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Spatial patterns in pupal mortality in urban palm caterpillars
1Departamento de Biociências, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, 38400-902, Uberlândia-MG, Brazil.
Oecologia
|March 18, 2017
Summary
Urban butterfly populations are significantly impacted by mortality factors, with pupal survival influenced by habitat and urban structure. These findings challenge the idea that urban butterflies primarily escape natural enemies in cities.
Area of Science:
- Ecology
- Urban Entomology
- Population Dynamics
Background:
- Urban environments present unique challenges and opportunities for insect populations.
- Understanding mortality factors is crucial for predicting insect population sizes in urbanized areas.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify and quantify mortality factors affecting pupae of Brassolis sophorae and Opsiphanes invirae in an urban landscape.
- To investigate the relationship between urban variables and insect mortality, particularly parasitism.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of over 20,000 pupal skins from 55 urban collection sites.
- Correlation of mortality rates with urban features like vegetation cover, building density, and distance from the city center.
Main Results:
- Nearly 50% of Brassolis sophorae and 30% of Opsiphanes invirae pupae experienced mortality.
- Sheltered pupation sites showed higher eclosion rates than exposed sites.
- High vegetation cover correlated with increased mortality and parasitism by Spilochalcis morleyi.
Conclusions:
- Urban structure and habitat characteristics significantly influence butterfly pupal mortality.
- Parasitism levels, while influenced by vegetation and distance from the city center, do not fully explain urban butterfly abundance.
- The "escape from parasites" hypothesis is not supported as the sole driver of urban butterfly population dynamics.
