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Pierid butterflies belong to family Pieridae of Order Lepidoptera. They are serious pest of many valuable plants in larval stage but adult forms play major role in pollination. In present study surveys were carried out in order to explore Pierid butterfly fauna of district Abbottabad, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan during March 2017 to February 2018. A total of 110 specimens were collected which were identified into 8 species pertaining 5 genera of family Pieridae; Catopsila ponoma (Fabricius 1775), Catopsila pyranthe (Linnaeus, 1758), Pieris brassicae (Linnaeus, 1857), Eurema hecabe (Linnaeus 1758), Pontia daplidace (Linnaeus, 1758), Pieris canidia (Sparrman, 1768), Colias electo (Linnaeus, 1763) and Colias erate (Esper, 1805). Among collected species Pieris canidia was found most abundant followed by Pieris brasiscae whereas Colias electo was recorded in lowest number from study area. It is concluded that district Abbottabad has diverse butterfly fauna. Present research will be helpful in identification of butterfly fauna for future researches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The present study deals with the butterfly diversity in Soraipung Range of Dehing Patkai National Park. The site was chosen on the basis that it lies in between Eastern Himalaya and Indo-Burma which is acclaimed as global biodiversity hotspot. Results: A total of 92 butterfly species belonging to 5 families were recorded during the study of which 13 species were listed as protected under various schedules of the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 and 11 species were restricted to the Eastern Himalaya, India. Members of the Nymphalidae family were found to be dominant with (41) number of species followed by Papilionidae (17), Lycaenidae (16), Hesperiidae (10) and the least Pieridae (8). The maximum diversity is obtained in Nymphalidae family: where Shannon–Wiener Diversity Index (H′) is 3.604584 and Evenness (E) is 0.970651 while the minimum diversity is in Pieridae family where Shannon–Wiener Diversity Index (H′) is 1.936217 and Evenness (E) is 0.970651. Conclusions: The study reveals that Soraipung range is rich in butterfly diversity but on the contrary their study is poorly documented. During the survey 13 threatened species and 11 species restricted to the Eastern Himalaya have been also documented in the National Park, thus making it an important butterfly habitat in the state. Therefore, its necessary to conduct more study as well as research on the butterflies in Dehing Patkai National Park for effective conservation and management programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The distribution of wood whites of the genus Leptidea in the northeast of European Russia was analyzed by DNA barcoding, using a mitochondrial COI gene fragment 658 bp long. The presence of three species in the region was confirmed: L.sinapis (Linnaeus, 1758), L.morsei (Fenton, 1881) and L.juvernica Williams, 1946. Speciesspecific sites were identified in the studied nucleotide sequence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Corbett Tiger Reserve (CTR) located in state Uttarakhand is the first protected area established for in-situ conservation of biodiversity in India. Despite its national importance, there exists lacunae in knowledge on butterflies, important from the viewpoints of effective planning and implementation of conservation actions in the CTR. Using standardized methods, the present study conducted between 2013 to 2014 was aimed to record butterfly species composition and distribution in different sampling regimes of the CTR in relation to habitat types and disturbances. Study revealed a total of 2621 individual butterflies of 56 species under 5 families. Among them, 24 species belong to the Nymphalidae family, 14 species to the Pieridae, 9 species to the Lycaenidae, 5 species to the Papilionidae and 4 species to the Hesperiidae. 50% of the total species were recorded as ubiquitous and 30 species are new records to the CTR. Species such as Catopsilia pomona (Fabricius), Papilio polytes (Cramer), Eurema hecabe (Linnaeus), Catopsilia pyranthe (Linnaeus) were most abundant and Athyma zeroca (Moore), Sarangesa purendra (Moore), Cyrestis thyodamas (Boisduval), Polyura agraria (Swinhoe) were least abundant species. Variations in the calculated diversity indices across the seasons were observed; wherein, summer season exhibited maximum value for Shannon-Diversity index, followed by late monsoon and early winter. Lowest diversity of butterflies was observed during the periods of late winter. Presence of seven species under the Indian Wildlife Protection Act and five species as rare, substantiate the importance of pristine conditions prevailing in the protected landscape of the reserve. Ongoing tourism activities and habitat alterations threatening butterfly diversity and ecological integrity of the CTR, were also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The preference–performance hypothesis (PPH) states that herbivorous female insects prefer to oviposit on those host plants that are best for their offspring. Yet, past attempts to show the adaptiveness of host selection decisions by herbivores often failed. Here, we tested the PPH by including often neglected oviposition-induced plant responses, and how they may affect both egg survival and larval weight. We used seven Brassicaceae species of which most are common hosts of two cabbage white butterfly species, the solitary Pieris rapae and gregarious P. brassicae. Brassicaceous species can respond to Pieris eggs with leaf necrosis, which can lower egg survival. Moreover, plant-mediated responses to eggs can affect larval performance. We show a positive correlation between P. brassicae preference and performance only when including the egg phase: 7-day-old caterpillars gained higher weight on those plant species which had received most eggs. Pieris eggs frequently induced necrosis in the tested plant species. Survival of clustered P. brassicae eggs was unaffected by the necrosis in most tested species and no relationship between P. brassicae egg survival and oviposition preference was found. Pieris rapae preferred to oviposit on plant species most frequently expressing necrosis although egg survival was lower on those plants. In contrast to the lower egg survival on plants expressing necrosis, larval biomass on these plants was higher than on plants without a necrosis. We conclude that egg survival is not a crucial factor for oviposition choices but rather egg-mediated responses affecting larval performance explained the preference–performance relationship of the two butterfly species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cryptic wood white Leptidea juvernica is one of a newly-discovered species complex comprising three morphologically similar species in Europe. In the British Isles, L. juvernica is absent from Great Britain, but is widespread in Ireland, where it has experienced recent declines; it is classed as a priority species in Northern Ireland. Using a mark-recapture approach, this study aims to elucidate the population and spatial ecology of L. juvernica based on a population resident on a small, suburban site and to propose conservation measures. The results demonstrated that populations of L. juvernica, even on small sites, can reach high numbers during the peak flight season. Unusually for European Pieridae, there was only weak evidence of protandry in this population, possibly reflecting weather conditions prior to the flight season. The spatial distribution and abundance of L. juvernica was associated with the distribution of its larval host-plants, as well as maintaining close proximity to south-facing habitat edges for shelter. Males had a closer association to sheltered habitat edges, whilst females were found more commonly on open ground with a shorter sward which was the preferred egg-laying habitat. Long vegetation in sheltered areas was important for roosting during periods of non-activity. These results inform conservation measures which will benefit L. juvernica; appropriate measures focus on habitat management providing a mosaic of open, semi-natural grassland interspersed with tall vegetation, scrub, and trees. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The correlation between the timing of adult emergence and variation in morphophysiological parameters of males and females has been analyzed in the black-veined white Aporia crataegi L. In 2013 to 2015, black-veined white butterflies were collected from a natural population in the south of Sverdlovsk oblast throughout the emergence period; at the same time, adult insects were reared from pupae in individual cages. Comparison of the field observations in nature and the results of rearing preimaginal stages has shown that the largest adults are the first to emerge, while the smallest are the last to emerge. This pattern holds true both for the parameters varying throughout the adult insect life (body weight and relative abdomen weight) and for the permanent characteristic of the “structural” size (wing area). The influence of protandry and food availability to caterpillars on the variation in the size of adult A. crataegi during the period of generation emergence is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Apart from other pollutants, flaring of natural gas adds carbon dioxide into the environment and changes the atmospheric composition, including temperature and humidity. As a major gaseous product, carbon dioxide changes plant structural components as well as herbivores, i.e., insect by dilution of nitrogen under such circumstances. Present analysis demonstrated the impact of gas flaring upon adjoining biota especially Eurema hecabe butterfly and its host plant, Cassia tora in some wells (group gathering stations) of Assam, India. Analysis, pertaining from the current investigation, documented higher carbon dioxide as well as temperature in the studied flaring sites. Apart from this, reduction of leaf nitrogen, SLA, and chlorophyll with increasing in LDMC, thickness, and carbon in the studied plant as well as poor developmental rate, RGR, ECD with high RCR in insect indicated severe impact of flaring in those areas. Simulation studies with different concentration of CO2 in open top chamber on the plant and butterfly also revealed similar trend of results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study we assessed microhabitat and host plant preferences of Aporia crataegi (Linne 1758) larvae in the field. The study was conducted in the submediterranean part of Slovenia, at the edge of the limestone region Kraški rob, where this species is widespread. The larvae were most abundant on blackthorn ( Prunus spinosa L.) and the common hawthorn ( Crataegus monogyna Jacq.), and infrequent on the rosehip ( Rosa sp.) and rock cherry ( Prunus mahaleb L.). Smaller shrubs with greater exposure to sun appeared to be preferred and larvae constructed their nests on outer branches of plants. The thermophilic nature of larvae was evident by the low and sheltered position of the nests, although in P. spinosa, which is more thermophilic than C. monogyna, they were positioned somewhat higher. As the nests and larvae occur mostly on plants growing in warmer microhabitats, larvae that had overwintered can take advantage of the quicker development of buds and leaves in early spring. The rocky ground below and around the occupied plants was often covered with grass, suggesting the need for cooler and warmer microclimate during hot summers and cold winters with strong winds, respectively. Densities of larvae and nests were positively but non-significantly correlated to density of host plants; however, in later successional stages, where host plants are most abundant, open and sunny microhabitats that can provide opportunities for larvae to warm up are lacking. The revival of the traditional management practices with extensive grazing with late and only occasional mowing may slow down the overgrowing process, leaving spiny host plants abundant and in close proximity to the nectaring sources for the adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fumagilin-B is the only currently registered chemical treatment available to combat nosema disease in apiculture. Fumagillol, the basic hydrolysis product of fumagillin, two semisynthetic fumagillin analogues, and four in-house purely synthetic compounds which were designed to mimic the mode of action of fumagillin against the methionine aminopeptidase type 2 (MetAP-2) enzyme, was observed to exhibit statistically significant biological activity against Nosema ceranae-infected caged bees. None of these compounds were, however, as effective as Fumagilin-B. The commercially available thymol and enilconazole also exhibited activity against N. ceranae, with thymol being the most promising chemical treatment other than Fumagilin-B. High cumulative bee mortality was associated with the therapeutic dosage of Fumagilin-B during our study, suggesting the need for continued investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The seasonal variation of forewing size and shape was analyzed in adults of different seasonal generations of two polyvoltine species of whites: Pieris rapae and P. napi (Lepidoptera: Pieridae). Particular morphological features of the forewing are characteristic of each seasonal generation of adults independently of their sex and species. Adults of the spring generations have the smallest wings, elongate and pointed. Adults of the summer generation have the largest, broad and rounded wings over the entire summer season. Adults of the autumn generation have wings similar in shape and size to those of the summer generation, but somewhat smaller and more elongate. Differences between seasonal generations in forewing shape are linked to differences between adults of each generation in adaptation to dispersal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diapause plays a central role in insect life cycles by allowing survival during adverse seasonal conditions as well as synchronizing life cycles with the period of mate and food availability. Seasonal timing is expected to be particularly important for species that are dependent on resources available during a short time window-so-called phenological specialists-and latitudinal clines in seasonality are expected to favor local adaptation in phenological timing. However, to what degree latitudinal variation in diapause dynamics and post-winter development due to such local adaptation is influenced by the degree of phenological specialization is not well known. We experimentally studied two pierid butterfly species and found that the phenological specialist Anthocharis cardamines had shorter diapause duration than the phenological generalist Pieris napi along a latitudinal gradient in Sweden. Moreover, diapause duration increased with latitude in P. napi but not in A. cardamines. Sensitivity of the two species to winter thermal conditions also differed; additional cold temperature during the winter period shortened diapause duration for P. napi pupae but not for A. cardamines pupae. In both species, post-winter pupal development was faster after longer periods of cold conditions, and more southern populations developed faster than northern populations. Post-winter development was also invariably faster at higher temperatures in both species. We argue that the observed differences in diapause dynamics between the two species might be explained by the difference in phenological specialization that influences the costs of breaking diapause too early in the season. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alliaria petiolata is a European biennial herb that invades North American forests and has direct negative effects on associated flora and fauna. In some places, A. petiolata has invaded the habitat of Pieris virginiensis, a rare, univoltine butterfly that normally uses native spring ephemeral crucifer hosts. There are occasional observations of P. virginiensis laying eggs on A. petiolata, but the frequency and effects of these 'mistake oviposition events' are not yet known. We investigated P. virginiensis oviposition preference through field observations in three locations (NY, OH, PA), and also through laboratory experiments measuring egg deposition of adult females on either a native or invasive crucifer. In addition, we examined neonate larval performance through no-choice feeding assays on both A. petiolata leaves and cabbage leaves painted with A. petiolata leaf extracts. We found that P. virginiensis lays significantly more eggs on the exotic A. petiolata than on its native host Cardamine diphylla in both field and laboratory experiments. Caterpillars fed either A. petiolata leaf tissue or its ethanol extract did not survive to pupation, and most died after only a few days. Continual invasion and persistence of A. petiolata in P. virginiensis habitats may lead to genetic bottlenecking and possibly local extinctions without human intervention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The oviposition preferences of Leptidea morsei at the western border of its range (SE Slovenia) were studied with the aim of integrating this information into species habitat management recommendations. The characteristics of egg-laying habitat were examined at the landscape, patch, plant and leaf levels. Because sightings of adults in the field were infrequent, intensive searching for previously laid eggs on Lathyrus niger plants was chosen as the survey method. The main oviposition habitats of L. morsei in Slovenia were found to be the forest edges and light stands of thermophilous oak, oak-hornbeam and mesic beech forests (landscape level). The egg-laying sites were L. niger plants growing individually or in small stands, and oriented mostly towards W, SW, and S. The oviposition plants were between 33 and 120 cm high, with those growing in half to full shade preferred. Eggs were deposited singly, mainly on the underside of leaflets of terminal leaves, located mostly on the top quarter of plants irrespective of their height and growth form. The most important factors affecting egg-placement are sun exposure and the size of L. niger stands at ovipositing sites (patch level), leaf exposure on the plant in vertical and horizontal directions (plant level), leaf age and the leaf parts where the risk of leaf and egg desiccation is lower (leaf level). Management strategies for the main egg-laying habitats of the species are proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Non-native plants may be unpalatable or toxic, but have oviposition cues similar to native plants used by insects. The herbivore will then oviposit on the plant, but the offspring will be unable to develop. While such instances have been described previously, the fitness costs at the population level in the wild due to the presence of the lethal host have not been quantified, for this or other related systems. We quantified the fitness cost in the field for the native butterfly Pieris macdunnoughii in the presence of the non-native crucifer Thlaspi arvense, based on the spatial distributions of host plants, female butterflies and eggs in the habitat and the survival of the larvae in the wild. We found that 2.9 % of eggs were laid on T. arvense on average, with a survival probability of 0, yielding a calculated fitness cost of 3.0 % (95 % confidence interval 1.7-3.6 %) due to the presence of the non-native in the plant community. Survival probability to the pre-pupal stage for eggs laid on two native crucifers averaged 1.6 % over 2 years. The magnitude of the fitness cost will vary temporally and spatially as a function of the relative abundance of the non-native plant. We propose that the fine-scale spatial structure of the plant community relative to the butterflies' dispersal ability, combined with the females' broad habitat use, contributes to the fitness costs associated with the non-native plant and the resulting evolutionary trap. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The sulfur butterfly, Colias erate, utilizes various legumes as host plants. We examined the chemical constituents of its primary host plant, Trifolium repens (white clover), to identify phytochemicals inducing oviposition by C. erate females. Since one of the four aqueous subfractions prepared from a methanolic extract of the plant has previously been shown to be the most responsible for the oviposition-stimulatory activity exerted by the plant, chemical analyses were conducted of the fraction concerned. Activity-directed fractionation of the subfraction by ion-exchange chromatography revealed that the key substance(s) resided in the neutral fraction. Preparative TLC of the neutral fraction and subsequent spectral analyses identified d-(+)-pinitol, glycerin, methyl β- d-glucoside, and myo-inositol as characteristic components together with ubiquitous sugars (e.g., sucrose and glucose). Of these, only pinitol singly evoked significant oviposition responses at concentrations over 0.05%. In dual-choice bioassays, however, females laid significantly more eggs on pinitol solutions admixed with glycerin or methyl β- d-glucoside than on pinitol alone. Two cyanoglucosides, linamarin, and lotaustralin, occurring in the other aqueous subfractions, also synergistically increased the oviposition response in combination with pinitol. The results clearly indicated that pinitol is a crucial oviposition stimulant involved in host recognition, while glycerin, methyl β- d-glucoside, linamarin, and lotaustralin function as synergists. We further examined the oviposition responses of C. erate females to aqueous fractions, along with their chemical compositions, that had been prepared from five other host plants and a non-host plant, Aristolochia debilis (Aristolochiaceae), on which oviposition occasionally took place in an outdoor cage during the experiments. The plant species accepted by ovipositing females were all found to contain pinitol in amounts enough to induce egg laying by the butterfly, thus leading to the conclusion that pinitol serves as the essential mediator in recognizing and accepting potential host plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The males of many pierid butterflies have iridescent wings, which presumably function in intraspecific communication. The iridescence is due to nanostructured ridges of the cover scales. We have studied the iridescence in the males of a few members of Coliadinae, Gonepteryx aspasia, G. cleopatra, G. rhamni, and Colias croceus, and in two members of the Colotis group, Hebomoia glaucippe and Colotis regina. Imaging scatterometry demonstrated that the pigmentary colouration is diffuse whereas the structural colouration creates a directional, line-shaped far-field radiation pattern. Angle-dependent reflectance measurements demonstrated that the directional iridescence distinctly varies among closely related species. The species-dependent scale curvature determines the spatial properties of the wing iridescence. Narrow beam illumination of flat scales results in a narrow far-field iridescence pattern, but curved scales produce broadened patterns. The restricted spatial visibility of iridescence presumably plays a role in intraspecific signalling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glucosinolates (GSs) are part of a two-component defence system, characteristic for the Brassicales, including the model species Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh. The defence activity of GSs is associated with different side chain structures. The AOP genes are central in side-chain modification. AOP2 mediates formation of alkenyl GS from a methylsulfinyl precursor, whereas AOP3 catalyzes production of hydroxy-alkyl GSs from the same precursor. Although several studies have assessed the role of GSs in plant defence, the function of specific aliphatic GSs in plant defence is still not clarified. Structural different GSs may influence insect herbivores differentially. We created a set of plant lines derived of a cross between two A. thaliana accessions, Gie-0 × Sap-0, which dominantly accumulate either 3-methylsulfinylpropyl GS or 3-hydroxypropyl GS. The generalist Spodoptera exigua (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) and the crucifer-specialist Pieris brassicae (L.) (Lepidoptera: Pieridae) were used as model insects, to study effects of individual aliphatic GSs on lepidopteran herbivores with a different feeding specialization. However, the experiments revealed that weight gain of S. exigua and P. brassicae third and fourth-larval instars was similar on both chemotypes. But leaf consumption of the generalist was higher on 3-methylsulfinylpropyl-producing lines with low GS levels (23.2 μmol g) than on 3-hydroxypropyl-producing lines that contained a more than twofold higher amount of GSs (60 μmol g). In contrast, no differential effects of non-hydroxylated and hydroxylated GSs were found on the specialist P. brassicae. Our study indicates that there is no simple relationship between GS content and insect responses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The wings of most pierid butterflies exhibit a main, pigmentary colouration: white, yellow or orange. The males of many species have in restricted areas of the wing upper sides a distinct structural colouration, which is created by stacks of lamellae in the ridges of the wing scales, resulting in iridescence. The amplitude of the reflectance is proportional to the number of lamellae in the ridge stacks. The angle-dependent peak wavelength of the observed iridescence is in agreement with classical multilayer theory. The iridescence is virtually always in the ultraviolet wavelength range, but some species have a blue-peaking iridescence. The spectral properties of the pigmentary and structural colourations are presumably tuned to the spectral sensitivities of the butterflies' photoreceptors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of different host plants including cabbage, cauliflower, mustard, radish, and broccoli on biological parameters of Pieris brassicae (L.) was studied in the laboratory at 28°C, 65 ± 5% RH and 12L:12D photoperiod. Duration of each life stage, longevity, the intrinsic rate of natural increase ( r), net reproductive rate ( R), mean generation time ( T), doubling time (DT), and finite rate of increase (λ) of the cabbage white butterfly on the different cole crops were estimated. Differences in fertility life table parameters of the P. brassicae among host plants were analyzed using pseudo-values, which were produced by Jackknife re-sampling. The results indicating that cabbage might be the most suitable food for P. brassicae due to the shorter development time (16 days), longer adult longevity (12 and 9 days for female and male, respectively), higher fecundity (281 eggs/female), higher intrinsic rate of natural increase (0.1156 females/female/day), lower doubling time (6.00), lower larval mortality (70.33%), and higher yield of adult (30%). Therefore, it can be concluded from the present study that P. brassicae prefers cabbage for fast and healthy development with low larval mortality and highest number of adult yield than other cole crops. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract  During mating in many butterfly species, males transfer spermatophores that contain anti-aphrodisiacs to females that repel conspecific males. For example, males of the large cabbage white, Pieris brassicae (Lepidoptera: Pieridae), transfer the anti-aphrodisiac, benzyl cyanide (BC) to females. Accessory reproductive gland (ARG) secretion of a mated female P. brassicae that is deposited with an egg clutch contains traces of BC, inducing Brussels sprouts plants (Brassica oleracea var. gemmifera) to arrest certain Trichogramma egg parasitoids. Here, we assessed whether deposition of one egg at a time by the closely related small cabbage white, Pieris rapae, induced B. oleracea var. gemmifera to arrest Trichogramma wasps, and whether this plant synomone is triggered by substances originating from male P. rapae seminal fluid. We showed that plants induced by singly laid eggs of P. rapae arrest T. brassicae wasps three days after butterfly egg deposition. Elicitor activity was present in ARG secretion of mated female butterflies, whereas the secretion of virgin females was inactive. Pieris rapae used a mixture of methyl salicylate (MeSA) and indole as an anti-aphrodisiac. We detected traces of both anti-aphrodisiacal compounds in the ARG secretion of mated female P. rapae, whereas indole was lacking in the secretion of virgin female P. rapae. When applied onto the leaf, indole induced changes in the foliar chemistry that arrested T. brassicae wasps. This study shows that compounds of male seminal fluid incur possible fitness costs for Pieris butterflies by indirectly promoting egg parasitoid attack. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper documents the molecular organization of the eye of the Eastern Pale Clouded Yellow butterfly, Colias erate (Pieridae). We cloned four cDNAs encoding visual pigment opsins, corresponding to one ultraviolet, two blue and one long wavelength-absorbing visual pigments. Duplication of the blue visual pigment class occurs also in another pierid species, Pieris rapae, suggesting that blue duplication is a general feature in the family Pieridae. We localized the opsin mRNAs in the Colias retina by in situ hybridization. Among the nine photoreceptor cells in an ommatidium, R1-9, we found that R3-8 expressed the long wavelength class mRNA in all ommatidia. R1 and R2 expressed mRNAs of the short wavelength opsins in three fixed combinations, corresponding to three types of ommatidia. While the duplicated blue opsins in Pieris are separately expressed in two subsets of R1-2 photoreceptors, one blue sensitive and another violet sensitive, those of Colias appear to be always coexpressed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We describe a rapid extirpation of a strong population of globally threatened butterfly, Colias myrmidone, from the White Carpathians, Czech Republic. The area is renowned for a high plant and insect diversity associated with savannah-like Carpathian meadows, traditionally managed by mowing once a year and subsequent autumn grazing. Although many meadows fell victim to land consolidation schemes in the 1970s and 1980s, over 2000 hectares have been preserved in a dense network of reserves. The reserve management practised since the mid-1990s has consisted of uniform machine mowing of entire areas and this was further accelerated after accession of the Czech Republic to the EU, when agri-environmental schemes (AES) required two cuts per year. This starkly conflicted with the life history of C. myrmidone, because both spring and autumn cuts interfere with larval development. Despite intensive surveys, only five and then two C. myrmidone individuals were seen in the area in 2005 and 2006, respectively, rendering the species effectively extinct. Conservation authorities failed by neglecting early warning signals issued by amateur entomologists, and by ignoring the basic tenets of conservation of insect diversity, such as the need to maintain heterogeneity of resources. Unless AES provide for this crucial aspect of habitat suitability for invertebrates, they may turn from a great hope into a massive failure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract  To examine how plant allelochemicals in prey affect foraging choices made by generalist predator paper wasps, Polistes dominulus (Vespidae), we compared predation on Pieris napi (Pieridae) caterpillars reared on host plants with different allelochemicals. In naturalistic behavioral choice experiments, free-flying wasps chose between living pierids reared on cabbage (Brassica oleracea), which lacks deterrent allelochemicals, or alternate host plants with potentially deterrent allelochemicals. The alternative host plants were: wormwood mustard, (Erysimum cheiranthoides: Brassicaceae), which contains cardenolides; nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus: Tropaeolaceae) with high concentrations of chlorogenic acid; and black mustard (Brassica nigra: Brassicaceae) with high concentrations of the aliphatic glucosinolate, sinigrin. Although wasps captured equal numbers of caterpillars reared on cabbage and each alternate host plant, they spent significantly longer handling prey from the alternate host plants as they selectively removed the caterpillar’s gut, which contained the plant material. This was true even if the caterpillar did not sequester toxins in its tissues, as revealed by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis of Erysimum-reared pierids. Because handling time is longer, predators that capture pierids containing non-sequestered allelochemicals experience an overall reduction in foraging rate that may translate into a fitness cost. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In conserving organisms, a bipolar view has generally been adopted of landscapes, in which resources are allocated to patches of habitats and the matrix ignored. Allocating additional resources to the matrix would depend on two conditions: first, that organisms search for resources in landscapes regardless of differences in vegetation types and resource availability; second, that when resources occur in the matrix they are used by species. Behavioural data linked to biotope and substrate types, on three pierid species ( Pieris brassicae, P. rapae, P. napi), have been examined to explore the relationship between flight modes and resource availability. Search flight and resource use, taken as measures of resource quests, occur extensively in all biotopes and over all substrates in addition to direct linear flight, more typical of butterflies when migrating between habitat units. Resource seeking and using even exceed direct flight in some biotopes that have been regarded generally as lacking in resources for these butterflies. For example, such is the case for P. brassicae in woodland and for P. rapae in scrub. This finding supports the view for repairing the matrix and enhancing the general countryside outside habitat patches with resources increasingly being made for organisms. The proviso is that species’ requirements are adequately researched and resourced so as not to become sinks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract??Virgin females of the subtropical pierid butterflyEurema dairawere observed to actively solicit male courtship. The resulting interactions involved both aggressive contact with male individuals and elaborate female posturing. Cage-based trials showed that there was a direct relationship between the frequency of courtship solicitation attempts and female age. Virgin females under 3 days old showed little or no interest in initiating courtship. By contrast, 23.2 percent of the virgin females over three days old actively solicited available males with peak solicitation behavior exhibited from five day old individuals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Newly hatched caterpillars of the specialist herbivorous species Ascia monuste (Lepidoptera, Pieridae) feed on egg chorion before ingesting plant material. They also ingest their exoskeletons and perform egg cannibalism in both the field and the laboratory. Females lay eggs on plants which already have conspecifics (eggs and/or caterpillars) leading to the observation of cannibalism in the field. Two favorable conditions are required for such an occurrence: (1) eggs laid close together on the same leaf, and (2) the finding by older caterpillars of eggs on the same plant. Oviposition preference experiments in cages showed that females do not avoid laying on plants with eggs. However, they do avoid laying eggs on plants predated by caterpillars. All instars perform cannibalism in the field and, in addition to this, the ingested eggs are healthy and cannibalism occurs in the presence of abundant food. The ingestion of eggs from their own clutch was more intense when the clutch was large. Contact with eggs is also important for cannibalism. Caterpillars ingested healthy eggs during three successive days. According to the results, it is possible to state that egg cannibalism in A. monuste is opportunistic, preferential and highly frequent and that there is a tolerance to a diet based on animal protein in this species. Since A. monuste obtains nutrients from both animal and vegetable resources, it is probably better to consider it as opportunistic omnivorous. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Examines antiaphrodisiacs in pierid butterflies. Synthesis and transfer of an antiaphrodisiac, methyl salicylate, to females at mating; Use of the amino acids phenylalanine and tryptophan as precursors to methyl salicylate and indole, respectively.

The host plants of the native American butterfly, Pieris napi oleracea, include most wild mustards. However, garlic mustard, Alliaria petiolata, a highly invasive weed that was introduced from Europe, appears to be protected from this insect. Although adults will oviposit on the plant, most larvae of P. n. oleracea do not survive on garlic mustard. We used feeding bioassays with different larval stages of the insect to monitor the isolation and identification of two bioactive constituents that could explain the natural resistance of this plant. A novel cyanopropenyl glycoside ( 1), alliarinoside, strongly inhibits feeding by first instars, while a flavone glycoside ( 2), isovitexin-6″-D-β-glucopyranoside, deters later instars from feeding. Interestingly, the first instars are insensitive to 2, and the late instars are little affected by 1. Furthermore, differential effects of dietary experience on insect responses suggest that 1 acts through a mechanism of post-ingestive inhibition, whereas 2 involves gustatory deterrence of feeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Field observations revealed that flowers of Osmanthus fragrans attract few insect species despite their strong scent and vivid coloration (yellowish orange). Floral volatiles of the plant were thus examined for suspected repellency to Pieris rapae, a potential visitor that never visits this flower. The influence of odor components on the foraging behavior of adult butterflies was assessed by two behavioral bioassays: proboscis extension reflex (PER) in response to olfactory stimuli and the frequency of visits to artificial flowers. In the PER bioassays, a binary mixture composed of a test material and 2-phenylethanol (a positive standard compound) was used, and the negative effect of test materials was appraised based on the degree of suppression caused compared with the original PER performance evoked by 2-phenylethanol alone. Isopentane extract of the flower exhibited significant deterrency in the PER test and remarkable repellency in the flower-visiting experiment, thereby suggesting the presence of a repellent(s) in the floral volatiles. Fractionation of the extract by silica gel column chromatography yielded an active fraction (based on PER performance), which, upon GC and GC-MS analyses, was found to consist of γ-decalactone, β-ionone, and linalool oxide (LO) isomers (furanosides and pyranosides) as major components together with small amounts of linalool and α-ionone. γ-Decalactone was strongly deterrent in the PER test, and β-ionone and all LO isomers were weakly deterrent, while the other compounds exhibited no deterrency. In the flower-visiting tests, γ-decalactone showed notable repellency, whereas β-ionone had no repellent effect. Among the LO isomers, at least furanosides ( cis/trans mixture) and cis-pyranoside were found to be weakly repellent. On the other hand, the butterfly showed strong to weak EAG responses to LO furanosides, cis-LO pyranoside, γ-decalactone, and β-ionone in decreasing order of intensity. The present results clearly indicate that the repellency of a compound is correlated with its deterrent effect on PER but not necessarily with antennal sensitivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Examines whether European white butterflies, Pieris napi and Anthocharis cardamines are aposematic. Random attack of experienced predators of Pieridae butterflies; Suggestion that there were no significant differences in the palatability of the butterflies to birds.

Enzyme electrophoretic data show a remarkably high degree of genetic similarity within the European group of napi s.l. whereas genetic differences exist at several loci between the European and the North American taxa of napi s.l. It is concluded that the European taxa did not differentiate to the species level and form a phylogenetically young group. The North American taxa included in this study are specifically distinct from European napi and separated much earlier. Within these North American taxa marginalis, oleracea and virginiensis did undergo speciation. The data show a splitting of the genus Pieris into three species groups, each genetically differentiated to the same level. The splitting of Pieris into two genera, as suggested by earlier investigators, is not supported here. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Floral scent compounds of Ligustrum japonicum that affect the foraging behavior of Pieris rapae adults were examined by means of chemical analyses, electroantennogram (EAG) responses, and behavioral bioassays; the behavioral biossays consisted of two tests: reflex extension of proboscis (REP) in response to odor, and attraction to scented and unscented artificial flowers. More than 30 compounds, including 2-phenylethanol, benzyl alcohol, and methyl phenylacetate as the major components were identified from L. japonicum flowers. Of these, 22 compounds were tested for their effect on foraging behavior. Phenylacetaldehyde (PA), 2-phenylethanol (PE), and 6-methylhept-5-en-2-one (MHO) elicited the highest REP responses, and benzaldehyde (BA) and methyl phenylacetate (MPA) evoked intermediate REP responses. EAG responses were not necessarily correlated with REP activities; the three high-REP compounds gave only moderate EAG responses, whereas two other compounds (ethyl phenylacetate and 2-phenylethyl acetate) that released high EAG responses showed low REP activities. In two-choice behavioral bioassays, flower models scented with any one of these high-REP compounds attracted significantly more adults, while compounds with low REP activities exhibited weak or no appreciable attractiveness. This suggests that the REP responsiveness closely reflects the attractiveness of a compound and could be an effective measure in elucidating which chemical attractants are involved in flower-visiting. A synthetic blend of five floral chemicals (PA, PE, MHO, BA, and MPA) displayed an attractiveness that was comparable to that of the floral extract and was more effective in attractiveness than the compounds tested singly. Consequently, it is highly likely that the flower-visiting by P. rapae to L. japonicum is mediated largely by floral scent chemicals and that a synergistic effect of the five floral components would be most responsible for attraction of the butterfly to this flower. The present results also strongly suggest that specific floral volatiles may facilitate close-range flower location by P. rapae, could serve in part as a cue for recognizing food sources, and also be profoundly implicated in flower preference. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Host-plant chemicals stimulating oviposition by a Leguminosae-feeding pierid butterfly Colias erate poliographyswere isolated and identified from one of its primary host plants, white clover ( Trifolium repens). Females readily deposited eggs in response to methanolic extracts of the plant, and subsequent partition of the extracts with organic solvents revealed that chemical constituents critical for host recognition reside in the water-soluble fraction. Further fractionation of the hydrosoluble fraction by column chromatography led to the separation of an active fraction and two cyanoglucosides, linamarin and lotaustralin. Conspicuous oviposition response was evoked by unidentified polar compound(s), while these cyanoglucosides exerted no stimulatory activity by themselves. However, ovipositing females preferred samples containing either of the two cyanoglucosides. In dual-choice bioassays, significantly more eggs were laid on samples admixed with the cyanoglucosides, suggesting that the cyanoglucosides serve as synergistic oviposition stimulants and could play an important role in host selection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rejection of wheat germ diet by cabbage-reared Pieris rapae larvae is explained by the fact that the diet contains strong feeding deterrents to the larvae. These deterrents were present mainly in hexane and butanol (BuOH) fractions of diet extracts, but the post-BuOH water fraction also showed some deterrent activity. Although minor diet components such as sorbic acid had a weak deterrent effect, wheat germ was primarily responsible for the activity. Seven compounds isolated from the BuOH extract of wheat germ were deterrent to the larvae. UV spectra suggested that most of these compounds are apigenin-based flavones. Fractionation of the hexane extracts showed that most of the active compounds were methanol-soluble, and HPLC of the MeOH fractions revealed the presence of active compounds that were absent in the BuOH extract of wheat germ, as well as other compounds that were common to both fractions. Acceptance of nasturtium by P. rapae larvae reared on wheat germ diet is explained by a type of “cross habituation” of the larvae to feeding deterrents. When larvae were reared on cabbage leaves treated with chemical fractions from wheat germ diet, they readily accepted nasturtium, which is normally refused by cabbage-reared P. rapae larvae, due to the presence of strong feeding deterrents in the plant. A high percentage of diet-reared larvae also fed on Erysimum cheiranthoides and Iberis amara, which are normally rejected. The chemical constituents encountered in wheat germ can almost completely account for the larval acceptance of nasturtium. The suitability of wheat germ diet for rearing phytophagous insects for behavioral assays must be questioned. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report studies on the butterfly-hostplant communities in the species-rich area of west central Morocco. Pieridae feeding on Capparales form two distinct ecological guilds: inflorescence feeders and folivores. Several members of each guild may synchronously occur in sympatry. Substantial levels of cannibalism and inter-specific predation occur amongst the inflorescence feeders. No evidence was obtained for segregation of butterfy species on different hosts. Host plants included in the diet of specialists were also used by generalists. Despite substantial differences observed in laboratory trials of larval survivorship on different hostplants, results were congruent for all Pieridae, suggesting that little one-to-one insect-host coevolution has occurred. Host specialization was instead related to the year-to-year stability of host numbers in an area. High levels of pierid infestation occurred on host species with numerically stable populations. Host numerical stability was correlated with habitat type. There is little evidence for segregation of competing inflorescence feeders by hostplant species, but some evidence for segregation by habitat type (particularly by shading levels). We interpret our results as indicating that the hostplant affiliations of Moroccan Capparales-feeding Pieridae are subject to (at best) diffuse coevolutionary effects from hosts and competitors, and are strongly influenced by habitat characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ultrastructure of a microsporidium Nosema mesnili found in the Malpighian tubules of Pieris canidia is described. The life cycle includes meronts, sporonts, sporoblasts, and spores, with typical diplokaryon in each stage. The first two stages are amorphous forms with the former having a thinner cell wall. The spore has 11 coils of the polar filament. This protozoan is a chronic pathogen to its insect host and might have potential as a biological control agent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The larva of the Madrone butterfly Eucheira socialis ( Lepidoptera: Pieridae) secretes a trail pheromone from the ventral surface of the posterior tip of its abdomen. Caterpillars mark trails by bringing the secretory site into brief contact with the substrate during a locomotive cycle. Foragers mark most heavily when they move onto new branches and little, if at all, when they move over established trails or when they return to the communal shelter after feeding. The caterpillars make careful comparisons of alternative pathways at choice points and select newer and stronger trails over older and weaker trails. Differential marking of new and established trails during nightly forays, coupled with sensory discrimination of trails by strength and age, leads colonies to abandon old trails in favor of new trails. When applied at a rate as low as 2.5 × 10−10 g/mm, caterpillars followed synthetic trails prepared from 5β-cholestane-3-one, a trail pheromone previously reported from the tent caterpillars (Malacosoma spp.). Although both Eucheira and Malacosoma mark with the tip of the abdomen and have near-identical sensitivites to 5β-cholestane-3-one, our study shows that Eucheira employs a relatively unsophisticated system of trail-based communication and does not recruit to food. The trail-based communication system of Eucheira appears to represent an early stage in the evolution of cooperative foraging that is derived from, and motivationally linked to, conflict behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Differential acceptance of garlic mustard, Alliaria petiolata by Pieris rapae L. and P. napi oleracea is explained by their differential sensitivities to oviposition stimulants and deterrents in the plant. Fractions containing the stimulants and deterrents were isolated by solvent partitioning between water and n-butanol and by open-column chromatography followed by HPLC. P. napi oleracea showed no preference when offered a choice of A. petiolata or cabbage, but was strongly stimulated to oviposit by post-butanol water extracts of A. petiolata. The most abundant glucosinolate in this extract was identified as sinigrin, which could explain the high degree of stimulatory activity. P. rapae preferred cabbage plants over A. petiolata, and the relatively low stimulatory activity was also associated with the glucosinolate-containing aqueous extract. However, this species was strongly stimulated by a fraction that contained small amounts of glucotropaeolin along with unknown compounds. Deterrents to both species were found in the butanol extract from A. petiolata, and P. napi oleracea was more sensitive than P. rapae to these deterrents. Some HPLC fractions from the BuOH extract were strongly deterrent to P. napi oleracea, but were inactive to P. rapae. The ecological significance of these behavioral differences between the two Pieris species is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The chemical stimulation of oviposition by Pieris rapae on cabbage was investigated by leaf washing and extraction. Isolation of the stimulant by various chromatographic techniques was monitored by a bioassay using Sieva bean as a surrogate host plant. Cold water, chloroform, or chloroform followed by cold water washes failed to release the stimulant from leaf surfaces. Boiling water or chloroform followed by methanol was required. The most active stimulatory compound was identified as 3-indolylmethyl glucosinolate (glucobrassicin). Other glucosinolates were identified as sinigrin, which was only slightly active, and glucoiberin, which was completely inactive as a stimulant. The significance of the selective response of P. rapae and P. brassicae to different glucosinolates and the implications of the binding of polar allelochemicals to leaf surfaces is discussed with respect to host utilization and perception mechanisms of pierids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chemicals present on the surface of cabbage ( Brassica oleracea L.) leaves were extracted by dipping these leaves for 3 s in dichloromethane followed by a 3 s dip in methanol. When offered in dual choice bioassays using green paper cards as a substrate, the methanol extract stimulated oviposition activity by Pieris brassicae L. (Lepidoptera: Pieridae) females. The oviposition stimulant was isolated using medium pressure liquid chromatography, reversed-phase HPLC, ion-pair HPLC and ion exchange chromatography. UsingH-NMR spectroscopy, the stimulant could be identified as glucobrassicin (3-indolyl-methyl-glucosinolate). When pure glucobrassicin was offered at a dose identical to that in the crude methanol extract, butterflies did not discriminate between these two substrates in a dual choice test. It is argued that a high sensitivity for indole glucosinolates as host recognition factors may confer an adaptive value for these specialist crucifer feeders. The nutritional significance of their precursor tryptophan and the non-volatile nature of the aglycones formed upon enzymic hydrolysis in damaged tissues are proposed as properties of indole glucosinolates that contribute to this possible adaptive advantage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Man's harvesting of photovoltaic energy requires the deployment of extensive arrays of solar panels. To improve both the gathering of thermal and photovoltaic energy from the sun we have examined the concept of biomimicry in white butterflies of the family Pieridae. We tested the hypothesis that the V-shaped posture of basking white butterflies mimics the V-trough concentrator which is designed to increase solar input to photovoltaic cells. These solar concentrators improve harvesting efficiency but are both heavy and bulky, severely limiting their deployment. Here, we show that the attachment of butterfly wings to a solar cell increases its output power by 42.3%, proving that the wings are indeed highly reflective. Importantly, and relative to current concentrators, the wings improve the power to weight ratio of the overall structure 17-fold, vastly expanding their potential application. Moreover, a single mono-layer of scale cells removed from the butterflies' wings maintained this high reflectivity showing that a single layer of scale cell-like structures can also form a useful coating. As predicted, the wings increased the temperature of the butterflies' thorax dramatically, showing that the V-shaped basking posture of white butterflies has indeed evolved to increase the temperature of their flight muscles prior to take-off. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]