Morphology of the preimaginal stages of the African emperor moth Bunaeopsis licharbas (Maassen and Weyding): Phylogenetically informative characters within the Saturniinae (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae)

Abstract

The current classification of African representatives of the family Saturniidae is largely unsatisfactory and needs to be revised following a proper and rigorous phylogenetic analysis. In this regard, the use of characters of preimaginal stages in phylogeny reconstruction was already emphasized in the literature; however, few details are known about the morphology of the eggs, larvae, and pupae of these moths. To fill this gap and to provide a preliminary basis for further phylogenetic studies, the early stages of Bunaeopsis licharbas, a member of the tribe Bunaeini within the Saturniinae, are described. Egg chorionic ultrastructure, chaetotaxy of the larva in every instar, and morphology of the pupa are described and illustrated. A total of 22 previously overlooked characters was found and their potential phylogenetic significance is discussed in the light of a comparative study which includes a large set of representatives of all five tribes in the subfamily. Until further phylogenetic analyses, some characters are considered to be potential synapomorphies supporting, in particular, the monophyly of the tribe Bunaeini, the close relationship between this tribe and part of the Urotini, as well as the existence of an Afrotropical lineage within the Saturniinae uniting the tribes Bunaeini, Urotini, and Micragonini. In a group of moths whose preimaginal instars are among the best known within the Lepidoptera, the unexpected, and relatively high number of potentially informative characters found by the present study stresses the value of minute and exhaustive descriptive studies to make use of morphological characters available for phylogenetic studies.

Imaturos de Sarsina violascens (Herrich-Schäffer) (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae, Lymantriinae)

“…A terminologia aplicada às estruturas das larvas e pupas foi principalmente a de Dias (2006). Adaptações foram feitas, a partir de outros trabalhos que abordam aspectos morfológicos dos imaturos (Mosher 1916;Peterson 1962;Stehr 1987;Scoble 1992;Zenker et al 2007;Rougerie & Estradel 2008). 23) Esférico, liso e com pólo inferior plano.…”

Immature Stages ofAdeloneivaia fallax(Lepidoptera: Saturniidae)

“…Thus, with potentially informative characters existing among some members of suprageneric groups within the Saturniinae, comparisons with characters observed in the pupae of A. fallax were feasible. Pupae of Arsenurinae, Hemileucinae, Oxyteninae and Saturniinae (Aiello & Balcázar-Lara 1997;Mosher 1914Mosher , 1916aRougerie & Estradel 2008;Specht et al 2007Specht et al , 2008Specht et al , 2009Specht et al , 2011 differ from each other and from species of Ceratocampinae. Additionally, there are characters with less-discernible variation found among related species representing categories between suprageneric and family level.…”

“…This seems to be a universal characteristic in pupae of Ceratocampinae, occurring also in many other members of Saturniidae. However, in some species of Bunaeini (Saturniinae) (see Rougerie & Estradel 2008), the antennae may touch or almost touch apically.…”

“…Finally, Rougerie & Estradel (2008) pointed out a number of characters for the pupa of Bunaeopsis licharbas (Maassen & Weyding, 1885) (Saturniinae), and compared them with other species of the same subfamily. Thus, with potentially informative characters existing among some members of suprageneric groups within the Saturniinae, comparisons with characters observed in the pupae of A. fallax were feasible.…”

“…Their immature stages are well known compared with other families of Lepidoptera. Though nearly 100 articles describing the immature stages of saturniids were published between 1985 and 2003 (Rougerie & Estradel 2008), only a few addressed egg and larval ultrastructure, or larval chaetotaxy, or discussed morphological variation in an evolutionary context (Balcázar-Lara & Wolfe 1997;Deml & Dettner 2002;Rougerie & Estradel 2008).…”