Linnaeus's butterflies (Lepidoptera: Papilionoidea and Hesperioidea)

The names of all the species of butterflies described by Linnaeus under "Papilio" are researched. Of the 305 names treated, 243 (c. 80%) are currently valid as specific (241) or subspecific (2), 29 are junior synonyms, 14 are invalid (one of these applying to a fake), and for 13 the identity is unknown or uncertain. Six species of moths misidentified by Linnaeus as butterflies are cited in the study, but details are not included. One hundred and fifty-two lectotypes have been designated, representing about 56% of the sum of the valid names and junior synonyms. Of these, 99 were selected from specimens in the Linnean Society of London, 52 from Queen Ludovica Ulrica's collection, Uppsala, and one lectotype is a Petiver specimen from the collection of Sir Hans Sloane. Linnaeus described at least five species, possibly eight, from the literature alone. All Linnaean material examined is documented, as are 'subsequent' specimens that are associated with Linnaean material. Synonymy and homonymy are discussed and presented, as are the identities of type localities. Care has been taken to achieve a practical balance between Linnaean and current species identities. Linnaean material studied included specimens from The Linnean Society of London, Museum Ludovicae Ulricae (Uppsala University), the Clerck and De Geer collections in the Naturhistoriska Riksmuseet, Stockholm, and the collection of James Petiver, now part of the collection of Sir Hans Sloane housed in The Natural History Museum, London.     

Annotated checklist of Albanian butterflies (Lepidoptera,Papilionoidea and Hesperioidea)

The Republic of Albania has a rich diversity of flora and fauna. However, due to its political isolation, it has never been studied in great depth, and consequently, the existing list of butterfly species is outdated and in need of radical amendment. In addition to our personal data, we have studied the available literature, and can report a total of 196 butterfly species recorded from the country. For some of the species in the list we have given explanations for their inclusion and made other annotations. Doubtful records have been removed from the list, and changes in taxonomy have been updated and discussed separately. The purpose of our paper is to remove confusion and conflict regarding published records. However, the revised checklist should not be considered complete: it represents a starting point for further research.     

Landscape-zonal distribution of butterflies (Lepidoptera, Papilionoidea, Hesperioidea) in the northeast of the Russian Plain

The butterfly fauna of the northeast of the Russian Plain includes 117 species, the distribution of which is mainly limited by zonal boundaries. Eleven landscape-zonal groups of butterflies combined into four landscape complexes: arctic (7 species), hypoarctic (25), forest (43), and intrazonal (42 species) are distinguished.     

Contemporary geography dominates butterfly diversity gradients within the Aegean archipelago (Lepidoptera: Papilionoidea, Hesperioidea)

Aim We compare the influence of contemporary geography and historical influences on butterfly diversity for islands in the Aegean archipelago. Location The Aegean archipelago (Greece) and two islands (Cyprus and Megisti) in the Levantine Sea. Methods Thirty‐one islands were examined. Data are taken from own surveys (Coutsis and Olivier) and from the literature. Stepwise multiple regression is used to determine relationships between species richness, frequency, rarity and endemicity against potential geographical predictors. Stepwise logit regression is used to determine geographical predictors of species incidence on islands. Inter‐island and inter‐species associations have been examined using multivariate ordination and clustering techniques. Results The Aegean butterfly fauna is characterized by decreasing diversity and rarity, and increasing homogeneity, from the periphery to the present geographical centre of the archipelago (Cyclades). Diversity and rarity are shown to relate closely to species richness, and species richness, in turn, is largely explained by contemporary geography, particularly the degree of isolation from the nearest mainland sources of Greece or Turkey, and island dimensions. Islands towards the centre of the archipelago are characterized by a group of mobile species (n ≥ 20 species) with extensive ranges across Europe; species that would have recolonized Santorini (Thira) following the VI6 eruption there c. 1630 bc . Endemic components, indicative of autochthonous evolutionary events, are few (5% of species are endemic) compared to known sedentary organisms (molluscs and isopods), but exceed those for more mobile animals (i.e. birds); their distribution is mainly confined to large isolated islands along the Aegean arc (i.e. Kriti) and in the Dodecanese group. Main conclusions Contemporary geography, i.e. processes currently operating in ecological time, dominates butterfly diversity gradients (species richness, frequency, rarity and incidence) in the archipelago. Two reasons are suggested to account for the lack of endemism and the pattern of decreasing diversity into the Cyclades. First, relict butterfly elements may have become extinct on all but a few larger islands, particularly from environmental changes since the Neolithic (fire and overgrazing). Second, colonization from the continental landmasses is ongoing with more mobile species transferring even to the most isolated islands.     

Population trends of Finnish butterflies (Lepidoptera: Hesperioidea, Papilionoidea) in 1991–2000

The National Butterfly Recording Scheme in Finland (NAFI) is based on data collected using a uniform questionnaire for the whole country. During the first decade of the scheme (1991–2000), a total of 432 voluntary amateur and professional lepidopterists participated by providing data on 1.5 million individuals representing 94 indigenous and 11 non-resident species. Although the 10-year period is not long enough to provide extensive conclusions about changes in the fauna, changes in either the geographical distributions or population densities exhibited a downward trend for 15 species and an upward trend for 11 species. The decreased species were dominated by those inhabiting bogs and fens (4) and open sandy or rocky habitats (5), whereas the increased species were mainly typical of forest verges and clearings (8). The results indicated in particular the effects of drainage of peatlands and overgrowth of meadows. On the other hand, the distribution maps published in the national bulletin revealed northward expansion for seven species, which, together with some increasing migrants, may indicate the effects of possible climatic warming. By providing quantitative knowledge of possible changes in the distribution and abundance of butterflies, NAFI may be used to protect the Finnish butterfly fauna.     

Ecological and faunistic review of butterflies (Lepidoptera,Hesperioidea et Papilionoidea) of Dagestan: Part 2

The second part of the paper includes the list of the families Libytheidae-Satyridae, zoogeographical analysis, and ecological characteristics of the Dagestan butterfly fauna.     

Ecological and faunistic review of butterflies (Lepidoptera,Hesperioidea et Papilionoidea) of Daghestan: Part 1

An ecological and faunistic review of 170 butterfly species from Daghestan based on original data is presented. The distribution and ecological characteristics of species (phenology, voltinism, biotopic distribution, population density and its dynamics, and the cycle of preimaginal stages) are described. The first part of the paper deals with the families Hesperiidae and Lycaenidae. Zoogeographic analysis and ecological characteristics of the regional fauna will be given in the second communication.     

Forest butterflies in West Africa have resisted extinction… so far (Lepidoptera: Papilionoidea and Hesperioidea)

An extended study of the 972 forest butterflies (Lepidoptera: Papilionoidea and Hesperioidea) in Africa west of the Dahomey Gap, covering the period 1990–2006, showed that 97% of all species ever recorded from the area were still present in one or more of the remaining forests within the region. This is despite the fact that during the past 150 or so years the forests have shrunk to 13% or less of their original extent, very little of which in pristine condition. The 34 species not recorded during the study period mainly belong to genera and species-groups that are rare, local, or difficult of access—species that any collector would be lucky to find once in a lifetime. A few may actually be “phantom species” or mislabelled butterflies from other parts of Africa. Effectively it seems that no butterfly has yet gone regionally extinct in West Africa. Two-thirds of the 34 species not recorded between 1990 and 2006 were found elsewhere in Africa. This should be a source of pride and encouragement for all concerned with nature conservation in the region. The long-term survival of fauna and flora is wholly dependent on the continued existence of sufficient broadleaf forest in reasonable condition. It is possible that accumulated “extinction debt” will still lead to loss of species, a process that should be closely monitored. The remaining area of forest of high quality is small, fragile and now contained almost exclusively within the formal protected areas systems: its continued conservation is vital. Many challenges still exist and much hard work remains to consolidate the conservation of West African biodiversity.     

Body size, egg size, and their interspecific relationships with ecological and life history traits in butterflies (Lepidoptera: Papilionoidea, Hesperioidea)

The interspecific relationships between egg size and body size in butterflies (Papilionoidea and Hesperiidae), and between size and egg and larval development time, larval trophic specificity, foodplant structure, climate, and phenology were investigated based on a sample of more than 1180 species. The independent contrasts mediod was used to avoid taxonomy-dependent results. Egg size is allometrically related to adult wing length by a slope of 0.43. Based on a subset of species, fecundity is correlated to adult body size, and there is evidence for a compromise between egg number and egg size (relative to adult size) across species. Butterfly size increases in correlation to the mean annual temperature of me species geographic range, but decreases in relation to increased aridity (or die length of the dry season). Larger butterflies tend to have longer larval development times, use large or structurally complex host plants, and are more likely to lay their eggs in batches, irrespective of climate. Larger eggs tend to develop more slowly, and give rise to larvae with longer developmental periods that will result in larger adults. No evidence was found to support a relationship between butterfly body size and polyphagy. A complex pattern of interrelationships links body size (and egg size) to other traits, although correlations other than mat between egg size and body size are generally low. The results suggest the necessity of separating climate and seasonality into components that are relevant to insect life histories in comparative studies.     

Groundplan Anatomy of the Proboscis of Butterflies (Papilionoidea, Lepidoptera)

The anatomy of the proboscis was studied in representatives of all major subfamilies of Papilionoidea and several outgroup taxa which included Hesperiidae, Hedylidae and Geometroidea. In all species the cross-sectional outline of the tapering proboscis continuously changes from proximal to the tip while the central food canal, formed by the concave medial galeal walls, retains its oval shape. Each galea contains three types of muscles, a branching trachea, nerves, sensilla, and at least one longitudinal septum. We focused on the varying arrangement and distribution of the intrinsic galeal muscles from the basal galeal joint to the tip region. The plesiomorphic condition of the galeal composition of Papilionoidea is regarded to include one basal intrinsic muscle in the basal joint region and two series of intrinsic muscles, i.e. the lateral intrinsic galeal muscles and the median intrinsic galeal muscles, both series extending from the proximal region to the tip region. The plesiomorphic arrangements of the intrinsic muscle series are found in all representatives of Papilionidae, in one species of Lycaenidae (sensu lato), in many Nymphalidae (sensu lato), and in all outgroup species. Three apomorphic character states are distinguished regarding the presence and extension of the median intrinsic galeal muscles. (1) Present up to 35% of the proboscis length and absent distally in Pieridae, Lycaeninae (Lycaenidae), Satyrinae (Nymphalidae), and Danainae (Nymphalidae). (2) Present in the proximal third of the proboscis and again near the tip between 80 and 90% of the proboscis length in the examined Heliconiinae (Nymphalidae). (3) Completely absent, as in one lycaenid species from the subfamily Riodininae.     

Butterflies of the Bodoquena Plateau in Brazil (Lepidoptera,Papilionoidea)

Butterflies and moths are found in all terrestrial environments and require efforts for a better understanding of its mega-diversity. These taxa have been the subject of several studies involving phylogeny, ecology and environmental impacts. Nevertheless, several areas in the tropics remain unexplored, resulting in gaps in the taxonomic composition and distribution of butterflies in endemic environments. Therefore, a survey of the butterfly fauna of the Bodoquena Plateau in Brazil was conducted. This area consists of tropical Atlantic Forests, with marginal influences of Savannah, Chaco and Pantanal. Sampling was carried out in 20 locations using Van Someren Rydon traps and insect nets between November 2009 and April 2015. Active collection of individuals was conducted from 9:00 to 17:00h, totaling 240 hours of sampling effort. In total, we registered 768 individuals belonging to 146 species of 98 genera, six families and 18 subfamilies. Nymphalidae was the richest family (84 species), followed by Hesperiidae (22 species), Riodinidae (14 species), Pieridae (12) Papilionidae (11 species) and Lycaenidae (five species). We sampled 239 nymphalids in traps, with 48 species, 30 genera, 15 tribes and five subfamilies. The most common species were Eunicamacris (Godart, 1824), Dynamineartemisia (Fabricius, 1793) and Memphismoruus (Fabricius, 1775). Therefore, this study contributes to the knowledge of the Neotropical butterfly diversity and distribution, providing 37 new records and supporting the use of wildlife inventories as important tools for the knowledge of tropical forests biodiversity and conservation.     

江西省弄蝶四新纪录(鳞翅目:弄蝶总科)(英文)

通过对外形特征和外生殖器特征的检视,发现江西省弄蝶四新纪录:无斑珂弄蝶指名亚种Caltoris bromus bromus(Leech,1894)、襟弄蝶中南亚种Pseudocoladenia dan fabia(Evans,1949)、灰陀弄蝶黎氏亚种Thoressa gupta leechii(Evans,1932)和南岭陀弄蝶Thoressa xiaoqingae Huang&Zhan,2004。标本均采自江西九连山国家级自然保护区。文中提供了成虫标本照片。     

Assessment of capybara (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris) populations in the wetlands of Corrientes,Argentina

Ten sampling sites were selected to represent six distinct habitat types used by capybaras (clean lagoons, dirty lagoons, cutwaters, fens and marshes, gallery forests, and erosion ditches). The sites were sampled during winter (July and August); densities were expressed as number of capybaras per linear km of shoreline (C/LKS). The sites were classified as protected from poachers (P), under light hunting pressure (LHP), and under heavy hunting pressure (HHP). Clean protected (P) lagoons had three times as many capybaras as LHP ones (30.7 and 10.9 C/LKS, respectively), and thirty times those under HHP (1.0 C/LKS). Protected marshes and dirty lagoons had even higher capybara densities (52.5 and 50.0 C/LKS, respectively). Gallery forests under LHP had low densities (6.3 C/LKS), and protected cutwaters intermediate densities (27.5 C/LKS). Erosion ditches had exceptionally high densities (900 C/LKS), probably because cattle were fenced out, reducing forage competition. These densities, when converted to the standard unit area measurement (individuals/ha), were similar to those obtained by other researchers in the Brazilian Pantanal, and somewhat smaller than those in the Venezuelan Llanos. Mean number of capybaras per group remained relatively constant in all habitats (averages ranged between 9.2 and 11.8 individuals/group) but its coefficient of variation was much higher in LHP sites, probably because social structure was altered severely by hunting. The overall ratio of young to adults and juveniles was 1:7.4. In one of the sites, 13 of 34 groups (38.2%) were with young (average of 17 capybaras per group, 4.7 of which were young), confirming that this species can reproduce all year long.Requests for reprints should be sent to: Dr. J. Rabinovich.     

Butterflies (Papilionoidea and Hesperioidea) as potential ecological indicators of riparian quality in the semi-arid western United States

Ecological indicators can be used to detect, diagnose, and summarize information about environmental problems. Despite these important values, few indicators have been systematically validated. Broad information on relevance, feasibility, estimates of variance, and interpretation of the ecological indicator is needed for initial validation. Comparisons of ecological indicators can only be accomplished if they are contrasted with standard published criteria. In this paper, information on the potential use of butterflies as indicators of riparian quality is provided within a standard framework. Additionally, data from riparian areas along the Arkansas, Green, Pecos, Rio Grande, and Yampa rivers were collected to validate some specific criterion, such as ease of measurement and information on response to stressors. Information on sampling protocols and a butterfly metric, the Riparian Butterfly Index, is presented along with time needed to characterize butterfly sites. Sensitivity of butterfly assemblages to riparian environmental characteristics was examined using ordination of butterfly data and environmental variables. Characteristic assemblages were associated with high quality versus low quality riparian habitats. Response specificity to habitat and weather was tested with sites on the Arkansas river, which were repeatedly sampled over a 3-year period. An index of abundance varied between years and appeared to be related to weather; however, richness metrics for a given habitat type were consistent between years. Butterflies as ecological indicators were easily measured, integrated floodplain characteristics, and had low variability in response.     

Taxonomic differentiation in species richness gradients among European butterflies (Papilionoidea, Hesperioidea): contribution of macroevolutionary dynamics

We examine spatial differences in patterns of species nchness among butterfly families in Europe and North Africa When compared to global proportions for the whole region there is a surplus of Nymphalidae in northern Europe, of Piendae in North Africa and the Mediterranean islands, of Lycaenidae in Iberia and Greece, of Hesperudae in the Algarve, and a deficit of Satyridae outside the mountain areas For the Lycaenidae and Satyridae the spatial bias in numbers of species corresponds with a bias for endemism in southem Europe, regions of refuge and persistence during Pleistocene polyglaciation We argue that regional surpluses of species in at least these two families are governed more by net species production than by species maintenance Differences in species richness between families are related to ecological amplitude and dispersal capacity which determine balances between migration, clade isolation, speciation and extinction Taxa capable of migrating long distances (e g many Nymphalidae) are able to colonize distant locations but are less amenable to clade isolation, speciation or extinction, whereas, specialized taxa with limned capacity for migration (e g most Satyridae) cannot colonize distant habitats but more readily undergo clade furcation, speciation or extinction Yet, only taxa initially able to disperse and extend their ranges can undergo clade furcation Dispersal capacity divides into extnnsic and intrinsic parameters Both are influenced by environmental changes, particularly resource geography, associated with Pleistocene glacial cycles Changes in resource geography, by influencing extrinsic components of dispersal and in turn reinforcing lntrinsic components of dispersal, result in a polanzation in evolutionary dynamics, one extreme is extensive migration, gene flow and gene pool homogeneity, the other is isolation, speciation or extinction At the isolation end of this scale, the balance between clade evolution and extinction depends on the nature of environmental change and landscape structure     

Chromosomal evolution in the South American Riodinidae (Lepidoptera: Papilionoidea)

We give the haploid chromosome numbers of 173 species or subspecies of Riodinidae as well as of 17 species or subspecies of neotropical Lycaenidae for comparison. The chromosome numbers of riodinids have thus far been very poorly known. We find that their range of variation extends from n =?9 to n =?110 but numbers above n =?31 are rare. While lepidopterans in general have stable chromosome numbers, or variation is limited at most a subfamily or genus, the entire family Riodinidae shows variation within genera, tribes and subfamilies with no single modal number. In particular, a stepwise pattern with chromosome numbers that are about even multiples is seen in several unrelated genera. We propose that this variation is attributable to the small population sizes, fragmented populations with little migration, and the behavior of these butterflies. Small and isolated riodinid populations would allow for inbreeding to take place. Newly arisen chromosomal variants could become fixed and contribute to reproductive isolation and speciation. In contrast to the riodinids, the neotropical Lycaenidae (Theclinae and Polyommatinae) conform to the modal n =?24 that characterizes the family.     

Reproductive pattern of the freshwater prawn Pseudopalaemon bouvieri (Crustacea,Palaemonidae) from hypo-osmotic shallow lakes of Corrientes (Argentina)

Pseudopalaemon bouvieri undergoes complete abbreviated development. The reproductive cycle (proportion and size of the sexually mature population and juvenile recruitment), fecundity and egg size of this prawn were examined in three subtropical shallow lakes. The reproductive cycle was seasonal; gonadal maturation occurred during the winter, ovigerous females were abundant in the spring and breeding occurred at the end of spring. Females produced small numbers of eggs (9–55) of relatively large sizes (1.0–2.1 mm). The proportion of ovigerous females with respect to the total number of females, the fecundity and egg size differed among the lakes according to the trophic state of the environments. Pseudopalaemon bouvieri has a reproductive strategy similar to other Palaemonidae species that inhabit nutrient-poor inland waters.     

Phylogenetic relationships of subfamilies and circumscription of tribes in the family Hesperiidae (Lepidoptera: Hesperioidea)

A comprehensive tribal‐level classification for the world’s subfamilies of Hesperiidae, the skipper butterflies, is proposed for the first time. Phylogenetic relationships between tribes and subfamilies are inferred using DNA sequence data from three gene regions (cytochrome oxidase subunit I‐subunit II, elongation factor‐1α and wingless). Monophyly of the family is strongly supported, as are some of the traditionally recognized subfamilies, with the following relationships: (Coeliadinae + (“Pyrginae” + (Heteropterinae + (Trapezitinae + Hesperiinae)))). The subfamily Pyrginae of contemporary authors was recovered as a paraphyletic grade of taxa. The formerly recognized subfamily Pyrrhopyginae, although monophyletic, is downgraded to a tribe of the “Pyrginae”. The former subfamily Megathyminae is an infra‐tribal group of the Hesperiinae. The Australian endemic Euschemon rafflesia is a hesperiid, possibly related to “Pyrginae” (Eudamini). Most of the traditionally recognized groups and subgroups of genera currently employed to partition the subfamilies of the Hesperiidae are not monophyletic. We recognize eight pyrgine and six hesperiine tribes, including the new tribe Moncini. © The Willi Hennig Society 2008.