Leodonta tellane (Hewitson, 1860)

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 : 1861-1865

publication ID	https://doi.org/ 10.1080/00222931003633227
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03F66F7D-AA15-BC06-FE43-FECFFBA3FA68
treatment provided by	Felipe
scientific name	Leodonta tellane (Hewitson, 1860)
status

Treatment

Leodonta tellane (Hewitson, 1860) View in CoL

This species ( Figure 10 View Figures 4–13 ) occurs in southern Central America and northern South America, from Costa Rica and Panama, through Colombia to Ecuador and Peru ( Constantino et al. 2004; Lamas 2004). It is perhaps the most abundant of all the species in the genus and is characterized by the hind wing projection being less produced ( Robert 1987). Four subspecies are currently recognized, but Lamas (2004) indicated that a further five remain undescribed. The subspecies L. tellane chiriquensis (Staudinger, 1884) on which our observations of the life history were made is restricted to Costa Rica and Panama. In Costa Rica, it occurs locally in montane cloud forest at elevations between 900 m and 2800 m ( DeVries 1987).

The life history of L. tellane has not previously been reported. The following observations on L. tellane chiriquensis were based on material reared from Costa Rica at Monteverde, Puntarenas Province, on the Pacific slope of Cordillera de Tilarán at elevations between 1400 m and 1500 m, mostly during 2001 with additional observations made in 2003. In addition, we examined 12 reared adults (6 males, 6 females) and their pupal exuviae (voucher numbers 96MCHD64–96MCHD75) registered in INBio. The material was collected as a cohort of pupae on an Anonnaceae leaf from Puntarenas, Área de Conservación Las Alturas , Zona Protectora Las Tablas , De la Escuela de Las Alturas (1470 m) on 5 February 1996 by Mario Chinchilla Diaz. The adults emerged 1–3 d later on 6–8 February 1996.

Immature stages

Egg

See Figures 92–94 View Figures 92–108 ; 1.2 mm high, 0.7 mm wide; bright yellow; bottle-shaped, with base flattened; chorion with numerous (approx. 30) fine longitudinal ribs, and a series of finer transverse lines between longitudinal ribs; apical rim with 12 prominent paler nodules.

First-instar larva

See Figures 95, 96 View Figures 92–108 ; 5 View Figures 4–13 mm long, head capsule 0.5 mm wide (n = 3); head black, with several primary setae; body yellow after eclosion, changing to lime-green after consuming food, with numerous long, fine primary setae; setae colourless after eclosion, but most change to white after consuming food, except paired dorsal setae which change to black in apical half; paired dorsal setae bifurcated at apex; prothorax with a brown subdorsal plate bearing three setae (one seta being twice the length of the other two), and three lateral setae; meso- and metathorax each with four setae (one subdorsal, two dorsolateral, one lateral), all in a transverse row; abdominal segments 1–9 each with five setae (one subdorsal, two dorsolateral, two lateral); abdominal segment 10 with a brown dorsal plate bearing eight setae.

Second-instar larva

See Figures 97, 98 View Figures 92–108 ; 8 View Figures 4–13 mm long, head capsule 0.9 mm wide (n = 15); similar to second instar, but with numerous short dark brown secondary setae; prothorax with a

broad, rectangular-shaped black dorsal plate, abdominal segment 10 with a black dorsal plate.

Third-instar larva

See Figure 99 View Figures 92–108 ; 12 View Figures 4–13 mm long; similar to final instar.

Fourth-instar larva

See Figure 100 View Figures 92–108 ; 24 View Figures 24–33 mm long, head capsule 2.1 mm wide (n = 8); similar to final instar.

Fifth-instar larva

See Figures 101–104 View Figures 92–108 ; 38 View Figures 34–44 mm long, head capsule 3.5 mm wide (n = 15); head black, with long yellow setae; body maroon, with numerous small yellow panicula from which arise long yellow setae (up to 3.5 mm long), and numerous very short brown secondary setae; prothorax with a broad, rectangular-shaped black dorsal plate bearing numerous long yellow setae; abdominal segment 10 with a black dorsal plate bearing a few short setae; spiracles black.

Pupa

See Figures 105–108 View Figures 92–108 , 224, 225 View Figures 218–235 ; 26 View Figures 24–33 mm long, 7 mm wide (n = 12); orange, with black markings, densely clothed with long yellow setae; head with a long prominent anterior projection, and a small subdorsal protuberance, followed by a long subdorsal projection posteriorly; anterior projection stout, upturned and bifurcated apically; prothorax with a pronounced longitudinal dorsal ridge; mesothorax with a very pronounced longitudinal dorsal ridge, a double rounded lateral protuberance at base of fore wing, and a broad lateral ridge posterior to lateral protuberance; metathorax with a shallow longitudinal dorsal ridge; abdominal segment 1 with a very small dorsolateral protuberance; abdominal segments 2–4 each with a conspicuous dorsolateral projection; abdominal segment 2 with a small middorsal projection; abdominal segments 3–7 each with a prominent middorsal projection bifurcated longitudinally into two tooth-like points at apex; abdominal segment 8 with a prominent middorsal projection; spiracles black.

The immature stages are similar to those of Pereute , but in Leodonta the finalinstar larva has more conspicuous setae, which are richer yellow and slightly thicker, but lacks the subdorsal patch bearing numerous setae on abdominal segment 1. The pupa of Leodonta is orange with black markings and conspicuously hairy, being covered with long setae, whereas in Pereute it is dark shiny brown and smooth; in Leodonta the dorsal ridge on the mesothorax, the subdorsal projection on the head and dorsolateral projections on the abdomen are more pronounced, and the dorsal projections on abdominal segments 3–8 are divided into two prominent apical points rather than terminating into a single point in Pereute .

Larval food plants

In Costa Rica, eight cohorts of the immature stages were recorded associated with two species of mistletoes in the Viscaceae : Phoradendron chrysocladon A. Gray ( Figure 31 View Figures 24–33 ) parasitizing Conostegia oerstediana O. Berg ex Triana (Melastomaceae) and Phoradendron undulatum ( Figure 30 View Figures 24–33 ) parasitizing Psidium guajava ( Appendix 1). Four of our observations comprised pupal exuviae that were discovered some distance from the mistletoe clump(s). In such cases, the larval food plant was inferred from the nearest species of mistletoe growing in proximity to the immature stages: generally the pupae were found on shrubs growing close to the trunk of or underneath the host tree, which supported only one species of mistletoe. In addition to the pupal exuviae, eggs and larvae (instars I, V) were recorded on both species of larval food plants growing 2–7 m from ground level. In all cases, the breeding areas were located on slopes 100–200 m above a nearby creek or river.

Biology

Only one observation was made of the embryonic stage: a cluster of freshly laid eggs (n = 56) was found on the underside of new large leaf of the larval food plant. Prior to hatching, the apical portion of the egg changed from yellow to brown owing to development of the larval head capsule. On emergence, the larva ate, just below the apex, a small hole through which it escaped. The early-instar larvae fed gregariously on the underside of a leaf, starting at the apex; they were also noticed to strengthen the petiole with silk to prevent possible detachment of the leaf. When molested, the larvae responded by regurgitating green fluid from the mouth. Fluid droplets were present at the bifurcated tips of the dark brown dorsal setae of first-instar larvae, but were not observed in subsequent instars. The discovery of a small cohort of final-instar larvae (n = 8) resting gregariously on the lower side of a branch of the host tree, about 1.5 m from the base of the trunk ( Figure 32 View Figures 24–33 ), suggests behaviour similar to that of Melete and Pereute in which the late instars switch their feeding to night and seek shelter lower down on the host tree during the day. The foraging behaviour of these larvae was monitored on 12 October 2001 (see below). Pupae (i.e. exuviae or remnant parts thereof) were found only on the underside of relatively large broad leaves of non-mistletoe host trees that were growing some distance from the mistletoe itself ( Figure 33 View Figures 24–33 ). The underside of each leaf was heavily laden with silk forming a “silken pad” to which the pupae were clustered together, attached by the cremaster and a central girdle. These pupal cohorts were recorded on three different species of nonmistletoe host trees, namely: Clusia stenophylla Standl. (Clusiaceae) , Oreopanax capitatus (Jacq.) Decne. and Planch. (Araliliaceae) and Schlegelia fuscata A.H. Gentry (Scrophulariaceae) . In all cases, the pupae were protected, being well-hidden and close to ground level (c. 0.5–2.0 m); in one case, the pupae were located some 6 m from the mistletoe host tree and more than 10 m from the nearest clump of mistletoe parasitizing that host tree. Clearly, the larvae disperse some distance from the food plant to seek pupation sites, which are spatially separated from the diurnal shelter sites occupied by late-instar larvae. In captivity, adults ( Figure 10 View Figures 4–13 ) of a given cohort emerged synchronously and quickly expanded their wings, but were not ready for flight until some 24 h later.

At Monteverde, the following observations were made on a cohort of eight finalinstar larvae on 12 October 2001 during late afternoon when conditions were wet, misty and light levels were low. At 16:40 h, the larvae became active. At 16:42 h, the larvae started to move in single file up the branch of host tree. At 16:52 h, the larvae at the front of the trail reached a small clump of the larval food plant growing about 1.5–2.0 m from the diurnal shelter site; before crawling onto the foliage the larvae first spun considerable quantities of silk over the leaves. At 17:02 h, the larva at the rear of the procession reached the mistletoe clump; once all larvae were on the mistletoe they aligned themselves into two subgroups, each on separate leaves, and then commenced feeding, starting at the apex of the leaf and working back towards the petiole.

Adults of both sexes readily visit flowers, particularly during the morning ( DeVries 1987). Males were observed feeding from flowers during the morning, including Guettarda crispiflora Vahl. , Gonzalagunia rosea Standley (both Rubiaceae ), Billia hippocastanum Peyr. (Hippocastanaceae) and Fuchsia paniculata (Onagraceae) , but, unlike Pereute and Catasticta , were rarely observed puddling from damp sand. Constantino et al. (2004 p. 83) made general reference to adult behaviour of the genus, and noted that the males “show rapid, agile flight with well defined territorial behaviour, generally flying on sunny days along streams and open areas of the forest, patrolling their territory”. In Costa Rica, we observed males exhibit strong territorial behaviour by defending light gaps in the mid-canopy of riparian forest. A male would typically patrol a prominent gap in the forest during the morning (09:30–12:00 h) under warm sunny conditions or, if overcast, when light conditions were fairly bright, by flying rapidly in a small open area (max. radius approx. 10 m) at a height of about 5–8 m above ground level near the bank of a river or sometimes at a height of up to 25 m above water if the gap was located along a steep gully or ravine. Such patrolling flights by individual males were recorded to last for more than 70 min during which time the male did not settle on foliage or attempt to leave the light gap. The resident male defended the light gap aggressively, chasing off rival males that entered the territory. When a resident male was removed from the light gap, another male would soon enter and occupy its place and establish a territory. Only on one occasion was more than one male (five individuals) observed flying together in a light gap. DeVries (1987 p. 90) made reference to the species preference to fly along streams and light gaps, but stated that “Males perch in light gaps in the subcanopy, and chase other butterflies for long distances through the forest, only to return to the same perch”. Such perching behaviour is at variance with our observations – DeVries’ account most likely refers to a different genus such as Catasticta with which it often flies. W. Haber (personal communication 2001) has also noted that males usually fly in light gaps, but rarely settle, and only once has he observed them patrolling a light gap in mixed forest away from riparian habitats. Collectively, these observations suggest that males disperse down slope from the breeding areas to the river valleys to establish territories in light gaps, and that there is strong intraspecific competition for these landmarks, which are presumably used as encounter sites by males to locate receptive females.

In captivity, the life cycle from egg to adult when reared at room temperature (19– 22°C) was completed in approximately 2 months (egg, 9 d; larva, 35–36 d [duration of instars as follows: I, 6 d; II, 6 d; III, 7 d; IV, 8 d; V, 8–9 d]; pupa, 14–15 d). We have recorded adults from January to March, June, July and in October; museum records indicate that they have also been collected in the months of August, September, November and December (UCR; INBio). The species probably breeds throughout the year.