Volume 24: 69–74 METAMORPHOSIS ISSN 1018–6490 (PRINT) LEPIDOPTERISTS’ SOCIETY OF AFRICA ISSN 2307–5031 (ONLINE) New larval host plant records for butterflies of the Kruger National Park and its surrounds, Limpopo & Mpumalanga, South Africa Published online: 31 December 2013 Herbert H.H. Otto1, Alan J. Gardiner2 and Ian C. Sharp3. 1 P.O. Box 1511, Barberton, 1300, South Africa: [email protected] (corresponding author) 2 Southern African Wildlife College, P.B. X3015, Hoedspruit 1380, South Africa. E-mail: [email protected] 3 P. O. Box 146, Hoedspruit 1380, South Africa. E-mail : [email protected] Abstract: New butterfly larval host plants are recorded for the Kruger National Park area, by means of oviposition observations, raising larvae to adults and/ or larval feeding observations. Some oviposition observations are provided and discussed. Key words: Butterfly oviposition, host plant selection, Kruger National Park, larval host plants, monophagous, oligophagous, polyphagous Citation : Otto, H.H.H., Gardiner, A.J. & Sharp, I.C. 2013. New larval host plant records for butterflies of the Kruger National Park and its surrounds, Limpopo & Mpumalanga, South Africa. Metamorphosis 24: 69–74. Copyright © Lepidopterists’ Society of Africa INTRODUCTION pattern. Frequent nectaring, often from the plant being oviposited on, is another clue. Such females Comprehensive lists of larval host plants for were often seen close to the host plant. When this southern African Lepidoptera were produced by is a tree she can be observed flying between the Kroon (1999), and Williams (2012). The present branches and about the leaves searching for a study consolidates the new larval host plant suitable bud, leaf or twig to lay egg(s) on. In the records and observations of the authors for the case of annuals or low-growing perennials the Kruger National Park (KNP) and its surrounds. females often preferred to stay close to the ground. The range of host plants utilised by butterflies Females were often not affected by overcast allows them to be categorised into three broad weather and may even have found it conducive to groups (Cates, 1980; 1981). Those specialised on egg-laying. one or more host plant species within a genus are Following oviposition some distinguishing and termed monophagous. Those species feeding on characteristic plant parts like flowers (if present) plants from two or more genera in the same family were collected for plant identification purposes, or closely related families are termed and pressed and stored at the private herbarium of oligophagous. A number of prolific and Doug McMurtry near Nelspruit. If plant material widespread butterflies such as Zizeeria knysna was collected in the KNP a duplicate sample was (Trimen) and Vanessa cardui (Linnaeus) feed on a sent to the Skukuza Herbarium. wide range of unrelated host plants and are Nikon D80 & D3x (Alan Gardiner = AG) and polyphagous. This paper contributes to our Canon EOS 650D (Herbert Otto = HO & Ian Sharp knowledge of host plant records, and this can = IS) cameras were used to record oviposition, improve our understanding of the taxonomy eggs, larval stages and host plants (illustrating (Pierre, 1987), distribution, ecology and evolution growth forms and flowers). of the Lepidoptera (Kroon, 1999). A number of books were used to identify plants from diagnostic features and distribution. Plant METHODS AND MATERIALS names were obtained for herbs and annuals from Germishuizen & Meyer (2003), Raimondo et al. Information was gathered either by finding early (2009), Paton (2013), and for trees from Boon stages and rearing them through to adult, or by (2010) and Schmidt et al. (2002). Plant synonyms observing adult oviposition behaviour. A gravid were checked for accuracy from Klopper et al. female butterfly ready to oviposit is noticeable (2006). Cuscuta epithymum was identified using from her altered wing-beat and searching flight keys from Goncalves (1987) and Meeuse & Welman (2000). Priva cordifolia was identified Received: 3 September 2013 from Pooley (1998), and Mollugo nudicaulis from Accepted: 31 December 2013 Van der Walt (2009). Van Oudtshoorn (1992) was Copyright: This work is licensed under the Creative used to identify grass species. Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 In most cases GPS co-ordinates and altitude were Unported License. To view a copy of this license, send a recorded to both serve as reference points and to letter to Creative Commons, Second Street, Suite 300, allow one to return to the plant. In a number of San Francisco, California, 94105, USA, or visit: instances a CE stereo microscope was utilised to http://creative commons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/ Otto et al./ Metamorphosis 24: 69–74 70 observe and photograph the early stages through eventually laid her eggs on a grass stem near the the eye-piece of the microscope using a host plant and on another non-larval host plant BlackBerry phone (HO), or later a Canon EFS 30cm away. Papilio demodocus demodocus near 60mm ultrasonic macro lens (HO & IS). Orpen have been observed laying eggs on spider Plant material for breeding the larval stages were web strands between small branches of a cultivated either kept in glass observation bottles (HO), citrus plants. periodically replenished, or in small plastic At Low’s Creek the Small Orange Tip, Colotis containers with lids (AG & IS). Some emerged evagore antigone was observed in July 2013 butterflies were set as voucher specimens; on laying eggs on dry grass stems (non host plant) in occasions with the mounted pupal casings. proximity to the Maerua host plant. Hypolimnas Williams (2012) was used to establish whether a misippus ovipositing on grass near the larval host host plant was a new record. Butterfly names were plant was also recorded from Ghana, and the confirmed using Mecenero et al. (2013) and emerging larvae moved to the larval host plant to Williams (2012). feed (Mensah & Kudom, 2012). Hypolycaena p. philippus oviposited on the non- RESULTS indigenous Cuscuta epithymum (Table 1). Cuscuta is a parasitic plant, commonly known as dodder, In total 61 new host plant records for 43 butterfly which was twining around the stems of an taxa were recorded (Table 1 & illustrations of Acanthaceae. The butterfly laid four eggs some of these records in Figs 1–15). Only five specifically on the Cuscuta flowers and stem. The (12%) of the 43 taxa in this study could be Cuscuta plant was a healthy one, observed in considered monophagous: Abantis tettensis; March after good January rains, and this excludes Leucochitonea levubu (Figs 2 & 3); Spialia colotes the possibility that drought was the reason for this transvaaliae; Spialia delagoae (Fig. 4) and behaviour. Even though four eggs were laid follow Euchrysops subpallida. Twenty five (58%) are up observations are required to confirm utilisation oligophagous and thirteen (30%) polyphagous. of this unusual plant. The polyphagous species are common and Telchinia serena larvae were found feeding on widespread, for instance Hypolycaena philippus Waltheria indica at Marloth Park in April 2009. philippus (Fig. 11), which in the KNP alone uses The gregarious larvae swarm over the leaves of the host plants from 10 genera in 7 different plant host plant with final instar larvae often pupating on families. One record, Melhania prostrata, was the the same plant and later eclosing (a similar first host plant record for Spialia delagoae (Fig. 4). behaviour was observed for the same species in Three of the records were for host plant families Harare, Zimbabwe [AG, 2000]). One freshly never previously recorded for that butterfly eclosed female was observed in copulation while species: Cigaritis mozambica on Rubiaceae her wings were still drying. Such females possibly (Fig. 10), Hypolycaena philippus on enjoy the advantage of reduced predation risk from Convolvulacae (Fig. 11), and Pseudonacaduba flying, both for mating and egg oviposition. In sichela sichela on Combretaceae. Central and South America heliconid males have In low rainfall areas, such as the KNP, butterflies even been known to puncture the pupa to mate have larval host plants that can survive harsh with uneclosed females (Murawski, 1993). conditions even during extended periods of drought. For example in the KNP Boscia DISCUSSION albitrunca has been recorded as a larval host plant for 14 Pierid species and Spialia delagoae utilises At times oviposition observations can be Melhania prostrata (Table 1). confusing, for instance, there may be a lack of host Some unusual field observations plant (e.g. due to late rains) and the adult lays on Belenois creona severina was observed ovipositing either one or more non host plant substrate(s). If on Maerua rosmarinoides near Barberton (July fortunate enough when the larva hatches a host 2010) and subsequently at a different locality in plant may have sprouted nearby (Mensah & Barberton in January 2013. In the latter case the Kudom, 2012). It seems females are able to sense eggs hatched in three and a half days (90 hours). the presence of the host plant in close proximity to The rainy season resulted in lush vegetation and the laying site. droves of white pierids were seen migrating during Female butterflies are very careful about where mid-summer. they lay their eggs even down to choosing A gravid female Papilio demodocus demodocus particular plant individuals at the right stage of was observed ovipositing at Crocodile Gorge development and in the optimal microhabitat. The (September 2012) when the spring flush of plants survival of their off-spring depends on this choice. were emerging. The butterfly was circling, one Once-off oviposition observations are not larval host plant, a small Sneezewood, Ptaeroxylon conclusive for some of the reasons provided above, obliquum, but was seemingly caught between not but repeat observations made by different wanting to lay too many eggs, on such a small observers, on different occasions, and using plant, and the lack of other suitable larval host different methods can verify such records.