Autecology of the crimson tip butterfly Colotis danae (Lepidoptera: rhopalocera: pieridae) Naidu S. Appala, Ramana S.P. Venkata1,*, Assistant Professor Department of Zoology, Andhra University, Visakhapatnam – 530 003 1Department of Zoology, Yogi Vemana University, Kadapa-516 003 – AP-INDIA *Corresponding author E-mail: spvramana.butterfly@gmail.com
Online published on 22 February, 2013. Abstract Field data on the numerical occurrence of eggs, larvae and pupae on the larval host plant Cadaba fruiticosa, and the laboratory study on the successful development of eggs, larvae and pupae leading to the emergence of adult butterflies, suggest that the crimson tip butterfly Colotis danae (fabricious) is seasonal in its distribution at Visakhapatnam (17° 42’N – 82° 18’E). All the life stages could be spotted during June-December, with higher density during July – October which corresponds with the rainy season in the region. The eggs are laid singly on foliage. They hatch after 3–4 days. The larva passes through five instars and attains full growth over a period of 11–16 days. The pupal stage lasts 9–10 days. Assuming that the adult’s life for 7–12 days, the length of generation time is estimated to span over 30–42 days, and accordingly the number of broods expected are estimated to be 4–5. The fifth instar larva has a greater share (68.5%) of the total food consumed over the entire larval period and growth is directly related to food consumption (r =0.91 exceeding table ‘t’ 0.780 at 1% level). While GR, fluctuated, CI showed a continuous decrease with the advancing age of the larvae, and their average values are 6.6 mm; and 5.4 mg; respectively. While ECI and ECD increased AD decreased as the larvae aged, with the average values coming to 15.32% and 13.44%, 88.8% respectively. The adults utilized 9 floral species as nectar resources, of which C. fruticosa with a nectar volume of 1.6 – 2.8 μl, and sugar concentration of 18–20% with sucrose richness is highly foraged. Colotis danae – Cadaba fruiticosa system presents an interesting situation of the same plant serving as larval and adult host, and the butterfly serving as is exclusive pollinator. Top Keywords Colotis danae, Life history, Cadaba fruiticosa, Nectar hosts, Food utilization indices, Voltinism. Top |