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The effects of age and weather on egg laying inDanaus plexippus L. (Lepidoptera: Danaidae)

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Researches on Population Ecology

Summary

The effects of age and weather conditions on egg laying inD. plexippus were determined for caged females. Age (measured in physiological time), temperature and solar radiation influence egg laying in this species of butterfly. An algorithm taking these factors into account in presented and accounts for 88% of the daily variation in egg laying. CagedD. plexippus begin to lay eggs six—seven days after emergence, peak egg production (about 60 eggs/♀) occurs about 15 days later. Females continue to lay eggs throughout their adult life, which in a flight cage was about 40 days. This egg laying pattern is compared with other published fecundity schedules. The effect and importance of a female being prevented from laying her eggs, on her life-time egg production, is also discussed.

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Author notes

  1. Myron P. Zalucki

    Present address: Department of Entomology, University of Queensland, Brisbane

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Australian Environmental Studies, Griffith University, 4111, Nathan, Brisbane, Australia

    Myron P. Zalucki

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  1. Myron P. Zalucki
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Zalucki, M.P. The effects of age and weather on egg laying inDanaus plexippus L. (Lepidoptera: Danaidae). Res Popul Ecol 23, 318–327 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02515634

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