Catasticta teutila (Doubleday, 1847)

Braby, Michael F. & Nishida, Kenji, 2010, The immature stages, larval food plants and biology of Neotropical mistletoe butterflies (Lepidoptera: Pieridae). II. The Catasticta group (Pierini: Aporiina), Journal of Natural History 44 (29 - 30), pp. 1831-1928 : 1871-1875

Catasticta teutila (Doubleday, 1847)

This polytypic species ( Figures 18–20 ) is restricted to Central America ( Eitschberger and Racheli 1998), ranging from southern Mexico ( de la Maza 1987) to Panama ( DeVries 1987). Lamas (2004) recognized three subspecies, but indicated that a further two from Mexico awaited formal description. The subspecies C. teutila flavomaculata Lathy and Rosenberg, 1912 on which our observations of the life history were made is endemic to Costa Rica and Panama. It commonly occurs at elevations between 800 m and 3000 m on both slopes, although is more frequently encountered in the wetter, higher elevation cloud forests ( DeVries 1983b, 1987).

The larval food plants of C. teutila include two species of mistletoes in the Viscaceae : Phoradendron velutinum (DC.) Oliv. in Mexico ( Beutelspacher 1980), and Dendrophthora costaricensis in Costa Rica ( DeVries 1983b, 1986, 1987). DeVries (1983b) provided brief notes on the morphology of the immature stages of C. teutila flavomaculata but did not illustrate them. The larva was described as “... ground colour of mottled green, are moderately hairy, and have a black head capsule and posterior segment that give the appearance of two heads” and the pupa as “…. mottled black and green and looks like a bird turd”. He later added that the egg is “yellow”, final-instar larva “head capsule shiny black; ventrum, anal segment, and legs black; ground colour pea green mottled with tiny flecks of brown, with a black dorsal midline; entire body covered with soft green and white hairs” and pupa “mottled black, green, and white; five raised plates on dorsum on abdomen, another large plate on thorax” ( DeVries 1987 p. 93). The following observations on the life history of C. teutila flavomaculata were based on material reared from Costa Rica from several sites in Cordillera Central and Cordillera de Talamanca, mainly at elevations between 2000 m and 3100 m during 1998–2004.

Immature stages

Egg

See Figures 126–128 ; Green when newly laid, with apex translucent white, later changing to yellow-orange; barrel-shaped, with base flattened and much narrower in width than middle; chorion with numerous (approx. 28) longitudinal ribs, and a series of finer transverse lines between longitudinal ribs; apical rim with eight prominent paler nodules.

First-instar larva

See Figures 129, 130 ; 2 mm long after eclosion, 4 mm long prior to moulting, head capsule 0.5 mm wide (n = 10); head black, with a few primary colourless setae; body orange after eclosion, changing to lime-green after consuming food, with numerous long, fine colourless primary setae arising from darker protuberances; paired long dark brown dorsal setae, weakly bifurcated at apex, on metathorax and abdominal segments 1–8; prothorax with a pronounced rectangular-shaped black dorsal plate bearing six setae (in two groups, three on either side of middorsal line), and two lateral setae; mesothorax with five setae (one subdorsal, two dorsolateral, two lateral) forming a transverse row; metathorax with four setae (one subdorsal, two dorsolateral, one lateral) forming a transverse row; abdominal segments 1–9 each with four setae (one subdorsal, two dorsolateral, one lateral); abdominal segment 10 with a black dorsal plate bearing six setae (in two groups, three on either side of middorsal line).

Second-instar larva

See Figure 131 ; 6 mm long, head capsule 0.7 mm wide (n = 10); similar to first instar, but body with a reddish-brown middorsal line and obscure reddish-brown lateral and ventrolateral lines, primary setae white and arising from white panicula, and numerous short brown secondary setae.

Third-instar larva

See Figures 132, 133 ; 9 mm long, head capsule 1.2 mm wide (n = 10); similar to final instar.

Fourth-instar larva

See Figures 134, 135 ; 18 mm long, head capsule 1.8 mm wide (n = 11); similar to final instar.

Fifth-instar larva.

See Figures 136–139 ; 26 mm long, head capsule 2.6 mm wide (n = 10); head black, with numerous white setae; body mottled dull greenish-yellow, with a broad black middorsal line, and an obscure black lateral line, intersegmental areas dull green forming a series of transverse bands, surface densely covered with numerous yellow panicula from which arise long yellow setae (setae white in ventrolateral area); prothorax with a prominent black dorsal plate; abdominal segment 10 with a black dorsal plate.

Pupa

See Figures 140–144 , 228, 229 ; 21 mm long, 6 mm wide (n = 18); black with extensive cream patches on thorax, wing cases and abdominal segments 4–9; head with a prominent anterior projection, and a rounded subdorsal protuberance posteriorly; anterior projection stout, slightly upturned, with apex broadened laterally and Tshaped or sometimes weakly forked; prothorax with a pronounced longitudinal dorsal ridge; mesothorax with a pronounced longitudinal dorsal ridge (with anterior half cream, posterior half black), a double rounded lateral protuberance at base of fore wing, and a broad cream lateral ridge posterior to lateral protuberance; abdominal segments 2–4 each with a rounded dorsolateral protuberance; abdominal segments 3–7 each with a middorsal ridge, more pronounced anteriorly; dorsal ridges black on segments 3, 4 and 7 but cream on segments 5 and 6; cremaster white.

Larval food plants

In Costa Rica, the immature stages were found mainly on Dendrophthora costaricensis ( Figure 38 ) parasitizing several host trees ( Appendix 1), most of which were not identified, growing in montane cloud forest at elevations between 2000 m and 3100 m ( Figure 37 ). In addition, a cohort of pupal exuviae was found associated with Phoradendron tonduzii parasitizing Croton , on which a breeding colony of Pereute cheops was established, at a site near Copey (1850 m a.s.l.). At several sites, colonies of C. teutila were found in sympatry with C. cerberus , which also utilizes D. costaricensis as a larval food plant; however, the two species were never found breeding together on the same mistletoe clump. DeVries (1986) noted an apparent preference by ovipositing females to select mistletoes on large, remnant host trees growing in more open areas, such as emergent canopy trees or those in pastures.

Biology

Eggs were laid in large compact clusters on the upper- or underside of young terminal leaves of the larval food plant, with clutch sizes ranging from 44 to 92 eggs per cohort (n = 3). DeVries (1983b, 1987) indicated a wider range, with egg clutches varying from 10 to 100. The eggs were deposited in tighter clusters than in C. cerberus , with minimal spacing between adjacent eggs. After hatching the first-instar larvae consumed the chorion. The larvae fed gregariously and moulted synchronously; when not feeding they also rested together on a leaf of the food plant. They spun considerable quantities of silk over the foliage or substrate before moving and also before moulting. When molested, larvae reared their heads up and exuded drops of green fluid from the mouth (see also DeVries 1983b). The larvae pupated singly and, prior to pupation, covered the substrate, usually a leaf, with considerable amounts of silk forming a silken pad to which the pupa was subsequently attached by the cremaster and a central girdle. The pupa, which resembled a bird dropping, was generally fastened to the upperside of a leaf and oriented more or less horizontally. When disturbed, the abdominal segments of the pupa twitched with sudden jerky movements. In the field, pupae or pupal exuviae were generally found on substrates other than the larval food plant, including leaves of the host tree and a sedge growing in the ground layer ( Appendix 1). On one occasion at Copey, a cohort of pupal exuviae and dead pupae was found high up on the underside of a large branch of the host tree, which supported a clump of the mistletoe food plant growing 2–3 m distant. These observations indicate that the larvae generally disperse from the food plant to pupate elsewhere and agree with those of DeVries (1983b), who noted that the larvae also pupate on the bark of trees and lichens. Prior to emergence, the orange median band of the fore wing of females was visible as a reddish patch on the pupal wing case. In captivity, adults of a given cohort emerged together, over a period of 24–36 h, with females always emerging before males, but not necessarily in the morning. After emergence, both sexes took about 24 h to dry their wings before they were ready for flight.

Adults ( Figures 18–20 ) were observed flying in slightly open areas and along forest edges, but only during sunny periods in the morning and early afternoon. They had a conspicuous slow sailing or gliding flight in which the wings were opened at an angle of about 90º, interspersed by pulses of a fluttery flight comprising a rapid beating of the wings. We did not observe courtship behaviour, but DeVries (1983b, 1987) remarked that the males perch in the tops of trees and shrubs along forest edges where they establish mating territories during the morning, and that oviposition occurs mainly from mid-morning to early afternoon. Males, especially those freshly emerged, were often observed drinking from moist sand along edges of creeks in prominent sunlit areas in the forest ( Figure 18 ); while drinking, water droplets were expelled from the anus at a constant rate. Unlike C. theresa , they did not rest with their body and wings in the shallow water or on the wet rocks, but kept to “drier” ground when puddling. Both sexes were frequently recorded visiting flowers, including Ericaceae , Ageratina ixiocladon (Benth.) R.M. King and H ( Figure 19 ), Senecio and Stevia lucida Lagasca (all Asteraceae ), Gaiadendron punctatum (Loranthaceae) and Fuchsia paniculata (Onagraceae) . In addition, adults have also been observed visiting the flowers of Eupatorium (Asteraceae) , Melastomaceae, Smilacina (Liliaceae) , Symphonia (Clusiaceae) and Inga (Fabaceae) ( DeVries 1983b).

Adults were most commonly observed during the dry season, particularly between February and April. When reared in captivity at constant temperature (16–18°C), the life cycle from egg to adult was completed in a little more than 2 months (egg,>11 d; larva, 33 d; prepupa, 3 d; pupa, 18–19 d). Presumably several generations are completed annually, particularly at the lower elevations of the range.

Figures

Figures 14–23. Adults of the Catasticta group. (14) Catasticta reducta boliviana male puddling, Peru; (15) C. prioneris male puddling, dorsal view showing red patches at base of each hind wing being “displayed”, Peru; (16) C. eurigania straminea male puddling, Peru; (17) C. hegemon hegemon male perching at encounter site, Costa Rica; (18) C. teutila flavomaculata male basking on rock between drinking bouts along creek edge, Costa Rica; (19) C. teutila flavomaculata female feeding from flowers of Ageratina ixiocladon, Costa Rica; (20) C. teutila flavomaculata male freshly emerged, Costa Rica; (21) C. theresa male puddling, Costa Rica; (22) C. cerberus male freshly emerged, Costa Rica; (23) puddling aggregation of Catasticta, Archonias and Pereute amongst other diurnal Lepidoptera, Peru.

Figures 126–144. Catasticta teutila immature stages on Dendrophthora costaricensis, Villa Mills-Siberia (2800 m), San José Province, Costa Rica. (126–128) Eggs, showing cohort several days after deposition (126), colour immediately after deposition, dorsolateral view (127), and lateral view (128); (129–130) larval instar I, showing newly emerged (129), and cohort (130); (131) larval instar II, cohort; (132–133) larva instar III, showing dorsal view (132), and moulting (133); (134–135) larval instar IV, showing dorsal view (134) and posterior view (135); (136– 138) larval instar V, showing cohort (136), anterior view of head capsule (137) and posterolateral view (138); (139) prepupa, lateral view; (140–144) pupa, showing female before emergence (140), lateral view (141), dorsal view (142), anterolateral view of projection of head (143), and posterior view of last abdominal segments (144).

Figures 2–3. Reproductions of historical illustrations of pupae of the Catasticta group. (2) Pereute charops (Klots 1933); (3) Catasticta flisa (Schultze-Rhonhof 1935). Note: In C. flisa the anterior projection of the head is missing the forked apex (described by Schultze-Rhonhof (1935)), suggesting the pupa was damaged prior to being illustrated.

Figures 4–13. Adults of the Catasticta group. (4) Melete lycimnia isandra freshly emerged female, Costa Rica; (5) M. leucanthe male puddling, Peru; (6) Pereute callinice male puddling, Peru; (7) P. callinira male puddling, Peru; (8) P. cheops female freshly emerged, Costa Rica; (9) P. charops mass emergence, Costa Rica; (10) Leodonta tellane chiriquensis freshly emerged, Costa Rica; (11) Catasticta sisamnus sisamnus female freshly emerged, Costa Rica; (12) Archonias brassolis approximata male perching, Costa Rica; (13) A. brassolis negrina male basking (note beak mark on both wings), Peru. Note: Figure 9 photo, W. Haber.

Figures 24–33. Habitats and larval food plants of the Catasticta group. (24–25) Pereute callinira habitat, San Ramón (1400 m), Chanchamayo district, Peru; (26) P. cheops breeding habitat, showing larval food plant Phoradendron tonduzii parasitizing host tree Croton, Copey (1850 m), San José Province, Costa Rica; (27) P. cheops larval silken trail on trunk of mistletoe host tree Croton, Copey (1850 m), Costa Rica; (28–29) P. charops breeding habitat, Orosi Valley (1100–1200 m), Cartago Province, Costa Rica; arrows show cohort of pupal exuviae on trunk of mistletoe host tree (28) and location of cohort of larvae on trunk of mistletoe host tree Psidium guajava (29); (30) Phoradendron undulatum, a larval food plant of P. charops, Orosi Valley (1100m), Costa Rica; (31) Phoradendron chrysocladon, a larval food plant of Leodonta tellane, Monteverde (1500 m), Puntarenas Province, Costa Rica; (32–33) Leodonta tellane breeding habitat, Monteverde (1500 m), Costa Rica; arrows show location of cohort of larvae on trunk of mistletoe host tree Psidium guajava (32) and location of cohort of pupae on leaves of Clusia stenophylla growing adjacent to mistletoe host tree Conostegia oerstediana (33).

Figures 218–235. Pupae of the Catasticta group, showing dorsal and lateral views. (218–219) Melete isandra; (220–221) Pereute charops; (222–223) P. cheops; (224–225) Leodonta tellane; (226–227) Catasticta cerberus; (228–229) C. teutila; (230–231) C. sisamnus; (232–233) C. flisa; (234–235) C. ctemene. Note: Cuticle of L. tellane is clothed with numerous setae, which are not shown.

Figures 34–44. Habitats and larval food plants of the Catasticta group, Costa Rica. (34) Pereute charops, Leodonta tellane, Archonias brassolis, Catasticta teutila and C. ctemene habitat, Río Grande Orosi, Parque Nacional Tapantí (1200 m), Cartago Province; (35) C. theresa and C. teutila male puddling habitat, Copey (2200 m), San José Province; (36) C. cerberus breeding habitat, Cerro de la Muerte (3100 m), San José Province; (37) C. teutila breeding habitat, arrow shows location of larval food plant Dendrophthora costaricensis growing on mistletoe host tree, Villa Mills-Siberia Convenio Catie Field Station (2800 m), San José Province; (38) Dendrophthora costaricensis, a larval food plant of C. teutila, arrow shows cohort of larval instar I, Vara Blanca (2000 m), Heredia Province; (39–41) Antidaphne viscoidea, a larval food plant of Catasticta spp., Monteverde (1400–1500 m), Puntarenas Province; arrow shows cohort of larval instar II of C. ctemene, note larval feeding damage to terminal leaves (41); (42) Melete lycimnia breeding habitat, Sector Santa Rosa of Área de Conservación Guanacaste (300 m), Guanacaste Province; (43– 44) Phoradendron quadrangulare, a larval food plant of Melete lycimnia, parasitizing Guazuma ulmifolia, Sector Santa Rosa of Área de Conservación Guanacaste (300 m).