Significance of a new field oviposition record for Graphium eurypylus (L.) (Lepidoptera: Papilionidae) on Michelia champaca (Magnoliaceae)

Abstract  Phytochemical similarities among ancient Angiosperms presumably played a role in the ecological and evolutionary diversification of the swallowtail butterflies (Papilionidae). Host family feeding specialisation is typical of most Papilionidae species, but field records of oviposition are rare for most swallowtail butterflies. It is even more uncommon to witness oviposition and larval feeding on new host plant species, especially in plant families not previously reported for the butterfly species. Oviposition by a female on a new host, or even on a toxic plant, may represent ancestral behaviour (with a loss of larval acceptance, detoxification or processing abilities) or novel behaviour (providing genetic variation for a potential expansion of host range, or host shift). We document the oviposition, larval use and pupation of the Annonaceae specialised and geographically widespread Graphium eurypylus on a Magnoliaceae species, all under field conditions in Queensland, Australia. This is the first time such field observations of oviposition and larval feeding on Michelia champaca (Magnoliaceae) have been documented anywhere for this species.     

Egg size and egg mass of Daphnia magna: response to food availability

The influence of different food availability on egg size and egg mass in Daphnia magna Straus was studied in long-term experiments using a flow-through system. Daphnia were either kept a constant high or low food levels or subjected to alternating periods of high food and starvation. Some animals were starved continuously after they had deposited their first clutch of eggs. Eggs were measured and weighed and their density (dry mass per volume) was determined. The results support the model of Glazier (1992), which defines a region of reproductive constraint at very low food concentrations and a region of adaptive response as food concentration increase. Egg sizes were largest under continuously low food concentrations (0.1 mg Cl^–1), which indicates that the maximum of Glazier's non-linear response curve is at very low food levels. Eggs produced during starvation were small, probably as a result of reproductive constraints. Egg density was about 0.37 mg dry weight mm^–1 and did not differ between treatments.     

Pupal colour dimorphism in a desert swallowtail (Lepidoptera: Papilionidae) is driven by changes in food availability,not photoperiod

1. The swallowtail butterfly Battus polydamas archidamas Boisduval, 1936, exhibits polyphenism for pupal coloration (green and brown). It is distributed across arid regions with winter rains and is monophagous on Aristolochia plants, which emerge after the winter rains and dry out the during summer. Thus, day length does not covary positively with host plant productivity. It was hypothesised that pupal colour was driven by food availability, not photoperiod. The benefits of pupal coloration matching the colour of pupation sites in terms of field survival were also investigated to evaluate the adaptive value of pupa colour. 2. Larvae were reared under a factorial array of two photoperiods (LD 10:14 h and LD 14:10 h) and two food availability regimes (leaves ad libitum and available every other day) to assess the frequency of green and brown pupae. Field survival of green and brown pupae was quantified in three commonly used habitats that differ in background coloration (cacti, rocks and shrubs). 3. Food availability determined pupal colour. Larvae in the ad libitum regime resulted mostly in green pupae, while those with restricted food were mostly brown. In contrast, photoperiod did not influence pupal colour. Survival probability of pupae placed on cacti was higher than those placed on rocks and shrubs, and the lowest predation risk across habitats was for green pupae on cacti. 4. Food availability plays a major role in the seasonal polyphenism for pupal colour of specialist butterflies inhabiting arid environments with winter rains.     

中华虎凤蝶栖息地、生物学和保护现状

本文为1992～1996年期间中华虎凤蝶分布和生物学研究结果的总结。中华虎凤蝶现仅分布在我国中部秦岭山脉和长江中下游一带,栖息地多为次生林,可分为长江中下游低地类型和秦岭山脉高山类型。低地类型的寄主植物为杜衡,人为干扰严重;高山类型的寄主植物为细辛,人为干扰较轻。中华虎凤蝶幼期发生历期和存活受光照、温度、湿度等气候因素影响显著。其种群分布格局属典型的异质种群类型。栖息地丧失和退化及寄主植物的过度人为利用是其持续生存的主要致危因素。其种群现状满足IUCN红色名录等级新标准下列条款：VULNERABLE :A1a, c, d + 2c,应定为易危物种。文中还提出了相应的保护对策和进一步研究的内容。     

Egg size affects larval performance in a coleopteran parasitoid

Abstract 1. Optimal progeny size models assume that the more eggs a female produces, the lower the amount of resource allocated per egg. As egg size generally correlates with the fitness of the emerging immature, this trade‐off can be expressed as a choice between the production of numerous low quality or fewer high quality progeny. 2. The first‐instar larvae of the coleopteran parasitoid Aleochara bilineata have to search for and parasitise dipteran pupae. The present study found a positive correlation between egg size and larval weight, but not between egg size and development time. Larger first‐instar larvae survived longer, were more active, and found and parasitised their host more rapidly. 3. Female A. bilineata may invest smaller larvae in conditions of high host density and low intraspecific competition, but investing fewer, larger larvae would bring them more fitness when hosts are scarce and competition high.     

Interspecific differences among swallowtail larvae (Lepidoptera: Papilionidae) in susceptibility to aristolochic acids and berberine

Abstract. 1. The larvae of four swallowtail butterfly species, Papilio polyxenes Fabr. in the Papilionini, Parides bunichus (Hübner) and Battus polydamas (L.) in the Troidini, and Eurytides marcellus (Cramer) in the Graphiini, were grown on host leaves to which test compounds had been added.
2. The test chemicals are biosynthetically related. Berberine, a 1-benzyl-tetrahydroisoquinoline-related (1-BTIQ) alkaloid, is found in many rutaceous hosts of the Papilionini; laudanosine, a simpler 1-BTIQ alkaloid, is found in the Papaveraceae, plants on which no papilionids feed; aristolochic acids are found only in the Aristolochiaceae, hosts of the Troidini.
3. Swallowtail larvae can tolerate the compounds characteristic of their host plants, but not chemicals found in the hosts of other papilionid groups. Diets with laudanosine did not affect the test species.
4. Our results support the contention that plant secondary chemicals, such as berberine and aristolochic acids, are important feeding barriers, and are partially responsible for host specificity in swallowtails.     

太白虎凤蝶的生物学与生境研究

太白虎凤蝶Luehdorfia taibai主要分布于太白山南坡的局部地点,是我国特有种,种群数量稀少,并且呈下降趋势。研究了野生状态下该种蝴蝶的生活史、习性、生命表、产卵地需求,并对部分栖息地要素进行了调查分析。分析了濒危原因,提出了保护建议。太白虎凤蝶1年1代,以蛹越冬,蛹期约300d。翌年4月中下旬为成虫羽化盛期,产卵于幼虫寄主植物马蹄香Saruma henryi叶片背面。1—2龄幼虫聚集生活,3龄即扩散,白天藏入枯叶层中躲避天敌,晚上出来取食。老熟虫于枯叶或石缝中化蛹。产卵地多位于海拔1000—1400 m之间,森林郁闭度低于60%,寄主植物密度低于2株/m2,并且伴有较厚的枯叶层,较多石块的环境中。成虫访花、交尾活动和产卵地环境有所不同,多在沟底较为开阔、多蜜源植物的地点。对太白虎凤蝶的保护建议采取适度干扰原则,对栖息地生境定期实施矮林作业、割灌等经营管理措施,保持1个栖息地斑块内有几块较为开阔的林间空地和寄主植物和寄主植物即可。对于人为干扰过重的秦岭南坡地区,需进行人工管理恢复生境,辅以人工繁殖恢复种群数量。此外,应严格限制对太白虎凤蝶卵、幼虫和成虫的大量采集活动。     

Egg size of skippers (Lepidoptera: Hesperiidae) in relation to their host specificity and to leaf toughness of host plants

The adaptive significance of egg size of skippers (Lepidoptera; Hesperiidae) in Japan was evaluated in relation to the leaf toughness of their major host grasses. The hesperids that fed on tougher grasses laid larger eggs. Hesperids that laid larger eggs were larger in body size, but lower in fecundity. They also had a wider host range. Thus, despite the lower fecundity, hesperids may benefit from large eggs by having a wider host range of larvae. Grass feeders had wider range of host plants than broadleaf feeders.     

New evidence on the systematic and phylogenetic position of Parides burchellanus (Lepidoptera: Papilionidae)

Parides burchellanus is considered a rare and threatened swallowtail species restricted to central Brazil. It shows considerable morphological similarity to Parides panthonus jaguarae, with which it shares both geographical range and larval host plant. At present, P. burchellanus and P. panthonus are believed to be distinct species, based on minor differences in male genitalia. In this study, the phylogenetic and systematic position of P. burchellanus in relation to three subspecies of P. panthonus (P. p. jaguarae, P. p. lysimachus and P. p. aglaope) was evaluated using molecular evidence: the complete sequence of the mtDNA genes COI and COII and of the nuclear gene EF‐1α (c. 3300 bp). In addition, the informativeness of the ‘barcode’ region next to the 5′ end of COI (c. 650 bp) was evaluated for delimiting these taxa. Individual analysis by neighbour‐joining, using Kimura 2‐parameter distance model, and by maximum parsimony showed that P. p. jaguarae + P. p. lysimachus + P. p. aglaope + P. burchellanus form a strongly supported monophyletic clade, and all molecular regions consistently recovered P. p. jaguarae and P. burchellanus as sister species. The genetic divergence among the subspecies of P. panthonus and P. burchellanus is equivalent to the divergence among conspecifics of other species of Parides, and smaller than the interspecific divergence among different sister species of this genus. The results support the proposal that P. p. jaguarae and P. burchellanus are likely to be synonymous, and suggest that P. burchellanus can be considered conspecific with P. panthonus. The taxonomic classification of P. burchellanus should be revised on the basis of the molecular data.     

Latitudinal variation of morphological characteristics in the swallowtail Sericinus montelus Gray, 1798 (Lepidoptera: Papilionidae)

Patterns of latitudinal variation in the phenotype or genotype of an organism may provide evidence for natural selection. In this study, we investigated seven populations of swallowtail Sericinus montelus Gray, 1798 (Lepidoptera: Papilionidae), a non‐migratory species, to explore the latitudinal variation of morphological characteristics in adults. The results showed that body size and the development of dark pigmentation on wings in this species responded strongly to latitude. The body size of both male and female adult of S. montelus was negatively correlated with latitude. These findings provided solid evidence to support the converse Bergmann's rule. We considered that the observed variation in morphological characteristics was most likely mediated by the seasonal length and thermoperiod to adapt to different latitudinal environment (e.g. shortened developmental time of immature stages for smaller body size at higher latitude). Moreover, the tendency towards progressively darker colour patterns (only in adult males) at increasingly low latitudes was consistent with Gloger's rule. We suggested that the observed colour variation was most likely associated with thermoregulation. Slight variation in the morphology of the W‐shaped stripe on the forewing of adult females was also found, and we presumed that the functions of sexual preferences, mimicry and thermoregulation might be involved.     

Seasonal variation in larval host plants and consequences for Heliconius erato (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) adult body size

Abstract Adult body size, a key life history component, varies strongly within and between Heliconius erato phyllis (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) populations. In the present study, we determined whether seasonal variation in adult body size is temperature related and/or determined by seasonal changes of host plants (Passifloraceae) used by the larval stage. A population of H. erato phyllis located in a Eucalyptus plantation (Barba Negra Forest, Barra do Ribeiro County, Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil) was sampled every 45 days from March 1997 to October 1998 to quantify seasonal variation in adult body size and use of larval host plants. In the laboratory, the effects of the following factors on adult body size were quantified: (i) host plant species (Passiflora misera or Passiflora suberosa); (ii) food quantity consumed by larvae (experimentally manipulated for each passion vine species); (iii) winter and summer temperatures (15 and 25°C, respectively); and (iv) the interaction between host plant species and temperature. Adults emerging during summer were larger than those emerging in other seasons. Female butterflies oviposited selectively on P. misera even when the dominant passion vine was P. suberosa. They only switched from using P. misera to P. suberosa during later autumn and winter, when P. misera vines were completely defoliated. The laboratory feeding trials with both passion vines showed a strong positive association between food quantity consumed by larvae and adult size. They also confirmed that adults are larger when their larvae are reared on P. misera than on P. suberosa. Temperature during larval development had no effect on H. erato phyllis adult size. Thus, seasonal variation of H. erato phyllis adult size in a given place is primarily determined by the availability and quality of host plant species used by the larval stage.     

柑橘凤蝶蛹发声器的显微结构及防御作用(英文)

【目的】动物界存在多种用于对抗捕食者的防御机制。一些鳞翅目昆虫的蛹在受到机械刺激时会发出蠕动的声音。【方法】在扫描电镜下对柑橘凤蝶Papilio xuthus蛹的发声器形态特征进行观察,并使用Audacity软件对捕获的声音进行特征分析。【结果】柑橘凤蝶蛹在腹部第4-5节和第5-6节之间的节间膜上存在发声器,有规律地发出嘶嘶声。发声器由多层甲壳素构成的刮器和板组成,刮器和板上有 50~90个突起。当蛹的腹部被寄生蜂触角刺激30 s以上时,刮器和板会迅速相互摩擦,腹部反复摆动发出声音。蛹发出的声音是由一系列每2 000~3 000 ms发生3次的短脉冲组成的。频带很宽,主要分布在5~20kHz范围内。新鲜蛹和越冬蛹的活性不同,声强也不同。【结论】本研究首先描述了柑橘蝴蝶蛹发声器的结构,结果支持了一些蝴蝶蛹对寄生生物进化出一种特殊的防御机制(声学防御)的假说。此外,通过比较两种生境的柑橘凤蝶蛹的声波特征,我们提出了同一物种在不同地理区域可以产生方言的假说。 关键词:     

丝带凤蝶线粒体基因组全序列及其系统学意义(英文)

锯凤蝶类与凤蝶科其他类群的系统发生关系及其分类学地位一直存在争议。本研究采用PCR和long PCR技术测定了属于锯凤蝶类的丝带凤蝶Sericinus montelus线粒体基因组全序列; 结合已有的其他凤蝶科物种的相应序列数据, 基于13个蛋白质编码基因重建了凤蝶科主要类群的系统发生树, 探讨了它们之间的系统发生关系。基因组分析结果表明： 丝带凤蝶线粒体基因组全长15 242 bp, 包括13个编码蛋白基因(ATP6, ATP8, COⅠ-Ⅲ, ND1-6, ND4L和Cytb)、 22个tRNA基因、 16S和12S rRNA基因以及非编码的控制区; 基因组A, T, G和C含量分别为40.1%, 40.8%, 7.4%和11.7%, 表现出明显的AT偏倚。所有的蛋白质编码基因都使用标准的起始密码子(ATN); 除ND4 和 ND4L基因使用单个的T作为终止密码子外, 其余蛋白编码基因都使用了标准的终止密码子(TAA)。除丝氨酸 tRNA的二氢尿苷突环缺失外, 所有tRNA基因都形成典型的三叶草型结构。基因组中共存在12个大小介于2~65 bp之间的基因间隔区以及15个大小介于1~8 bp之间的基因重叠区, 其中, 存在于COⅡ和tRNA^Lys之间的24 bp的间隔区在其他鳞翅目昆虫中未曾见到。以邻接法和最大简约法并基于13个蛋白质编码基因序列对凤蝶科进行了系统发生分析。结果显示, 丝带凤蝶和中华虎凤蝶Luehdorfia chinensis先构成一个支系, 再和冰清绢蝶Parnassius bremeri构成姊妹群; 表明锯凤蝶类应作为族级分类单元归于凤蝶科下的绢蝶亚科。     

Diapause pupal color diphenism induced by temperature and humidity conditions in Byasa alcinous (Lepidoptera: Papilionidae)

We investigated whether diapause pupae of Byasa alcinous exhibit pupal color diphenism (or polyphenism) similar to the diapause pupal color polyphenism shown by Papilio xuthus. All diapause pupae of B. alcinous observed in the field during winter showed pupal coloration of a dark-brown type. When larvae were reared and allowed to reach pupation under short-day conditions at 18 °C under a 60 ± 5% relative humidity, diapause pupae exhibited pupal color types of brown (33%), light-brown (25%), yellowish-brown (21%), diapause light-yellow (14%) and diapause yellow (7%). When mature larvae reared at 18 °C were transferred and allowed to reach pupation at 10 °C and 25 °C under a 60 ± 5% relative humidity after a gut purge, the developmental ratio of brown and light-brown, yellowish-brown, and diapause light-yellow and diapause yellow types was 91.2, 8.8 and 0.0% at 10 °C, and 12.2, 48.8 and 39.0% at 25 °C, respectively. On the other hand, when mature larvae reared at 18 °C were transferred and allowed to reach pupation at 10 °C, 18 °C and 25 °C under an over 90% relative humidity after a gut purge, the developmental ratio of brown and light-brown, yellowish-brown, and diapause light-yellow and diapause yellow types was 79.8, 16.9 and 3.3% at 10 °C, 14.5, 26.9 and 58.6% at 18 °C, and 8.3, 21.2 and 70.5% at 25 °C, respectively. These results indicate that diapause pupae of brown types are induced by lower temperature and humidity conditions, whereas yellow types are induced by higher temperature and humidity conditions. The findings of this study show that diapause pupae of B. alcinous exhibit pupal color diphenism comprising brown and diapause yellow types, and suggest that temperature and humidity experienced after a gut purge are the main factors that affect the diapause pupal coloration of B. alcinous as environmental cues.     

Geographic variation in offspring size of a widespread lizard (Takydromus septentrionalis): importance of maternal investment

Geographic variation in offspring size is widespread, but the proximate causes of this variation have not yet been explicitly determined. We compared egg size and egg contents among five populations of a lizard (Takydromus septentrionalis, Günther, 1864) along a latitudinal gradient, and incubated eggs at two temperatures to determine the influence of maternal investment and incubation temperature on offspring size. The mean values for female size and egg size were both greater in the two northern populations (Chuzhou and Anji) than in the three southern populations (Lishui, Dongtou, and Ningde). The larger eggs were entirely attributable to the body size of females in the Anji population, but their increased size also stemmed from further enlargement of egg size relative to female body size in Chuzhou, the northernmost population sampled in this study. Eggs of the Chuzhou population contained more yolk and less water than those of southern populations. Despite the lower lipid content in the yolk, eggs from the Chuzhou population had higher energy contents than those from the two southern populations, owing to the larger egg size and increased volume of yolk. Hatchling size was not affected by incubation temperature, but differed significantly among populations, with hatchlings being larger in the Chuzhou population than in the other populations. Our data provide an inference that oviparous reptiles from cold climates may produce larger offspring, not only by increasing egg size but also by investing more energy into their eggs. © 2010 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2010, 101 , 59–67.     

Patterns of oviposition by Sandia xami (Lepidoptera, Lycaenidae) in relation to food plant apparency

ABSTRACT.

• 1 The butterfly Sandia xami (Reakirt) has a very clumped yearly pattern of oviposition on its food plant Echeveria gibbiflora D.C., and the mean number of eggs per plant is always very low.
• 2 Three features of host plants are highly associated with the probability of being oviposited upon: height of plant; degree of conspicuousness; and degree of isolation from conspecific plants.
• 3 The relative importance of these factors as predictors of the probability of oviposition change according to the time scale considered: height and conspicuousness are more important over short (weekly) time intervals whilst isolation takes precedence over longer (yearly) periods.
• 4 It is hypothesized that the clumped pattern of oviposition is responsible for the low numbers of the butterflies relative to their very abundant food plant.

     

Age‐specific maternal effects interact with larval food supply to modulate life history in Coleomegilla maculata

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Fecundity and egg size variation in North American Pacific salmon (Oncorhynchus)

We examined regional and latitudinal variation in fecundity and egg weight for five species of Pacific salmon ( Oncorhynchus ) along the Pacific coast of North America. Data were examined for 24 chum salmon, 15 pink salmon, 34 sockeye salmon, 44 chinook salmon, and 40 coho salmon populations from published sources, unpublished Canadian hatchery records, our own laboratory investigations, and other unpublished sources. Substantial regional variation in fecundity and egg weight was observed, with salmon on the Queen Charlotte Islands and Vancouver Island in British Columbia generally having lower fecundity and larger egg size than nearby mainland populations. The relative distance of freshwater migration to the spawning grounds generally had a marked effect on both fecundity and egg size, with populations spawning in the upper portions in the drainages of large rivers like the Fraser River in British Columbia having reduced fecundity and egg size compared with coastal spawning populations. Fecundity was generally higher and egg size generally lower in more northern populations of sockeye, chinook, and coho salmon compared with southern ones. We suggest that egg size tends to be lower in northern populations of some species as a result of increased fecundity due to their older ages at maturity and a limited amount of energy that can be expended on egg production.