Abstract
Monarch butterflies can be infected by a parasite called OE. Butterflies with OE may not complete their development or, if they do, the adult butterflies might have deformed wings. We found that the proportion of adult butterflies with wing deformities increased further south in New Zealand, where the weather is colder. In contrast, the number of butterflies infected with the OE parasite decreased further to the south. No OE was observed in butterflies from the coldest, southernmost location of Dunedin, while all butterfly samples from the warmest, northernmost site at the top of the North Island were infected. The OE parasite seems to vary on a north-south gradient, with more OE in the north and less in the south. Our analysis showed that being parasitised by OE did not mean butterflies were more likely to have wing deformities. We think that the colder temperatures in the south of the country limit the development of the OE parasite and independently cause the wing deformities seen in the adult butterflies.
Highlights
Monarch butterflies can be infected by a parasite called OE
We found that the proportion of adult butterflies with wing deformities increased further south in New Zealand, where the weather is colder
We think that the colder temperatures in the south of the country limit the development of the OE parasite and independently cause the wing deformities seen in the adult butterflies
Summary
Figure Butterflies are diverse and often abundant in tropical ecosystems. They can play a major role in pollination of plants. CHRYSALIS The pupa or third stage of a butterfly’s development, during which the caterpillar transforms into an adult. The pupa is protected by a hardened outer shell. DIVERSITY A measurement of both the number of species within a community and the relative importance of each species. CITIZEN SCIENCE Scientific research in which members of the public volunteer to help collect data and sometimes even help analyse and report the data
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