Showing papers on "Lepidoptera genitalia published in 2011"

Order Lepidoptera Linnaeus, 1758. In : Zhang, Z.-Q. (Ed.) Animal biodiversity: An outline of higher-level classification and survey of taxonomic richness

Abstract: van Nieukerken, Erik J.; Kaila, Lauri; Kitching, Ian J.; Kristensen, Niels Peder; Lees, David C.; Minet, Joël; Mitter, Charles; Mutanen, Marko; Regier, Jerome C.; Simonsen, Thomas J.; Wahlberg, Niklas; Yen, Shen-Horn; Zahiri, Reza; Adamski, David; Baixeras, Joaquin; Bartsch, Daniel; Bengtsson, Bengt Å.; Brown, John W.; Bucheli, Sibyl Rae; Davis, Donald R.; de Prins, Jurate; de Prins, Willy; Epstein, Marc E.; Gentili-Poole, Patricia; Gielis, Caes; Hättenschwiler, Peter; Hausmann, Axel; Holloway, Jeremy D.; Kallies, Axel; Karsholt, Ole; Kawahara, Akito Y.; Koster, Sjaak; Kozlov, Mikhail; Lafontaine, J. Donald; Lamas, Gerardo; Landry, JeanFrançois; Lee, Sangmi; Nuss, Matthias; Park, Kyu-Tek; Penz, Carla; Rota, Jadranka; Schintlmeister, Alexander; Schmidt, B. Christian; Sohn, Jae-Cheon; Solis, M. Alma; Tarmann, Gerhard M.; Warren, Andrew D.; Weller, Susan; Yakovlev, Roman V.; Zolotuhin, Vadim V.; Zwick, Andreas

Species' traits predict phenological responses to climate change in butterflies

Abstract: How do species' traits help identify which species will respond most strongly to future climate change? We examine the relationship between species' traits and phenology in a well-established model system for climate change, the U.K. Butterfly Monitoring Scheme (UKBMS). Most resident U.K. butterfly species have significantly advanced their dates of first appearance during the past 30 years. We show that species with narrower larval diet breadth and more advanced overwintering stages have experienced relatively greater advances in their date of first appearance. In addition, species with smaller range sizes have experienced greater phenological advancement. Our results demonstrate that species' traits can be important predictors of responses to climate change, and they suggest that further investigation of the mechanisms by which these traits influence phenology may aid in understanding species' responses to current and future climate change.

The sub-lethal effects of repeated freezing in the woolly bear caterpillar Pyrrharctia isabella

Abstract: SUMMARY Repeated freeze–thaw cycles are common and are increasing in frequency with climate change in many temperate locations, yet understanding of their impact on freeze-tolerant insects is extremely limited. We investigated the effects of repeated freezing and thawing on the freeze-tolerant final instar caterpillars of the moth Pyrrharctia isabella (Lepidoptera: Arctiidae) by subjecting individuals to either a single sustained 35 h freeze or five 7 h freezes. Sub-lethal effects were quantified with changes in three broad groups of measures: (1) cold hardiness, (2) metabolic rate and energy reserves and (3) survival after challenge with fungal spores. Repeated freeze–thaw cycles increased mortality to almost 30% and increased tissue damage in Malpighian tubules and hemocytes. Repeated freezing increased caterpillar glycerol concentration by 0.82 mol l –1 . There were no changes in metabolic rate or energy reserves with repeated freezing. For the first time, we report increased survival after immune challenge in caterpillars after freezing and suggest that this may be linked to wounding during freezing. We suggest that little repair of freezing damage is possible in P. isabella caterpillars and repeated freeze–thaw cycles may present significant challenges to survival in this species.

Similarity and specialization of the larval versus adult diet of European butterflies and moths.

Abstract: Many herbivorous insects feed on plant tissues as larvae but use other resources as adults. Adult nectar feeding is an important component of the diet of many adult herbivores, but few studies have compared adult and larval feeding for broad groups of insects. We compiled a data set of larval host use and adult nectar sources for 995 butterfly and moth species (Lepidoptera) in central Europe. Using a phylogenetic generalized least squares approach, we found that those Lepidoptera that fed on a wide range of plant species as larvae were also nectar feeding on a wide range of plant species as adults. Lepidoptera that lack functional mouthparts as adults used more plant species as larval hosts, on average, than did Lepidoptera with adult mouthparts. We found that 54% of Lepidoptera include their larval host as a nectar source. By creating null models that described the similarity between larval and adult nectar sources, we furthermore showed that Lepidoptera nectar feed on their larval host more than...

Bioefficacy of plant extracts against Asian army worm Spodoptera litura Fab. (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae).

Abstract: Bioefficacy of hexane, chloroform and ethyl acetate leaf extracts of Blumea mollis and Hygrophila auriculata was studied against Spodoptera litura to find out their antifeedant, larvicidal, larval duration, pupal duration and pupicidal activities. There was a corresponding increase in antifeedant, larvicidal, larval duration, pupal duration and pupicidal activities when there was increased in the concentration of the test extracts. Ethyl acetate extract of H. auriculata at 5.0% concentration had higher antifeedant (68.48%) and pupicidal (70%) activity. The LC50 value of 3.34% was observed in ethyl acetate extract of H. auriculata for larval mortality. Ethyl acetate extract prolonged the larval and pupal duration of S. litura.

Larval survival, host plant preferences and developmental responses of the diamondback moth Plutella xylostella (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae) on wild brassicaceous species

Abstract: The diamondback moth Plutella xylostella (L.) (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae) is an important pest of cultivated brassicaceous crops worldwide. The host plant preferences, developmental biology and survival and longevity of P. xylostella are relatively well understood on commercial crop species; however, its relationship with brassicaceous weeds is poorly known. Sinapis arvensis L., Erysimum cheiranthoides L. and Capsella bursa-pastoris (L.) Medicus are among the most common brassicaceous weeds worldwide and can serve as important bridge hosts of P. xylostella. In this study, preference and performance of P. xylostella were compared on these weed species. In free-choice situations, females deposited 5.5 and 18.8 times more eggs on S. arvensis than on E. cheiranthoides and C. bursa-pastoris, respectively. Survival from neonate to pupa and from pupa to adult was highest on S. arvensis and E. cheiranthoides and lowest on C. bursa-pastoris. Development was fastest, foliage consumption was greatest, pupae and silk cocoons were heaviest, adult body masses and longevities were highest and forewings were largest for both females and males when reared as larvae on S. arvensis. Realized fecundity of new generation adults was highest for individuals reared on S. arvensis compared to those reared on E. cheiranthoides or C. bursa-pastoris. Relative growth rates of pupae and adults were highest on S. arvensis, suggesting that this plant species is a high-quality host for P. xylostella compared with other species tested. Potential impacts of these wild brassicaceous species on P. xylostella populations are discussed.

Elachistine Moths of Australia: (lepidoptera: Gelechioidea: Elachistidae)

Abstract: Elachistine moths are the World’s most species-rich group of Lepidoptera that specialise on monocotyledon plants, especially grasses and sedges. This volume is the first reference to describe the so-far unknown diversity of these leaf-mining moths in Australia. It provides a new generic classification for the group on a worldwide basis, and describes in detail the genera and species that occur in Australia. Keys to genera and species, as well as generic, subgeneric and species group descriptions are given, richly supplied with illustrations of larvae, pupae and adult moths. In addition, the external appearance and the male and female genitalia of all species are described. The volume contains redescriptions of all 11 previously named valid species, and descriptions of no less than 137 species new to science, of which 128 are formally named, increasing the known species richness of Australian Elachistinae by more than an order of magnitude. The diverse Australian Elachisine fauna is nearly entirely endemic, and concentrates on the more humid coastal and montane regions. Given the wealth of biological information, the book provides a basis for conservation consideration of Elachistinae, many of which are dependent on diminishing fragments of suitable habitat.

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

Abstract: Viidalepp, Jaan (2011): A morphological review of tribes in Larentiinae (Lepidoptera: Geometridae). Zootaxa 3136: 1-44, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.279481

Arthropod assemblage dynamics on cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp) in a subtropical agro-ecosystem, South Africa

Abstract: Arthropod assemblages were monitored on cowpea during the 2008/2009 cropping season in the Transkei area of South Africa. A total of 5953 insects belonging to 21 species, in 12 families and 5 orders (Coleoptera, Hemiptera, Orthoptera, Homoptera and Lepidoptera) were counted from 18 observations on cowpea from seedling to maturity. Aphids, Lepidoptera larvae, blister beetles and pod-sucking bugs accounted for high levels of population infestations, persistence and overall damage inflicted on the crop. Natural enemies recorded during the study were ladybird beetles, wasps, assassin bugs and spiders. Insect pest activity was much concentrated between eight and thirteen weeks after sowing (WAS) corresponding to flower budding and pod formation stages of cowpea respectively. Results from this study have significant implications for the integrated control of the insect pest complex of cowpea in sub-tropical agro ecosystems. Key words: Cowpea, Vigna unguiculata, insect pests, natural enemies, Transkei.

Food composition of wintering great tits (Parus major): habitat and seasonal aspects

Abstract: The winter diet of the great tit (Parus major) was examined in mixed and deciduous forest in central Slovakia during three winters. Using a faecal samples analysis, in 105 sampled roosting individuals (in nest-boxes) at least 37 taxa of invertebrates were found. Apart from the invertebrates, plant material was identified in dissected birds' droppings as well. There were no significant differences in the winter food composition between sexes. Generally, plant material was the most frequent and the most dominant winter food. This component was followed by moths, beetles and dipterans. While comparing the relative volume between two distinct habitats, the most significant difference was found in Lepidoptera adults and plant material. Birds from mixed forest foraged less on Lepidoptera adults in contrast to individuals from deciduous forest. This could be compensated by bigger consumption of seeds and buds there. Regarding seasonal changes, within five winter months (from November to March), the relative volume and frequency of some invertebrate groups (Heteroptera, Homoptera and Lepidoptera) significantly increased with the temperature but no correlations were found with other weather characteristics. Invertebrates exhibited the opposite seasonal pattern compared to the plant material.

Tools for Resistance Monitoring in Oriental Fruit Moth (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) and First Assessment in Brazilian Populations

Abstract: In southern Brazilian apple (Malus spp.) orchards, predominantly organophosphates are used to control the oriental fruit moth, Cydia molesta (Busck) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), but control failures often occur. Therefore the susceptibility of three C. molesta Brazilian populations was investigated to five insecticides of different groups and modes of action, in comparison with a susceptible laboratory strain mass reared in southern France for >10 yr. At the same time, comparative biochemical and genetic analysis were performed, assessing the activities of the detoxification enzymatic systems and sequencing a gene of insecticide molecular target to find out markers associated with resistance. The three Brazilian populations were significantly resistant to chlorpyrifos ethyl compared with the reference strain. One of the field populations that had been frequently exposed to deltamethrin treatments showed significant decreasing susceptibility to this compound, whereas none of the three populations h...

Reproductive Isolation between Two Populations of Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) Collected in Corn and Rice Fields from Central Colombia

Abstract: Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) is a Neotropical moth that has diverged into corn, Zea mays L., and rice, Oryza sativa L., host strains because these plants are their most frequently used hosts. The corn strain also has been found in cotton, Gossypium hirsutum L., and sorghum, Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench, and the rice strain in small grasses and pasture grasses. Studies of the reproductive isolation between these two strains have provided ambiguous results from populations in the United States. In Colombia, we tested pre- and postzygotic isolation in these strains. Both strains showed postzygotic isolation for several life-history traits, including number of egg masses, number of larvae, number of females, pupal developmental time, female and male longevity, and female and male pupal weight. We observed a reduction of the number of hybrid females and a reduction in fertility in hybrids in S. frugiperda. These results suggest the possibility of Haldane's rule. Heterosis in the F1(2) and F2(1) generations was observed for number of larvae and adult longevity. This line presented a high standard deviation, suggesting instability in this cross. A possible effect of the X chromosome may explain the reduction in viability and sterility in F1 hybrids of host strains of S. frugiperda. No temporal isolation was observed between the corn and rice strains. Differences in longevity between corn and rice strains might be another form of temporal isolation between these strains, because differences in adulthood time might reduce the encounters between them and thus hybridization.

Taxonomy and biology of two seed-parasitic gracillariid moths (Lepidoptera, Gracillariidae), with description of a new species.

Abstract: A NEW SPECIES AND NEW RECORD OF GRACILLARIID MOTHS FROM CHINA ARE REPORTED: Conopomorpha flueggella Li, sp. n. and Epicephala relictella Kuznetzov, 1979. Specimens were collected on flowers or leaves of Flueggea suffruticosa (Pall.) Baill. (Euphorbiaceae) at night, and reared from fruits in captivity. Larvae of both species feed on the seeds of Flueggea suffruticosa, but they can be differentiated externally by the position of the red pattern on the thorax and abdomen. Morphology of the eggs, larvae, pupae and the life history of the two species are described and compared. Images of the life history and figures of the genital structures are provided.

Inventory of moth fauna (Lepidoptera: Heterocera) of the northern Western Ghats, Maharashtra, India.

Abstract: 1Bombay Natural History Society, Hornbill House, Shaheed Bhagat Singh Road, Mumbai 400 001, Maharashtra, India. Email: vshubhalaxmi@gmail.com 2C & R Wildlife, 129 San Tsuen Lam Tsuen, Tai Po, New Territories, Hong Kong. Email: kendrick@graduate.hku.hk 3J-145, Lokmanya Nagar, Kataria Marg, Mahim, Mumbai 400 016, Maharashtra, India. Email: chitralka@yahoo.co.in 4B-1/101, Mahakaleshwar Bldg., Madhav Sansar Complex, Khadakpada, Kalyan 421 301, Maharashtra, India. Email: nvk49@yahoo.com 5Gangal Bldg., M. Karve Road, Naupada, Thane 400 602, Maharashtra, India. Email: alaka.bhagwat@gmail.com

A single major QTL controls expression of larval Cry1F resistance trait in Ostrinia nubilalis (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) and is independent of midgut receptor genes Brad S. CoatesDouglas V. SumerfordMiriam D. LopezHaichuan Wang • Lisa M. FraserJeremy A. KroemerTerrence SpencerKyung S. Kim • Craig A. AbelRichard L. HellmichBlair D. Siegfried

Abstract: The European corn borer, Ostrinia nubilalis (Lepidoptera: Crambidae), is an introduced crop pest in North America that causes major damage to corn and reduces yield of food, feed, and biofuel materials. The Cry1F toxin from Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) expressed in transgenic hybrid corn is highly toxic to O. nubilalis larvae and effective in minimizing feeding damage. A laboratory colony of O. nubilalis was selected for high levels of Cry1F resistance ((12,000-fold compared to susceptible larvae) and is capable of survival on transgenic hybrid corn. Genetic linkage maps with segregating AFLP markers show that the Cry1F resistance trait is controlled by a single quantitative trait locus (QTL) on linkage group 12. The map position of single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers indicated that midgut Bt toxin-receptor genes, alkaline phosphatase, aminopeptidase N, and cad- herin, are not linked with the Cry1F QTL. Evidence sug- gests that genes within this genome interval may give rise to a novel Bt toxin resistance trait for Lepidoptera that appears independent of known receptor-based mechanisms of resistance.

Insect pollinator diversity and abundance in sunflower ecosystem.

Abstract: Insect pollinator diversity and their relative abundance were assessed in the sunflower ecosystem at S. V. Agricultural College, Tirupati during 2009-10. Twenty diurnal species and four nocturnal species were recorded visiting sunflower heads that belonged to orders Hymenoptera, Lepidoptera, Diptera and Coleoptera. Species richness was high in Hymenoptera followed by Lepidoptera and Coleoptera. Hymenoptera comprised of two families, Lepidoptera of four families, Coleoptera of three families and one family under Diptera. The more frequenting insect pollinator in hybrid sunflower was Apis dorsata followed by Trigona irridipenis and A. cerana. Relative abundance of insect visitors to sunflower capitula revealed that Apis sp. constituted 88.85% indicating the dominance of hymenopterans in the sunflower ecosystem.

Biology and host range of Tecmessa elegans (Lepidoptera: Notodontidae), a leaf-feeding moth evaluated as a potential biological control agent for Schinus terebinthifolius (Sapindales: Anacardiaceae) in the United States.

Abstract: During surveys for natural enemies that could be used as classical biological control agents of Schinus terebinthifolius Raddi (Brazilian pepper), the caterpillar, Tecmessa elegans Schaus (Lepidoptera: Notodontidae), was recorded feeding on the leaves of the shrub in South America. The biology and larval and adult host range of this species were examined to determine the insect's suitability for biological control of this invasive weed in North America and Hawaii. Biological observations indicate that the larvae have five instars. When disturbed, the late instar larvae emit formic acid from a prothoracic gland that may protect larvae from generalist predators. Larval host range tests conducted both in South and North America indicated that this species feeds and completes development primarily on members of the Anacardiaceae within the tribe Rhoeae. Oviposition tests indicated that when given a choice in large cages the adults will select the target weed over Pistacia spp. However, considering the many valued plant species in its host range, especially several North American natives, this species will not be considered further for biological control of S. terebinthifolius in North America.

A single major QTL controls expression of larval Cry1F resistance trait in Ostrinia nubilalis (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) and is independent of midgut receptor genes

Abstract: The European corn borer, Ostrinia nubilalis (Lepidoptera: Crambidae), is an introduced crop pest in North America that causes major damage to corn and reduces yield of food, feed, and biofuel materials. The Cry1F toxin from Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) expressed in transgenic hybrid corn is highly toxic to O. nubilalis larvae and effective in minimizing feeding damage. A laboratory colony of O. nubilalis was selected for high levels of Cry1F resistance (>12,000-fold compared to susceptible larvae) and is capable of survival on transgenic hybrid corn. Genetic linkage maps with segregating AFLP markers show that the Cry1F resistance trait is controlled by a single quantitative trait locus (QTL) on linkage group 12. The map position of single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers indicated that midgut Bt toxin-receptor genes, alkaline phosphatase, aminopeptidase N, and cadherin, are not linked with the Cry1F QTL. Evidence suggests that genes within this genome interval may give rise to a novel Bt toxin resistance trait for Lepidoptera that appears independent of known receptor-based mechanisms of resistance.