Larvae of the cosmopolitan family Limacodidae, commonly known as “slug” caterpillars, are well known because of the widespread occurrence of spines with urticating properties, a morpho‐chemical adaptive trait that has been demonstrated to protect the larvae from natural enemies. However, while most species are armed with rows of spines (“nettle” caterpillars), slug caterpillars are morphologically diverse with some species lacking spines and thus are nonstinging. It has been demonstrated that the evolution of spines in slug caterpillars may have a single origin and that this trait is possibly derived from nonstinging slug caterpillars, but these conclusions were based on limited sampling of mainly New World taxa; thus, the evolution of spines and other traits within the family remains unresolved. Here, we analyze morphological variation in slug caterpillars within an evolutionary framework to determine character evolution of spines with samples from Asia, Australia, North America, and South America. The phylogeny of the Limacodidae was reconstructed based on a multigene dataset comprising five molecular markers (5.6 Kbp: COI, 28S, 18S, EF‐1α, and wingless) representing 45 species from 40 genera and eight outgroups. Based on this phylogeny, we infer that limacodids evolved from a common ancestor in which the larval type possessed spines, and then slug caterpillars without spines evolved independently multiple times in different continents. While larvae with spines are well adapted to avoiding generalist predators, our results imply that larvae without spines may be suited to different ecological niches. Systematic relationships of our dataset indicate six major lineages, several of which have not previously been identified.
The life history, morphology, and biology of the immature stages and phylogenetic relationships of Rotunda rotundapex (Miyata & Kishida, 1990) are described and illustrated for the first time. The species is univoltine: eggs hatch in spring (March or April) and the life cycle from egg to adult is completed in about 3 wk, with larvae developing rapidly on young leaves of the host plants, Morus australis and to a lesser extent Broussonetia monoica (Moraceae), and adults emerging in April–May. Eggs are laid in clusters on twigs of the host plant, are covered by scales during female oviposition, and remain in diapause for the remainder of the year (i.e., for 10–11 mo). Larvae (all instars) are unique among the Bombycidae in that they lack a horn on abdominal segment 8. A strongly supported molecular phylogeny based on six genes (5.0 Kbp: COI, EF-1α, RpS5, CAD, GAPDH, and wgl) representing seven genera of Bombycinae from the Old World revealed that Rotunda is a distinct monotypic lineage sister to Bombyx. This phylogenetic position, together with morphological data of the immature stages (egg and larval chaetotaxy), supports the current systematic classification in which the species rotundapex has been placed in a separate genus (Rotunda) from Bombyx in which it was previously classified.
Deciduous Beech (Fagus spp.) forests have a highly disjunct distribution in the Northern Hemisphere, with greatest diversity in eastern Asia. Although Fagus supports a rich phytophagous insect fauna, the diversity, composition, and host specialization of insects associated with these trees in Asia are less well known compared with Europe and North America. For instance, two species of Catocala moths, both considered endemic to Japan, were previously known as the only beech-feeding specialists of this genus. However, two Catocala species were recently discovered from Taiwan during a survey of phytophagous insects on Taiwan Beech Fagus hayatae, a threatened plant. Identification of these two species of moths was determined by mtDNA (COI barcodes), adult morphology, including wing pattern and genitalia, and biology. Based on these multiple sources of evidence, we conclude that one species represents an undescribed species and the other a new subspecies of a species previously known only from mainland China. The taxonomic treatments in the present work include Catocala seiohbo sanctocula Hsu & Huang, subsp. nov., C. nimbosa Hsu & Wang, sp. nov. and C. nubila ohshimai, stat. nov. In Taiwan, Catocala spp. occur mainly in large, undisturbed patches of Taiwan Beech forest and are codependent on F. hayatae. Thus, they are not only considered to be at risk of co-extinction, but may serve as potential indicator species to monitor the extent and health of this threatened ecological community.
Caltoris ranrunna (Sonan, 1936) is resurrected from synonymy of Caltoris cahira austeni (Moore, 1883) to represent a Caltoris species endemic to Taiwan based upon COI barcode divergence and morphological diagnosis in genitalia of both sexes. This species distributes allopatrically from C. cahira of continental Asia and Andamans.
Ussuriana fani wangi, ssp. nov. is described and illustrated from Baihuashan of Taihangshan Mountain Range, Beijing. This new subspecies utilizes Fraxinus bungeana as the larval hostplant, representing the first record of U. fani in northern China. The immature biology, larval morphology, and data of COI barcode all indicate the population belonging to U. fani rather than superficially similar U. michaelis.
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