The eggs and larvae of the Mediterranean flour moth, Ephestia kuehniella Zeller are routinely utilized as a substitute host for the rearing of parasitoids and predators required for biological control. Nutritional performance, digestive enzymatic activities and growth indices of the fifth instar larvae of E. kuehniella were evaluated on flour of seven barley (Fajr 30, Reihan 03, 5 Shoor, Dasht, Sahra, Khorram and EH-83-7) and two wheat (Bam and Sepahan) cultivars at 25±1°C, 65±5% R.H., and a photoperiod of 16:8 (L: D) h. The results show that the highest larval growth index was observed when larvae were fed barley cultivar Reihan03. The highest and lowest values of larval weight gain were on barley cultivars EH-83-7 and Sahra, respectively. The highest value of efficiency of conversion of ingested food was in larvae reared on barley cultivar EH-83-7, whereas the lowest value was on barley cultivar Sahra. Moreover, the highest relative growth rate was detected on barley cultivar EH-83-7. The highest and lowest levels of amylolytic activity were on wheat cultivar Bam and barley cultivar Khorram, respectively. The highest proteolytic activity was observed in larvae reared on barley cultivar Fajr 30, whereas the lowest activity was on barley cultivars Dasht, Khorram and wheat cultivar Bam. Finally, barley cultivars EH-83-7 and Reihan 03 can be suggested as the most suitable cultivars for laboratory rearing of E. kuehniella.

The distribution of Citheronia sepulcralis (Satumiidae: Ceratocampinae) is updated. Compared to previous literature, a much more extensive inland distribution in the eastern United States is provided, including a new state report from Delaware. A recent photographic voucher from the Bahamas is reported and discussed. A new natural host plant, Pinus clausa (Pinaceae), is mentioned.

The genus Rifargia includes four North American species: R. benitensis (Blanchard), R. ditta (Barnes and McDunnough), R. subrotata (Harvey), and a new species, which is the western sister taxon of the latter. All are hackberry (Celtis) specialists. We provide images for each species, a larval key, and brief descriptions of the five instars for both of the eastern species (R. benitensis and R. subrotata).

A review of the available evidence related to the descriptions of Papilio pegala F. and Papilio alope F. (now generally recognized as Cercyonis p. pegala and C. pegala alope, respectively) reveals that the suggested type localities of these nominal taxa are untenable for the reasons originally given. The vicinity of Charleston, South Carolina, is retained for P. pegala, but for different reasons than those first proposed. Based on an eighteenth century illustration in “Jones' Icones,“ the Georgia type locality for P. alope is revised to the vicinity of New York, New York, and a lectotype is designated. Additional nominal taxa are discussed, including Satyrus alope var. maritima W. H. Edwards, Satyrus nephele var. olympus W. H. Edwards, Cercyonis pegala race borealis F. Chermock, Cercyonis alope Carolina F. Chermock & R. Chermock, Cercyonis alope ochracea F. Chermock & R. Chermock, Cercyonis pegala abbottii F. Brown, and Cercyonis pegala agawamensis Arey & Grkovich. The holotypes of C. p. borealis, C. a. Carolina, and C. a. ochracea are figured for the first time. Perceived morphological trends within C. pegala in eastern North America are mapped, revealing a broad clinal blend zone in the southeast and an extensive contact zone northward, which partly exhibits characteristics of a mosaic hybrid zone. Evidence suggests that temperature may influence phenotypic expression in C. pegala. Based strictly on wing pattern, an arrangement is proposed that recognizes four subspecies of C. pegala in eastern North America.

Butterfly biodiversity in a threatened coastal ecosystem of northwestern Mexico, near Guaymas, Sonora, is documented based on presence data obtained weekly or biweekly from November 2013 to July 2015 combined with periodic observations and collection records dating back to 1978. The survey region and adjacent coastal areas on the Gulf of California are currently undergoing major environmental degradation owing to rapid urbanization, tourism development and construction of aquaculture facilities. A total of 105 species was recorded in the study region, representing about 30% of the total number of butterfly species currently recorded for the state of Sonora. Based on specific larval host plant requirements and known geographic distributions, several species dependent upon vegetation growing in a narrow coastal strip of sand dunes, mangrove estuaries and coastal plains are suggested to be the most threatened. The ecology, systematics and conservation biology of these potentially threatened species, in addition to several other species of special interest, are discussed.

The external morphology of the last instar and pupa of Dismorphia melia (Godart, [1824]) are described from specimens collected at São Bento do Sul, Santa Catarina, Brazil. Morphological descriptions and illustrations are provided on the basis of observations through stereoscopic microscope attached to camera lucida; results are compared and discussed with immature stages of other species of Dismorphiinae, Coliadinae and some tribes of Pierinae with the “type I” pupae. Moreover, the taxonomy of the species is discussed, on the basis of informations and illustrations of the intraspecific variability of the imagoes, the morphology of the genitalia of both sexes, and the geographic distribution.