Seasonal Distribution and Breeding Status of Danaus Plexippus (L.) (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) in Australia

Smithers, C. N.

doi:10.1111/j.1440-6055.1977.tb00082.x

Cited by 24 publications

(19 citation statements)

References 1 publication

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“…In North America D. plexippus favours Ascelpias (Urquhart, 1960). Its migratory tendencies, however, have fairly recently brought it into contact with plants in Australia (the first Australian record was in 1871 (Smithers, 1972)), where it has been recorded feeding on a variety of introduced species such as Araujia hortorum and Calotropis procera as well as various Asclepias and Gomphocarpus, but no native plants, not even Sarcostemma, which is a food plant of D. gilippus in America. In Ceylon its food plant is unknown and the late Philip Sheppard and one of us (M.R.)…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Some adaptations between Danaus plexippus and its food plant, with notes on Danaus chrysippus and Euploea core (Insecta: Lepidoptera)

et al. 1978

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Behaviour of the egg‐laying Monarch in captivity suggests that the concentration and quality of cardiac glycosides in the food plant are not important oviposition cues. The presence of eggs (as previously noted by Urquhart, 1960) and larvae feeding on the food plant, act as mild deterrents. The butterfly's emetic potency (see Table XIII(a)) can sometimes surpass that of the leaves of the host plant itself. Unidentified factors, providing the internal plant environment, are more important as cardiac glycoside storage stimulants than either the quantity or quality of the cardenolides present. In the laboratory D. plexippus oviposited preferentially on a plant with relatively low cardiac glycoside content, but which produced the most powerfully protected (emetic) adult. Metabolic changes during the pharate pupal stage, but also, in the case of Euploea core, in the larval fifth instar, rather than larval sequestration, may account for the major increase or decrease in butterfly toxicity compared with that of the food plant. Temperature does not affect the storage of cardenolides except indirectly by altering metabolic rate. There is no evidence to support the concept that current “physiological cost” of cardenolide storage is high. Like the toad, this butterfly can be assumed to have evolved an enzvmatic system well adjusted to the presence of cardenolides in its bodv tissues.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Some adaptations between Danaus plexippus and its food plant, with notes on Danaus chrysippus and Euploea core (Insecta: Lepidoptera)

et al. 1978

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“…The Australian monarch has been the subject of recent studies (Smithers, 1965(Smithers, , 1972(Smithers, , 1977James, 1979James, , 1981James, , 1982aJames, , b, 1983James & Hales, 1983). Breeding populations occur widely in eastern Australia during spring and summer (September-February), but contract northwards during autumn (March-May).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Phenology of weight, moisture and energy reserves of Australian monarch butterflies, Danaus plexippus

James

1984

Ecological Entomology

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1. In the Sydney area of New South Wales, dry weights of reproductive monarch butterflies averaged 156 mg and were higher during winter than in other seasons. Dry weights of non-reproductive monarchs ranged from 216 t o 324 mg and declined by 1~2 5 % during overwintering.2. Fat in reproductive butterflies ranged from 0.009 to 0.017g/O.lg dry weight and was lower during winter than in other seasons. Fat content of nonreproductive monarchs washigher (0.019-0.037 g/O.1 g) and declined by 24-51% during overwintering.3. Lean dry weights of reproductive monarchs were lower than those of nonreproductive individuals. Lean dry weights of non-reproductive butterflies increased rapidly at the beginning of overwintering and remained high throughout the winter. Analysis of protein content indicated the higher lean weight of non-reproductive monarchs was due to greater protein levels.4. Moisture content of monarchs did not vary with season or reproductive status and appeared t o be correlated with ambient humidity. 5. Non-reproductive monarch butterflies in New South Wales adjust biochemically during overwintering. Energy reserve dynamics of these butterflies are comparable to those that occur in non-reproductive monarchs in North America.

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“…The non-reproductive population congregates in clusters at specific sites. The winter ecology and physiology of New South Wales monarchs has been the subject of recent studies (Smithers, 1965(Smithers, , 1972(Smithers, , 1977James, 1979James, , 1981James, , 1982a. The presence of reproductive and non-reproductive populations within the same area is of physiological interest.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sensitivity to juvenile hormone is not reduced in clustering monarch butterflies, Danaus plexippus, in Australia

James

Hales

1983

Physiological Entomology

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Female monarch butterflies, Danaus plexippus (L.) were collected from clusters in the Sydney region at weekly intervals after cluster formation. They were neck-ligated and injected with juvenile hormone (JH) in order to test for any period of lowered JH sensitivity during the non-reproductive clustering phase. Response was assessed by production of mature oocytes. In all weekly samples, the mean response was equal to or greater than that of newly emerged females reared and maintained in optimal conditions, and was substantially higher than that reported for diapausing monarchs in North American clusters. The result is further evidence for the absence of a true reproductive diapause in New South Wales populations.

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Seasonal Distribution and Breeding Status of Danaus Plexippus (L.) (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) in Australia

Cited by 24 publications

References 1 publication

Some adaptations between Danaus plexippus and its food plant, with notes on Danaus chrysippus and Euploea core (Insecta: Lepidoptera)

Some adaptations between Danaus plexippus and its food plant, with notes on Danaus chrysippus and Euploea core (Insecta: Lepidoptera)

Phenology of weight, moisture and energy reserves of Australian monarch butterflies, Danaus plexippus

Sensitivity to juvenile hormone is not reduced in clustering monarch butterflies, Danaus plexippus, in Australia

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