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Larval colour morphs of Danaus plexippus (Linnaeus, 1758) in Costa Rica (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae, Danainae)

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Torsten van der Heyden at Independent researcher
Torsten van der Heyden
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Daniel Jiménez
Daniel Jiménez
Daniel Jiménez
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Abstract

Different larval colour morphs of Danaus plexippus (Linnaeus, 1758) from Costa Rica are reported. Possible causes of melanism in larvae of this species are mentioned.
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565
Larval colour morphs of Danaus plexippus
(Linnaeus, 1758) in Costa Rica
(Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae, Danainae)
T. van der Heyden & D. Jiménez
Abstract
Different larval colour morphs of Danaus plexippus (Linnaeus, 1758) from Costa Rica are reported. Possible
causes of melanism in larvae of this species are mentioned.
KEY WORDS: Lepidoptera, Nymphalidae, Danainae, Danaus plexippus, larvae, melanism, pigmentation, Costa
Rica.
Formas de color de las larvas de Danaus plexippus (Linnaeus, 1758) en Costa Rica
(Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae, Danainae)
Resumen
Se reportan diferentes morfos de color de larvas de Danaus plexippus (Linnaeus, 1758) de Costa Rica. Se
mencionan posibles causas de melanismo en larvas de esta especie.
PALABRAS CLAVE: Lepidoptera, Nymphalidae, Danainae, Danaus plexippus, larvas, melanismo, pigmentación,
Costa Rica.
Farbmorphe von Larven von Danaus plexippus (Linnaeus, 1758) in Costa Rica
(Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae, Danainae)
Zusammenfassung
Es wird über verschiedene Farbmorphe von Larven von Danaus plexippus (Linnaeus, 1758) aus Costa Rica
berichtet. Mögliche Ursachen für Melanismus bei Larven dieser Art werden angeführt.
SCHLÜSSELWÖRTER: Lepidoptera, Nymphalidae, Danainae, Danaus plexippus, Larven, Melanismus,
Pigmentierung, Costa Rica.
Introduction
Different larval colour morphs, especially dark ones, of Danaus plexippus (Linnaeus, 1758) were
reported by various authors (DAVIS et al., 2004; DAVIS et al., 2005; SOLENSKY & LARKIN, 2003;
WILLMOTT et al., 2011). Especially temperature-induced melanism was discussed: Low(er)
temperatures during the development of early stages of D. plexippus cause melanism and result in
darker larvae than usually (DAVIS et al., 2004; DAVIS et al., 2005; SOLENSKY & LARKIN, 2003).
Since dark colours absorb more solar radiation than lighter colours, this response to temperature
might represent a thermal adaption to suboptimal temperatures (SOLENSKY & LARKIN, 2003;
DAVIS et al., 2005).
SHILAP Revta. lepid., 41 (164), diciembre 2013: 565-568 eISSN: 2340-4078 ISSN: 0300-5267
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However, the specific reasons for the phenomenon of dark larvae of D. plexippus are not clear in
every case, yet. In general, genetic and environmental causes of melanism in larvae of D. plexippus
were mentioned, “but it is unclear whether the dark larval morph results from genetic or environmental
factors” (SOLENSKY & LARKIN, 2003). WILLMOTT et al. (2011) mentioned a “Danaini dark-
banded caterpillar mimicry complex from Dominican Republic … with geographically distinct
phenotypes” which includes D. plexippus.
Larval colour morphs of Danaus plexippus in Costa Rica
Usually, larvae of D. plexippus show a light aspect with white, yellow and black vertical stripes
(Figs. 1 and 2). The co-author found larvae of D. plexippus with different proportions of the three
colours at two locations in the province of Cartago, Costa Rica:
The first site is a premontane wet forest in Navarro about 1362 m above sea level (geo reference:
LAT 9º 47’ 9.25” N, LONG 83º 55’ 38.83” W) (Fig. 3). The average temperature is 20,3 C, the annual
rainfall reaches 2500-3000 mm. The habitat is very sunny and humid. The second site is located in the
backyard of the co-author in Paraíso about 1315 m above sea level (geo reference: LAT 9º 50’ 6.74” N,
LONG 83º 51’ 56.48” W) with an average temperature of 20,3º C and annual rainfall of 1500-2000
mm. This site is much drier than the first one. Asclepias curassavica Linnaeus, 1753 (Apocynaceae,
Asclepiadoideae), the host plant of the larvae of D. plexippus in the backyard of the co-author, grew
under 75% direct sunlight. The distance between the two sites is approximately 10 kilometres.
The first time the co-author found a dark larval colour morph of D. plexippus was on 08-IV-2012
in Navarro on A. curassavica (Fig. 4). Recently, the corresponding author contacted Sonia Altizer at the
Odum School of Ecology, University of Georgia, United States of America, sending her the photo
shown in figure 4. She had worked with dark larval colour morphs of D. plexippus and had published
papers about these experiments as a co-author (DAVIS et al., 2004; DAVIS et al., 2005), but she was
surprised by the amount of pigmentation this specific larva showed. Sonia Altizer wrote to the
corresponding author that it was a very dark monarch larva, maybe as dark as she had ever seen
(unpubl.). On 14-IV-2012 the co-author found another dark specimen at the same site as the larva
shown in figure 4.
One year later the co-author visited the same location in Navarro again, searching for larvae of D.
plexippus. The path had been cleared and there were only a few plants of A. curassavica left.
Nevertheless, the co-author was able to find another dark specimen at exactly the same site on 19-IV-
2013. This specimen showed a not so well-defined yellow, which contained a little white (Fig. 5).
One day later, on 20-IV-2013, the co-author collected a dark-coloured larva of D. plexippus (Fig.
6) feeding on A. curassavica in his backyard in Paraíso, where he found three larvae showing normal
pigmentation and a few eggs, too. The dark specimen pupated shortly after being collected. Finally, on
07-V-2013, while this paper was already in press, the co-author found another dark-coloured larva in
his backyard, which was just previous to pupate and very similar to the one collected on 20-IV-2013.
At the same time and site the co-author found two larvae of D. plexippus with normal pigmentation.
Discussion and conclusions
Dark larvae of D. plexippus from the Dominican Republic mentioned by WILLMOTT et al.
(2011) had been observed in the wild. WILLMOTT et al. (2011) stated “… we have otherwise not
observed this phenotype outside the Caribbean”, referring to records on the islands Guadeloupe,
Hispaniola and Puerto Rico. The records in Costa Rica reported in this publication add dark specimens
from the Central American mainland to the list of sites.
Obviously, climate conditions, precisely lower temperatures, can cause melanism in larvae of D.
plexippus. But the results published by DAVIS et al. (2004; 2005) and by SOLENSKY & LARKIN
(2003) were obtained in artificial/experimental controlled conditions.
T. VAN DER HEYDEN & D. JIMÉNEZ
566 SHILAP Revta. lepid., 41 (164), diciembre 2013
565-568 Larval colour morphs of 2/12/13 16:56 Página 566
Most likely, temperature does not play a role in the case reported in this publication because dark
and light larvae were found together at the same locations.
Further investigations regarding the phenomenon of dark-coloured morphs of D. plexippus found
in the wild, especially in regions with a tropical climate, could be of certain interest.
Acknowledgements
We would like to thank Sonia Altizer for useful information.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
DAVIS, A. K., FARREY, B. & ALTIZER, S., 2004.– Quantifying monarch butterfly larval pigmentation using
digital image analysis.– Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata, 113: 145-147.
DAVIS, A. K., FARREY, B. D. & ALTIZER, S., 2005.– Variation in thermally induced melanism in monarch
butterflies (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) from three North American populations.– Journal of Thermal Biology,
30: 410-421.
SOLENSKY, M. J. & LARKIN, E., 2003.– Temperature-induced Variation in Larval Coloration in Danaus
plexippus (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae).– Annals of the Entomological Society of America, 96(3): 211-216.
WILLMOTT, K. R., ELIAS, M. & SOURAKOV, A., 2011.– Two Possible Caterpillar Mimicry Complexes in
Neotropical Danaine Butterflies (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae).– Annals of the Entomological Society of
America, 104(6): 1108-1118.
*T. v. d. H. D. J.
Immenweide 83 Apartado 70-7100
D-22523 Hamburg Cartago
ALEMANIA / GERMANY COSTA RICA / COSTA RICA
E-mail: tmvdh@web.de E-mail: admin@tools.co.cr
*Autor para la correspondencia / Corresponding author
(Recibido para publicación / Received for publication 27-IV-2013)
(Revisado y aceptado / Revised and accepted 6-VII-2013)
(Publicado / Published 30-XII-2013)
LARVAL COLOUR MORPHS OF DANAUS PLEXIPPUS (LINNAEUS, 1758) IN COSTA RICA
SHILAP Revta. lepid., 41 (164), diciembre 2013 567
565-568 Larval colour morphs of 2/12/13 16:56 Página 567
T. VAN DER HEYDEN & D. JIMÉNEZ
568 SHILAP Revta. lepid., 41 (164), diciembre 2013
Figures 1-6.– 1. Light larva of Danaus plexippus (L.) feeding on Gomphocarpus fruticosus (L.) W. T. Aiton, 1811,
Barranco de los Palmitos, Gran Canaria, Spain, 1988 (Photo: Torsten van der Heyden). 2. Detailed view of a light
larva, Paraíso, Cartago, Costa Rica, 20-IV-2013. 3. Location in Navarro, Cartago, Costa Rica, where dark larval colour
morphs were found. In the foreground plants of Asclepias curassavica. 4. Detailed view of a dark larval colour morph,
Navarro, Cartago, Costa Rica, 08-IV-2012. 5. Detailed view of a dark larval colour morph, Navarro, Cartago, Costa
Rica, 19-IV-2013. 6. Dark larval colour morph, Paraíso, Cartago, Costa Rica, 20-IV-2013 (Photos: Daniel Jiménez).
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Dark larval colour morphs of Danaus species in Costa Rica - references to a local mimicry complex? (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae, Danainae)
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Dark larval colour morphs of Danaus gilippus (Cramer, 1775) and Danaus plexippus (Linnaeus, 1758) (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae, Danainae) from Costa Rica are reported. A possible mimicry complex is discussed.
View
Willmott, K.R., M. Elias, and A. Sourakov. 2011. Two possible caterpillar mimicry complexes in neotropical danaine butterflies (Nymphalidae, Danainae: Danaini, Ithomiini).
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View
Two Possible Caterpillar Mimicry Complexes in Neotropical Danaine Butterflies (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae)
Article
Full-text available
  • Nov 2011
  • ANN ENTOMOL SOC AM
Caterpillar mimicry is surprisingly scarce, despite many examples of apparently defended, aposematic species. Here, we describe two possible examples of caterpillar mimicry in two tribes of the Neotropical Danainae: Danaini and Ithomiini. The first example, from the Caribbean island of Hispaniola, includes two subtribes of Danaini: Danaus plexippus (L.), Danaus gilippus (Cramer), Danaus cleophile (Godart) (Danaina), Anetia briarea (Godart), and Anetia jaegeri (Ménétriés) (Itunina). The first two widespread Danaus species have unusually dark phenotypes on Hispaniola, which we suggest are the result of mimicry with endemic Caribbean danaines. The second example, from the upper Amazon of eastern Ecuador, involves four subtribes of Ithomiini: Forbestra olivencia (Bates) (Mechanitina), Hypothyris fluonia (Hewitson), Hypothyris semifulva (Salvin) (Napeogenina), Ithomia amarilla Haensch (Ithomiina), Hyposcada anchiala (Hewitson), Oleria sexmaculata (Haensch) (Oleriina), and Pseudoscada florula (Hewitson) (Godyridina). Hyposcada illinissa (Hewitson) (Oleriina) is a possible additional member. This mimicry ring shows a color pattern known only from the upper Amazon, with the caterpillar having a yellow body and bright blue anterior and posterior segments, and this pattern has clearly evolved at least four times in the Ithomiini. We suggest that precise mimicry among caterpillars may be rarer than among adult butterflies because of a lack of sexual selection to drive the initial evolution of bright colors in larvae. We also suggest that the evolution of warning colors in protected caterpillars is more difficult than in butterflies, because a novel, conspicuous caterpillar is less able to avoid capture than the more agile adult.
View
Temperature-induced Variation in Larval Coloration in Danaus plexippus (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae)
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  • Jan 2009
  • ANN ENTOMOL SOC AM
Color variation has been reported within many species of Lepidoptera, and may be important in larval thermoregulation. Researchers have reported seasonal melanization and lack of yellow pigmentation in monarch larvae (Danaus plexippus L.). While the latter results from a recessive autosomal mutation, the source of variation in larval melanization is unclear. We measured the proportion of black, white, and yellow coloration on monarch fifth instars when larvae were reared in warm (32–22°C), control (27–17°C), or cold (20–10°C) temperature treatments. We found that temperature had a significant effect on monarch larval coloration. Larvae reared in a cold environment had more black and less white and yellow pigment than those reared in a warm environment. Because coloration affects absorption of radiant energy, color variation in response to temperature may be an ectothermic adaptation to suboptimal thermal conditions.
View
Temperature-induced Variation in Larval Coloration in Danaus plexippus (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae)
Article
  • May 2003
  • ANN ENTOMOL SOC AM
Color variation has been reported within many species of Lepidoptera, and may be important in larval thermoregulation. Researchers have reported seasonal melanization and lack of yellow pigmentation in monarch larvae (Danaus plexippus L.). While the latter results from a recessive autosomal mutation, the source of variation in larval melanization is unclear. We measured the proportion of black, white, and yellow coloration on monarch fifth instars when larvae were reared in warm (32-22°C), control (27-17°C), or cold (20-10°C) temperature treatments. We found that temperature had a significant effect on monarch larval coloration. Larvae reared in a cold environment had more black and less white and yellow pigment than those reared in a warm environment. Because coloration affects absorption of radiant energy, color variation in response to temperature may be an ectothermic adaptation to suboptimal thermal conditions.
View
Variation in thermally induced melanism in monarch butterflies (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) from three North American populations
Article
  • Jul 2005
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1.As ectotherms, insects often experience varying temperatures throughout their life cycle, and some respond by becoming more or less melanistic (dark coloring) during development to increase or decrease thermal energy absorption as larvae or adults.2.Monarch butterflies (Danaus plexippus) breed in temperate and tropical environments worldwide and are exposed to different average and extreme temperatures in different parts of their geographic range. In this study, we compared variation in thermally induced melanism among monarch butterflies from eastern and western North America and from South Florida.3.We raised the progeny of wild-captured adult butterflies from these populations in a common garden experiment, rearing individuals in cold (19°C), moderate (26°C), and hot (32°C) temperatures to examine population variation in larval and adult pigmentation.4.Across all populations, monarch larvae developed the darkest coloration in the cold treatment and were lightest when reared in hot temperatures. Similar results were observed for measures of adult wing melanism, with the exception of adult females, which developed darker colored wings in warmer temperatures.5.Significant population-level differences in average measures of melanism among larvae and adult butterflies were observed. Larvae from the eastern population became substantially darker in colder temperatures than S. Florida or western larvae. Western larvae were lightest overall, which might be adaptive to high temperatures experienced throughout portions of their summer breeding range. S. Florida larvae showed a lower response to cold temperatures relative to monarchs from either migratory population.6.Population level differences were also observed for thermal responses in wing melanism, particularly among adult females. Moreover, we found significant family level effects for each measure of larval and adult melanism, pointing to a genetic basis or strong maternal effects influencing these traits in monarch butterflies.
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