One side makes you taller: a mushroom–eating butterfly caterpillar (Lycaenidae) in Costa Rica

Abstract

Electrostrymon denarius is the first mushroom-feeding butterfly caterpillar discovered in the New World. It belongs to the Calycopidina, a subtribe of lycaenid butterflies whose caterpillars eat detritus and seeds in the leaf litter. Electrostrymon denarius has not been reared previously, and we illustrate and briefly describe the biology and morphology of its caterpillar and pupa. The significance of this discovery is that it increases the range of organic leaf litter substrates that Calycopidina caterpillars will eat. Increased diet breadth may decrease the likelihood of species extinction.

Genomics‐based higher classification of the species‐rich hairstreaks (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae: Eumaeini)

“…This subtribe occurs in virtually all habitats below 3000 m elevation from the temperate United States ( C. cecrops ) to subtropical parts of southern South America (e.g., Calycopis caulonia (Hewitson), Badecla clarissa (Draudt)). Caterpillars of Calycopidina are leaf‐litter detritivores (Duarte & Robbins, 2010; Robbins, Aiello, et al, 2010), including seeds and mushrooms (Gripenberg et al, 2019; Nishida & Robbins, 2020). Females lay eggs in the leaf litter where caterpillars feed (Duarte & Robbins, 2010).…”

“…The genus Callophrys is recorded from Gymnosperms, Monocotyledons and Dicotyledons (Ehrlich & Raven, 1965). Calycopidina are leaf‐litter detritivores (Duarte & Robbins, 2010; Robbins et al, 2010), including seeds and mushrooms (Basset et al, 2018; Gripenberg et al, 2019; Nishida & Robbins, 2020). In contrast, the caterpillars of some genera specialize primarily on one plant family.…”

“…Calycopidina are leaf-litter detritivores , including seeds and mushrooms (Basset et al, 2018;Gripenberg et al, 2019;Nishida & Robbins, 2020). In contrast, the caterpillars of some genera specialize primarily on one plant family.…”

“Lepidoptera Flies”, but Not Always…Interactions of Caterpillars and Chrysalis with Soil

“…Several families dig deep tunnels in the wood of ligneous plants [31]. Many microlepidopteras feed on dead or decaying plant material, although it is not always clear whether the source of nutrients is the plants or the fungi that grow on them during decomposition [32]. Some caterpillars feed directly from roots in the soil [33].…”