Norape sorpresa sp. nov. Wagner & Matson occurs from extreme southeastern Arizona south into Sonora, Mexico. Beyond differences in leg color, adult external features do not allow ready separation of this species from the other two white Norape that occur north of Mexico. However, genital features, COI barcodes, and larval characters distinguish the three taxa. The adult and larval stages and male and female genitalia are illustrated, available DNA barcode data that support the recognition of the new Norape are shared, and aspects of its larval biology are briefly characterized. We review the problematic nature of the species-level taxonomy of “white” Norape and elevate Norape cretata rev. status, presently regarded as synonym of N. ovina, for the white eastern United States Norape.

Contemporary descriptions of the larva, pupa, and adult of Blastobasis glandulella (Riley, 1871) are presented. Chaetotaxy, sensilla of antenna and maxillary palpus, labial complex and other structures of the larva, appendages of the pupa, wing venation, genitalia, antennal sex scales, and other features of the adult are illustrated with drawings and scanning electron micrographs. Synapomorphies for Blastobasis are reviewed.

Pythonides jenmorrisae n. sp. is described from Loreto, Peru. The known distribution of the species is limited to lowland Amazonian forest on the East of the Andes from southern Peru to Ecuador.

The basic biology, seasonal ecology, and hymenopteran parasitoid community of Plutella armoraciae Busck, 1912 (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae) was investigated. The study area was a dry grasslands region of interior British Columbia, Canada, where P. armoraciae feeds on the introduced mustard Sisymbrium loeselii L., 1755 (Brassicaceae) in partial sympatry with its congener, the diamondback moth Plutella xylostella (L., 1758) (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae). Sampling was conducted over five years, including one year of repeated, intensive sampling over a large region. The two Plutella species can be differentiated with morphology alone and we provide comparisons of features of the eggs, larvae, pupae and adults of each species. Plutella armoraciae was found to overwinter as eggs or early-instar larvae in S. loeselii rosettes, with adults emerging in April and May, and the first full generation each year taking place in May and June. Larvae fed within webbed flowers and buds of S. loeselii plants, giving rise to a second autumn generation of adults that laid eggs of the overwintering generation. The early summer generation of P. armoraciae larvae peaked earlier than, but partially overlapped with, the peak occurrence of P. xylostella larvae. Both Plutella species were relatively common across all surveyed sites, but not highly abundant at any site. At least two species of larval parasitoids, Diadegma insulare (Cresson) (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae) and Diolcogaster claritibia (Papp) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), were shared between the two Plutella species, and a community of eight other species of parasitoids and hyperparasitoids were reared from the pupae of one or both Plutella species. The observations of D. claritibia emerging from P. armoraciae are the first records of this parasitoid from a host species other than P. xylostella. It was also discovered that one of the most important parasitoids of P. xylostella worldwide, D. insulare, appears to use P. armoraciae as an overwintering host. We hypothesize that in areas where P. xylostella is a seasonal migrant, year-round resident Plutella species such as P. armoraciae could provide important overwintering hosts and reservoirs for shared parasitoids that help to reduce populations of P. xylostella.

A new species of Aristotelia is proposed from sandy habitats in Texas, Colorado, and Kansas. Illustrations are provided of the imago and genitalia of the male and female.

The Mottled duskywing (Erynnis martialis) butterfly is endangered, living in pine forests and oak barrens in Canada and the eastern United States of America. While host plants and larval behaviour is documented in Mottled duskywing's eastern range, these life components are poorly known in Manitoba. We observed adult behaviour, host plant species used and larval foraging to better understand these biological aspects of E. martialis. We observed eggs laid exclusively on Ceanothus herbaceus, and larvae consuming C. herbaceus in leaf shelters near the periphery of plants. Early instar larvae tied leaves together with cells of silk creating partly open shelters while later instar larvae completely sealed shelters. Shelters constructed out of young leaves at the edge of plants are likely easier to digest. Later-instar larvae may nocturnally harvest food to consume in shelters during the day to reduce predation risk. Larvae were found in clearings adjacent to Pinus banksiana dominated forests, with these openings likely providing suitable microhabitats for egg development and larval feeding. We observed newly emerged adults during weeks 1 to 5 of the flight period; eggs, larvae and adults overlapped. We recommend direct observations of larval foraging—during the day and night, as well as transitions into and out of diapause—to more accurately describe their behaviour and physiology. We started to characterise microhabitats, however further research is needed. Our research may help to guide critical habitat designations, leading to successful Mottled duskywing recovery in Manitoba.

Camera trap technology is now commonly used to monitor rare and cryptic species of animals. In this study, we present the first use of a camera trap to monitor the imperiled frosted elfin (Callophrys irus Godart). We placed camera traps at two male mating territories (hereafter, ‘territory’) in north Florida 25 m apart to determine 1) the efficacy of camera traps for use in determining C. irus occupancy and 2) if camera traps can be used to monitor presence of individuals within territories. We marked 15 C. irus, seven females and eight males using a colored permanent marker to identify individuals in and around two territories. After 28.9 and 30.2 trap hours across six days, only one camera detected C. irus. This camera recorded 125 instances where C. irus continually remained within range of the camera trap. Of these, 31 observations included marked individuals, 41 events contained unmarked individuals, and 53 events contained C. irus that were unable to be verified as marked or not. Individuals remained within view of the camera for an average of 95.2 seconds (± 13.93 SE). Of 15 color-marked C. irus, two were observed via camera trap, two by human observers, and one by both camera and human observer. The mean Euclidean distance of resighted individuals was 110.25m (range: 16.4–207.08 m; number of resights ranged from 1–5). This evidence suggests that cameras are unlikely to capture all C. irus activity at a patch due to their limited field of view. Human observers therefore may be necessary to augment monitoring of host plant patches. However, the utility of camera traps demonstrated here offers a valuable tool in C. irus monitoring.

The temperature and habitat gradients of tropical mountains contribute to their high species diversity and endemism. Recent fieldwork in the Central Highlands of Vietnam has found many taxa new to science, but the area remains poorly explored. We surveyed the butterflies of Kon Ka Kinh National Park between 1999 to 2019 and noted the habitat, seasons, and freshwater availability for each transect in 2018–2019. We found a total of 368 butterfly species including 80 documented in that region for the first time in 2018–2019. Nymphalidae (41.8%) was the most abundant butterfly family, and Riodinidae was the least common. We recorded higher species richness in disturbed forests, but many of the species we document are endemic or have restricted ranges. The diverse fauna is at a biogeographic crossroads of mostly Indo-Malayan species from the south and some high elevation specialists from the north meeting along an elevational and climatic gradient. Correspondence analysis demonstrates that season and forest type are the most important environment covariates influencing butterfly abundance in this unique tropical forest. These results demonstrate that the Central Highlands of Vietnam are not only species rich, but also home to many rare and endemic species found nowhere else, making the area a conservation priority.