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Population Dynamics of the Swallowtail Butterfly Battus polystictus polystictus (Butler) (Lepidoptera: Papilionidae) with Notes on Its Natural History

  • Ecology, Behavior and Bionomics
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Abstract

Battus polystictus (Butler) is a butterfly from the Neotropical region, occurring in the Atlantic Forest and Pampa biomes. It is commonly found in forest fragments surrounded by meadow formations, subjected to marked seasonal changes. Here, we report the population dynamics of B. polystictus at a high latitude environment and provide notes on its natural history. Population parameters were estimated on a 12-month mark-recapture program and the seasonality of resources investigated by exhaustive mapping of host-plants and flowers. The number of butterflies per day was not stable during the year, ranging from zero (winter) to 22 (summer); the sex ratio was always male biased (3M:1F). The age structure was not constant, with an increase of older individuals toward summer. The population density was positively correlated with temperature, relative humidity, and day length. The residence time was lower for males, while the vagility was lower for females; the increment of resources at forest edges seems to increase the likelihood of occurrence of both sexes. The results shown here suggest that South Brazilian populations of B. polystictus have high ecological demands for spring and summer conditions, avoiding winter in diapause.

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Acknowledgments

The authors are thankful to Mr. E. Bernardes for providing access to the area where the study was performed, to the Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation (ICMBio) for the collection license (35153–1), and to the National System of Biodiversity Research/National Network for Research and Conservation of Lepidoptera (SiSBiota/RedeLep) for the scholarship provided to VWA (grant #563332/2010). The authors also thank A. Caporale, D.S. Martins, G.A.G. Souza, G.W.G. Atencio, L.L. Fucilini, L.M. Sant’Ana, L.R.F. Verane, M.O. Teixeira, and V.S. Pedrotti for field assistance. V.W.S. was funded by Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (CAPES), H.P.R. by National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq), and N.O.M. by CAPES National Postdoctoral Program (PNPD/CAPES) (grant #23038.8306/2010-62). This is the contribution #572 of the Department of Zoology from the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul.

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  1. Depto de Zoologia, Univ Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brasil

    V W Scalco, H P Romanowski & N O Mega

  2. Depto de Biologia, Univ Federal de Santa Maria, Santa Maria, RS, Brasil

    A B B de Morais

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  1. V W Scalco
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Correspondence to V W Scalco.

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Scalco, V.W., de Morais, A.B.B., Romanowski, H.P. et al. Population Dynamics of the Swallowtail Butterfly Battus polystictus polystictus (Butler) (Lepidoptera: Papilionidae) with Notes on Its Natural History. Neotrop Entomol 45, 33–43 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13744-015-0341-2

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