[PDF] External Morphology of adult citrus butterfly, Papilio memnon

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Acad. Arts & Sc. 2005
Vol . III . No . 4(i ) Zoolog y

Externa

l Morpholog y o f adul t citru s butterfly , Papilio memnon (Linnaeus , 1758
) an d Seasona l Abundanc e o f th e Specie s

NiNiWi

n

Abstrac

t Sexua l dimorphis m i s obviou s i n Papilio memnon. Th e femal e adul tresembles that of Papilio poly tes another citrus butterfly species. However, marke d differenc e i s observe d i n the * siz e an d re d spot s o n th e bas e o f th e forewing , Th e adul t mal e P. memrion i s blu e blac k i n colou r an d re d spot s ar e presen t o n th e bas e o f th e undersid e o f bot h for e an d hin d wjngs . Th ewing span of both sexes ranges from' 120 mm to 150 mm. The breeding seaso n i s fro m en d o f Jun e t o earl y par t o f January , th e pea k bein g i n th e mont h o f November . Th e recorde d diagnosti c externa l feature s o f thi sstudied species are described supported by scaled photographs. Seasonal abundanc e o f thi s specie s i s als o mentioned . I t i s learnMhroug h th e interne t tha t a mounte d specime n o f thi s specie s fetche d $2.9 5 i n Malaysia . I t i s therefor e conclude d tha t successfu l rearin g o f thi s specie s i n captivit y coul dbe of benefit to the country. .'V- :

Introductio

n

Butterflie

s ar e instantl y recognize d b y peopl e th e worl d ove r a s attractive , harmles s insects . The y .ar e Valuabl e pollinator s whe n the y mov e from plan t t o plan t gatherin g nector . ther e ar e mor e butterflie s i n th e we tseason particularly during the period of beginning and end of monsoon.

Papilio

memnon Linnaeus , 175
8 i s commo n i n rain y an d col d season s bu t declin e i n ho t season . Th e adul t Papilibnid s ar e mostl y vigorou s butterflie s wit h a stron g flight, ofte n hoverin g whe n the y ar e feedin g a t flowers. Th epresence of overlapping scales on the wings helps to distinguish the

Lepidopter

a fro m othe r insec t orders , i Papilio memnon is in a wa y o f dimorphism , wher e th e mal e an d femal e hav e tw o colou r pattern s an d markings . However , thes e pattern s ar e no t constan t an d heritable .i The present study is aimed to compare the differences between the adul t femal e of P. memrion an d tha t o f A polytes Linnaeus , 1758
. Thi s stud y mentione d th e breedin g seaso n an d th e seasona l abundanc e o f thi s species .

Demonstrator

, Departmen t o f Zoology , Universit y o f Yarigo n

146 Jour. Myan. Acad. AMS & Sc. 2005 Vol. III. sNo. 40) Zoology(1

Material

s an d MeitSsods . Stud y site s an d stud y perio d

Kamayut

, Hlain g an d Insei n Township s o f Yango n Divisio n wer e chose n as.natura l stud y site s wher e th e citru s plant s wer e cultivate d (Fig.il) .

Seasona

l abundanc e wer e recorde d fro m thes e site s an d a s wel l a s i n captivit y statu s (Butterfl y house) . Study , perio d laste d fro m Marc h 2,00 3 t o Februar y 2004
. Meteorologica l dat a wer e obtaine d fro m Departmen t of . Meteorolog y an d Hydrology , Kab a Aye , Yangon .

Rearin

g i n captivity ; Th e hos t plant s an d flowerin g plant s ar c grow n i n th e butterfl y hous e whic h i s artificiall y create d t o sui t th e adaptatio n o f th e butterflies . A pai r o f mal e an d femal e Papilio memnon ,^/a s introduce d int o th e create d butterfl y house . Introductio n o f paire d malelan d femal e wer e conducte d fiv e time s t o stud y th e behaviou r i n captivity , ph e breedin g -behaviour s wer e recorde d startin g from egg 1 layin g til l th e emergenc e o f adults ! The-temperatur e i n th e butterfl y hous e range s from 26.6°Cft
o 34.2°C
. Thes e behaviour s vver e als o observe d i n nature . However , i n thi s presentatio n externa l morpholog y o f th e adult s an d seasona l abundanc e wil l qnl y b e given .

Specime

n preparatio n Th e male s die d fiv e day s afte r matin g an d th e female s died r te n day s afte r layin g th e fertilized egg s o n jii e hos t plants . Whes U specimen s wer e collecte d an d thei r wing s wer e place d i n 10 % potassiu m hydroxid e (KOH) . Whe n th e wing s becam e transparen t afte r 2 t o 3-days , they-wer e hashe d thoroughl y unde r th e ta p wate r t o rejtnov e th e KOH ; Th e treate d wing s wer e the n lef t t o dr y i n roo m temperature s Thi s enable d faie yeins ^ o f thS ; wing s t o becom e visibl e whichi s a n importanl|s6urc e o f identificatien^ ' fe '

Identificatio

n Th e wing s wit h distinc t veinsjwer e place d i n th e peteidis h t o stud y th e diagnosti c feature s o f th e .species . Identificatio n i s followe d afte r Bingha m (1905-1907 ) an d Talbo t (1939) . " " Jour. Myan. Acad. Arts <& Sc. 2005 Vol. HI. No. 4(a);Zoology 147 Resul t Sexua l dimorphis m o f P. memnon i s describe d supporte d b y scale d photograph s (Plat e I) .

Papilio

memnon (male )

Uppersid

e - Th e uppc i suuaicG i u s ior e win g i s dee p indig o blu e blac k wit h blu e stripe s an d tha t o f it s hin d win g i s als o blu e blac k bu t wit h mor e prominen t blu e stripes . Th e re d patche s o n th e uppersid e o f for e wings-ar e no t a s distinc t a s tha t o f th e undersid e o f fore wing . >y . [ - • -

Undersid

e - Distinc t patche s ar e presen t a t th e bas e o f th e undersid e o f th e for e wing . Th e undersid e for e win g i s brownis h wit h greyis h veins . Th e hin d win g i s opaqu e wit h velvety-blac k scales . Re d patche s ar e presen t .a t th e bas e o f th e hin d win g . • .- ; an d terminate s wit h blac k spots .

Pdpilio

memnon (female ) L

Uppersid

e - Th e uppersid e o f for e win g i s brownis h wit h blac k stripes . Re d patche s ar e presen t a t th e bas e o f uppersid e o f th e fore win g an d th e basa l are a is * velvety-black . Hin d win g i s blac k with 1 whit e an d re d patches . Re d spot s ar e presen t a t • th e tenniiia i par t o f hin d wirig . Th e inne r angl e o f th e hin d win g consist s o f larg e blac k spot .

Undersid

e - Th e undersid e o f the,for e win g i s simila r t o th e uppersicl e excep t tha t re d patche s ar e presen t a t th e bas e o f th e hin d ; . * wing . Th e termina l spot s ar e ochraceou s t o greyis h white . ii;;.:... : Th e morphologica l structure s o f adul t femal e P. memnon thoug h

Simila

r to;tha t of,P. polytes ca n easil y b e distinguishe d b y th e size . Th e siz e • [pi^ memnon i s abou t two-thir d markedl y large r tha n P . polytes. However , khe-..male s o f P. memnon an d P. polytes are , distinctl y 'differen t i n ; morphologica l structures . • , • ' [Seasona l abundanc e o f P. memnon • . . . | I ; f " Th e seasona l abundance,o f P. memnon i n captivit y i s relate d t o t i ^mperatur e an d humidit y a s show n i n Fig. 2 . Th e emergenc e o f mal e an d

Eemalejfro

m th e pupa e d o no t var y i n relatio n to^th e monsoo n o r coo l seasons , jdwever , n o dat a coul d b e obtaine d i n ho t seaso n a s th e populatio n of P.

148 Jour. MyanAcad. Arts & Sc. 2005 Vol. III. No. 4(i) Zoology

memnon markedl y declin e durin g thi s period . Simila r condition s wer e recorde d i n natur e (Fig . 3) . Th e numbe r o f developmenta l stage s (egg , larv a an d pupa ) graduall y increase d startin g fro m monsoo n til l th e end,,io f coo l seaso n an d starte d t o declin e toward s th e o n se t o f ho t season . I t coul d b e state d her e tha t th e populatio n o f P. memnon wa s a t th e lowes t pea k i n ^h e ho t seaso n an d highes t i n th e o n se t o f coo l season .

Discussio

n Sexua l dimorphis m o r difference s i n th e appearanc e o f th e mal e an d I i femal e i s th e geneticall y produce d variatio n a s statedb y Acker y and 1 Vane- 1 Wrigh t (1984) . I n Papilio memnon th e mal e an d femal e diffe r i n size , colou r an d shape . Th e femal e i s slighitl y large r tha n mal e bu t colou r marking s ar e distinctl y different . fi . , , • . , . •

Morphologica

l structur e p f adul t P. memnon an d P. polytes \s simila r i n win g patter n an d win g colour . However , th e siz e o f P. memnon i s noticeabl y large r tha n P. polytes. Th e differenc e i n siz e coul d b e observe d startin g fro m th e egg . W ; .

Female

s wer e rarel y foun d i n th e populatio n durin g th e declin e period , i.e. , i n th e hos t season . Th e decline 1 o f th e larva l stage s furthe r supporte d thi s finding . Durin g th e unfavourabl e season s o f th e yea r especiall y i n dr y season , growt h an d developmen t o f thi s specie s i s als o arrested . Thi s perio d i s thu s assume d t o b e hibernatio n period . Dail y fluctuation s o f temperatur e an d moistur e ar e als o importan t t o insects . Thei r mortalit y rat e ca n b e influence d b y thes e factor s a s describe d b y Acker y an d Vane-Wrigh t (1984) . I t ha s bee n learn t throug h th e interna l tha t th e mounte d specimen s o f thi s specie s ar e o f economi c valu e wit h variou s marketabl e price s i n Malaysia ,

Indonesia

, Barl i islan d ^ etc. , a s reporte d i n

WWW.insectempire.com/butterflys.html

. I t i s therefor e conclude d fro m th e presen t finding s tha t i f th e specie s P. memnon \s successfull y reare d i n captivity , i t coul d promot e th e econom y o f thi s country . ^Conclusio n Sexua l dimorphis m o f ^ adul t mal e an d femal e P. memnon wa s observed . Morphologica l difference s betwee n P. memnon an d P. polytes wer e studied . Seasona l abundanc e o f IP . memnon wa s mentione d bot h i n natur e and i Jour. Myan. Acad. Arts & Sc 2005 Vol. III. No. 4(i) Zoology 149 captivit y from Marc h 200
3 t o Februar y 2004
, from thi s stud y th e pea k o f P. memnon wa s foun d t o b e i n Octobe r an d November . I n th e hos t season , mainl y fro m Marc h t o Ma y P. memnon was rarel y foun d i n al l studie d sites .

Breedin

g behaviou r an d successfull y rearin g o f th e adult s startin g from th e fertilize d egg s hav e als o bee n studied . Th e finding s o f thes e studie s woul d no t onl y giv e interestin g accoun t o f thi s specie s bu t woul d als o b e o f economi c valu e t o thos e intereste d i n th e butterflies . Thi s woul d the n promot e th e econom y o f thi s country .

Acknowledgement

s I woul d lik e t o expres s m y gratitud e t o Dr . Da w Ti n Nwe , Professo r (Head) , Zoolog y

Department

, Yango n University , fo r permittin g m e t o wbr k o n th e presen t butterfl y specie s . an d fo r he r interes t rendere d durin g th e stud y period . I a m indebte d t o Dr . S i S i HI a Bu , Associat e Professor , Zoolog y Department , Yango n University , fo r he r invaluabl e supervision . Las t bu t no t th e leas t t o Dr . Thei n Win , Lecturer , Zoolog y Department , Yango n

University

, fo r hi s patienc e rendere d whil e preparin g th e powe r poin t presentation .

Reference

s

Ackery/P.

R an d R. I Vane-Wrigh t (1984) . "Th e Biolog y o f Butterflies" .

Bingham

, C.T . (1907) . "Th e Faun a o f Britis h India' ' includin g Cevlo n an d Burma -

Butterflies

. Volum e I . Taylo r Francis , London .•' - . * • • • I- •• • . • • ",-:

Goodden,R(1974)

. "Butterflie s an d Moths" . Transwbrld'Publisher s Ltd. , London . O ' toole , C . (2002) . "Insect s ancfSpiders" . Firefl y Book s Ltd. , Canada .

Pinratana

, B . A . (1974) . "Butterflie s i n Thailand" . Vol . I.^Th e Virutha n press , Thailand .

Talbot

, G . (1939) . "Th e Faun a o f Britis h India " includin g Cevlo n an d Burma . Butterflies . Vol . I . Tayloi^an d Franci s Company , London . ^ ; VJ'WW . insectempire.com/butterflys.html .

150Jour. Myath Acad. Arts & Sc. 2005 Vol. III. No. 4(i) Zoology

• I | ^ • \\--~J( , I j \\ ' ': ' Jour. Myan.Acad. Arts <£ Sc. 2005 Vol. Ill;No. 4(i) Zoology151 Tabl e 1 . Seasona l abundanc e o f Papilio mimnon i n captivit y 2003-200
4 Mal e Femal e Tem p ° c •• • RH(% )Mar • • \ . - • • 32,
9 32.
8Apr - • • - 34,
2 34.
1 6 5 ! 6 6May - 30.
3 29.
4 7 5Jun , - 26.
7 26.
6 8 3Jul _ • - 26.
6 26.
5 8 0Aug 2 5 1 8 27.
3 27.
2 8 2^ept 1 1 %' • 41-A
- 8 1Oct 2 2 8 29.
8 29.
7 7 0Nov 2 9 1 3 31.
9 31.
8 6 0Dec 1 0 6 30.
1 30.
0 6 5Jan 1 9 . 5 30.
3 30.
2 6 4Feb - . '31. 0 30.
9 6 1 e '"•-"•"•"•• :

»Femal

e - Hkf-

Temperature

- 3<-. - R H 9 0 j Ma r Ap r Ma y Ju n Ju ! Au g S^p t Oc t No v De c Ja n Fe bi . • • ' • • - • • f • Mont h Fig . 2 . Seasona l abundanc e o f Papilio Mcmnon i n captivit y (2003-2004 )

152Jour. Myan. Acad. Arts & Sa 2005 Vol. III. No. 4(i) Zoology

Tabl e 2 . Eg g Larv a Pup a Tem p ° c RH(% )

Rainfal

l (mm )Seasonal Ma r 4 3 36.
7 19. 7 7 0 0Apr 3 3 : 2 38.
2 22.
6 7 1

0abundance

Ma y 3 2 1 33.5
. 22.
1 8 3 45
4Jun 1 5 1 0 • • 2.. . 30.
7 21.
4 9 1 59

8o&Papilio memnon in nature

Ju ls 2 0 H .$• : 30.
7 2|1. 8 •?

°Aug

2 2 1 6 1 0 30.
3 21.3
. 9 2 45
2Sept 2 3 1 7 1 3 30.
6 20. 9 9 1 35
2Qct 2 6 2 0 1 8 33.
6 21.
6 8 0 7

8-Nov!i

2 5 ] 2 0 ,1 3 35.
1 15. 9 7 0

0Dee. i-

19 t 17 i :. : 5 ; 33.
3 15. 9 7 4 0Jan 1 2 8 4 33.
8 15. 2 7 4 0Feb 5 3 2 :35. 0 16. 0 7 1 0 Larv a E23SZ 3 Pup a - - . -A - - Temperatiir e - X-'•• - R

H(' • ! * ! ' ' ' 'Rainfall

1-3 0 Ma r Ap r Ma y Jun ' if.§u\ Au g Sep t Oc t No v De c Ja n Fe b Mont h Fig . 3 . Seasona l abundanc e of P. memnon i n nature .