The Holarctic Saturniid genus Saturnia contains eight subgenera, though their taxonomic ranks have been in flux for decades. A prior biogeographic analysis with a six gene molecular phylogeny of Saturnia including 34 species and representatives of all but one subgenus supports distinct divisions that require taxonomic changes to accurately reflect their biology and phylogeography. In the current study, we add more publicly available COI sequence data to the previous dataset, and include all subgenera, which resulted in a dataset with approximately 67 species. Based on inferred phylogenies of the 34-species and 67-species datasets as well as the biogeographic analyses, we propose to elevate six subgenera to genus level: Agapema Neumoegen & Dyar 1894 stat. rev., CachosaturniaNaumann, Löffler & Nässig 2012stat. nov., Calosaturnia Smith 1886 stat. rev., Neoris Moore 1862 stat. rev., Perisomena Walker 1855 stat. rev., Rinaca Walker 1855 stat. rev. Additionally, we synonymize Eudia Jordan 1911 syn. nov. with Saturnia Schrank 1802 because it renders Saturnia paraphyletic, and confirm the previous synonymization of Eriogyna Jordan 1911 with Saturnia and of Caligula Moore 1862 with Rinaca Walker 1855. With these changes, molecular phylogeny and biogeographic analysis has informed taxonomy of a prominent, but poorly-understood group and revealed how the complex biogeography and active biotic exchange across the northern hemisphere has promoted diversification in previously unrecognized groups.

The diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (L.) (Lep.: Plutellidae), is a key pest of cruciferous vegetables, throughout the world including Iran. In this study, the effects of vermicompost and humic acid fertilizers on the population growth of P. xylostella were investigated and, furthermore, root system development in the host plants, canola, white cabbage, and red cabbage, was evaluated under the same experimental conditions. Our results showed that brassicaceous plants fertilized by these fertilizers significantly reduced the immature survival rate of P. xylostella. Reared adults from larvae on the treated plants also showed statistically significant reductions in the longevity, oviposition period, and fecundity compared with the control. On canola, white cabbage and red cabbage, the values of R₀ (35.4, 10.2 and 6.2 offspring/individual, respectively), r (0.151, 0.098 and 0.071 day^-1, respectively), and λ (1.163, 1.103 and 1.074 day^-1, respectively) on the plants fertilized with both humic acid and vermicompost were significantly lower than control plants. We also found that on the plants fertilized with humic acid and vermicompost, the number of eggs laid was lower than control plants. The tested fertilizers improved the development of root systems and subsequently enhanced the plant resistance to P. xylostella. Our results show that humic acid and vermicompost root application induces systemic defenses in canola, white cabbage, and red cabbage that have negative effects on the performance of P. xylostella. These findings will help to develop our knowledge regarding the effects of humic acid and vermicompost fertilizers on the resistance of plants to P. xylostella.

The biology of the Hemileuca maia group of “buck moths” in the Great Lakes region is summarized, especially with respect to the northern “maia complex” where adult phenotype is not well-correlated with either pheromone response or perceived host plant associations. Published field trials of pheromone response are updated with respect to host plant associations. We found a reciprocal lack of response to pheromone between willow-feeding “complex” moths in lowland, glaciated habitats to the north and oak-feeding populations in non-glaciated habitats to the south. We discuss how post-glacial host plant distributions — expansion from previous refugia and forestation of the Great Lakes terrain — may have played a key role in structuring current Great Lakes Hemileuca populations. In addition, the subsequent rapid and extreme drying during the mid-Holocene (8,000–3,200 years BP) led to the expansive tall grass prairie, producing a finger-like eastern extension known as the Prairie Peninsula, which probably provided an additional ecological barrier separating these oak and willow-feeding populations. Rapid expansion of willow-feeding populations from Pleistocene refugia after 18,000 years BP offers a more likely explanation, compared to gene flow, for the general lack of genetic divergence previously found in the buck moths of the Great Lakes region.

The Australian endemic castniid tribe Synemonini represents a substantial radiation of diurnal Lepidoptera, especially in the southern temperate areas of the continent. The tropical areas of northern Australia support considerably fewer species, however, much of the fauna is presently undescribed. Here we diagnose, describe and illustrate a new castniid, Synemon kimberleyensissp. nov., from the remote Kimberley region of northwestern Australia. Synemon kimberleyensissp. nov. is allopatric and closely related to S. phaeoptilaTurner, 1906 from the Top End, Wet Tropics and Cape York Peninsula, Australia. This pair of species is part of an ecological set of six Synemon species that are a characteristic component of the tropical savannah woodlands, which occur extensively across the monsoon tropics of northern Australia and, as far as is known, all specialize on Poaceae as their larval host plants, especially the genus Chrysopogon Trin.

Humans have an especially close connection with the monarch butterfly, Danaus plexippus, and this connection often involves direct handling of larvae, pupae or adults. Monarchs are frequently handled in citizen science programs, education and outreach activities, classroom demonstrations, and when rearing larvae in captivity. A pertinent question is whether monarchs perceive this human handling in the same way as being attacked by a predator, i.e. does it trigger a physiological fight-or-flight reaction? Here, I investigated if brief periods of handling monarch larvae, pupae, or adults elevates their heart rate (a central component of the insect fight-or-flight response), using non-destructive methods: either microscopy or an electronic heart monitor designed for invertebrates. Results are presented from separate investigations on each life stage. Three minutes of gentle handling caused a significant elevation (20%) in heart rates of 30 fifth-instar larvae. Mild physical disturbance for 20 seconds to a collection of 57 pupae elicited brief bursts of heart contractions (∼88 beats/min), a rate which is three times higher than typical contraction periods at this stage. Adult monarchs captured during fall migration (n=72) showed minor heart rate elevations (6%) after 3 minutes of gentle handling for tagging purposes. The differences in reactions across life stages found here is helpful for elucidating the relative sensitivity of each stage to handling. More importantly, these results elucidate the unseen physiological impact of direct human contact on developing monarchs (larvae and pupae); elevation in heart rate is an integral part of the fight-or-flight reaction in animals and a universal sign that an animal perceives an imminent threat. In this sense then, developing monarchs appear to perceive human handling as a threat, which may alter our (human) perception of this practice.

Frosted elfins (Callophrys irus Godart) are a rare lycaenid currently being assessed for potential listing under the US Fish and Wildlife Service's Endangered Species Act. We recorded observations on the early life stages of C. irus in north Florida as part of a larger multi-year study of a C. irus metapopulation. Oviposition was observed as early as February 20 and as late as April 7, and occurred primarily on immature inflorescences, apical shoots of a non-flowering stem, leaf petioles, leaf buds, and the margins of leaflets. Larvae were observed as early as March 18 and as late as May 11. Different larval stages fed on different portions of their host plants. The frequency of ant associations with C. irus larvae was similar to other lupine-feeding populations, but less than wild indigo-feeding populations. Larval feeding sign was useful for focusing larval search efforts and may be valuable for researchers trying to determine presence or absence of species in areas that cannot be systematically surveyed for adults.