The Distribution and Larval Host Plant of schmeltzii Herrich-Schaffer Visheshni Chandra ª1, Takashi A. Inoue b and Uma R. Khurma ª2. ªThe University of the South Pacific, Faculty of Science, Technology and Environment, School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, Laucala Campus, Suva, Fiji. bJapanese National Institute of Agrobiological Sciences, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan. Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected]

ABSTRACT hence very little is known about its ecology. In this paper Papilio spp. form a very small group in the Southwest Pacific two aspects will be looked at, firstly the current distribution of P. and are found in Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, schmeltzii in Fiji and secondly the larval host plant of P. Vanuatu, New Caledonia, Australia, Fiji and Samoa. The schmeltzii in field. Papilio schmeltzii Herrich-Schaffer is endemic to the Fiji Islands (Robinson 1975). The Fijian 2. METHODOLOGY swallowtail prefer forested and isolated areas and Observations of P. schmeltzii were made in many areas in Viti are found near the edge of the forest. Swallowtail butterflies Levu (Colo I Suva, Tamavua, Korolevu, and the University of the mainly visit Stachytarpheta urticifolia (blue rat’s tail) South Pacific) and outer islands of Fiji (Kadavu, Vanua Balavu, occurring around the edge of light-dark area. The localities of Taveuni). P. schmeltzii was studied in Taveuni, Kadavu and P. schmeltzii reported by Robinson (1975) are Suva, Korolevu, Vanua Balavu (outer islands) for distribution and abundance and Savusavu, Labasa, Nananu -I - Ra, Ovalau, Kadavu, Mango, six days were spent on each island from December 2007 to Vanua Balavu, Yasawa, Naviti, and Nathula. New records of January 2008. Observations were also recorded on the plants presence of P. schmeltzii in Taveuni, Beqa, and Kadavu are visited by the adult swallowtails for nectar flowers. reported in this paper.

Keywords Keywords: Swallowtails, , Endemic, Nectar Flower

1. INTRODUCTION Much of the biodiversity in Fiji is endemic, but the distribution and population status of some taxa is virtually unknown. Fiji’s fauna is mostly composed of invertebrates (Waqa-Sakiti 2007). However, very little information has been published on fauna of Fiji. In present time, deforestation is the most critical threat to the decline of the endemic biota in Fiji and therefore, the need exists to survey the ecology, biology, , and biodiversity of for better conservation strategies (Waqa- Sakiti 2006). Two endemic species of swallowtail butterflies are found on the eastern edge of the Pacific Islands which are Papilio godeffroyi in Samoa (Savaïi, Upolu and Tutuila) and P. schmeltzii in Fiji (Hopkins 1927; Robinson 1975). P. schmeltzii is Fiji's largest butterfly and the only Papilionidae in Fiji. P. schmeltzii was originally described by Gottlieb August Wilhelm Herrich- Schaeffer (a German entomologist) in 1869 (Robinson 1975). Unfortunately, all Schaeffer's records and specimens were destroyed when the city of Dresden in Germany was bombed in 1945 during World War II. Most of the information about this species is derived from studies by Robinson (1975) and Hancock (1983a; 1983b). Mathew (1885) had described the early stages of both P. godeffroyi and P. schemltzii but the host plant reported was anecdotal. No further research has since been done on this 3. RESULTS P. schmeltzii was observed on Micromelum minitum plant (Figure 2). Also larvae of P. schmeltzii were found feeding on these plants 3.1 Current Distribution of P. schmeltzii in Vatukarasa area in Korolevu, Sigatoka. P. schmeltzii was seen (Figure 1) feeding only on S. urticifolia flowers in that area (Figure 3). Colo – I – Suva: Only a few P. schmeltzii were seen in Colo – I – Suva forest park. Only one or two individuals were seen fluttering along the edge of the forest and approaching the Stachytarpheta urticifolia flowers. Taveuni: Two P. schmeltzii were seen flying near a Citrus recticulata (mandarin) tree in a flowering garden, opposite the forested area, in Sukulu (Tanoa place), Taveuni. Vanua Balavu (Lau): One to two individuals of P. schmeltzii were sighted near Daliconi Village, Namalata Village and Biotaci Village. All three villages were surrounded by forest and P. schmeltzii major nectar source on this island was from S. urticifolia flowers. Kadavu: Along the main road from Vunisea to Solodamu village twelve P. schmeltzii were sighted near the edge of the forested areas that were seen feeding mostly on Lantana camara and S. urticifolia flowers. Sigatoka: In Sigatoka,

P. schmeltzii was found in Korolevu and Korolevu – I – Colo, the area mostly hilly with steep slopes. P. schmeltzii was observed Figure 2: Larva of P. schmeltzii on M. minitum leaf in Vatukarasa coming to Lantana camara and S. urticifolia flowers for feeding, around the edge of the forest. Beqa and Koro: One P. schmeltzii was observed on Beqa Island, feeding on Ixora coccinea (Prof. Randy Thaman, University of the South Pacific - personal communication). A few P. schmeltzii butterflies were seen near coastal forest in a survey done on biodiversity of Koro Island in 2007 by Bird Life International. In the vicinity where P. schmeltzii butterflies were sighted in outer islands (Kadavu, Vanua Balavu and Taveuni), lots of Citrus species of the Rutaceae family were present but no Micromelum minitum plants were observed. In addition, it was observed that P. schmeltzii butterflies were always found in the presence of nearby stream or river.

Figure 3: P. schmeltzii feeding on S. urticifolia flowers in Vatukarasa

4. DISCUSSION The host plant is Micromelum minitum (Rutaceae family), which is a small, woody plant. The leaves are simple, lanceolate and alternate. The flowers are white and unripe fruits are green that turn red when ripe. It is found in coastal areas of Viti Levu (Smith 1988). Like most of the swallowtails found in the Pacific, P. schmeltzii also utilizes rutaceous plants. P. ambrax, P. fuscus and P. aegeus in Papua New Guinea also exploit M. minitum and other Rutaceae plants for larval food (Parsons 1999). However, P. anactus, P. demoleus and P. ulysses mainly prefer to feed on

Figure 1: Map of Fiji Islands with known distribution of P. Citrus species of Rutaceae family (Braby 2000). schmeltzii throughout Fiji archipelago. The localities of P. P. schmeltzii is currently known from 4 areas on the mainland and schmeltzii recorded by Robinson (1975) is shown as red dots on 10 areas in the outer islands. To gain a better understanding on the Fiji Map and new records for Beqa, Koro, Taveuni and the distribution of this species, further studies on more outer Kadavu are marked in green dots. islands needs to be conducted. The population of adult P. schmeltzii butterflies was estimated at 2 to 4 individuals on 3.2 Natural Habitat and Larval Host Plant of average, with highest number sighted in Kadavu . P. schmeltzii is P. schmeltzii found in forest areas and shows a preference for stream and The Fijian swallowtail butterflies prefer forested, isolated areas riverbeds. The sighting of the P. schmeltzii on the outer islands of and were found near the edge of the forest. Oviposition by female Fiji but in the presence of Citrus trees and no M. minitum plant, suggest that the butterfly’s host plant could be Citrus species in 7. REFERENCES absence of M. minitum. The areas colonized (Koro – I – Colo, [1] 2007. A Preliminary Survey of the Flora and Fauna of Koro Beqa, Koro, Taveuni and Kadavu) are in close proximity to the Island, Fiji. Birdlife International Fiji Programme. areas where P. schmeltzii is already established and the new areas have suitable forested areas, preferred larval host plant and nectar [2] Braby, M. F. 2000. Butterflies of Australia. Their source. Robinson (1975) states that P. schmeltzii is abundant on Identification, Biology and Distribution. Volume 1. CSIRO the Western side of Viti Levu and very common on Vanua Balavu Publishing, Collingwood. in the Lau group. However, the results show that now only few [3] Hancock, D. L. 1983a. Phylogeny and Relationships of the individuals are seen on the western side of Viti Levu and not so Papilio fuscus group of Swallowtails (: common on Vanua Balavu. In present time, the greatest threat to Papilionidae). Aust. Ent. Mag. 9(5): 63 – 70. P. schmeltzii butterflies is probably the destruction of their [4] Hancock, D. L. 1983b. Princeps Aegeus (Donovan) and its habitat. This is associated with increasing urbanization, allies (Lepidoptera: Papilionidae): Systematics, Phylogeny agriculture and deforestation. With continuing habitat loss, the and Biogeography. Aust. J. Zool. 31: 771 – 797. outlook for these endemic species is far from bright as many populations will be inevitably pushed to near or actual extinction. [5] Hopkins, G.H.E. 1927. Butterflies of Samoa and some Thus it is important that P. schmeltzii be studied in detail for neighbouring island-groups. Insects of Samoa and other better conservation plans and management strategies, to prevent Samoan terrestrial Arthropoda. The British Museum extinction of these endemic species. Investigation is ongoing (Natural History), The Oxford University Press. about the biology and ecology of P. schmeltzii in detail, to better [6] Mathew, G.F. 1885. Life-history of three species of Western understand this iconic species and the survey is being carried out Pacific Rhopalocera. Transactions of the Entomological in Vatukarasa area in Sigatoka. In addition, P. schmeltzii has been Society of London. 357-368. successfully reared in captivity and a detailed study of each stage of the P. schmeltzii life cycle has been done and this information [7] Parson, M. 1999. The Butterflies of Papua New Guinea. is soon to be published in another paper. Their Systematics and Biology. Academic Press, London. [8] Robinson, G. S. 1975. Macrolepidoptera of Fiji and Rotuma: 5. CONCLUSION A Taxonomic and Biogeographic Study, PhD. E. W. Classey Ltd. The host plant of P. schmeltzii observed in natural habitat in this study is Micromelum minitum. The preferences of the food plants [9] Smith, A. C. 1988. Flora Vitiensis Nova, Volume four. SB by adult P. schmeltzii are variable due to their availability in that Printers, Inc., Honolulu. area but the adult butterflies favoured S. urticifolia and were also [10] Waqa-Sakiti, H. 2006. Taxonomy, Diversity and Distribution seen visiting L. camara in some areas. On Beqa Island, P. of Canopy Coleoptera (Beetles) along Elevational Gradients schmeltzii was seen feeding on Ixora coccinea flowers. Although on Eastern Viti Levu, Fiji. M.Sc. Thesis. The University of P. schmeltzii is commonly seen in Fiji Islands, they occur in low the South Pacific, Suva, Fiji. numbers in their natural habitat. [11] Waqa-Sakiti, H. 2007. Entomological work in Fiji. How much do we really know? Melanesian Geo Magazine, Issue 5 6. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS (May – September). http://www.melanesiangeo.org. 18 May The senior author is greatly indebted to people in villages where 2008. the observations of P. schmeltzii butterflies were carried out. The support by the Darwin Initiative project on Diversity for financing the trip to Sigatoka and outer islands of Fiji to study the abundance and distribution of P. schmeltzii is gratefully acknowledged.