The present paper describes the population parameters and natural history of Heliconius hermathena hermathena (Hewitson, [1854]), a sand forest specialist nymphalid butterfly. Population biology was described based on a 14-month mark-recapture program in a site of open forest in Pará state, northern Brazil. The population was constant through the year, with no marked peaks of abundance for both sexes, with females always less abundant. The range of the population size was 70–150 individuals (with a maximum near 200 individuals). Sex ratio was male biased, with males dominating most of the time. Average residence time was of 35 days for males and 31 days for females, with a maximum of 139 days recorded for males and 129 days for females, with both sexes presenting survival curves approaching the type II survival curve. Males presented wing sizes greater than females in all months. Adults were observed visiting five species of flowers as nectar and pollen sources and establishing communal nocturnal roosting aggregations on small shrubs. Considering the fragility of the Amazonian white sand forests, understanding the population patterns of H. h. hermathena can help future conservation planning for these potentially threatened habitats.

Ornativalva (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) is an Old World genus known to be associated with the plant genus Tamarix (Angiosperm: Tamaricaceae) which was introduced to North America and became widely distributed in the Southwestern United States. Ornativalva erubescens, introduced from the Old World, is reported from the Southwestern United States. Ornativalva erubescens is redescribed. Adults and male and female genitalia are illustrated.

Speyeria idalia is a prairie specialist that has experienced dramatic population declines throughout its range. Speyeria idalia is nearly extirpated from the eastern portion of its former range; however, populations within Kansas are relatively stable. We made several previously undescribed field observations of late-instar larvae and post-diapause female S. idalia in northeastern Kansas during 2014–2016. We report finding late-instar larvae at locations that were burned within weeks of detection. The observations of larvae shortly following a burn suggests that S. idalia larvae are capable of surviving fire and contradicts our current knowledge of this species. Additionally, we describe a feeding behavior characteristic of late-instar larvae. Larvae observed in the field and lab stripped leaves of host plants leaving only stems. This strip-style feeding behavior provided unique feeding evidence that was valuable to detecting the presence of larvae in the field. Finally, we documented larvae and post-diapause, egg depositing females using Viola sororia. The use of this relatively widespread and common plant by S. idalia populations in the Central Great Plains has only been implicitly documented but may have important conservation implications. These novel observations further our knowledge of the ecology of this imperiled species and provide timely information that may improve research and conservation management efforts directed toward S. idalia populations.

Over the past two decades, the population of monarch butterflies east of the Rocky Mountains has experienced a significant decline. Habitat restoration that includes milkweed plants is crucial to boost population numbers in the breeding range. Monarch butterfly larvae use milkweeds as their only host plant, but larval performance on different milkweed species is not well documented. We examined early instar survival and growth on nine milkweed species native to Iowa. These included Asclepias exaltata (poke milkweed), A. hirtella (tall green milkweed), A. incarnata (swamp milkweed), A. speciosa (showy milkweed), A. sullivantii (prairie milkweed), A. syriaca (common milkweed), A. tuberosa (butterfly milkweed), A. verticillata (whorled milkweed), and Cynanchum laeve (honey vine milkweed). In laboratory and greenhouse experiments, larval survival on all nine milkweed species did not differ. Larvae that fed on C. laeve plants were an instar behind larvae that fed on any other species, while larvae that fed on A. verticillata weighed more than larvae that fed on any other species. Our results show that early instar larvae can survive on all nine milkweed species.

Mimulus guttatus is a widespread riparian plant native to western North America. Due to its wide distribution and phenotypic variation it has been the subject of many studies incorporating genetic information into ecological and life history evolution studies. Mimulus guttatus defends itself from herbivory with physical defenses (e.g. trichomes) as well as a suite of phytochemical defenses; phenylpropanoid glycosides (PPGs). Despite its importance as a model organism little has been done on the herbivores that feed on this plant. We used literature records as well as field observations to construct a list of the Lepidoptera that utilize M. guttatus as a food plant. Sixteen species of Lepidoptera within five families were recorded as feeding on M. guttatus. Six of these species are classified as generalist herbivores, while the rest have varying degrees of host plant specialization.

Multiple mating is apparently rare in female saturniids but male and female Callosamia promethea (Drury) (promethea moth) mate multiple times. Previous study showed that polyandrous females laid significantly more eggs than monandrous females, suggesting the hypothesis that yoke proteins from male ejaculates enhanced fecundity. However, multiple mating by females could arise if a single mating with a previously-mated male results in low fertility. To test this, I compared females mated once to either a virgin male or a male that had copulated the previous day. No differences were found in fecundity or fertility in females mated to virgin males vs. nonvirgin males, showing that multiple mating by female promethea moths is not related to lower fertility when mating with nonvirgin males. I discuss this finding with respect to known cases of polyandry in saturniids and suggest a hypothesis to explain the evolution of polyandry in this group.

Most butterflies and moths, with the exception of Heliconius, live only a week or two in their non-hibernating state. In the present study, we evaluated the longevity of the chemically defended Ornate Bella Moth, Utetheisa ornatrix, using a sample of 214 individuals from two broods. On a diet of 6% sugar water or Gatorade®, a quarter of the moths survived for one month or longer, with a maximum survival of 50 days. A glimpse into the genetic component offered by using two broods suggests that one can expect to find greater variability in longevity between different populations of this species. Males lived on average longer than females, and moths from heavier pupae lived longer than their smaller siblings. The nutrition of caterpillars, translated into pupal weight, appears to have a positive effect on the longevity of resultant adults. While it was not surprising to find that sugar played a positive role in the longevity and fecundity of adult moths, the fact that Utetheisa ornatrix can subsist solely on water for up to 36 days and that males tended to live longer than females, which is reverse of most species for which such data is available, were intriguing findings. The chemically defended nature of this species, its high fecundity (251±64 eggs in this study) paired with its habit of laying eggs in small batches, and its propensity to disperse as adults help explain why these moths evolved prolonged life spans.

The larva of Lacosoma arizonicum Dyar is figured for the first time. This species was previously known to feed on oaks (Quercus), but no specific Quercus species has been reported. We studied the life history of L. arizonicum and confirm four larval host plants from field-collected larvae: Quercus arizonica, Q. emoryi, Q. gambelii, and Q. hypoleucoides. Larvae were successfully reared to pupation in captivity on Q. virginiana (in Florida). A tachinid fly in the genus Lespesia, was reared from a single L. arizonicum larva.

An experimental rearing of Antheraea mylitta Drury was carried out in the rearing fields at Similipal Biosphere Reserve, Mayurbhanj, Odisha, India, during the rainy season under somewhat natural conditions on live host plants. Female larvae were reared at three elevations utilizing the same eight host plant species, viz. Asan (Terminalia alataW. & A.) in family Combretaceae, Arjun (Terminalia arjuna W. & A.) (Combretaceae), Sal (Shorea robusta Gaertn) (Dipterocarpaceae), Ber (Ziziphus jujuba Gaertn) (Rhamnaceae), Sidha (Lagerstroemia parviflora Roxb.) (Lythraceae), Dha (Anogeissus latifolia Wall.) (Combretaceae), Bahada (Terminalia belerica (Gaertn) Roxb.) (Combretaceae) and Jamun (Syzygium cumini (L.) Skeels) (Myrtaceae) at each location. The larval growth on various host plants was evaluated in terms of the size, weight, and volume of the resulting cocoons. The host plant that produced the highest quality cocoons at all the elevations is Sal (Shorea robusta). The least suitable host plant at all the elevations is Jamun (Syzygium cumini). Results for all the eight species of host plants and the influence of parameters related to elevation are presented in detail. The data may be useful for selecting alternate host plants that might aid the sericulture industry in those situations when the “optimal” plant species are not available.