A new Report of Cephrenes Acalle Hopffer (Lepidoptera: Hesperiidae) from Southern Western Ghats, with Notes on Its Natural History and Immature Stages

2010·4.6 MB·

by  S Kalesh

Journal ofthe Bombay Natural HistorySociety, 106(2), May-Aug 2009 149-155
A NEW REPORT OF CEPHRENESACALLE HOPFFER (FEPIDOPTERA: HESPERIIDAE)
FROM SOUTHERN WESTERN GHATS, WITH NOTES ON ITS NATURAL HISTORY
AND IMMATURE STAGES
S. Kalesh1 and Satya KrishnaPrakash2
'BN439.Greeshmam.Bapuji Nagar,MedicalCollege P.O..Thiruvananthapuram695Oil. Kerala.India.
Email: [email protected]
23-A,HeeraHaven,UlloorMedicalCollegeP.O.,Thiruvananthapuram695Oil,Kerala,India.Email:[email protected]
The Plain Palm Dart Cephrenes acalle Hopffer 1874, which is presently known to occur in India from Bengal to
Sikkim, Assam and Andaman & Nicobar Islands, is now recorded for the first time from Thiruvananthapuram in
Kerala, peninsular India. This is a significant range extension for this species. A detailed description of the early
stagesand anoteonthe natural historyofthe C. acalleispresented. CocosnuciferaL. Coconuttreeisthe hostplant
for the species in the study area, which enables the species to establish substantial populations. Our observations
show thatthespeciesisnotrareinthisregionand itwasearliereithermistakenfor TelicotaancillabambusaeMoore
orTelicotacoloncolonFabricius whichitresembles,orthe species mighthaveeludedearly naturalistsbecauseofits
canopydependentmodeoflife. IntensivefieldsurveysinthesouthernWesternGhatsandtheEasternGhatswill help
to delineate itsexactdistributional range and status in peninsular India.
Key words: larval ecology, distributional ranges, range extension. Plain Palmdart, Cephrenes acalle, Hesperiidae,
Lepidoptera, Western Ghats, Kerala, India
INTRODUCTION December 2006 in the suburbs ofThiruvananthapuramcity;
a female butterfly was spotted resting on a coconut frond.
The genus Cephrenes is primarily concentrated in the Wephotographedthespeciesandconfirmeditsidentitylater.
Southeast Asia-Papuan region and Australia with only one Subsequently, four males and fourfemales were seen in the
species CephrenesacalleHopfferpenetrating intotheIndian same yard again in December 2006, and in January 2007.
region. Bell (1910) and Evans (1932) referred to the Indian Besidescollectingsamplesweobservedeightmalesandfour
taxonas Cephrenespalmarum,which is,accordingtoEvans females over a period of two weeks. The fact that all the
(1949), a synonym of Cephrenes chrysozona oceanica observed individuals had eclosed recently prompted us to
(Mabille 1904). However, its currently valid taxonomic search for caterpillars ofthe species. Caterpillars were first
placementfollowingCorbetetal. (1992)isCephrenesacalle collectedfromThiruvananthapuraminDecember2006;some
Hopffer 1874, and the Indian subspecies is thus Cephrenes parasitized caterpiliars were observed on a coconut tree at
acalle oceanica (Mabille 1904). CoyalmannamatPalakkaddistrictafew hundredkilometres
TheknowndistributionalrangeofCephrenesacalle is north of Thiruvananthapuram. Intensive searches at
from West Bengal eastward to Myanmar and parts of Indo- Thiruvananthapuram resulted in the discovery of four
China, and in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands (Bell 1910; caterpillarsonacoconuttree7mhigh, fromwhich twomale
Evans 1932). The presentreportfromThiruvananthapuram, andtwo female butterfliesemerged.
Kerala, India, is arangeextensionforthis speciesby at least Males of Cephrenes look like males of Telicota, but
2,500 km. With this addition the currently known Western theformerlacksthecharacteristicstigma(sexbrand)present
Ghats butterfly fauna of 333 species (Kunte 2007) now onthe forewings ofthe latter. Femaleshave narrower, much
includes 334 species. reduced markings on the upperside and the underside is a
dullpinkish-brownratherthanorange.LarvaeofTelicotafeed
Natural history and field notes on thespecies on bamboos and grasses, while Cephrenes feeds on palms,
We could not find any published descriptions of the includingCoconutPalm(Robinsonetal.2001).Theunusual
natural history of this species or its early stages. Swinhoe recordbyMaxwell-LeffroyandHowlettofCephrenesacalle
(1913) states that larvae of Cephrenes had been reared in oceanicafeedingontamarindTamarindusindica(Robinson
Calcutta (now Kolkata) in 1900, but Bell (1910) mentioned etal. 2001) is probably an error.
thatthepicturesofthe larvae Swinhoementionedwere never Ourobservations indicate that both the sexes are fond
found.Thus,ourreportisprobablythefirstdetaileddescription ofbaskinginthesunduringmornings,andbothvisitCoconut
oftheearly stagesofCephrenesacalle Hopffer 1874. Palm flowers exclusively, which were in bloom at the time.
Our first sighting of the Plain Palmdart was in As the day advanced, females retired to the undersides or
3 4
NEW REPORT OF CEPHRENESACALLEHOPFFER FROM SOUTHERN WESTERN GHATS
shadedareas ofthecoconutfronds, whereas males stayedat Egg
vantage points from which they chased other butterflies of The structure ofthe egg is not known. It is laid on the
their size. Both the sexes were wary but returned back to undersideoftheCoconuttreeleafletstowardsthemiddleor
their formerresting places even when disturbed. Flight was at the tips as observedon many occasions from remnants of
extremelypowerfulandfast,andthespecieswasalwaysfound egg shells nearthe larval cells.
flying high in the canopy. Representative specimens ofboth
the sexes are available in ourcollection. Newly hatched larva
The head capsule is shaped similar to Telicota and is
METHODOLOGY
shiny black. This stage is characterized by the presence ofa
chitinousblackneckcollaronthedorsalhalfoftheneckregion.
Theadultbutterflieswereobservedfromafixedpoint The neck is narrow and the body is widest in the middle,
forfour hours each in the morning and evening, from 0600 thereafter, it gradually tapers towards the anal end. The body
hrs to 1000 hrs, and 1400 hrs to 1800 hrs (Table I). Adults lackshairsonviewingwithnakedeyes.The semi-transparent
m
within aradius of 5 from thispoint were included in the analplatehasaseriesoflong,up-curvedandoccasionallydown
1
analysis;thisareaincludedthecanopyofeightcoconuttrees. curved whitish hairs at its tip. The colourofthe body is light
The larvae were collected from field and reared under honey yellow withawaxy appearance (Fig. la).
laboratory conditions from January toAugust 2006. A total As soon as the larva emerges from the egg it makes a
offourlarvae were rearedfromfirsttofinal instar(Table 1); cell at the tip of the coconut leaflet by joining together the
detailednotesonthelarvae,pupaeandadultbutterflieswhich leafmarginswithsilkstrands.Thiscellisdifferentfromother
emergedwererecorded. palm feeding Hesperiids like Suastus, but resembles that of
The preferred larval host plant was Cocos nucifera Caltoris. Incaseswhentheeggislaidatthetipoftheleafthe
Coconut palm. It is probable that they feed on other palms larva makes a large cell byjoining two overlapping leaflets
too. withsilk.Theunusuallystrongsilkstrandsareplacedalmost
Caterpillarscollectedwererearedinplasticcontainers equidistantfromeach other. Theyfeedalittleawayfromthe
suitable for their size, for example, a 3 cm long caterpillar cell, proximally to it on one side ofthe margin. The eating
waskeptinacontainer9cm x6cmx6cm. Holesof1mmx pattern is characteristic; the larvae start at the leaf margin
1mm per sq. cm were provided for sufficient aeration and working almost perpendicular to the long axis reaching the
maintainingappropriatehumidity.Thecontainerwascleaned central vein, thereafter, they eat the soft part between the
andfresh leaves were added every day. Measurements were central vein and outer margin leaving the relatively thick
made usingVerniercallipers. Morphological descriptionsof margin untouched (Fig. lb). The approximate duration of
the larvae follow Bell (1910). moulting phase to the next instar was about 18 to 24 hours.
The stagebefore the firstmoulthas been callednewly For larval measurementsreferTable 2.
hatched larva. The area between the sub-dorsal and dorso-
lateralaspectsofthelarvaeisdescribedhereastheparadorsal First Instar
region. The adult butterflies reared were released into their The headisroughlytriangularinshapewiththevertex
natural habitats afterphotographing them. moderatelygrooved. Bodyislong,tubularand hairlessexcept
Table 1:Adult butterfly sightings and breeding dataof CephrenesacalleHopffer 1874 (December2006to November2007)
Month and year Adultsightings Larvaeobserved Remarks
N=29 (19 Males,10females) N=8 (2 males, 5females,
one undetermined)
December2006 Eight malesandfivefemales Onefemale in' rdinstar Preyed upon byspider
January2007 One mating pairand a male One male Final instar
February2007 none One male Final instar
March 2007 One male One4th instar, unsexed Parasitized bywasps
April 2007 none none none
May 2007 One male none none
June2007 One male none none
July2007 Two males none none
Aug2007 Two malesandtwofemales Newly hatched larva, 2nd th last instar All successfully reared
, ,
September2007 One female none none
October2007 Twomales none none
November2007 Onefemale none none
150 J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., 106(2), May-Aug 2009
NEW REPORTOF CEPHRENESACALLEHOPFFER FROM SOUTHERN WESTERN GHATS
Fig. 1: CephrenesacalleHopffer 1874 (a-d): a. Newlyhatched larva; b. Newly hatched larva cell; c: First instar larva;
d. Second instarlarva
Fig. 2: CephrenesacalleHopffer 1874(a-c): a. Third instar larva; b. Fourth instar larva; c. Final instar; d. Larval head
J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., 106(2), May-Aug2009 151
NEW REPORT OF CEPHRENESACALLEHOPFFER FROM SOUTHERN WESTERN GHATS
atthetipoftheanalplate,whichisconspicuous. Headcapsule marks the middle ofthe true clypeus. Mouthparts are brown.
dark brown, body dull sap green (Fig. lc), skin light honey The neck and body is pale sap green (Fig. 2a).The semi-
yellow.Thesegmentjustbeforetheanalplateappearsgreyish transparentskinispaleyellow.Thesidesofthebodyaremore
becauseoftheinternalcontents,whicharevisiblethroughthe yellowish and dorsal pulsating line is less delineated in this
translucentbody. Hairs on the anal plate are translucent. stage. Tail plate is waxy yellow at the periphery with a grey
Thecellconstruction andgeneralbehavioural patterns tinge at the middle. Each segment bears a pair of tiny dark
are similar in all the instars. When disturbed they bang the spotsintheparadorsalregion.Spiraclesareverticallyovaland
anteriorthirds ofthe body and head on the walls ofthe cell are lesscolouredcomparedtothe laterinstars.
The floor ofthe cell is coated with thick silk. The eating is
usually confined to one margin of the distal aspect of the Fourth Instar
leaflet progressing proximally towards the cell. They Head capsule is circular in shape. Vertex is shallow.
sometimes make cells with two leaflets; in which case they The headisfinelyreticulo-rugose on magnification. Neckis
usuallyeattheupperleafletsparingthelowerone,i.e.,feeding narrowandthereafterbody graduallywidensintoacylinder.
on the leaflet that forms the floorofthe larval cell. Thelaterhalfisdorso-ventrallyflattenedlikeinBaoris.Anal
plate is semicircular in shape and bears a series of long
Second Instar translucent hairat its end.
This larva is similar to the first instar larva in colour Thegroundcolourispalegreen andskin ispalelemon
and structure (Fig. Id). The duration of larval stages and yellow. The head capsule is waxy brown. The lateral aspect
measurements are given inTable 2. ofthelobefaceisseparatedfromthecheeksbyadarkbrown
bandwhosebordersareobscureandfadedtowardsthecentre
Third Instar of the lobe face. This band passes towards the vertex and
Head capsule is almost round with a coarse texture on then passes down parallel to the vertical groove and to the
magnification.Vertexisshallow.Neckisnarrow. Bodyislong sides ofthe false clypeus where it diverges. The main trunk
andcylindrical.Tailplateissemi-circularwithaseriesoflong ofthisbandpassesontotheleveloflowerthirdoftrueclypeus.
whitish hairon it, especially atthe tip. Groundcolourofhead Theotherpartpassesinfero-laterallyandgraduallyfadesand
ispale pinkish-white with areddish tint. Eyes black.Alateral merges with the lateral bands. Eyes are black. The dorsal
facialbandstartsappearingatthisstage. Itstartsasabrownish pulsating line is green. Paradorsal band is opaque greenish.
redbandaroundtheeyeregionandascendsseparatingtheface The rest ofthe lateral surface is greenish yellow (Fig. 2b).
from the cheeks. Thereafter, the bands on either side meet at
the shallow vertex where they become somewhat paler and Final Instar
descend through the vertical groove to reach the apex ofthe The caterpillarlooks similarto Telicota andBaoris. It
falseclypeuswhereitends.Asingleverticalbrownishredstreak resembles Telicota and Baoris in shape while it resembles
Table2: Biometricdata and duration ofearly stagesof Cephrenesacalle Hopffer 1874
from larvae reared in laboratoryconditions (December2006-November2007)
Stages Duration in Measurements Remarks
days in centimeters (cm)
Egg Unknown NotAvailable Laid singlyon dorsum of Cocosnuciferaleaflets usuallyon well
exposed leaves.
Newlyhatched Unknown Body: length 0.28-0.5cm Found in itstypical cell at leaflettip.
larvae
1st instar 6 days Head: width 0.1 cm Earlystagesclosely resemblethatof Baoris.
Body: length 0.7-1.0cm Cell nearleaftip,floorofcell smearedwiththickmatofstrongsilk.
2nd instar 5-6days Head: width and height 0.12cm Similartothe previous instarin all respects.
Body: length 0.1-1.75 cm
3rd instar 6-7days Head: width 0.2cm General structure and habitssimilarto lastinstar, buttesticles
Body: length 1.5-3.0cm moreconspicuous. Lobefaceson headcapsule pale, lateral
bandswell-defined, resembles Polytremis earlystages.
4th instar 6days Head: width 0.25 cm; height0.25cm Headcapsule richly marked bands may be inconspicuous inthis
Body: length 3.0-3.5cm darkbackground.
Final instar 7-8days Head: width 0.3cm; height0.4cm Typical larvawith thecharacteristic head patterns, moreactive
Body: length 3.5-4.5cm than predecessors.
Pupa 8-10days length 2.5cm Largerthan Telicotapupa butpalerand less richlycoloured,
maximum width 0.6 cm Tail processesextremely reduced in contrastto Telicota.
width 0.4cm at head
height0.55cm atshoulders
152 J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., 106(2), May-Aug 2009
NEW REPORT OF CEPHRENESACALLEHOPPER FROM SOUTHERN WESTERN GHATS
Telicotaincoloration. Headcapsuleisverticallyoval.Vertex cell is smearedwith whitish cereousexcretion, which serves
ismoderatelygrooved.Onmagnification,theheadisreticulo- as protection against moisture and rain. The amount ofthis
rugose and bears short down-curved translucent hairs. Hair cereoussecretionismorethanthatobservedin Telicotapupae.
islongestaroundthemouthparts. Neckregionandadjoining The larvae lie motionless and this posture is continued for
segments are the narrowest section of the body. Body is about 24 hours; the whole process ofpupation is completed
widest in the middle. On cross-section the body is arched within this time.
dorsally and the ventrum is flat. Body is roughly spindle- The general structure resembles that of the Telicota
shaped and transversely dividedby small annuli. On lateral andThoressa-Halpegroup.Thepupaislargerindimensions,
view, the body is highest at about the anterior thirds then butpalerincoloration incomparisonwith Telicota.Thereare
graduallytapersandflattensdorso-ventrallytowardstheanal no body bands orany cremasteric adhesions (Fig. 3a).
plate. Each segment has five annuli. In each segment, On dorsal view the head is finely curved on front.
proceeding in the head to tail direction, the first was the The snout is absent but the region is marked with a single
largestannuli, the secondannulusis incompleteandtherest dark spot. There are some tufts of long hairs around the
were complete annuli. The second annulus has a silverspot snout and eyes. The stigma present postero-superior to the
in the paradorsal region. This spot is not very clearly eyes is reniform in shape. The body is widest at the origin
appreciated in some segments and is not as conspicuous as of wings. Thereafter, the width is constant till about the
in Baoris. The body has extremely small hairs, which are last quarter, but tapers off rapidly to end in the highly
visible only when held against light and on simple rudimentary tail process. On lateral view the highest point
magnification with ahand lens.Thetipofanal platehasthe isthe humpofthethorax, which isconvex; thisisfollowed
longest hair on it which is visible with the naked eye. byamoderateabdomino-thoracicconstriction(Fig. 3b).The
Spiracles are vertically oval and more or less flushed with rest of the body is of a smoother convex contour, which
thesurface.Adarkspotisseenneartheantero-superioraspect rapidly tapers off from the rear thirds to end in the tail
of the spiracle. Another similar spot is observed postero- process. On the ventral view, the proboscis is much longer
inferiorly. The male larvae can be differentiated based on than the rest of Telicota and extends to surpass more than
the presence ofthe paired yellowish orange genital organs, half of the second segment distal to the wing cases. It
which are visible lying beside the dorsal pulsating line in extends for 2 mm when measured from the tips of wing
the laterthird ofthe body (Fig. 2c). cases (Fig. 3c). In contrast to Cephrenes both species of
,
Thegroundcolourofthelarvaispalegreenish.Theskin Telicota have short proboscis and it never extends beyond
is pale lemon yellow, which is more evident at the skin folds the first intersegmental space distal to the wing cases. The
near neck and the paraspiracular regions. The head is waxy tail process is a short and straight extension from the
palerosebrown.Thefaciallobesandcheeksare separatedby rear, these are irregular and much reduced in comparison
adarkblackbrown band that begins around the eyes; it then to Telicota (Fig. 3d). In Telicota the tail process is almosta
passesthrough the sidesofthe lobe, face reachingthe vertex. trapezoid one with a terminal series of uniformly long
From there the band on each side descends parallel to the down-curved hooklets. The whole body is clothed in
verticalgrooveandgraduallywidenstillitreachestheapexof evenly distributed sparse, moderately long, reddish brown
thefalseclypeus.Thereafter,thebandstapergraduallyanddo hairs which are more numerous near the rear and front
not pass beyond the dorsal halfofthe true clypeus. Another segments.
vertical line of similar colour is observed inside the true Thegeneralcolourofthepupaispale yellowish white
clypeus.Itstartsattheapexofthetrueclypeusandextendstill whileincontrastthepupaeofTelicotaaremuchmoredeeply
two thirds ofits height. Eyes are almost black (Fig. 2d). The coloured in brownish yellow with an orangish tint. Head is
dorsal pulsating line is green. The paradorsal bands are waxybrownishyellow.The stigmaoneithersidesoftheeye
opaque, pale white green. The spiracles are lemon yellow in rudiments are dark brown. Thorax is coloured pale waxy
colour. honey yellow with a greenish tinge. Abdomen is whitish
The cell is made by joining together the two ends of yellow. The spiraclesaretranslucentpale brownish.The tail
the leaflet making aflattenedcell atthe leaftip. Then iteats processesarereddishbrown.Durationofpupalstageisabout
from the leaf tip advancing proximally leaving the central 10 days. The adult butterflies usually (Fig. 4) emerge in the
woody vein. Feeding usually takes place in the dark morning hours.
hours, but they will feed even during the daytime if not
disturbed. Parasitism and predators
One of the larvae was found to be infesting with
Pupation parasitoid wasps. Farval infectionsarerare. Jumpingspiders
The larva settles inside the last residing cell for were observed as predators oflarvae and adults in the field.
pupation. Its colourchanges to yellowish white. The whole Adults alsofall prey to Red ants Oecophylla smaragdina.
J. BombayNat. Hist. Soc., 106(2), May-Aug 2009 153
NEW REPORTOF CEPHRENESACALLEHOPFFER FROM SOUTHERN WESTERN GHATS
Fig. 3: CephrenesacalleFlopffer 1874(a-d): a. Pupadorsum; b. Pupa lateral view; c. Pupa ventrum; d.Tail
Fig. 4: CephrenesacalleHopffer 1874(a-d): a. Male underside; b. Female underside; c. Male upperside; d. Female
154 J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., 106(2), May-Aug 2009
NEW REPORTOF CEPHRENESACALLEHOPFFER FROM SOUTHERN WESTERN GHATS
CONCLUSION the preferred host plant, is relatively uncommon. Intensive
surveysinthenorthern andcentralWesternGhatsandinthe
We have presented here the first detailed descriptions EasternGhatswillhelptodelineateitscurrentdistributional
of the early stages of the Cephrenes acalle Hopffer, and rangeandstatusinpeninsularIndia.Taxonomicalandgenetic
reported for the first time the presence of the species in analysishastobeundertakentoconfirmthesubspeciesstatus
southern India. In this study, it was found that adults were ofthis species.
notuncommoninsouthernKeralawhereitslarvalhostplant
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
isavailable,butwasdescribedrareowingtoitspeculiarhabit
ofkeepingtohighcanopiesofcoconuttrees. Previousworks
(Fergusson 1891; Kunhikrishnan 2002) on Lepidopteran WethankAndrewWarrenfortaxonomicadvice. We are
fauna focussed on this region of the peninsula might have grateful to Krushnamegh Kunte for help in identifying the
overlooked this species for the related Telicota genus. Only species, and also for writing the manuscript. We would also
larval rearing and detailed adult examination would have like to thank E. Kunhikrishnan and Suresh Elamon for
revealedthedifferencesbetweenthem,moreovertheseworks encouragement, and the unknown referees for valuable
mainlyconcentratedonthehigherelevationsoftheWestern comments. We sincerely thankJyothy Vijayan and Greeshma
GhatsandtheforestedinteriorsofthedistrictwhereCoconut, forsupport.
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