Relationships within the Melitaea phoebe species group (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae): new insights from molecular and morphometric information

The genus Melitaea consists of about 80 species, divided into ten species groups, which are all restricted to the Palaearctic region. The Melitaea phoebe group was defined by Higgins based on morphological characters such as wing pattern and genital structures. According to his interpretation, the M.phoebe group included seven species: M.phoebe, M.sibina, M.scotosia, M.aetherie, M.collina, M.consulis and M.turkmanica. The taxonomy of the phoebe species group has been poorly resolved and recent results on the species composition within the group suggest the need for a re-evaluation. In this study molecular sequences (5985bp) including one mitochondrial (COI) and up to six nuclear (CAD, EF-1α, GAPDH, MDH, RpS5 and wingless) gene regions from 38 specimens of the Melitaea phoebe species group sensu Higgins and some closely related taxa from the Palaearctic region were analysed. The possible evolution of the processus posterior of the male genitalia was also reconstructed based on a shape mapping technique. The analysis of the combined data shows a very clear pattern and almost all relationships are highly supported. Based on the combined Bayesian tree and the shape of the processus posterior of the male genitalia, four main groups are recognised: (i) collina group, (ii) arduinna group, (iii) aetherie group and (iv) phoebe group. The status of M.ornata, M.zagrosi and M.scotosia as species is confirmed, and the results also indicate that M.telona (s.s.) from Israel is a separate species

Crouching TIGER, hidden structure: Exploring the nature of linguistic data using TIGER values

In recent years, techniques such as Bayesian inference of phylogeny have become a standard part of the quantitative linguistic toolkit. While these tools successfully model the tree-like component of a linguistic dataset, real-world datasets generally include a combination of tree-like and nontree-like signals. Alongside developing techniques for modeling nontree-like data, an important requirement for future quantitative work is to build a principled understanding of this structural complexity of linguistic datasets. Some techniques exist for exploring the general structure of a linguistic dataset, such as NeighborNets, delta scores, and Q-residuals; however, these methods are not without limitations or drawbacks. In general, the question of what kinds of historical structure a linguistic dataset can contain and how these might be detected or measured remains critically underexplored from an objective, quantitative perspective. In this article, we propose TIGER values, a metric that estimates the internal consistency of a genetic dataset, as an additional metric for assessing how tree-like a linguistic dataset is. We use TIGER values to explore simulated language data ranging from very tree-like to completely unstructured, and also use them to analyze a cognate-coded basic vocabulary dataset of Uralic languages. As a point of comparison for the TIGER values, we also explore the same data using delta scores, Q-residuals, and NeighborNets. Our results suggest that TIGER values are capable of both ranking tree-like datasets according to their degree of treelikeness, as well as distinguishing datasets with tree-like structure from datasets with a nontree-like structure. Consequently, we argue that TIGER values serve as a useful metric for measuring the historical heterogeneity of datasets. Our results also highlight the complexities in measuring treelikeness from linguistic data, and how the metrics approach this question from different perspectives

Seed polyphenols in a diverse tropical plant community

1.Polyphenols are one of the most common groups of secondary metabolites in plants and thought to play a key role in enhancing plant fitness by protecting plants against enemies. Although enemy‐inflicted mortality at the seed stage can be an important regulator of plant populations and a key determinant of community structure, few studies have assessed community‐level patterns of polyphenol content in seeds. 2.We describe the distribution of the main seed polyphenol groups across 196 tree and liana species on Barro Colorado Island (Panama) and community‐level patterns in two aspects of their biological activity (protein precipitation and oxidative capacity). Taking advantage of substantial variation in morphological and ecological traits in the studied plant community, we test for correlations and trade‐offs between seed polyphenols and nonchemical plant traits hypothesised to make plant species more or less likely to invest in polyphenol production. 3.The majority of species have polyphenols in their seeds. The incidence and concentrations of polyphenols were related to a set of nonchemical plant traits. Polyphenols were most likely to be present (and where present, to be expressed in high concentrations) in species with large seeds, short seed dormancy times, low investment in mechanical seed defences, high wood density, high leaf mass per area, tough leaves and slow growth rates. 4.Synthesis. Our study reveals a potential trade‐off between chemical and mechanical seed defences and shows that plant species that invest in physical defences at later life stages (high wood density and tough leaves) tend not to invest in physical defences of seeds but instead produce secondary metabolites likely to act as seed defences. Overall, our results conform to predictions from the resource availability hypothesis, which states that species in resource‐limited environments (such as slow‐growing shade‐tolerant tree species) will invest more in defences than fast‐growing pioneer species. </p

Predator Mimicry: Metalmark Moths Mimic Their Jumping Spider Predators

Cases of mimicry provide many of the nature's most convincing examples of natural selection. Here we report evidence for a case of predator mimicry in which metalmark moths in the genus Brenthia mimic jumping spiders, one of their predators. In controlled trials, Brenthia had higher survival rates than other similarly sized moths in the presence of jumping spiders and jumping spiders responded to Brenthia with territorial displays, indicating that Brenthia were sometimes mistaken for jumping spiders, and not recognized as prey. Our experimental results and a review of wing patterns of other insects indicate that jumping spider mimicry is more widespread than heretofore appreciated, and that jumping spiders are probably an important selective pressure shaping the evolution of diurnal insects that perch on vegetation

Community structure of insect herbivores is driven by conservatism, escalation and divergence of defensive traits in Ficus

Escalation (macroevolutionary increase) or divergence (disparity between relatives) in trait values are two frequent outcomes of the plant‐herbivore arms race. We studied the defences and caterpillars associated with 21 sympatric New Guinean figs. Herbivore generalists were concentrated on hosts with low protease and oxidative activity. The distribution of specialists correlated with phylogeny, protease and trichomes. Additionally, highly specialised Asota moths used alkaloid rich plants. The evolution of proteases was conserved, alkaloid diversity has escalated across the studied species, oxidative activity has escalated within one clade, and trichomes have diverged across the phylogeny. Herbivore specificity correlated with their response to host defences: escalating traits largely affected generalists and divergent traits specialists; but the effect of escalating traits on extreme specialists was positive. In turn, the evolution of defences in Ficus can be driven towards both escalation and divergence in individual traits, in combination providing protection against a broad spectrum of herbivores.</div

Tortricid Moths Reared from the Invasive Weed Mexican Palo Verde, Parkinsonia aculeata, with Comments on their Host Specificity, Biology, Geographic Distribution, and Systematics

As part of efforts to identify native herbivores of Mexican palo verde, Parkinsonia aculeata L. (Leguminosae: Caesalpinioideae), as potential biological control agents against this invasive weed in Australia, ten species of Tortricidae (Lepidoptera) were reared from Guatemala, Mexico, Nicaragua, and Venezuela: Amorbia concavana (Zeller), Platynota rostrana (Walker), Platynota helianthes (Meyrick), Platynota stultana Walsingham (all Tortricinae: Sparganothini), Rudenia leguminana (Busck), Cochylis sp. (both Tortricinae: Cochylini), Ofatulena duodecemstriata (Walsingham), O. luminosa Heinrich, Ofatulena sp. (all Olethreutinae: Grapholitini), and Crocidosema lantana Busck (Olethreutinae: Eucosmini). Significant geographic range extensions are provided for O. duodecemstriata and R. leguminana. These are the first documented records of P. aculeata as a host plant for all but O. luminosa. The four species of Sparganothini are polyphagous; in contrast, the two Cochylini and three Grapholitini likely are specialists on Leguminosae. Ofatulena luminosa is possibly host specific on P. aculeata. Host trials with Rudenia leguminana also provide some evidence of specificity, in contrast to historical rearing records. To examine the possibility that R. leguminana is a complex of species, two data sets of molecular markers were examined: (1) a combined data set of two mitochondrial markers (a 781-basepair region of cytochrome c oxidase I (COI) and a 685-basepair region of cytochrome c oxidase II) and one nuclear marker (a 531-basepair region of the 28S domain 2); and (2) the 650-basepair “barcode” region of COI. Analyses of both data sets strongly suggest that individuals examined in this study belong to more than one species

A new genus and species of Grapholitini (Lepidoptera, Tortricidae) from Florida, U.S.A.

Volume: 23Start Page: 39End Page: 4

Systematics, morphology, and behavior of metalmark moths (Lepidoptera: Choreutidae)

Metalmark moths (Lepidoptera: Choreutidae) are members of a small microlepidopteran family with about 400 currently described species. As for most other microlepidopterans, their biology, ecology, and systematics are in a nascent stage. In this work I focus on choreutid systematics, in particular alpha taxonomy and molecular phylogenetics, and on the defense mechanisms of larvae and adults. In the first chapter I briefly introduce the family by reviewing the morphology of the adults, as well as the immatures, and what is known about their biology. In the second chapter I describe a new Neotropical genus of choreutids, Ornarantia Rota, gen. nov. In addition, I provide a taxonomic revision of one species group within this genus, the immarginata group, describe a new species in this group, and re-describe the remaining three species. In the third chapter I focus on elucidating subfamilial and generic phylogenetic relationships of chorerutids using one mitochondrial (cytochrome c oxidase I) and two nuclear markers (elongation factor-1 and wingless), using three different methods of phylogenetic inference (parsimony, maximum likelihood, and Bayesian inference). The main result from this chapter is that the family Choreutidae is not monophyletic because members from one of the three choreutid subfamilies, the subfamily Millieriinae, are not closely related to the members of the other two subfamilies, Choreutinae and Brenthiinae. A sister group relationship between Choreutinae and Brenthiinae is well supported, as are relationships among most choreutid genera. This represents the first known phylogeny of the family. In the final two chapters I explore predator/parasitoid defense mechanisms of the adults and larvae in the genus Brenthia. Through a set of experiments I show that Brenthia moths mimic jumping spiders for protection from these common predators of small arthropods. This is the first time it has been demonstrated that moths are mimics of jumping spiders. The fifth chapter is about a larval defense mechanism in which Brenthia larvae build escape hatches within their silken shelters. These larvae are capable of escaping through their escape holes in record speeds of only 100 ms. In addition, these experiments show that Brenthia larvae employ their silken webbing as an extension of the sensory system. Such usage of webbing is for the first time shown to occur in the order Lepidoptera.

Alasea corniculata Rota, new species

Alasea corniculata Rota, new species Figs. 1–8 Description. Male. Head: Frons and vertex dark fuscous with metallic blue-green sheen. Eye bordered by orange-yellow scales mesally, ventrally, and laterally (Fig. 2). Labial palpus orange-yellow laterally and pale yellow mesally, with dark fuscous tip (in some specimens reduced to a few fuscous scales) (Fig. 2). Proboscis with pale yellow scales basally. Antenna fuscous with metallic purple sheen, flagellomeres from about 0.3 to 0.7 length of antenna with patches of silvery-white scales (Fig. 4). Thorax: Dark fuscous with metallic blue-green sheen; ventrally with large creamy-yellow scales anteriorly; creamy-yellow band from head towards wing base (Fig. 3). Legs with alternating fuscous and orangeyellow bands on tibia; tarsus with alternating fuscous and white bands; each of these light-colored bands on tibia and tarsus accompanied by elongate piliform scales of same color (Fig. 3). Forewing length 4.5–5.2 mm (n = 10). Upper side dark fuscous with irregular silvery-white streaks and spots (Fig. 1). Incomplete antemedial band formed by silvery-white scales. Silvery-white streak at 0.6 costa curving towards apex. Underside fuscous with metallic bronze sheen; longitudinal orange-yellow streak from base towards apex to 0.75 length; orange-yellow spot above this streak approximate to wing center. Fringe light fuscous, with some pale-tipped scales, and with metallic sheen. Hindwing with upper side orange-yellow; with area of dark fuscous scales at base, apex, and anal region; area of white scales along costal margin (Fig. 1). Black terminal band from costa, starting before apex and extending to the anal area. Fringe light fuscous with metallic sheen; most scales paletipped. Underside similar to upper side, but dark fuscous scales absent at base and apex, present only in anal region, sometimes in streaks, sometimes covering entire anal area. Abdomen: Light fuscous with seven irregular orange-yellow annulations posteriorly on each segment; annulations more pronounced dorsally than ventrally. Genitalia (n = 8) as described for genus (Figs. 6, 7). Female. Head and thorax: As described for male. Length of forewing 5.2–5.7 mm (n = 9). Abdomen: Genitalia (n = 5) as described for genus (Fig. 8). Holotype. Male, Costa Rica, Province Heredia, La Selva Biological Station, 50–150 m, 10 º 26 ’ N, 84 º01’ W, 22–29 Jan 2000, at MV light, L/00/ 666, coll. D. Wagner, CRI 002724390, genitalia slide JR 2008 - 50. Holotype deposited in INBio. Paratypes. Costa Rica: Province Heredia: La Selva Biological Station, 50–150 m, 10 º 26 ’ N, 84 º01’ W, 8– 25 Mar 1999 (1 ɗ), area laboratorios, L/00/ 594, CRI 002739331, genitalia slide JR 2008 - 48 (JR collection); 22–31 Mar 2001 (2 ɗ), at MV/UV light, colls. D. Wagner, J. Rota, INB0003205582, genitalia slide JR 2008 - 49 (USNM) and INB0003205569, genitalia slide JR 2008 - 47 (BMNH); 20 Apr 1999, bosque secundario, L/ 08/ 621, CRI 001284938 (1 ɗ) (RMNH) and CRI 001284937 (1 &), wing slides JR 2003 - 1 and JR 2003 - 2 (INBio); 23–29 Feb 2004 (1 &), at MV light, coll. D. Wagner, INB0003609767, genitalia slide JR 2008 - 51 (USNM); 9 Mar 2004 (1 &), canopy UV light trap, colls. G. Brehm, J. Rota, INB0003611787, genitalia slide JR 2008 - 52 (JR collection); 10–25 Jan 1999 (1 ɗ), at light, coll. D. Wagner, genitalia slide JR 2008 - 45 (UCMS); 28 Jun 1994 (1 &), bosque secundario, L/06/ 107, CRI 001243945 (INBio); 10 May 1996 (1 &), biblioteca, L/04/ 237, CRI 002062296, genitalia slide JR 2008 - 29 (INBio); 6 Apr 1999 (1 &), bosque primario, L/ 09/ 610, CRI 001285629 (INBio). Braulio Carrillo NP, Est. Magassay, 200 m, Dec 1990 (1 ɗ), L N 264600 531100, coll. M. Zumbado, CRI 000228433, genitalia slide JR 2008 - 46 (INBio); 11 km ESE La Virgen, 250– 350 m, 10 º 21 ’ N, 84 º03’ W, 17 Mar 2004 (1 &), 03/L/00/034, UV light trap, coll. J. Rota, INB0003611759, genitalia slide JR 2008 - 24 (INBio). Province Puntarenas: Osa Peninsula, 200 m, bosque esquinas, Mar 1994 (1 ɗ), coll. M. Segura, L S 301400 _ 542200, # 2776, CRI 001757112, genitalia slide JR 2008 - 26 (INBio); Corcovado NP, Sirena, 15–16 Aug 1980 (1 &), colls. D. H. Janzen and W. Hallwachs, INB0003868490, genitalia slide JR 2008 - 25 (INBio). Province Limon: Sector Cerro Cocori, Finca de E. Rojas, L N 286000 567500, coll. E. Rojas, 150 m, Jan 1992 (1 ɗ), CRI 000332924, genitalia slide JR 2008 - 23 (INBio); Nov 1990 (1 &), CRI 000594414, genitalia slide JR 2008 - 29 (INBio); Mar 1992 (1 ɗ), CRI 000363517, genitalia slide JR 2007 - 28 (INBio). Remarks. This species is relatively uncommon; it is encountered at lights and in light traps in primary and secondary forest. Etymology. The species is named for the horn-shaped projection on the valva. The word is derived from the Latin adjective corniculatus. Discussion. Currently, Alasea is known only from a few localities in Costa Rica. Its biology and immature stages are unknown. Alasea can be assigned to Choreutinae with little question. As with other choreutines, its forewing and hindwing have an acute, bluntly pointed apex (not obtuse as in Brenthiinae) (see Arita 1987, Diakonoff 1986); the basal segment of the labial palpus is parallel-sided (not narrowed basally as in Brenthiinae) (see Arita 1987); the hindwing is orange-yellow (as in many species of Choreutis, Hemerophila, and Rhobonda, but not in Brenthiinae); the basal flagellomeres of the antenna are heavily scaled (no such scaling occurs in Brenthiinae). In addition, preliminary results of an analysis of molecular data (to be published elsewhere) place it convincingly within Choreutinae. Alasea shares the presence of a small spine at the apex of the valva with Hemerophila, Rhobonda, and Zodia. This spine is variably developed in these groups, and it is unclear whether it represents a synapomorphy.Published as part of Rota, Jadranka, 2008, A new genus and new species of metalmark moths (Lepidoptera: Choreutidae) from Costa Rica, pp. 12-18 in Zootaxa 1933 on pages 15-17, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.27459