The effects of mowing milkweeds in areas visited by monarch butterflies (Danaus plexippus L., Nymphalidae) were studied by counting the eggs and larvae on regenerating common milkweeds (Asclepias syriaca L., Apocyanaceae) in five adjacent mowed hayfields in northern Virginia in late summer 2015. At the same time monarch larvae were counted on mature senescent common milkweeds in unmowed areas adjacent or near to the mowed hayfields. Milkweeds supported populations of immature monarchs in both habitat types with initially many eggs and early instars found on regenerating plants in the mowed hayfields while late instars dominated the unmowed older milkweeds. As September proceeded, the censuses revealed an increase in the numbers of late instars on the mowed regenerating milkweeds whereas the abundance of larvae declined sharply on the older senescing milkweeds, many of which had lost all or most of their leaves. The study showed that late season mowing of hayfields provided adult female monarch butterflies with rejuvenated resources for reproduction during a time when senescent milkweeds were becoming unsuitable for the monarch larvae. Our findings have implications for managing land in ways to benefit monarchs and for mitigating the widespread decline of milkweeds, although the research raises several caveats and more needs to done to measure the fitness of monarch adults that are produced late in the flight season of the butterfly.

The population biology of adult Monarch butterflies (Danaus plexippus) was studied during regular visits over three years (June–September 2013–15) at a milkweed (Asclepias speciosa)-rich site in central Washington. Small numbers of spring migrants colonized the site during June 5–17 each year and produced two adult generations one in early July and the other in late July–August, increasing the population at the site until mid–late August in 2013 and 2014. Greatest numbers of adults occurred in late July and August (20–24 per hour). In 2015 the population fell substantially in early August apparently as a consequence of heat wave conditions in late June–early July adversely affecting survival of second generation immature stages. Mark, release and recapture provided maximum population estimates at the site of 160–190 males, a recapture rate of 25–32% and intervals between tagging and recapture of 5–39 days. Sex ratio was imbalanced in favor of males on all dates ranging from 57–100%. Males patrolling milkweed patches was the most common behavior observed. Nectaring on A. speciosa and the exotic Purple Loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria) was frequently observed and the introduced Russian Olive (Elaeagnus angustifolia) was used for resting during the day. Dispersal from the site occurred in late August or early September. The use of large, dense areas of milkweed in relatively moist locations with some shade may be an important component of summer breeding of D. plexippus in the arid western United States. Expanding and/or creating additional such sites may be a useful conservation strategy for D. plexippus in the arid west.

The U.S. National Park Service initiated a 10-year study of the Lepidoptera at White Sands National Monument, Otero County, New Mexico in late 2006. Arotrura landryorum sp. n., described here, was discovered in 2007, during the first year of the study. The male and female adult moths and genitalia are illustrated.

Here I describe a sooty wing phenotype in offspring produced by a wild-inseminated female of Eurema mandarina (Lepidoptera: Pieridae) collected in Tanegashima Island, Japan in May, 2014. Seven (3 females and 4 males) out of 36 offspring had a sooty phenotype on their wings, which is likely due to a simple genetic mutation (most likely a single recessive allele in an autosome). The expression of this phenotype, restricted to the ventral side of the wings, was not uniform—more conspicuous in hindwings than in forewings, and the affected areas were variable among individuals. Microscopic observation revealed that the sooty phenotype was attributed to the increased proportion of pigmented scales.

The egg, larva and pupa of Teriocolias zelia andina Forbes, 1928 (Lepidoptera, Pieridae, Coliadinae) are described and illustrated for the first time based on specimens collected on Senna birostris var. arequipensis (Fabaceae) on the western slopes of the Andes of northern Chile. The morphology of the egg and first instar enables separating T. z. andina from species of its sister genus Leucidia Doubleday, 1847. The larva of T. z. andina passes through five instars, which can be accurately identified by head width.

Albuna beutenmulleri Skinner (Lepidoptera: Sesiidae) is endemic to eastern and southern Utah, feeds on primrose (Oenothera pallida Lindl.), and is distinctly colored with opaque, orange-red wings. However, A. beutenmulleri was synonymized as a color variant of the widely distributed A. pyramidalis (Walker). Thus, given the criteria of monophyly, we tested the species status of A. beutenmulleri in the context of Albuna species. Phylogenetic analysis of mitochondrial DNA revealed that specimens of A. beutenmulleri and A. pyramidalis were reciprocally monophyletic. The nucleotide difference between species was ~8% which was similar to the distance among other Albuna species and exceeded the intraspecific difference by ten times. Given phylogenetic and life history evidence, we recognize A. beutenmulleri as a distinct species from A. pyramidalis and describe a yellow variant of A. beutenmulleri.

Autographa gamma (Linnaeus) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) is one of the important polyphagous pests of various crops in Iran and many countries of the world. The effect of eight commercial sugar beet cultivars (Peritra, Karolina, Paolita, Lenzier, Tiller, Ardabili, Persia and Rozier) on demographic parameters of A. gamma was determined under laboratory conditions (25 ± 1 ºC, 65 ± 5% RH, a 16:8 h light-dark photoperiod) using age-stage, two-sex life table method. A delay in the developmental time of pre-adult was observed when larvae were fed on cultivar Rozier. The lowest net reproductive rate (R0) was observed on cultivars Paolita and Persia. Also, the intrinsic rate of increase (rm) was the highest when larvae were reared on cultivar Karolina and the lowest when they were fed on cultivars Peritra, Paolita and Persia. The results of this study revealed that the Peritra, Paolita and Persia were the most unsuitable cultivars for population growth of A. gamma. The information obtained from this study could be used, along with other management tactics, to control of this pest by sowing resistant sugar beet cultivars.

Ecological and geographical differences between eastern and western populations of the Baltimore Checkerspot have led to a division into two subspecies, E. p. phaeton and E. p. ozarkae. Research concerning E. p. ozarkae is sparse, and prior to our work, many aspects of the life history of this subspecies were not known. An accurate assessment of its status has been hindered and confused through the use of data obtained from the eastern subspecies (e.g., mesic habitats and larval food plant) to characterize Ozark populations (e.g., glade habitats and a different larval food plant). From 2011 to 2014 we studied this butterfly in the Ozark Mountains of northern Arkansas. We identified the availability of the primary larval host plant (Aureolaria flava) as a potential limiting factor and investigated limitations to the distribution of this plant. We found many similarities concerning the timing of development between the two subspecies but ample evidence to demonstrate the uniqueness of Ozark populations. Our findings provide valuable information for future research, management, and conservation of the Ozark Baltimore Checkerspot.

A new species of Eupsilia Hübner phenotypically allied to E. cirriplaea (Franclemont, 1952) and E. sidus (Guenée, 1852) is described from northeastern North America. Identification of E. schweitzeri, n. sp., is most reliably made on the basis of larval morphology or genetic data, although most adults can be determined using subtle forewing features, including their derived forewing scale type. The adult, genitalia, forewing scales, and larvae of the new species are illustrated. Keys are provided to adults and larvae of the seven northeastern Eupsilia. Eupsilia walkeri (Grote, 1864) is synonymized under E. vinulenta, n. syn. Scopelsoma colorado (Smith, 1903) is removed from synonymy with Eupsilia sidus and given valid species status as Eupsilia colorado, rev. stat., and a neotype is designated for E. sidus.

Methona confusa has been recorded across its geographic range from low elevations up to around 2,000 m, being rare above 1,500 m. We report herein a new elevational record of M. confusa above 3,500 m, the highest ever reported for ithomiines, from upper montane area of Megantoni National Sanctuary and Manu National Park, located on the eastern slopes of the Andes of southern Peru.