ABSTRACT Accurate identification of species is fundamental to every biological research. While morphological identification is a time-consuming and skilled technique, straightforward molecular techniques require the availability of a database of previously sequenced and identified specimens. For most countries of South America, species of noctuids with available sequences are scarce, mostly restricted to species of economic importance, making molecular identification untenable. Here we sequenced the mitochondrial DNA ‘barcode’ region of the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I gene of 34 specimens pertaining to 26 species of South American noctuids, 20 of these for the first time. For all species, genetic distances were higher for interspecific than for intraspecific relations, supporting the utility of DNA ‘barcodes’ to identify species. Larger intraspecific divergences occurred in species of Agrotis and Anicla, and interspecific divergences lower than 2% occurred in about one fifth of the species, all in species of Agrotis, Feltia, and Anicla. These results will allow identifying these species using DNA ‘barcodes’, either for pest management or general biological studies. Furthermore, we carried out phylogenetic analyses with those sequences and 158 other sequences of 85 species of noctuids mined from GenBank. These analyses, in every case, grouped species of the same genus suggesting that the DNA ‘barcodes’ region alone can be useful for lower level phylogeny in this group, recovering as monophyletic groups such as Copitarsia, Agrotis and Austrandesiita. Conversely, groups such as Mythimna (Mythimna) and the subgenera of Feltia were not recovered as monophyletic, suggesting the need for further taxonomic studies in these groups.

ABSTRACT The external morphology and life cycle of the immature stages of Temenis laothoe meridionalis Hübner, [1819] (Lepidoptera, Nymphalidae, Biblidinae), associated with Serjania laruotteana (Sapindaceae) in Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil, are described and illustrated with photographs and images from scanning electron microscopy. Special aspects of the external morphology are compared to the immature stages of other species of Biblidinae.

ABSTRACT The external morphology of immature stages of Zaretis strigosus (Gmelin, [1790]) and Siderone galanthis catarina Dottax and Pierre, 2009 comb. nov. from southern Brazil are described. Additionally, morphology of the adults and sequences of the mitochondrial gene cytochrome oxidase, subunit I, were analyzed in order to evaluate the taxonomy of Siderone galanthis Hübner, [1823]. Immatures were collected on Casearia sylvestris (Salicaceae) in Curitiba, Paraná, and Balneário Barra do Sul, Santa Catarina, Brazil, and reared at the laboratory. Morphological descriptions and illustrations are provided, based on observations through stereoscopic and optic microscopes attached to camera lucida; results are compared and discussed and immature stages of some other species of Charaxinae. The results indicates that the morphology of the immature stages of the studied species differ greatly from other Anaeini, representing a distinct lineage of leafwings butterflies. Morphology and molecular evidence indicate that S. nemesis mexicana Dottax and Pierre, 2009 and S. nemesis catarina Dottax and Pierre, 2009 are conspecific with S. galanthis (Cramer, 1775); additionally, S. thebais C. Felder and R. Felder 1862, S. nemesis var. confluens Staudinger, 1887, S. nemesis f. leonora Bargmann, 1928 and S. nemesis f. exacta Bargmann, 1929 are synonymized with S. galanthis galanthis (Cramer, 1775).

ABSTRACT The external morphology and biology of the immature stages of Hamadryas fornax fornax (Hübner, [1823]) (Lepidoptera, Nymphalidae, Biblidinae) recorded on Dalechampia triphylla (Euphorbiaceae) in Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil are described. Morphological characters are illustrated and described, as a result of observations in scanning electron, stereoscope and optical microscopes, the last two attached to a camera lucida. Results are compared and discussed with immature stages of other species of Biblidinae.

Hoje a presença de listas vermelhas de espécies ameaçadas de extinção é comum em muitos países que as julgam necessárias para promover a conservação da natureza. No entanto, poucos esforços vêm sendo realizados com objetivo de resgatar as informações básicas acerca da presença e distribuição dessas espécies, sobretudo sua conservação. Portanto, o presente trabalho fornece novos registros de borboletas consideradas ameaçadas de extinção com distribuição no Paraná, incluindo uma da lista vermelha brasileira e complementando assim o conhecimento de suas distribuições geográficas e estudos de conservação. Ao total, somam-se 15 registros inéditos correspondentes a oito espécies, confirmando a presença onde já havia registros ou adicionando novos registros de distribuição. As espécies abordadas em nosso estudo são: Passova passova practa Evans, 1951 (CR), Zonia zonia diabo Mielke & Casagrande, 1998 (VU - Brasil), Euryades corethrus (Boisduval, 1836) (EN), Cyanophrys bertha (Jones, 1912) (EN), Alesa prema (Godart, [1824]) (VU), Symmachia arion (C. Felder & R. Felder, 1865) (VU), Pampasatyrus glaucope glaucope (C. Felder & R. Felder, 1865) (VU) e Charonias theano (Boisduval, 1836) (EN). Exceto P. g. glaucope e C. theano, todas foram registradas nos últimos três anos. Metade dos registros corresponde a pequenas unidades de conservação do noroeste e nordeste paranaense, enquanto os fornecidos para região centro-sul não estão protegidos, especialmente as espécies endêmicas dos Campos Naturais. A partir dos novos dados, são sugeridas as seguintes alterações na situação de ameaça das espécies: descaracterização dos graus de ameaça de P. p. practa, C. bertha e S. arion. Z. z. diabo deve ser inserida como criticamente em perigo (CR), assim como E. corethrus deveria elevar sua categoria em perigo (EN) para criticamente em perigo (CR). A. prema, P. g. glaucope e C. theano não tiveram as categorias e critérios alterados.

Many countries regard the red lists of threatened species as useful tools for promoting the biological conservation. However, little effort has been made to gather base-line information on the presence and distribution of such species, or their conservation. Therefore, the present work provides new records of some threatened butterflies species distributed through Paraná, one of which is already included in the Brazilian red list, and thus complementing the knowledge of geographical distribution and conservation. In total, 15 new records belonging to 8 species are given, confirming past records, or representing new distribution records. The species addressed in our study are: Passova passova practa Evans, 1951 (CR), Zonia zonia diabo Mielke & Casagrande, 1998 (VU - Brazil), Alesa prema (Godart, [1824]) (VU), Symmachia arion (C. Felder & R. Felder, 1865) (VU), Cyanophrys bertha (Jones, 1912) (EN), Euryades corethrus (Boisduval, 1836) (EN), Charonias theano (Boisduval, 1836) (EN), and Pampasatyrus glaucope glaucope (C. Felder & R. Felder, 1865) (VU). Except for Charonias theano and Pampasatyrus glaucope glaucope, all species were recorded on the past three years (2007-2009). Approximately one-half of the records included here correspond to small conservation units located at the northwest and northeast regions of Paraná, while records from central-south region correspond to non-protected areas, specially the endemic grasslands species. From these new data, we suggest the following modifications to threat status: remove P. p. practa, C. bertha and S. arion from the red list. Z. z. diabo should be considered critically endangered (CR), while the status of E. corethrus should be revised to critically endangered (CR). We make no recommendations for change in status for A. prema, P. g. glaucope and C. theano.