Abstract
Larval food plants (LFPs) of Sri Lankan butterflies are poorly documented in the historical literature and there is a great need to identify LFPs in conservation perspectives. Therefore, the current study was designed and carried out during the past decade. A list of LFPs for 207 butterfly species (Super family Papilionoidea) of Sri Lanka is presented based on local studies and includes 785 plant-butterfly combinations and 480 plant species. Many of these combinations are reported for the first time in Sri Lanka. The impact of introducing new plants on the dynamics of abundance and distribution of butterflies, the possibility of butterflies being pests on crops, and observations of LFPs of rare butterfly species, are discussed. This information is crucial for the conservation management of the butterfly fauna in Sri Lanka. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.4038/tapro.v6i2.7193 TAPROBANICA, 2014. Vol. 06, No. 02: pp. 110-130 pls. 12, 13.
Highlights
Butterflies go through complete metamorphosis and have two stages of food consumtion
In the adult stage butterflies are not limited to specific plant species for food and many species feed on non-herbaceous materials such as bird droppings
As all herbivorous insects show some degree of host selectivity (Bernays & Chapman 1994), many butterfly larvae feed on a limited number of identical plant species (Wiklund, 1975), which is basically determined by the chemical composition of those plants (Kunte, 2000)
Summary
Butterflies go through complete metamorphosis and have two stages of food consumtion. As all herbivorous insects show some degree of host selectivity (Bernays & Chapman 1994), many butterfly larvae feed on a limited number of identical plant species (Wiklund, 1975), which is basically determined by the chemical composition of those plants (Kunte, 2000). Moore (1880–1881) documented a small number of butterfly larval food plants (LFPs) in Sri Lanka, based on his local studies. In his account early stages of 191 butterfly species have been documented, only 80 were based on Sri Lankan material while others were taken from Indian studies, which are not purely compatible to LFP preference and body color pattern of local butterfly larvae. It is our expectation that the publication of this list will stimulate further caterpillar foodplant studies, including preferences and geographic distributions
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