Territorial hilltopping behavior of three swallowtail butterflies (Lepidoptera, Papilionidae) in western Brazil

Higher and hotter: the continuous use of a territorial area by males of the threatened butterfly, Actinote zikani (Nymphalidae: Heliconiinae: Acraeini) in a Serra do Mar hilltop

“…Only from this moment on we could visualize the territorial behavior of males. The territorial behavior of A. zikani shows several similarities with data from other authors [22][23][24] , in these cases, the males are probably fighting only for mating areas and not for territories that contain resources used by females. Probably, the main source of adults recruited to main hilltop territories came from NW slopes of the Morrao Hill and that the territory establishment have the only purpose to find mates.…”

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

“…Males of other butterflies as Heraclides thoas brasiliensis, Battus polydamas polydamas, and Eurytides orthosilaus (Papilionidae) share the same behavior establishing territories in fixed relative positions (e.g., toward the sun or magnetic north) and occupying the same areas during several weeks where mating sites are formed [21] . These characteristics including patrolling of delimited areas combined with intolerant behavior in relation of other males, which can lead to chases and physical clashes on the ground, appear to characterize territory interactions which usually determine who male owns the territory [21][22] . Males are probably fighting only for mating areas and not for territories that contain resources used by females [22-23-24] .…”

Disputas físicas e territorialidade da espécie de borboleta Actinote pellenea (Hubner, 1821) (Nymphalidae, Acraeinae)

“…Disputas intensas e com perda de pedaços de asas têm sido registradas eventualmente em disputas aéreas entre machos de Papilio indra minori (Eff, 1962). Pinheiro (1991) (comunicação pessoal) também relata que as disputas físicas em Eurytides orthosilaus podem resultar em danos nas asas. Tyler et al (1994) relatam comportamentos de defesa territorial com embates físicos em espécies de papilioníneos: Protesilaus, Heraclides thoas, H. androgeus, H. anchisiades.…”

“…Embora o comportamento territorial varie muito entre as espécies, a maioria apresentam perseguições acrobáticas, sem agressões físicas, que terminam somente quando um dos indivíduos deixa o território (Kemp & Wiklund, 2001). Em alguns insetos, em especial dípteros e borboletas, durante essas perseguições, os indivíduos se agarram e os rivais caem no solo (Eff, 1962;Catts, 1979;Meyer & Bock, 1980;Buschman & Patterson, 1981;Shiffer, 1983;Pinheiro, 1991). Nestes casos, danos físicos podem ocorrer e serem importantes custos para a resolução do conflito (Eff, 1962).…”