Armando Luis-Martínez

Seasonality and phenology of the butterflies (Lepidoptera : Papilionoidea and Hesperioidea) of Mexico's Calakmul Region

Abstract The phenology of butterflies was analyzed in the Calakmul Region (CR) in the state of Campeche, México, over the course of 3 years. Altogether, 60,662 individuals were recorded, consisting of 359 species in 207 genera, 18 subfamilies, 5 families, and 2 superfamilies. Greatest species diversity was recorded during Oct and Nov. Monthly fluctuation in diversity was defined by rare species. Hesperiidae (135 species) and Nymphalidae (111 species) were the most diverse families, and showed the greatest variation with respect to distribution of species richness throughout the year. Papilionidae showed the greatest species richness during the dry season. Pieridae, Nymphalidae, and Lycaenidae showed peaks of greatest species richness and relative abundance during the rainy season. Results were compared to faunal studies of the Sierra de Atoyac de Álvarez, in the state of Guerrero, and of the Sierra de Manantlán, in Jalisco and Colima. Important similarities were observed among phenological patterns in the butterfly fauna of the 3 regions, especially between CR and Manantlán. The phenology of species with greater relative abundance was analyzed in relation to wingspan as a parameter of adult size. The small and medium-sized groups, taken together, showed variations in species richness. An analysis of species seasonality was conducted with NMDS, ANOSIM and SIMPER, in the program PRIMER 4.0. Differences among the composition of butterfly communities with respect to the seasons were found.

A New Subspecies of Synargis nymphidioides (Butler, 1872) (Lepidoptera, Riodinidae): a Prediction from a Center of Endemism in Sierra Madre del Sur, Mexico

Abstract. We examined and compared populations of Synargis nymphidioides (Butler, 1872) from the Pacific slope region in the Sierra Madre del Sur with others from the southern and eastern regions of Mexico. A new endemic subspecies from this region, Synargis nymphidioides praedictum ssp. nov., is described, listed and discussed too other taxa in this geographic area, making it a strong candidate for an endemism center. Such endemism center can predict other unpublished taxa characteristic from evergreen and subcaducifolious forests around the southern Sierra Madre.

Avances Faunísticos en los Papilionoidea (Lepidoptera) sensu lato de Oaxaca, México

Resumen. Se presenta una lista de 1331 taxones a nivel específico, pertenecientes a 462 géneros, 24 subfamilias, y seis familias de Papilionoidea (sensu lato) del estado de Oaxaca; que constituyen 68% de tales taxones registrados para México. Con esto se actualiza la lista de mariposas diurnas del estado con 165 registros nuevos a nivel específico, de los cuales 17 también son registros nuevos para este país. De las especies y subespecies oaxaqueñas, hasta ahora se han registrado 259 endémicas de México, que representan 19.45% del total en el estado y 57.5% de los endémicos que ocurren en el país. Estas cifras y porcentajes indican que Oaxaca es el estado con mayor riqueza y endemismo de México. La alta riqueza de Papilionoidea de Oaxaca y su endemismo, se debe principalmente a tres factores: 1. la asociación estrecha que existe entre las mariposas diurnas y el bosque tropical perennifolio; 2. el alto porcentaje de fauna endémica asociada a comunidades xéricas del noroeste del estado, los valles centrales, los bosques húmedos de montaña y la planicie costera del Pacífico, y 3. la ubicación del estado en la región Mesoamericana, que se caracteriza por su alta riqueza y proporción de endemismos, generados por su extensión geográfica y confluencia de muchas provincias biogeográficas.

Variación Morfológica y Distribución de Theope villai (Lepidoptera: Riodinidae)

Resumen. El género Theope Doubleday es de los de mayor riqueza en la familia Riodinidae, hasta ahora con 73 taxones descritos. Varias especies son raras, por la densidad baja de sus poblaciones y hábitos poco comunes, resultando en una representación deficiente en las colecciones científicas. Como T. villai Beutelspacher, 1981, que es una especie endémica del occidente de México, descrita a partir de un solo ejemplar y de la que se desconocen aspectos de su biología; se distribuye en la parte media del occidente de México, en los bosques subperennifolio y mesófilo de montaña; en intervalos altitudinales bien acotados. Se describe la variación morfológica de los imagos, sus aspectos ecológicos (microhábitat, estacionalidad, tipo de vegetación), y de distribución (latitudinal y altitudinal) con base en 28 ejemplares. Se encontraron diferencias entre el holotipo y la descripción original, que habían pasado desapercibidas. Las autapomorfías en los machos de T. villai son los octavos tergito y esternito (saccus) modificados. Manifiesta dimorfismo sexual en tamaño, coloración, y diseño alar; los genitales de ambos sexos comparten características con otras especies del género. Esta información contribuirá a entender mejor las relaciones interespecíficas. Debido a su rareza y a la presión ejercida por el uso del suelo en su hábitat, T. villai debería considerarse para su protección.

Diversity of Diurnal Butterflies (Lepidoptera: Hesperioidea and Papilionoidea) of Laguna Potosí and Surrounding Area, Guerrero, Mexico

Abstract. The Mexican state of Guerrero is fourth in butterfly diversity in Mexico. However, little is known about the superfamily Hesperioidea and communities of butterflies that live in coastal ecosystems. Hesperioidea and Papilionoidea of Laguna Potosí and surrounding area were surveyed monthly for 1 year (December 2009-November 2010) in pre-established transects in tropical dry forest; xerophytic shrubland; mangrove; coconut palm crop; secondary vegetation of tropical dry forest; and mixed environment of acacia forest, coconut palm, and mango crops. In total, 188 species in two superfamilies, six families, 18 subfamilies, and 127 genera were identified; seven species were endemic to Mexico, three to the tropical dry forest, and 32 were new records for Guerrero. Most species of butterflies were found in the family Hesperiidae (73), followed by Nymphalidae (52), Pieridae (20), Lycaenidae (19), Riodinidae (15), and Papilionidae (nine species). Most species were found in xerophytic shrubland (114) and tropical dry forest (103) that also had the greatest number of species exclusive to one habitat. Environmental heterogeneity increased the butterfly diversity of the area, including human-altered environments. Tropical dry forest and xerophytic shrubland seemed the vegetation types where butterfly diversity was greatest in the region. Preserving biological diversity, which is affected by both urbanization and the possibility of developing megaprojects for tourism, is necessary.

A new species of Cyllopsis R. Felder, 1869 from the highlands of Chiapas, Mexico (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae: Satyrinae)

A new species of Cyllopsis R. Felder, 1869, is described and illustrated from the highlands of Chiapas, Mexico. Cyllopsis tomemmeli A. Warren Nakahara, sp. nov., is currently known from 13 specimens (9 males and 4 females) collected on March 26-28, 1959, southeast of San Cristóbal de Las Casas. Despite extensive studies on the butterfly fauna of this region, this species has not since been encountered. We discuss possible relationships between this new species and other species of Cyllopsis.

Una Nueva Subespecie de Prepona brooksiana Godman & Salvin, 18891

Resumen. Se describe y nombra una subespecie nueva de Prepona brooksiana G. & S., la cual es la más septentrional de todas las razas geográficas de este taxón; ocurriendo dentro de la vertiente del Golfo de México en la porción más boreal del bosque mesófilo de montaña. Se describe la variación poblacional de los caracteres que la diagnostican y se mencionan aspectos de su conducta y hábitat. Se determina que las subespecies mesoamericanas del grupo Prepona deiphile realmente corresponden a Prepona brooksiana, cuya distribución solo ocurre en México y Centroamérica. De esta forma, el grupo deiphile en el género Prepona Boisduval estaría compuesto de tres especies: P. deiphile Godart y P. xenagoras Hewitson, con distribución en Sudamérica, y Prepona brooksiana en México y América Central.

Diversity and Distribution of Skippers (Lepidoptera: Hesperioidea: Hesperiidae) in Michoacán, Mexico

Abstract. A survey of butterflies of Michoacán, Mexico, found 262 species in 131 genera, four subfamilies, and one family of Hesperioidea from 123 localities. Fortyfour species are reported as endemic to México. This is the first checklist of skippers for Michoacán, and 32% of the species recorded in the country are listed. The species are grouped according to distribution in biogeographical provinces and altitudinal ranges by using parsimony and similarity algorithms. The species are distributed by altitude, and this is corroborated by the analysis of the two algorithms.

New Records and Notes about Splendeuptychia kendalli L. Miller, 1978 (Satyrinae: Satyrini: Euptychiina) in Mexico

Abstract. We recorded for the first time Splendeuptychia kendalli L. D. Miller, 1978 from the countryside in Hidalgo and Veracruz. The previous records for Mexico were Campeche, Chiapas, Puebla, San Luis Potosí, and Tamaulipas.