This thesis focuses on the history, current state, and conservation of butterfly diversity in the Submediterranean grasslands and Palaearctic steppes. The thesis is introduced with the summary of Cenozoic history of the steppe biome in Eurasia. Then it consists of three studies. The first study describes butterfly communities and microhabitat selection of a steppe specialist butterfly Proterebia afra in two relic grassland areas in the Balkans. Based on genetic markers and samples covering the whole distribution ranges, the second and third studies assess the phylogeography of two steppe butterflies, P. afra and Pseudophilotes bavius, distributed in the Irano-Anatolian region, the Balkans, as well as the northern Palaearctic steppes.

Tripsinas e quimotripsinas são classes de serina peptidases amplamente estudadas e fortemente responsáveis pela digestão proteica, pela clivagem de ligações peptídicas no lado carboxila de L-aminoácidos de cadeia lateral básica e hidrofóbica, respectivamente. Três processos regulam finamente a ação dessas peptidases: secreção, ativação do precursor (zimogênio) e o sítio de reconhecimento do substrato. No presente trabalho é apresentada uma análise filogenética detalhada das tripsinas e quimotripsinas de três ordens de insetos holometábolos, revelando características divergentes nas enzimas de Lepidóptera em relação a Coleóptera e Díptera. Em particular, o sub-sítio S1 das tripsinas foi observado como mais hidrofílico em Lepidóptera do que em Coleóptera e Díptera, enquanto os sub-sítios S2-S4 parecem mais hidrofóbicos, sugerindo diferente preferências pelo substrato. Além disso, Lepidóptera mostrou um grupo de tripsinas bastante específico a um grupo taxonômico, compreendendo somente proteínas de espécies da família Noctuidae. Evidências de eventos de auto-ativação facilitada foram também observadas em todas as ordens de insetos estudadas, com as características do motivo de ativação do zimogênio complementárias ao sítio ativo das tripsinas. Em contraste, as quimotripsinas de insetos não parecem ter uma história evolutiva peculiar com respeito a, por exemplo, seus homólogos em mamíferos. Em geral, os presentes resultados sugerem que a necessidade de uma rápida taxa de autoativação fez os insetos holometábolos selecionarem grupos especializados de tripsinas com altas taxas de auto-ativação e também destacam que a evolução das tripsinas culminou em um grupo especializado de enzimas em Lepidóptera. / Trypsins and chymotrypsins are well-studied classes of serine peptidases largely responsible for the digestion of proteins by cleavage of the peptide bond at the carboxyl side of basic and hydrophobic L-amino acids, respectively. Three processes mainly regulate the action of these peptidases: secretion, precursor (zymogen) activation and substrate-binding site recognition. In the present work is presented a detailed phylogenetic analysis of trypsins and chymotrypsins in three orders of holometabolous insects revealing divergent characteristics in the Lepidoptera enzymes in relation to Coleoptera and Diptera. In particular, trypsin subsite S1 was observed to be more hydrophilic in Lepidoptera than in Coleoptera and Diptera, whereas subsites S2-S4 appeared more hydrophobic, suggesting different substrate preferences. Furthermore, Lepidoptera displayed a very specific taxonomic trypsin group, only encompassing proteins from the Noctuidae family. Evidences for facilitated trypsin auto-activation events were also observed in all the insect orders at hand, with the characteristic zymogen activation motif complementary to the trypsin active site. In contrast, insect chymotrypsins did not seem to have a peculiar evolutionary history with respect to e.g. their mammal counterparts. Overall, the present findings suggest that the need for fast digestion made holometabolous insects evolve specialized groups of trypsins with high autoactivation rates and highlight that the evolution of trypsins culminated in a specialized group of enzymes in Lepidoptera.

O objetivo desse trabalho foi estudar atrativos adicionados a inseticidas e usados na forma de isca tóxica no controle dos adultos de Diatraea saccharalis (Fabricius, 1794) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) determinando as doses adequadas e distâncias de aplicação dessas iscas. Em laboratório, foram testadas diversas iscas, incluindo seletividade, idade e concentração das mesmas, escolha do inseticida e sua melhor dose, determinação da distância dentro da área de aplicação, efeito residual e atratividade a alguns inimigos naturais. A D. saccharalis foi mantida em condições controladas de temperatura (25+1ºC), umidade relativa (60+10%) e fotofase (14 horas). Foi avaliada a sua mortalidade 24 e 48 hs após a exposição às iscas. A seleção e concentração do atrativo e o inseticida foi feita através dos resultados que apresentaram eficiência superior a 80%. Dentre as diferentes concentrações de atrativos e de inseticidas foram obtidas às ideais para cada isca, que foram: ácido acético (2,5%); ácido acético + 3-metil-1-butanol (1,25%); calda de açúcar (20%) e açúcar (2,5%) adicionados ao cloridrato de cartape (2,0; 2,0; 1,5 e 2,0 g i.a. L-1 calda), respectivamente. Em relação ao raio de atratividade, verificou-se que a isca não atrai o adulto a longas distâncias sendo o raio de 50cm, tornando-se necessário aplicar as iscas em área total. Nos resultados obtidos do teste de atratividade aos inimigos naturais (Cotesia flavipes e Doru luteipes) foi verificado que apenas a C. flavipes foi atraída pela isca à base de melaço. Em campo, foi realizado um experimento aplicando a isca tóxica em área total. Os tratamentos foram: ácido acético (285 mL ha-1) + cloridrato de cartape (45 g i.a. ha-1), melaço (1,14L ha-1) + cloridrato de cartape (45 g i.a. ha-1), Bacillus thuringiensis (1L ha-1) + Hygrogen (1L ha-1) e triflumurom (38,4 g i.a. ha-1), este último, visando lagartas do 2º ínstar. Os tratamentos á base de B. thuringiesis e o triflumurom foram empregados como padrão. Os resultados foram analisados em função de amostragem de lagartas que surgiu após as aplicações. Os resultados mostraram que o tratamento que mais se destacou foi à base de melaço o qual foi superior ao controle químico triflumurom, inseticida regulador de crescimento, utilizado atualmente principalmente no oeste paulista, onde se encontram altos níveis de infestação da broca. Assim, a isca tóxica a base de melaço se torna mais uma alternativa no controle químico da D. saccharalis. / This work aims to study baits added to insecticides used as toxic baits in the control of moths of Diatraea saccharalis (Fabricius, 1794) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) determining their appropriate doses and distances of application. In laboratory, were tested different baits in terms of selectivity, age and concentration, choice of pesticide and ideal dosage, determining distances within the application area, residual effects and attractiveness to some natural enemies. The D. saccharalis was kept under controlled temperatures (25+1ºC), RH (60+10%) and photophase (14 hours). We evaluated its mortality 24 and 48 hours after exposure to the baits. The selection and concentration of the bait and the pesticide were based on results that presented effiency higher than 80%. Among the different of concentrations of baits and pesticides, we obtained the ideal for each toxic bait as follows: acetic acid (2.5%); acetic acid + 3-methyl-1-butanol (1.25%); gold syrup (20%) and sugar (2.5%) added to cloridrato of cartape (2.0; 2.0; 1.5 and 2.0 g i.a. L-1 solution), respectively. In relation to the distance of application, we observed that the bait does not attract the adult from a distance larger than 50cm, being necessary to spray the baits in the entire area. As for results obtained on the attractiveness to natural enemies (Cotesia flavipes and Doru luteipes), we observed that only the C. flavipes was attracted to molasses baits. In the field, we carried out the spraying of toxic bait in whole area. The treatments were: acetic acid (285mL ha-1) + cloridrato de cartape (45 g i.a. ha-1), molasses (1,14L ha-1) + cloridrato of cartape (45 g i.a. ha-1), Bacillus thuringiensis (1L ha-1) + Hygrogen (1L ha-1) and triflumurom (38,4 g i.a. ha-1), being this last one aimed at caterpillars of the 2nd instar. The treatments based of B. thuringiensis and triflumurom were set up as standard. Results were analyzed regarding the number of caterpillars which appeared after the sprays. Findings showed that the treatment that had better result was based on molasses which was superior than the chemical control with triflumurom, growth regulator pesticide, largely used nowadays mainly in the western of São Paulo state, where there is high level of infestation of sugarcane borer. Thus, the toxic bait based on molasses becomes an alternative to the chemical control of D. saccharalis.

As plantas reconhecem e produzem substâncias voláteis específicas para a atração de parasitóides após o ataque de um herbívoro, num processo conhecido como defesa indireta. Contudo, a capacidade dessas plantas em processar e liberar novos compostos voláteis sob o ataque de um herbívoro não hospedeiro permanece ainda inexplorado. Em vista disso, o presente trabalho buscou investigar o efeito dos voláteis emitidos por planta de milho sob o ataque de uma praga até então não hospedeira (traça-das-crucíferas, Plutella xylostella) comparado ao daqueles emitidos por planta de milho sob ataque de um hospedeiro tradicional (lagarta-do-cartucho-domilho, Spodoptera frugiperda), sobre esses insetos e seus respectivos parasitóides, Apanteles piceotrichosus e Campoletis flavicincta. Os bioensaios com os parasitóides foram conduzidos em fotofase, sendo oferecidos a estes, voláteis de plantas de milho sadias, voláteis liberados nos intervalos de 0-1, 5-6 e 24-25h após tratamento em fotofase por dano mecânico ou herbivoria simulada, e voláteis liberados no intervalo de 5-6h após esses mesmos tratamentos em escotofase. Já os ensaios com as mariposas foram conduzidos em escotofase, sendo oferecidos a estas, voláteis de plantas de milho sadias, voláteis liberados nos intervalos de 5-6h após tratamento em fotofase por dano mecânico ou herbivoria simulada, e voláteis liberados no intervalo de 0-1 e 24- 25h após esses mesmos tratamentos em escotofase. Adicionalmente, foram testados, para P. xylostella, voláteis de plantas de couve-manteiga sadia, e para A. piceotrichosus, voláteis de couve-manteiga sadia, couve-manteiga danificada mecanicamente e couve-manteiga atacada por lagartas de P. xylostella. As fêmeas de C. flavicincta apresentaram atratividade para voláteis emitidos pelas plantas de milho no intervalo de 5 a 6 horas após tratamento com regurgito de S. frugiperda em escotofase. Curiosamente, não apresentou atratividade pelos voláteis liberados nesse mesmo intervalo de tempo após indução com regurgito em fotofase. As fêmeas acasaladas de S. frugiperda foram atraídas por voláteis de plantas de milho sadia e voláteis liberados nos intervalos de 5-6 e 24-25h após dano mecânico ou tratamento da planta com regurgito deste herbívoro. Porém, preferiu voláteis de plantas sadias aqueles de plantas tratadas com regurgito em fotofase. Esses resultados demonstraram que esses insetos são capazes de discriminar entre misturas de voláteis presentes em seu habitat natural, onde ocorre a relação tritrófica milho (planta hospedeira) S. frugiperda (herbívoro) C. flavicincta (parasitóide). Da mesma forma, na relação couve-manteiga (planta hospedeira) P. xylostella (herbívoro) A. piceotrichosus (parasitóide), as fêmeas de P. xylostella foram atraídas pelos voláteis de couve-manteiga sadia, assim como as fêmeas de A. piceotrichosus foram atraídas pelos voláteis de couve-manteiga atacadas por lagartas deste herbívoro. No caso da simulação de uma nova relação, milho (planta não-hospedeira) P. xylostella (herbívoro) C. flavicincta (parasitóide), tanto fêmeas de A. piceotrichosus, quanto de P. xylostella, não foram capazes de responder aos voláteis de plantas de milho sadias, danificadas mecanicamente e danificadas mecanicamente + regurgito de P. xylostella. A determinação desses mecanismos poderá ser útil para maior compreensão do contexto evolutivo entre plantas e insetos e obtenção de novos avanços no manejo e controle biológico de pragas. / Plants recognize and produce specific volatile substances that attract parasitoids after the herbivore attack, characterizing a process known as indirect defense. However, the ability of these plants in processing and releasing novel volatile compounds elicited by a non-host herbivore attack has been poorly explored. Regarding this, the current study aimed to investigate the effect of volatiles emitted by maize plants under the attack of a pest which is not a host so far, diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella compared to those emitted by a common host, fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda on the behavior response of these insects and their respective parasitoids Apanteles piceotrichosus e Campoletis flavicincta. The bioassays with the parasitoids were conducted during photophase and they were exposed to volatiles from undamaged maize, volatiles released at the time intervals 0-1, 5-6 and 24-25h after the treatment of mechanical damage or simulated herbivory during photophase, and volatiles released at the time interval 5-6h after these same treatments in scotophase. The bioassays with the moths were carried out in scotophase and they were exposed to volatiles from undamaged maize, volatiles released at the time interval 5-6h after the treatment of mechanical damage or simulated herbivory during photophase, and volatiles released at time intervals 0-1 and 24-25h after these same treatments in scotophase. Additionally, for P. xylostella volatiles from undamaged kale were tested while for A. piceotrichosus it was tested volatiles from undamaged kale, mechanically damaged and P. xylostella caterpillar damaged kale. C. flavicincta females were attracted to volatiles emitted by the maize plants at the interval 5-6h after the treatment with the S. frugiperda regurgitate in scotophase. Curiously, they were not attracted to volatiles released at the same time interval after the induction elicited by the regurgitate in the photophase. S. frugiperda mated females were attracted by volatiles from undamaged plants and volatiles released at time intervals 5-6 and 24- 25h after the mechanical damage or treated with the regurgitate of this herbivore. Nevertheless, they preferred the volatiles from undamaged maize to the plants treated with the regurgitate during photophase. These results demonstrated that these insects are able to distinguish among the volatile blends present in their natural habitat where it occurs the tritrophic relationship maize (host plant) S. frugiperda (herbivore) C. flavicincta (parasitoid). In the same way, in the relationship kale (host plant)- P. xylostella (herbivore) A. piceotrichosus (parasitoid), P. xylostella females were attracted by the volatiles of undamaged kale as well as the A. piceotrichosus females were attracted to volatiles emited by caterpillar-damaged kale. In the case of simulating a new relationship, maize (non-host plant) P. xylostella (herbivore) C. flavicincta (parasitoid), A. piceotrichosus females and P. xylostella were not able to respond to undamaged maize, mechanically damaged and mechanically damaged+ P. xylostella regurgitate. The determination of these mechanisms can be useful for a better understanding of the evolution context between plants and insects and for obtaining new advances in the management and biological pest control.

Lagartas de Ascia monuste (Lepidoptera, Pieridae) são especialistas em Brassicaceae, sendo uma das maiores consumidoras desta família da região Neotropical. No campo, uma grande proporção de lagartas migra para outros hospedeiros e freqüentemente deparam-se com variações nutricionais e espaciais de alimento. O presente trabalho teve como objetivo principal estudar a performance dos imaturos de A. monuste em quatro combinações de alimentações, com hospedeiros alimentares diferentes numa mesma fase ontogenética, utilizando-se três hospedeiros naturais: couve (Brassica oleracea var. acephala) e rúcula (Eruca sativa), e couve e repolho (B. oleracea var. capitata). Estas plantas diferem quanto ao conteúdo de nitrogênio, com couve e rúcula tendo quantidades semelhantes e maiores que o repolho. Além disso, foi avaliado, tanto em campo quanto em laboratório, se a experiência alimentar prévia influencia na escolha de alimento no instar larval subseqüente, e quais seriam os efeitos de um período de privação de 24 horas de alimento, antes da mudança de hospedeiro, sobre a performance do inseto. Apesar de pequenas diferenças digestórias, possivelmente causadas pela adequação às diferenças de nutrientes, o tempo de desenvolvimento não diferiu significativamente entre os tratamentos; houve uma porcentagem de emergência e fecundidade potencial altas. De acordo com os resultados encontrados no presente estudo, rúcula e repolho seriam os hospedeiros de valores nutritivos semelhantes e couve, o hospedeiro de valor nutritivo diferente (e mais adequado para a performance de A. monuste). Pupas originadas de lagartas alimentadas com rúcula e repolho apresentaram, de uma forma geral, menor quantidade de massa e menos oócitos, inclusive quando houve privação alimentar entre os hospedeiros. A preferência alimentar por rúcula, ao invés de couve, e por couve, ao invés de repolho, independente do alimento prévio, mostra que a experiência prévia não determina a escolha por hospedeiros em imaturos em A. monuste. A preferência em campo diferiu daquela encontrada em laboratório. A privação de 24 horas de alimento entre a mudança de hospedeiros não provocou danos adicionais na performance das lagartas alimentadas com couve e rúcula, mas aumentou as taxas de mortalidade dos grupos alimentados com couve e repolho. / Ascia monuste (Lepidoptera, Pieridae) caterpillars are Brassicaceae specialists, being one of the most important comsumers of this plant family in the Neotropical region. In the field, a high proportion of immatures migrates to other hosts in order to develop properly, probably facing some variation in terms of nutritional value and location of their hosts. The main objective of this study was to investigate how the feeding of caterpillars of same ontogenetic phase on different hosts [kale (Brassica oleracea L. var. acephala) and rucola (Eruca sativa L.), and kale and cabbage (Brassica olerace L. var. capitata)], affects the corresponding performance of A. monuste. The hosts above mentioned differ in their nitrogen content: kale and rucola have similar nitrogen quantity, and kale has higher quantity than cabbage. In addition, it was evaluated whether the previous host would influence food choice in subsequent larval instar, in the field and in laboratory, as well as the effects of 24 hours of food deprivation on immature performance before switching the host. Beside few differences caused by host switching, possibly by the differences in nutrient levels, all the feeding tests originated similar performances and viable adults. When the preference was determined by the first caterpillar ingestion, previous experience did not influence host choice: caterpillars chose rucola instead of kale, and kale instead of cabbage, independently of previous host. But, when preference was determined by the total amount of ingested food, previous experience acted as a fagoestimulant in kale and rucola as hosts. It was not possible to detect what determine larval preference in the field. All plants tested were attractive for the caterpillars and the migration may occur for hosts that are close and easier to find. The 24 h food deprivation did not increase the effects of host change, but did present some differences. Rucola and cabbage could be less adequate hosts on final instars, because pupae whose larvae ingested these crucifers presented, in general, less pupal mass and also less oocytes, even when food deprivation does not occured.

A major challenge to evolutionary developmental biology is to understand the how modifications to gene regulatory networks can lead to biological diversity. Heliconius butterfly wing patterns provide an excellent example of this diversity. In particular, the species H. melpomene and H. erato display wide variation in wing pattern across their ranges in Central and South America, but wherever they co-occur, they have converged on remarkably similar wing patterns due to Müllerian mimicry. Linkage analysis of wing pattern genes has shown that in both species, there are three genomic loci that are responsible for most of the pattern variation, and that these loci are homologous. One locus, containing the transcription factor optix, is responsible for red pattern elements. A set of non-coding sequences linked to some of the red pattern elements have been identified. Another locus, containing the gene WntA, has been linked to the shape of the forewing band elements and is responsible for variation in wing pattern development in several species of lepidoptera. A third locus, responsible for yellow pattern elements, contains multiple candidate genes that may affect wing pattern development, including the gene cortex, which is also linked to the industrial melanism phenotype in the moth Biston betularia, as well as the genes domeless and washout, linked to the Bigeye mutant in Bicyclus anynana. I first investigated modifications to regulatory sequence near the transcription factor optix, detecting a module associated with the band pattern element. I also found that for some pattern regulatory modules at optix, the same sequence has independently evolved the same function in H. melpomene and H. erato, in association with non-coding sequences conserved throughout the Lepidoptera. I then investigated gene expression differences in two morphs from either side of a hybrid zone that vary only in the presence or absence of a yellow pattern element, in order to determine a role for candidate genes at the yellow pattern locus. In H. melpomene the gene cortex was upregulated in the larval wing discs of the black morph, whereas in H. erato it was upregulated in the larval wing discs of the yellow morph. In pupal wings, washout was differentially expressed, again in the opposite pattern in the two species, suggesting the same locus is responsible for convergent pattern modification, but by a different mechanism. Finally, I investigated the spatial transcriptomic landscape across the wings of three different heliconiine butterflies. I identified candidate factors for regulating the expression of wing patterning genes, including genes with a conserved expression profile in all three species, and others, including genes in the Wnt pathway, with markedly different profiles in each of the three species. Each of these studies contributes to our understanding of how gene regulatory networks can be modified to create diversity: first, at the level of cis-regulation, second at the level of gene interaction and expression, and lastly at the level of developmental bias and constraint.

Submitted by Mariana Dornelles Vargas (marianadv) on 2015-05-26T13:54:04Z No. of bitstreams: 1 analise_potencial.pdf: 1430284 bytes, checksum: 12436295c40ce78cf9c53abb0f1e16e3 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2015-05-26T13:54:04Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 analise_potencial.pdf: 1430284 bytes, checksum: 12436295c40ce78cf9c53abb0f1e16e3 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012-10-26 / CAPES - Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / A bactéria Bacillus thuringiensis exibe alta atividade tóxica específica para insetos devido à sintese de delta-endotoxinas, codificadas por genes cry. A presente pesquisa visou avaliar a atividade tóxica de cepas de Bacillus thuringiensis oriundas de regiões orizícolas do Estado do Rio Grande do Sul, como agente de controle de insetos-praga da cultura do arroz irrigado e milho Spodoptera frugiperda e Ostrinia nubilalis, a fim de selecionar cepas potenciais para o controle das mesmas e identificar se as atividades enzimáticas dos receptores alcalino fosfatase (ALP) e aminopeptidase (APN) podem ter um importante papel na resistência de B. thuringiensis. Neste trabalho foram utilizados testes fenotípicos e técnicas de PCR para a identificação das subclasses do gene cry1; perfil de proteínas para a observação da composição do complexo esporo-cristal, rep-PCR para a observação da variabilidade genética, DNA plasmidial, quantificação das enzimas ALP e APN para se observer perfil de resistência das cepas e a atividade tóxica frente aos insetos-praga. Os ensaios de quantificação de proteínas de ALP e APN apresentaram níveis reduzidos, sendo um biomarcador potencial para a resistência de toxinas Cry. Os resultados dos estudos de rep-PCR demonstraram um elevado grau de similaridade entre as regiões orizícolas, provavelmente associadas à especiação ecológica. Na caracterização do perfil protéico, os resultados revelaram diferenças entre as cepas em estudo, sendo algumas semelhantes àquelas utilizadas como padrão da análise (Bt. thuringiensis 4412; Bti IPS 82 e Bt. sorovar HD1). Nos ensaios do perfil plasmidial, as cepas formaram três padrões distintos. Para os dados de toxicidades avaliados pelos bioensaios com as lagartas de primeiro ínstar de O. nubilalis, todas as cepas testadas apresentaram mortalidade superior a 75%, com destaque à cepa Bt.1893-15 que causou 95%. Nos dados dos ensaios biológicos realizados contra as lagartas de S. frugiperda, a cepa Bt. 3420-11 destacou-se com mortalidade superior a 88%. / The bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis presents a high specific activity against insects due to delta-endotoxin syntheses, codified by cry genes. This study aimed to evaluate the toxic activity of strains of B. thuringiensis derived from rice fields of Rio Grande do Sul, as an agent of control of insect pest of rice and corn Spodoptera frugiperda and Ostrinia nubilalis, in order to select potential strains to control and identify whether the enzymatic activity of alkaline-phosphatase (ALP) and aminopeptidase (APN) receptors may play an important role in the resistance of B. thuringiensis. In this study we used phenotypic tests and PCR techniques to identify subclasses of gene cry1; proteins profile to observe the composition of the spore- crystal complex, rep-PCR for the observation of genetic variability, plasmid DNA, quantification of the enzymes ALP and APN to observe resistance profile of strains and bioassay capacity against insect pests. Assays for quantification of proteins ALP and APN showed reduced levels being a potential biomarker for resistance to Cry toxins. The results of studies of rep-PCR demonstrated a high degree of similarity between the rice regions, probably associated with ecological speciation. Regarding the protein profile characterization, the results revealed differences between the strains, some being similar to those used as standard analysis (Bt thuringiensis 4412, Bt IPS 82 and Bt HD1). In trials of plasmid profile, the strains formed three distinct patterns. In data and toxicity assessed by bioassays against first instar O. nubilalis larvae, all tested strains showed mortality exceeding 75%, highlighting the Bt strain 1893-15, which caused 95% mortality. In the data of the biological assays conducted against S. frugiperda larvae, the Bt strain 3420-11 stood out showing mortality greater than 88%.

Les pullulations de « papillon cendre » du genre Hylesia, appartenant à la famille des Saturniidae, constituent un problème récurrent de santé publique en Guyane et au Venezuela. En effet, pour protéger ses oeufs des prédateurs, la femelle possède des soies détachables extrêmement urticantes qu’elle est susceptible de libérer dans l’atmosphère. L’augmentation des sources de lumière artificielle depuis la fin du 19ème siècle liée à l’urbanisation croissante attire ces papillons nocturnes vers les villes et les villages, où la libération des soies urticantes est susceptible d’affecter l’Homme en générant une douloureuse affection de peau, la « papillonite ». Malgré les enjeux sociaux et économiques liés à la présence récurrente de ces papillons en zones urbaines, leur biologie et leur écologie reste peu connue. Les pullulations de « papillon cendre » attribuées à l’espèce H. metabus constituent un problème récurrent de santé publique en Guyane et au Venezuela. La définition de méthodes spécifiques de régulation des populations s’avère donc très urgente mais nécessitait au préalable de vérifier que seule l’espèce H. metabus est impliquée dans ces épisodes d’urtication et de préciser la structure des populations de ces insectes. Il était également important de préciser les mécanismes de reconnaissance des partenaires sexuels chez cette même espèce. Ces questions ont été les objectifs principaux de cette thèse. L’utilisation d’outils moléculaires a permis de montrer que seule l’espèce Hylesia metabus était impliquée dans les récents épisodes d’urtication en Guyane et au Venezuela. L’étude a également démontré que les populations guyanaises de cette espèce se distinguaient au plan génétique des populations du Vénézuela, et surtout qu’elles se structuraient en 2 sousensembles génétiques distincts entre la côte et l’intérieur de la Guyane. Tous les insectes collectés durant les épisodes de pullulation appartenaient au sous-ensemble côtier. Une approche basée sur l’étude du comportement de reproduction a été utilisée afin de préciser la temporalité d’émission de la phéromone sexuelle et ouvre de nouvelles perspectives pour l’identification de cette phéromone. / The genus Hylesia (Lepidoptera Saturniidae) are moths of human health importance in Venezula and French Guiana, inducing epidemic outbreaks of lepidopterism, a puriginous dermatitis caused by the urticating properties of the females’ abdominal setae. Adult female releases extremely urticating setae in the surrounding air, causing itchy dermatitis known as ‘papillonite’. Hylesia are attracted by artificial light source which are increasing since the end of the 19th century due to urbanization resulting in serious invasion event in towns and villages. Despite of the impact on human health, many aspects of the biology and their ecology remain unclear. The definition of specific methods of population regulation is thus very urgent but it was necessary first of all to verify that only the species H. metabus is involved in these episodes of urtication and to specify the population structure of these insects. It was also important to clarify the mechanisms for recognizing sexual partners in this same species. These questions were the mainobjectives of this thesis.The use of molecular tools has shown that a single species, Hylesia metabus, was involved in recent episodes ofurtication in Guyana and Venezuela. The study also demonstrated that the Guyanese populations of this species aregenetically distinct from the Venezuelan populations, and especially that they are structured in 2 distinct genetic subgroupsbetween the coast and the interior of French Guiana. All insects collected during outbreaks belonged to thecoastal subset. An approach based on the study of reproductive behavior has been used to clarify the temporality ofemission of the sex pheromone and opens new perspectives for the identification of this pheromone

No description available.

Interactions between nesting birds and invertebrates are a common, yet poorly understood ecological phenomenon. Many of these types of interactions are close and prolonged, and therefore potentially critical to one or both of the species involved in the interaction. However it is unusual for the nature of the interaction to be evaluated in a manner that reveals the impact of the relationship on both parties to the interaction. This study examines two relationships between nesting birds and invertebrates, both of which involve the hooded parrot (Psephotus dissimilis), a small grass parrot that inhabits the tropical savannas of northern Australia. ¶ The field-work for this project was conducted over two parrot breeding seasons in 2006 and 2007 near Katherine, Northern Territory, in the Australian dry tropics. In chapter II, I present data on the breeding biology of the hooded parrot as background for the study that follows. Nest building commenced in January, with peak activity in February and the last chicks fledged in April. Fifty three active nests were located. The mean number of eggs laid per nest was 4.5 (s.d. ± 0.9), of which 3.0 (± 1.79) hatched and 2.0 (± 2.0) fledged. Clutches were laid asynchronously over a period of a week and chicks remained in eggs for 18.6 (± 1.95 days). Chicks were 29.2 (± 2.9) days old when they fledged from the nest. These data are typical for Australian parrots. ¶ In chapter III, the unusual nature of the parrot’s nest site is examined. Many species of bird nest in natural cavities or those they excavate. Whilst cavity nesters as a whole experience increased nesting success, the greatest success is experienced by species that can excavate their own nests. Certain arboreal cavity nesters, such as woodpeckers, require extensive morphological adaptation for this behaviour, but this has not occurred in Australia, despite competition among birds and a suite of arboreal mammals for naturally occurring cavities. Some species, however, have adapted their behaviour to make use of substrates that are not as hard as wood. Hooded parrots excavate nests in terrestrial termitaria, releasing them from competition for limited arboreal cavities. However, I show that only termitaria with a high level of termite activity, and which are more than two metres tall, are suitable, and that the parrots exhibit a strong preference for the cathedral mounds of Nasutitermes triodiae. Nests placed in highly active mounds had a significantly higher success rate than those in mounds where activity was somewhat lower, suggesting that the behaviour is adaptive. ¶ The thesis then shifts focus from the parrot to its nest symbiont, first describing the species involved in the interaction in chapter IV, and then its behaviour in the nests of hooded parrots in chapter V. Trisyntopa neossophila sp. n. (Lepidoptera: Oecophoridae) was reared from the nest of the hooded parrot and described using morphological characters. Aspects of its biology are reported and similarities to the biology of Trisyntopa scatophaga found in the nests of the golden-shouldered parrot (Psephotus chrysopterygius) are discussed. The possibility that a moth was associated with the extinct paradise parrot (Psephotus pulcherrimus) is considered in the light of the phylogenetic relationships between the parrots. ¶ Trisyntopa neossophila is an unusual moth whose breeding cycle is shown to be closely synchronised with the hooded parrot. T. neossophila is one of three coprophagous, nest dwelling moths in the genus Trisyntopa. True coprophagy is rare in the Lepidoptera, although some species occasionally consume faeces to gain rare nutrients. T. neossophila lays its eggs in the nest of hooded parrots so that larvae hatch in synchrony with the hatching of the parrot’s eggs. The larvae spend their larval period in the nest and exclusively consume the excrement of the nestling parrots. When the parrot chicks fledge, the larvae move to the walls of the nest cavity to pupate, emerging the following wet season to repeat the process during the next parrot breeding season. ¶ With a description of the ecology of both species involved in the nesting symbiosis, chapter VI reviews the literature surrounding other interactions between nesting birds and invertebrates. A large number of birds are shown to nest in, or in close proximity to, structures made by invertebrates and avian nesting material provides a reliable shelter for many invertebrate species. However, the nature of such relationships has rarely been experimentally demonstrated. I propose that in order to understand the nature of these relationships they need to be explored within the theoretical framework of community ecology. Putative commensal and parasitic relationships have all been documented in the bird/invertebrate nesting literature, yet researchers, with few exceptions, repeatedly overlook the impact that these relationships are having on the invertebrate, at best assuming the nature of its impact, but more often ignoring its impact entirely. Here I present a framework for formulating hypotheses to ensure that the nature of the relationship can be identified. Only by explicitly stating the level of organisation at which the experiment is to occur (individual or population), identifying the net cost or benefit of the interaction, the range of conditions under which such costs or benefits would apply and the spatial and temporal context in which they apply, can an investigator expect to recognise and describe the often complex nature of these relationships. ¶ While parasitic and commensal relationships between nesting birds and invertebrates are commonly reported, mutualisms between birds and invertebrates have not been reported. Despite this, candidates for this type of relationship exist. Chapter VII uses the framework outlined in the literature review (chapter VI) to experimentally examine the relationship between the hooded parrot and Trisyntopa neossophila. By manipulating the populations of moth larvae in a sample of hooded parrot nests, we sought to establish the impact of the relationship on each species. The moth depends on the parrot for provision of shelter and a reliable food source. The parrot however, was neither benefited nor harmed by the interaction in terms of short term reproductive output or chick growth, although differences between the experimental and control nests were noted. The relationship between the hooded parrot and T. neossophila, at least during the study period, is therefore concluded to be commensal. ¶ Collectively, the chapters of this thesis explore the complicated interactions between species. The dependence of the moth on the parrot and the parrot on the termite, demonstrate the importance of understanding interactions between species in a manner that reveals the impacts of the interactions, the range of conditions under which they would apply and the level of organisation at which they apply, as outlined in chapter VI. The dependence of the animals in this study on each other makes them more vulnerable to extinction than previously thought. Whilst this may not be immediately significant for the hooded parrot/T. neossophila system, which is thought to be secure, the ecologically similar system on the Cape York Peninsula, involving the golden-shouldered parrot and its nest attendant moth Trysintopa scatophaga, is vulnerable to extinction and subject to intensive management to ensure its persistence. This study brings new information to the management of the golden-shouldered parrots and urgently recommends increased protection for Trysintopa scatophaga.