Forest Quality and Available Hostplant Abundance Limit the Canopy Butterfly of Teinopalpus aureus

Abstract

Hostplant limitation is a key focus of the spatial interaction between a phytophagous butterfly and a hostplant. The possible drivers related to the hostplants are species richness, abundance, or availability, but no consensus has been reached. In this study, we investigated the butterfly–hostplant interaction using the case of the forest canopy butterfly T. aureus in Asia, whose narrow distribution is assumed to be limited by its exclusive hostplant, Magnoliaceae, in tropic and subtropic regions. We recorded the Magnoliaceae species, as well as plant and butterfly individuals in transect, and we collected tree traits and topography variables. The results confirm that this butterfly is limited by the hostplants of their larval stage. The hostplants occurred exclusively in the middle-mountain region, with preference only for primeval forests. The hostplant resource was superior in the middle-mountain region, particularly concentrating in primeval forests. The hostplant’s abundance, together with altitude and habitat types, was critical to this butterfly’s occurrence, while those hostplant trees with an exposed crown, which are demanded by this butterfly in its oviposition, were the best drivers of positive butterfly–hostplant interactions. Therefore, the hostplant’s limitation was mainly determined by the availability of the hostplant. This case study supports the hypothesis that the limitation on this butterfly’s occurrence was driven by the hostplant’s availability, and it suggests that protecting high-quality forests is a valuable activity and essential in the conservation of canopy butterflies.

Prediction of the Potential Distribution of Teinopalpus aureus Mell, 1923 (Lepidoptera, Papilionidae) in China Using Habitat Suitability Models

“…Once the original habitat is lost, it is difficult for the species to spread to other suitable habitats, creating an extinction risk. In addition, in the predicted range of suitable areas, due to the influence of human activities, the original forests in the current habitat of T. aureus have been largely reduced, most of which are young forests, and the stand structure has changed [62]. This decreased the available habitat of T. aureus and may be one of the reasons for the discrepancy between the butterfly's habitat area and its distribution area.…”

Application of noninvasive sampling technique in mitochondrial genome intraspecific phylogeny of the endangered butterfly, Teinopalpus aureus (Lepidoptera: Papilionidae)

“…Their focus remains steadfast on the genetic diversity of 2 sister species in Teinopalpus , T. aureus and T. imperialis ( Zhou 1994 , Wu and Xu 2017 ), and their controversial supra- or infra-specific phylogenetics ( Qin et al 2011 ; Huang et al 2015 , 2016 , Wang et al 2018 , Zou et al 2021a , Liu et al 2022 ). At present, the population occurrences of these 2 species are significantly constrained by the high-quality forests in mountains regions ( Wang et al 2022 ), especially amidst threats of global warming, aridification, and human exploitation ( Zeng et al 2005 , 2012 , Xing et al 2019 ). For the conservation of Teinopalpus , it is a critical need to comprehend genetic diversity shifts, adaptability, evolutionary potential, and the viability of local populations, etc.…”

Microclimate and Vegetation Structure Significantly Affect Butterfly Assemblages in a Tropical Dry Forest

“…However, the significance of the microclimate on butterfly richness and distribution requires greater emphasis [6,7]. Several studies have quantified the differences in the vegetation structure among microhabitats [2,[6][7][8] and their influence on host specificity and the distribution of butterflies [8,9]. Riparian forests act as ecological conduits for the wildlife and ecotones of different habitat fragments [10].…”