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Biology of an Exotic Butterfly Acraea terpsicore (Linnaeus, 1758) (Nymphalidae: Heliconiinae), in a Newly Invaded Region, Sarawak, Borneo

Sabina Noor1*, Fatimah Abang1 and Hamady Dieng2

1Faculty of Resource Science and Technology (FRST), Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS), Kota Samarahan, 94300, Malaysia, (Affiliation: Sardar Bahadur Khan Women’s University, Quetta, 87300, Pakistan); 2Institute of Biodiversity and Environmental Conservation (IBEC), Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, Kota Samarahan, 94300, Malaysia.

 
*Correspondence | Sabina Noor, Faculty of Resource Science and Technology (FRST), Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS), Kota Samarahan, 94300, Malaysia, (Affiliation: Sardar Bahadur Khan Women’s University, Quetta, 87300, Pakistan); Email: sabina.noor15@yahoo.com

Figure 1:

Map showing three sampling sites based on urbanization levels and UNIMAS campus. Inbox map holds the details of Sarawak and Borneo (Source: DivaGIS; 7.5).

Figure 2:

Study sites and host plant: (a) and (b) the netted house (butterfly) used for the events of mating and oviposition in the study (outside and inside view, respectively); (c) Primary food plant (Passiflora foetida) of A. terpsicore showing the lavish growth in the study site (DI); (d) Urban site (JSB) and the plentiful growth of host plant.

Figure 3:

Courtship behaviour and oviposition in A. terpsicore: (a) and (b) Male adults grasping each other before released to the netted house, eager for mating (after emergence from pupa); (c) Mating pair in netted house; (d) Female ovipositing on the upper side of leaf (P. foetida); (e) Patches of eggs laid at a single time on the same leaf of P. foetida; (f) Oviposition event.

Figure 4:

Eggs of A. terpsicore: (a) Lateral view of an egg with encircled area of glue (visible); (b) Top view of eggs under a Stereomicroscope; (c) Top view of eggs under SEM with a resolution of x30; (d) Single egg under SEM with a resolution of x130; (e) Micropyle of an egg under SEM with a resolution of x500; (f) cluster of eggs with discrepancy; mature (black head) and under development (pale yellow); (g) Typical egg cohort (after oviposition); (h) cohort of mature eggs (8 hrs before hatching).

Figure 5:

Immature stages of A. terpsicore: (a) Newly emerged 1st instars and egg shells; (b) 1st instar larvae after 12hrs; (c) gregarious group of 1st instar larvae feeding on Passiflora foetida; (d) earlier 1st instar and newly moulted (encircled) 2nd instar larvae on the same spot.

Figure 6:

Immature stages of A. terpsicore: (a) fully grown second instar stage; (b) batch of 2nd instars feeding gregariously, while the silken web can be visualized as well; (c) Newly moulted 3rd instar; (d) fully grown third instar larva, (e) full sized fourth instar stage; (f) close up of the branched spines present in rows over each body segment on fourth instar larva; (g) A fully grown fifth instar larva (last instar) of A. terpsicore.

Figure 7:

(a) Pre-pupal stage with visible white patches over the body; (b) Pupation stage and formation of wing case; (c) completely sclerotized pupa with last instar exuvia attached at the base (lateral view); (d) dorsal view of the fully matured pupa.

Figure 8:

The adults of A. terpsicore: (a) Male adult emerged from pupa resting on the discarded pupal case; (b) head of the imago with visible compound eyes, labial palps (hairy, yellow) and coiled proboscis (encircled); (c) Female upper side; (d) female under side; (e) Male upper side; (f) Male under side.

Figure 9:

The overall survivorship rate of each developmental stage of A. terpsicore for 22 cohorts.

Figure 10:

Population index of A. terpsicore, in relation to the average temperature, relative humidity and maximum precipitation throughout the duration.

Sarhad Journal of Agriculture

September

Vol.40, Iss. 3, Pages 680-1101

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