[TaiBNET名錄修訂] 尺蛾科一屬名變更

Amblychia moltrechti (Bastelberger, 1909) (Female)

Inoue & Sugi (1992)於台灣鱗翅目誌收錄了尺蛾科枝尺蛾亞科(Ennominae)之大型尺蛾類Elphos Guenée, 1858屬共兩種，Holloway (1993)基於雌雄生殖器結構之相似性，將此屬視為另一大型尺蛾類群Amblychia Guenée, 1857屬之同物異名。據Parsons等人(1999)的統計Amblychia全世界共有21種與4亞種，分布中心為熱帶東方區，另有一種產於大洋洲的新喀里多尼亞 (New Caledonia) (Holloway, 1976)。

TaiBNET名錄原收錄Elphos屬之moltrechti與sauteri兩種，經同物異名處理後Amblychia屬共計3種:

Amblychia angeronaria Guenée , 1857 白斑褐尺蛾 (本屬模式種)
Amblychia moltrechti (Bastelberger, 1909) 大褐尺蛾
Amblychia sauteri (Prout, 1914) 異大褐尺蛾

參考文獻:
Heppner & Inoue (eds.) 1992. Lepidoptera of Taiwan Vol. 1, part 2: checklist. Scientific Publishers Inc., Gainesville, USA.
Holloway, J. D. 1976. Moths of Borneo with special reference to Mt. Kinabalu. Kuala Lumpur. Malayan Nature Society.
Holloway, J. D. 1993. The Moths of Borneo: Part 11 Family Geometridae, Subfamily Ennominae. Malayan Nature Journal 47: 1-309.
Parsons, M. S., Scoble, M. J., Honey, M. R., Pitkin, L. M., and Pitkin, B. R. 1999. In Scoble (ed.) Geometrid Moths of the World: A Catalogue. Volumes 1 & 2: 1016 pp. + index 129 pp. CSIRO, Publishing, Canberra.

琉球紫蛺蝶(幻紫蛺蝶)體內昆蟲共生菌與粒線體的共演化歷史

photo by AJC1 and tropical.pete

The joint evolutionary histories of Wolbachia and mitochondria in Hypolimnas bolina

(provisional) PDF (245KB)

BMC Evolutionary Biology 2009, 9:64 Published: 24 March 2009

Sylvain Charlat , Anne Duplouy , Emily A Hornett , Emily A Dyson , Neil Davies , George K Roderick , Nina Wedell and Gregory DD Hurst

Abstract (provisional)
Background: The interaction between the Blue Moon butterfly, Hypolimnas bolina, and Wolbachia has attracted interest because of the high prevalence of male-killing achieved within the species, the ecological consequences of this high prevalence, the intensity of selection on the host to suppress the infection, and the presence of multiple Wolbachia infections inducing different phenotypes. We examined diversity in the co-inherited marker, mtDNA, and the partitioning of this between individuals of different infection status, as a means to investigate the population biology and evolutionary history of the Wolbachia infections.
Results: Part of the mitochondrial COI gene was sequenced from 298 individuals of known infection status revealing ten different haplotypes. Despite very strong biological evidence that the sample represents a single species, the ten haplotypes did not fall within a monophyletic clade within the Hypolimnas genus, with one haplotype differing by 5% from the other nine. There were strong associations between infection status and mtDNA haplotype. The presence of wBol1 infection in association with strongly divergent haplotypes prompted closer examination of wBol1 genetic variation. This revealed the existence of two cryptic subtypes, wBol1a and wBol1b. The wBol1a infection, by far the most common, was in strict association with the single divergent mtDNA haplotype. The wBol1b infection was found with two haplotypes that were also observed in uninfected specimens. Finally, the wBol2 infection was associated with a large diversity of mtDNA haplotypes, most often shared with uninfected sympatric butterflies.
Conclusion: This data overall supports the hypothesis that high prevalence of malekilling Wolbachia (wBol1) in H. bolina is associated with very high transmission efficiency rather than regular horizontal transmission. It also suggests this infection has undergone a recent selective sweep and was introduced in this species through introgression. In contrast, the sharing of haplotypes between wBol2-infected and uninfected individuals indicates that this strain is not perfectly transmitted and / or shows a significant level of horizontal transmission.

螟蛾學者Michael Shaffer辭世

享譽國際鱗翅學界的螟蛾總科(及網蛾總科)學者Michael Shaffer於3/23清晨於家中過逝. Michael Shaffer原為倫敦自然科學博物館(NHM)昆蟲系小鱗翅群部門之資深蒐藏經理, 多年前退休後仍一週三天, 全年無休地至博物館整理標本與更新文獻. NHM著名的LepIndex之螟蛾總科之資訊更新即由他所完成. 為了表彰他對國際鱗翅學界的貢獻, 一群國際螟蛾學者特別在1998年合著一本"Pyraloidea Studies"(為Entomologica scandicanvica的增刊)以慶賀他的退休與生日. Michael生前仍為澳洲蛾類誌的螟蛾部份進行研究工作, 而其著作, 如Smaller Moths of South East Asia以及澳洲蛾類名錄之螟蛾總科部份皆對亞洲的小鱗翅類與螟蛾研究有著重要的影響.

大英自然史博物館昆蟲學系內部所發出的弔謁請由此處觀看

白斑寬尾鳳蝶只是寬尾鳳蝶的一個"型"

文獻來源: Lu, C. C. Lu, L. W. Wu, G. F. Jiang, H. Deng, L. H.Wang, Y.F. Hsu (2009). Systematic status of Agehana elwesi f. cavaleriei based on morphological and molecular evidence. Zoological Studies: 270-279 [全文下載]

摘要
Agehana swallowtail butterflies are unusual in having 2 veins present in the broad lobe-like “ tail”of their hindwing. Of the 2 species currently recognized in this genus, A. maraho is generally considered an endangered taxon endemic to Taiwan. The other species, A. elwesi, which is widespread in the southern part of continental China, contains a form superficially similar to A. maraho. This form is termed f. cavaleriei, and its distribution is restricted to southwestern China. The relationship between this form and A. maraho has not been critically examined using either morphology or molecular characters. The male genitalia and a 1530 p fragment of mitochondrial DNA including the cytochrome oxidase I barcoding region suggest that f. cavaleriei is a form of A. elwesi rather than A. maraho.

星燈蛾屬 (Utetheisa) Pitasila亞屬分類修訂

綠島產Utetheisa (Pitasila) inconstans (Butler, 1880)

目前任職於荷蘭阿姆斯特丹動物學博物館的Rob de Vos長期對於所謂的"蝶燈蛾" (Nyctemera, Pitasila)的分類問題投注了相當多的時間. 多年來已經累積了相當多的文章, 也解決了許多東南亞(含新幾內亞)產物種的分類疑難. 根據明尼蘇達大學Susan Weller研究群對燈蛾科親緣關係重建的結果, Nyctemera與Pitasila並非近緣群, 而Pitasila顯然應被視為星燈蛾屬(Utetheisa)亞屬, 因此Pitasila的中名不宜再被稱為蝶燈蛾, 而且此類群也無一物種與任何蝶類有相似之處.

de Vos於2007年發表了對Pitasila, Atasca, 與一新亞屬Raanya de Vos修訂的巨著，文中亦包含13新種2新亞種，14個新同物異名及取代名(replacement name)，8個新位階，還有14個轉移至Utetheisa的新組合，並提供所有描述分類群的成蟲、生殖器特徵與地理分布資訊。de Vos在此文中亦討論了兩種產在台灣的物種: Utetheisa (Pitasila) inconstans (Butler, 1880)與 U. (P.) fractifascia (Wileman, 1911)，並將牠們歸於selecta種群內，以下就兩物種的命名修訂歷史作簡述:

1. Utetheisa (Pitasila) inconstans (Butler, 1880)

• inconstans原本即被置於Pitasila Moore, 1877，隨後Pagenstecher (1901)、Swinhoe (1903)、Seitz (1915)、Matsumura (1930)等人將其歸於Nyctemera，Bryk (1937)認為這樣的組合將造成與Nyctemera inconstans Snellen van Vollenhoven, 1863 (現為Nyctemera latistriga Walker, 1854)同名(homonym), 而倡議使用一個新名brylancik取代Butler的inconstans，這個問題已在de Vos (2002)的論文中闡述
• Inoue & Kishida (1992)在台灣鱗翅目誌中將brylancik轉移至Pitasila，王效岳(1994)在認識台灣的昆蟲(7)亦沿用(中文名為大花斑蝶燈蛾)，隨後這個學名便在台灣的圖鑑或網路討論中被廣為使用
• Holloway其實早在1988年將Pitasila處理為Utetheisa之 同物異名與亞屬，然這個處理並未被長期研究台灣鱗翅目昆蟲的日本鱗翅學者所理會. 不過Susan Weller博士的研究生Michelle DaCosta在其博士論文(2007)的分析, 以及de Vos (2007)的研究皆支持Holloway的觀點. de Vos並引用ICZN 59.3條(註一)將過去被視為junior secondary homonym的inconstans Butler, 1880恢復使用, 並與Utetheisa屬重新組合成為Utetheisa (Pitasila) inconstans. 此外, 過去被描述自日本琉球群島的okinawansis Inoue, 1982亦被視為此種的同物異名
• Sugi (2002)紀錄琉球族群取食紫草科(Boraginaceae)的白水木(Tournefortia argentea L. f. 1781)，而其幼蟲與Utetheisa亞屬非常相似，故可支持將Pitasila與Utetheisa合併的分類處理
• 此種之地理分布目前為: 日本琉球群島, 台灣南部近海低海拔山區以及綠島(筆者2007年7月紀錄)，傅建明與左漢榮(2004)紀錄了中海拔鞍馬山區”Pitasila brylancik”的雌雄蟲各一筆紀錄，然其圖板(p. 252)所顯示的應該是Utetheisa (Pitasila) fractifascia

2. Utetheisa (Pitasila) fractifascia (Wileman, 1911)

• fractifascia原被置於Deilemera Hubner屬中，而Deilemera現被視為Nyctemera的同物異名
• Holloway(1988)將其轉至Utetheisa屬，但Inoe & Kishida (1992)仍將其置於Pitasila屬
• 此種之次同物異名為Nyctemera basistrigata Reich, 1932，正模採自台灣甲仙(Kosempo)，現存於ZMHB (德國柏林洪堡大學自然史博物館)
• 此種為台灣特有種，傅建明與左漢榮(2004)紀錄了中海拔鞍馬山區產雌雄蟲各一筆紀錄(誤訂為brylancik)

3. 兩者之比較: 由於兩者的種內變異極大, 且在種間差異很小, 因此在鑑識上經常出現錯誤

• Wileman (1911)與Reich (1932)分別選擇了極端表現的個體作為fractifascia與basistrigata的模式標本.
• de Vos則根據生殖器結構的穩定特徵，例如抱器(valva)外緣突起(costal process)的長度與角度，以及clasper的形態支持兩物種的分割。
• de Vos並未如王效岳(1994)為兩物種進行詳細的斑紋描述，僅陳述牠們兩者個斑紋變異甚大，僅能以inconstans白斑較發達，fractifascia的白斑較不發達辨識。不過腹部斑紋似乎可提供較穩定的特徵: inconstans之背、腹與側板黑斑小或不明顯；然fractifascia的圓斑較大，背板黑斑常向側方延伸

4. Utetheisa (Pitasila)與Nyctemera屬的差異

Nyctemera adversata (Schaller, 1788)

• 因為與擬態相關的翅紋趨同現象(Holloway, 1988)，因此造成此兩群長期紊亂的分類歷史。Holloway建議後翅翅脈相辨識牠們: 前者R1與M1脈合生(connate)，而後者兩脈則為共柄 (sharing a common stalk)。

註一: 摘錄ICZN 59.3條款如下 (ICZN 網頁)
Secondary homonyms replaced before 1961 but no longer considered congeneric. A junior secondary homonym replaced before 1961 is permanently invalid unless the substitute name is not in use and the relevant taxa are no longer considered congeneric, in which case the junior homonym is not to be rejected on grounds of that replacement. [在1961年以前被替代而已不再被認為同屬的後異物同名。一個在1961年以前被替代的次後異物同名永遠無效，除非該替換名稱未在使用中，並且相關的分 類單元已不再被認為同屬，此一案例，該後位異物同名無須因該項替代而被摒棄。(摘譯自于名振，2003)]

根據這個條款，不摒棄後異物同名的情況須符合兩個條件，然而Vos(2007)對inconstans Butler的處理似乎僅合乎第二個條件(相關分類單元不再認為同屬)，而忽略inconstans Butler的替代名brylancik Bryk持續被使用的事實。

主要參考文獻:
Fu & Tzuoo. 2004. Moths of Anmashan Part 2. Taichung Nature Research Society, Taichung, Taiwan
Heppner & Inoue (eds.) 1992. Lepidoptera of Taiwan Vol. 1, part 2: checklist. Scientific Publishers Inc., Gainesville, USA.
Holloway. 1988. The moths of Borneo, part 6: Actiidae: Syntominae, Euchromiinae, Arctiinae, Aganainae (to Noctuidae). Southdene Sdn. Bhd, Malaysia.
Vos, R. de. 2002. Revision of the Nyctemera everigista group (=subgenus Deilemera Hubner) (Lepidoptera: Arctiidae, Arctiinae, Nyctemerini). Nachrichten des entomologischen Vereins Apollo (Neue Folge) 23: 7-32.
Vos, R. de. 2007. The Utetheisa species of the subgenera Pitasila, Atasca and Raanya Subg. N. (Insecta, Lepidoptera: Arctiidae). Aldrovandia 3: 31-120.
王效岳。1994。認識台灣的昆蟲 7 燈蛾科。淑馨出版社，臺北市，臺灣

相關連結:
Dr. Rod de Vos, Dept. of Entomology, Zoological Museum of Amsterdam
Dr. Susan J. Weller, Dept. of Entomology, University of Minnesota

馬達加斯加的地理廣布蝶種具高度的粒線體基因多樣性：DNA條碼方法的測試

High mitochondrial diversity in geographically widespread butterflies of Madagascar: A test of the DNA barcoding approach

PDF (555 K)

Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 50 (2009) 485–495

Marjorie C. Linares ^a, Iván D. Soto-Calderón ^a,b, David C. Lees ^c, Nicola M. Anthony ^a,*
a Department of Biological Sciences, Computer Resources Center Building, Room 200, University of New Orleans, New Orleans, LA 70148, USA
^b Biology Institute, University of Antioquia, Medellín AA1226, Colombia
^c Department of Entomology, Natural History Museum, Cromwell Rd., London SW7 5BD, UK

關於DNA條碼在種級鑑別上的適用性有許多爭議，這些討論近期愈來愈多，先前介紹過的文章主張「擴大樣本取樣之地理範圍並不會顯著降低以DNA生物條碼來鑑識物種的成功率」，然而本次介紹文章的作者則發現DNA生物條碼的原則在區分兩個截然不同的物種時也有失效的時候。

使用粒線體COI基因序列作為DNA條碼進行鑑定物種與探索的方法，已經成為一種標準流程且具有很高的產出效率。物種的界定基於下列原則：(1)在親緣關係上呈現單系群，且頻率較低 (2)物間之間的分化至少比物種之內高出10倍。然而，如果姊妹種沒有被囊括在分析當中、或者所選分類群中的任何地理範圍產生的變異沒有被全面性地取樣，分化程度的評估就會過於誇大。本文對Heteropsis屬中的一些形態上有區別的特有種蝴蝶作大範圍變異的取樣，提出DNA分化評估中潛在的偏見；本文同時比較Heteropsis族群與另一個不相關的森林相類群Saribia tepahi之間的遺傳變異，以探究生物條碼領域中、粒線體DNA可被用來評價雨林破碎化造成之影響的限度。出乎意料地，廣義的引子使得細胞內共生物Wolbachia的DNA被不被注意地增幅，暗中減損了通用引子的使用、且迫使設計具屬級專一性的COI引子成為必須之務。雖然作者觀察到高度的種內遺傳變異，大部分物種仍滿足DNA條碼原則；但是兩種形態上可區別的候選物種卻無法滿足DNA條碼的10倍遺傳距離原則。COI資料的親緣地理分析暗示森林破碎化可能在蝴蝶近期演化的多樣性上扮演重要的腳色。未來研究中同時使用粒線體DNA與核DNA的資料研究馬拉加西的類群，將對歷史上棲地破碎化對物種多樣性的影響提供更好的洞見，且可能有助於指出保育上較優先的地區。

Abstract
The standardized use of mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene sequences as DNA barcodes has been widely promoted as a high-throughput method for species identification and discovery. Species delimitation has been based on the following criteria: (1) monophyletic association and less frequently (2) a minimum 10 greater divergence between than within species. Divergence estimates, however, can be inflated if sister species pairs are not included and the geographic extent of variation within any given taxon is not sampled comprehensively. This paper addresses both potential biases in DNA divergence estimation by sampling range-wide variation in several morphologically distinct, endemic butterfly species in the genus Heteropsis, some of which are sister taxa. We also explored the extent to which mitochondrial DNA from the barcode region can be used to assess the effects of historical rainforest fragmentation by comparing genetic variation across Heteropsis populations with an unrelated forestassociated taxon Saribia tepahi. Unexpectedly, generalized primers led to the inadvertent amplification of the endosymbiont Wolbachia, undermining the use of universal primers and necessitating the design of genus-specific COI primers alongside a Wolbachia-specific PCR assay. Regardless of the high intra-specific genetic variation observed, most species satisfy DNA barcoding criteria and can be differentiated in the nuclear phylogeny. Nevertheless, two morphologically distinguishable candidate species fail to satisfy the barcoding 10x genetic distance criterion, underlining the difficulties of applying a standard distance threshold to species delimitation. Phylogeographic analysis of COI data suggests that forest fragmentation may have played an important role in the recent evolutionary diversification of these butterflies. Further work on other Malagasy taxa using both mitochondrial and nuclear data will provide better insight into the role of historical habitat fragmentation in species diversification and may potentially contribute to the identification of priority areas for conservation.

青尺蛾亞科Episothalma屬之分類以及新屬Pseudepisothalma之建立

Article
Zootaxa 2033: 13-25 (11 Mar. 2009) 4 plates; 23 references
A revision of Episothalma Swinhoe, 1893, with descriptions of two new species and one new genus (Lepidoptera, Geometridae, Geometrinae)
DAYONG XUE, XUEJIAN WANG & HONGXIANG HAN (China)
Abstract & excerpt (PDF; 20KB) free | Full article (PDF; 930KB) open access