Numerous and charismatic, the Lepidoptera is one of the most widely studied groups of invertebrates. Advances in molecular tools and genomic techniques have reduced the need for large sizes and mass-rearing, and lepidopteran model systems are increasingly used to illuminate broad-based experimental questions as well as those peculiar to butterflies. Putting the spotlight on the second most numerous order of insects living today, this book provides a summary of cutting-edge studies of the Lepidoptera as an organism in and of itself and as model systems. Leading researchers discuss symbiosis, genomes, sex determination, natural products, ecophysiology, sensory systems, pest control, the sterile insect technique, immunity, and evolution development. Understanding the biology and genetics of butterflies and moths may lead to new species-selective methods of control, saving billions of dollars in pesticide use and protecting environmental and human health, making the sections on pest control and the sterile insect technique extremely important.

Lepidoptera Genetics provides a systematic account of the genetics and karyology of Lepidoptera. Topics covered include the use of biometry in genetic studies; population genetics and polymorphism; the rise of industrial melanism; and the evolution of mimicry. The genetics of Rhopalocera and Heterocera is also discussed. This book is comprised of eight chapters and begins with an overview of Lepidoptera species and their genetics, paying particular attention to color and pigmentation, breeding, and resistance to insecticides, as well as the effect of seasonal variations and the environment on Lepidoptera. The next chapter outlines the tenets of genetics that are of value for Lepidoptera research, including particulate heredity, random assortment, sex-linked inheritance, maternal inheritance, and mosaicism. The reader is methodically introduced to the application of biometry to the study of Lepidoptera genetics; the evolution of mimicry in Lepidoptera; and the known heredity of Rhopalocera and Heterocera. The final chapter examines the karyology of Lepidoptera, focusing on the haploid karyotype, polyploidy, chiasmata frequency, supernumerary chromosomes, and sex chromatin. This monograph will be a useful resource for entomologists, geneticists, and biologists.

This book presents a diverse collection of chapters on basic research at the molecular level using Lepidoptera as model systems. This volume, however, is more than just a compendium of information about insect systems in general, or the Lepidoptera in particular. Each chapter is a self-contained treatment of a broad subject area, providing sufficient background information to give readers a sense of the guiding principles and central questions associated with each topic, in addition to major methodologies and findings. Comparisons with other major model systems are emphasized, with special attention given to the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster. Topics include: genetics, mobile elements, embryogenesis, silk gland and chorion gene regulation, hormone action, neurobiology, the immune response and engineered baculoviruses. Molecular and developmental biologists at graduate and researcher levels will find this book of great interest.

This book facilitates an integrative understanding of the development, genetics and evolution of butterfly wing patterns. To develop a deep and realistic understanding of the diversity and evolution of butterfly wing patterns, it is essential and necessary to approach the problem from various kinds of key research fields such as “evo-devo,” “eco-devo,” ”developmental genetics,” “ecology and adaptation,” “food plants,” and “theoretical modeling.” The past decade-and-a-half has seen a veritable revolution in our understanding of the development, genetics and evolution of butterfly wing patterns. In addition, studies of how environmental and climatic factors affect the expression of color patterns has led to increasingly deeper understanding of the pervasiveness and underlying mechanisms of phenotypic plasticity. In recognition of the great progress in research on the biology, an international meeting titled “Integrative Approach to Understanding the Diversity of Butterfly Wing Patterns (IABP-2016)” was held at Chubu University, Japan in August 2016. This book consists of selected contributions from the meeting. Authors include main active researchers of new findings of corresponding genes as well as world leaders in both experimental and theoretical approaches to wing color patterns. The book provides excellent case studies for graduate and undergraduate classes in evolution, genetics/genomics, developmental biology, ecology, biochemistry, and also theoretical biology, opening the door to a new era in the integrative approach to the analysis of biological problems. This book is open access under a CC BY 4.0 license.

Biodiversity and Ecology of Lepidoptera - Insights and Advances presents a comprehensive overview of the order of winged insects known as Lepidoptera. It is organized into two sections and seven chapters. Section 1, "Lepidoptera: Behavioural Diversity", explores the myriad challenges faced by Lepidoptera globally. In the twenty-first century, the most pressing issue confronting them is the decline in biodiversity, necessitating the essential restoration of ecosystems. Concurrently, Lepidoptera exhibit mastery in camouflage and mimicry, enabling them to evade detection by predators and parasites, providing a reproductive advantage. This section also delves into gynandromorphy behavior, where individuals develop a mosaic of both male and female traits, with the left and right halves of the body displaying different sexes. Additionally, it reviews recent advances in non-coding RNAs, elucidating their role in regulating gene expression through chromosomes and their significance in the overall developmental process of Lepidoptera. Section 2, "Moths: Bioecology and Genetics", commences with the mapping of flight paths for feeding, reproduction, and pollination occurrence in hawkmoths in the family Sphingidae. The section then reveals the features of invasion into various ecosystems by five invasive leafminer moth species of the family Gracillariidae). Furthermore, it discusses the degree of genetic variability and phylogenetic relationships among 13 breeds of the mulberry silkworm (Bombyx mori L.).

In this revelatory work, Judith Hooper uncovers the intellectual rivalries, petty jealousies, and flawed science behind one of the most famous experiments in evolutionary biology. Bernard Kettlewell's 1953 experiment on the peppered moths of England made him a media star on the order of Jonas Salk -- but also an unlikely tragic hero. As Hooper recounts in this rollicking scientific detective story, the truth can be subverted when the stakes are very high. Book jacket.