Genus Chrysozephyrus Shirôzu & Yamamoto, 1956 (Tribe: Theclini) contains species with high morphological plasticity, often complicating accurate identification. This study provides an integrative taxonomic assessment of C. syla (Kollar, [1844]) and C. birupa (Moore, 1877) based on specimens from the Himachal Pradesh region of the Indian Himalayas. Significantly, this investigation provides the first formal description and illustration of the female genitalia of C. birupa, alongside the first comprehensive illustrations of both male and female genitalia for C. syla. To supplement these morphological findings, mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase I (COI) sequences were generated, representing the first global DNA barcoding data for these species. Molecular analysis revealed a characteristic A + T bias (average 70.3%), consistent with Lepidoptera mitochondrial evolution. Preliminary phylogenetic reconstruction using Maximum Likelihood confirms the placement of these Indian taxa within the Theclini clade, showing low intergeneric genetic distances (5.0-6.5%) that align with recent genomic hypotheses suggesting potential synonymy within the Hypaurotis Scudder, 1876 group. These findings provide essential morphological and molecular baselines for rare high-altitude Lycaenidae and underscore the importance of integrating genital morphology with molecular tools for resolving the complex systematics of the tribe.
Se describe una nueva especie del género Metzneria Zeller, 1839 para la península ibérica. Se presentan los caracteres diferenciales con otras especies del género, referidas a la morfología externa, genitalia y análisis genético.
Semiochemical lures known to attract Zygaenidae species were screened by means of sticky Delta traps and CSALOMON® VARL funnel traps in two Natura 2000 protected areas in Bulgaria - Nikopolsko plato (near Lozitsa village) (northern central Bulgaria) and Lozenska planina Mts, in 2015-2018 and 2023, respectively. As a result, Rhagades (Rhagades) pruni, Theresimima ampellophaga, Zygaena (Agrumenia) carniolica and Z. (Zygaena) filipendulae were recorded in the vineyards near Lozitsa vill. while Adscita (Eurasiterna) geryon, A. (Tarmannita) mannii, Jordanita (Tremewania) notata and Rh. (Rh.) pruni were registered in Lozenska planina Mts. Rhagades (Rh.) pruni was newly recorded in northern central Bulgaria. In addition to Zygaenidae species, a total of 62 non-target species belonging to following Lepidoptera families: Coleophoridae, Crambidae, Erebidae, Gelechiidae, Geometridae, Noctuidae, Nolidae, Nymphalidae, Oecophoridae, Pieridae, Plutelliidae, Pyralidae, Tortricidae and Yponomeutidae, were recorded. Sex attractants for one Coleophoridae, one Cambidae, one Geñechiidae and two Noctuidae species were established for the first time. Two Augasma species are new records for the fauna of the Balkan Peninsula.
The present study extends the distributional range of two Curetis Hübner, [1819] species in the southern part of West Bengal state, India. This study reports Curetis saronis Moore, 1877 for the first time from the coastal mangrove forests of India. Curetis bulis (Westwood, 1852) is reported for the first time from the Chhotanagpur plateau region of India and is the first report from West Bengal outside the Himalayan ranges.
The Lepidoptera fauna of Algeria is well documented in Mediterranean regions but remains poorly known across the country’s Saharan expanse. We report the first confirmed record of Hypolimnas misippus (Linnaeus, 1764) in northwestern Africa, based on a solitary male observed and photographed in the Ikenouine wetland in Illizi Province, southeastern Algeria. A notable migrant, the status of this species at the edges of its range remains fluid. The Ikenouine specimen is plausibly a naturally dispersed stray from sub-Saharan Africa. Several host plants associated with H. misippus are documented in the broader region. The presence of H. misippus at Ikenouine suggests that Saharan wetlands, including those in the Ahaggar and Tassili n’Ajjer massifs, may represent ecological refuges and dispersal stepping-stones along a northward route from sub-Saharan Africa. This record underlines the importance of continued field investigations in remote desert areas of Algeria to better understand Lepidoptera distributions and biogeographic patterns in the region.
The material representing 35 specimens with 21 species and a total of 24 taxa belonging to the Castniidae (Lepidoptera) deposited in the National Museum of Ireland - Natural History, Dublin, Ireland, was studied. A brief comment on the history of the Natural History Museum and the origin of this small collection of Neotropical and Australian species is provided. General comments on natural history, distribution and other details for each mentioned species and subspecies are also included.
The Choreutis nemorana (Hübner, [1799]) was discovered in Western Ukraine for the first time. The larvae of this species were found on Ficus carica L. in the city of Uzhhorod (Transcarpathian region). The adults were bred in laboratory conditions. Most of the life stages of Choreutis nemorana are illustrated. A distributional checklist of the Choreutidae family in Ukraine is provided.
Papilio demoleus malayanus Wallace, 1865 is reported for the first time in Mexico, based on four specimens collected in Cancún, Quintana Roo, and 11 additional observations from the state Quintana Roo, documented on the citizen science platform iNaturalist.org. This species is a recognized pest of citrus crops, and its monitoring is recommended to prevent its spread within the country and to mitigate potential economic impacts on the citrus industry. Furthermore, records of this species from other countries in the Americas are presented, based on citizen researchers’ observations uploaded in iNatuaralist.org, including the first documented records for Costa Rica and Panama. Two new host plants are reported for Papilio demoleus, and various aspects of its ecology are discussed. Lastly, the importance of iNaturalist.org as an effective platform for detecting rare species, Lepidoptera pests, and other taxonomic groups is emphasized.
This study reports the first confirmed record of Vanessa atalanta (Linnaeus, 1758) in India, marking a significant range extension of this species into the Eurasian region. A single specimen was documented during an opportunistic field survey conducted in April 2025 in the Dharamshala region of Himachal Pradesh. This observation expands the known geographical distribution of V. atalanta and provides preliminary insights into its local habitat preferences and potential larval host plants in the Western Himalayan ecosystem. These findings contribute to the broader understanding of the species’ ecological adaptability and biogeographical dynamics in South Asia.
This work was conducted in two stages separated by approximately 33 years, which is why it is presented in two parts. The first stage took place between 1993 and 1995, within the framework of the author’s Doctoral Thesis research (Ylla, 1997). The author transferred 28 cocoons of Graellsia isabelae (Graells, 1849) to a forest of Pinus uncinata Miller located above the village of Queralbs, at 1600 m a.s.l., (El Ripollès, Gerona, Catalonia, Spain). The objective was to test the hypothesis that “the pupa of G. isabelae cannot withstand the cold winter temperatures typical of this ecosystem”. If verified, this would explain why the species has failed to establish stable populations in high-altitude P. uncinata forests. However, the results did not support the hypothesis. Thirty years later, the situation remains unchanged: G. isabelae has still not been detected in P. uncinata forests. It will likely be necessary to repeat the study over several additional seasons in order to obtain a more robust dataset. This new research has been carried out in 2026, and the last results are presented in the second part of this paper.
El género Anteos Hübner, [1819] y la especie Anteos maerula (Fabricius, 1775) se reportan por primera vez en un ecosistema de Páramo en Colombia. Se registró la presencia de esta especie en varias localidades: el Páramo de la Cuchilla El Tablazo en Subachoque, Cundinamarca; el Páramo de Guerrero en Cáchira, Norte de Santander; el Páramo Sabana Rubia y el Cerro Pintado en la Serranía del Perijá, Cesar; y el Páramo de García en Pamplona, Norte de Santander. Además, se amplía su rango altitudinal en Colombia hasta los 3.532 m, superando el límite máximo previamente reportado de 1.000 m. Asimismo, se encontró que A. maerula posee un rango térmico más amplio en comparación con A. menippe (Hübner, [1818]) y A. clorinde (Godart, [1824]), lo que podría facilitar su dispersión en diversos hábitats. Esto sugiere que emplea estrategias como el amortiguamiento térmico y la tolerancia térmica para enfrentar las fluctuaciones de temperatura. Se propone la relación filogenética de (A. maerula + A. menippe) + A. clorinde. Sin embargo, es necesario profundizar en el estudio de la especie y del género en general para comprender mejor su autoecología, sus relaciones sistemáticas y sus patrones biogeográficos. Este estudio resalta la significativa brecha en el conocimiento de la fauna de Lepidoptera en varias regiones de Colombia y subraya la necesidad de fomentar investigaciones en distintos ecosistemas del país. Del mismo modo, se enfatiza el papel fundamental de las colecciones científicas y las bases de datos sobre Biodiversidad en la conservación del patrimonio natural y en el avance del conocimiento científico.
This study compares the ultrastructural development of antennal and mouthpart sensilla across larval instars of Amata bicincta (Kollar, [1840]) and Areas galactina (van der Hoeven, 1840) (Lepidoptera: Erebidae) using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). A. bicincta exhibits five larval instars, while A. galactina has eight. Key findings include species-specific sensilla reductions and modifications: A. bicincta loses antennal sensillum B3 after the first instar, and its spinneret transitions to a broad, leaf-like structure. A. galactina retains B5 in later stages but loses B3 entirely, and its spinneret becomes conical in the final instar. Additional variations include transient appearances and disappearances of galeal sensilla (MSB, LSB/CSB) in A. galactina. These results underscore the utility of larval ultrastructure in taxonomic and sensory ecology studies, as well as the importance of examining all larval stages.
Este estudio presenta un listado de especies de Lepidoptera de las familias Megalopygidae, Saturniidae y la subfamilia Arctiinae colectadas en el municipio de Icononzo, Tolima, Colombia. Se establecieron tres zonas diferenciadas por su cobertura vegetal y el grado de intervención antrópica, en las que se realizaron 12 noches de muestreo utilizando una trampa de luz LED portátil. Se registraron un total de 175 individuos y 68 especies/morfoespecies. La subfamilia Arctiinae presentó 124 individuos distribuidas en 50 especies, la familia Saturniidae 34 individuos agrupadas en 12 especies y la familia Megalopygidae 17 individuos repartidos en 6 especies. Esta investigación contribuye al conocimiento de la biodiversidad de estos grupos de Lepidoptera en el departamento del Tolima y proporciona información valiosa para la conservación de los ecosistemas locales.
Se muestrearon Papilionoidea en fragmentos boscosos en un gradiente altitudinal de la Orinoquia colombiana a 132, 300, 500, 700 y 980 metros sobre el nivel del mar con el objetivo de describir la diversidad, los cambios en la estructura de la comunidad y relacionarlos con la composición florística. En cada localidad se utilizaron trampas Van Someren Rydon y capturas directas para recolectar Papilionoidea mientras que el inventario florístico de plantas leñosas se hizo en parcelas de 1.000 m2 y las herbáceas en 1 m2. Se recolectaron 152 ejemplares de Rhopalocera correspondientes a seis familias, 54 géneros y 66 especies. La riqueza osciló entre siete a 30 especies en los cinco fragmentos, y la similitud fue baja según el índice de Bray-Curtis con valores de 0,76 a 1, indicando baja similitud en la composición de especies de Papilionoidea. Se encontraron diferencias en la riqueza entre altitudes y una correlación del 97,8% entre las comunidades de plantas y Papilionoidea. Adicionalmente, encontramos que Bunsius oileus (Linnaeus, 1767), Anartia amathea (Linnaeus, 1758) y A. jatrophae (Linnaeus, 1763) están asociadas con 132 m s. n. m., mientras que Rhetus dysonii (Saunders, 1850) y Actinote pellenea (Hübner, [1821]) se asociaron con 980 m s. n. m. Los resultados sugieren que la estructura de la comunidad de Lepidoptera estuvo más influenciada por la estructura de la comunidad de plantas que por los cambios en la altitud. Las asociaciones de especies caracterizadas por una amplia tolerancia a perturbaciones antropogénicas, a 132 y 980 m. s. n. m. podrían indicar que actividades agrícolas y ganaderas generan cambios significativos en los fragmentos de bosque en la Orinoquia colombiana.
Oxypteryx dubiella Huemer & Šumpich, sp. nov. (Gelechiidae, Aristoteliinae), is described from specimens collected in south and east of Spain (provinces Alicante, Almeria, Valencia). The new species differs from related congeneric taxa by several characters of male and female genitalia, as well as by the highly divergent DNA barcode (cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1). Adults, and male and female genitalia are figured. Considering the isolated position within Oxypteryx Rebel, 1911 and in absence of a suprageneric revision of Aristoteliinae the generic combination is tentative.
This study documents the first occurrence of Aglossa caprealis (Hübner, [1809]) in India, with a specimen collected in the Shopian district of the Kashmir Valley. Based on observations from similar habitats, the species’ tentative range includes the Kashmir region, northern Jammu, and potentially extends to Pakistan, Afghanistan, Turkmenistan, and Iran. An IUCN Red List assessment using the GeoCAT tool classifies the species as Least Concern (LC), with an estimated extent of occurrence (EOO) of 207,099,692.893 km². This first confirmed record in the Indian subcontinent highlights a significant range expansion and provides critical insights into its South and Central Asian distribution.
