New hosts for the cycad blue butterfly, Luthrodes pandava, Horsfield (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae) in an island ecosystem

Abstract

Luthrodes pandava Horsfield (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae) has been reported as a pest of cycad plants in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India for the first time. Its impact on host species is assessed. Compared to introduced species, endemic cycads appear to be most susceptible to damage by its larvae, feeding on the plant and affecting growth. Larvae damage all above‐ground plant parts. C. dharmrajii L. J. Singh and C. pschannae R.C. Srivast. & L. J. Singh, endemic to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, are recorded here for the first time as new host plants.

Life history traits of cycad blue butterfly, Luthrodes pandava Horsfield (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae) on cycad hosts in an Island ecosystem

“…In previous study we found this pest was feeding on three wild species of Cycas viz. C. dharmrajii , C. pschannae , and C. zeylanica and cultivated species, C. revoluta in the ANI (Purti et al, 2022). In this study, we have observed that preferred Cycas species impose a physiological constraint on the genetic capacity and play an important role to produce off spring by L. pandava .…”

“…It was observed that severe larval infestation may lead to the extinction of the endemic cycads C. dharmrajii and C. pschannae because the endemic cycads emerge as the preferred host for L. pandava in the ANI and poses a serious threat to cycad population (Purti et al, 2022). During the course of development of life stages of L. pandava , we have found other insects associated with the same host plant (Figure 6e–h).…”

“…Several cycads have been recorded as larval host plants for Luthrodes pandava (Amany et al, 2014; Chang, 1989; Chemnick & Gregory, 2010; Deloso et al, 2020; Feulner et al, 2014; Fric et al, 2014; Gao et al, 2004; Joo et al, 2008; Liu et al, 2003; Marler et al, 2012a,b, 2017; Marler & Muniappan 2006; Purti et al, 2022; Tennent, 2014; Whitaker & Salzman, 2020; Wu et al, 2009, 2010). Recently we had reported two endemic species of the genus Cycas viz.…”

“…To date, no accounts of L. pandava 's life history traits are available on any preferred host species from India, including ANI. Despite the fact that ANI are well‐known as biodiversity hotspots (Singh et al, 2014; Singh, Dwivedi, et al, 2020; Singh, Ekka, et al, 2020, 2021; Singh & Misra, 2020; Singh & Ranjan, 2021; Singh, Ranjan, et al, 2021), the invasive arthropod herbivore pose severe threats to the native Cycads by L. pandava (Purti et al, 2022). It considerably requires information on the biological and ecological parameters of L. pandava which linked to extinction risk.…”

Macro-propagation and Conservation of Cycad Species at Botanical Garden, Yogi Vemana University, Kadapa, Andhra Pradesh, India

“…All Indian cycads were under severe threat due to distinct biotic and abiotic factors and were listed in the world more threatened plant families in the 1997 IUCN Red list of threatened plants (Walter and Gillett, 1998). The reasons for the decline in the cycad population are many and varied (Pant, 1996(Pant, , 2002Singh andMisra, 2017, 2020;Singh et al, 2021;Purti et al, 2022). Cycads facing a severe threat in their natural habitats due to habitat loss and fragmentation.…”