Revista Brasileira de Entomologia 60 (2016) 105–108

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Entomologia

A Journal on Diversity and Evolution

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Short Communication

Stichelia pelotensis (, ): conservation, notes, and

rediscovery of an endangered butterfly from southern

a,∗ b c c

Ricardo Russo Siewert , Gustavo Crizel Gomes , Mariana Centeno Gallo , Cristiano Agra Iserhard

a

Laboratório de Estudos de Lepidoptera Neotropical, Departamento de Zoologia, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba, PR, Brazil

b

Embrapa Clima Temperado, Laboratório de Recursos Genéticos, Programa de Pós Graduac¸ ão em Sistemas de Produc¸ ão Agrícola Familiar, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas,

RS, Brazil

c

Laboratório de Ecologia de Lepidoptera, Departamento de Ecologia, Zoologia e Genética, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, RS, Brazil

a b s t r a c t

a r t i c l e i n f o

Article history: Stichelia pelotensis (Lepidoptera, Riodinidae) is an endemic and threatened butterfly from the Pampa

Received 16 July 2015

biome in southern Brazil, and has not been recorded in its type locality in the last 56 years. Recently,

Accepted 4 November 2015

a population was found in two sites from extreme south Brazil, Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul state. These

Available online 28 November 2015

records are an important find given the conservation status of S. pelotensis, since all the information

Associate Editor: Hector A. Vargas

gathered is new and involve the natural history of this species. The information obtained is useful for

the management, monitoring and conservation priorities of this species and its associated habitats, since

Keywords:

its known distribution is restricted to a narrow area in the Rio Grande do Sul Coastal Plain inside this

Distribution

threatened biome in southern Brazil.

Pampa

© 2015 Sociedade Brasileira de Entomologia. Published by Elsevier Editora Ltda. This is an open

Red list

Symmachiini access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).

Riodinid butterflies (Lepidoptera, Riodinidae) are highly con- In Brazil, there is a great effort to better know the distribution,

centrated in the Neotropics (c.a. 95%), and occupy a wide range natural history and conservation of threatened butterflies, and dur-

of environments, usually restricted to some specific microhabitats ing the last few years efforts involving several threatened species

(Brown, 1993; DeVries, 1997). Stichelia Zikán, 1949 (Symmachiini) have been successful, including actions concerning, mainly, the

comprises five species distributed in southern and southeastern rediscovery of populations and an increase of the known geograph-

South America (Callaghan and Lamas, 2004; Dias et al., 2013). ical distribution of butterflies in different ecosystems within Brazil

In Rio Grande do Sul, the southernmost state of Brazil, three (Freitas et al., 2011, 2014; Greve et al., 2013; Gomes et al., 2014).

Stichelia species have been recorded in areas including Atlantic For- Recently, the red list of the endangered fauna from Rio Grande

est and Pampa biomes: (1) Stichelia bocchoris (Hewitson, 1876), do Sul state was updated, and 18 butterfly species were categorized

widespread and occurring in forested habitats within the two as threatened (Federal law 51.797/14). Most of these species belong

biomes; (2) S. dukinfieldia (Schaus, 1902), with only one record in to the Atlantic Forest domain, and only a few species are associated

the São José dos Ausentes municipality (>900 m a.s.l.) in the high- with formations in the Pampa biome. This scenario is probably due

lands of the Atlantic Forest; and (3) Stichelia pelotensis Biezanko, to (1) the large sampling efforts to increase the knowledge of the

Mielke and Wedderhoff, [1979], present in a narrow area stretch- butterflies within the equally threatened Atlantic Forest habitats;

ing along the Rio Grande do Sul Coastal Plain (Siewert et al., 2014a), (2) the lack of recent and both optimized and specific inventories

between Pampa and Atlantic Forest biomes. The latter species was of butterflies in the Pampa; and (3) the small number of existing

described based on eight specimens collected during the 1950s projects and limited funding available to support conservation pro-

in the Pelotas municipality, and since then no other individuals grams aiming to increase the knowledge of the Pampa biodiversity.

have been observed in this same region (Krüger and Silva, 2003; S. pelotensis is an example of this alarming scenario, giving that its

Siewert et al., 2014a). The only additional record of a single female known distribution is based only on historical records, and due to

◦

came in April 2001 from the Parque Estadual de Itapuã (30 22 52 S, its restricted distribution linked with its supposed endemism and

◦

51 01 25 W), a protected area located in the Viamão municipality rarity, this species was evaluated as “Critically Endangered” within

(L.A. Kaminski, Pers. Comm.), about 250 km north of Pelotas. Rio Grande do Sul state (Federal law 51.797/14).

In this study, the rediscovery of S. pelotensis in south Brazil is

reported, including information in the natural history and behavior

∗ of adults, and of its current conservation. Seven adult individuals

Corresponding author.

E-mail: [email protected] (R.R. Siewert). of S. pelotensis, six males and one female, were observed in two

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.rbe.2015.11.005

0085-5626/© 2015 Sociedade Brasileira de Entomologia. Published by Elsevier Editora Ltda. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).

106 R.R. Siewert et al. / Revista Brasileira de Entomologia 60 (2016) 105–108

feeding on the plant, the female was perching on grass also close

to the ground. After feeding, both specimens flew away in a rapid

and erratic flight and were not seen again. The climate was sunny,

humid and very warm. In subsequent days no additional individuals

were observed. Two males were collected and the voucher speci-

mens are deposited at the Museu Entomológico Ceslau Biezanko

(MECB), Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, Rio Grande do

Sul, Brazil.

During the entire study period, no territorial (such as chasing

and aerial interactions with other butterflies and with different S.

pelotensis individuals) or courtship behavior was observed, as well

as any females attempting to lay eggs.

These records of S. pelotensis are the first in its type locality since

its original description (Biezanko et al., 1979). The lack of informa-

tion of the biology, natural history and occurrence of S. pelotensis

in the region of Pelotas is probably due to under sampling as well

as absence of specific inventories targeting this species. Although,

Krüger and Silva (2003) did carry out several collections in the

region of Pelotas about 12 years ago, the sites collected most likely

did do not include areas inhabited by S. pelotensis. Moreover, within

the description of the species, the authors do not provide detailed

information on sites or localities inside the Pelotas region (Biezanko

et al., 1979), so that the precise location in which to search for the

butterfly cannot be determined.

Like many riodinids, S. pelotensis probably occurs in low densi-

ties, and has small and erratic populations active during only a few

months of the year (Callaghan, 1978; Brown, 1993). All the results

presented herein are new information on the natural history of the

Figs. 1–2. General view of the habitat used by the individuals of Stichelia pelotensis,

species, including: (1) the duration of occurrence across the year

a stretched area of arboreal vegetation along Embrapa watercourses surrounded by

(November and January, in late spring and early summer), (2) the

grasslands (1); detailed site in which most individuals of Stichelia pelotensis were

observed, including a marshy environment with small trees and shrubs (2). feeding habits on two flowering plant species, (3) the period of

activity during the day, and (4) the probable type of habitat use. This

kind of information is useful for the management, monitoring and

sites near of Embrapa Clima Temperado Center (Empresa Brasileira

◦ ◦ conservation priorities concerning this butterfly and its associated

de Pesquisa Agropecuária) (31 40 53 S, 52 26 22 W), located in

habitats.

the Monte Bonito district, about 17 km from Pelotas municipality,

The records made in November and January may raise two

Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. The specimens were associated to areas

hypotheses: (1) the species is univoltine and the sampled Spring

of arboreal vegetation (Fig. 1), flying near the ground, and most of

and Summer are warmer and more humid than the usual allowing

them were observed near a marsh surrounded by grasslands (Fig. 2).

a temporal fluctuation of S. pelotensis; or (2) the species is bivol-

The first record was on November 21, 2014, in which a single male

tine with two peaks of adult occurrence (November to January

was observed at 12:30 h feeding on an inflorescence of Sapium glan-

and March and April). The monitoring of the Embrapa popula-

dulosum. On January 14, 2015, in another nearby place 250 m away

tion should help to elucidate this issue, indicating if this period

from the first one (these two sites are separated by an unpaved

of November 2014 and January 2015 is atypical and rare, resulting

road used for car access) four additional males were observed. One

in the increase in sightings of this butterfly.

male was recorded in the late morning, about 11:30 h, perching

The observations of S. pelotensis were made in a private area,

on Desmodium incanum DC (Fabaceae) (Fig. 3), and the other three

and some of its area is protected, thus, the maintenance of the arbo-

males were seen during the early afternoon from 14:30 h to 14:45 h.

real vegetation along the watercourses in Embrapa is crucial. The

The climate was cloudy and muggy, and all individuals were close

suggestion of management measures in the marsh environments

to each other perching under leaves of the same D. incanum. On

and their associated areas of trees and shrubs that delimit differ-

January 21, 2015 a male and a female were observed feeding on

ent grassland areas may ensure the protection and persistence of a

Eryngium elegans flowers (Fig. 4) from 12:40 h to 12:50 h. Before

viable population of this butterfly through time. Thus, the concen-

tration of optimized and specific inventories are needed to verify

the maintenance of this population, given that the continuous nar-

row areas of arboreal vegetation (Fig. 1) possibly serve as green

corridors for several species, including S. pelotensis. Moreover, the

known immatures of other species of Stichelia feed on Miconia spp.

(Melastomataceae) (Beccaloni et al., 2008) and in the study area

several individuals of Miconia were observed, indicating a possible

resource for females to lay their eggs.

S. pelotensis is one of a few species of butterflies that are con-

sidered endemic and very rare in Rio Grande do Sul, and despite

its records are in the Pampa biome (Fig. 5), these areas are associ-

ated with Atlantic Forest Domain, being composed by ‘Restinga’

forest allied with lacustrine environments, ‘Butiazal’ formations

Figs. 3–4. (3) Male of Stichelia pelotensis perching in an individual of Desmodium

and dunes (Câmara, 2003). This environment is unique in south-

incanum in the study area; (4) female of Stichelia pelotensis feeding in the inflores-

cence of an individual of Eryngium elegans in the study area. ern Brazil, evolving throughout the Holocene and Pleistocene with

R.R. Siewert et al. / Revista Brasileira de Entomologia 60 (2016) 105–108 107 56ºW 52ºW

28ºS

Atlantic Forest Biome

Pampa Biome

32ºS

BRAZIL

0 150Km

Fig. 5. Knowing distribution of Stichelia pelotensis in Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil.

contractions and ocean retractions (e.g. Muehe, 1983) and houses a Acknowledgements

distinct and threatened fauna (e.g. Rocha et al., 2009). The conser-

vation of this area has been threatened by anthropogenic pressure, Authors thank Olaf Mielke and Lucas Kaminski for sharing infor-

such as conversion of natural habitats to extensive areas of soybean mation about the species distribution; to Henrique Cunha for help

and rice, silviculture of exotic trees (like Eucalyptus spp.) for cellu- in the location of the study area, and to the employees of Embrapa

lose production, construction building, and livestock grazing (Pillar Clima Temperado Sede for the permission of access in the study

et al., 2009). Probably, the areas and sites of the first collection of areas; to André Freitas and the two anonymous reviewers for crit-

S. pelotensis in the 1950s were replaced by other types of land use, ical reading of the manuscript, and to Roger Hutchings for helping

hindering the search for this butterfly. It is important to reinforce with grammar revision. RRS (140223/2013-4) and GCG thank the

the search for other populations of S. pelotensis in the neighborhood Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico

of the Monte Bonito district, in Embrapa, and in the Pelotas munic- (CNPq) for the fellowship. The collections were made with IBAMA

ipality as a whole and in other localities along the Rio Grande do license number 45673-1. This publication is part of the RedeLep

Sul Coastal Plain, to increase the knowledge on the real distribu- “Rede Nacional de Pesquisa e Conservac¸ ão de Lepidópteros”.

tion of the species to fully characterize the patterns of occurrence

of Riodinidae in southern Brazil (Siewert et al., 2014a,b).

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