Eduardo P. Barbosa

A new genus, Atlanteuptychia gen. nov., for Euptychia ernestina (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae: Satyrinae)

Atlanteuptychia Freitas, Barbosa & Mielke, gen. nov. is proposed for Euptychia ernestina Weymer, 1911 and illustrated. This taxon lacks the posterior projection of the tegumen, a synapomorphy of Euptychia Hubner, 1818, and does not share morphological synapomorphies with Cyllopsis R. Felder, 1869 and Paramacera Butler, 1868, two Central American genera apparently closely related to Euptychia ernestina, based on molecular data. This evidence supports the proposition of a new genus endemic to the Atlantic Forest, A. ernestina stat. nov.

Immature Stages of the Neotropical Mistletoe Butterfly Cunizza hirlanda planasia Fruhstorfer (Pieridae: Anthocharidini)

ABSTRACT. The immature stages of the Neotropical mistletoe butterfly Cunizza hirlanda planasia Fruhstorfer (Pieridae: Anthocharidini) are described and illustrated for the first time from cerrado areas of Central Brazil Plateau. Eggs are laid in small loose clusters (2–7 eggs) on new red leaves of the mistletoe Passovia ovata (Pohl ex DC.) Kuijt (Loranthaceae). Larvae are semi-gregarious and underwent five instars. Host plant use, morphology, and behavior of immature stages are similar to those of related genera in the Hesperocharis group of Anthocharidini.

Morphology and Behavior of the Early Stages of the Skipper, Urbanus esmeraldus, on Urera baccifera, an Ant—Visited Host Plant

Abstract The Neotropical genus Urbanus (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Hesperiidae) contains around 34 described species, and is widely distributed from the extreme southern United States to Argentina. Here, we describe the larval morphology and behavior of Urbanus esmeraldus (Hübner)(Hesperiidae) in Urera baccifera (Urticaceae), a plant producing food rewards and fleshy fruits that attract ants (including predacious species) in a Brazilian forest. Larvae pass through five instars and construct two kinds of leaf shelters. Experiments with ejected fecal pellets showed that these can serve as cues to ground—dwelling ants that climb onto host plants and potentially attack the larvae. Manipulation with pellets placed at different distances suggests that ejection behavior decreases larval vulnerability to ant predation. Larval preference for mature leaves may be related with increased predation risk at ant—visited young leaves. The study shows that a combination of natural history and experimental data can help understand the life history of a butterfly using a plant with high predation risk.

Revision of Godartiana Forster (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae), with the description of a new species from northeastern Brazil

A revision of Godartiana Forster, 1964 (Satyrinae: Euptychiina) is provided, including the description of a new species, G. amadoi Paluch, Zacca & Freitas sp. nov. from Bahia and Pernambuco, northeastern Brazil. Two genera, Cercyeuptychia L. Miller & Emmel, 1971 syn. nov. and Praefaunula Forster, 1964 syn. nov., are herein synonymised with Godartiana, based on morphological and molecular data from mitochondrial gene Cytochrome C Oxidase I and the nuclear genes GAPDH and RpS5. A new taxonomic arrangement is proposed for Godartiana, increasing to five the number of species known in this genus and also synonymising Euptychia liturata Butler, 1867 syn. nov. and E. vesper Butler, 1867 syn. nov. with G. armilla (Butler, 1867) comb. nov. The female genitalia of all species of Godartiana are described and illustrated, information is given on host plants and biology, and the previously unknown immature stages of G. muscosa are described and illustrated.

A Potentially Endangered New Species of Euptychia Hubner, 1818 (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae: Satyrinae) from the Atlantic Coastal Forest of Brazil

A new satyrine species in the subtribe Euptychiina, Euptychia atlantica Nakahara & Freitas sp. nov., is described from the Atlantic coastal forest of Brazil. Based on the existing museum specimens, E. atlantica sp. nov. is known from the coastal montane forests of Rio de Janeiro to south Bahia, a unique biogeographical region which is undergoing rapid degradation. Illustrations of adults and their genitalia, as well as a distribution map, are provided herein, in addition to a discussion of the relationships and conservation status of the new species.

Graphita gen. nov., a New Genus for Neonympha griphe C. Felder & R. Felder, 1867 (Lepidoptera, Nymphalidae, Satyrinae)

A new genus is described for Neonympha griphe C. Felder & R. Felder, 1867, to contribute toward a revision of the polyphyletic genus Euptychoides Forster, 1964. Based on DNA sequence data, Graphita Nakahara, Marín & Barbosa, gen. nov. is strongly supported as a member of a clade of predominantly southeastern Brazilian taxa, in which it is weakly supported as sister to a well-supported clade containing Pharneuptychia Forster, 1964, Moneuptychia Forster, 1964 and the E. castrensis (Schaus, 1902) species complex. The data show that Graphita griphe comb. nov. is not related to other Euptychoides and not very closely related to any other sampled euptychiines, and thus support the description of this new genus. In addition, we provide morphological illustrations and a distribution map for this taxon based on museum specimens.

Description of two new species of the Neotropical genus Yphthimoides Forster, 1964 (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae: Satyrinae) from the ‘renata clade’

This paper describes two new species of Neotropical butterflies: Yphthimoides blanquita Barbosa, Marín and Freitas sp. nov., from the dry forest of northwestern Colombia, and Yphthimoides nareta Barbosa & Freitas sp. nov. from northeastern Brazil, based on morphological and molecular data. Adult morphology, including wing shape and pattern as well as male genitalia, is described in detail. Furthermore, analysis of the mitochondrial CoxI ‘barcode’ showed that both new species are quite distinct from all similar Yphthimoides species and additionally, the ‘renata clade’ is defined based on the presence of cornuti in the aedeagus. http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:22CA85FF-9682-4016-A300-AB11C71CEDA2

The Fruit-Feeding Butterfly Pareuptychia ocirrhoe (Nymphalidae: Satyrinae) Feeding on Extrafloral Nectaries

Tropical butterflies can be divided in two feeding guilds: nectar-feeders and fruit-feeders. Nectar-feeding species gather most of their nutritional requirements from flower nectar, while fruit-feeding butterflies feed on rotting fruits, feces, tree sap and some other decaying organic matter (Young 1975, DeVries 1987). In the Neotropics, fruit-feeding butterflies include members of the subfamilies Biblidinae, Charaxinae, Satyrinae (tribes Satyrini, Brassolini and Morphini) and Nymphalinae (tribe Coeini). Due to their attraction to rotting fruits, these butterflies are easily sampled with bait traps (Shuey 1997), and have been extensively used as models to assess levels of anthropogenic disturbance to the environment (e.g. Ribeiro et al. 2008; 2012, Bonebrake et al. 2010). The fruit-feeding habit evolved several times in nymphalid butterflies probably as an escape route from periods of low flower abundance (Krenn et al. 2001). Most species have a proboscis adapted to suck fluids from moist surfaces, which is morphologically different from that of nectar-feeding butterflies (Krenn 2010). On 24 July 2011, in a sandy forest vegetation (“restinga”) of Ubatuba (São Paulo State, SE Brazil), an individual of Pareuptychia ocirrhoe (Fabricius, 1776) (Satyrinae: Satyrini) was observed at 1338 h feeding on extrafloral nectaries (EFNs)––nectary glands not directly related to pollination (see Koptur 1992)––of a passion vine (Passifloraceae) at the edge of a trail of the sandy forest (Fig. 1A). The butterfly was flying 40–50 cm above ground along the trail, moving from one edge to the other, sometimes landing on the vegetation. At some point it started to flutter around the plants for a few seconds before landing on a leaf of the liana. Then it moved toward the petiole and started to feed on the EFNs (Fig. 1B). This behavior was repeated a few times and each time it fed for a few seconds before flying off the plant. When disturbed the butterfly flew to higher foliage along the trail, returning to the liana after a few minutes. Feeding on EFNs by adult butterflies is commonly observed in specialized ant-tended lineages of Lycaenidae and Riodinidae, but is rare in other families

Redescription of Yphthimoides patricia (Hayward, 1957), with taxonomic notes on the names Euptychia saltuensis Hayward, 1962 and Yphthimoides manasses (C. Felder & R. Felder, 1867) (Nymphalidae: Satyrinae)

Euptychia saltuensis Hayward, 1962, new synonym, currently regarded as a nomen dubium and possibly a junior subjective synonym of Yphthimoides manasses (C. Felder R. Felder, 1867), is here treated as a junior subjective synonym of Yphthimoides patricia (Hayward, 1957), based on morphological characters of the male genitalia and the DNA barcode. The taxonomic status of Y. patricia is re-examined, and a detailed redescription of the adult morphology, including the male genitalia, is presented. Information on the distribution, habitat and immature stages of Y. patricia is also provided. Yphthimoides patricia is clearly a distinct species from Y. manasses based on the analysis of DNA barcode sequences and the morphology of the male genitalia.

Natural History of Selenophanes cassiope guarany (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae: Brassolini): an Integrative Approach, From Molecules to Ecology

Abstract Brassolines are among the largest Neotropical butterflies, with large eyespots resembling vertebrate eyes in their wings. Some subspecies of co-occurring brassolines show striking similarities in wing traits to the extent that mimicry within the tribe has been suggested. When adults exhibit phenotypic convergence, data on immature stages can be used to uncover similarities derived from common descent. Here, evidence for future phylogenies to support Selenophanes relatedness to either Opsiphanes or Catoblepia are provided by comparing novel molecular (barcode sequence) and morphological (immature) data. While barcoding showed Selenophanes sequences to be nested within Catoblepia, with intergeneric distances smaller than between Catoblepia species, the state of the art of immature morphological descriptions showed that Catoblepia and Opsiphanes were more similar than either were to Selenophanes. Despite their popularity, brassolines are difficult to find in nature, partly because they are active during dawn and dusk. S. cassiope is a rare species, so the hitherto unknown female of S. cassiope guarany Casagrande, 1992 is described, as well as morphologically and ecologically relevant adult traits. Analysis of sensory organs revealed a possible reversal of brassoline adaptations to the crepuscular habit. The pigment class of wing cells from several regions with different colors was melanin, except for white (colorless) scales. Multitrophic interactions with an Arecaceae host plant, and egg (Anastatus sp., Galeopsomyia sp.) and pupal (Eurytoma sp.) parasitoids are also reported. This integrative approach benefits from a group with great potential to explore the interplay, from molecules to ecology, of adaptive evolution.