Size of and damage on shoots of Passiflora suberosa (Passifloraceae) influence oviposition site selection of Heliconius erato phyllis (Fabricius) (Lepidoptera, Nymphalidae)

Abstract

ABSTRACT. Oviposition site selection of Heliconius erato phyllis (Fabricius, 1775) (Lepidoptera, Nymphalidae) was studied when size of and damage on shoots were variable in a natural population of Passijlora suberosa Linnaeus (passifloraceae), and through sequential and simultaneous choice experiments performed under insectary conditions. Females showed marked oviposition preference for undamaged and largest shoots of P. suberosa. Eggs were mostly laid on the terminal buds of intact shoots under natural conditions. In simultaneous choice trials, females preferred to oviposit on shoots from which leaves (ten) were removed but the terminal bud maintained to those where leaves were kept but the terminal bud was cut out. In sequential choice trials, they did not lay eggs on shoots from which the terminal bud was removed. Females preferred to oviposit on large to short intact shoots in both sequential and simultaneous choice trials . Females laid eggs preferentially on shoots with the greatest leaf area when most plants were intact in the field during early spring. Later in fall, when mostly large, old shoots were damaged or in a reproductive stage (less desirable for oviposition), oviposition intensity was highest on the shortest, youngest shoots of P. suberosa. Thus, females might rank. these quality attributes higher than size while selecting shoots for oviposition. The consequences of ovipositing selectively on intact, large shoots of P. suberosa are discussed fi'om the view point of H. erato phyllis larval performance.

Kin recognition in immatures of Heliconius erato phyllis (Lepidoptera; Nymphalidae)

“…The fact that these caterpillars are cannibals in the wild could explain the oviposition behavior of this butterfly, which lays one egg in the apical portion of the host plant and goes on searching for another apical portion in the same or another host plant (Mugrabi-Oliveira and Moreira 1996), as well as the evolution of egg mimicry in some species of Passiflora (Gilbert 1982). The purpose in our experiments of using thick paper sheets and not Passiflora leaves was precisely to avoid letting the preference for a type of food influence the results.…”

Effect of nitrogen on Passiflora suberosa L. (Passifloraceae) and consequences for larval performance and oviposition in Heliconius erato phyllis (Fabricius) (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae)

“…Larvae fed shoots of P. misera result in larger adults, and body size is directly correlated to higher fecundity in this species (Rodrigues & Moreira 2002). According to Mugrabi-Oliveira & Moreira (1996a), other qualitative aspects of the shoot and host plant inspected by the female is the presence of an intact apical region, shoot size, leaf area and internode size. Fertilised plants possess advantages in such attributes, since shoot growth rate, leaf area and internode length of P. suberosa were higher in those cultivated with nitrogen addition.…”

Geographical variation in larval host-plant use by Heliconius erato (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) and consequences for adult life history

“…In addition, studies carried out in our laboratory demonstrated that larvae prefer feeding on P. misera over P. suberosa, and that feeding preference can not be induced in the larval stage (S. M. Kerpel, UFRGS, unpublished data). H. erato females preferentially oviposit on intact, apical Passiflora shoots compared to damaged ones (Mugrabi-Oliveira & Moreira, 1996b). On a given intact Passiflora shoot, a newly hatched larva typically selects the youngest tissue for feeding, which allows it to achieve greater survivorship and development rate compared to those that feed on mature leaves, but not necessarily a larger pupal size (Rodrigues & Moreira, 1999).…”