scholarly journals Symmetry systems on the wings of Dichromodes Guenée (Lepidoptera: Geometridae) are unconstrained by venation

PeerJ ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
pp. e8263
Author(s):  
Sandra R. Schachat

The nymphalid groundplan, an idealized schematic illustrating the essential elements of butterfly wing patterns, predicts a consistent relationship between color pattern and wing venation. Moths in the family Geometridae have wing shapes and patterns that often resemble those of butterflies, and until recently, this family was believed to be among butterflies’ closest relatives. However, an examination of the geometrid genus Dichromodes Guenée, 1858 shows no consistent relationship between the central symmetry system and wing venation. Whereas the distal edge of the central symmetry system is predicted to reach the costal margin proximal to the Subcostal vein in butterflies and acronictine moths, it has no consistent relationship with the Subcostal, Radius, or Radial Sector 1 veins in Dichromodes. This finding highlights developmental diversity that was previously overlooked due to the overwhelming preference for butterflies in studies of lepidopteran wing patterns.

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Linlin Zhang ◽  
Arnaud Martin ◽  
Michael W. Perry ◽  
Karin R.L. van der Burg ◽  
Yuji Matsuoka ◽  
...  

AbstractDespite the variety, prominence, and adaptive significance of butterfly wing patterns surprisingly little known about the genetic basis of wing color diversity. Even though there is intense interest in wing pattern evolution and development, the technical challenge of genetically manipulating butterflies has slowed efforts to functionally characterize color pattern development genes. To identify candidate wing pigmentation genes we used RNA-seq to characterize transcription across multiple stages of butterfly wing development, and between different color pattern elements, in the painted lady butterfly Vanessa cardui. This allowed us to pinpoint genes specifically associated with red and black pigment patterns. To test the functions of a subset of genes associated with presumptive melanin pigmentation we used CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing in four different butterfly genera. pale, Ddc, and yellow knockouts displayed reduction of melanin pigmentation, consistent with previous findings in other insects. Interestingly, however, yellow-d, ebony, and black knockouts revealed that these genes have localized effects on tuning the color of red, brown, and ochre pattern elements. These results point to previously undescribed mechanisms for modulating the color of specific wing pattern elements in butterflies, and provide an expanded portrait of the insect melanin pathway.


2015 ◽  
Vol 61 (4) ◽  
pp. 758-764 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tania G. López-Palafox ◽  
Armando Luis-MartÍnez ◽  
Carlos Cordero

Abstract In many butterfly species of the family Lycaenidae, the morphology and color pattern of the hind wings, together with certain behaviors, suggests the presence of a false head (FH) at the posterior end of the perching individual. This FH is considered an adaptation to escape from visually oriented predators. A frequent component of the FH are the tails that presumably resemble the antennae, and the typical hind wings back-and-forth movement along the sagittal plane (HWM) performed while perching apparently move the tails in a way that mimics antennal movement. By exposing 33 individuals from 18 species of Lycaenidae to a stuffed insectivorous bird, we tested two alternative hypotheses regarding HWM. The first hypothesis proposes that, when the butterfly is observed at close range, the HWM distorts the shape of the false head thus reducing its deceiving effect and, therefore, selection will favor butterflies that stop moving their wings when a predator is close by; the second hypothesis says that an increase in the frequency of HWM improves its deflective effect when the butterfly confronts a predator at close range. Our results tend to support the second hypothesis because half of the butterflies started to move their hind wings or increased the rate of HWM when exposed to the stuffed bird; however a substantial proportion of butterflies (30%) stopped moving their hind wings or decreased the rate of HWM as expected from the first hypothesis. Our observations also showed that there is great variation in the rates of HWM, and demonstrated the existence of alternative ways of producing “vivid” movement of the hind wing tails (the “false antennae”) in the absence of HWM.


2002 ◽  
Vol 33 (1) ◽  
pp. 23-34 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hasan H. Basibuyuk ◽  
Mike G. Fitton ◽  
Alexandr P. Rasnitsyn ◽  
Donald L.J. Quicke

AbstractThe definition of the family Evaniidae is revised and Cretevaniidae are synonymised with Evaniidae based on evidence derived from recently described Mesozoic taxa and a new genus and species, Lebanevania azari, described here from Lebanese amber. A fore leg with a long trochanter and a 12-segmented antenna are autapomorphies of the new genus. A large, high and wide head and a high and short mesosoma are derived characters shared with other Evaniidae. The new genus also has complete fore wing venation and lacks a tubular petiole, which are ground plan features of the Evanioidea. A cladistic analysis of fossil and extant members of the superfamily Evanioidea and notes on fossil taxa are presented.


Zootaxa ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 4992 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-89
Author(s):  
ADRIAN ARDILA-CAMACHO ◽  
CALEB CALIFRE MARTINS ◽  
ULRIKE ASPÖCK ◽  
ATILANO CONTRERAS-RAMOS

Adult external morphology of the extant raptorial Mantispoidea (Insecta: Neuroptera: Mantispidae and Rhachiberothidae) is compared emphasizing the morphology of the subfamily Symphrasinae as a key group to understand the phylogenetic relationships among the members of the superfamily. Plega dactylota Rehn, 1939 is thoroughly characterized in order to exemplify the morphology of the Symphrasinae. Additionally, following a review of the literature and examination of comparative material of Dilaridae, Berothidae, Rhachiberothidae and all Mantispidae subfamilies, a new interpretation of the components of the raptorial apparatus (i.e., head, prothorax, grasping forelegs, as well as integumentary specializations) is presented. Also, wing venation for these groups is reinterpreted, and new homology hypotheses for wing venation are proposed based on tracheation and comparative analyses. Given the high morphological divergence on the genital sclerites within the Mantispoidea, plus the confusing previous usage of neutral terminology and terms referring to appendages across taxonomic and morphological studies, we attempt to standardize, simplify, and situate terminology in an evolutionary context under the “gonocoxite concept” (multi-coxopod hypothesis). The remarkable morphological similarity of the genital sclerites of Symphrasinae and Rhachiberothidae (sensu U. Aspöck & Mansell 1994) with the Nallachinae (Dilaridae) was taken as a starting point to understand the morphology of other Mantispidae subfamilies. Based on these morphological comparisons, we provide a revised phylogenetic analysis of Mantispoidea. This new phylogenetic analysis supports a sister group relationship between the family Rhachiberothidae, comprising Rhachiberothinae and Symphrasinae, and the family Mantispidae, including the subfamily Mantispinae and its sister taxa Drepanicinae and Calomantispinae, which may represent a single subfamily. Based on these analyses, raptorial condition probably evolved a single time in these insects and subsequently became diversified in the two sister clades of the raptorial Mantispoidea.  


2019 ◽  
Vol 36 (12) ◽  
pp. 2842-2853 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicholas W VanKuren ◽  
Darli Massardo ◽  
Sumitha Nallu ◽  
Marcus R Kronforst

Abstract Some genes have repeatedly been found to control diverse adaptations in a wide variety of organisms. Such gene reuse reveals not only the diversity of phenotypes these unique genes control but also the composition of developmental gene networks and the genetic routes available to and taken by organisms during adaptation. However, the causes of gene reuse remain unclear. A small number of large-effect Mendelian loci control a huge diversity of mimetic butterfly wing color patterns, but reasons for their reuse are difficult to identify because the genetic basis of mimicry has primarily been studied in two systems with correlated factors: female-limited Batesian mimicry in Papilio swallowtails (Papilionidae) and non-sex-limited Müllerian mimicry in Heliconius longwings (Nymphalidae). Here, we break the correlation between phylogenetic relationship and sex-limited mimicry by identifying loci controlling female-limited mimicry polymorphism Hypolimnas misippus (Nymphalidae) and non-sex-limited mimicry polymorphism in Papilio clytia (Papilionidae). The Papilio clytia polymorphism is controlled by the genome region containing the gene cortex, the classic P supergene in Heliconius numata, and loci controlling color pattern variation across Lepidoptera. In contrast, female-limited mimicry polymorphism in Hypolimnas misippus is associated with a locus not previously implicated in color patterning. Thus, although many species repeatedly converged on cortex and its neighboring genes over 120 My of evolution of diverse color patterns, female-limited mimicry polymorphisms each evolved using a different gene. Our results support conclusions that gene reuse occurs mainly within ∼10 My and highlight the puzzling diversity of genes controlling seemingly complex female-limited mimicry polymorphisms.


Zootaxa ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 1851 (1) ◽  
pp. 65
Author(s):  
D. A. DMITRIEV

The North American leafhopper genus Erasmoneura Young was described as a subgenus of Erythroneura Fitch by Young (1952) to comprise the informal Erythroneura vulnerata Fitch species group previously recognized by Beamer (1938, 1946). Erasmoneura was recently elevated to generic status (Dietrich & Dmitriev, 2006) and revised (Dmitriev & Dietrich, 2007). In this paper, the male of Erasmoneura bipentagona (Beamer), previously known only from the female holotype and placed in the genus based on external similarity and features of wing venation (Young, 1952; Dietrich & Dmitriev, 2006; Dmitriev & Dietrich, 2007, see also the note for the species below), and a new species are described. A key for identification of all 13 species of the genus is provided. The key is based mainly on male genitalia characters. Although individual species have a characteristic color pattern, details and intensity may be highly variable both inter- and intraspecifically.


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