Notes on the defoliation of Coconut Palm (Cocos nucifera) by the butterfly Opsiphanes quiteria quirinus in northeastern Costa Rica (Lepidoptera: Brassolidae)

Abstract

The defoliation of two adjacent, mature trees of the palm Cocos nucifera by caterpillars of the butterfly Opsiphanes quiteria quirinus (Lepidoptera: Brassolidae) was studied in northeastern Costa Rica. During the early dry season (February, 1976), these trees were heavily striped of leaves by the caterpillars, producing a large number of healthy pupae that survived to produce adults. The population is characterized by non-overlapping generations on both trees. A single, non-overlapping generation produces a large number of adults that subsequently place many eggs on trees used by the previous generation. Oviposition occurs at dusk; eggs are placed singly or clustered on leaves, trunks, and the loose sheaths of fronds. Pupation occurs primarily on fronds sheaths and leaves. The infestation of caterpillars and pupae are greatest on lower fronds, presumably the result of a strong preference for oviposition on these leaves. Survivorship of at least fifth instar caterpillars in addition to pupae is high. Although Cocos palms are scarce at this locality, most of those present did not have an infestation, suggesting that either the observed heavy outbreak was unusual or that colonizing episodes are just beginning to occur here. While such outbreaks of Opsiphanes and other brassolids on banana have been documented many times in Central America, the outbreak of O. quiteria on Cocos palm in northeastern Costa Rica is a recent event, perhaps related to the increased removal of the original forest cover in recent years. On wild palms O. quiteria and other brassolids are far less abundant.