Aphrissa statira

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Statira sulphur
Aphrissa statira statira MHNT dos.jpg
A. s. statira - dorsal side
Aphrissa statira statira MHNT ventre.jpg
A. s. statira - ventral side
Status TNC G5.svg
Secure  (NatureServe) [1]
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Pieridae
Genus: Aphrissa
Species:
A. statira
Binomial name
Aphrissa statira
Cramer, 1777
Synonyms

Aphrissa statira, the statira sulphur, [2] is a species of Lepidoptera in the family Pieridae . [3] The species is a medium-sized yellow butterfly, with females more pale than males. They are found from southern regions of Florida and Texas through southern Brazil and northern Argentina. The caterpillars feed on the leaves of several local host plants, while adults prefer to feed on the nectar of red or orange colored flowers. The species is most noted for their dramatic migrations in the tropical areas of the Americas. They have been the subject of many studies about how butterflies navigate and orient during migration.

Contents

Identification

Aphrissa statira has a wingspan of about 2.37 inches (6.0 cm) to 3.12 inches (7.9 cm). Because of their yellow color, they can be difficult to differentiate from cloudless sulphur butterflies when flying. [4] In general, the color of their wings vary between individual butterflies, with the most variation in color seen in Colombia, Central America, and Mexico. [5] The subspecies A. statira cubana has also been characterized in Cuba, Jamaica, and the Cayman Islands. [6] The lustrous underside of the wings of both sexes is pale green or white with more yellow on the edge. [7] [8] They exhibit sexual dimorphism; males have a different color than females do in their upper wing.

Male

The upper surface of the male wing is divided by ridges of androconial scales. [6] The outer half of wing is pale yellow and inner half is a brighter, lemon yellow. [9] [10]

Female

Female statira sulphur are lighter yellow to greenish-white with black borders at the apex and outer margin. Additionally, they have a solid black cell spot. [9] [10] Females also have pink to purple-brown spots and uneven borders along the periphery of the underside of the wing. [4] [6]

Geographic range

The species ranges from Argentina north through Central America, extending as far as southern Texas and Florida and are also found on nearby islands. [5] [9] [11] They can also be found through southern Georgia, New Mexico, and Kansas. They are especially abundant in the Amazon. [5] Many flights occur in Florida from June through February and they make large migrations in the tropics. [10] [8]

Habitat

Aphrissa statira are found in tropical scrubs, gardens, fields and forest edges. Males are usually found on the edges of rivers and other open spaces. [7] Females are often found in the thinner parts of the forest and along the edges. [5] They are often found in very high density, but can be more rare along the edges of their range. Because of their dense populations, conservation is typically not needed. [9]

Food resources

Caterpillars

In Florida, the caterpillar live and feed on coinvine (Dalbergia ecastophyllum) and Powder-puff ( Calliandra), both members of the pea family (Fabaceae). [10] They can also be found on other plants, including those of the genera Cassia, Entada , and Callichamys. [7] In Costa Rica, the caterpillars also feed on the woody vine Xylophragma seemannianum. [12] There are two forms of larvae which are found preferentially on different plant hosts. [7]

Statira sulphur demonstrate a preference for red flowering plants. Aphrissa statira (d'Almeida, 1939.) Statira Sulphur , male - Flickr - gailhampshire.jpg
Statira sulphur demonstrate a preference for red flowering plants.

Adults

Adult diet

Adult statira sulphur feed on the nectar of flowers. [13] They preferentially feed from red-orange colored flowers, such as the scarlet bush [9] and lantana. [7] Males also drink from mud puddles. [6]

Pollination

When feeding on the nectar of red flowers, statira sulphur serve as important pollinators. For example, they help to pollinate Mandevilla tenuifolia, a pink flowering herb that is pollinated only by butterflies, mainly of the families Nymphalidae and Pieridae (the family of statira sulphur). [14]

Social behavior

Caterpillars

Caterpillars often form very large populations, which then damages their host plants. They may cluster into dense populations along with other species to take advantage of the safety that comes with large numbers. The diversity of caterpillar species in the area can help divert predators to other species. Further, the excess of caterpillars can help prevent the majority from being eaten. [12]

Statira sulphur form into groups, here with the straight-line sulphur (Rhabdodryas trite) and the apricot sulphur (Phoebis argante), along the Cristalino River in the Southern Amazon region of Brazil. Puddling sulphur butterflies.JPG
Statira sulphur form into groups, here with the straight-line sulphur ( Rhabdodryas trite ) and the apricot sulphur ( Phoebis argante ), along the Cristalino River in the Southern Amazon region of Brazil.

Adults

Male statira sulphur are often found in large groups which can be as dense as 100 butterflies within a square foot. They can be found in species-specific groups, or found intermixed with other similarly colored species, including those of genera Rhabdodryas, Phoebis , and Protesilaus. [7]

Life cycle

Oviposition

Female statira sulphur lay their eggs singly on the small, young leaves of host plants. [9] There are usually two or three broods per year. The first is laid at the start of the rainy season, when food is most abundant and predators are the least intense. After maturation, the adult butterflies migrate to lay the second brood of the year in wetter regions. [12]

Caterpillars

Because there are two forms of caterpillars which are found on different host plants, it is possible that there are two subspecies. [6] The larvae which feed on Leguminosae are orange and green with a dark blue band and an orange head. The larval form which feeds on Bignoniacae is pale green with a thin yellow longitudinal stripe and a dark green head. [7]

Pupa

When the species pupates, they form a gray to pale blue-green chrysalis. There is a thin longitudinal yellow stripe and a thin red line along the back of the chrysalis. [7]

Adults

Adult males are most active before mid-morning, when they can be seen flying along hedges. At the hottest part of the day, they are typically found flying at the tops of trees. [6]

Migration

Statira sulphur are notable for their large annual migrations in the tropical areas of the Americas between May and July. [15] They fly upriver in the dry season and downriver toward the ocean in the dry season. In the Amazon, as they fly north, they cross the river to settle on the moist sands of the Upper Amazon. [5] Populations will also cross the ocean to inhabit nearby islands like the Antilles. [7]

There are many accounts on the impressiveness of statira sulphur migration, when the butterflies can be seen flying in very large groups. [5] [12] Evolutionarily, migration poses an increased risk of death during the move. Thus, the benefit of moving to a new location must outweigh the risks of migration. To facilitate migration, statira sulphur have evolved several mechanisms to ensure they fly to the correct destination. [10] Much research has been done on the statira sulphur for its ability to adjust its direction of migration under windy conditions. [6] [10] [15] A study conducted in Panama demonstrated that Aphrissa statira loses its navigational capacity when exposed to a strong magnetic field, suggesting it uses the Earth's magnetic field to navigate. [10] When experimentally exposed to strong magnetic fields, their orientation of migration was more dispersed. When experimentally exposed to a reversed magnetic field, the butterflies tended to orient themselves for migration in the opposite direction as they normally would. Together these findings demonstrate that the species uses the Earth's magnetic field to help orient their migration. [10] This is consistent with several species of migratory birds which also use the Earth's magnetic field to differentiate the direction of the equator and the poles. [10] Additionally, in their migration, statira sulphur are also influenced by the direction of the Sun and by the presence of landmarks. [10] [15]

Conservation

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pieridae</span> Butterfly family in superfamily Papilionoidea

The Pieridae are a large family of butterflies with about 76 genera containing about 1,100 species, mostly from tropical Africa and tropical Asia with some varieties in the more northern regions of North America and Eurasia. Most pierid butterflies are white, yellow, or orange in coloration, often with black spots. The pigments that give the distinct coloring to these butterflies are derived from waste products in the body and are a characteristic of this family. The family was created by William John Swainson in 1820.

<i>Phoebis sennae</i> Species of butterfly

Phoebis sennae, the cloudless sulphur, is a mid-sized butterfly in the family Pieridae found in the Americas. There are several similar species such as the yellow angled-sulphur, which has angled wings, statira sulphur, and other sulphurs, which are much smaller. The species name comes from the genus Senna to which many of the larval host plants belong.

<i>Gonepteryx rhamni</i> Species of butterfly

Gonepteryx rhamni, commonly named the common brimstone, is a butterfly of the family Pieridae. It lives throughout the Palearctic zone and is commonly found across Europe, Asia, and North Africa. Across much of its range, it is the only species of its genus, and is therefore simply known locally as the brimstone. Its wing span size is 60–74 mm (2.4–2.9 in). It should not be confused with the brimstone moth Opisthograptis luteolata.

<i>Colias croceus</i> Species of butterfly

Colias croceus, clouded yellow, is a small butterfly of the family Pieridae, the yellows and whites.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Queen (butterfly)</span> Species of butterfly

The queen butterfly is a North and South American butterfly in the family Nymphalidae with a wingspan of 80–85 mm. It is orange or brown with black wing borders and small white forewing spots on its dorsal wing surface, and reddish ventral wing surface fairly similar to the dorsal surface. The ventral hindwings have black veins and small white spots in a black border. The male has a black androconial scent patch on its dorsal hindwings. It can be found in meadows, fields, marshes, deserts, and at the edges of forests.

<i>Colias chrysotheme</i> Species of butterfly

Colias chrysotheme, the lesser clouded yellow, is a small Palearctic butterfly belonging to the family Pieridae.

<i>Colias</i> Butterfly genus in family Pieridae

Colias is a genus of butterflies in the family Pieridae. They are often called clouded yellows in the Palearctic and sulphurs in North America. The closest living relative is the genus Zerene, which is sometimes included in Colias.

<i>Colias philodice</i> Species of butterfly

Colias philodice, the common sulphur or clouded sulphur, is a North American butterfly in the family Pieridae, subfamily Coliadinae.

<i>Phoebis</i> Butterfly genus in family Pieridae

Phoebis, or sulphurs, is a genus of butterflies, belonging to the subfamily Coliadinae of the "whites" or family Pieridae. They are native to the Americas.

<i>Senna marilandica</i> Species of legume

Senna marilandica, commonly known as Maryland senna, Maryland wild senna, and wild senna, is a perennial flowering plant in the pea family (Fabaceae) native to the United States. It blooms in the summer with yellow flowers, followed by long seed pods, and can grow up to 2 m (6 ft) tall. It prefers average to wet soil.

<i>Kricogonia lyside</i> Species of butterfly

Kricogonia lyside, the lyside sulphur or guayacan sulphur, is a North American, Caribbean, and South American butterfly in the family Pieridae.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lepidoptera migration</span>

Many populations of Lepidoptera migrate, sometimes long distances, to and from areas which are only suitable for part of the year. Lepidopterans migrate on all continents except Antarctica, including from or within subtropical and tropical areas. By migrating, these species can avoid unfavorable circumstances, including weather, food shortage, or over-population. In some lepidopteran species, all individuals migrate; in others, only some migrate.

<i>Aphrissa</i> Butterfly genus in family Pieridae

Aphrissa is a genus of butterflies in the family Pieridae found in Central and South America.

<i>Phoebis philea</i> Species of butterfly

Phoebis philea, the orange-barred sulphur, is a species of butterfly found in the Americas including the Caribbean.

<i>Phoebis agarithe</i> Species of butterfly

Phoebis agarithe, the large orange sulphur, is a butterfly in the family Pieridae. It is found from Peru north to southern Texas and peninsular Florida. Rare strays can be found up to Colorado, South Dakota, Wisconsin, and New Jersey. The species has also been introduced in Hawaii. The habitat consists of open, tropical lowlands including gardens, pastures, road edges, trails and parks.

<i>Aphrissa orbis</i> Species of butterfly

Aphrissa orbis, the orbed sulphur, is a butterfly in the family Pieridae. It is native to Hispaniola and Cuba but is a very rare stray to Florida. The habitat consists of tropical moist forests above 500 meters.

<i>Rhabdodryas</i> Monotypic butterfly genus in family Pieridae

Rhabdodryas is a genus of butterflies in the family Pieridae. The only species is the straight-line sulphur.

<i>Phoebis argante</i> Species of butterfly

Phoebis argante, the apricot sulphur or Argante giant sulphur, is a butterfly in the family Pieridae.

<i>Anteos menippe</i> Species of butterfly

Anteos menippe, the great orange tip or orange-tipped angled-sulphur, is a neotropical butterfly of the family Pieridae.

References

  1. ↑ "NatureServe Explorer 2.0 Aphrissa statira Statira Sulphur". explorer.natureserve.org. Retrieved 3 October 2020.
  2. ↑ "Statira Sulphur". Archived from the original on 2009-02-09. Retrieved 1 January 2010.
  3. ↑ Catalogue of Life: 2009 Annual Checklist [ permanent dead link ]
  4. 1 2 Brock, James P.; Brock, Jim P.; Kaufman, Kenn (2003). Kaufman Field Guide to Butterflies of North America. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. ISBN   978-0618768264.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Godman, Frederick Du Cane; Salvin, Osbert (1901). Biologia Centrali-americana. Insecta. Lepidoptera-Rhopalocera ... editors.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Askew, Richard; Stafford, Ann (2008-01-01). Butterflies of the Cayman Islands. BRILL. ISBN   9789004260870.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "Butterflies of Amazonia - Aphrissa statira". learnbutterflies.com. 21 May 2024. Retrieved 2024-05-22.
  8. 1 2 P. Brock, Jim; Kaufman, Kenn (2003). Butterflies of North America . New York, New York: Houghton Mifflin Company. pp.  76. ISBN   978-0-618-25400-2.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Statira Sulphur Aphrissa statira (Cramer, 1777) | Butterflies and Moths of North America". www.butterfliesandmoths.org. Retrieved 2017-10-25.
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Srygley, Robert B.; Evandro G. Oliveira; Andre J . Riveros (2005). "Experimental evidence for a magnetic sense in Neotropical migrating butterflies (Lepidoptera: Pieridae)" (PDF). The British Journal of Animal Behaviour. 71 (1): 183–191. doi:10.1016/j.anbehav.2005.04.013. ISSN   0003-3472. S2CID   25203050. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2009-11-04.
  11. ↑ "Species Aphrissa statira - Statira Sulphur - Hodges#4233 - BugGuide.Net". bugguide.net. Retrieved 2017-10-29.
  12. 1 2 3 4 Miller, Jeff C.; Janzen, Daniel H.; Hallwachs, Winifred (2007). 100 Butterflies and Moths: Portraits from the Tropical Forests of Costa Rica. Harvard University Press. ISBN   9780674023345.
  13. ↑ "Statira Sulphur (Phoebis statira)". Nearctica. Archived from the original on 2008-07-20. Retrieved 2009-12-22.
  14. ↑ de Araújo, L. D. A.; Quirino, Z. G. M.; Machado, I. C. (2014-09-01). "High specialisation in the pollination system of Mandevilla tenuifolia (J.C. Mikan) Woodson (Apocynaceae) drives the effectiveness of butterflies as pollinators". Plant Biology. 16 (5): 947–955. Bibcode:2014PlBio..16..947D. doi:10.1111/plb.12152. ISSN   1438-8677. PMID   24628969.
  15. 1 2 3 Srygley, Robert B.; Oliveira, and Evandro G. (September 2001). "Sun Compass and Wind Drift Compensation in Migrating Butterflies". The Journal of Navigation. 54 (3): 405–417. Bibcode:2001JNav...54..405S. doi:10.1017/S0373463301001448. ISSN   1469-7785.
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