Temperature-Dependent Development of the Swallowtail Butterfly, Sericinus montela Gray

Abstract

The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of ambient thermal environments on the development of swallowtail butterflies (Sericinus montela Gray). Developmental durations and survival rates of S. montela were examined at two crucial developmental stages, embryonic and larval development, at varying temperatures ranging from 15°C to 35°C. As expected, our results indicated that increasing temperatures decreased the developmental duration and survival rate of the eggs. However, the larvae and pupae showed maximum survival rates at 20.0°C and 25.0°C, and the represented durations were similar to those of the eggs. Larval development was stage-specific, revealing that the fourth and fifth instars at the later stages were more susceptible to temperature variation. When considering both parameters, the optimal development of S. montela occurred within the temperature range of 20.0-25.0°C. The lower threshold for the complete development of S. montela from eggs to eclosion of adults was calculated at 10.6°C by linear regression analysis. The estimated value is similar to that of other endemic insects distributed in temperate climate zones, which indicates that S. montela belongs to a small group of swallowtails adjusted to low ambient temperatures. From the results, we predict that the full development of S. montela could be achieved within the temperature range of 17.5-30.0°C. Embryonic development ceased at both test temperature extremes, and no further larval development proceeded after the third instar at 35.0 o C. These results suggest that embryogenesis can be significantly influenced by slight variations in the ambient thermal environment that fall below the optimal range.

Effects of human activities on Sericinus montela and its host plant Aristolochia contorta

“…There are studies on the ecological importance of A. contorta and S. montela focusing on functional aspects of the plant (i.e., its secondary metabolite) 34 – 37 , as well as the mitochondrial genome, development, and metapopulation dynamics of the butterfly 38 – 40 . Recently, the optimal habitat of A. contorta 29 and the interactive effects of CO 2 on A. contorta for S. montela 41 , 42 were reported.…”

Day‐flying lepidoptera larvae have a poorer ability to thermoregulate than adults

“…This implies that these traits (taxonomic family, size and colour) could play a relatively consistent role in adult butterfly thermoregulation. A strong buffering ability could correspond to greater climate resilience, as individuals are able to elevate their body temperature in cold conditions, which would benefit larval development (Hong et al., 2014 ) and adult flight (Nève & Hall, 2016 ), but lower their body temperature in hot conditions, which would prevent irreversible protein denaturation, unsustainable rises in metabolism and other processes that would otherwise result in reduced survival and reproductive success (González‐Tokman et al., 2020 ; Heath et al., 1971 ; Svensson et al., 2020 ). However, it is also possible that a strong buffering ability may inhibit the evolution of tolerance to non‐optimal temperatures (Ashe‐Jepson et al., 2023 ); however, to date this has not been investigated for Lepidoptera larvae.…”

Day-flying Lepidoptera larvae have a poorer ability to thermoregulate than adults

“…This implies that these traits (taxonomic family, size and colour) could play a relatively consistent role in adult butterfly thermoregulation. A strong buffering ability could correspond to greater climate resilience, as individuals are able to elevate their body temperature in cold conditions, which would benefit larval development (Hong et al, 2014) and adult flight (Nève & Hall, 2016), but lower their body temperature in hot conditions, which would prevent irreversible protein denaturation, unsustainable rises in metabolism and other processes that would otherwise result in reduced survival and reproductive success (González-Tokman et al, 2020;Heath et al, 1971;Svensson et al, 2020). However, it is also possible that a strong buffering ability may inhibit the evolution of tolerance to non-optimal temperatures (Ashe-Jepson et al, 2023); however, to date this has not been investigated for Lepidoptera larvae.…”