Immature stages of Nisoniades macarius (Hesperiidae: Pyrginae: Carcharodini): biology, morphology and behavior

Abstract

The biology, morphology and behavior of the immature stages of Nisoniades macarius (Herrich-Schäffer, 1870) are herein described from specimens collected in an anthropized area of Caatinga biome. The larva of N. macarius passes through six larval instars with the development time from egg to adult lasted between 31 and 35 days. Except for the first instar larva, which is easily recognized by the presence of evident primary setae on the head, there are few distinctive morphological characters among the larvae of different instars. The head capsule width proved to be the most effective character to differentiate them. Two different types of shelters are built by larvae: center-cut shelters (type 3) built by larvae from the first to the third instars and two-cut shelters (type 5) built by larvae from the fourth to the sixth instars. Ipomoea asarifolia (Desr.) Roem. & Schult. (Convolvulaceae) is recorded as larval host plant of N. macarius for the first time. A Eulophidae wasp was found as parasitoid of the earlier larval instars of N. macarius, this being the second record of the family as parasitoid in the genus Nisoniades.