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The “upside down” systematics of hairstreak butterflies (Lycaenidae) that eat pineapple and other Bromeliaceae

2010; Taylor & Francis; Volume: 45; Issue: 1 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1080/01650521003751712

1744-5140

Robert K. Robbins,

Insect Pheromone Research and Control

Abstract All Lycaenidae larvae that eat Bromeliaceae belong to the Strymon ziba and S. serapio species groups, but confusion with taxonomy has resulted in widespread misidentification of the butterflies in both the ecological and agricultural literature. Published food plant records are assessed, and new rearing records are presented. The species that have been recorded eating Bromeliaceae are Strymon ziba (Hewitson), S. megarus (Godart), S. lucena (Hewitson), S. oreala (Hewitson), S. serapio (Godman & Salvin), S. azuba (Hewitson), and S. gabatha (Hewitson). The first four are recorded from pineapple, with the sympatric S. megarus and S. ziba sometimes being especially destructive in commercial fields. Most published records lump these two species and misidentify them under the names Thecla basilides, Thecla basalides, or Tmolus echion. Strymon ziba has also been reared from other monocotyledon plant families, such as Heliconiaceae and Haemodoraceae. In most cases, caterpillars eat flowers and fruits, but larvae of S. megarus and/or S. ziba may also bore into leaves when flowers and fruits are unavailable. The known bromeliad feeders are illustrated, and distinguishing characters are noted. The female butterflies appear to use reddish color as a visual cue, which could be the basis for a non-insecticidal means of controlling outbreaks in commercial pineapple crops. Todas as larvas de Lycaenidae que se alimentam de Bromeliaceae pertencem aos grupos de espécies de Strymon ziba e S. serapio, porém confusão com sua taxonomia resultou em erros generalizados de identificação destas borboletas tanto na literatura ecológica como agrícola. Registros publicados de plantas alimentares são aqui avaliados, e novos registros com base em criação são apresentados. As espécies que foram registradas se alimentando de Bromeliaceae são Strymon ziba (Hewitson), S. megarus (Godart), S. lucena (Hewitson), S. oreala (Hewitson), S. serapio (Godman & Salvin), S. azuba (Hewitson), e S. gabatha (Hewitson). As quatro primeiras são encontradas em abacaxi, com as espécies simpátricas S. megarus e S. ziba algumas vezes sendo especialmente destrutivas em áreas comerciais. A maioria dos registros publicados considera estas duas espécies como somente uma, identificando-as erroneamente como Thecla basilides, Thecla basalides, ou Tmolus echion. Strymon ziba também foi criada em outras famílias de plantas monocotiledôneas, como Heliconiaceae e Haemodoraceae. Na maioria dos casos, as lagartas comem flores e frutos, mas larvas de S. megarus e / ou S. ziba também podem perfurar as folhas quando as flores e os frutos não estão disponíveis. As espécies conhecidas que se alimentam de bromélias são aqui ilustradas, e seus caracteres distintivos ressaltados. As borboletas fêmeas parecem usar a cor vermelha como um sinal visual, o que poderia ser a base para um meio não-inseticida de controle de focos em lavouras comerciais de abacaxi. Keywords: basilides megarus Neotropical Eumaeini Strymon Thecla ziba Acknowledgements Accumulation of data over decades is heavily dependent upon the kind cooperation of many people, and such is the case with this paper. Olaf Mielke and Mirna Casagrande (Curitiba) allowed me access to the DZUP collection, shared an unpublished manuscript of de Biezanko, taught me much about the history of lepidopterology in southern Brazil, and took me to paradise ("serrinha" near Joinville), where we found bromeliad-feeding hairstreaks. Marcelo Duarte (São Paulo) has been a continual advisor of great wisdom. Keith Brown (Campinas) introduced me to the museum collections in Rio de Janeiro, and Jane Costa at Oswaldo Cruz has been helpful. Ricardo Monteiro (Rio de Janeiro) has kindly shared information on the food plants of butterflies in Rio de Janeiro. To Vitor Becker (Bahia), I owe a great debt for taking me to Serra do Cipó, Morro do Chapéu, and Serra do Pirenópolis so that I would know the butterflies, including many of the bromeliad-feeding Strymon, of these starkly beautiful landscapes. Nancy Raquel Vannucci (Buenos Aires) kindly shared her rearing data on Tillandsia and through Dr. Di Iorio, obtained notes on pineapple-feeding lycaenids that had belonged to Pastrana. Long-time companion Gerardo Lamas (Lima) has provided immense help with the literature and has patiently gone with me to Peruvian pineapple fields and obscure Andean valleys looking for Strymon. Pepe Clavijo, Jürg de Marmels, and especially the late Francisco Fernández Yépez (Maracay) were very helpful with vouchers and information in the MIZA collection. Matthew Cock has kindly shared information about the butterflies of Trinidad for more than two decades. Jorge Llorente, Armando Luis, Isabel Vargas- Fernández, and Manuel Balcázar (Mexico) have at various times guided me through the museums of Mexico City, interspersed with non-lepidopterological excursions. Gordon Small was a friend of long standing who began rearing butterflies, including S. gabatha, late in his life. Phil DeVries is passionate about butterfly natural history, as is evident in his books, and I am grateful to him for sharing that passion. Dan Janzen and Winnie Hallwachs have shared their reared Lycaenidae for more than a decade. For reading the manuscript with a critical eye, I thank Robert Busby, Marcelo Duarte, Dan Janzen, Gerardo Lamas, Nancy Vannucci, and two anonymous reviewers. For illustrating the adults and genitalia with accuracy and flair, I am grateful to Karie Darrow and Vichai Malikul. For help with the Portuguese language aspects of the manuscript, I am indebted to Astrid Caldas. Scientific discussions with Nick Grishin, Simone Schmid, and Anne Zillikens were the impetus for completion of this paper. I am graciously appreciative to all and offer my sincere apologies to anyone whom I should have acknowledged, but did not. Stan Nicolay collaborated with me for many years on the systematics of Strymon and other hairstreaks, and this paper is dedicated to his memory.