Synchronization of coincidences between the life stages of Pachliopta aristolochiae and the phenological stages of its host plant Aristolochia indica

Upama Aich, Shawan Chowdhury, S Akand, Saima Rahman, K Chowdhury, Z Sultan, M A Bashar

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Abstract

Reproductive performance and trophic relation between any butterfly and its host plant is very selective. The life cycle of a butterfly entirely depend on its host plant. In the present investigation, the butterfly Pachliopta aristolochiae was found to be closely associated with its host plant Aristolochia indica. The plant was found to grow synchronously with emergence of the related butterfly’s new generation-arrival in the experimental ecosystem. The butterfly was colonized in the laboratory as well as in the natural condition. The adopted colonizing technique has shown that some developmental stages in the host plant were effective in giving high rate of adult production. The feeding potential of the host plant’s phonological stages was found to be significant for some of the developmental stages (particularly 3 instars larval stages). Sixteen compounds were isolated from the leaves of the host plant and structures of five compounds were characterized which indicated the role of host plant and the feeding potential in the developmental process. Among those five compounds three were the derivatives of Aristolochic acids, namely Cepharanone-A-N-β-D-gluco-5,13"-O, 4''icosyl-aristolenone(1), Cepharanone-A-N-β-D-gluco-5,13"-O,4''-ethyl-aristolenone (2), and Cepharanone-A-2hydroxy-N-β-D-gluco-5,13"-O-4''-icosyl-aristolenone(3). This record suggests the presence of high amount of Aristolochic acids in the leaves of the host plant that made the butterfly toxic and unpalatable both in adult and immature stages to its predators. This toxicity may suggest that the presence of warning coloration results in the adults via the biochemical (metabolic) changes in the larval stages.
Original languageEnglish
Number of pages8
JournalJournal of Biodiversity Conservation and Bioresource Management
Publication statusPublished - 2016

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