaucopsyche lygdamus couperi) (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae) in southern Ontario, Canada: separating range expansion from original populations and other subspecies

AbstractThe historical distribution ofGlaucopsyche lygdamus(Doubleday) (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae) in southern Ontario, Canada was analysed using three major databases. In southern Ontario,G.lygdamusincludes (1) subspeciesG.lygdamus couperiGrote that has expanded its range from the north since the 1940s and 1950s reaching Hamilton, Ontario, Canada in 2012; (2) a non-expanding population on the Norfolk Sand Plain, Ontario, Canada that appears phenotypically closest toG.lygdamus couperi, but with some wing marking characters that are transitional to the more southern subspeciesG.lygdamus lygdamus; and (3) rare and local pre-expansion populations referable toG.lygdamus couperithat occurred in the Ottawa Valley and Bruce Peninsula, Ontario, Canada in alvar woodlands, and possibly also on lakeshore dunes. The very rare and local occurrences of silvery blue in southern Ontario in the past is in direct contrast to its increasing abundance in the area in present times, but the genetic and phenotypic diversity of silvery blue may be declining due to genetic mixing with and/or to the effect of increasing parasitoids from the expanding race.