Mechanitis polymnia casabranca and Ithomia lichyi lichyi (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) damaging tree of Solanum granuloso-leprosum (Solanaceae)

Wagner De Souza Tavares,Olaf Hermann Hendrik Mielke,José Eduardo Serrão,Alexandre Igor De Azevedo Pereira,José Cola Zanuncio

doi:10.1590/s0104-77602014000100020

Wagner De Souza Tavares, Olaf Hermann Hendrik Mielke + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1590/s0104-77602014000100020

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Abstract

The Zona da Mata region is located in southeastern Minas Gerais State, Brazil with fauna and flora diversified, including herbivorous insects and Solanaceae plants. Ithomiinae caterpillars were observed damaging tree of Solanum granuloso-leprosum Dunal (Solanaceae), used for different purposes and abundant in secondary forest. The objective of this study was to identify defoliating caterpillars of S. granuloso-leprosum at the campus of Universidade Federal de Viçosa (UFV) in Viçosa, Minas Gerais State, Brazil and review host plants of Mechanitis polymnia L., 1758 (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae). Thirteen caterpillars found damaging a tree of S. granuloso-leprosum at the campus of UFV were collected and maintained in the Laboratório de Controle Biológico de Insetos (LCBI) from UFV until adult emergence. These caterpillars were of two species, being ten of the first and three of the second species. Adult specimens of the latter species were identified as Ithomia lichyi lichyi D'Almeida, 1939 (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) in the Departamento de Zoologia of Universidade Federal do Paraná (UFPR) in Curitiba, Paraná State, Brazil and of the group of ten caterpillars as Mechanitis polymnia casabranca Haensch, 1905 (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) in the Museu de Zoologia of Universidade de São Paulo (USP) in São Paulo State, Brazil. This is the first report of M. polymnia casabranca and I. lichyi lichyi together damaging plant of S. granuloso-leprosum in the Zona da Mata region of Minas Gerais State, Brazil and 57 plants are recorded as host of M. polymnia.

Highlights

The Zona da Mata region, located in the southeastern Minas Gerais State, Brazil, with 36.058 km2, representing 6.2% of the area of Mata Atlântica biome in this state (RESENDE et al, 2009)
The objective of this work was to record the occurrence of M. polymnia casabranca and I. lichyi lichyi together damaging plant of S. granuloso-leprosum in the Zona da Mata region of Minas Gerais State, Brazil and review host plants of Mechanitis polymnia (L., 1758) (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae)
Five normal adults and five deformed emerged from these pupae after the 12th day of pupation and the normal survived for 10 days. Adults of this group were identified as M. polymnia casabranca in the Museu de Zoologia of Universidade de São Paulo (USP) in São Paulo State, Brazil

Summary

Introduction

The Zona da Mata region, located in the southeastern Minas Gerais State, Brazil, with 36.058 km, representing 6.2% of the area of Mata Atlântica biome in this state (RESENDE et al, 2009). Its native vegetation was formed by Floresta Tropical, with dense tree cover and as an expansion of the Mata Atlântica (PORTUGAL et al, 2010). These forests were reduced to small patches and bushes on steep slopes and replaced, largely, by agricultural crops, pasture and reforestation (SOUZA et al, 2009). The precipitation of the Zona da Mata varies from 1,200 to 1,400 mm (REIS et al, 2007). The altitude varies between 100 m in the Rio Pomba and Paraíba do Sul valleys and 1.889 m in the Pico do Brigadeiro (NUNES et al, 2009)

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