Systematics of the Neotropical genus Catharylla Zeller (Lepidoptera, Pyralidae s. l., Crambinae)

The Neotropical genus Catharylla Zeller, 1863 (type species: Crambus tenellus Zeller, 1839) is redescribed. Catharylla contiguella Zeller, 1872, C. interrupta Zeller, 1866 and Myelois sericina Zeller, 1881, included by Munroe (1995) in Catharylla, are moved to Argyria Hübner. Catharylla paulella Schaus, 1922 and C. tenellus (Zeller, 1839) are redescribed. Six new species are described by Léger and Landry: C. bijuga, C. chelicerata, C. coronata, C. gigantea, C. mayrabonillae and C. serrabonita. The phylogenetic relationships were investigated using morphological as well as molecular data (COI, wingless, EF-1α genes). The median and subterminal transverse lines of the forewing as well as the short anterior and posterior apophyses of the female genitalia are characteristic of the genus. The monophyly of Catharylla was recovered in all phylogenetic analyses of the molecular and the combined datasets, with three morphological apomorphies highlighted. Phylogenetic analyses of the morphology of the two sexes recovered three separate species groups within Catharylla: the chelicerata, the mayrabonillae, and the tenellus species groups. The possible position of Micrelephas Schaus, 1922 as sister to Catharylla, based on both morphological and molecular data, and the status of tribe Argyriini are discussed. The biogeographical data indicate that the chelicerata species group is restricted to the Guyanas and the Amazonian regions whereas the tenellus group is restricted to the Atlantic Forest in the South-Eastern part of Brazil. The mayrabonillae group is widespread from Costa Rica to South Bolivia with an allopatric distribution of the two species. COI barcode sequences indicate relatively strong divergence within C. bijuga, C. mayrabonillae, C. serrabonita and C. tenellus.publishedVersio

Twenty-six new species of Hoploscopa (Lepidoptera, Crambidae) from South-East Asia revealed by morphology and DNA barcoding

Hoploscopa Meyrick (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) is a fern-feeding genus found in montane areas of South-East Asia and Melanesia, eastwards up to the Samoan Islands. It includes sixteen described species, with at least 70 further undescribed species known from scientific collections. An iterative approach including morphological and molecular characters was used in order to explore the diversity of Hoploscopa. The hitherto described species are revised, and descriptions authored by T. Léger and M. Nuss are provided for an additional 26 new species: H. agtuuganonensis sp. nov., H. albipuncta sp. nov., H. albomaculata sp. nov., H. anacantha sp. nov., H. boleta sp. nov., H. cynodonta sp. nov., H. danaoensis sp. nov., H. gombongi sp. nov., H. gracilis sp. nov., H. ignitamaculae sp. nov., H. isarogensis sp. nov., H. jubata sp. nov., H. kelama sp. nov., H. kinabaluensis sp. nov., H. mallyi sp. nov., H. marijoweissae sp. nov., H. matheae sp. nov., H. niveofascia sp. nov., H. pangrangoensis sp. nov., H. parvimacula sp. nov., H. pseudometacrossa sp. nov., H. sepanggi sp. nov., H. sumatrensis sp. nov., H. titika sp. nov., H. tonsepi sp. nov., H. ypsilon sp. nov. Using a protocol specific for the amplification of DNA from old museum specimens, we recovered 101 COI barcodes for all but one of the newly described species, with 76 being barcode compliant (>487 bp). Species delimitation analyses suggest cryptic diversity, with six cases reflecting allopatric divergence, and two further cases found in sympatry

Globales Informationssystem Zünslerfalter (GlobIZ).

Das Globale Informationssystem Zünslerfalter (GlobIZ) ist eine internetbasierte Datenbank, welche die gleichzeitige Eingabe nomenklatorischer und bibliographischer Daten durch mehrere Nutzer ermöglicht. GlobIZ stellt einen synonymischen Katalog der Namen der Pyraloidea (Insecta: Lepidoptera), einschließlich der dazugehörigen Literaturreferenzen im Internet frei zur Verfügung. Ursprünglich als ein Projekt für die Pyraloidea begonnen, haben nun auch Spezialisten anderer Gruppen, z. B. Psychidae, ihr Interesse angemeldet, dieses System zu nutzen. GloBIZ ist ein Teilprojekt des Koordinatenknotens Insecta (Evertebrata I) im GBIF-Deutschland Verbund.The Global Information System on Pyraloidea (GlobIZ) is a web-based database. It allows the editing of nomenclatural and bibliographical data simultaneously by several users. GlobIZ provides a synonymic catalogue of the names of Pyraloidea (Insecta: Lepidoptera), including the relevant literature references. This information is universally available and free of charge via the world wide web. Originally, the project was restricted to the Pyraloidea, but several systematists of other groups of Lepidoptera, e. g. Psychidae, have signalled their interest to work with this system. GloBIZ is part of the German National GBIF node Insecta (Evertebrata I)

Discovery of another fern-feeding group of moths: the larvae of Hoploscopini (Insecta: Lepidoptera: Pyraloidea) from Borneo

We report the discovery of Hoploscopini larvae (Lepidoptera: Crambidae: Heliothelinae) on ferns at the southern slopes of Mount Kinabalu (Sabah, Borneo). The COI barcode of the larvae assigns them to the genus Hoploscopa. We provide the first detailed description of the larval stage for this tribe. Among Crambidae, these larvae are most similar to Crambinae larvae but differ in the presence of two L setae on A9, a character state that is present in Acentropinae and Schoenobiinae. We discuss the presence and distribution of L setae on A9 in Crambidae. Our observations of these larvae on this host plant and published host plant data support our hypothesis that larvae of the entire tribe Hoploscopini may be fern-feeders

Kommentierte Checkliste der Pyraloidea von den Azoren, mit der Beschreibung von drei neuen Arten (Lepidoptera: Pyraloidea).

Die Azoren werden bewohnt von gegenwärtig 20 bekannten Pyraloidea-Arten (exkl. Scopariinae). Die Verbreitung einer jeden Art auf den einzelnen Azoreninseln wird aufgezeigt. Drei neue Arten werden beschrieben: Homoeosoma miguelensis sp. n., Homoeosoma picoensis sp. n., Udea azorensis sp. n. und drei neue Gattungskombinationen vorgenommen: Udea atlanticum (Bethune-Baker, 1894) comb. n. (Botys) und Udea maderensis (Bethune-Baker, 1894) comb. n. (Botys), beide endemisch auf Madeira sowie Udea nordmani (Rebel, 1937) comb. n. (Pionea), endemisch auf den Kanarischen Inseln. Mögliche Einwanderungswege werden diskutiert.Nomenklatorische Handlungenmiguelensis Meyer, Nuss & Speidel, 1997 (Homoeosoma), spec. n.picoensis Meyer, Nuss & Speidel, 1997 (Homoeosoma), spec. n.atlanticum (Bethune-Baker, 1894) (Udea), comb. n. hitherto Botys atlanticumazorensis Meyer, Nuss & Speidel, 1997 (Udea), spec. n.maderensis (Bethune-Baker, 1894) (Udea), comb. n. hitherto Botys maderensisnordmani (Rebel, 1937) (Udea), comb. n. hitherto Pionea nordmaniTwenty species of Pyraloidea (excl. Scopariinae) are presently known to occur in the Azores. The distribution of each species on the different islands is indicated. Three new species are described: Homoeosoma miguelensis sp. n., Homoeosoma picoensis sp. n., Udea azorensis sp. n. and three new generic combinations are given: Udea atlanticum (Bethune-Baker, 1894) comb. n. (Botys) and Udea maderensis (Bethune-Baker, 1894) comb. n. (Botys), both endemic on Madeira; Udea nordmani (Rebel, 1937) comb. n. (Pionea), endemic on the Canary Islands. Possible pathways of immigration are discussed. Nomenclatural Actsmiguelensis Meyer, Nuss & Speidel, 1997 (Homoeosoma), spec. n.picoensis Meyer, Nuss & Speidel, 1997 (Homoeosoma), spec. n.atlanticum (Bethune-Baker, 1894) (Udea), comb. n. hitherto Botys atlanticumazorensis Meyer, Nuss & Speidel, 1997 (Udea), spec. n.maderensis (Bethune-Baker, 1894) (Udea), comb. n. hitherto Botys maderensisnordmani (Rebel, 1937) (Udea), comb. n. hitherto Pionea nordman

The phylogenetic systematics of Spilomelinae and Pyraustinae (Lepidoptera: Pyraloidea: Crambidae) inferred from DNA and morphology

Spilomelinae and Pyraustinae form a species-rich monophylum of Crambidae (snout moths). Morphological distinction of the two groups has been difficult in the past, and the morphologically heterogenous Spilomelinae has not been broadly accepted as a natural group due to the lack of convincing apomorphies. In order to investigate potential apomorphic characters for Spilomelinae and Pyraustinae and to examine alternative phylogenetic hypotheses, we conduct a phylogenetic analysis using 6 molecular markers and 114 morphological characters of the adults representing 77 genera of Spilomelinae and 18 genera of Pyraustinae. The results of the analysis of the combined data strongly suggest that Spilomelinae and Pyraustinae are each monophyletic and sister to each other. Wurthiinae is confirmed as ingroup of Spilomelinae, and Sufetula Walker, 1859 as a non-spilomeline. Within Spilomelinae, several well supported clades are obtained, for which we propose a first phylogeny-based tribal classification, using nine available and four new names: Hydririni Minet, 1982 stat.rev., Lineodini Amsel, 1956 stat.rev., Udeini trib.n., Wurthiini Roepke, 1916 stat.rev., Agroterini Acloque, 1897 stat.rev., Spilomelini Guenée, 1854 stat.rev. (= Siginae Hampson, 1918), Herpetogrammatini trib.n., Hymeniini Swinhoe, 1900 stat.rev., Asciodini trib.n., Trichaeini trib.n., Steniini Guenée, 1854 stat.rev., Nomophilini Kuznetzov & Stekolnikov, 1979 stat.rev. and Margaroniini Swinhoe & Cotes, 1889 stat.rev. (= Dichocrociinae Swinhoe, 1900; = Hapaliadae Swinhoe, 1890; = Margarodidae Guenée, 1854). The available name Syleptinae Swinhoe, 1900 could not be assigned to any of the recovered clades. Three tribes are recognized in Pyraustinae: Euclastini Popescu-Gorj & Constantinescu, 1977 stat.rev., Portentomorphini Amsel, 1956 stat.rev. and Pyraustini Meyrick, 1890 stat.rev. (= Botydes Blanchard, 1840; = Ennychites Duponchel, 1845). The taxonomic status of Tetridia Warren, 1890, found to be sister to all other investigated Pyraustinae, needs further investigation. The four Spilomelinae tribes that are sister to all other, ‘euspilomeline’ tribes share several plesiomorphies with Pyraustinae. We provide morphological synapomorphies and descriptions for Spilomelinae, Pyraustinae and the subgroups recognised therein. These characters allow the assignment of additional 125 genera to Spilomelinae tribes, and additional 56 genera to Pyraustinae tribes. New and revised combinations are proposed: Nonazochis Amsel, 1956 syn.n. of Conchylodes Guenée, 1854, with Conchylodes graphialis (Schaus, 1912) comb.n.; Conchylodes octonalis (Zeller, 1873) comb.n. (from Lygropia); Hyperectis Meyrick, 1904 syn.n. of Hydriris Meyrick, 1885, with Hydriris dioctias (Meyick, 1904) comb.n., and Hydriris apicalis (Hampson, 1912) comb.n.; Conogethes pandamalis (Walker, 1859) comb.n. (from Dichocrocis); Arthromastix pactolalis (Guenée, 1854) comb.n. (from Syllepte); Prophantis coenostolalis (Hampson, 1899) comb.n. (from Thliptoceras); Prophantis xanthomeralis (Hampson, 1918) comb.n. (from Thliptoceras); Prophantis longicornalis (Mabille, 1900) comb.n. (from Syngamia); Charitoprepes apicipicta (Inoue, 1963) comb.n. (from Heterocnephes); Prenesta rubrocinctalis (Guenée, 1854) comb.n. (from Glyphodes); Alytana calligrammalis (Mabille, 1879) comb.n. (from Analyta). Epherema Snellen, 1892 stat.rev. with its type species E. abyssalis Snellen, 1892 comb.rev. is removed from synonymy with Syllepte Hübner, 1823. Ametrea Munroe, 1964 and Charitoprepes Warren, 1896 are transferred from Pyraustinae to Spilomelinae; Prooedema Hampson, 1891 from Spilomelinae to Pyraustinae; Aporocosmus Butler, 1886 from Spilomelinae to Odontiinae; Orthoraphis Hampson, 1896 from Spilomelinae to Lathrotelinae; Hydropionea Hampson, 1917, Plantegumia Amsel, 1956 and Munroe’s (1995) “undescribed genus ex Boeotarcha Meyrick” are transferred from Spilomelinae to Glaphyriinae.publishedVersio

Discovery of an unknown diversity of Leucinodes species damaging Solanaceae fruits in sub-Saharan Africa and moving in trade (Insecta, Lepidoptera, Pyraloidea)

The larvae of the Old World genera Leucinodes Guenée, 1854 and Sceliodes Guenée, 1854 are internal feeders in the fruits of Solanaceae, causing economic damage to cultivated plants like Solanum melongena and S. aethiopicum . In sub-Saharan Africa five nominal species of Leucinodes and one of Sceliodes occur. One of these species, the eggplant fruit and shoot borer L. orbonalis Guenée, 1854, is regarded as regularly intercepted from Africa and Asia in Europe, North and South America and is therefore a quarantine pest on these continents. We investigate the taxonomy of African Leucinodes and Sceliodes based on morpho - logical characters in wing pattern, genitalia and larvae, as well as mitochondrial DNA, providing these data for identification of all life stages. The results suggest that both genera are congeneric, with Sceliodes syn. n. established as junior subjective synonym of Leucinodes . L. orbonalis is described from Asia and none of the samples investigated from Africa belong to this species. Instead, sub-Saharan Africa harbours a complex of eight endemic Leucinodes species. Among the former nominal species of Leucinodes (and Sceliodes ) from Africa, only L. laisalis (Walker, 1859), comb. n. ( Sceliodes ) is confirmed, with Leucinodes translucidalis Gaede, 1917, syn. n. as a junior subjective synonym. The other African Leucinodes species were unknown to science and are described as new: L. africensis sp. n. , L. ethiopica sp. n. , L. kenyensis sp. n. , L. malawiensis sp. n. , L. pseudorbonalis sp. n. , L. rimavallis sp. n. and L. ugandensis sp. n. An identification key based on male genitalia is provided for the African Leucinodes species. Most imports of Leucinodes specimens from Africa into Europe refer to Leucinodes africensis , which has been frequently imported with fruits during the last 50 years. In contrast, L. laisalis has been much less frequently re - corded, and L. pseudorbonalis as well as L. rimavallis only very recently in fruit imports from Uganda. Accordingly, interceptions of Leucinodes from Africa into other continents will need to be re-investigated for their species identity and will likely require, at least in parts, revisions of the quarantine regulations. The following African taxa are excluded from Leucinodes : Hyperanalyta Strand, 1918, syn. rev. as revised synonym of Analyta Lederer, 1863; Analyta apicalis (Hampson, 1896), comb. n. ( Leucinodes ); Lygropia aureomarginalis (Gaede, 1916), comb. n. ( Leucinodes ); Syllepte hemichionalis Mabille, 1900, comb. rev. , S. hemichionalis idalis Viette, 1958, comb. rev. and S. vagans (Tutt, 1890), comb. n. ( Aphytoceros ). Deanolis iriocapna (Meyrick, 1938), comb. n. from Indonesia is originally described and misplaced in Sceliodes , and L. cordalis (Doubleday, 1843), comb. n. ( Margaritia ) from New Zealand, L. raondry (Viette, 1981) comb. n. ( Daraba ) from Madagascar as well as L. grisealis (Kenrick, 1912), comb. n. ( Sceliodes ) from New Guinea are transferred from Sceliodes to Leucinodes . While Leucinodes is now revised from Africa, it still needs further revision in Asia.publishedVersio

New Phytologist / The betrayed thief the extraordinary strategy of Aristolochia rotunda to deceive its pollinators

Pollination of several angiosperms is based on deceit. In such systems, the flowers advertise a reward that ultimately is not provided. We report on a previously unknown pollination/mimicry system discovered in deceptive Aristolochia rotunda (Aristolochiaceae). Pollinators were collected in the natural habitat and identified. Flower scent and the volatiles of insects (models) potentially mimicked were analyzed by chemical analytical techniques. Electrophysiological and behavioral tests on the pollinators identified the components that mediate the plantpollinator interaction and revealed the model of the mimicry system. The main pollinators of A. rotunda were female Chloropidae. They are food thieves that feed on secretions of true bugs (Miridae) while these are eaten by arthropod predators. Freshly killed mirids and Aristolochia flowers released the same scent components that chloropids use to find their food sources. Aristolochia exploits these components to deceive their chloropid pollinators. Aristolochia and other trap flowers were believed to lure saprophilous flies and mimic brood sites of pollinators. We demonstrate for A. rotunda, and hypothesize for other deceptive angiosperms, the evolution of a different, kleptomyiophilous pollination strategy. It involves scent mimicry and the exploitation of kleptoparasitic flies as pollinators. Our findings suggest a reconsideration of plants assumed to show sapromyiophilous pollination.(VLID)221519

Non-equilibrium Superconductivity and Quasiparticle Dynamics studied by Photo Induced Activation of Mm-Wave Absorption (PIAMA)

We present a study of non-equilibrium superconductivity in DyBa2Cu3O7-d using photo induced activation of mm-wave absorption (PIAMA). We monitor the time evolution of the thin film transmissivity at 5 cm-1 subject to pulsed infrared radiation. In addition to a positive bolometric signal we observe a second, faster, decay with a sign opposite to the bolometric signal for T>40 K. We attribute this to the unusual properties of quasi-particles residing near the nodes of an unconventional superconductor, resulting in a strong enhancement of the recombination time.Comment: 4 pages, REVTeX, Submitted to Phys. Rev. Letter