In order to gain a better understanding of the effects of urbanization on insect biodiversity we compared moth assemblages between residential yards and urban woodlots in East Lansing, Michigan. We surveyed 36 sites over six trapping nights, for a total of 24 hours of nighttime light-trapping at each site. We captured over 2700 macromoth individuals and over 4000 micromoth individuals; more than 97% of macromoth individuals were identified to species. We analyzed differences in life history traits such as body size and feeding guild between residential moths and urban woodlot moths. Urban woodlots had a higher overall abundance of moths and higher species richness than residential yards. Residential yards were found to have a high proportion of “tourist species.” Urban woodlot moth species were significantly larger than residential moth species, leading us to hypothesize that larger moths may be more prone to predation in open habitats. The woodlot moth assemblage was also characterized by a higher percentage of tree generalist species; the residential moth assemblage had a higher percentage of grass/herb generalist species.

Phycitinae are a morphologically and ecologically diverse group of Lepidoptera with numerous pest species. Establishment of a stable classification system for the subfamily has been challenging due to complex evolutionary patterns in adult morphological structures and difficult species identifications. Currently, Carl Heinrich's dual system, published in 1956, serves as the main reference point for tribal classification, but its inherent ambiguity and geographic constraints have meant that no system is widely accepted for the subfamily. Here we present the first molecular phylogeny of the Phycitinae, based on two independent gene regions (cytochrome oxidase I and elongation factor 1 alpha). We use this molecular phylogeny to examine evolutionary trends in four key morphological structures (hind wing venation, male antennae, male maxillary palpi and male abdomen 8 modifications for pheromone dispersion) and determine their phylogenetic utility. Our results indicate two major groups of genera in the Phycitinae and that morphological traits appear to correspond to these relationships, although some homoplasy exists.

In order to investigate geographic population structure and genetic diversity in the soybean pod borer Leguminivora glycinivorella, partial sequences of the mitochondrial DNA of 337 individuals from northeastern China were sequenced and analyzed. 16 haplotypes were found in CO II, and 14 haplotypes were defined in Cytb, including one haplotype shared by ten populations in each gene. L. glycinivorella populations are characterized by medium/low haplotype diversity and nucleotide diversity. The Tajima's D and Fu's Fs test indicated that there might not have been a recent population expansion. All pairwise gene flow Nm parameters were greater than one in the 10 populations. Molecular variance analysis (AMOVA) demonstrated that the observed genetic differentiation occurs primarily within populations, rather than among populations, no large-scale regional differences are detected. Genetic distance is not significantly correlated with geographical distance between populations. Maximum likelihood phylogenetic trees and a haplotype network showed that the haplotypes are distributed in different clades and no obvious geographical structure has been formed. The result suggested that geographic population structure among L. glycinivorella are not affected by geographic isolation and recent dispersal (some gene flow) resulting in no significant genetic differentiation occurred among populations.

The morphometrics of proboscises of Vanessa cardui were examined to determine potential allometric growth relationships. Butterfly mass and six proboscis measurements were recorded from V. cardui reared on artificial diet treatments, in conjunction with fluid uptake rates. Log10 transformed data revealed negative allometry with proboscis length, butterfly mass, and drinking region length as the independent variables. Fluid uptake rates, however, had a nearly isometric relationship with most proboscis measurements, but not the total number of sensilla styloconica, which indicated inverse allometry with fluid uptake rates. The patterns exposed here show that the studied proboscis structures are important predictors for fluid uptake, but the selection pressures associated with feeding strategies and the substrates from which V. cardui feed favor a particular proboscis architecture, deviations from this configuration might require different feeding strategies and food sources.

The spotted tussock moth, Lophocampa maculata Harris 1841, inhabits a wide band of North America on both sides of the United States/Canadian border from coast to coast and extends southward along the Pacific coast and in the major mountain ranges of the United States. Within this large range, the species exists as several geographic variants characterized by a number of phenotypic differences, most notably last instar larval coloration. Other distinctions include voltinism, with the California coastal variety being uniquely bivoltine, and larval food preference. While considered a generalist feeder on broadleaf trees, some geographic variants show strong preferences for a particular genus of food plant. Over most of its range, L. maculata exists in one of two larval color patterns. Last instars of the Eastern and California Coastal forms are a combination of black and yellow, while the Western Interior form is a combination of orange and black. However, in the Pacific Northwest there is a stable population exhibiting wide variation in larval coloration, with features of the color patterns of both the other two varieties. An additional, and perhaps unique, feature of larval coloration is the rare occurrence of individuals with partial depigmentation for one or two instars, followed by reversion to normal coloration in the last instar and the adult. These individuals are found in all of the geographic populations, although there are small distinctions in coloration that appear to be population-specific. Larval coloration results from three pigments. Exogenous xanthophylls, obtained from the diet produce the yellow color, whereas the endogenous black pigment is eumelanin. The orange pigment is most likely pheomelanin, produced endogenously.

New data on Zygaenidae from French Guiana are provided together with a checklist and key to genera and species. Seven species are newly described: Pampa hermieri (Tarmann & Drouet), new species, Pampa pseudovenata (Tarmann & Drouet), new species, Stylura guyanensis (Tarmann & Drouet), new species, Monalita faurei (Tarmann & Drouet), new species, Monalita laguerrei (Tarmann & Drouet), new species, Seryda gallardi (Tarmann & Drouet), new species, and Seryda confusa (Tarmann & Drouet), new species. All species are discussed in detail and their habitus and genitalia are figured. A key to the narrow-winged genera of American Zygaenidae and all species of French Guiana is provided