Larval Food Plants Research Articles

What can sown wildflower strips contribute to butterfly conservation?: an example from a Swiss lowland agricultural landscape

The objective of this study was to compare butterfly abundances and diversity between wildflower strips and extensively used meadows to identify which butterfly species can be supported by establishing wildflower strips. Butterflies were recorded along transects during one season in twenty-five sown wildflower strips and eleven extensively used meadows in a Swiss lowland agricultural landscape (600 ha). In total 1,669 butterflies of 25 species were observed (25 in the strips, 18 in meadows). This can be related to 38 species recorded in the region (lowland part of Kanton Fribourg) within the Swiss Biodiversity Monitoring Programme. In wildflower strips the number of butterflies per transect meter was significantly higher than in the meadows, but there was no significant difference in species richness. Butterfly communities, though, were quite different between the two habitat types. Habitat type, abundances of flowering plants and presence of forest within 50 m were identified as factors influencing butterfly species richness. Butterfly abundances were affected by habitat type and abundance of flowering plants. In wildflower strips, 65% of all flower visits by butterflies were observed on Origanum. It can be concluded that sown wildflower strips can support a substantial part of a regions species pool. This is mostly true for common species, but can apply to rare species when, for example, larval food plant requirements are met.

Butterflies on the brink: habitat requirements for declining populations of the marsh fritillary (Euphydryas aurinia) in SW England

1. The marsh fritillary Euphydryas aurinia is one of our most endangered butterflies, and the only to be protected under European legislation as well as British. It persists in fragile subpopulations threatened by habitat fragmentation and degradation. 2. A combination of swaling and cattle grazing are accepted to be best practice for managing wet, unimproved grasslands—the favoured habitat for E. aurinia in Cornwall. These two well-endorsed methods of management were used to increase and improve the quality of habitat for E. aurinia over a 5 years period, 2004–2008, at a stronghold network of habitat patches in mid Cornwall, south-west England. 3. Analyses of adult and larval densities over 5 years in fifty-four transects across nine sites found E. aurinia to favour habitat patches with higher densities of the larval food plant (Devil’s-bit scabious Succisa pratensis), higher sward height in autumn, and intermediate optimum levels of stock grazing. 4. Main findings indicated most sites experienced significant declines in numbers. Unfavourable weather in the last 2 years of monitoring was likely to have had a significant impact on the response of individual subpopulations to habitat management though poor recovery rates may also reflect a time-lag in colonisation events after habitat improvement has occurred. 5. Habitat management produced an improvement, albeit an inconsistent improvement in habitat variables across patches—S. pratensis shows a clear recovery at some sites. Autumn sward height increased significantly at one site, and a quadratic relationship between stock grazing and important habitat variables has been found which will aid further improvement over all sites for the long term persistence of E. aurinia.

Habitat preferences of Maculinea arion and its Myrmica host ants: implications for habitat management in Italian Alps

Projections of climate-change scenarios indicate that many Maculinea arion populations will disappear from Europe over the next 50 years. Extinctions will be particularly concentrated around the southern limits of the species’ range, such as the Italian peninsula, except mountain populations, mainly in the Alps. M. arion is a social parasite of Myrmica ants and its survival depends on the presence and abundance of two resources, i.e. (1) a specific larval foodplant and (2) a suitable Myrmica host ant. We collected data on Thymus plants distribution, Myrmica ants abundance, turf height around Myrmica nests, distance between nests and the closest thyme plant (Thymus pulegioides), and vegetation structure at 14 patches of a M. arion fragmented population occurring in the Western Italian Alps (Val Ferret: Aosta). We found that patches with the highest abundance of M. arion had significantly higher foodplant abundance. Among 407 nests belonging to nine Myrmica species, we found M. arion larvae in one Myrmica lonae and in two Myrmica sulcinodis nests. The distribution of M. sulcinodis nests showed the best spatial overlap with Thymus plants. M. sulcinodis was also significantly more abundant on pastures showing high M. arion density, and therefore offered higher adoption probabilities to develop butterfly larvae. On M. arion habitat patches, the mean turf height around Myrmica nests varied from 10.5 to 22.3 cm and best matched the habitat requirements of T. pulegioides. Thus, we suggest that extensive grazing is needed to maintain the two most important resources for M. arion. Moreover, patches where M. arion was abundant included more numerous plant species characteristic of these mountain pastures, as well as higher plant diversity (Shannon index). As a consequence, M. arion represents an umbrella species and a good indicator for the conservation status of mountain grasslands.

The immature stages, larval food plants and biology of Neotropical mistletoe butterflies (Lepidoptera: Pieridae). II. The Catasticta group (Pierini: Aporiina)

We present an overview of the morphology, larval food plants and general biology of the immature stages of the “Catasticta group”, one of three clades of aporiine pierids that specialize predominantly on mistletoes, based on extensive field observations and captive reared material in Costa Rica, review of the literature, and examination of material preserved in museum collections. Of the 8 genera recognized in the group, 6 are restricted to the Neotropics of which detailed descriptions and/or illustrations are given for 11 species representing the genera Melete, Pereute, Leodonta and Catasticta. The life histories of these taxa are compared with those of Neophasia and Eucheira, two Nearctic genera in the Catasticta group that specialize on host trees of mistletoes. Larval food plants of the Neotropical genera include Struthanthus, Tripodanthus (Loranthaceae), Antidaphne (Santalaceae), Dendrophthora and Phoradendron (Viscaceae), all aerial-stem hemiparasites in the order Santalales. The butterflies are mul...

Occurrence of Appias albina albina (Boisduval, 1836) (Lepidoptera: Pieridae: Pierinae) in northern Australia: phenotypic variation, life history and biology, with remarks on its taxonomic status

AbstractVariation in adult phenotype, the life history and general biology of the “White Albatross”, Appias albina albina (Boisduval, 1836), are described and illustrated from the monsoon tropics of the northern Australia for the first time. Like elsewhere throughout the species' wide geographical range, the population exhibits sex‐limited polymorphism, with females having three distinct color morphs (white, yellow, intermediate). Variation within and among these morphs is compared with populations from elsewhere in South‐East Asia, particularly Maluku (including the type locality Ambon), and comments are made on the taxonomic status of the Australian population. The species inhabits coastal semi‐deciduous monsoon vine‐thicket where its larval food plant Drypetes deplanchei (Brongn. & Gris) Merr. (Euphorbiaceae) grows on lateritic edges and cliffs. The early stages and behaviour are compared with those of A. albina pancheia Fruhstorfer, 1910 from South‐East Asia and A. paulina ega (Boisduval, 1836) from Australia. Adults are highly seasonal, their timing of appearance coinciding with annual leaf flush of the larval food plant and onset of the summer monsoon. During this period, the broad flight season lasts about two months, the life cycle is completed in approximately four weeks, and the species is probably univoltine or partially bivoltine. We conclude that breeding populations of A. albina albina in Australia are resident, but it remains to be established how the species survives the long dry season.

Effect of seasons and larval food plants on the quality of Gonometa postica cocoons

The effect of food plants [Acacia elatior Brenan, A. tortilis (Forssk.) and A. nilotica (L.) Del.] on the development time of Gonometa postica Walker (Lepidoptera: Lasiocampidae) larvae and the quality of their cocoons was studied in the Imba and Mumoni forests of Mwingi, Eastern Kenya, during the long (March-May) and short (October-December) rainy seasons of 2006 and 2007. Larvae were reared in semi-captivity in net sleeves attached to branches of the plants. The period between hatching of eggs and spinning of cocoons, as well as their weight, as determinants of cocoon quality were recorded. In addition, collections of cocoons from the wild were done in the two forests from the same host plants for assessment of their quality. In the cage experiment, larval development period and quality of cocoons differed according to food plants, seasons and sites, whereas quality of cocoons sampled from the wild habitat was similar for all food plants and seasons but varied according to site. Generally, there was a positive correlation between weight of cocoon, its length and width for the two seasons for both the semi-captive population and those from the wild. Larvae reared on A. elatior had a shorter development period and higher cocoon quality than those raised on A. tortilis and A. nilotica. Generally, temperature and relative humidity significantly influenced larval development time and the effect was both positive and negative. Rainfall was generally higher in Mumoni than in Imba. The implications of the above findings for the semi-captive rearing of G. postica to increase the quality of cocoons are discussed.

Does risk of egg parasitism affect choice of oviposition sites by a moth? A field and laboratory study

Abstract In many insects the eggs are highly vulnerable and egg parasitism can represent a major cause of mortality. It is thus important for the ovipositing female to find a protected site for her eggs. We have examined how egg parasitation can affect host plant choice by Spodoptera littoralis (Boisduval) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). Ovipositing moths exhibited significantly higher preference for alfalfa compared to cotton, both in the laboratory and the field. However, larval performance, in terms of development rate and the attained larval and pupal weight, was significantly better on cotton than on alfalfa. In laboratory tests no difference in larval survival on the two host plants was observed. To test the hypothesis that seeking enemy-free space could be a factor behind the preference for alfalfa, the parasitation levels on the two plants were investigated. In field tests, the egg parasitoid Chelonus inanitus (Linnaeus) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) parasitized a significantly higher number of egg batches on cotton than on alfalfa. Furthermore, the parasitoid was significantly faster in finding and parasitizing S. littoralis eggs on cotton than on alfalfa in a cage experiment. These findings support the assumption that the preference for the inferior larval food plant, alfalfa, reflects a search for a host plant species on which attacks by natural enemies are less likely. Possible factors accounting for the preference of S. littoralis for alfalfa and the higher parasitation rates on cotton are discussed.

Ecology of a relict population of the vulnerable butterfly Pyrgus sidae on the Iberian Peninsula (Lepidoptera: Hesperiidae)

There are isolated populations of the endangered butterfly, Pyrgus sidae, on the Iberian Peninsula. The mark-release- recapture method was used to study the population parameters, the use of resources and the spatial distribution of a population in the centre of Spain. The estimated number of males and females within the population were similar and did not differ significantly from a ratio of 1 : 1. Total population size was estimated to be 569 ± 83 individuals. Potentilla recta is the principal adult nectar source and larval food plant, and its abundance is correlated with the number of marked and recaptured butterflies. The average total dis- tance moved between capture and recapture was significantly greater for males than females, but the average daily distances moved were similar for both sexes. The spatial distribution of the movements of males and females was of a uniform type and lacked a pre- dominant flight direction, which is typical of sedentary species. Continuing the traditional land use (cattle grazing or hay mowing) of the habitat of the species keeps the habitat open, which is necessary if the butterfly is to survive at this locality. These management practices favour P. recta, which would otherwise succumb to competition from invasive shrubs. Taking into account the habitat requirements of this species, it is important to conserve the mosaic of meadows already present in the area.

Butterfly diversity as a data base for the development plan of Butterfly Garden at Bosscha Observatory, Lembang, West Java

Subahar TSS, Yuliana A (2010) Butterfly diversity as a data base for the development plan of Butterfly Garden at Bosscha Observatory, Lembang, West Java. Biodiversitas 11: 24-28. Change of land use and the increasing number of visitors to Bosscha area was one factor for the development plan of butterfly garden in the area. The objectives of this research were to examine butterfly diversity and its potential for development plan of butterfly garden. Butterfly diversity and its richness conducted by standard walk methods. Host plantand larval food plant was recorded during butterfly survey. Public perception on the development plan of butterfly garden was examined by questionnaire. The results showed that 26 species of butterfly was found in Bosscha area and Delias belisama belisama was the most dominant species. Public perceptions consider that the development plan of butterfly garden will give benefit to the community; not only providing new insight (40.41%), additional tourism object (23.97%) and will gave aesthetical value (17.12%). Twelve local speciesshould be considered for development plan of butterfly garden: Papilio agamemnon, P. demoleus, P. memnon, P. sarpedon, Delias belisama, Eurema hecabe, Danaus chrysippus, Argynnis hyperbius, Cethosia penthesilea, Hypolimnas misippus, Melanitis phedima and Euthalia adonia. Host plant: Bougainvillea spectabilis, Citrus aurantium, Lantana camara, Macaranga tanarius and food plants: Citrus aurantium, Cosmos caudatus, Eupatorium inulifolium, Gomphrena globosa, Hibiscus rosa-sinensis, Lantana camara, and Tithonia diversifolia.Key words: host plant, butterfly diversity, Bosscha Observatory, standard walk.

Intraspecific host preferences of mopane moths (Imbrasia belina) in mopane (Colophospermum mopane) woodland

Colophospermum mopane trees are a common larval food plant of the mopane moth (Imbrasia belina),which commonly reaches outbreak proportions. Our study investigated factors determining host tree choice by ovipositing mopane moths within a single host species (C. mopane). Tree size was the primary determinant of oviposition at both the habitat (tall riverine-, medium height woodland- and short-shrub mopane) and individual tree scale, with an increase in the number of egg masses with increasing tree size (estimated by height and canopy volume). Preference for larger trees was only evident at the habitat scale, however, as individual trees were utilized as expected according to the availability of their canopy size class. More detailed tree characteristics, such as leaf size, shoot size, stem number and even leaf chemistry (protein:tannin ratio and total polyphenols) had no influence on host choice. Host choice was based on the most obvious measure of resource abundance, namely tree size, as expected for an outbreak species, since resource availability rather than nutritional quality is likely to be the primary determinant of larval survival.

Intraspecific Host Preferences of Mopane Moths (Imbrasia belina) in Mopane (Colophospermum mopane) Woodland

Colophospermum mopane trees are a common larval food plant of the mopane moth (Imbrasia belina), which commonly reaches outbreak proportions. Our study investigated factors determining host tree choice by ovipositing mopane moths within a single host species (C. mopane). Tree size was the primary determinant of oviposition at both the habitat (tall riverine-, medium height woodland- and short-shrub mopane) and individual tree scale, with an increase in the number of egg masses with increasing tree size (estimated by height and canopy volume). Preference for larger trees was only evident at the habitat scale, however, as individual trees were utilized as expected according to the availability of their canopy size class. More detailed tree characteristics, such as leaf size, shoot size, stem number and even leaf chemistry (protein:tannin ratio and total polyphenols) had no influence on host choice. Host choice was based on the most obvious measure of resource abundance, namely tree size, as expected for an outbreak species, since resource availability rather than nutritional quality is likely to be the primary determinant of larval survival.

Distance and quality of natural habitat influence hawkmoth pollination of cultivated papaya

Crop pollination by wild pollinators is an ecosystem service of immense value to modern agriculture. Pollination by wild insects is under-researched in the tropics, where many crops may require or benefit from wild pollinators. Papaya is a dioecious tree crop widely cultivated throughout the tropics. In East Africa, papaya is an important component of rural smallholder farming systems. Traditional agricultural systems are currently under stress due to landscape degradation. These trends are of special concern with respect to pollination services provided by wild insects. Investigation of the role of hawkmoths as pollinators of papaya on subsistence farms in Kenya was conducted over a period of 3 years. Hawkmoths were the most abundant and reliable visitors to both ‘female’ pistillate and ‘male’ staminate papaya flowers. Hawkmoths accounted for >95% of legitimate visits and xenogamous pollination of papaya flowers. Hippotion celerio, Nephele comma and Agrius convolvuli were the main pollinators. Sites in two districts with similar climates and natural vegetation, but different levels of habitat degradation were chosen for comparison of pollinators and pollination services. Hawkmoth abundance and visitation rates declined sharply with increasing distance of natural habitat patches from the crop. Fruit set was also reduced at sites with high levels of disturbance/poor agricultural practices. Natural habitat containing larval food plants and other nectar resources for hawkmoths therefore supports adjacent cultivated papaya with pollination services. Understanding the links between wild biodiversity, in this case pollinating hawkmoths, and agricultural productivity can help bridge the gap between agricultural development and biodiversity conservation.

Multiple host-ant use by the predatory social parasite Phengaris (=Maculinea) arion (Lepidoptera, Lycaenidae)

Phengaris (=Maculinea) arion is an endangered social parasite of Myrmica ants, and for a very long time was considered as specific to Myrmica sabuleti. Previous studies carried out in Poland suggested some discrepancies within this assumption, and therefore a much more intensive survey was undertaken. The host ant use of P. arion was studied at five sites in different types of biotopes in Poland, i.e. xerothermal grasslands where Thymus pulegioides was used as a larval food plant by the butterfly, and more or less sandy biotopes with Thymus serpyllum. Altogether nine Myrmica species were recorded, and considerable variation in species composition and density of nests was recorded. At four localities M. sabuleti proved to be the most common ant. A total of 529 Myrmica nests were examined, and only 20 of them contained larvae and pupae of P. arion. Host ants belonged to five different species, i.e. M. sabuleti, Myrmica scabrinodis, Myrmica schencki, Myrmica lobicornis and Myrmica hellenica. Only at one site (NE Poland) was a significant heterogeneity in parasitation rates among Myrmica species detected. M. lobicornis was the most often infested ant there, which may suggest local specialisation of the butterfly. Overall low parasitism rates may explain the vulnerability of P. arion in Central Europe but further studies are also necessary.

The Immature Stages and Shelter Building Behavior ofFalgo Jeconia OmbraEvans, 1955 in eastern Ecuador (Lepidoptera: Hesperiidae: Hesperiinae)

We describe the immature stages and shelter building behavior of Falga jeconia ombra Evans, 1955 from eastern Ecuador. Chusquea scandens (Poaceae, Bambusoidea) is the larval food plant. Larvae in all stadia build shelters and forcibly eject frass with the aid of an anal comb. Later instars possess an eversible prothoracic “neck” gland. Larvae are associated with moving water.

The Immature Stages and Natural History ofVeladyris pardalis(Salvin, 1869) in Eastern Ecuador (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae: Lthomiinae)

We describe the immature stages and oviposition behavior of Veladyris pardalis (Salvin, 1869) from northeastern Ecuador. An unidentified species of Solanum (Solanaceae) is the larval food plant. Eggs are laid singly on leaves, stems or epiphytes growing on the host. Veladyris pardalis has four larval stadia, and takes 64–70 days to mature from oviposition to adult.

The Early Stages ofPedaliodes poesia(Hewitson, 1862) in Eastern Ecuador (Lepidoptera: Satyrinae: Pronophilina)

We describe the immature stages Pedaliodes poesia Hewitson, 1862 from northeastern Ecuador. Chusquea scandens (Poaceae, Bambusoidea) is the larval food plant. Eggs are laid singly or in pairs on the bottom side of host plant leaves. The duration of the egg, larval, and pupal stages, combined, is 99–107 days.

The Early Stages and Natural History ofAntirrhea Adoptive Porphyrosticta(Watkins, 1928) in Eastern Ecuador (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae: Morphinae)

Here we describe the immature stages and ecological associations of Antirrhea adoptiva porphyrosticta Watkins, 1928 (Lepidoptera:Nymphalidae:Morphinae). The cloud forest bamboo, Chusquea scandens Kunth (Bambusoidea: Poaceae), serves as the larval food plant for this butterfly in eastern Ecuador, the first hostplant record for Antirrhea outside the family Arecaceae. The larvae of A. adoptiva porphyrosticta are superficially similar to those of other Antirrhea species. We also provide observations on adult and larval behavior. Caterpillars of this butterfly species are parasitized by tachinid flies, as well as by Ichneumonidae and a newly described braconid wasp.

Larval food composition and food plants of the solitary bee Colletes halophilus (Hymenoptera: Colletidae)

SummaryThe pollen component of the larval food of Colletes halophilus, studied in four nature reserves in the Netherlands, was strongly dominated by Aster tripolium. The liquid component of the larval food contained high concentrations of sugars (glucose and fructose), far more than could be supplied by A. tripolium pollen present in the food. This indicates that in addition to pollen, considerable amounts of nectar were collected from this plant. The larval food showed hydrogen peroxide production. We did not, however, find this in pollen collected directly from A. tripolium flowers. We conclude that females of C. halophilus produce the enzyme glucose oxidase and add this to larval food. This is the first such finding for solitary bees. The apparent dependency of C. halophilus on A. tripolium has implications for the conservation management of this solitary bee.

Effects of agri-environment schemes in a long-term ecological time series

We investigated the impact of agri-environment schemes, including organic farming, on contrasting taxa, when the management of a Southern English farm was changed in the middle of a 12-year time series for an ecosystem-monitoring programme. Plant species richness, including butterfly larval food plants, increased, whilst grassland productivity decreased. There was no overall difference in butterfly or carabid beetle abundance or species richness after the management changes, but some individual species increased significantly. Moth abundance and species richness significantly increased following changes in management. There were significant longer term increases in butterfly and carabid populations from when monitoring started in 1994, which continued through the change in management. This contrasted with national trends over the same period. Warmer summers generally increased invertebrate abundance, but there was no significant trend in weather variables for the years following the change in management. This study corroborates results from short-term comparison of contrasting farms and demonstrates measurable benefits to biodiversity from the implementation of agri-environment schemes, which continue to increase over at least 5 years.

Taxonomic review of 'Candalides absimilis' (C. Felder, 1862) and 'C. margarita' (Semper, 1879) (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae), with descriptions of two new subspecies

The taxonomic status of two members of the 'Candalides absimilis' (C. Felder, 1862) species group from Australia is reviewed. Two new subspecies, 'C. absimilis eastwoodi' ssp. nov. from north-eastern Queensland and 'C. absimilis edwardsi' ssp. nov. from south-eastern Australia, are described, diagnosed and compared with related taxa. 'C. gilberti' Waterhouse,1903 from north-western and central northern Australia is shown to comprise a geographical race of 'C .margarita'(Semper, 1879) based on comparative evidence of the genitalia, adult and immature stage morphology, life historyand adult behaviour, and accordingly is treated as a subspecies of that taxon. Information on the distribution, habitat,conservation status and biology are summarised for each of the three taxa, with additional notes provided on the larval food plant, behaviour and life cycle of 'C. absimilis edwardsi' ssp. nov, which specialises as larvae on the flush growth of 'Brachychiton populneus' (Schott and Endl.) R.Br. (Sterculiaceae) growing in eucalypt woodland. Females of both 'C. absimilis edwardsi' ssp. nov. and 'C. margarita gilberti' are remarkable in that they comprise the only taxa within the 'C. absimilis' species group from Australia in which the white patches on the fore and hind wing are replaced with blue. A striking association between habitat (broad vegetation type) and adult female phenotype in the C. absimilis species group is noted, with highly contrasting 'black and white forms' occurring in closed forest and less striking 'blue forms' in open forest/woodland, and this relationship is found to extend more generally within the Australian Lycaenidae. A general hypothesis, that ambient light properties among divergent habitats or vegetation types (i.e. different light environments) is a potent selective force shaping sex-limited phenotype, is proposed for these butterflies.