Potential impacts of the proposed Brazilian Forest Act on native butterflies

This paper discusses how the proposed changes in the Brazilian Forest Act could affect native butterflies. As showed, the main impacts include the reduction in the riparian forests (with consequent loss of connectivity) and the major changes that could take place in the large areas of montane forest. Moreover, changes in the regional landscape, with the reduction of permanently protected areas (Brazilian APPs) and the destruction of hilltop habitats could markedly affect extant butterfly assemblages, which have been severely modified in the past 500 years of deforestation and degradation in all Brazilian habitats.Este trabalho discute como as mudanças propostas no Código Florestal Brasileiro podem afetar as borboletas do Brasil. Conforme exposto, os impactos principais estão na redução das matas ciliares (com consequente perda de conectividade) e nas alterações maiores nas amplas áreas de florestas de altitude. Adicionalmente, alterações na paisagem regional, com redução das áreas de proteção permanentes (APPS) e conversão de topos de morros, por exemplo, podem refletir em profundas mudanças nas assembleias de borboletas já severamente modificadas por quase 500 anos de desmatamento e degradação dos habitats do Brasil.5357Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq

Defensive Strategies of a Noctuid Caterpillar in a Myrmecophytic Plant: are Dyops Larvae Immune to Azteca Ants?

Immature stages of insects are generally susceptive to their natural enemies, but many species developed defensive and evasive mechanisms to circumvent predation. Gregarious larvae of the noctuid moth Dyops cf. cuprescens feed on leaves of young Cecropia pachystachya shrubs colonized by Azteca ants. Ants avoid contact with larval clusters, retreating to the nest when larvae are moving near the stems. Provoked encounters revealed that Dyops caterpillars present several specialized behaviors to avoid and overcome ant attacks, such as fleeing to under leaf, jumping off the leaf, curling and wriggling vigorously the anterior portion of the body, spitting droplets of oral fluids, or killing ants by pouncing them. These mechanisms allow the caterpillars to overcome ant attacks and consume leaves of ant-colonized plants. By feeding on a heavily protected plant, larvae can enjoy not only a competitor-free plant, but possibly also the enemy-free space created by the aggressive ants

Butterflies (Lepidoptera, Papilionoidea and Hesperioidea) of the Baixada Santista region, coastal São Paulo, southeastern Brazil

Butterflies (Lepidoptera, Papilionoidea and Hesperioidea) of the Baixada Santista region, coastal São Paulo, southeastern Brazil. A list with 538 species of butterflies recorded in the Baixada Santista, São Paulo ( SE Brazil) is presented. Standard sampling protocols (i.e. with entomological nets) were followed. Baited traps were installed for fruit feeding species. Data from the literature and entomological collections were also considered in the total estimated species richness. The species richness recorded in the Baixada Santista region represents about 16% of the Brazilian butterfly fauna, and 34% of the known butterfly fauna for the state of São Paulo. The present list contains an appreciably higher number of species in comparison to other lists from similar biomes farther south, such as Blumenau in Santa Catarina, and Maquiné in Rio Grande do Sul.Borboletas (Lepidoptera, Papilionoidea e Hesperioidea) da região da Baixada Santista, litoral de São Paulo (SE Brasil). Uma lista com 538 espécies de borboletas registradas na Baixada Santista é apresentada. Foram seguidos os protocolos amostrais padronizados (i.e. redes entomológicas). Armadilhas com iscas foram instaladas para coleta de espécies frugívoras. Dados de literatura e coleções entomológicas também foram considerados nas estimativas de riqueza de espécies. A riqueza de espécies registrada na Baixada Santista representa cerca de 16% da fauna de borboletas do Brasil, e 34% da fauna de borboletas do Estado de São Paulo. A presente lista contém um número consideravelmente alto de espécies em comparação com outras listas de biomas similares mais ao sul, como Blumenau em Santa Catarina, e Maquiné no Rio Grande do Sul.5568Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq

Butterflies (Lepidoptera, Papilionoidea and Hesperioidea) of the "Baixada Santista" region, coastal São Paulo, southeastern Brazil

Butterflies (Lepidoptera, Papilionoidea and Hesperioidea) of the "Baixada Santista" region, coastal São Paulo, southeastern Brazil. A list with 538 species of butterflies recorded in the Baixada Santista, São Paulo ( SE Brazil) is presented. Standard sampling protocols (i.e. with entomological nets) were followed. Baited traps were installed for fruit feeding species. Data from the literature and entomological collections were also considered in the total estimated species richness. The species richness recorded in the Baixada Santista region represents about 16% of the Brazilian butterfly fauna, and 34% of the known butterfly fauna for the state of São Paulo. The present list contains an appreciably higher number of species in comparison to other lists from similar biomes farther south, such as Blumenau in Santa Catarina, and Maquiné in Rio Grande do Sul.Borboletas (Lepidoptera, Papilionoidea e Hesperioidea) da região da Baixada Santista, litoral de São Paulo (SE Brasil). Uma lista com 538 espécies de borboletas registradas na Baixada Santista é apresentada. Foram seguidos os protocolos amostrais padronizados (i.e. redes entomológicas). Armadilhas com iscas foram instaladas para coleta de espécies frugívoras. Dados de literatura e coleções entomológicas também foram considerados nas estimativas de riqueza de espécies. A riqueza de espécies registrada na Baixada Santista representa cerca de 16% da fauna de borboletas do Brasil, e 34% da fauna de borboletas do Estado de São Paulo. A presente lista contém um número consideravelmente alto de espécies em comparação com outras listas de biomas similares mais ao sul, como Blumenau em Santa Catarina, e Maquiné no Rio Grande do Sul.FAPESPFAPESP - BIOTACNPqNational Science Foundation (NSF

Chromosomal Evolution In The South American Nymphalidae.

We give the chromosome numbers of about 80 species or subspecies of Biblidinae as well as of numbers of neotropical Libytheinae (one species), Cyrestinae (4) Apaturinae (7), Nymphalinae (about 40), Limenitidinae (16) and Heliconiinae (11). Libytheana has about n=32, the Biblidinae, Apaturinae and Nymphalinae have in general n=31, the Limenitidinae have n=30, the few Argynnini n=31 and the few species of Acraeni studied have also mostly n=31. The results agree with earlier data from the Afrotropical species of these taxa. We supplement these data with our earlier observations on Heliconiini, Danainae and the Neotropical Satyroid taxa. The lepidopteran modal n=29-31 represents clearly the ancestral condition among the Nymphalidae, from which taxa with various chromosome numbers have differentiated. The overall results show that Neotropical taxa have a tendency to evolve karyotype instability, which is in stark contrast to the otherwise stable chromosome numbers that characterize both Lepidoptera and Trichoptera.144137-4

MONITORAMENTO DE BORBOLETAS: O PAPEL DE UM INDICADOR BIOLÓGICO NA GESTÃO DE UNIDADES DE CONSERVAÇÃO

Programas de monitoramento podem ser considerados boas estratégias para avaliação continuada da qualidade de habitats ao longo do tempo. Entretanto, para que seu emprego tenha êxito, é necessário um sistema capaz de gerir e administrar as atividades a longo prazo de modo a produzir dados confiáveis e que possam ser utilizados no planejamento de ações mitigatórias. Em regiões de zonas temperadas as iniciativas de monitoramento têm gerado resultados satisfatórios, mas no Brasil, frente à grande diversidade biológica e extensão territorial, o desafio de estabelecer um programa de monitoramento efetivo tem se mostrado um obstáculo a ser vencido. Considerando as constantes ameaças que o desenvolvimento econômico impõe sobre a causa ambiental no Brasil, as unidades de conservação têm sofrido pressões de diversas naturezas, as quais certamente comprometem sua efetividade em relação à conservação dos habitats naturais. Neste artigo se discute a utilização de borboletas como indicadores biológicos e as características que as tornam um dos melhores grupos para ser incluído em programas de monitoramento. Adicionalmente, descreve-se de que modo as borboletas podem auxiliar a gestão das unidades de conservação e do monitoramento, utilizando o exemplo do “Programa de Monitoramento in situ da Biodiversidade”. Por meio da inclusão da sociedade em atividades de sensibilização e envolvimento, seja no ensino das técnicas de coleta de dados ou do exercício do contato direto com as borboletas, esses pequenos organismos são capazes tanto de gerar respostas rápidas para avaliar a qualidade dos habitats quanto de servir como uma ferramenta de apoio para a manutenção de programas de monitoramento no Brasil

Guia das borboletas frugívoras da Reserva Estadual do Morro Grande e região de Caucaia do Alto, Cotia (São Paulo)

The frugivorous butterflies species (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) known from Morro Grande Forest Reserve and Caucaia do Alto (Cotia, SP) are presented as a field guide.As espécies de borboletas frugívoras (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) conhecidas da Reserva Estadual do Morro Grande (Cotia, SP) e Caucaia do Alto são apresentadas na forma de um guia de campo.12

As borboletas (Lepidoptera: Papilionoidea e Hesperioidea) do Parque Ecológico João Vasconcelos Sobrinho, Caruaru, Pernambuco, Brasil

Comprising a natural reserve with 359 ha of montane forest inserted on the Brazilian semi-arid, the Parque Ecológico João Vasconcelos Sobrinho (PEJVS), locally known as Brejo dos Cavalos is currently under high anthropogenic pressure. A list of 197 species of butterflies belonging to six families is presented, being 59 species of Hesperiidae, 4 of Papilionidae, 18 of Pieridae, 17 of Lycaenidae, 12 of Riodinidae and 87 of Nymphalidae. The butterfly community was composed mainly by widespread species commonly found in open habitats. There were also many species typical of forested areas such as Scada karschina delicata Talbot, 1932 (Danainae: Ithomiini), which is an endangered butterfly.O Parque Ecológico João Vasconcelos Sobrinho (PEJVS), conhecido localmente como Brejo dos Cavalos, é um fragmento de mata serrana de 359 ha inserido no semi-árido brasileiro, e que atualmente encontra-se sobre alta pressão antrópica. Uma lista com 197 espécies de borboletas pertencentes a seis famílias é apresentada, sendo 59 espécies de Hesperiidae, 4 de Papilionidae, 18 de Pieridae, 17 de Lycaenidae, 12 de Riodinidae e 87 de Nymphalidae. A fauna é composta principalmente de espécies de áreas abertas e com ampla distribuição geográfica. Entretanto, diversas espécies típicas de áreas florestadas também estão presentes, uma delas, Scada karschina delicata Talbot, 1932 (Danainae: Ithomiini), é uma espécie de borboleta criticamente ameaçada de extinção.229238Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq

Interaction Gardens and Butterfly Catalogues: a Joint Strategy to Promote Capacity Development in Protected Areas and Reduce the Extinction of Experience in Cities

More than half of the world’s population live in cities. Increasing numbers of generations are now born and raised in urban landscapes with decreasing opportunities towards interacting with natural environments. This extinction of experience leads to environmental apathy and lack of bioliteracy, which is a central aspect to be tackled in conservation strategies. At the same time, people who live near or at non-urban settings are closer to natural habitats but do not have similar access to concepts of environmentalism and may lack incentives to lean towards nature conservation, instead of its exploitation or even illegal activities. We here propose that interaction gardens, that is, gardens with multiple trophic levels (primary producers, herbivores, predators, and parasitoids), can tackle these issues, especially if planned with incentives, such as butterfly catalogues, aimed as a common goal of the garden community. It can also bring benefits to human health and well-being, increase the survival chances of local biodiversity, and strengthen the front line of conservation by promoting income strategies to people who live near protected areas. Our specific aims are to 1) share a case study of capacity development at the Intervales State Park in the Atlantic Forest, Southeast Brazil; 2) present the butterfly catalogue of this protected area; 3) present guidelines for interaction gardens at both urban and non-urban settings; and 4) discuss alternative perspectives about Neotropical conservation. We provide a translated version of the text in Portuguese to encourage students, educators, NGOs and local communities of other protected areas to venture in our proposed joint strategy of interaction gardens with butterfly catalogues

Dasyophthalma (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae: Satyrinae): systematics, distribution, and conservation perspectives of a butterfly genus endemic from the Brazilian Atlantic Forest

Dasyophthalma includes five species of medium-sized butterflies, all endemic from the Atlantic Forest of Brazil. All known species are univoltine and are dayflying, differently from other Brassolini that are mostly crepuscular. In despite of recent advances little is known about their natural history. Three out of the five species are included in the Brazilian Red List of threatened fauna and are of conservation concern. The present study provides for the first time a phylogenetic assessment of all Dasyophthalma species based on a molecular approach based on three loci. Also, the taxonomic status of D. rusina delanira was revised based on molecular data. In addition, up-to-date distributional data and conservation aspects of the threatened species from the genus are presented and discussed. The molecular phylogenetic analysis supports the monophyly of Dasyophthalma, with Dynastor darius as its sister-group, and, combined with a genetic divergence analysis, supported Dasyophthalma delanira stat. rest. as a valid name to species-level, sister-group to D. geraensis (and not a subspecies of D. rusina). The geographical range (extent of occurrence and area of occupancy) for all five species are presented, showing that these are very restricted for D. delanira stat. rest. and D. geraensis, following the distributions of the high-altitude forests. As much biological information about the genus is lacking, the present study can serve as a starting point for future studies on Dasyophthalma, adding information that can be crucial for future conservation actions and essential to assure the future of the threatened species in this genus