Lepidoptera genitalia

About: Lepidoptera genitalia is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 10114 publications have been published within this topic receiving 78876 citations. The topic is also known as: Uncus.

Host-Plant Associations among Prominent Moths

Abstract: Inspired by the complex relationships they had observed between butterflies and their host plants, Ehrlich and Raven (1964) wrote that "the plant-herbivore interface may be the major zone of interaction responsible for generating terrestrial organic diversity" (p. 606). Farrell et al. (page 34 this issue) concur. The remarkable diversity of associations between plant-feeding insects and their hosts has spurred hundreds of biologists in their search for patterns and explanations. There is a range of diet breadth among phytophagous insects, with some feeding on many plant species and others having specialized diets. The question of why this range occurs has generated intense discussion for more than 70 years. In this article, I explore variation in host-use patterns with reference to one insect group, the moth family Notodontidae. Dietary specialization is the general rule across all insect groups (Futuyma 1991, Jaenike 1990, Jermy 1984, Mitter and Farrell 1991). In Lepidoptera (moths and butterflies), the caterpillars are the main feeding stage of each species, and are usually restricted to feeding on one or a few related plant genera (Brues 1920, Dethier 1954, Powell 1980, Wiklund 1982). However, there are examples of Lepidoptera with extremely broad diets; many of these, such as the gypsy moth, are pest species.

Morphology of the Male Genitalia of Lepidoptera I. Ditrysia

Abstract: From the literature on onthogenesis it is concluded, that male genitalia with two pairs of appendices must be considered primitive. The male genitalia of a number of species from three families (Cossidae, Saturniidae, Brahmaeidae) in which the male genitalia comprise two pair of appendices, valvae and valvellae, were dissected. The results are compared to earlier studies of species of Lithosiinae (Arctidae). It is concluded, that morphologically must be distinguished between two types of intromittant organ, or phallos, viz. aedoeagus and pseudaedoeagus.

The effect of moth trap type on catch size and composition in British Lepidoptera

Abstract: Light trapping is a common method for collecting flying insects, particularly Lepidoptera. Many trap designs are employed for this purpose and it is therefore important to know how they differ in their sampling of the flying insect fauna. Here we compare three Robinson-type trap designs, each of which employs a 125W mercury vapour bulb. The first uses a standard bulb; the second uses the same bulb with the addition of a Pyrex beaker, often deployed to prevent bulbs from cracking in the rain, and the third uses a bulb coated with a substance that absorbs visible wavelengths of light (also known as a black light). The black light trap caught fewer moths than either of the other traps, and had lower macromoth species richness and diversity than the standard + beaker trap. This lower species richness could be accounted for by the smaller number of moths caught by the black light trap. Furthermore the black light caught a different composition of both species and families to the other two trap types. Electromagnetic spectra of the three trap types showed the black light trap lacked peaks in the visible spectrum present in both of the other traps. We therefore conclude that the addition of a beaker to a Robinsontype trap does not make catches incomparable, but use of a black light does. These differences are probably due to lower total emission of radiation in the black light trap, thus catching fewer moths overall, and the lack of visible radiation produced, meaning that moths most sensitive to visible wavelengths are not attracted.

Indigenous African parasitoids of Eldana saccharina (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae).

Abstract: Since 1992, surveys for indigenous parasitoids of Eldana saccharina Walker in a variety of African habitats have been completed. Thirty species of larval parasitoid have been found in eight countries. Of these, seven occur in South Africa. Of the remaining 23, three can be named to species level, five to genus level, and those remaining can be classified to family level only. In some situations up to 30% parasitism of E. saccharina has been recorded.