The genome sequence of the red admiral, Vanessa atalanta (Linnaeus, 1758)

We present a genome assembly from an individual female Vanessa atalanta (the red admiral; Arthropoda; Insecta; Lepidoptera; Nymphalidae). The genome sequence is 370 megabases in span. The majority of the assembly (99.44%) is scaffolded into 32 chromosomal pseudomolecules, with the W and Z sex chromosome assembled. Gene annotation of this assembly on Ensembl has identified 12,493 protein coding genes.

Seguimiento plurianual (2013-2016) del vuelo invernal de mariposas (Lepidoptera: Papilionoidea) en el campus de la Universidad Pablo de Olavide, de Sevilla (sur de España)

Durante los inviernos 2013/2014, 2014/2015 y 2015/2016 y la primera mitad de la primavera que siguió a cada uno de ellos, fue estudiada la fenología de la fase adulta de las mariposas diurnas presentes en el campus de la Universidad Pablo de Olavide, de Sevilla (España). El número de especies observadas a lo largo de esos inviernos (12), la abundancia de cada una de ellas y los cambios en la diversidad fueron analizados. Ejemplares de Artogeia rapae, Vanessa atalanta, Vanessa cardui, Pieris brassicae, Colias crocea, Tomares ballus y Zerynthia rumina fueron observados todos los inviernos. Por último, para todas las especies halladas en este estudio ha sido realizado un estudio comparativo entre el inicio del periodo de vuelo aquí registrado y aquél que aparece recogido en la bibliografía consultada.

ВИДИ ПІДРОДИНИ NIMPHALINAE В ЗООЛОГІЧНИХ КОЛЕКЦІЯХ ТЕРНОПІЛЬСЬКОГО НАЦІОНАЛЬНОГО ПЕДАГОГІЧНОГО УНІВЕРСИТЕТУ ІМЕНІ ВОЛОДИМИРА ГНАТЮКА

The species diversity of the insects of Nimphalinae subfamily (Lepidoptera order), which are stored in the entomological collection of The Botany and Zoology Department of Ternopil Volodymyr Hnatiuk National Pedagogical University were studied. The insects were collected by the students during their teacher training and also by the amateur entomologists during 2000–2020. These insects are in the collections of The Botany and Zoology Department. The species composition of the collected insects was analyzed. There are 202 individuals of Nimphalinae subfamily. Identified insects belong to five genus (Vanessa, Inachis, Agаlis, Polygonia, Nymphalis). The largest number of individuals of this subfamily was calculated (Inachis io –75, Vanessa atalanta – 52, Cynthia cardui – 45). Also 13 individuals of Agаlis urticae and 12 individuals of Polygonia c-album were found. All species of Rhopalocera of European fauna are in The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species. Most of them are classified as Least Concern (LC). Widespread, numerous and common species of the Nimphalinae subfamily were found in the funds of The Botany and Zoology Department. Identified species belong to the LC category of The IUCN Red List. The Compton tortoiseshell (Nymphalis vaualbum) is included in The Red Data Book of Ukraine (2009). Its conservation status is invaluable. Nymphalis vaualbum was not found in the entomological collections of The Botany and Zoology Department of TNPU.

Emperors, admirals and giants, zebras, tigers and woolly bears: casting a broader net in exploring heparin effects on Lepidoptera wing patterns

Background: Studies of heparin effects on Lepidoptera wing patterns have been restricted to a small number of species. I report observations from experiments on a broader range of taxa, including first results from swallowtails, tiger moths and microlepidoptera. Methods: Heparin injections were made in prepupae and pupae of Junonia coenia (common buckeyes), Agraulis vanillae (gulf fritillaries), Heliconius charithonia (zebra longwings), Asterocampa clyton (tawny emperors), Danaus plexippus (monarchs), Vanessa atalanta (red admirals); Heraclides cresphontes (giant swallowtails), Pterourus troilus (spicebush swallowtails), Protographium marcellus (zebra swallowtails), Battus polydamas (polydamas swallowtails); Hypercompe scribonia (giant leopard moths), Estigmene acrea (acrea moths), Hyphantria cunea (fall webworm moths), Utetheisa ornatrix (ornate bella moths); Glyphodes sibillalis (mulberry leaftier). Results: Heparin sometimes altered the entire pattern in a dramatic way, sometimes caused changes locally. In buckeyes, the previous heparin study conducted on pupae was compared to injections made at a prepupal stage. In gulf fritillaries, zebra longwings and tawny emperors, the dramatic changes occurred throughout their wings, while in monarchs, changes were restricted to wing margins. Changes achieved in red admirals, show that heparin action is unrelated to the original color. In swallowtails, transformations were restricted to border system, indicating higher levels of stability and compartmentalization of wing patterns. In mulberry leaftier, changes were restricted to the marginal bands. In tiger moths, elongation of black markings led to merging of spots; in the ornate bella moth, it was accompanied by an expansion of the surrounding white bands, and results were compared to the effects of colder temperatures. Conclusions: Using pharmaceutical intervention demonstrates that there are many similarities and some very significant differences in the ways wing patterns are formed in different Lepidoptera lineages. By creating a range of variation one can demonstrate how one pattern can easily evolve into another, aiding in understanding of speciation and adaptation processes.

Emperors, admirals and giants, zebras, tigers and woolly bears: casting a broader net in exploring heparin effects on Lepidoptera wing patterns

Background: Studies of heparin effects on Lepidoptera wing patterns have been restricted to a small number of species. I report observations from experiments on a broader range of taxa, including first results from swallowtails, tiger moths and microlepidoptera. Methods: Heparin injections were made in prepupae and pupae of Junonia coenia (common buckeyes), Agraulis vanillae (gulf fritillaries), Heliconius charithonia (zebra longwings), Asterocampa clyton (tawny emperors), Danaus plexippus (monarchs), Vanessa atalanta (red admirals); Heraclides cresphontes (giant swallowtails), Pterourus troilus (spicebush swallowtails), Protographium marcellus (zebra swallowtails), Battus polydamas (polydamas swallowtails); Hypercompe scribonia (giant leopard moths), Estigmene acrea (acrea moths), Hyphantria cunea (fall webworm moths), Utetheisa ornatrix (ornate bella moths); Glyphodes sibillalis (mulberry leaftier). Results: Heparin sometimes altered the entire pattern in a dramatic way, sometimes caused changes locally. In buckeyes, the previous heparin study conducted on pupae was compared to injections made at a prepupal stage. In gulf fritillaries, zebra longwings and tawny emperors, the dramatic changes occurred throughout their wings, while in monarchs, changes were restricted to wing margins. Changes achieved in red admirals, show that heparin action is unrelated to the original color. In swallowtails, transformations were restricted to border system, indicating higher levels of stability and compartmentalization of wing patterns. In mulberry leaftier, changes were restricted to the marginal bands. In tiger moths, elongation of black markings led to merging of spots; in the ornate bella moth, it was accompanied by an expansion of the surrounding white bands, and results were compared to the effects of colder temperatures. Conclusions: Using pharmaceutical intervention demonstrates that there are many similarities and some very significant differences in the ways wing patterns are formed in different Lepidoptera lineages. By creating a range of variation one can demonstrate how one pattern can easily evolve into another, aiding in understanding of speciation and adaptation processes.

Coincidental shifts in abundance of nymphalid butterflies: a link with egg deposition behaviour?

In the Greater Manchester area 2017 was an unusual year for nymphalid populations, the first in a thirty year period when the numbers of records of both Vanessa atalanta and Polygonia c-album (single egg-layers) exceeded those of Aglais urticae and A. io (large batch egg-layers). Annual abundances in Greater Manchester of these nettle-feeding nymphalids has revealed that the members of these two groups of species correlate with one another more closely than with either species of the other group. It is suggested that the mode of egg deposition (single egg-layers versus batch-layers) is involved in associations of changes in abundances of the nettle-feeding nymphalids. Other factors in life history may also be involved and are discussed (autumn adult food resources and larval host use). The same pattern is not found in pierids which differ in over-wintering mode and host plant condition. The costs and benefits of different egg-laying strategies are considered in relationship to changing abundances of species.