Early Stages and Natural History of Mimoides pausanias prasinus and M. euryleon clusoculis (Lepidoptera, Papilionidae) from Costa Rica
Published: 2013-02-06
Page: 22-30
Issue: 2013 - Volume 3 [Issue 1]
Luis Ricardo Murillo-Hiller *
Zoocriadero de Mariposas, Escuela de Biología, Universidad de Costa Rica, 11501-2060, San José, Costa Rica.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
An extensive search for larvae was carried out in the lowland Caribbean side of Costa Rica in 2006 and 2007 to find valuable taxonomic information concerning Mimoides swallowtails. Females of Mimoides pausanias prasinus were observed laying eggs on a tree of Annona amazonica R. E. Fr. and Mimoides euryleon clusoculis on a tree of Rollinia pittieri Saff. The live material was reared at the Insect Museum of the University of Costa Rica on their respective host-plant. Both species share very similar color patterns on larvae and pupal shape. M. pausanias lasted 48 days from egg oviposition to adult emerging while M. euryleon lasted 51 days.
Keywords: Mullerian mimicry, batesian mimicry, taxonomy, M. phaon, M. microdamas, Annonaceae, Parides, Heliconius, Battus