Evolution and Systematics
Functional Adaptations
Functional adaptation
The eyes of moths and flies reduce adhesion by corneal gratings that decrease the contact area.
"The surface of some insect eyes consists of arrays of cuticular protuberances, which are 50–300nm in diameter, and are termed corneal nipples or ommatidia gratings. They were widely reported to reduce the reflectance for normally incident light, contributing to camouflage by reducing glare to predators, while furthermore enhancing the intake of light, which is especially important for nocturnal insects. Our preliminary observations suggest a third function: in contrast to the rest of the body, ommatidia of various insects remain clean, even in a heavy contaminated environment. In order to prove such an anticontamination hypothesis of these structures, we measured the adhesive properties of polymer moulds of insect ommatidia, and compared these data with control surfaces having the same curvature radii but lacking such a nanostructure. A...study and force measurements...on the eye surfaces of three different insect species, dragonfly Aeshna mixta (Odonata), moth Laothoe populi (Lepidoptera) and fly Volucella pellucens (Diptera), were undertaken. We revealed that adhesion is greatly reduced by corneal grating in L. populi and V. pellucens when compared with their smooth controls. The smooth cornea of A. mixta showed no statistically significant difference to its control. We assume that this anti-adhesive phenomenon is due to a decrease in the real contact area between contaminating particles and the eye’s surface. Such a combination of three functions in one nanostructure can be interesting for the development of industrial multifunctional surfaces capable of enhancing light harvesting while reducing light reflection and adhesion." (Peisker and Gorb 2010:3457)
Learn more about this functional adaptation.
- Peisker H; Grob SN. 2010. Always on the bright side of life: anti-adhesive properties of insect ommatidia grating. Journal of Experimental Biology. (213): 3457-3462.
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Molecular Biology and Genetics
Molecular Biology
Barcode data: Laothoe populi
There are 6 barcode sequences available from BOLD and GenBank. Below is a sequence of the barcode region Cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 (COI or COX1) from a member of the species. See the BOLD taxonomy browser for more complete information about this specimen and other sequences.
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Statistics of barcoding coverage: Laothoe populi
Public Records: 5
Species: 44
Species With Barcodes: 1
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Wikipedia
Laothoe populi
The Poplar Hawk-moth (Laothoe populi) is a moth of the family Sphingidae. It is found throughout the Palearctic region and the Near East and is one of the most common members of the family in the region.[2]
This is a large (wingspan 70–100 mm), rather odd-looking, species, usually light grey marked with darker grey fascia but with the greys occasionally replaced by buffish tones (this form is more frequent among females than males). Its slightly peculiar appearance is mainly due to its habit of resting with its hindwings held further forward than (but still half hidden by) the forewings (the species lacks a frenulum joining the wings together). It is said to look like a cluster of dead leaves of the main host, poplar. When disturbed, the moth will suddenly reveal a bright orange-red patch on the hindwing, possibly as a distraction or startle display. Gynandromorphs, half female and half male, are common.[2]
Contents |
Life cycle
One or two broods are produced each year and adults can be seen from May to September. The adults do not feed. The species overwinters as a pupa.
Egg
The egg is large, spherical, pale green, and glossy, and is laid singly or in pairs on the underside of leaves of the host plant.[2] Females lay up to 200 eggs.
Larva
On first hatching the larva is pale green with small yellow tubercules and a cream-coloured tail horn. Later, it develops yellow diagonal stripes on its sides, and pink spiracles. Individuals feeding on willows may become quite heavily spotted with red. Others are more bluish white with cream stripes and tubercules. They are stout bodied, and grow to 65–85 mm.[2]
Pupa
The larva pupates in an earthen cell 2–3 cm below the surface, near its host plant. It has a short cremaster.[2]
Adult
Although they emerge late at night or early in the morning, the species flies starting from the second night and is strongly attracted to light. The proboscis is non-functional, so they do not feed as adults.[2]
Host plants
It feeds mainly on poplar and aspen but sometimes on willow, alder, apple, birch, elm, oak and ash. The food plant often depends on location.[2]
Subspecies
- Laothoe populi populi
- Laothoe populi lappona (Rangnow, 1935)
Notes
- ^ "CATE Creating a Taxonomic eScience - Sphingidae". Cate-sphingidae.org. https://www.cate-sphingidae.org/taxonomy/Laothoe/populi.html. Retrieved 2011-11-01.
- ^ a b c d e f g Pittaway, 1993, page not cited
References
 | Wikispecies has information related to: Laothoe populi |
 | Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Laothoe populi |
- Chinery, Michael (1993) [1986]. Insects of Britain & Northern Europe: The Complete Insect Guide. Collins Field Guide. London: Collins. ISBN 0-00-219918-1.
- Pittaway, A.R. (1993) [1992]. The Hawkmoths of the Western Palaearctic. London: Harley Books. ISBN 0-946589-21-6.
- Skinner, Bernard (2009) [1984]. Colour Identification Guide to Moths of the British Isles (Macrolepidoptera). London: Harley Books. ISBN 87-88757-90-0.
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Wikipedia
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