Moths: Their biology, diversity and evolution

Moths is an accessible introduction to the stunning diversity, life habits and evolution of moths. This iconic insect group encompasses 128 of the 135 families of the scaly winged insects (Lepidoptera), with some 140,000 known species. Moths are among the most successful of the Earth’s inhabitants, with an ancient history, some fossils being dated to 190 million years old. This book traces the structure and development of these winged insects and reveals some of their extraordinary adaptations, such as caterpillars that communicate with ants, as well as their ruthless survival tactics – including blood-sucking, feeding on the tears of sleeping birds, and cannibalism of their own mothers. It also exposes their essential roles in ecosystems and manifold interactions with humans. Often considered denizens of the night, hopelessly allured by lamps and mean to fabrics, the book shines a spotlight on moths, illuminating the bright side of their astonishing diversity.Open access supplementary sections of the book 'Moths: Their biology, diversity and evolution'

Taxonomic remarks on Agrochola wolfschlaegeri Boursin, 1953 (sp. rev.) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

Concerning the taxonomic confusion which has occurred between Agrochola kindermanni (Fischer von Röslerstamm, [1837]) and A. wolfschlaegeri Boursin, 1953, formal and biological ratio- nale for maintaining the situation as established by the first reviser (C. Boursin) is put forward; accordingly the name Agrochola wolfschlaegeri Boursin, 1953 (sp. rev.) is resurrected and Agrochola consueta (Herrich-Schäffer, [1852]) is synonymised with Agrochola kindermanni (Fischer von Röslerstamm, [1837]) (syn. rev.). As the Sicilian populations of A. wolfschlaegeri, described as Agrochola kindermanni sicula Bischof Bittermann, 1996, are shown not to be sufficiently distinct from the nominate subspecies, Agrochola kindermanni sicula Bischof Bittermann, 1996 is synonymised with A. wolfsch- laegeri Boursin, 1953 (syn. nov.). Key words: Noctuidae, taxonomy, new synonymy, Sicily, Agrochola kindermanni, A. wolfsch- laegeri.CONSIDERAZIONI TASSONOMICHE SU AGROCHOLA WOLFSCHLAEGERI BOURSIN, 1953 (SP. REV.) (LEPIDOPTERA: NOCTUIDAE) Con riferimento alla confusione tassonomica determinatasi tra Agrochola kindermanni (Fischer von Röslerstamm, [1837]) e A. wolfschlaegeri Boursin, 1953, nel lavoro viene ristabilita la nomen- clatura originariamente definita dal primo revisore del gruppo (C. BOURSIN) sulla base di motiva- zioni formali e di considerazioni biologiche. Viene pertanto ripristinato il nome Agrochola wolf- schlaegeri Boursin, 1953 (sp. rev.), mentre Agrochola consueta (Herrich-Schäffer, [1852]) rientra nella sinonimia di Agrochola kindermanni (Fischer von Röslerstamm, [1837]) (syn. rev.). Poiché viene dimostrato che le popolazioni siciliane di A. wolfschlaegeri, descritte come “Agrochola kindermanni sicula” Bischof Bittermann, 1996, non sono sufficientemente distinte da quelle della forma nominale, il nome Agrochola kindermanni sicula Bischof Bittermann, 1996 viene sinonimizzato con Agrochola wolfschlaegeri Boursin, 1953 (syn. nov.). Parole chiave: Noctuidae, tassonomia, sinonimi, Sicilia, Agrochola kindermanni, A. wolfschlaegeri.

The genome sequence of the grey shoulder-knot, Lithophane ornitopus (Hufnagel, 1766)

We present a genome assembly from an individual male Lithophane ornitopus (the Grey Shoulder-knot; Arthropoda; Insecta; Lepidoptera; Noctuidae). The genome sequence is 508.6 megabases in span. Most of the assembly is scaffolded into 31 chromosomal pseudomolecules, including the Z sex chromosome. The mitochondrial genome has also been assembled and is 15.33 kilobases in length. Gene annotation of this assembly on Ensembl identified 18,397 protein coding genes

BARREIRAS INTERNAS E EXTERNAS NO PROCESSO DE NACIONALIZAÇÃO DE MERCADORIAS IMPORTADAS EM ANGOLA

BARREIRAS INTERNAS E EXTERNAS NO PROCESSO DE NACIONALIZAÇÃO DE MERCADORIAS IMPORTADAS EM ANGOL

BARREIRAS NO PROCESSO DE NACIONALIZAÇÃO DE MERCADORIAS EM ANGOLA

O dinamismo do comércio internacional proporciona novos desafios para as empresas importadoras e exportadoras, por meio das diversas alterações econômicas, logísticas, documentais e de infraestrutura. Este cenário, coloca as empresas em uma constante flexibilidade para suprir os desafios advindos da globalização. Diante do crescimento das relações internacionais, as empresasestão cada vez mais próximas umas das outras, trocando benefícios, serviços, visando aumentar a sua lucratividade. Com o decorrer dos anos, a internacionalização tornou-se uma alternativa viável de expansão de mercado, além de ser fonte de obtenção de lucros e verificar suas competências,estabelecendo então, alianças estratégias importantes para o seu desenvolvimento (MINERVINI, 2001).A ascensão das relações internacionais e o fluxo contínuo de bens e serviços em mercados multiculturais fez que os países se reorganizassem e se readequassem principalmente no âmbito dalogística internacional (MARINI, 2010). A pauta das importações de Angola é concentrada principalmente em bens industrializados e a exportação em combustíveis, necessitando de: “[...] eficácia no fluxo de importações e exportações, com destaque para o despacho aduaneiro de importação, por ser um procedimento fiscal pelo qual todas as mercadorias passam necessariamente, a fim de serem nacionalizadas” (ZILLI; LINO; DAL TOÉ, 2013, p.2). Nesse contexto, o estudo tem por objetivo identificar as barreiras internas e externas das empresas importadoras de Angola no processo de nacionalização das mercadorias

Insect taxonomy can be difficult : a noctuid moth (Agaristinae: Aletopus imperialis) and a geometrid moth (Sterrhinae: Cartaletis dargei) combined into a cryptic species complex in eastern Africa (Lepidoptera)

The systematic position of a large and strikingly coloured reddish-black moth, Cartaletis dargei Herbulot, 2003 (Geometridae: Sterrhinae) from Tanzania, has remained questionable since its description. Here we present molecular and morphological evidence showing that Cartaletis dargei only superficially resembles true Cartaletis Warren, 1894 (the relative name currently considered a junior synonym of Aletis Hubner, 1820), which are unpalatable diurnal moths superficially resembling butterflies, and that it is misplaced in the family Geometridae. We transfer it to Noctuidae: Agaristinae, and combine it with the genus Aletopus Jordan, 1926, from Tanzania, as Aletopus dargei (Herbulot, 2003) (new combination). We revise the genus Aletopus to contain three species, but find that it is a cryptic species complex that needs to be revised with more extensive taxon sampling. Our results demonstrate the difficulties in interpreting and classifying biological diversity. We discuss the problems in species delimitation and the potential drivers of evolution in eastern Africa that led to phenotypic similarity in unrelated lepidopteran lineages.Peer reviewe

Genetic distance and the relationship with heterosis and reproductive behavior in tetraploid bahiagrass hybrids

Bahiagrass (Paspalum notatum Flüggé) is one of the main components of the South American grasslands, and it is cultivated for forage and turf around the world. At present, hybridization is the most common breeding technique for the species, and its goal is to obtain superior apomictic hybrids. The objective of the present study was to determine the relationship between heterosis, reproductive behavior, and genetic distances between parents in tetraploid bahiagrass. Genetic distance between 24 sexual tetraploid genotypes and 24 apomictic tetraploid genotypes of P. notatum was evaluated using Simple Sequence Repeat (SSR) and Inter Simple Sequence Repeat (ISSR) markers. Crosses were made between parents with low, intermediate or high genetic distances. Six families were generated. A marker linked to apospory in bahiagrass was used to determine segregation for mode of reproduction, and embryo sac were characterized to estimate the level of apospory expressivity. The ratio between sexual and aposporous hybrids ranged from 1:1 to 9:1 among families. Discontinuous variation for apospory expressivity was observed among hybrids, with either low or high levels being exhibited. A significant relationship between genetic distance and proportion of aposporous hybrids was observed. Heterosis was observed for all the evaluated traits and its level was dependent on the parental combination. Genetic distances between parents was related to heterosis, mainly for forage yield, which is the most important trait in forage species. Hence, molecular markers may be useful to predict the occurrence of heterosis for this trait.Fil: Marcón, Florencia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Nordeste. Instituto de Botánica del Nordeste. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias. Instituto de Botánica del Nordeste; ArgentinaFil: Martínez, Eric Javier. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Nordeste. Instituto de Botánica del Nordeste. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias. Instituto de Botánica del Nordeste; ArgentinaFil: Rodríguez, Gustavo Rubén. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Nordeste. Instituto de Botánica del Nordeste. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias. Instituto de Botánica del Nordeste; ArgentinaFil: Zilli, Alex Leonel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Nordeste. Instituto de Botánica del Nordeste. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias. Instituto de Botánica del Nordeste; ArgentinaFil: Brugnoli, Elsa Andrea. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Nordeste. Instituto de Botánica del Nordeste. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias. Instituto de Botánica del Nordeste; ArgentinaFil: Acuña, Carlos Alberto. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Nordeste. Instituto de Botánica del Nordeste. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias. Instituto de Botánica del Nordeste; Argentin

Widening the gene pool of sexual tetraploid bahiagrass: Generation and reproductive characterization of a sexual synthetic tetraploid population

The improvement of bahiagrass, Paspalum notatum Flüggé, has been inhibited by reduced levels of genetic diversity in sexual tetraploid germplasm. A few experimental sexual tetraploid genotypes (ESTGs) have been generated by chromosome doubling, but these plants typically exhibit low vigor. The objectives of this work were to generate and characterize the ploidy level, mode of reproduction, and fertility of a novel 308 individual sexual synthetic tetraploid population (SSTP) developed by intercrossing 29 sexual F1 hybrids originated by hybridizing several naturally occurring apomictic tetraploids from diverse origin with a few ESTGs. Ploidy levels were determined using flow cytometry, and reproductive modes were evaluated by a molecular assay with apospory-linked markers and embryo sac observations. The tetraploid level and the sexual mode of reproduction remained stable after two cycles of recombination during the generation of the SSTP. Fertility was evaluated based on seed set under self- and open pollination during 3 yr. The SSTP exhibited in average 30.2 and 15.2% seed set under open and self-pollina-tion, respectively, showing a predominantly cross-pollination behavior with variable levels of self-fertility. There were no differences in terms of fertility between the SSTP and the ESTG. The novel tetraploid population behaves as sexual and cross-pollinated, and it is expected to allow a more efficient genetic improvement under the proposed breeding approaches.Fil: Zilli, Alex Leonel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Nordeste. Instituto de Botánica del Nordeste. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias. Instituto de Botánica del Nordeste; ArgentinaFil: Acuña, Carlos Alberto. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Nordeste. Instituto de Botánica del Nordeste. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias. Instituto de Botánica del Nordeste; ArgentinaFil: Schulz, R. R.. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Nordeste. Instituto de Botánica del Nordeste. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias. Instituto de Botánica del Nordeste; ArgentinaFil: Brugnoli, Elsa Andrea. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Nordeste. Instituto de Botánica del Nordeste. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias. Instituto de Botánica del Nordeste; ArgentinaFil: Guidalevich, Veronica. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Nordeste. Instituto de Botánica del Nordeste. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias. Instituto de Botánica del Nordeste; ArgentinaFil: Quarin, Camilo Luis. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Nordeste. Instituto de Botánica del Nordeste. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias. Instituto de Botánica del Nordeste; ArgentinaFil: Martínez, Eric Javier. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Nordeste. Instituto de Botánica del Nordeste. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias. Instituto de Botánica del Nordeste; Argentin