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Trade-offs underlying polyphagy in a facultative ant-tended florivorous butterfly: the role of host plant quality and enemy-free space

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Abstract

The underlying mechanisms mediating the use of multiple host plants were investigated in Parrhasius polibetes (Lycaenidae), a florivorous and facultative myrmecophilous butterfly. Plant traits such as presence of ant–treehopper associations as a source of enemy-free space, flower bud dimensions, toughness, thickness, trichomes, and the corresponding performance and wear of P. polibetes mandibles were examined for three natural hosts: Schefflera vinosa (Araliaceae), Pyrostegia venusta (Bignoniaceae) and Luehea grandiflora (Malvaceae). Parasitism levels of larvae found on the three hosts were also determined. Almost all Luehea had ant–treehopper associations, and all larvae found on this host were non-parasitized. Parasitism was low in larvae found on Schefflera, half of which hosted ant–treehopper associations. No ant–treehopper association was found on Pyrostegia, where parasitism was significantly higher compared to other hosts. In the laboratory, P. polibetes performed well on Schefflera, followed by Pyrostegia. No larvae survived when fed with Luehea. Flower buds of Luehea were thicker and tougher than those of Schefflera and Pyrostegia. Indeed, mandibles of larvae reared on Luehea showed substantial wear, whereas those reared either on Schefflera or Pyrostegia presented no significant damage. Additionally, we suggest that co-occurrence with ant–treehopper associations on a plant provides parasitoid-free space for P. polibetes larvae. Our results support the hypothesis that ecological trade-offs among host plants (i.e., food quality and enemy-free space) promote polyphagy in natural populations of P. polibetes. Host morphological traits seem to play a relevant role in P. polibetes performance. To our knowledge, this is the first report showing the costs of polyphagy in a myrmecophilous butterfly.

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Acknowledgments

We thank the staff of Reserva Biológica de Mogi Guaçu and Laboratório Síncrotron, especially Elisamara A.S. Guilherme, João D.G. Neto, Marcos M. Pinto, Michelangelo Pascali and Adriana L. Barbosa for logistical support and for giving permissions to work and to collect insects and plants. We are also grateful to Adilson R. Moreira for field assistance. Antonia C.Z. Amaral and Tatiana M. Steiner kindly allowed us to use both the microscope and the stereomicroscope. We would also like to thank Gilson R.P. Moreira for providing helpful insights into mandibular wear issues, and José R. Trigo for important comments on data analysis, manuscript writing and editing, and for allowing us to use the analytical balance. Michael S. Singer critically read the manuscript. D.R. thanks Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP 2007/07802-4) and L.A.K., Conselho Nacional de Pesquisa (CNPq 140183/2006-0). A.V.L.F. was supported by CNPq (300282/2008-7), FAPESP (00/01484-1 and 04/05269-9) and US National Science Foundation (DEB-0527441). P.S.O. acknowledges FAPESP (08/54058-1) and CNPq (304521/2006-0).

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  1. Departamento de Biologia Animal, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, PO Box 6109, Campinas, SP, 13083-970, Brazil

    Daniela Rodrigues, Lucas A. Kaminski, André V. L. Freitas & Paulo S. Oliveira

  2. Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, Brazil

    Lucas A. Kaminski

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  1. Daniela Rodrigues
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Correspondence to Daniela Rodrigues.

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Communicated by Roland Brandl.

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Rodrigues, D., Kaminski, L.A., Freitas, A.V.L. et al. Trade-offs underlying polyphagy in a facultative ant-tended florivorous butterfly: the role of host plant quality and enemy-free space. Oecologia 163, 719–728 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00442-010-1626-0

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