@article {22539, title = {Diversity, distribution patterns and preliminary conservation assessment of the Paraguayan hawkmoths (Lepidoptera: Sphingidae)}, journal = {Journal of Insect Conservation}, volume = {26}, year = {2022}, month = {03/2022}, pages = {327-335}, chapter = {327}, abstract = {

\"Hawkmoths (Sphingidae) are conspicuous, large Lepidopterans that play a vital role in terrestrial ecosystems both as pollinators and as ecological indicators of biodiversity. Notwithstanding, there has to date been no attempt to assess the conservation status of these species in the Neotropics. This is due in large part to incomplete datasets and a lack of real longterm monitoring data that allows such assessments to be performed applying IUCN criteria. As with most regions in the Neotropics, Sphingid distributional data in Paraguay is limited to presence\—absence data, and few species are represented by sufficient museum series to be able to make inferences about their phenology. However, the existing data is sufficient to infer abundance and ecoregion association and does provide a reliable picture of distribution in the country. Given their importance in ecosystem health monitoring, an attempt is made at a preliminary conservation assessment using a simple system encompassing the key criteria for IUCN assessment, but applicable to the data available.
Implications for conservation The role of insects in ecological systems is often ignored by conservation planners, who base their decisions heavily on vertebrate and habitat-level conservation assessments. However, hawkmoths play key roles in these systems both as pollinators and prey items, and monitoring of their populations can provide important data regards ecosystem health. It is argued that, whilst the methodology proposed here is far from a fool-proof approach, the benefits of attempting a preliminary base-line assessment such as this outweigh the drawbacks of not having more complete data that is unlikely to become imminently available.\"

}, keywords = {CONSERVATION, DISTRIBUTION, DIVERSITY, PARAGUAY, RED LIST, SPHINGIDAE}, doi = {10.1007/s10841-022-00389-0}, url = {https://doi.org/10.1007/s10841-022-00389-0}, author = {Smith, P.} } @article {22413, title = {Preliminary conservation status and needs of an oceanic island fauna: the case of Seychelles insects}, journal = {Journal of Insect Conservation}, volume = {12}, year = {2008}, pages = {293-305}, chapter = {293}, abstract = {

\"Islands are generally reported to have much higher extinction rates and levels of threat than continental areas. This perception is based largely on studies of vertebrates. A recent assessment of the biodiversity of the Seychelles islands enables the status of a range of taxonomic groups to be compared. A high proportion of the fauna is found to be threatened, with Dictyoptera being the most threatened insect order (51\% of 34 native species) followed by Orthoptera (47\% of 68 species). Lower levels of threat are found in Diptera (28\% of 562 species), Dermaptera (24\% of 21 species) and Lepidoptera (21\% of 517 species). Differences between the orders relate mainly to distribution patterns, with the most threatened orders having the highest proportions of endemic and restricted range species. The main threats for most orders are habitat deterioration due to invasion by introduced plant species, sea level rise and climate change. These threat factors are different from those reported to affect vertebrates, which are generally considered to be threatened by introduced predators resulting in critically low population sizes. These findings indicate that conservation sources would be more useful and cost effective for insect conservation if directed to habitat maintenance and restoration rather than to alien predator control.\"

}, keywords = {CEPHONODES, CONSERVATION, EXTINCTION, INSECTA, MACROGLOSSUM, NEPHELE, SEYCHELLES, SPHINGIDAE, TEMNORA}, doi = {10.1007/s10841-008-9156-3}, author = {Gerlach, J.} } @article {21985, title = {Can Saturniidae moths be bioindicators? Spatial and temporal distribution in the Brazilian savannah}, journal = {Journal of Insect Conservation}, volume = {22}, year = {2018}, pages = {487-497}, chapter = {487}, abstract = {

\"Some moths species are considered good indicators of habitat quality because they are very responsive to human disturbance, vegetation type, and successional processes. However, Saturniidae moths have not yet been considered as indicators of environmental quality. Little is known on the distribution of moth species in different vegetation types and the moths\’ seasonal variations in the Brazilian savannah. Therefore, this study aims to describe the spatial distribution and temporal patterns of moths belonging to the Saturniidae family in two vegetation types\—Cerrado sensu stricto on rocky outcrops and semideciduous forest\—in both the rainy and dry seasons. It addresses the influence of the climatic seasons and vegetation types on abundance, richness, and species composition to describe the temporal and spatial distribution patterns and the relationship between the ecological aspects and the life history of these moths. This study was conducted in the Cerrado phytogeographical domain, in Pireneus State Park, Goi\ás, Brazil. The results revealed that most Saturniidae species sampled are present during the rainy season and typically found in forest habitats. Furthermore, a clear positive connection was found between the abundance pattern and rainfall seasonality and humid habitats; this is apparently related to the physiological tolerance of these moths, due to rudimentary mouthparts during their adulthood. Thus, rainfall and a forest habitat are important to and fundamental requirements for the persistence of the Saturniidae species in the Cerrado domain. Based on the results of this study, we suggest the use of saturniid species as indicators of changes in vegetation and climatic conditions.\"

}, keywords = {BIODIVERSITY, BRAZIL, CERRADO, CONSERVATION, ECOLOGY, INDICATOR GROUP, PHENOLOGY, SATURNIIDAE, SEASONALITY}, doi = {10.1007/s10841-018-0076-6}, url = {https://doi.org/10.1007/s10841-018-0076-6}, author = {Braga, L. and Diniz, I.R.} } @article {21082, title = {Diversity patterns and chronobiology of hawkmoths (Lepidoptera, Sphingidae) in the Brazilian Amazon rainforest}, journal = {Journal of Insect Conservation}, volume = {20}, year = {2016}, month = {07/2016}, pages = {629-641}, chapter = {629}, keywords = {BRAZIL, DIVERSITY, FLIGHT PERIOD, PHENOLOGY, RAINFOREST, RICHNESS, SPHINGIDAE}, doi = {10.1007/s10841-016-9894-6}, url = {https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/epdf/10.1098/rspb.2017.0880}, author = {de Camargo, A.J.A. and de Camargo, N.F. and Corr{\^e}a, D._do_C.V. and de Camargo, W.R.F. and Vieira, E.M. and Marini-Filho, O. and Amorim, F.W.} } @article {20382, title = {Small sample, substantial contribution: additions to the Honduran hawkmoth (Lepidoptera: Sphingidae) fauna based on collections from a mountainous protected area (Cusuco National Park)}, journal = {Journal of Insect Conservation}, volume = {16}, year = {2012}, month = {2012}, pages = {629-633}, chapter = {629}, keywords = {ADHEMARIUS, BIODIVERSITY, EUMORPHA, HONDURAS, MANDUCA, SPHINGIDAE, WORLDMAP1, XYLOPHANES}, doi = {10.1007/s10841-012-9505-0}, author = {Vanhove, M.P.M. and Jocque, M. and Mann, D.J. and Waters, S. and Creedy, T.J. and Nu{\~n}ez-Mi{\~n}o, J.M. and Vaglia, T. and Casteels, J.} }