Cristiano Agra Iserhard

Lista de espécies de borboletas (Lepidoptera, Papilionoidea e Hesperioidea) da região do vale do rio Maquiné, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil

Procurando contribuir para o levantamento sistematico e o conhecimento das borboletas da Mata Atlântica do Rio Grande do Sul, foram realizadas saidas bimestrais em quatro localidades no vale do rio Maquine, entre junho de 2001 e agosto de 2002. Foi elaborada uma listagem com 292 especies de borboletas, sendo destas 42 registros novos para o Rio Grande do Sul e sete especies raras e/ou indicadoras de ambiente preservado.

Borboletas (Lepidoptera: Papilionoidea e Hesperioidea) ocorrentes em diferentes ambientes na Floresta Ombrófila Mista e nos Campos de Cima da Serra do Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil

Com o intuito de contribuir para o conhecimento das borboletas da Floresta Ombrofila Mista e Campos de Cima da Serra do Rio Grande do Sul foi elaborada uma listagem de especies da assembleia de borboletas da Floresta Nacional de Sao Francisco de Paula e entorno. Foram realizadas saidas bimestrais de marco de 2006 a maio de 2008 sendo selecionados seis ambientes: (i) mata nativa de Araucaria angustifolia, (ii) mata nativa mesclada com reflorestamento de Araucaria angustifolia, (iii) reflorestamento de Araucaria angustifolia de mata aberta, (iv) reflorestamento de Araucaria angustifolia de mata fechada, (v) reflorestamento de Pinus e (vi) campo de altitude nativo. Apos 674 horas-rede de amostragem foram registradas 277 especies e subespecies de borboletas, distribuidas em 9661 individuos, pertencentes a seis familias, sendo destas 139 novos registros para esta regiao dos Campos de Cima da Serra, 13 novas ocorrencias para o estado e seis especies raras ou indicadoras de ambiente preservado.

A new genus and species of Euptychiina (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae: Satyrinae) from southern Brazil

This paper describes a new genus and a new species of Euptychiina from open grassland habitats (campos de cima da serra) in southern Brazil. The systematic position of this new taxon is discussed based on morphological and molecular data, and it is considered sister to Taydebis Freitas. Since the campos vegetation is considered endangered due to anthropogenic activities, this butterfly species deserves attention and should be included in future conservation plans for this biome.

Fruit-feeding butterflies guide of subtropical Atlantic Forest and Araucaria Moist Forest in State of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

This study presents a compilation of fruit-feeding butterflies species for Rio Grande do Sul Atlantic Forest aiming to be a tool for identification of these lepidopterans from two phytophysiognomies of this biome. Samples were carried out for more than four years with entomological nets and bait traps techniques in areas of Subtropical Atlantic Forest (SAF) and Araucaria Moist Forest (AMF). Seventy-six butterfly species were recorded in this region of Atlantic Forest, 60 species for SAF and 53 for AMF. Fruit-feeding butterflies represent about 50% of the total species richness of the Nymphalidae recorded for the region, a value of the same order of those found for similar studies in tropical forests regions. Dasyophthalma rusina is a new record for Rio Grande do Sul.

Occurrence of Lepidopterism caused by the moth Hylesia nigricans (Berg) (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae) in Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil

Lepidopterism by Hylesia nigricans (Berg) moth is recorded for the first time in southern Brazil. Preventive strategies of control are proposed based on information on the biology and ecology of this moth.

Natural History, New Records, and Notes on the Conservation Status of Cyanophrys bertha (Jones) (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae)

Abstract The natural history of the potentially threatened hairstreak butterfly Cyanophrys bertha (Jones) is discussed, and the morphology of its penultimate and last instar larvae and pupa are described and illustrated. New distribution records from southern Brazil are provided. Based on morphological and ecological traits of immatures and adults, the conservation status of this species is discussed and compared with other sympatric Eumaeini.

Lepidoptera, Nymphalidae, Heliconiinae, Heliconius sara apseudes (Hübner, 1813): distribution extension

This work presents new records and extends the geographic distribution of Heliconius sara apseudes in the Atlantic Forest of the state of Rio Grande do Sul. Five new records were taken along butterfly inventories carried out between 2005 and 2010 in distinct phytophysiognomies at Rio Grande do Sul northeast region: Swamp Forest, Atlantic Forest stricto sensu and Araucaria Moist Forest. The fact that all registers occurred in well preserved habitats of the Atlantic Forest emphasizes the need of conservation of this biome in Rio Grande do Sul.

Monitoring fruit-feeding butterfly assemblages in two vertical strata in seasonal Atlantic Forest: temporal species turnover is lower in the canopy

To address how seasonality affects the richness and abundance of tropical insects, we compared the canopy and understorey communities of fruit-feeding butterflies in a seasonal Atlantic forest in south-eastern Brazil. Butterflies were sampled over 1 y using a standardized design with baited traps. A total of 2047 individuals in 69 species were recorded (1415 in the canopy, 632 in the understorey). Clear differences were found between canopy and understorey, with significantly higher butterfly abundances in the canopy. We observed two marked peaks of abundance and richness in both strata; one at the transition from dry to the wet seasons, and the other at the transition from wet to dry seasons. We found lower species turnover throughout the year in the canopy. We interpret this as evidence that temperature is more important than rainfall in explaining the yearly variation of abundance in vertical strata. The higher temperatures found in the canopy may allow butterflies to maintain activity in this stratum all year round, whereas the understorey is subject to colder temperatures, thus presenting a higher species turnover. These results improve our understanding of diversity gradients between evergreen and seasonal tropical forests, allowing insights into how climate and beta diversity gradients interact.