Investigações técnicas de ilustrações científicas de mariposas da família Sphingidae pertencentes ao bioma do Cerrado

Abstract

Scientific illustration constitutes an interdisciplinary field between art and science, functioning as a visual medium capable of synthesizing and communicating complex information in a clear and accessible manner. In this way, it can promote better knowledge absorption by fostering emotional engagement. Therefore, the main objective of this study is to detail the concepts and processes of entomological illustration and to evaluate the application of the techniques—graphite, stippling, watercolor, and 2D digital illustration—in optimizing the morphological representation and distinctive patterns of moths of the family Sphingidae, with emphasis on their ecological relevance as pollinating agents of the Cerrado and on the importance of their preservation. As a result, ten scientific illustrations were produced that highlight the structural characteristics and distinctive patterns of moths of the family Sphingidae. To achieve this, a literature review on the historical and conceptual foundations of scientific illustration was conducted, in addition to a morphological investigation of the selected species based on the visual analysis of specimens preserved in the Entomology Laboratory of the Federal University of Uberlândia. Based on the artist’s observations, concluding analyses are also presented, indicating the most effective techniques for the morphological representation of some species belonging to the family Sphingidae.