Wing Pattern Research Articles

Distribution and Morphological Variations in Coenonympha leander (Lepidoptera, Satyridae) Populations from the Urals

The modern distribution of the Western Eurasian subboreal butterfly Coenonympha leander (Esper, 1784) was studied in the Urals region, with its northeastern range limits specified at 56°N and 65°E. There are isolated local C. leander populations in the forest-steppe, while in the steppe zone the species is distributed fairly uniformly. In the Ural steppes the species is tolerant to moderate anthropogenic transformation of natural communities; the species is not rare and cannot serve as an indicator of intact communities, as opposed to other parts of its range. The geographic variations in the wing length and also the diameters and frequency of eyespots in the wing pattern are analyzed. The highest morphological specificity was detected in the marginal outpost populations, especially the northernmost population of Nizhnee Tukbaevo in Bashkortostan, which lives under the unique conditions of the azonal Mesyagutovo forest-steppe and tends to form a cline, with the wing size decreasing and the eyespot diameters and frequency increasing from north to south.

The wing pattern of Hydriomena Hübner, [1825] (Lepidoptera: Geometridae: Larentiinae) lacks a predictable relationship with venation.

Two simple models have been successfully applied to predict the relationship between wing pattern and venation in various lineages of Lepidoptera. However, neither of these models holds for the geometrid genus Hydriomena Hübner, 1825. Wing patterns in Hydriomena were studied intensively during the 1920s after the description of the nymphalid groundplan, an idealized schematic that outlines the primary elements of butterfly wing patterns; geometrids strongly resemble butterflies and, until recently, were considered to be among their closest relatives. The evolution of wing pattern in Geometridae has been neglected since the 1930s. Here, the relationship between wing pattern and venation is examined for Hydriomena costipunctata Barnes and McDunnough, 1912 and the Hydriomena speciosata (Packard, 1873) group. These two lineages have some of the simplest wing patterns in Hydriomena, consisting of large, well-defined dark and light pattern elements. The relationship between wing pattern and venation varies considerably within and between these lineages and can even vary between the right and left wings on the same individual. Although many different wing patterns were observed among the individuals examined for this study, not one can be reconciled with either of the models that successfully predict the relationship between wing pattern and venation in many other groups of Lepidoptera. This suggests that bands occurring on the wings of Hydriomena are not homologous with those on the wings of butterflies or of Acronictinae (Macroheterocera: Noctuidae), the only other two obtectomeran lineages for which the relationship between wing pattern and venation has been examined in recent years.

A new species of <i>Tephritis</i> Latreille (Diptera: Tephritidae) from Iran

Tephritis nozarii sp. n. from East Azerbaijan Province (NorthWest of Iran) is described and illustrated. It is similar to T. hendeliana Hering, T. hyosciami Linnaeus and T. multiguttata Becker in its pale brownish grey wing pattern, differing by the number of hyaline spots in marginal part of r1 cell and some other details of pattern. Cell r1 in T. nozarii sp. n. contains 3 subequally large spots (resembling some Campiglossa species), a character rarely encountered in Tephritis.

Unravelling the genes forming the wing pattern supergene in the polymorphic butterfly Heliconius numata

BackgroundUnravelling the genetic basis of polymorphic characters is central to our understanding of the origins and diversification of living organisms. Recently, supergenes have been implicated in a wide range of complex polymorphisms, from adaptive colouration in butterflies and fish to reproductive strategies in birds and plants. The concept of a supergene is now a hot topic in biology, and identification of its functional elements is needed to shed light on the evolution of highly divergent adaptive traits. Here, we apply different gene expression analyses to study the supergene P that controls polymorphism of mimetic wing colour patterns in the neotropical butterfly Heliconius numata.ResultsWe performed de novo transcriptome assembly and differential expression analyses using high-throughput Illumina RNA sequencing on developing wing discs of different H. numata morphs. Within the P interval, 30 and 17 of the 191 transcripts were expressed differentially in prepupae and day-1 pupae, respectively. Among these is the gene cortex, known to play a role in wing pattern formation in Heliconius and other Lepidoptera. Our in situ hybridization experiments confirmed the relationship between cortex expression and adult wing patterns.ConclusionsThis study found the majority of genes in the P interval to be expressed in the developing wing discs during the critical stages of colour pattern formation, and detect drastic changes in expression patterns in multiple genes associated with structural variants. The patterns of expression of cortex only partially recapitulate the variation in adult phenotype, suggesting that the remaining phenotypic variation could be controlled by other genes within the P interval. Although functional studies on cortex are now needed to determine its exact developmental role, our results are in accordance with the classical supergene hypothesis, whereby several genes inherited together due to tight linkage control a major developmental switch.

Deep learning on butterfly phenotypes tests evolution's oldest mathematical model.

Traditional anatomical analyses captured only a fraction of real phenomic information. Here, we apply deep learning to quantify total phenotypic similarity across 2468 butterfly photographs, covering 38 subspecies from the polymorphic mimicry complex of Heliconius erato and Heliconius melpomene. Euclidean phenotypic distances, calculated using a deep convolutional triplet network, demonstrate significant convergence between interspecies co-mimics. This quantitatively validates a key prediction of Müllerian mimicry theory, evolutionary biology's oldest mathematical model. Phenotypic neighbor-joining trees are significantly correlated with wing pattern gene phylogenies, demonstrating objective, phylogenetically informative phenome capture. Comparative analyses indicate frequency-dependent mutual convergence with coevolutionary exchange of wing pattern features. Therefore, phenotypic analysis supports reciprocal coevolution, predicted by classical mimicry theory but since disputed, and reveals mutual convergence as an intrinsic generator for the unexpected diversity of Müllerian mimicry. This demonstrates that deep learning can generate phenomic spatial embeddings, which enable quantitative tests of evolutionary hypotheses previously only testable subjectively.

PELATIHAN PEMBUATAN INSEKTARIUM DI KAMPUNG WISATA REPHANG MUAIF NIMBOKRANG, KABUPATEN JAYAPURA

Lepidoptera (Papilionoidea Superfamily) can be found easily in nature such as in the environment around the yard, forest, river and gardens. Butterflies are one of the many insects that have unique or distinctive characteristics because they have a variety of beautiful colors and wing pattern therefore it is much favored by collectors and butterfly enthusiasts both inside the country and abroad. Rephang Muaf is one of the interesting areas to study biodiversity because it is known as a natural tourism village, especially for birdwatching. The introduction of collection techniques and preservation of Lepidoptera is need to be socialized for the community in this village because in addition to obtaining skills in the process of collection and preservation of insects, this is also to increase environmental awareness and study of the surrounding environment. The objectives of implementing community service activities are: Introducing the insect specimen preservation technique (Papilionoidea Superfamily Butterfly) and practicing directly the insect specimen preservation technique to the Isyo Hills community group in Rephang Muaif Village, Nimbokrang, Jayapura Papua. This activity is carried out on May 12, 2018 in Rephang Muaif Village, Nimbokrang, Jayapura-Papua. The target audience involved in this activity were children (at the level of kindergarten, elementary, junior high and high school) and young people who are members of the Isyo Hills community group in Rephang Muaif Village. The training was conducted for 1 day, involving 36 participants. The training included the insect collection technique (Butterfly:Papilionoidea) in the field and the insect preservation technique (Butterfly:Papilionoidea). The activities for collecting and preserving butterfly insects for Isyo Hills community group in Rephang Muaif have been going well. The enthusiasm of the participants in participating in this training activity was very high. This indicates that the service participants positively welcomed the activities carried out. Keywords: Training, Insectarium, Butterfly, Rephang Muaif, Jayapura

Conservation and flexibility in the gene regulatory landscape of heliconiine butterfly wings

BackgroundMany traits evolve by cis-regulatory modification, by which changes to noncoding sequences affect the binding affinity for available transcription factors and thus modify the expression profile of genes. Multiple examples of cis-regulatory evolution have been described at pattern switch genes responsible for butterfly wing pattern polymorphism, including in the diverse neotropical genus Heliconius, but the identities of the factors that can regulate these switch genes have not been identified.ResultsWe investigated the spatial transcriptomic landscape across the wings of three closely related butterfly species, two of which have a convergently evolved co-mimetic pattern and the other having a divergent pattern. We identified candidate factors for regulating the expression of wing patterning genes, including transcription factors with a conserved expression profile in all three species, and others, including both transcription factors and Wnt pathway genes, with markedly different profiles in each of the three species. We verified the conserved expression profile of the transcription factor homothorax by immunofluorescence and showed that its expression profile strongly correlates with that of the selector gene optix in butterflies with the Amazonian forewing pattern element ‘dennis.’ConclusionHere we show that, in addition to factors with conserved expression profiles like homothorax, there are also a variety of transcription factors and signaling pathway components that appear to vary in their expression profiles between closely related butterfly species, highlighting the importance of genome-wide regulatory evolution between species.

Nature's failed experiment: Long-proboscid Neuroptera (Sisyridae: Paradoxosisyrinae) from Upper Cretaceous amber of northern Myanmar

Four new genera and species of long-proboscid Paradoxosisyrinae (Neuroptera: Sisyridae) are described from the Upper Cretaceous amber from northern Myanmar: Buratina truncata gen. et sp. nov., Sidorchukatia gracilis gen. et sp. nov., Protosiphoniella anthophila gen. et sp. nov. and Khobotun elephantinus gen. et sp. nov. Presence of an elongated labrum is confirmed for Paradoxosisyrinae for the first time. 3D modelling was used to demonstrate how the mouthparts of B. truncata were assembled together during feeding. We show that there is considerable diversity in the morphology of mouthparts, wing venation and wing patterns of Paradoxosisyrinae. Nectar-feeding habits are suggested for Paradoxosisyrinae on the basis of microscopic examination of their stylet-like mouthpart structures. Possible reasons for evolutionary failure of long-proboscid Neuroptera are discussed.

The mimetic wing pattern of Papilio polytes butterflies is regulated by a doublesex-orchestrated gene network

The swallowtail butterfly Papilio polytes is sexually dimorphic and exhibits female-limited Batesian mimicry. This species also has two female forms, a non-mimetic form with male-like wing patterns, and a mimetic form resembling an unpalatable model, Pachliopta aristolochiae. The mimicry locus H constitutes a dimorphic Mendelian ‘supergene’, including a transcription factor gene doublesex (dsx). However, how the mimetic-type dsx (dsx-H) orchestrates the downstream gene network and causes the mimetic traits remains unclear. Here we performed RNA-seq-based gene screening and found that Wnt1 and Wnt6 are up-regulated by dsx-H during the early pupal stage and are involved in the red/white pigmentation and patterning of mimetic female wings. In contrast, a homeobox gene abdominal-A is repressed by dsx-H and involved in the non-mimetic colouration pattern. These findings suggest that dual regulation by dsx-H, induction of mimetic gene networks and repression of non-mimetic gene networks, is essential for the switch from non-mimetic to mimetic pattern in mimetic female wings.

Morphological Murals: The Scaling and Allometry of Butterfly Wing Patterns.

The color patterns of butterflies moths are exceptionally diverse, but are very stable within a species, so that most species can be identified on the basis of their color pattern alone. The color pattern is established in the wing imaginal disc during a prolonged period of growth and differentiation, beginning during the last larval instar and ending during the first few days of the pupal stage. During this period, a variety of diffusion and reaction-diffusion signaling mechanisms determine the positions and sizes of the various elements that make up the overall color pattern. The patterning occurs while the wing is growing from a small imaginal disc to a very large pupal wing. One would therefore expect that some or all aspects of the color pattern would be sensitive to the size of the developmental field on which pattern formation takes place. To study this possibility, we analyzed the color patterns of Junonia coenia from animals whose growth patterns were altered by periodic starvation during larval growth, which produced individuals with a large range of variation in body size and wing size. Analyses of the color patterns showed that the positions and size of the pattern elements scaled perfectly isometrically with wing size. This is a puzzling finding and suggests the operation of a homeostatic or robustness mechanism that stabilizes pattern in spite of variation in the growth rate and final size of the wing.

Two new species of the tribe Synanthedonini (Lepidoptera, Sesiidae), with new hostplant associations from Taiwan.

Two new species of the tribe Synanthedonini are described from Taiwan: Synanthedonauritinctaoidissp. nov. and Paranthrenellahelvolasp. nov. Diagnostic characters for the two species are presented using body color, wing pattern, and genitalia. New records of the relationships between host plants and the immatures are also provided. S.auritinctaoidis feeds in the trunk of Cinnamomumcamphora (Lauraceae) and P.helvola in callus tissue of Heliciaformosana (Proteaceae) or Prunuscampanulata (Rosaceae).

Three morphologically and genetically confirmed new Pleurota species fromMorocco (Lepidoptera: Gelechioidea: Oecophoridae: Pleurotinae).

Three new Pleurota species (Oecophoridae: Pleurotinae) from Morocco, which form a species complex, are described: P. variocolor Tabell, sp. nov., P. azrouensis Tabell, sp. nov., and P. ternaria Tabell, sp. nov. Species are diagnosable by wing pattern and they have distinct genetic divergences in DNA barcodes, while genitalia structures are uniform and less informative. DNA barcodes of the new species are compared with those of all other Pleurotinae available in BOLD database. Each of the newly described species has a unique BIN (Barcode Index Number). Adult males and females, and their genitalia, are illustrated. Life histories of new species are unknown, but two of those were collected during daytime.

Alphaea alfreda, a new species from China and Myanmar (Lepidoptera, Erebidae, Arctiinae.

The arctiine genus Alphaea Walker, 1855 is distributed in North and North East India, Nepal, southern China and northern Indochina. The genus was recently reviewed by Dubatolov Kishida (2005). It is subdivided into three subgenera, Alphaea, Flavalphaea Dubatolov Kishida, 2005 and Nayaca Moore, 1979 and includes 10 valid species. During a lepidopterological expedition to the north-western part of China's Yunnan Province in May of 2018, an undetermined species of Alphaea was collected. The Chinese specimens have the wing pattern very similar to that of A. (Flavalphaea) khasiana (Rothschild, 1910), but red and black abdomen (that is orange and black in A. khasiana).

Plasticity and divergence in ultraviolet reflecting structures on Dogface butterfly wings

The vast diversity of animal coloration is generated through a combination of pigment and structural colors. These colors can greatly influence the fitness and life history of an organism. Butterflies and their wing colors are an excellent model to study how these colors can impact the development and success of an organism. In this study, we explore species differences in structurally-based ultraviolet coloration in the Zerene butterfly. We show clear species differences in ultraviolet (UV) pattern and reflectance spectra. By varying larval diet, we show evidence for developmental plasticity in the structure and organization of UV reflecting scales in Zerene cesonia. We further show that feeding the larval host plant of Zerene eurydice to Z. cesonia does not result in greater similarity in scale structure or UV coloration to the sister species. These results not only demonstrate a connection between plasticity in a male ornamentation, UV wing pattern, and larval resource acquisition, but also identify candidate structural and organizational changes in wing scales responsible for the trait variation.

New Record of Atlides halesus (Cramer) (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae) in Pachuca, Hidalgo, Mexico

We recorded the hairstreak butterfly, Atlides halesus (Cramer) (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae), for the first time in the state of Hidalgo, Mexico. This species presents large morphological variations (wing patterns and number of tails) within its distribution range. The distribution range includes 870 records of occurrence, which are displayed on a map of Mexico. The range size includes 870 records in databases that include the previous records for the country (15 sites), and with this information we elaborated a distribution of the species in Mexico.

Genomes reveal drastic and recurrent phenotypic divergence in firetip skipper butterflies (Hesperiidae: Pyrrhopyginae)

Biologists marvel at the powers of adaptive convergence, when distantly related animals look alike. While mimetic wing patterns of butterflies have fooled predators for millennia, entomologists inferred that mimics were distant relatives despite similar appearance. However, the obverse question has not been frequently asked. Who are the close relatives of mimetic butterflies and what are their features? As opposed to close convergence, divergence from a non-mimetic relative would also be extreme. When closely related animals look unalike, it is challenging to pair them. Genomic analysis promises to elucidate evolutionary relationships and shed light on molecular mechanisms of divergence. We chose the firetip skipper butterfly as a model due to its phenotypic diversity and abundance of mimicry. We sequenced and analysed whole genomes of nearly 120 representative species. Genomes partitioned this subfamily Pyrrhopyginae into five tribes (1 new), 23 genera and, additionally, 22 subgenera (10 new). The largest tribe Pyrrhopygini is divided into four subtribes (three new). Surprisingly, we found five cases where a uniquely patterned butterfly was formerly placed in a genus of its own and separately from its close relatives. In several cases, extreme and rapid phenotypic divergence involved not only wing patterns but also the structure of the male genitalia. The visually striking wing pattern difference between close relatives frequently involves disappearance or suffusion of spots and colour exchange between orange and blue. These differences (in particular, a transition between unspotted black and striped wings) happen recurrently on a short evolutionary time scale, and are therefore probably achieved by a small number of mutations.

Cornsilk Fly (suggested common name), Euxesta stigmatias Loew (Insecta: Diptera: Otitidae)

The 'cornsilk fly,' Euxesta stigmatias Loew, is an attractive, dark metallic green fly with distinctive wing patterns and wing flapping behavior commonly found throughout southern Florida agricultural communities. Its normally saprophytic life style belies its destructive nature when it comes to its preference for sweet corn ears. Entire fields may have to be passed up for harvest if they went untreated for this destructive pest or if individual treatments were missed due to weather, time or other constraints. This document is EENY-224, one of a series of the Department of Entomology and Nematology, UF/IFAS Extension. Original publication date August 2001. Revised July 2005.
 EENY-224/IN381: Cornsilk Fly (suggested common name), Euxesta stigmatias Loew (Insecta: Diptera: Otitidae) (ufl.edu)

Behaviour before beauty: signal weighting during mate selection in the butterfly Papilio polytes.

Mating displays often contain multiple signals. Different combinations of these signals may be equally successful at attracting a mate, as environment and signal combination may influence relative signal weighting by choosy individuals. This variation in signal weighting among choosy individuals may facilitate the maintenance of polymorphic displays and signalling behaviour. One group of animals known for their polymorphic patterning are Batesian mimetic butterflies, where the interaction of sexual selection and predation pressures are hypothesized to influence the maintenance of polymorphic wing patterning and behaviour. Males in the female-limited polymorphic Batesian mimetic butterfly Papilio polytes use female wing pattern and female activity levels when determining whom to court. They court stationary females with mimetic wing patterns more often than stationary females with non-mimetic, male-like wing patterns, and active females more often than inactive females. It is unclear whether females modify their behaviour to increase (or decrease) their likelihood of receiving male courtship, or whether non-mimetic females spend more time in cryptic environments than mimetic females, to compensate for their lack of mimicry-driven predation protection (at the cost of decreased visibility to males). In addition, relative signal weighting of female wing pattern and activity to male mate selection is unknown. To address these questions, we conducted a series of observational studies of a polymorphic P. polytes population in a large butterfly enclosure. We found that males exclusively courted active females, irrespective of female wing pattern. However, males did court active non-mimetic females significantly more often than expected given their relative abundance in the population. Females exhibited similar activity levels, and selected similar resting environments, irrespective of wing pattern. Our results suggest that male preference for non-mimetic females may play an active role in the maintenance of the non-mimetic female form in natural populations, where males are likely to be in the presence of active, as well as inactive, mimetic and non-mimetic females.

An integrative taxonomic revision of the genus Triphosa Stephens, 1829 (Geometridae: Larentiinae) in the Middle East and Central Asia, with description of two new species.

Western Palaearctic species of the genus Triphosa Stephens, 1829 are revised with focus on the Middle East and Central Asia. The analysis is based on the morphological examination (wing pattern and genitalia) of the type series of most species, as well as of large series of additional material. Additionally, DNA barcode data were used as an extra line of information. As result, Triphosa agnata Le Cerf, 1918 syn. n. is synonymized with T. sabaudiata (Duponchel, 1830), the taxonomy of the enigmatic Triphosa taochata Lederer, 1870 is clarified, and two species are described as new to science: T. silviae sp. n. and T. lecerfi sp. n.. Hydria ravulata (Staudinger, 1892) comb. rev., is transferred from Triphosa to the genus Hydria. Lectotypes are designated for Triphosa taochata and Hydria ravulata. Wing pattern, genitalia and diagnostic characters of all examined species are illustrated and the distribution data shown on the map.

Quantitative response to photoperiod and weak coupling between seasonal morphs and diapause regulation in the Asian comma butterfly, Polygonia c-aureum (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae)

Reproduction and wing patterns (shape and colouration) in Polygonia c-aureum L. (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) are regulated by both photoperiod and temperature experienced during the immature stages, which result in the development of summer or autumn forms. The critical day length for this seasonal change in form was 13.5L : 10.5D at 21°C and 13L : 11D at 25°C. We investigated the connection between seasonal form and female reproduction. Under a 15L : 9D photoperiod at 21°C, reproductively active summer form butterflies are produced, whereas under an 8L : 16D photoperiod at 21°C autumn form butterflies with a strong tendency to enter diapause were produced. On the other hand, under the critical day lengths at 21 or 25°C, autumn form butterflies developed with a weak tendency to enter diapause. When the adult butterflies were transferred from a critical or a short photoperiod to a long photoperiod shortly after emergence, the former were more likely to terminate diapause than the latter. If individuals are reared throughout their entire life cycle under a short photoperiod at 21°C, all the adults have a strong tendency to enter diapause. These results reveal the quantitative effects of photoperiod on diapause in this butterfly and strongly indicate that the determination of the autumn form and induction and maintenance of diapause are not rigidly coupled, at least under laboratory conditions.