Synchronisation of adult activity of the archaic moth, Micropterix calthella L. (Lepidoptera, Micropterigidae), with anthesis of sedges (Carex spp., Cyperaceae) in an ancient wood

Abstract

Micropterix calthella L. (Micropterigidae) is a small, day-flying moth from the basal-most extant lineage of the Lepidoptera. The species name reflects its conspicuous presence on Caltha palustris L. (Ranunculaceae). However, adults also favour sedges (Carex spp., Cyperaceae), on which they gather gregariously to feed on pollen and find mates. In a UK ancient wood, the phenology of eight sedge species together with individual moth and mating pair densities were monitored from 15th April to 8th June 2009. 4841 moth sightings were recorded. Moths on Carex spikes at various developmental stages were compared with null models to test for preference patterns. Approximately 99 of individuals selected Carex spikes where dehiscing anthers were present. The sedge phenology data suggest three distinct periods of pollen production. Overlaying this with the moth data reveals moth phenology strongly linked to a suite of early and mid-season woodland sedges. Of the twenty-eight other angiosperm species (seventeen families) in flower, only Ranunculus ficaria L. (Ranunculaceae) and R. repens L. attracted moths. Adult moths kept in captivity on potted Carex flacca Schreb. for 10 days laid eggs at the plant-soil interface. When C. flacca pollen production ceased, surviving adults were moved onto freshly dehiscing anthers of potted C. pallescens L., where they survived a further 14 days. Soil-dwelling first instar larvae were observed to consume C. sylvatica Huds leaves. In a choice experiment, larvae were significantly more likely to consume C. sylvatica than Stellaria media (L.) Vill. (Caryophyllaceae) leaf material (previously noted to be favoured by larvae). Synchrony between adult moths and Carex spp., and the use of Carex by both adults and larvae, suggests sedges may be host plants for M. calthella in lowland ancient woodlands. © 2010 Springer Science+Business Media B.V

Phenotypic selection on flowering phenology and size in two dioecious plant species with different pollen vectors

“…Temporal niche partitioning is less evident for wind‐pollinated species than for animal‐pollinated ones (Bolmgren et al . 2003, but see Erenler & Gillman 2010). In contrast, wind‐pollinated plants tend to flower more synchronously than animal‐pollinated species (Rabinowitz et al .…”

Large male bias in collection of Micropterix facetella Zeller, 1851 (Lepidoptera, Micropterigidae)

“…comm.). Gregarious behavior was also observed in the pollen-feeding Micropterix calthella Linnaeus (Erenler and Gillman 2010), though the sex ratio was not recorded. Despite these multiple corroborative studies, the variation in recorded flight time and behavior across all Micropterix is significant enough that, with regards to analyzing M. facetella behavior, it must all be treated as circumstantial (Zeller-Lukashort et al 2007) There are other known occurrences of gender bias in Lepidoptera.…”

Descriptions of two new Vietomartyria species (Lepidoptera, Micropterigidae) from China

“…Typically the micropterigid larvae feed on liverworts (Tillyard 1922;Tuskes & Smith 1984;Yasuda & Hashimoto 1989;Hashimoto 2006;Imada et al 2011;Davis & Landry 2012), and less commonly, on decayed plants (Carter & Dugdale 1982), or on fresh photosynthetic angiosperm tissues (Erenler & Gillman 2010). The adults of some species of the genera Sabatinca Walker, 1863 and Micropterix Hübner, 1825 feed either on pollens of angiosperms or spores of ferns (Zeller-Lukashort 2007;Gibbs 2010Gibbs , 2014Erenler & Gillman 2010;Davis & Landry 2012).…”