Systematics of Neotropical Butterflies (12/23 - Present)

Butterflies of the Neotropics (Central America, the Caribbean, and South America) are highly diverse. As indicators for other insect groups, butterflies are often the subject of monitoring programs, often using bait traps, and reliable means to identify species and a firm taxonomy are clearly important. The genus Memphis is widespread in neotropical forest canopies, with over 60 species. The camouflaged underside wing patterns of Memphis are often variable, and the species are sexually dimorphic, making it difficult to associate males and females. Here, I aim to address the classification and identification of one of the most abundant and taxonomically cryptic groups: Memphis acidalia and relatives.
Memphis acidalia (pictured below) is distributed throughout South America east of the Andes, with related possible species in the western Amazon and western Andes. Memphis acidalia exhibits a high intraspecific variability in wing pattern, complicating identification of species limits, and because some names for species are based on females and some on males, it is not clear what names apply to species. I aim to investigate the following questions: 1) Which males and females belong to the same species, and how can they be identified? 2) How many species are there within the M. acidalia complex? 3) What are the correct taxonomic names to apply to species?

I have been studying the group over the past year as a researcher within the Emerging Scholars Program, in collaboration with Keith Willmott of the McGuire Center for Lepidoptera and Biodiversity. I completed DNA extraction, PCR, and gel quantification for 38 samples of Ecuadorian Memphis. A preliminary neighbor-joining tree with these COI ‘barcode’ sequences (pictured below), highlights four distinct clades within the species complex. My findings suggest that the complex comprises multiple species, each with unique geographical and elevational ranges, supporting taxonomic recognition.

For the next step in my research, I plan to determine differences in morphological characters, which will include comparing wing patterns and making dissections male genitalia, to try to find diagnostic characters for species identification. In addition, I plan to sequence an additional 30 samples of the M. acidalia group available at the McGuire Center as frozen tissue, in addition to other specimens in the pinned collection. I am also collaborating with Dr. Fernando Dias, an associate professor at the Universidade Estadual de Londrina. Dr. Dias has collected label data, DNA barcodes, drawings, and photos for many specimens, especially from Brazil, complementing my research. The planned morphological and molecular analysis will help verify male-female pairings and species limits, determine the correct names to apply to species, and possibly result in the discovery of new species.

We plan to publish a comprehensive review of the complex, which will resolve the taxonomy and provide identification guides for monitoring neotropical butterflies, which are used as indicators of other species. On a more personal level, this project will continue to aid me in the development of my research skills. Ultimately, I hope to employ my abilities in a professional laboratory setting, so this research is valuable in providing a strong foundation for my future career.