Entomologist's Gazette - Vol. 63, No. 1, 2012
Published: 2/10/2012
Article Details for this issue
Editorial
By: Tremewan, W.G.
Page: 1
Abundance of Amblyptilia acanthadactyla (Hübner, 1813) (Lepidoptera: Pterophoridae) occurring indoors in North Yorkshire
By: Malumphy, C.
Page: 1-2
Cannibalism of unhatched siblings by larvae of burnet moths (Zygaena Fabricius, 1775), with notes on oophagy and the behaviour of newly hatched larvae (Lepidoptera: Zygaenidae)
By: Hofmann, A. & Kia-Hofmann, T.
Page: 3-36
Synopsis:
With the present article the authors continue their series about pheromone attraction, mating behaviour, ovipositing, egg-batch formation and embryonic development in burnet moths (Zygaena Fabricius, 1775), which began in 2010 (Hofmann & Kia-Hofmann, 2010; 2011).
The first observations in 2007 of newly hatched L1 larvae of Z. dorycnii araratica Staudinger, 1871 that were attacking and partly or completely eating their unhatched embryonic siblings were followed in 2008–2011 by further intensive and more systematic investigations. It was shown that the majority of investigated species exhibit oophagy and cannibalistic tendencies in the early L1 stage, behaviour that was previously unknown for burnet moths. in all positive experiments only unhatched siblings of the same egg-batch became victims of such attacks (sibling cannibalism, adelphophagy). Cannibalism in stages later than L1, or attacks on other egg-batches was never noticed.
In a comparative study of two groups (‘cannibs’ and ‘non-cannibs’) we succeeded in quantifying the direct effects and probable benefits of siblicide in combination with cannibalism, behaviour that at first seems counterproductive from an evolutionary point of view.The ‘cannibs’ l1 larvae were measurably larger and showed some differences in their early behaviour.moreover, a comparison of the moulting curves of these two groups clearly provided evidence that those larvae that exhibit cannibalism have a time advantage in their development, at least until the third moult.
At the beginning of this paper a short introduction and general definitions of cannibalistic behaviour are provided together with specific examples of two Lepidoptera groups ‘butterflies’ (Rhopalocera) and ‘noctuid moths’ (Noctuidae), which are followed by our own investigations and a discussion on some evolutionary implications. The authors hypothesise that (1) egg-shell eating, (2) ingestion of infertile eggs and (3) killing and eating unhatched embryos are consecutive evolutionary stages.
An extraordinary mutation of Zygaena filipendulae (Linnaeus, 1758) (Lepidoptera: Zygaenidae) from the Isle of Mull, Scotland
By: Tremewan, W.G.
Page: 37-38
A reassessment of the presence of Melitaea phoebe ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775) (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) in the Aegean islands: addendum and corrigendum
By: Russell, P. & Pamperis, L.N.
Page: 39-41
Synopsis:
The eastern Aegaean island of Chios, Greece, was visited in order to establish which species of Melitaea phoebe-like butterfly was present and what host-plant it was using. The lateness of the spring resulted in the delayed emergence of many species, including those of Melitaea, none of which was observed. Carduus nutans was not present at any of the locations from where the Melitaea sp. had been reported previously, but Centaurea urvillei was abundant on the island and thus it was concluded that this is most probably the host-plant of M. telona at Néa Moni.
Kalmia procumbens (L.) Galasso, Banfi & F. Conti, a new larval foodplant of Olethreutes schulziana (Fabricius, 1776) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae)
By: Beavan, S.D. & Heckford, R.J.
Page: 42
Musotima nitidalis (Walker, [1866]) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) new to Britain
By: Sterling, P.H., Evans, D. & Jeffes, M.
Page: 43-47
Synopsis:
The finding of Musotima nitidalis (Walker) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) in Dorset, Great Britain, in 2009 is reported. This species is native to Australia and New Zeland and is likely to have been imported accidentally through the horticultural nursery trade. A brief account of its life history and distribution is given.
Atemelia torquatella (Lieng & Zeller, 1846) (Lepidoptera: Yponomeutidae) reared from Myrica gale L. on the Isle of Mull, Mid Ebudes, Scotland
By: Beavan, S.D. & Heckford, R.J.
Page: 48
An unusual, new larval host-plant for Cacoecimorpha pronubana (Hübner, 1799) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae)
By: Signorile, L.
Page: 49-51
Synopsis:
A new host species is described for Cacoecimorpha pronubana, a Mediterranean polyphagous, invasive moth. Larvae were found feeding on Drosera capensis, a carnivorous plant originally from South Africa. The feeding behaviour of C. pronubana closely resembles that of Buckleria parvulus, a specialised Pterophoridae, which coevolved with Drosera rotundifolia.
Intergeneric pairings of butterflies (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) in Greece
By: Pamperis, L.N.
Page: 52-53
Arthropods intercepted on air plants (Tillandsia spp.) imported from Guatemala into England and Wales
By: Malumphy, C.
Page: 54-62
Synopsis:
Air plants (Tillandsia spp.) are popular indoor ornamental plants and the majority of those traded in Britain are nursery produced in Guatemala. A review is presented of the arthropods detected on 60 samples of Guatemalan air plants collected by the Plant Health and Seeds Inspectorate in England and Wales. Forty-three arthropod taxa were identified, of which only 40% are likely to feed on Tillandsia, the remainder being predatory or were of incidental occurrence (detritivores or seeking shelter). About half of the insect species found on the air plants examined belonged to the superfamily Coccoidea or scale insects, the most frequently encountered species being Boisduval scale Diaspis boisduvalii Signoret. The most damaging arthropods to the air plants were acrobat ants Crematogaster spp. and the larva of the moth Elaphria subobliqua (Walker) that chewed the foliage; and D. boisduvalii that caused minor chlorosis. The potential phytosanitary risk to UK horticulture resulting from the import of air plants is discussed and concluded to be negligible.
New records and data on notable British Ptiliidae (Coleoptera)
By: Johnson, C.
Page: 63-68
Synopsis:
New records of notable (or rarer) British Ptiliidae are listed, all collected by the author from the mid-1960s to the present. This paper is to help workers involved in conservation and taxonomic disciplines before my long-planned Ptiliidae ‘Atlas’ (Johnson, in prep.) is published, which will also include new data from revised specimens verified by me in all private and museum collections.