A new hostplant record for Strymon martialis (Lycaenidae: Theclinae) in the Florida Keys

2005·1 MB·

174 Journalofthe Lepidopterists' Society
JournaloftheLepidopterists'Society
59(3),2005,174-175
A NEWHOSTPLANT RECORD FOR STRYMONMARTIALIS (LYCAENIDAE: THECLINAE) IN THE
FLORIDA KEYS
Additional KeyWords: Cyclargusthomasibethunebakeri, Caesalpiniahonduc, Camponotus, Fabaceae,competition
Stryrnon martialis Herrich-Schaffer is a colorful
hairstreakwidely distributed throughout south Florida,
the Bahamas, and western portions of the Greater
Antilles (Smith et al.1994). It is locallyabundant on the
south Florida mainlandandin the Florida Keys. In the
Keys it is a maritime species, beingprimarily restricted
to coastal localities including tropical pinelands,
hardwood hammock margins, beach dunes, scrubby
shorelines, and adjacent open, disturbed sites. Within
these habitats, S. martialis is found in close association
with its only two documented larval hostplants, Treina
micranthiim (L.) Blume (Ulmaceae) and Suriana
maritima L. (Surianaceae) (Minno & Emmel 1993;
Slosson 1901). The developing larvae feed on host
flowers, fruits and leaves (Scott 1986). Figure 1. Larva of Stryrnon martialis with Camponotus
We regularly encountered the butterfly on many abdominalisfloridanusantsonaflowerstalkofCaesalpiniabonduc.
islandswithinthe LowerFlorida Keyswhile conducting disturbed. Twoadditionallarvaewerelocatedonalarge
status surveys for Cyclargus thomasi bethunebakeri patch ofC. bonduc approximately5.5 kilometers to the
(Comstock & Huntington) (Lycaenidae) during 2002 westofBahia Hondaon neighboringWest Summerland
and 2003. The two butterflies fly together in Bahia Key. In this instance, both larvae were in close
Honda State Park, sharing much ofthe available beach association with Camponotus planatus Roger
dune and coastal strand habitat. S. maritima is found (Formicidae)while feedingonadevelopingflowerstalk.
commonly across most of Bahia Honda supporting A single fourth instar larvawas collected from the West
numerous populations of both larval and adult S. Summerland Key site and reared in captivity on C.
martialis. We have consistently recorded eggs and bonduc until pupation at our University of Florida
developing larvae of S. martialis during routine plant laboratory in Gainesville, and a resulting male S.
examinations. martialis eclosed on 21 December2003.
On 9 March 2003, we observed a female S. martialis The selection and use ofC. bonduc represents anew
depositing a single egg on the terminal growth of hostplant record for S. martialis, and is the only
Caesalpinia bonduc (L.) Roxb. (Fabaceae). Although memberofthe Fabaceae to be utilized. The additional
the observation was initiallJy dismissed as an observed interaction with Camponotus ants is the first
oppositional error, we repeatedly documented reportofmyrmecophilyforthis abundant South Florida
additionaleggson C. bonducduringsubsequentvisitsto butterfly. Further studies are needed to determine to
the park. Allwere located on new, terminal shoots and what extent and frequency S. martialis uses C. bonduc
flower stalks, and often found adjacent to ova of C. for oviposition and maturation to the adult in south
thomasi bethunebakeri. Florida and the keys. Although eggs were found on
The suitabilityofC. bonduc as aviablelarvalhostwas both newterminal shoots as well as flowerstalks, larvae
later confirmed on 20 November 2003 when a late were onlyobserved feeding on developing flower buds
instar larva was discovered feeding on a developing and individual flowers indicating possible nutritional
flowerstalkofasingle plant adjacentto die entrance of preferences or secondary plant chemical compound
the Silver Palm Nature Trail on the eastern end ofthe
limitations.
park. The larva was found in association with IfC. bonduc is selected on a regularbasis, additional
individuals of Camponotus abdominalis floridanus research is required to determine if such use could
(Buckley) (Formicidae) (Figure 1) that repeatedly potentially lead to competition with C. thomasi
tended the larva and aggressively defended it when bethunebakeri foravailabilityofoptimal host resources.
Volume59, Number 3 175
Secondarily, such use could disrupt existing ant SLOSSON,A.T. 1901.Asuccessfulfailure.Entomol.News12:200-203,
236-239.
iS.ntmearratcitailoinsslhaoruvlaedwovoerrkeCr.siphroemfaesreintbieatlhluynteebnadketrhieolawrignegr Smithth,eDW.esS.t,ILn.dDie.sMainldlSeorut&hJF.lYo.riMdial.lOexrf.or1d99U4n.ivTehrseitbyu'ttPerrefslsi.esOxo-f
to the possibilityofamore significantfood reward. ford.264pp.
Literature Cited Jaret C. Daniels, Akers Pence, and Thomas C.
J.
Minno, M. C. &T. C. Emmel. 1993. ButterfliesoftheFloridaKeys. Emmel, McGuire Centerfor Lepidoptera Research,
ScientificPublishersGainesville,Florida. 168pp. Florida Museum ofNatural History, P.O. Box 112710,
Scott,J.A. 19S6.ThebutterfliesofNorthAmerica.StanfordUniver- University ofFlorida, Gainesville, Florida 32611-2710.
sityPress,Stanford,California.583pp.
Email:[email protected]
JournaloftheLepidopterists'Society
59(3),2005,17.5-177
NEWLARVAL HOSTPLANT FORLYCAEIDES MELISSA MELISSA IN WISCONSIN AND MINNESOTA
AND POTENTIALTHREATTOLYCAEIDESMELISSA SAMUELIS (LYCAENIDAE)
Additionalkevwords:Fabaceae,Coronillavaria,exoticspecies
The melissa blue, Lycaeides melissa (W. H. were collected in 1994 and on a subsequentvisit on 25
Edwards), utilizes a number of plants in the family July 2002. Females are typical L. m. melissa, with a
Fabaceae as larval foodplants, with members of the fully-developed, continuous submarginal orange band
genera Astragalus L. and Lupinus L. prominently onthe dorsalforewingaswell as the hindwing. Voucher
represented (Scott 1986). The nominate subspecies of specimens are depositedinthe UniversityofMinnesota
this butterfly occurs throughout western Minnesota, Insect Collection, UniversityofMinnesota, St. Paul.
most commonly in remnants of die prairie that RPD revisited the site 6 July and 12 Jul}- 2003 and
originally covered that part ofthe state, where native found several second-brood larvae feeding on crown-
species ofAstragalus appear to be the principal hosts. vetch. Allwere feeding on leaves except for aprobable
We have records from A. crassicarpus Nutt., A. second instar that was feeding on a very immature
adsurgens Pallas, A. missouriensis Nutt., A. flexuosus developing inflorescence. Early instars feeding on
Douglas, andA. lotiflorus Hook., aswell as from aloco- foliage minedoutthe mesophylllayer, leavingwhitened
weed, Oxijtropis lambertii Pursh., a member of the "windowpanes" ofepidermal tissue inthe leaflets ofdie
same tribe in the Fabaceae as Astragalus (Gleason & pinnately compound leaves. Late instars consumed
Cronquist 1991). The butterflyis also sometimes found epidermis aswell, stripping most orallthe leaflets from
in the same part ofthe state in association with alfalfa, a leaf and leaving the rachis studded with the minute
Medicago sativa L., in non-native habitat, e.g., along leaflet pedicels. These tell-tale signs oi larval feeding
roadsides, inhayfields, orinpastures,where fewprairie were more readily found than die larvae themselves.
species arepresent (RPD, personalobservation). Alfalfa Sweet clover plants were uncommon, and no
is the principal larval host for some populations of L. interactions offemales with these were observed. The
melissa in western North America (Nice & Shapiro only other legume noted at this site was round-headed
1999). We reportherethe discoveryofcolonies ofL. m. bush-clover, Lespedeza capitata Michx., and there was
melissa in western Wisconsin and eastern Minnesota noevidenceofuseofthisplant. Adultactivity, exceptfor
that areusinganotherintroducedlegume as larvalhost, nectaring, was closely associated with crown-vetch
crown-vetch, Coronilla varia L. The use of this plant patches. Three larvae were collected from the site on
does not appearto have been previously reported. This the 12 July visit and reared on potted crown-vetch
is also the first reported occurrence of the nominate plants. All developed into adults; two males and a
subspecies ofL. melissa inWisconsin. female.
In late July and earlyAugust 1994, CL encountered The power line right ofwayis a former railroad bed
second-brood adults along a short stretch of high- that is cut down a few feet below grade in the stretch
voltage transmission line right of way in St. Croix occupied by the butterfly colony. The soil is a loamy
County, Wisconsin, just northeast of the town of coarse gravelly sand. At the time of the discovery,
Hudson. Females were observed ovipositing on crown- agricultural fields bordered the site on die north and a
vetch andon sweetclovers, Melilotus alba Medikus and windbreakofelm andgreenashtreesbordereditondie
M. officinalis (L.) Pallas. Several adults ofboth sexes south. The fields have subsequentlybeen converted to