Recently, it has been suggested that habitats for insect herbivores have been too narrowly defined, often on the basis of larval hostplants; in particular, non-consumable resources (called utilities; ...structural elements) have been ignored. Here, the importance of utility resources for roosting and mate location has been examined in the silver-studded blue butterfly Plebejus argus (L.) (Lycaenidae) on the Great Ormes Head, North Wales, UK. The methods included using dedicated surveys and correspondence analysis applied to behavioural observations in relation to vegetation structure on a transect through a key patch for this metapopulation model species. A substantial and significant bias in roosting (97%) and mating (75%) is found to occur outside hostplant areas on shrubs and rank bunched grasses and forbs. Population density is higher in shrubby areas and shrubs are increasingly occupied during the afternoons and night, during the late flight season and in cloudy, cool and windy weather. These findings suggest that shrubs are a valuable habitat component for this butterfly, at least at this coastal location, and important for their conservation. As scrub growth is inimical to calcicolous grassland, population status will depend on a fine balance between shrub and hostplant cover dependent on grazing and browsing by the indigenous goat, sheep and rabbit populations as well as on controlled cutting and burning. Opportunities exist for increasing population size and distribution on the headland but this will need to be managed carefully. There are also implications for metapopulation dynamics studies; the status of shrubs neighbouring host plant areas switches from that of barriers to resources and refuges.PUBLICATION ABSTRACT
In this study, the complete mitochondrial genomes of Curetis bulis and Lycaena phlaeas were determined and analyzed. The circular genomes are 15,162 bp long for C. bulis and 15,280 bp long for L. ...phlaeas, with a total A+T content of 82.6 and 83.1%, respectively. Both mitogenomes contain 37 genes, and their gene orders are similar to those of other lepidopterans. All protein-coding genes (PCGs) are initiated by ATN codons, except for cox1, which is started with the CGA codon; all PCGs terminate in the typical stop codon TAA, except for cox1, cox2, and nad4, which end with a single T. The codons TTA (Leu), ATT (Ile), TTT (Phe), ATA (Met), and AAT (Asn) appear the most frequently. Both of the mitogenome A+T-rich regions harbor the motif ATAGA, followed by a 19-bp poly(T) stretch, with C. bulis containing a microsatellite-like (AT)5 element next to the ATTTA motif, and L. phlaeas containing a microsatellite-like (TA)6 (AT) element next to the ATTTA motif. The phylogenetic trees of the 17 representative butterfly species, including the two species of this study, were reconstructed with the maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference methods, based on the 13 PCG nucleotide sequence data. The results of the phylogenetic analyses strongly supported the relationships of (((Lycaenidae + Pieridae) + Nymphalidae) + Hesperiidae) + Papilionidae), which was markedly different from the traditional morphological view of the Lycaenidae and Nymphalidae considered to be sisters of each other.
Female genitalia of insects are formed by several structures whose functions are poorly understood. The signa are sclerotized structures located on the inner wall of the corpus bursa of females of ...many Lepidoptera species. In this paper, we first describe seven hypotheses concerning the function of signa and derive several predictions from them. Then, we test several of these hypotheses with studies of four butterfly species (Callophrys xami Reakirt, Eueides isabella Cramer, E. lineata Salvin & Godman, and Heliconius ismenius Doubleday) and conclude that in these species signa are mainly used for breaking the envelope of spermatophores. These results are in agreement with the idea that signa are a product of sexual coevolution. RESUMEN Los genitales femeninos de los insectos están constituidos por varias estructuras cuyas funciones generalmente son poco conocidas. Los signa son estructuras esclerosadas que se localizan en la pared interior del corpus bursa de las hembras de muchas especies de Lepidoptera. En este artículo se describen siete hipótesis sobre la función de los signa y se derivan varias de sus predicciones. Varias de estas hipótesis son evaluadas con estudios realizados con cuatro especies de mariposas (Callophrys xami Reakirt, Eueides isabella Cramer, E. lineata Salvin & Godman, and Heliconius ismenius Doubleday), los cuales llevan a la conclusión de que en estas especies los signa son utilizados principalmente para romper las cubiertas de los espermatóforos. Estos resultados son congruentes con la idea de que los signa son un producto de la coevolución entre machos y hembras.
Maculinea
butterflies are social parasites of
Myrmica
ants. Methods to study the strength of host ant specificity in the
Maculinea
–
Myrmica
association include research on chemical and acoustic ...mimicry as well as experiments on ant adoption and rearing behaviour of
Maculinea
larvae. Here we present results of laboratory experiments on adoption, survival, development and integration of
M. teleius
larvae within the nests of different
Myrmica
host species, with the objective of quantifying the degree of specialization of this
Maculinea
species. In the laboratory, a total of 94 nests of four
Myrmica
species:
M. scabrinodis
,
M. rubra
,
M.
ruginodis
and
M. rugulosa
were used. Nests of
M. rubra
and
M. rugulosa
adopted
M. teleius
larvae more readily and quickly than
M. ruginodis
colonies. No significant differences were found in the survival rates of
M. teleius
larvae reared by different ant species. Early larval growth of
M. teleius
larvae differed slightly among nests of four
Myrmica
host species. Larvae reared by colonies of
M. rugulosa
which were the heaviest at the beginning of larval development had the lowest mean larval body mass after 18 weeks compared to those reared by other
Myrmica
species. None of the
M.
teleius
larvae was carried by
M. scabrinodis
or
M. rubra
workers after ant nests were destroyed, which suggests a lack of integration with host colonies. Results indicate that
Myrmica
species coming from the same site differ in their ability to adopt and rear
M. teleius
larvae but there was no obvious adaptation of this butterfly species to one of the host ant species. This may explain why, under natural conditions, all four ants can be used as hosts of this butterfly species. Slight advantages of particular
Myrmica
species as hosts at certain points in butterfly larval development can be explained by the ant species biology and colony structure rather than by specialization of
M. teleius
.
Kajian fauna kupu-kupu telah dilakukan di dua kawasan di sekitar Taman Rimba Kenong dan Kampung Kuala Kenong. Persampelan telah dilakukan pada Ogos dan Oktober 2004, dengan usaha 3 orang per hari ...menggunakan jaring kupu-kupu. Kajian ini dilakukan untuk melihat kepelbagaian spesies kupu-kupu daripada sudut kepelbagaian spesies, spesies melimpah, spesies umum dan spesies langka. Sejumlah 113 spesies (merangkumi 102 subspesies, 14 subfamili, 709 spesimen) telah direkodkan. Faniili kupu-kupu yang direkodkan adalah Nymphalidae (42 spesies), Pieridae (15 spesies), Lycaenidae (37 spesies), Hesperiidae (9 spesies) dan Papilionidae (10 spesies). Terdapat satu spesies dilindungi di bawah Akta perlindungan Hidupan Liar 1972 Pindaan 1991 iaitu Idea lynceus lynceus (Drury). Kesemua 113 spesies merupakan rekod awal bagi taman rimba ini kerana tiada sebarang rekod kupu-kupu sebelum ini. Eurema hecabe contubernalis (Moore) bukan saja merupakan spesies paling melimpah tetapi juga merupakan spesies paling umum secara spatial dan temporal. lni diikuti oleh Eurema andersonii andersonii (Moore) dan Anthene emolus goberus (Fruhstorfer). Sebanyak 13 spesies merupakan spesies langka. Manifestasi kekayaan spesies didapati lebih baik pada bulan Ogos (86 spesies) berbanding pada bulan Oktober (42 spesies). Peratus pertindihan adalah rendah iaitu 26.54% yang menggambarkan topografi dan vegetasi kawasan kajian berbeza. Nilai indeks kepelbagaian spesies Shannon-Weiner (H`) di lokasi Taman Rimba Kenong (H` =3.78) adalah signifikan lebih tinggi (p<0.05) berbanding dengan lokasi Kampung Kuala Kenong (H`=3.58). Nilai indeks kesamarataan spesies Shahnon-Weiner (E') bagi lokasi Taman Rimba Kenong adalah (H'=0.90) dan bagi Kampung Kuala Kenong (E'=0.84) adalah menghampiri uniti (E'=1) yang menggambarkan spesies tertabur secara seragam. Perbandingan indeks kumulatif Shahnon-Weiner (E') menunjukkan enam kali persampelan adalah minimum memadai dalam menggambarkan kepelbagaian spesies kupu-kupu di taman rimba ini.
Studies on the butterfly fauna was conducted at two areas, namely Taman Rimba Kenong and Kampung Kuala Kenong. Samplings were done in August and October 2004, utili sing 3-man-day using butterfly nets. The study is aimed at observing the butterfly species diversity in term of species diversity, species abundance, common and rare species. A total of 113 spesies (consisting of 102 subspecies, 14 subfamilies, 709 specimens) were recorded. Among the families recorded were Nymphalidae (42 species), Pieridae (15 species), Lycaenidae (37 species), Hesperiidae (9 species) and Papilionidae (10 species). One species Idea lynceus lynceus (Drury) was found to be a Totally Protected Species under the Wildlife Protection Act 1972 Amended 1991. Altogether 113 species represent the first record for this area as there has been no previous studies ever been conducted here. Eurema hecabe contubernalis (Moore) is the most abundant species and also the most common spatially and temporally. This is followed by Eurema andersonii andersonii (Moore) and Anthene emolus goberus (Fruhstorfer). A total of 13 species may be rare. Species rischness is better manifested in August (86 species) compared to October (42 species). Overlapping is low at 26.54% that reflects both topography and different vegetation of study areas. The value of Species Diversity Index of Shannon-Weiner (H`) at Taman Rimba Kenong (H`=3.78) is significantly higher (p<0.05) that of Kampung Kuala Kenong (H`=3.58). The value of Species Eveness Index of Shahnon-Weiner (E') for Taman Rimba Kenong is (H'=0.90) and for Kampung Kuala Kenong is (E'=0.84), both approaching unity (E'=1) that show species are homofeneously distributed. When Shahnon-Weiner (E') Cumulative Index are compared shows that six minimal samplings are adequate to show species diversity for butterflies in the Taman Rimba Kenong.
Divergent natural selection contributes to reproductive isolation among populations adapting to different habitats or resources if hybrids between populations are intermediate in phenotype and suffer ...an associated, environmentally dependent reduction in fitness. This prediction was tested using two host races of Mitoura butterflies. Thirty-five F1 hybrid and parental lines were created, larvae were raised on the two host plants, and oviposition preferences were assayed in choice arenas. Larvae from both reciprocal hybrid crosses suffered a host-specific reduction in performance: when reared on incense cedar, hybrid survival was approximately 30% less than the survival of pure lines of the cedar-associated host race. The performance of hybrid larvae reared on the other host, MacNab cypress, was not reduced relative to parental genotypes. Females from both reciprocal hybrid crosses preferred to oviposit on incense cedar, the same host that resulted in the reduced survival of hybrid larvae. Thus, dominance is implicated in the inheritance of traits involved in both preference and performance, which do not appear to be genetically linked in Mitoura butterflies. Gene flow between host races may be reduced because the correlation between preference and performance that was previously described in parental populations is essentially broken by hybridization.
A 10-year survey was conducted within the pine rocklands of Everglades National Park to study the status, phenology and natural history of Strymon acis bartrami (W. Huntington and Comstock). The ...response of populations of this species to prescribed fires and hurricane activity within the Everglades was also noted. Strymon a. bartrami (n = 77 adults) was encountered throughout the survey, most often in the spring, but was generally uncommon. The species was slow to re-colonize recently burned pine rocklands. However, prescribed fires conducted in a cyclic pattern as well as near appropriate hostplant-bearing refugia may have aided S. a. bartrami in post-burn re-establishment. In addition, the species appeared to recover quickly after hurricane events in the Everglades.
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.
“Plant-ants”, i.e. those symbiotic with myrmecophyte plants, defend their hosts against herbivores. Plant-ants are expected to affect the host-plant ranges of herbivores that feed on myrmecophytes. ...This study aimed to experimentally determine whether anti-herbivore defences by plant-ants restrict the larval host-plant ranges of four Arhopala (Lycaenidae) butterflies that feed on Macaranga (Euphorbiaceae) trees, some of which are myrmecophytes. We fed Arhopala larvae with the leaves of five Macaranga species under ant-excluded conditions to examine their potential host-plant ranges. Under ant-excluded conditions, three Arhopala species survived to the pupal stage when fed species not used in the field as well as their normal host species. Our data suggested that the aggressive behaviours of plant-ants towards leaf-feeding insects restrict the potential host-plant ranges of some Macaranga- feeding Arhopala butterflies.
The maternally inherited obligate bacteria Wolbachia is known to infect various lepidopteran insects. However, so far only a few butterfly species harbouring this bacterium have been thoroughly ...studied. The current study aims to identify the infection status of these bacteria in some of the commonly found butterfly species in India. A total of nine butterfly species belonging to four different families were screened using PCR with Wolbachia-specific wsp and ftsZ primers. The presence of the Wolbachia super group ‘B’ in the butterflies Red Pierrot, Talicada nyseus (Guerin) (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae) and Blue Mormon, Papilio polymnestor Cramer (Papilionidae), is documented for the first time in India. The study also gives an account on the lifetime fecundity and female-biased sex ratio in T. nyseus, suggesting a putative role for Wolbachia in the observed female-biased sex ratio distortion.
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