The adult, pupa, larva and biology of Adenogasteria leguminivora Davis & Vargas gen. et sp. nov. (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae: Ornixolinae) from Peru and Chile are described and illustrated. This micromoth was previously reported in the agronomic literature as a pest of Caesalpinia spinosa (Molina) (Fabaceae) in Peru, but its taxonomic status remained unknown until now. Its larvae feed on the seeds of three legume trees: Acacia macracantha, C. spinosa and Inga feuillei. Adenogasteria leguminivora superficially resembles other sympatric gracillariids but can be separated on key morphological features and host plant preferences. Eggs of A. leguminivora are laid on the fruit surface, from where the larva burrows until it reaches the cotyledons, which are mined by the two early (sap‐feeding) instars and almost completely consumed by the last three (tissue‐feeding) instars. Subsequently, the mature larva leaves the fruit and constructs an elongated silk cocoon ornamented with a few silk bubbles before pupation. A maximum likelihood analysis of DNA barcodes clustered the A. leguminivora sequences as a single independent phylogenetic unit within Ornixolinae, sister to the Chileoptilia + Philodoria clade, regardless of the host plant and geographic origin of the samples. The genetic divergence of A. leguminivora to the nearest neighbour in COI barcodes was >10%.

Life at high altitudes is particularly challenging for ectothermic animals like reptiles and involves the evolution of specialised adaptations to deal with low temperatures, hypoxia and intense UV radiation. As a result, only very few reptile taxa are able to survive above 5,000 m elevation and herpetological observations from these altitudes are exceedingly rare. We report here an exceptional observation of a lizard population (Liolaemus aff. tacnae; Reptilia, Squamata) from the high Andes of Peru. During an ascent of Chachani mountain (6,054 m, 16°11'S, 71°32'W), we observed and documented photographically this species living between 5,000 and 5,400 m above sea level. Following a review of literature, we show that this is the highest known record of a reptile species.

No abstract

No abstract

The Transandean-Andean genus Johnsonita Salazar & Constantino, 1995 is revised on the basis of wing and genitalia morphology. Apart from eight species formerly placed in Johnsonita (Thecla assula Draudt, 1919; Thecla auda Hewitson, 1867; Thecla catadupa Hewitson, 1869; Thecla chaluma Schaus, 1902, Thecla chlamydem Druce, 1907; Thecla pardoa d’Abrera, 1995; Johnsonita johnsoni Salazar & Constantino, 1995 and Johnsonita johnbanksi Bálint, 2003), seven new species are described: Johnsonita carpia Bálint, Boyer & Pyrcz, sp. n. (Ecuador), Johnsonita iacinta Bálint, Boyer & Pyrcz, sp. n. (Peru), Johnsonita ianusca Bálint, Lorenc–Brudecka & Pyrcz, sp. n. (Ecuador), Johnsonita oxalida Bálint, Boyer & Pyrcz, sp. n. (Peru), Johnsonita subcunicula Bálint, Cerdeña & Pyrcz, sp. n. (Peru), Johnsonita turquisca Bálint, Boyer & Pyrcz, sp. n. (Ecuador) and Johnsonita zubkova Bálint, Boyer & Lorenc–Brudecka, sp. n. (Peru). One species, erroneously recorded from Bolivia under the name Thecla chaluma Schaus, 1902, is not formally described due to insufficient material. An identification key, type material revision, descriptions or redescriptions, and diagnosis for all the taxa recognized are given. Lectotypes for the nominal species Thecla assula Draudt, 1919 and Thecla chlamydem Druce, 1907 are designated. Male secondary wing characters are tabulated. A brief discussion on classification, life-history and male secondary characters of Johnsonita is presented.