Lepidoptera: Biology and Taxonomy

Association of iridescence and tails with flight proxies suggests that predation drives convergence in skipper butterflies

The paper examines morphological convergence in skipper butterflies, finding that traits like hindwing tails and iridescence are linked to flight performance and antipredator defenses, driven by ecological selection.

Rediscovery and ecology of the Capulin Mountain Alberta arctic butterfly: informing data collection for rare endemics

This study documents the current distribution, phenology, and habitat of the Capulin Mountain Alberta arctic butterfly, identifying its larval host plant and suggesting areas for future monitoring.

Climate and regional plant richness drive diet specialization in butterfly caterpillars

This study examines how climate and regional plant richness influence diet specialization in butterfly caterpillars using global distribution data.

Mothbox and Mothbot: automated light trap and data processing system for scalable insect monitoring

The paper introduces Mothbox, an open-source automated light trap, and Mothbot, a machine learning tool for processing insect monitoring data, demonstrating their ability to capture insect activity patterns across time and habitats.

From Concrete to Canopy: Illuminating Moth Biodiversity in New York City's Urban Jungle

This study examines urbanization's impact on moth biodiversity in New York City using citizen science and field surveys, finding reduced diversity with greater urbanization and light pollution.

Temporal dynamics of color polymorphism and hybridization in Colias butterflies

The paper examines hybridization and color polymorphism in Colias butterflies over five years, finding hybrid ancestry correlates with intermediate phenotypes but not exclusively.

Mixture Models Unveil the Origin of the Enigmatic Satyrine Butterfly Genera Calisto and Llorenteana (Lepidoptera, Nymphalidae, Satyrinae).

The paper uses genomic data and phylogenetic methods to resolve the origins of two Satyrinae butterfly genera, finding Calisto originated from Old World ancestors and Llorenteana split early in Euptychiina.

Near chromosome-level genome assembly of Neomusotima conspurcatalis gives insights into the evolution of moth genome architecture and fern-insect interactions

The paper presents a near-chromosome genome assembly of a moth used in biological control of an invasive fern, revealing conserved genome structure and odorant receptor gene expansions linked to host specificity.

Do camera light traps for moths provide similar data as conventional funnel light traps?

This study compares automated camera light traps (CLTs) with conventional funnel light traps (FLTs) for moth monitoring, finding CLTs perform well overall but under-sample active species like Sphingidae and over-sample calmer species like Geometridae.

A shared gene but distinct dynamics regulate mimicry polymorphisms in closely related species

The paper investigates how a shared gene, doublesex, regulates distinct mimicry polymorphisms in two closely related butterfly species through different developmental mechanisms.

Elevational patterns in two groups of micromoths (Lepidoptera: Pterophoridae, Alucitidae) in tropical forests of Mount Cameroon

This study examines elevational patterns in two micromoth families on Mount Cameroon, finding distinct diversity peaks and community shifts with elevation.

Müllerian mimicry in Neotropical butterflies: One mimicry ring to bring them all, and in the jungle bind them

This study examines spatial patterns of Mullerian mimicry in Neotropical butterflies, revealing convergent climatic niches and vulnerability to climate change.

Lepidoptera Diversity, Richness, and Distribution in Semi-Urban Farmland and other Habitats around Lumbini, Rupandehi

This study documents Lepidoptera diversity in semi-urban farmland and other habitats around Lumbini, Nepal, finding higher species richness in shrublands and agricultural areas.

Larger and polymorphic noctuid moths tend to show less inter-annual abundance variation in the canopy of a temperate forest

The paper examines inter-annual abundance variation in noctuid moths, finding that larger and polymorphic species show less variation, while feeding preferences influence peak abundance timing.

Genomics of Neotropical biodiversity indicators: two butterfly radiations with rampant chromosomal rearrangements and hybridisation

This study examines two Neotropical butterfly radiations, revealing high rates of hybridization and chromosomal rearrangements as drivers of diversification.

Convergent molecular evolution associated with repeated transitions to gregarious larval behaviour in Heliconiini

The paper identifies convergent molecular evolution in Heliconiini butterflies associated with repeated transitions to gregarious larval behavior, focusing on genomic and transcriptomic changes.

Mutualisms within light microhabitats drive sensory convergence in a mimetic butterfly community

The paper shows that light microhabitats in forests drive sensory convergence and divergence in mimetic butterflies' visual systems through mutualistic interactions.

Correlated evolution of multiple traits gives butterflies a false head

The paper investigates the evolution of false head traits in butterflies, finding that these traits evolved together in a correlated manner, likely due to shared selective pressures for predator deflection.

Stronger bat predation and weaker environmental constraints predict longer moth tails

The paper evaluates the evolutionary balance between bat predation pressure and environmental constraints on moth tail length using phylogenetic and ecological data.

The role of a non-native host plant in altering the seasonal dynamics of monarch development

This study shows that a non-native host plant allows monarch butterflies to develop later in the fall, altering their seasonal life cycle.

Genetic basis of an adaptive polymorphism controlling butterfly silver iridescence

This study identifies the genetic basis of silver iridescence polymorphism in Mormon Fritillary butterflies, linking it to the optix gene and showing evidence of selection and introgression.

On the origin of an insular hybrid butterfly lineage

The paper identifies a hybrid butterfly lineage in the Baltic Sea, showing it originated from hybridization between two non-sister species and persisted through climate change.

Long-term population dynamics of an endangered butterfly are influenced by hurricane-mediated disturbance

This study uses 35 years of mark-recapture data to show that hurricane-mediated disturbance positively influences Schaus swallowtail butterfly population sizes.

The ivory lncRNA regulates seasonal color patterns in buckeye butterflies

The paper identifies ivory, a conserved lncRNA, as the color pattern gene at the cortex locus in buckeye butterflies, showing how cis-regulatory elements of ivory influence seasonal color variation.

From the formation of embryonic appendages to the color of wings: Conserved and novel roles of aristaless1 in butterfly development

This study investigates the developmental role of aristaless1 in butterfly wing coloration, finding it regulates pigment synthesis and expression through Wnt signaling.

Functional unit and regulatory mechanisms of supergene in female-limited Batesian mimicry of Papilio polytes

The paper identifies the functional unit of a supergene in Papilio polytes, showing that multiple genes within and outside an inversion region control mimicry traits.

Evidence that a major subpopulation of fall armyworm found in the Western Hemisphere is rare or absent in Africa, which may limit the range of crops at risk of infestation.

The paper tests for strain-specific mating behaviors in fall armyworm in Africa and finds evidence that the R-strain is rare or absent, suggesting limited crop risk from this strain.

apterous A Specifies Dorsal Wing Patterns And Sexual Traits In Butterflies

This study identifies apterous A as a key regulator of surface-specific wing pattern differentiation in butterflies, showing its dual role in repressing ventral patterns and promoting dorsal sexual ornaments.