緯度影響群居性幼蟲之生活史特性

文獻來源: Pimentel C, Ferreira C and Nilsson J-Å. 2010. Latitudinal gradients and the shaping of life-history traits in a gregarious caterpillar. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society 100: 224-236.

簡介
此研究以松舟蛾 (pine processionary moth, Thaumetopoea pityocampa) 為例，探討地理因子的影響會如何塑造群居性物種之生活史特性。松舟蛾廣泛分布於地中海地區，其幼蟲為一典型之群聚性物種，一個群落由一雌性成蟲所產的一批卵組成，為地中海地區多種松樹的重要經濟害蟲。此研究回顧了整個地中海地區關於松舟蛾之文獻，特別針對松舟蛾在不同緯度、海拔、溫度及寄主植物的影響下，其生育力(卵之個數)、卵之大小、卵寄生蜂導致之死亡率、成蟲飛行時間、以及幼蟲成長時間之變化進行探討。結果顯示隨著緯度增加，松舟蛾的生育力有增加趨勢，但卵的大小並沒有隨之增加，松舟蛾於高緯度地區擁有較大的群落被認為與造巢策略及熱能調節有關，因此會隨著緯度權衡卵之大小與數目。除此之外，松舟蛾在不同寄主植物下，也會因針葉的堅硬度及氮的含量而影響卵之大小與數量。

Abstract
The present study aimed to investigate how the impact of several factors linked to geography would shape history traits in a gregarious species, using the pine processionary moth (PPM) Thaumetopoea pityocampa as model system. PPM has a wide geographical distribution over the Mediterranean Basin, and it is a strictly gregarious species throughout larval development, where the total reproductive output of each female forms a colony. We reviewed both published and unpublished data on PPM from all over its distribution in the Mediterranean Basin and extracted data on fecundity, egg size, egg parasitoid mortality, flight period, and development time. These life-history traits were then related to location, expressed as latitude and altitude, local average temperatures, and host tree species. We found that PPM fecundity increaseed with latitude, concomitant with an increase in the length of development and an earlier onset of adult flight. These results are the opposite of that found in other Lepidoptera species with a wide geographical distribution, as well as in insects in general. We propose that a large colony size in PPM is important at higher latitudes because this confers an advantage for thermoregulation and tent building in areas where larvae have to face harsher conditions during the winter, thus shifting the optimal trade-off between the number and size of eggs with latitude. However, host tree species also affected the relationship between egg number and size and the optimal outcome of these traits is likely a compromise between different selection pressures.

美洲偽燈蛾亞科(=透翅舟蛾亞科, 槲舟蛾亞科)的屬級系統分類

文獻來源:
Miller JS. 2009. Generic revision of the Dioptinae (Lepidoptera: Noctuoidea: Notodontidae) Part 1: Dioptini. Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 321: 1-674. [全文下載]
Miller JS. 2009. Generic revision of the Dioptinae (Lepidoptera: Noctuoidea: Notodontidae) Part 2: Josiini. Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 321: 675-1022. [全文下載]

Abstract
The moth subfamily Dioptinae is almost entirely neotropical. One species—Phryganidia californica—occurs on the west coast of the US, while the remaining taxa are found from Mexico south to northern Argentina and Uruguay. None is known from the Old World. Most dioptines are diurnal as adults, and many exhibit aposematic coloration. A few taxa are nocturnal. Their larval hosts include the families Passifloraceae, Violaceae and Poaceae, plants famous for their use by important butterfly groups.

In this paper, a revised generic classification for the Dioptinae is presented. Nearly 17,000 specimens, assembled from 38 private and institutional collections worldwide, form the basis for the first comprehensive analysis of adult morphology in the subfamily. A subset of 115 exemplar species, chosen to represent structural diversity across the Dioptinae, is subjected to detailed morphological study and cladistic analysis. The resulting matrix includes 305 characters delineated by 938 character states. Cladistic analyses produced a single most parsimonious tree, rooted using three species from the Nystaleinae—the sister-subfamily to the Dioptinae. This phylogenetic hypothesis provides the framework for a revised classification.

The 456 species are assigned to 43 genera in two tribes; 10 species are treated as incertae sedis. Twelve genera are synonymized, and seven—Argentala, Chrysoglossa, Nebulosa, Notascea, Pikroprion, Proutiella, and Sagittala—are described as new. The 36 remaining genera are redescribed. Sixteen genera are further subdivided into species groups. All 574 species-group names of previous authors are addressed; in nearly all cases, primary type material was examined. Forty-seven species are newly synonymized, while 31 names are revived from synonymy. The revised classification includes 118 new combinations. Sixty-four species belonging in 30 different genera are newly described from Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Mexico, Panama, Peru, and Venezuela.

An illustrated overview of dioptine morphology is presented, demonstrating remarkable variation in a wide range of structures. Dichotomous keys utilizing external adult anatomy are provided to the tribes, genera, species groups and species. The salient features of each genus are figured and described. Heads, labial palpi, antennae, metathoracic tympani, wing scales, wing venation, and male and female terminalia are shown through line drawings, photographs, and scanning electron micrographs. Each species is diagnosed, its habitus is illustrated in color, type material is notated, and a summary of its known geographical distribution is presented.

General themes, as exemplified by the Dioptinae, are discussed. These include: Estimating species diversity in neotropical Lepidoptera; the evolution of aposematic coloration and mimicry; patterns of host-plant use; and the potential utility of characters from immature stages and DNA for further refining our understanding of dioptine evolution.

黃枯舟蛾屬名由Besaia變更為Curruza

文獻來源: Kobayashi H, Kishida Y, Wang M. 2008. The genus Curuzza stat. rev. and two new taxa (Notodontidae, Lepidoptera). Tinea 20(4): 236-242.

東亞與東南亞的舟蛾屬級分類一直處於相當混亂的狀態. 尤其是有一些對分類處理十分不謹慎但又十分活躍的業餘分類學者在近20年來幾乎讓整個系統朝著更混亂的方向走. 在這篇文章中, 小林秀紀, 岸田泰則與王敏對於所謂的篦舟蛾(Besaia)的有效性提出質疑, 並建議以Kiriakoff於1962年根據Pydna frugalis Leech, 1898建立的Curuzza代表這個類群成為其有效的屬名. 這整個過程導因於Kiriakoff當年所顯示的模式種雄性生殖器圖片與Schintlmeister於1992年所解剖的雄性選模標本完全不同. 因此小林等人建議依據ICZN 70.3的條款, 也就是"誤訂模式物種"的相關條款, 將Curruza的模式種指定為Schintlmeister於1997年發表的Besaia (Curruza) bryki. 這聽起來真的十分的複雜. 小林等人也不同意Schintlmeister的概念將Besaia拆解為不同的亞屬. 此外, 本文與台灣相關的分類處理包含將Besaia (Curuzza) ronkayorum Schintlmeister, 2005修訂為Curuzza ronkayorum (Schintlmeister, 2005)

圖片連結: 科博館自然與人文數位博物館

[新書預告]舊北區大鱗翅類誌第一卷 - 舟蛾科

書名: PALAEARCTIC MACROLEPIDOPTERA. Vol. 1: Notodontidae
作者: Alexander Schintlmeister: A.
發行年代: 2008 (尚未發行)
規格: 474 pages incl. 48 high quality colour plates.depicting a large number of specimens. Approx. 1800 black and white figures (maps and genitalia).
ISBN: 87-88757-77-3
價格: EUR 140.00 / US$ 196.00 / DKK 980.00.