Aggregated oviposition in Actinote pellenea pellenea Hubner (Lepidoptera: Nymphatidae)

Abstract

The oviposition pattern of Actinole pellenea pellnea on Austroeupatorium inulaefolium was investigated in two coastal sites in SE Brazil to test if there is any pattern of preference for host plant At both sites, host plants were marked and measured for height, distance of the nearest plant, number of leaves with A. p.pellenea immatures (eggs and first instar larvae), number of groups of immatures and total number of eggs per plant. An apparency index was calculated relating plant size to distance from its three nearest conspecific neighbours. Total leaf area, orientation and inclination were recorded for each leaf with a group of immatures. There was no significant correlation between the number of ovipositions on each plant and habitat and plant characteristics as plant height and apperency index. The number and density of eggs by oviposition was not correlated with leaf characters as area, orientation or inclination. At both sites clusters of immatures showed a grouped distribution with some plants having more immatures than predicted by chance. In the only case of a double oviposition on the same leaf, the later cluster was significantly smaller. The results show that distribution of eggs - reflecting female choice - was not related with the above measured plant and leaf traits. However, the results do suggest that females probably choose plants where immatures are already present resulting in the observed grouping pattern.