Patterns of morphological evolution of the secondary sexual characters in butterflies of the subfamily Pyrginae (Lepidoptera: Hesperiidae)

• Grant number: 20/09595-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Start date: September 01, 2021
• End date: August 31, 2024
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Zoology - Taxonomy of Recent Groups
• Principal Investigator: André Victor Lucci Freitas
• Grantee: Ricardo Russo Siewert
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biologia (IB). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Hesperiidae (Lepidoptera) comprises one of the most diverse groups among butterflies, with more than 4000 species mostly concentering in the Neotropical region. The skippers are small to medium size butterflies, commonly known for their non-showy coloring and for presenting few conspicuous characters used in the taxonomy of Lepidoptera, a factor that may limit the study of the group. Currently the family is grouped into 12 subfamilies, and of these, Pyrginae is the second most species-rich, with more than 1000 species distributed in 105 described genera. Despite the lack of morphological synapomorphies for Pyrginae, the group is partially characterized by the presence of secondary sexual characters in most males. These characters include costal folds in the forewings and tufts of metatibial hair tufts associated with thoracic pheromone glands. However, these structures have been poorly explored in previous studies and, to date, little is known about their origin and detailed morphology. Thus, in order to propose hypotheses about the phylogenetic and evolutionary significance of secondary sexual characters in butterflies of the subfamily Pyrginae, the aim of the present project is to map, describe and perform a comparative morphological study at the macro, micro and ultrastructural level of these structures. The results will serve as a basis to understand the evolution patterns of these structures that are so little explored in Lepidoptera. Additionally, the data gathered can be used to provide morphological evidences for help in the taxonomic delimitation of the genera and species of Pyrginae. This project has a strong potential to help understand the evolutionary patterns in Hesperiidae, contributing to the knowledge of the biodiversity of butterflies. (AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

SIEWERT, RICARDO RUSSO; BATISTA ROSA, AUGUSTO HENRIQUE; LAMAS, GERARDO; LUCCI FREITAS, ANDRE VICTOR. Lost and Found: Taxonomic Notes on Some Butterflies (Lepidoptera: Papilionoidea) from JF Zikan found on F. Dissmann's Collection. Neotropical Entomology, v. 52, n. 1, p. 4-pg., 2022-12-02. (21/03868-8, 20/09595-0)

ROSA, AUGUSTO HENRIQUE BATISTA; BARBOSA, EDUARDO DE PROENCA; MACHADO, PATRICIA AVELINO; SIEWERT, RICARDO RUSSO; FREITAS, ANDRE VICTOR LUCCI. Dasyophthalma (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae: Satyrinae): systematics, distribution, and conservation perspectives of a butterfly genus endemic from the Brazilian Atlantic Forest. ARTHROPOD SYSTEMATICS & PHYLOGENY, v. 81, p. 19-pg., 2023-05-23. (21/13396-6, 18/21432-0, 21/03868-8, 13/50297-0, 16/15873-8, 20/09595-0, 12/03750-8)

JOSÉ RICARDO A. LEMES; RICARDO RUSSO SIEWERT; OLAF H.H. MIELKE; MIRNA M. CASAGRANDE; ANDREW DAVID WARREN. Description of Uniphylus gen. nov., a new genus of Carcharodini (Lepidoptera, Hesperiidae, Pyrginae) for Staphylus evemerus Godman & Salvin, 1896. Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciências, v. 95, 2023-10-30. (20/09595-0)