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Insights into the unique butterfly-lichen association between Talicada nyseus nyseus and Leproloma sipmanianum

2008; Taylor & Francis; Volume: 3; Issue: 1 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1080/17429140701740061

1742-9153

Veranja Karunaratne, Selvaluxmy Kathirgamanathar, Anura Wijesekera, Siril Wijesundara, P. A. Wolseley,

Entomological Studies and Ecology

Although some moths are known to feed on lichens, few butterflies are reported to feed on them. We report conclusive evidence for the feeding and sequestration of lichen products from the lichen Leproloma sipmanianum by the wild-caught adults and larvae of Talicada nyseus nyseus (Lycaenidae) in Beragala, Uva Province, Sri Lanka. Here, the butterfly lays eggs on Kalanchoe pinnata, growing beside proterozoic rocks on which the lichen grows. HPLC/TLC analysis showed that the lichen compounds enter the adult through its larvae feeding on the lichen. It was also shown that larvae were not viable on the lichen alone without the host plant, but were healthy when the lichen and host plant were present. The presence of lichen compounds in the adult population throughout the season suggests that larvae of T. nyseus nyseus may be feeding on the lichen L. sipmanianum to obtain protection against predators during their life cycle.