Use of host plants by Troidini butterflies (Papilionidae, Papilioninae): constraints on host shift

Abstract

Molecular phylogenetic analyses were conducted to determine relationships and to investigate character evolution for the Troidini/ Aristolochia interaction, in an attempt to answer the following questions:(1) what is the present pattern of use of Aristolochia by these butterflies; (2) is the pattern we see today related to the phylogeny of plants or to their chemical composition; (3) can the geographical distribution of Aristolochia explain the host plant use observed today; and (4) how did the interaction between Troidini and Aristolochia evolve? Analyses of character optimization suggest that the current pattern of host plant use of these butterflies does not seem to be constrained by the phylogeny of their food plants, neither by the secondary chemicals in these plants nor by their geographical similarity. The current host plant use in these butterflies seems to be simply opportunistic, with species with a wider geographical range using more species of host plants than those with a more restricted distribution.

Host shifts and evolutionary radiations of butterflies

“…The taxonomic grain at which host plants are considered is an arbitrary decision, whether it is at the level of shifts among congeners, or shifts across higher taxonomic ranks (Futuyma 1976;Futuyma et al 1995;Farrell 1998;Janz et al 2001;Wahlberg 2001;Silva-Brandao & Solferini 2007;Silva-Brandao et al 2008;Forister et al 2009). Most of the analyses presented here were consistent with the spirit of Ehrlich and Raven and others (Brues 1920;Dethier 1954), where plant family is the rank considered.…”

Impacts of climate warming on hybrid zone movement: Geographically diffuse and biologically porous “species borders”

“…For example, the general lack or strength of correlation between the oviposition preference and the larval performance on different hosts has been variable for several reasons (Wiklund, 1975; Thompson, 1988; Agosta, 2006; Craig & Itami, 2008; Mercader et al ., 2008; Friberg & Wiklund, 2009; but see Berenbaum & Feeny, 2008). The Aristolochiaceae‐feeding swallowtails are generally considered tightly coevolved with this family and basically feed on nothing else (Scriber, 1984), but there is variability in the particular Aristolochia species selected locally (Rausher, 1995; Weintraub, 1995; Silva‐Brandao & Solferini, 2007). This point is exemplified by the endangered Richmond birdwing Ornithoptera richmondia near Brisbane in Australia which is threatened by the introduced Aristolochia elegans (originally from Brazil) with chemicals that still elicit oviposition, but has others toxic to the larvae (Straatmann, 1962b; Sands & Scott, 1997).…”

Integrating ancient patterns and current dynamics of insect–plant interactions: Taxonomic and geographic variation in herbivore specialization

“…However, preference–performance correlations are generally not always “tight”. As an example, the Aristolochiaceae‐feeding swallowtails are generally considered tightly co‐evolved with this family and basically feed on nothing else (Scriber, 1984a), but there is variability in the particular Aristolochia species selected locally (Rausher, 1995; Weintraub, 1995; Silva‐Brandao & Solferini, 2007). This point is exemplified by the endangered Richmond birdwing Ornithoptera richmondia near Brisbane in Australia which is threatened by the introduced Aristolochia elegans (originally from Brazil) with chemicals that still elicit oviposition, but has others toxic to the larvae (Straatman, 1962b; Sands & Scott, 1997).…”