Complex three-dimensional biophotonic nanostructures produce the vivid structural colors of many butterfly wing scales, but their exact nanoscale organization is uncertain. We used small angle X-ray ...scattering (SAXS) on single scales to characterize the 3D photonic nanostructures of five butterfly species from two families (Papilionidae, Lycaenidae). We identify these chitin and air nanostructures as single network gyroid (I4 sub(1)32) photonic crystals. We describe their optical function from SAXS data and photonic band-gap modeling. Butterflies apparently grow these gyroid nanostructures by exploiting the self-organizing physical dynamics of biological lipid-bilayer membranes. These butterfly photonic nanostructures initially develop within scale cells as a core-shell double gyroid (Ia3d), as seen in block-copolymer systems, with a pentacontinuous volume comprised of extracellular space, cell plasma membrane, cellular cytoplasm, smooth endoplasmic reticulum (SER) membrane, and intra-SER lumen. This double gyroid nanostructure is subsequently transformed into a single gyroid network through the deposition of chitin in the extracellular space and the degeneration of the rest of the cell. The butterflies develop the thermodynamically favored double gyroid precursors as a route to the optically more efficient single gyroid nanostructures. Current approaches to photonic crystal engineering also aim to produce single gyroid motifs. The biologically derived photonic nanostructures characterized here may offer a convenient template for producing optical devices based on biomimicry or direct dielectric infiltration.
In our contribution we report on the local host ants of two threatened and protected butterfly species, the scarce large blue (Phengaris teleius) and the dusky large blue (P. nausithous) at Goričko ...(NE Slovenia), which hosts one of the largest and the most important metapopulation for both species of large blues in Slovenia. Larvae of both species are developing in Myrmica ant nests and different ant species may be used as larval hosts in different parts of the species range. During our study, seven species of potential host ants of the genus Myrmica were found at 12 selected sampling sites. A total of 142 ant nests were examined for the presence of Phengaris larvae. Larvae of P. teleius were found in 25 nests of three ant species: M. scabrinodis, M. rubra and M. gallienii, while larvae of P. nausithous were found in 9 nests, all of M. rubra. The results of the present study provide the first insight into the local host ants of the two Phengaris species in Slovenia and could serve as an important source for active conservation of both species in Slovenia.
Aricia artaxerxes issekutzi imagos were collected from eight localities in two regions in Northern Hungary (Buekk Mountains and Aggtelek Karst region) in 1999 and 2000. Enzyme polymorphism was ...analysed at 16 enzyme loci using polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. In the analysis of the data, F-statistics was computed and the total genetic variation was partitioned into within and between population components. Nei's genetic distances were calculated and UPGMA dendrogram was constructed on the basis of the distance matrix. Hierarchical F-statistics and AMOVA were computed to study the pattern of genetic differentiation among the samples. PCA analysis was also carried out using the allele frequencies of the samples. The Hungarian populations of A. artaxerxes issekutzi exhibited a high level of enzyme polymorphism. Both the dendrogram and the results of PCA indicated a clear differentiation between the Buekk and Karst regions. Most parameters of polymorphism and also the level of differentiation among the local populations were similar in the two regions. Nevertheless the average number of alleles per locus was significantly lower in the samples of the Buekk Mts than those of the Karst ones. In addition, the Buekk populations possessed a significantly lower portion of the species allele pool compared to the Karst ones. It was mostly the consequence of genetic drift due to the small population sizes in the Buekk Mts.
Eight species of Pseudolucia Nabokov, 1945 are described from Mendoza and San Juan regions of Argentina: P. calingasta sp. n. from San Juan (P. andina species group); P. atutia sp. n., P. ofi r sp. ...n. and P. ulibarrii sp. n. from San Juan (P. argentina species group); P. sosneada sp. n. from Mendoza (P. chilensis species group); P. kieslingi sp. n. from Mendoza and P. mercedaria sp. n. from San Juan (P. collina species group) and P. pilgrama sp. n. from San Juan (P. sibylla species group). Identifi cation keys for groups are given. Taxonomy, known distributions, larval hostplants of the species are recorded and the biology/ethology of the species are briefl y discussed. The distribution of the genus Pseudolucia in austral South America is given. With 68 figures and one table.
Zizina otis (Fabricius, 1787) is a Lycaenidae widespread in Asia. The study site Anand district of Gujarat is rich in floral diversity and harbours flowering and nonflowering plants which appear ...throughout the year. At several locations within the Anand district, Z. otis was observed in huge numbers and those high-density areas were monitored to record the nectar plants utilized by them. During this study we were able to record 12 species of plants utilized by Z. otis as food/nectar plants.
First report of
Deudorix livia
(Lepidoptera: Lycaеnidae) in the extreme south of Algeria
As part of a study to identify new species, an expedition was organised from the 21st to the 31st of December ...2019 in the extreme south of the Algerian Sahara. The authors reported the presence of
Deudorix livia
(Klug, 1834) (Lepidoptera: Lycaеnidae). This is the first observation of this species in Southern Algeria.
Dans le cadre d’une étude naturaliste visant à l’identification de tous types de nouvelles espèces vivantes, une expédition a été organisée du 21 au 31 décembre 2019 dans l’extrême sud du Sahara algérien. Les auteurs signalent la présence de
Deudorix livia
(Klug, 1834) (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae). Il s’agit de la première observation de cette espèce dans le sud de l’Algérie.
Первое сообщение о
Deudorix livia
(Lepidoptera: Lycaеnidae) на крайнем юге Алжира
С 21 по 31 декабря 2019 года на крайнем юге Алжирской Сахары в рамках проведения исследований по выявлению новых видов была организована экспедиция. Авторы сообщили о присутствии
Deudorix livia
(Klug, 1834) (Lepidoptera: Lycaеnidae). Это первое наблюдение этого вида на юге Алжира.
The paper deals with the butterfly diversity of Guwahati, Assam, India which was the result of a survey conducted from April 2016 to July 2020. During the study period we recorded 249 species of ...butterflies belonging to six families namely Papilionidae (24 species), Pieridae (23 species), Lycaenidae (57 species), Riodinidae (two species), Nymphalidae (97 species), and Hesperiidae (46 species). Twenty-eight species were recorded from commercial areas, 74 species from residential areas, and 248 species from forested areas. Nineteen species were found to be very common, 39 species common, 50 species fairly common, 53 species uncommon, 57 species rare, and 31 species very rare. Twenty-four species and nine subspecies including Discophora sondiaca, Athyma selenophora, and Athyma kanwa phorkys are legally protected under different schedules as per the Indian Wildlife Protection Act (1972).
In total, 63 specimens of Lycaenidae collected in high altitude of the Bamyan Province, Waras District, vicinity of Doabi, a less explored area of Afghanistan from lepidopterological point of view, ...are evaluated. Te material represents seven polyommatine (Afarsia hanna (Evans, 1932), Alpherakya bellona (Grum-Grshimailo, 1888), A. yakavlangi (Tshikolovets, Pljushtch, Pak et Skrylnik, 2018), Aricia agestis (Schifermüller, 1775), Eumedonia eumedon bamiana (Tshikolovets, Pljushtch et Skrylnik, 2018), Polyommatus bilucha (Moore, 1884), P. icarus (Rottemburg, 1775)), one scolitantidine (Turanana laspura (Evans, 1932)) and one callophrydine (Satryium hazarajatica Krupitsky, Pljushtch et Pak, 2018) lycaenid butterfy species, all of them are briefy annotated. Te species Polyommatus nadirus (Moore, 1884) is discussed. Tese results the following nomenclatural actions and changes: Eumedonia eumedon bamiana comb. n.; Polyommatus muetingi (Bálint, 1993), sp. reinst. from the synonymy of Polyommatus nadira (Moore, 1865) Tshikolovets, Pljutsch et Skrylnik, 2018; lectotype is designated for Lycaena nadira Moore, 1884; Afarsia sieversi nadira (Moore, 1884), comb. n. = Polyommatus sieversi felicia Evans 1932, syn. n.
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