Semiclassical Trace Formulas for Noninteracting Identical Particles

We extend the Gutzwiller trace formula to systems of noninteracting identical particles. The standard relation for isolated orbits does not apply since the energy of each particle is separately conserved causing the periodic orbits to occur in continuous families. The identical nature of the particles also introduces discrete permutational symmetries. We exploit the formalism of Creagh and Littlejohn [Phys. Rev. A 44, 836 (1991)], who have studied semiclassical dynamics in the presence of continuous symmetries, to derive many-body trace formulas for the full and symmetry-reduced densities of states. Numerical studies of the three-particle cardioid billiard are used to explicitly illustrate and test the results of the theory.Comment: 29 pages, 11 figures, submitted to PR

Nomenclatural Changes in the Neotropical Eumaeini (Lepidoptera, Lycaenidae, Theclinae)

Nomenclatural actions are taken in the Neotropical Eumaeini in advance of publication of the Atlas of Neotropical Lepidoptera Checklist. Lectotypes are designated for eleven species group names: Lycaena astiocha Prittwitz, 1865; Thecla azia Hewitson, 1873; Thecla beroea Hewitson, 1868; Thecla cupa Druce, 1907; Thecla daraba Hewitson, 1867; Thecla duma Hewitson, 1878; Thecla erenea Hewitson, 1867; Thecla galliena Hewitson, 1867; Thecla guacanagari Wallengren, 1860; Thecla stagira Hewitson, 1867; and Thecla thoria Hewitson, 1867. Thecla duma Hewitson, 1878 and Thecla columbinia Strand, 1916 are transferred from Eumaeini to Deudorigini (Theclinae). Lycaena vanessoides Prittwitz, 1865 is transferred from Polyommatinae to Theclinae (Eumaeini). Six type localities are changed: Colombia to Africa for Thecla columbinia Strand, 1916; Amazon to Guayaquil for Thecla daraba Hewitson, 1867; Colombia to Southeast Asia for Thecla duma Hewitson, 1878; Bolivia to Westem North America for Ignata illepida K. Johnson, 1992; Argentina to the United States for Strymon nivnix K. Johnson, Eisele & MacPherson, 1990; and Dominican Republic to mainland Central and South America for Tmolus victoria K. Johnson & Matusik, 1989. Seven new synonyms are: Lycaena vanessoides Prittwitz, 1865 = Thecla hygela Hewitson, 1868 syn. nov.; Thecla saepium Boisduval, 1852 = Ignata illepida K. Johnson, 1992 syn. nov.; Thecla tyriam H.H. Druce, 1907 = Zigirina minutia K. Johnson & Adams, 1997 syn. nov.; Thecla halciones Butler & H. Druce, 1872 = Decussata colombiana K. Johnson, Austin, Le Crom & Sal azar, 1997 syn. nov.; Papilio celmus Cramer, 1775 = Tmolus victoria K. Johnson & Matusik, 1989 syn. nov.; Thecla daraba Hewitson, 1867 = Thecla tyleri Dyar, 1913 syn. nov.; and Thecla galliena Hewitson, 1877 = Thecla iopas Godman & Salvin, 1887 syn. nov. The generic name Decussata K. Johnson, Austin, Le Crom & Salazar, 1997 is a new junior synonym of Ostrinotes K. Johnson, Austin, Le Crom & Salazar, 1997. The unavailable infra-subspecific name Thecla orobiana forma ♀ cosmophila Tessmann, 1928 is available as Thecla cosmophila Bridges, 1988. Seven new combinations are: Hypokopelates columbinia (Strand, 1916) comb. nov.; Mithras cosmophila Bridges, 1988 comb. nov.; Nicolaea cupa (Druce, 1907) comb. nov.; Salazaria elizabetha (Salazar, Vélez & K. Johnson, 1997) comb. nov.; Ostrinotes halciones (Butler & H. Druce, 1872) comb. nov.; Strephonota tyriam (H.H. Druce, 1907) comb. nov.; and Aubergina vanessoides (Prittwitz, 1865) comb. nov. The holotypes of seven eumaeines are composed of parts belonging to different species: Strymon andrewi K. Johnson & Matusik, 1988; Decussata colombiana K. Johnson, Austin, Le Crom & Salazar, 1997; Trochusinus elizabetha Salazar, Vélez & K. Johnson, 1997; lgnata illepida K. Johnson, 1992; Zigirina minutia K. Johnson & Adams, 1997; Strymon nivnix K. Johnson, Eisele & MacPherson, 1990; and Tmolus victoria K. Johnson & Matusik, 1989. Some parts of these holotypes are excluded to clarify the identity of these names. Three chronic misspellings are corrected: Papilio ganimedes Crarner, 1775, for Papilio ganymedes [sic] Fabricius, 1776;Thecla atnius Herrich-Schäffer, [1853], for Thecla atrius [sic] Herrich-Schäffer, [1858]; and Rusticus minyas Hübner, [1809], for Rusticus minijas [sic] Poey, 1832. The name Electrostrymon minikyanos K. Johnson & Matusik, 1988, is treated as a nomen dubium. The subjective synonymy of Thecla guacanagari Wallengren, 1860, and Thecla azia Hewitson, 1873, is referred to the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature for conditional suppression of the first name. Precedence for the names Papilio dion Schaller, 1788, and Hesperia columella Fabricius, 1793, is reversed under Article 23.9.1 of the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature

Synergistic effects of combining morphological and molecular data in resolving the phylogeny of butterflies and skippers

Phylogenetic relationships among major clades of butterflies and skippers have long been controversial, with no general consensus even today. Such lack of resolution is a substantial impediment to using the otherwise well studied butterflies as a model group in biology. Here we report the results of a combined analysis of DNA sequences from three genes and a morphological data matrix for 57 taxa (3258 characters, 1290 parsimony informative) representing all major lineages from the three putative butterfly super-families (Hedyloidea, Hesperioidea and Papilionoidea), plus out-groups representing other ditrysian Lepidoptera families. Recently, the utility of morphological data as a source of phylogenetic evidence has been debated. We present the first well supported phylogenetic hypothesis for the butterflies and skippers based on a total-evidence analysis of both traditional morphological characters and new molecular characters from three gene regions (COI, EF-1α and wingless). All four data partitions show substantial hidden support for the deeper nodes, which emerges only in a combined analysis in which the addition of morphological data plays a crucial role. With the exception of Nymphalidae, the traditionally recognized families are found to be strongly supported monophyletic clades with the following relationships: (Hesperiidae+(Papilionidae+(Pieridae+(Nymphalidae+(Lycaenidae+Riodinidae))))). Nymphalidae is recovered as a monophyletic clade but this clade does not have strong support. Lycaenidae and Riodinidae are sister groups with strong support and we suggest that the latter be given family rank. The position of Pieridae as the sister taxon to nymphalids, lycaenids and riodinids is supported by morphology and the EF-1α data but conflicted by the COI and wingless data. Hedylidae are more likely to be related to butterflies and skippers than geometrid moths and appear to be the sister group to Papilionoidea+Hesperioidea