Summary
Inter and intraspecific host plant choice was examined for Mycalesis terminus and M. perseus, two tropical butterfly species of the subfamily Satyrinae. The two species preferred different suites of potential host plant species, but only M. perseus discriminated between different qualities of host. Differences in selectivity between these two species may be associated with the different lengths of time over which their larval resources may be expected to persist. The level of selectivity exhibited by these tropical species appears to be greater than their temperate counterparts. Potential factors controlling differences between oviposition strategies in temperate and tropical Satyrine butterflies and other groups are discussed.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Dempster JP (1983) The natural control of populations of butterflies and moths. Biol Rev 58:461–481
Feeny P, Rosenberry L, Carter M (1983) Chemical aspects of oviposition behaviour in butterflies. In: Ahmad S (ed) Herbivorous insects host seeking behaviour and mechanisms. Academic Press, New York London, pp 27–75
Hoagland DR, Arnon DI (1938) The water culture method for growing plants without soil. Calif Agric Ext Serv Circ 347
Jones RE (1977) Movement patterns and egg distributions in cabbage butterflies. J Anim Ecol 46:195–212
Myers JH (1985) Effect of physiological condition of the host plant on the ovipositional choice of the cabbage white butterfly (Pieris rapae). J Anim Ecol 54:193–204
Scott JA (1974) Lifespan of butterflies. J Res Lepid 12:225–230
Stanton ML, Cook EC (1983) Sources of intraspecific variation in the host plant seeking behaviour of Colias butterflies. Oecologia (Berlin) 60:365–370
Wiklund C (1984) Egg laying patterns in butterflies in relation to their phenology and the visual abundance of their hostplants. Oecologia (Berlin) 63:23–29
Young AM (1972) Breeding success and survivorship in some tropical butterflies. Oikos 23:318–326
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Moore, G.J. Host plant discrimination in tropical satyrine butterflies. Oecologia 70, 592–595 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00379910
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00379910