ISSN:
1570-7458
Keywords:
Lepidoptera
;
Papilionidae
;
Zerynthia
;
Aristolochia
;
herbivory
;
phenology
;
nutritional indices
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Biology
Notes:
Abstract The main host plants of the butterflyZerynthia rumina L. (Lepidoptera: Papilionidae) in southern Spain occur in different habitats and in general do not grow sympatrically. Therefore, each single local butterfly population uses the particular host available within its range.Aristolochia longa L. is a tuberous perennial herb available only in the spring, whileA. baetica L. is an evergreen perennial vine with indeterminate growth. However, because of the toughness of older leaves, newly hatched larvae feed only on new leaves ofA. baetica, and most of these leaves are produced well before the larvae hatch. In laboratory experiments, caterpillars feeding on either new or matureA. longa leaves grew faster and converted food into biomass more efficiently than those feeding on newA. baetica leaves. These differences are related to variation in nutritional quality among the host plants. Estimates of butterfly abundance were lower in sites whereZ. rumina usesA. baetica, compared with those where the host isA. longa. The potential differential effect of these two food plants on the densities of local butterfly populations relying on them is discussed here.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF02426411
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