Papaipema aweme (Lyman) was previously known only from seven specimens and five localities globally, and was thought to be a critically imperiled species of dunes, alvars, and other dry habitats. Life history information was lacking. We documented fifty-nine specimens from 2009–2016 at six new locations spanning 1,555 km from the Upper Peninsula of Michigan to eastern Saskatchewan. Larvae were found boring in the stems and rhizomes of Menyanthes trifoliata L. (Menyanthaceae) in open graminoid rich fen habitats at two of these localities. All localities are rich fens with abundant M. trifoliata; such habitats are or were present in the vicinity of all five historical records (1905–2005). These discoveries suggest P. aweme is a peatland specialist and is likely much more common and widespread than present records indicate.

Originally described from Africa, the genus Eccopsis Zeller (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) currently includes 25 Afrotropical and five Neotropical species. Adult morphological characters suggest that the Afrotropical and Neotropical species might not be congeneric. Here we present the first DNA sequences for Neotropical Eccopsis and use these data in a maximum likelihood (ML) analysis to evaluate the monophyly of the genus, and to examine the utility of DNA barcodes in separating the South American E. galapagana Razowski & Landry, 2008 and E. razowskii Vargas, 2011. Intraspecific and interspecific pairwise distances (K2P) were 0–0.5% and 4.9–5.2%, respectively, and each species was recovered as a distinct, well supported group of sequences (i.e., species) in the ML analysis. An analysis including barcodes of Afrotropical Eccopsis (four species), Afrotropical Paraeccopsis (one species), and Neotropical Eccopsis (two species) failed to recover Eccopsis as monophyletic. Consistent with previous suggestions based on adult morphology, this study highlights the necessity to reassess the congeneric status of Afrotropical and Neotropical species of Eccopsis.

In this study, we describe for the first time the immature stages of a Burca species: eggs, five larval instars, prepupa, and pupa. Morphometric measurements for each stage are given. Based on the measures of head width and growth rates, we recognize the possible presence of non-typical individuals with more than five instars. We describe four larval shelters types that are associated with specific instars. Each individual constructs three to four shelters during its larval development. We also report notes on feeding patterns and oviposition.

Native grasses act as host plants, providing food and shelter, for numerous Lepidoptera species during their larval stage. As grassland habitat decreases because of conversion to agriculture and urban areas, prairie specialist butterflies and moths have also declined. Addition of native species to urban and agriculture landscapes has been shown to benefit Lepidoptera communities in various ways. Native grasses have grown in popularity as a landscaping plant due to their low nutrient requirements, drought tolerance, and soil stabilization properties. However, the benefits of native grasses to Lepidoptera are not well known to many entomologists or horticulturists, let alone the average consumer. We reviewed the literature that identified native prairie graminoids as host plants for native Lepidoptera in Minnesota, especially plants widely available in the horticultural trade that could be planted for restoration or landscaping purposes. The context of the Lepidoptera and host plant associations found in the literature are described. In total, we found 36 Lepidoptera species that used 17 prairie graminoids as host plants cited in the literature. Three native grasses, Schizachyrium scoparium (Michx.) Nash, Andropogon gerardii Vitman and Panicum virgatum L. and were found to be used by the most Lepidoptera species, 11, 9, and 8, respectively. Most likely there are additional moth species that use these grasses as host plants because butterfly species tend to be better documented than moth species. The specific larval habits and host plant species were unknown for many species of moths that feed or are suspected to feed on graminoids, showing the need for further research in this area. This information can assist horticulturalists, ecologists, landscape planners, land managers, and homeowners in their decisions to buy and plant native grass species. In general, this knowledge provides increased awareness about the larval life stage of butterflies and moths to concerned citizens and green industry and further supports the importance of conserving native prairie to support and maintain Lepidoptera species.

Arsenura armida plays an important ecological role in the development of woods and forests throughout Latin America. It is also consumed in several rural communities of Mexico. At present, there is no information on the host preferences of this species of moth, habitat type or the effects of human consumption on population numbers. This paper determines the effect of agricultural management on the distribution, occupation and abundance of larvae of A. armida in order to promote strategies for its sustainable exploitation. Six observation plots, each with an area of 4 km², were established in three localities of the state of Chiapas, Mexico. Three plots were subject to agricultural management (La Pimienta, La Ilusion and La Loma) and three without management (Carrizal, Huachinadero and Mirador). All host plants together with their diameter at breast height (DBH) were quantified. In order to estimate host preference, occupation, distribution and abundance, the number of larvae per tree were recorded over two consecutive years (between March and October). The occupation and abundance of A. armida varied among plots and the six tree species observed. Both variables presented a relationship with the mean DBH of the host species. A preference for the host species Heliocarpus appendiculatus and Rollinia mucosa was observed. The greatest abundance of larvae and host occupation was found in plots subject to agricultural management during the first year. Abundance decreased during the second year due to tree mortality. The insect presented a clustered distribution that depended on the distribution and development of host trees (highest DBH). It is suggested that host management is considered for the control of populations of A. armida in agricultural areas and its sustainable exploitation for human consumption.

Butterflies in the genus Adelpha Hübner (Nymphalidae) are a challenging group to identify owing to their convergence in wing patterns among species. Immature stage biology including morphology and hostplant relationships have helped clarify relationships in this group and will likely continue to do so. Here we report descriptions of the immature stages of two species, Adelpha naxia naxia (C. Felder & R. Felder, 1867) and Adelpha nea nea (Hewitson, 1847), based on recent fieldwork on the Osa peninsula of Costa Rica. We observed A. naxia naxia caterpillars feeding on Vitex cooperi Standl. (Lamiaceae), and the immature stage morphology corroborates its position in recent phylogenetic analyses. The food plant of A. nea nea is Micropholis melinoniana Pierre (Sapotaceae), representing the first record of this host family for Adelpha and Neotropical nymphalids. Adelpha nea nea also appears unique in always developing through six larval instars. In addition to descriptions and discussion of immature stage biology and food plant interactions, adult observations are also provided.

The genus Telamoptilia (Acrocercopinae) is reported from the Western Hemisphere for the first time. Two new species, Telamoptilia hibiscivora, from the eastern United States, and T. pavoniae , from western Cuba, are described and illustrated. The larvae initially begin as serpentine leafminers and eventually form mostly full depth blotch leafmines on Malvaceae. Telamoptilia hibiscivora mines the leaves of Hibiscus moscheutos L. and the lavae of T. pavoniae mine Pavonia fructicosa (Mill.), Malvaceae.