Richness and composition of tiger moths (Erebidae: Arctiinae) in a Neotropical savanna: are heterogeneous habitats richer in species?

Several studies have found a positive relationship between habitat complexity and species richness. Here, we sampled Arctiinae moths in a savanna-forest gradient to test if (1) structurally complex habitats harbour more species and individuals than simple habitats, (2) composition of Arctiinae moths in forests is dissimilar from the other vegetation types, and (3) due to its strong association with the vegetation the tribe Arctiini will present more consistent results to the first two hypotheses when compared to the tribe Lithosiini. Species richness was higher in more complex vegetation types. Forest and savanna had distinct Arctiinae species composition. These findings were more consistent to Arctiini than to Lithosiini because Arctiini feeds on a great range of plant species whereas Lithosiini has a specialized diet on lichens, algae and bryophytes.