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1 December 2016 Immature Stages of Archonias brassolis tereas (Godart) (Pieridae: Pierini), with Notes on Interspecific Interactions between Mistletoe Butterflies
Luísa L. Mota, Ana K. Silva, André V. L. Freitas, Lucas A. Kaminski
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Abstract

The immature stages of the Neotropical mistletoe butterfly Archonias brassolis tereas (Godart) (Pieridae: Pierini) are described and illustrated for the first time from the Atlantic Forest of Southeast Brazil. Eggs are laid in clusters on leaves of the mistletoe Phoradendron sp. (Viscaceae). Larvae are gregarious and underwent five instars. Mature caterpillars present yellow aposematic color pattern; pupae are yellow with black dorsal projections. Morphology, host plant use and behavior of immature stages are similar to species in the Catasticta group. An additional species of mistletoe butterfly, Brangas sp. (Lycaenidae), with gregarious and aposematic yellow caterpillars was found in sympatry on the same leaves of the host plant. These findings suggest that both interspecific competition and larval mimicry are important traits in the ecology and evolution of mistletoe butterflies.

Luísa L. Mota, Ana K. Silva, André V. L. Freitas, and Lucas A. Kaminski "Immature Stages of Archonias brassolis tereas (Godart) (Pieridae: Pierini), with Notes on Interspecific Interactions between Mistletoe Butterflies," The Journal of the Lepidopterists' Society 70(4), 289-294, (1 December 2016). https://doi.org/10.18473/lepi.70i4.a7
Received: 3 May 2016; Accepted: 10 June 2016; Published: 1 December 2016
KEYWORDS
Aporiina
Brangas
coexistence
defensive behavior
Eumaeini
lycaenidae
Müllerian mimicry
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