Biologia e ecologia de Eunica bechina (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae), e sua interação com formigas em Carvocar brasiliense (Caryocaraceae)

AUTOR(ES)
DATA DE PUBLICAÇÃO

1994

RESUMO

Eunics bechins (Nymphslidse) lays eggs singly on Caryocar brasiliense (Caryocaraceae), a plant that bears extrafloral nectaries. Most of the eggs are laid on young leaves, on which the caterpillars preferably feed. Pupation occurs off the host plant. The fifth instar larvae snd pupae are like those of Nica flavilla and Temenie laothoe, suggesting that the genus is among the Callicorini. First to fourth instar larvae construct frass chains, where they rest immune from attacks by foraging ants that climb on Carvocar for its nectary secretions. While feeding on leaves, however, caterpillars may be killed and removed by foraging ants. When attacked by ants, Eunica caterpillars may repel their aggressors by resurgitating and/or bleeding. Ants receiving these fluids exhibited strong disturbance and conspicuously cleaned their mandibles and head. Dropping off the plsnt and hanging on the end of a silk thread was also observed in Eunica larvae after successive bites from the ants. Ant foraging on Carvocar strongly influences the behaviour and survival of Eunica larvae. as well as the oviposition behaviour of adult females. Eggs are preferentially laid on plantas without ants, or with low ant visitation rates. Eggs are not removed by ants, but predation on larvae (particularly early instars) ia very common. Eunica females were shown to visually avoid ovipositing on plants with high ant visitation; plant branches with artificial rubber ants were less infested than control branches with rubber circles. Frass chains constructed by the larvae at leaf margins were demonstrated to be a safe refuge against ant attacks. It is concluded that the behavioral biology of both immature and adult Eunica bechina is finely linked to the utilization of a host plant where ant visitation patterns strongly affects the larval survival

ASSUNTO(S)

inseto formiga - ecologia ecologia animal borboleta - ecologia

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