Polyphagy and Obligate Myrmecophily in the Butterfly Hallonympha paucipuncta (Lepidoptera: Riodinidae) in the Neotropical Cerrado Savanna

This study analyzes host plant use and obligate myrmecophily in Hallonympha paucipuncta, an endemic butterfly of the Cerrado. Larvae of H. paucipuncta are polyphagous, using at least 19 species of plants in 10 families. All larvae found were being tended by Crematogaster ants. Spatial distribution o...

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Veröffentlicht in:	Biotropica 2008-05, Vol.40 (3), p.390-394
1. Verfasser:	Kaminski, Lucas A.
Format:	Artikel
Sprache:	eng
Schlagworte:	Animal, plant and microbial ecology Ants Apodemia Apodemia paucipuncta Applied ecology Biological and medical sciences Butterflies Cerrado Conservation, protection and management of environment and wildlife Crematogaster extrafloral nectaries Formicidae Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology General aspects Host plants Insect behavior Insect ecology Insect larvae Insecta Invertebrates Lepidoptera Nymphidiini Phytophagous insects Plants Riodinidae Short Communications spatial distribution Symbiosis Uma
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Beschreibung
Zusammenfassung:	This study analyzes host plant use and obligate myrmecophily in Hallonympha paucipuncta, an endemic butterfly of the Cerrado. Larvae of H. paucipuncta are polyphagous, using at least 19 species of plants in 10 families. All larvae found were being tended by Crematogaster ants. Spatial distribution of larvae and tending ants were strongly aggregated, suggesting an influence of ants on oviposition and/or larval survival. Implications of obligate myrmecophily in the evolution of polyphagy in Riodinidae are discussed.
ISSN:	0006-3606 1744-7429
DOI:	10.1111/j.1744-7429.2007.00379.x