The longstanding nomenclature for the species Lycaena mariposa was examined and considered with respect to its ability to compass the observed variation and hypothetical evolutionary adaptation and radiation of this northwestern North American species. Through examination and comparison of long series of specimens from throughout the known range of the species, we discerned consistently recognizable clusters of characteristics across the landscape. We describe nine new subspecies, five of which occur in apparent genetic isolation, two as exceedingly narrow endemics. The other four have large ranges bridging existing named taxa. We discuss the hypothetical biogeographic history of the species, including routes of dispersion, conformity to geomorphologic features and glacial effects, and the basis for isolation and autochthony in L. mariposa, as well as host plants, habitats, and conservation status for each named taxon.

One of the primary characteristics of the pupal stage of most holometabolous insects is their immobility. This paper describes a previously unknown example of mobility in a pierid pupa from SE Asia. The movements of the pupae of Catopsilia pomona assume the form of a vigorous kicking motion when disturbed. Their sensitivity to touch was found to decrease with time since ecdysis, but detachment of the silk girdle was sufficient to solicit kicking in all pupae. Microscopic analysis indicated that the kicks are generated at the posterior of the abdomen by the retention of freedom of movement in two abdominal segments (A5 and A6). Video analysis suggests that the kicks are probably products of general cutaneous sensitivity rather than specialized sensilla and generate both ‘surprise’ and force by their extreme speed (<1s). The hypothesis that this is an anti-predator defense is supported by field observations and video of attempted predation by weaver ants (Oecophylla smaragdina) in which individual attackers boarding the pupae were shaken off and thrown to the ground.

Hylesia moths are known to occur in outbreaks and are infamous for their medical importance both as larvae and adults. Among these, the colorful (white, with black and red markings), processionary larvae of Hylesia umbrata Schaus, 1911 occur in large aggregations and pupae communally, yet little is known of their life history. During the dry season of 1999 in Panama, we took the opportunity to collect and dissect a Hylesia umbrata cocoon mass and keep the pupae under laboratory conditions to document the timing of their expected mass emergence and record any parasitoids. These data are presented and discussed, and cases of lepidopterism (contact dermatitis) by Hylesia adults in Panama are reported.

A new member of the unresolved Aristotelia corallina Walsingham species complex (Gelechiidae) from a Costa Rican dry forest (Parque Nacional Palo Verde) is reported. Its larval behavior and possible relationships to the rest of the complex are described and analyzed. Field and laboratory observations revealed that these caterpillars consumed the extrafloral nectar, Beltian bodies, and young foliage of two acacia species (Vachellia collinsii and Vachellia farnesiana; Fabaceae: Mimosoideae). The caterpillars were observed building individual silk webs surrounding a single stem node's thorns and leaf rachises. If open domatia are included in shelters, the caterpillars reside in the domatia between feeding bouts and during pupation. These caterpillars are the only non-myrmecophilous caterpillars known to regularly exploit a host plant's ant rewards. DNA barcoding of the Costa Rican specimens showed that they are significantly different from the United States members of A. corallina (12–13% difference in cox1 sequence). An examination of host plant herbarium material for caterpillar shelters demonstrated likely differences in host plant use, with webs consistent with A. corallina only found on specimens of United States Chamaecrista nictitans (Fabaceae: Caesalpiniodeae), but not Vachellia farnesiana. By contrast, webs were found on V. collinsii, V. cornigera, and V. farnesiana from Central America (including Mexico), but not on Central American C. nictitans. This ecological evidence suggests that the Costa Rican populations of A. corallina may be more closely related to the Mexican populations than to the US populations.

Hamadryas februa Hübner and close relatives H. amphichloe Boisduval, H. glauconome Bates and H. julitta Fruhstorfer are a homogeneous group of taxa loosely defined as different species mainly by a combination of wing color characters. Here we explored the utility of the mtDNA COI barcode region in delimiting these taxa and examined its overall performance to identify species of Hamadryas. We compiled all the barcode sequences available for 16 of the 20 species in the genus, and added new sequences from 34 samples for 8 species from Peru and Ecuador. The complete data set includes 260 individuals. After filtering out identical sequences, a parsimony analysis of 142 individuals with unique haplotypes found that almost all the samples grouped according to their traditional species identification. The exceptions were samples of H. amphichloe diasia Fruhstorfer from the Dominican Republic and H. amphichloe ferox Staudinger from Colombia, which grouped with samples of H. februa. The barcodes of widespread species or polytypic species such as H. laodamia Cramer, H. arinome Lucas and H. februa grouped according to the geographic limits of their subspecies, but this was not the case for H. amphichloe, H. feronia Linnaeus, H. amphinome Linnaeus and H. guatemalena Bates. Our results suggest that of the three subspecies of H. amphichloe included here, only H. amphichloe amphichloe Boisduval, originally described from Ecuador, should be considered a distinct species, and that H. amphichloe diasia and H. amphichloe ferox do not belong to that lineage, but instead are part of H. februa. Furthermore we found extensive intraspecific sequence variation that overlapped with interspecific genetic distances of closely related species. We offer some general comments on species delimitation by tree-based and distance-based approaches. In conclusion, our dataset shows that the majority of the species Hamadryas included here can be distinguished by their barcode sequence (11 of 16 or about half of the species in the genus). However, the geographical coverage of our dataset is somewhat limited. Broader sampling of widespread species and the comprehensive inclusion of samples from closely related species will determine the utility of the barcode with more confidence.

The early stages of M. helenor marinita and M. menelaus amathonte are described for the first time in detail. A M. h. marinita female was caught from El Rodeo of San Jose, in order to obtain its offspring. From egg laying to emergence, an individual of this species took 175 days on Lonchocarpus oliganthus (Fabaceae). It presented a fifth instar diapause of more than two months and its coloration is slightly different from other M. helenor subspecies early stage descriptions. AM. m. amathonte female was caught from Rincon de la Vieja volcano, also in order to obtain its offspring. From egg laying to emergence, on Pterocarus officionalis (Fabaceae) an individual of this species took 134 days. Color pictures of each instar of the larvae for both species were taken, as well as the egg and pupa. Biogeography and taxonomy trends are discussed for each species in order to enhance the early stages characters significance.

The northern valleys of the Atacama Desert in Chile have minimal seasonal variations of temperature, which enable continuous growth of many plants and their associated phytophagous insects. This is the case in the Neotropical hairstreak Strymon davara (Lepidoptera, Lycaenidae, Theclinae, Eumaeini), whose larvae are able to develop throughout the year on the inflorescences of their only host plant, Althernanthera halimifolia (Amaranthaceae). Although minimal, environmental seasonal variations could have some effect on the development of highly sensitive organisms. The first geometric morphometrics study of the wings of S. davara was intended to test for seasonal changes in the morphology. The same tools were used to assess for wing sexual dimorphism in this Neotropical hairstreak. Fifteen and 14 landmarks were selected on the fore and hindwings, respectively, of male and female adults collected in winter and summer in the Azapa Valley, northern Chile. The principal component analysis of wing shape shows that the variation was mainly distinguished by sexual dimorphism at the first dimension (PC1) and mostly by season at the second dimension (PC2). This variation might be a plastic response to subtle seasonal variation in environmental conditions and due to sexual niche divergence and behavior of male and female butterflies.

The red slug caterpillar of the colourful moth, Eterusia aedea (Linnaeus, 1763) (Lepidoptera: Zygaenidae) has earned considerable importance as a defoliator of tea during the last decade in major tea-producing countries like China, India, Sri Lanka, Japan and Taiwan. The damage is caused by all stages of larvae which feed mainly on mature tea leaves. In severe infestations bushes can become completely defoliated and sometimes the bark is also damaged. The pest is found sporadically throughout the plucking season or the flush period and even in winter. Under optimal conditions there may be 3–4 generations in a year. For control of this pest, synthetic pesticides are widely used. There are several reports related to the excessive application of insecticides resulting in the development of high tolerance in this pest to some of the insecticides. Quinalphos, emamectin benzoate and flubendamide were found to be effective in controlling population surge of red slug. At present, integrated management is being emphasized in protection of tea crop, where cultural, mechanical, physical, biological and chemical methods are in use. Works related to bio-ecology of E. aedea along with different management measures adopted for this pest are reviewed and discussed with special emphasis to Indian tea plantation. Further, future directions for better management of this emerging pest have been suggested.