Male hilltopping and territorial behavior of the butterfly Actinote zikani (Heliconiinae: Acraeini)

Abstract

This study has the objective of describing the hilltopping and territorial behavior of adult males of the bivoltine butterfly Actinote zikani during six flying seasons (2016)(2017)(2018)(2019). Males used the same areas and these territories presented patterns of horizontal and vertical stratifications during all seasons. The amount of solar radiation on the black wings of A. zikani seems to contribute to rapid warming this butterfly, that together with the protection against stronger winds were the main variables that altered the A. zikani behavior and consequently shaped the territories. Some males were recorded flying throughout the territory during more than two hours without landing, inspecting agonistically other intruder conspecifics and other insects. Some aerial fights with conspecifics resulted in strifes on the ground when each male used their genitalia to infringe damages to the other. Here, males of A. zikani, broke the paradigm that butterflies have no mechanical weapons to use against other individuals. In these territorial areas, even in seasons where few floral resources were available, no individuals of this species were observed foraging on flowers or inflorescences during periods of territorial behavior.