A Phenomenon: What Are the Minuscule Grey Moths Abundant in the Dry Season in the Tropical Dry Forests of the Pacific Coast of Honduras?
Our investigation centered on the tropical dry forests along the Pacific coast of Honduras, aiming to elucidate the presence and abundance of minuscule grey moths during the dry season. Through specimen dissections and the taxonomic identification of the collected material, we have described three n...
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MDPI AG
2024-08-01
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| Series: | Insects |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/15/9/641 |
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| author | Jonas R. Stonis Andrius Remeikis Arūnas Diškus Viktorija Dobrynina Svetlana Orlovskytė |
| author_facet | Jonas R. Stonis Andrius Remeikis Arūnas Diškus Viktorija Dobrynina Svetlana Orlovskytė |
| author_sort | Jonas R. Stonis |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Our investigation centered on the tropical dry forests along the Pacific coast of Honduras, aiming to elucidate the presence and abundance of minuscule grey moths during the dry season. Through specimen dissections and the taxonomic identification of the collected material, we have described three new species: <i>Acalyptris podenasi</i> sp. nov., <i>A. palpiformis</i> sp. nov., and <i>A. tortoris</i> sp. nov. Additionally, we documented two species previously known from neighboring countries, <i>A. lascuevella</i> Puplesis & Robinson and <i>A. basicornis</i> Remeikis & Stonis. The females of <i>A. lascuevella</i> were previously unknown and are documented here for the first time. Morphological examinations were complemented by DNA barcoding, particularly highlighting variation in <i>A. lascuevella</i>. The paper’s primary significance lies not only in the description of new species but also in uncovering their taxonomic, morphological, and molecular importance. We found that these species are unique and indicative of the previously unstudied dry forests as a distinct ecosystem. Our findings revealed several novel atypical morphological traits within the studied Nepticulidae, including unusually large signum cells in the female genitalia, a dorso-ventrally divided uncus, and asymmetrical valvae in the male genitalia. These discoveries underscore the morphological diversity of <i>Acalyptris</i> Meyrick and their significance in evolutionary biology. Consequently, the paper addresses a previously unknown phenomenon of the occurrence and astonishing abundance of minuscule plant-mining micromoths in dry deciduous forests during the peak of the dry season. We hope that this paper will encourage Lepidoptera taxonomists to explore micromoths in other tropical dry forests, which, while limited in distribution, hold global importance. The paper is extensively illustrated with photographs of <i>Acalyptris</i> adults and their genitalia, along with maps, habitats, and molecular phylogenetic trees. |
| first_indexed | 2025-03-20T08:32:14Z |
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| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2075-4450 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2025-03-20T08:32:14Z |
| publishDate | 2024-08-01 |
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| series | Insects |
| spelling | doaj.art-4d3c48f04f7c43f9a19f6b87f15dd83c2024-09-27T13:47:05ZengMDPI AGInsects2075-44502024-08-0115964110.3390/insects15090641A Phenomenon: What Are the Minuscule Grey Moths Abundant in the Dry Season in the Tropical Dry Forests of the Pacific Coast of Honduras?Jonas R. Stonis0Andrius Remeikis1Arūnas Diškus2Viktorija Dobrynina3Svetlana Orlovskytė4State Research Institute Nature Research Centre, Akademijos g. 2, LT-08412 Vilnius, LithuaniaState Research Institute Nature Research Centre, Akademijos g. 2, LT-08412 Vilnius, LithuaniaState Research Institute Nature Research Centre, Akademijos g. 2, LT-08412 Vilnius, LithuaniaState Research Institute Nature Research Centre, Akademijos g. 2, LT-08412 Vilnius, LithuaniaState Research Institute Nature Research Centre, Akademijos g. 2, LT-08412 Vilnius, LithuaniaOur investigation centered on the tropical dry forests along the Pacific coast of Honduras, aiming to elucidate the presence and abundance of minuscule grey moths during the dry season. Through specimen dissections and the taxonomic identification of the collected material, we have described three new species: <i>Acalyptris podenasi</i> sp. nov., <i>A. palpiformis</i> sp. nov., and <i>A. tortoris</i> sp. nov. Additionally, we documented two species previously known from neighboring countries, <i>A. lascuevella</i> Puplesis & Robinson and <i>A. basicornis</i> Remeikis & Stonis. The females of <i>A. lascuevella</i> were previously unknown and are documented here for the first time. Morphological examinations were complemented by DNA barcoding, particularly highlighting variation in <i>A. lascuevella</i>. The paper’s primary significance lies not only in the description of new species but also in uncovering their taxonomic, morphological, and molecular importance. We found that these species are unique and indicative of the previously unstudied dry forests as a distinct ecosystem. Our findings revealed several novel atypical morphological traits within the studied Nepticulidae, including unusually large signum cells in the female genitalia, a dorso-ventrally divided uncus, and asymmetrical valvae in the male genitalia. These discoveries underscore the morphological diversity of <i>Acalyptris</i> Meyrick and their significance in evolutionary biology. Consequently, the paper addresses a previously unknown phenomenon of the occurrence and astonishing abundance of minuscule plant-mining micromoths in dry deciduous forests during the peak of the dry season. We hope that this paper will encourage Lepidoptera taxonomists to explore micromoths in other tropical dry forests, which, while limited in distribution, hold global importance. The paper is extensively illustrated with photographs of <i>Acalyptris</i> adults and their genitalia, along with maps, habitats, and molecular phylogenetic trees.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/15/9/641<i>Acalyptris</i>atypical charactersCentral Americadry seasonfaunaLepidoptera |
| spellingShingle | Jonas R. Stonis Andrius Remeikis Arūnas Diškus Viktorija Dobrynina Svetlana Orlovskytė A Phenomenon: What Are the Minuscule Grey Moths Abundant in the Dry Season in the Tropical Dry Forests of the Pacific Coast of Honduras? Insects <i>Acalyptris</i> atypical characters Central America dry season fauna Lepidoptera |
| title | A Phenomenon: What Are the Minuscule Grey Moths Abundant in the Dry Season in the Tropical Dry Forests of the Pacific Coast of Honduras? |
| title_full | A Phenomenon: What Are the Minuscule Grey Moths Abundant in the Dry Season in the Tropical Dry Forests of the Pacific Coast of Honduras? |
| title_fullStr | A Phenomenon: What Are the Minuscule Grey Moths Abundant in the Dry Season in the Tropical Dry Forests of the Pacific Coast of Honduras? |
| title_full_unstemmed | A Phenomenon: What Are the Minuscule Grey Moths Abundant in the Dry Season in the Tropical Dry Forests of the Pacific Coast of Honduras? |
| title_short | A Phenomenon: What Are the Minuscule Grey Moths Abundant in the Dry Season in the Tropical Dry Forests of the Pacific Coast of Honduras? |
| title_sort | phenomenon what are the minuscule grey moths abundant in the dry season in the tropical dry forests of the pacific coast of honduras |
| topic | <i>Acalyptris</i> atypical characters Central America dry season fauna Lepidoptera |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/15/9/641 |
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