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Includes bibliography. / Title page, contents and abstract only. The complete thesis in print form is available from the University Library. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Adelaide, Dept. of Entomology, 1989

The contemporary view of insect migration is one of a behaviourally distinct form of movement that is an adaptation to temporary habitats. Migratory insects are characterised by a syndrome of behavioural and physiological traits that promote migration. The migration syndromes of particular species are variations on the general syndrome, and depend on both selective pressures from the environment and the evolutionary response that is supported by the genetics of the syndrome traits. The pattern and role of migration in a particular population are determined by the interaction between the environment and the species’ migration syndrome. Complete understanding of migration in a population therefore requires a combined consideration of the population’s environment, migration syndrome and genetics. A recently developed conceptual model of a generalised insect migration system facilitates such a holistic treatment of insect migration. The model is built around four components: the migration arena (the environment); the population trajectory (the changing population demography); the migration syndrome (the traits that implement migration and determine the fitness of migrants); and the genetic complex underlying the migration syndrome. Specific variants of the model can be derived for particular species and locations. The migratory moth species Helicoverpa punctigera (Wallengren) and Helicov-erpa armigera (H¨ ubner) are widely distributed in Australia, and occur in both crop-ping and non-cropping areas. The habitats occupied by the species are often tem-porary and geographically separated. Moths colonise new habitats by long-distance migration. Both species are abundant in the periphery of the continent during summer. In winter, H. punctigera is almost exclusively confined to the far inland, whereas H. armigera mostly remains near the coast. This thesis describes the development and application of conceptual models of the migration systems of H. punctigera and H. armigera in Australia. The model for H. punctigera was used to formulate and test hypotheses on the species’ population trajectory. That for H. armigera was used to determine the effects of differences between the migration syndromes of the two species on the trajectory. The models incorporated data from empirical models and simulation models developed for selected parts of the migration systems. Bioclimatic models estimated the portion of the continent that is climatically favourable for colonisation by each species in each season. A second type of bioclimatic model estimated the effect of year-to-year variation in habitat quality on the distribution of H. punctigera breeding in the inland. Finally, a simulation model of moth migration estimated the frequency with which wind patterns support various migration pathways. For H. punctigera the portion of the continent predicted to be climatically favourable for breeding tended to cycle between the inland and the periphery, al-though, contrary to observations, central Queensland was predicted to be favourable year-round. In the far inland the winter breeding period was predicted to be sub-stantially shorter in Western Australia than in south-western Queensland. For H. armigera the potential distribution tended to expand and contract around a core area in central Queensland. The probability of H. punctigera breeding at a given site in the far inland during winter was positively correlated with the increase in vegetation greenness at the site between April and July. It was also related to soil and climate variables. Although breeding was predicted to occur more often in some areas than in others, the esti-mated distribution of breeding varied greatly from year to year, and breeding was predicted at any given site in only a minority of years. Validation analyses indicated that the migration model was sufficiently accu-rate for use in characterising the migration system. However, the limited vertical structure present in the available weather data (e.g. representing low-level jets) will prevent the model from confidently forecasting particular migration events. Complete annual cycles of the population trajectory of H. punctigera could be constructed within the limits of the migration arena and the known migration syn-drome. In eastern Australia the cycle included return migration from the eastern cropping areas to the far inland during autumn, as has previously been proposed in the literature. In Western Australia two trajectories were possible—one including spring diapause and a late summer generation in the south-west, and one including a summer generation in the far south-west. Additional trajectories were possible when pupae in spring diapause were assumed to emerge later than has been observed, or when summer quiescence was assumed to be more frequent than would be expected from our currently limited knowledge of its induction. These assumptions enabled H. punctigera to persist throughout the year in the far inland of eastern Australia, but not in that of the west. The conceptual models enabled certain hypotheses on the population trajectories to be tested with existing field and biological data. For other hypotheses they identified data that would enable testing. For a decision on which, if any, of the above H. punctigera trajectories operate in nature, we need more information on the frequency and duration of spring diapause and summer quiescence, plus additional data on breeding activity in parts of Western Australia.

Thesis (Ph.D) -- University of Adelaide, Dept. of Entomology, 1989. / Includes bibliography.

Thesis (M.S.) University of Missouri-Columbia, 2006. / The entire dissertation/thesis text is included in the research.pdf file; the official abstract appears in the short.pdf file (which also appears in the research.pdf); a non-technical general description, or public abstract, appears in the public.pdf file. Title from title screen of research.pdf file viewed on (June 26, 2007) Includes bibliographical references.

I conducted a monitoring of Scarce large blue Phengaris teleius (Bergsträsser, 1779) by reverse capture of marked individuals method on 13 examined meadows in Broumov area near Ruprechtice, Hyncice and Vižňov in the period from 4th July to 5th August of 2016. I marked a total of 409 butterflies of this species. Data were evaluated with the help of software MARK 8.1 and the total number of butterflies metapopulation was estimated at 802 individuals, whereas the estimates of quantity for each area ranged from 2-269 specimen. I registered most of the individuals at the Ruprechtice 2 station. I documented the flyovers of P. teleius individuals between stations within a Ruprechtice Hynčice area. I consider the involvement of Vižňov as realistic, but due to the local total number of butterflies, the detection of P. teleius flyover failed. I consider the hypothesis formulated in the objectives of the work: All the examined areas communicates via overflights of the butterflies and the system can be considered as a single metapopulation, as confirmed. I consider as important a finding that there still lives a stable population of Phengaris teleius and P. nausithous butterflies in Broumov area. The numbers of these butterfiles are in hundreds to thousands of individuals, and it is important to remember that this is only the population of examined areas, not all areas of occurrence of blue butterflies in stated territories. Those numbers after the first year of observation are unknown. The layout of examined colonies is beneficial for targeted protection planning. The metapopulation model continent islands is not the case of stations examined by myself.

The purpose of this thesis entitled Population Status checkered blue butterfly Phengaris nausithous (Bergsträsser, 1779) on selected meadows in Broumov area was to find and evaluate the situation regarding the size and structure of populations of the butterfly Phengaris nausithous, on a recently selected location within the territory of the Czech Republic. A used monitoring method was a Capture-Recapture method at 13 locations in the PLA Broumovsko, where the occurrence of the food plant Sanguisorba officinalis, which is an integral part of the species evolution, was the key for choosing the location. The ant of the genus Myrmica is also important for the evolution of the P. nausithous. The results were evaluated using the program MARK and Statistika and then transferred into graphs and tables. In 2016 it was marked 687 of the P. nausithous and the sum for the overall metapopulation totaled 1,487 individuals. Most of the P. nausithous occurence with the number of (fixed catches) 149 was registered at the Hynčice 2 (H2) area, which was the third largest area of all studied habitats. The least number of 15 of the P. nausithous has been marked at the Hynčice 1 (H1) area. Maximum estimates of numbersfor patches were determined with the program MARK with the highest number of 367 individuals in the H2 area, whereas the lowest number of 38 individuals at the H1 area.The numbers of P. nausithous determined by the application MARK were significantly higher than those of fixed catches, indicating good aplication of methodology. It was captured a total of 49 migrations. Overall 31 % of individuals migrated and 18 % of individuals migrated within assumed total number. Most flyovers were between the areas H2 and H4 (11 flyovers) and between areas V1 and H4 was recorded flyover at a distance of 5.3 km, which can be considered as one of the longest flyovers. The average distance of migration of P. nausithous was 1.46 km. The number of immigrants for solid flyovers was set to 49 individuals and the number of immigrants to 58 individuals. The hypothesis of this work was: All the examined areas communicates using flyovers of butterflies and the system can be considered as a single metapopulation and was confirmed given on the basis of the results. Target species dependence on the density of host plant vegetation was not crucial according to the graphic representation. The first T-test found that there is no association between P. nausithous abundance and between the length of the migration between particular areas. The second T-test found that with increasing number of flyovers the length of those flyovers gradually decreased.

Submitted by Marco Antônio de Ramos Chagas (mchagas@ufv.br) on 2016-10-06T11:28:08Z No. of bitstreams: 1 texto completo.pdf: 361797 bytes, checksum: 068a0abf2d9967881532d1d538a5fdbc (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-10-06T11:28:08Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 texto completo.pdf: 361797 bytes, checksum: 068a0abf2d9967881532d1d538a5fdbc (MD5) Previous issue date: 2004-02-11 / Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico / Dos seres vivos existentes, 72% são insetos, sendo que 50% destes são fitófagos. Na coevolução entre plantas e insetos, as plantas desenvolveram mecanismos de defesa contra o ataque de insetos. Dentre estes mecanismos destaca-se a produção de inibidores de protease. É postulado que, quando uma planta é atacada ou ferida, ela propicia um aumento nos níveis de inibidores de proteases na região ferida (resposta local) e ou por toda a planta (resposta sistêmica). Nesta interação inseto-planta, os insetos podem desenvolver mecanismos de defesa contra os inibidores de proteases produzidos pela planta. Esta possibilidade demanda um conhecimento mais elaborado do comportamento das enzimas proteolíticas do intestino médio dos insetos, a partir da ingestão crônica de inibidores de protease no momento do ataque à planta. Plantas de soja atacadas por larvas de Anticarsia gemmatalis (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) induzem, através da via das lipoxigenases, o aumento na síntese de inibidores de proteases, como uma forma de defesa ao ataque do inseto (FORTUNATO, 2001). Este inseto apresenta proteases tripsinas-like como enzimas digestivas (XAVIER, 2002). Tomando conhecimento destas informações e por ser a soja uma importante cultura para a economia brasileira, buscamos realizar a caracterização bioquímica e fisiológica do efeito do inibidor de tripsina benzamidina na digestibilidade protéica, crescimento e desenvolvimento de Anticarsia gemmatalis. Neste sentido, o presente trabalho baseou-se na determinação da digestibilidade e os efeitos no crescimento e desenvolvimento de larvas de A. gemmatalis, assim como a avaliação da atividade das proteases digestivas presentes no intestino médio da lagarta, quando alimentadas com o inibidor de tripsina benzamidina nas concentrações 0; 0,25; 0,50 e 0,75 (% p/p de dieta artificial). Verificamos, através do teste de Tukey (p < 0,05), que a adição de benzamidina alterou significativamente a digestibilidade do alimento proteico. Tal alteração está correlacionada com impactos negativos ocasionados na fase larval desse inseto, tais como aumento do ciclo larval, diminuição de ganho de peso e aumento da mortalidade. Verificamos que tanto a atividade proteolítica quanto a atividade amidásica apresentaram maiores índices em lagartas de 5o instar. Observamos também que a presença do inibidor alterou os perfis de atividades, sugerindo que os insetos, após a ingestão alta de inibidores de proteases, podem apresentar respostas de defesa através da hiperprodução de proteases sensíveis à benzamidina e/ou síntese de proteases insensíveis ao inibidor. Portanto, estes dados sugerem que a utilização de inibidores de protease possa ser uma estratégia promissora no controle de Anticarsia gemmatalis na cultura da soja. / From the existent beings living creatures, 72% are insects, and 50% of these are phytophagous. In the co-evolution between plants and insects, the plants developed defense mechanisms against the attack of insects. Among these mechanisms stand out the production of protease inhibitors. It is postulated that, when a plant is attacked or wounded, it propitiates an increase in the levels of proteases inhibitors in the wounded area (local answer) and or for the whole plant (systemic answer ). In this interaction insect-plant, the insects can develop defense mechanisms against the proteases inhibitors produced by the plant. This possibility demands an elaborated knowledge of the behavior of the proteolytic enzymes of the medium intestine of the insects, starting from the chronic ingestion of protease inhibitors in the moment of the attack to the plant. Soy plants attacked by larvas of Anticarsia gemmatalis (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) they induce, through the lipoxigenases way, the increase in the synthesis of proteases inhibitors, as a defense form to the attack of the insect (FORTUNATO, 2001). This insect presents proteases trypsin-like as digestive enzymes (XAVIER, 2002). Becoming aware of these informations and for being the soy an important culture for the Brazilian economy, we tried to accomplish the biochemical and physiologic characterization of the effect of the inhibitor of trypsin benzamidine in the proteic digestibility, growth and development of Anticarsia gemmatalis. In this way, the present work based on the determination of the digestibility and the effects in the growth and development of larvas of Anticarsia gemmatalis, as well as the evaluation of the activity of the present digestive proteases in the medium intestine of the caterpillar, when fed with the inhibitor of trypsin benzamidine in the concentrations 0; 0,25; 0,50 and 0,75 (% p/p of artificial diet). It was verified, through the test of Tukey (p <0,05), that the benzamidine addition altered the digestibility of the proteic food significantly. Such alteration is correlated with negative impacts caused in the larval phase of that insect, such as increase of the larval cycle, decrease of weight gain and increase of the mortality. It was verified that not only the proteolytic activity but also the starch activity presented larger indexes in caterpillars of 5th urge. It was also observed that the presence of the inhibitor altered the profiles of activities, suggesting that the insects, after the high ingestion of proteases inhibitors, they can present defense answers through the hyper-production of sensitive proteases to the benzamidine and/or synthesis of insensitive proteases to the inhibitor. Therefore, these data suggest that the use of protease inhibitors can be a promising strategy in the control of Anticarsia gemmatalis in the culture of the soy. / Dissertação importada do Alexandria

Grandes metrópoles promovem vários impactos antrópicos que levam à redução tanto da vegetação quanto da fauna local. Parques e áreas verdes parecem ser seus refúgios nestes ambientes. As borboletas têm ampla distribuição geográfica e, mesmo inseridas no ecossistema urbano, apresentam relativa diversidade e abundância. São, assim, excelentes ferramentas para estudos da fauna urbana. As informações obtidas através destas podem ser base para estratégias de manejo de áreas verdes dentro da malha urbana. Visando conhecer a fauna de borboletas de Porto Alegre e a influência de fatores antrópicos sobre esta, realizou-se levantamentos sazonais, entre 2003 e 2005, em seis áreas com diferentes características quanto à urbanização: Parque Farroupilha (PF), Parque Marinha do Brasil (PM), Ilha do Pavão (IP), Jardim Botânico (JB), Parque Saint’ Hilaire (SH) e Morro Santana (MS). Em 672 horas/redes, amostrou-se um total de 5.789 indivíduos em 243 espécies, com 24 novos registros para o Estado. Em linhas gerais, as áreas mais afastadas do centro da cidade apresentaram maior riqueza e abundância: MS (170 e 1.528), SH (119 e 1.169), JB (118 e 1.330), PF (73 e 364), IP (71 e 980) e PM (67 e 814) ilustrando efeitos do gradiente urbano. Vinte e seis espécies foram observadas em todas as áreas e 106 aparecem somente em uma destas: 47 apenas no MS, 24 no SH, 18 no JB, 9 no PF, 5 no PM e 3 no IP. Destacam-se os itomíneos Episcada carcinia Schaus, 1902, exclusiva do MS e Aeria olena olena Weyer, 1875, presente apenas no MS e no SH, indicando o potencial destas áreas para a conservação. A alta riqueza de Hesperiidae e Lycaenidae contrasta com a citada em outros trabalhos para o Estado, sugerindo que alta intensidade amostral é necessária para obter representatividade destas famílias. Estimadores da riqueza de espécies indicam espécies ainda não amostradas, principalmente no MS, mas estimam que entre 68% a 96% da fauna foi representada neste estudo. Os intervalos de 95% de confiança das curvas de acúmulo de espécies agrupam as áreas em três: I (PF, PM e IP), II (JB e SH) e III (MS). A abundância de borboletas teve significativa correlação positiva com cobertura vegetal, diversidade da vegetação e nível de conservação de cada área e negativa com a infra-estrutura de cada área (p<0,001). O gradiente de diversidade foi, em geral, inversamente proporcional ao de urbanização. Os resultados destacam a importância para a fauna de parques e áreas verdes no interior das grandes metrópoles. A situação destas áreas dentro da cidade pode ainda contribuir para o conhecimento do público, que pouco sabe sobre a diversidade dos ambientes em que vive, e assim, fomentar apoio à conservação. / Large Metropoles promote a variety of anthropic impacts which affect flora and fauna. Parks and green areas seem to function as refuges in these environments. Butterflies have a broad geographic distribution and, even within the urban environment, assemblages maintain reasonable abundance and richness of species. Therefore, these insects can be very useful tools for studies on urban fauna. Information gathered on them may provide basis for management strategies for green areas amongst the urban matrix. Aiming to add to the knowledge on the butterfly fauna of Porto Alegre and to assess the effect anthropic impact exert upon it, seasonal sampling took place from may 2003 to march 2005, in six green areas differing in terms of urbanization level: Parque Farroupilha (PF), Parque Marinha do Brasil (PM), Ilha do Pavão (IP), Jardim Botânico (JB), Parque Saint’ Hilaire(SH) and Morro Santana(MS). From a total of 672 net-hours, 5789 individuals of 243 species were recorded, 24 species being new records for Rio Grande do Sul. As a pattern, the farther from the city center the area was, the higher species richness and abundance - MS (170 and 1528), SH (119 and 1169), JB (118 and 1330), IP (71 and 980), PM (71 and 814) and PF ( 73 and 364). Twenty six species were observed in all six areas and 106 in only one of them: 47 exclusively in MS, 24 in SH, 18 in JB, 9 in PF, 5 in PM and 3 in IP. Noteworthy were the Ithominae Epicada carcinia Schaus 1902, sampled only in MS, and Aeria olena olena Weyer, 1875, obtained from both MS and SH, suggesting a high potential of these sites for conservation. The high level of richness of Hesperidae and Lycaenidae recorded here, in contrast with other studies for Rio Grande do Sul, recommend high sampling intensity in order to obtain a fair representation of these families on the sample. Analytical estimators of species richness point to still more species to be registered in the study areas, mainly in MS; even so, these estimators indicate that between 68 to 96% of the butterfly species present were sampled. The 95% confidence intervals for the species accumulation curves grouped the areas as follows: I (PF, PM and IP); II (JB and SH) and III (MS). Significant correlations were evidenced between butterfly abundance and indicators of urbanization level of the areas: positive for vegetation cover, vegetation diversity and level of conservation; and negative for facilities framework (p< 0.001). The diversity gradient was, as a whole, inversely related to the urbanization gradient. Results endorse the crucial value for the fauna of the parks and green areas within the city. Furthermore, these areas may contribute to the public knowledge on the diversity of the environments city dwellers live in and thus foster support for conservation.

abstract: The molt from pupae to adult stage, called eclosion, occurs at specific times of the day in many holometabolous insects. These events are not well studied within Lepidopteran species. It was hypothesized that the eclosion timing in a species may be shaped by strong selective pressures, such as sexual selection in the context of male-male competition. The daily timing of eclosion was measured for six species of nymphalid butterflies. This was done by rearing individuals to pupation, placing the pupa in a greenhouse, and video recording eclosion to obtain the time of day at which it occurred. Four species exhibited clustered eclosion distributions that were concentrated to within 201 minutes after sunrise and were significantly different from one another. The other two species exhibited eclosion times that were non-clustered. There were no differences between sexes within species. The data support a relationship between the timing of eclosion each day and the timing of mating activities, but other as of yet undetermined selective pressures may also influence eclosion timing. / Dissertation/Thesis / Masters Thesis Biology 2017