Trade-off between mass allocation and perching behavior in the pierid butterfly Archonias brassolis tereas (Godart, 1819) (Lepidoptera: Pieridae: Pierinae)

Abstract

We tested the hypothesis that males of the perching butterfly Archonias brassolis tereas (Godart, 1819) (Lepidoptera: Pieridae: Pierinae) allocate more body mass to the thorax than patrolling pierid species. Butterflies were collected from January to November of 2009 on 59 different sampling occasions along the right bank of river Quilombo, Santos, SP, Brazil. Weights of abdomen, thorax and wings were recorded to estimate the aspect ratio of the wings and wing loading. Wing status was used to place specimens in the three different age classes. Analysis showed four groups of individuals with perchers being light and agile and patrollers heavy and slow. This study supports the hypothesis that the A. b. tereas have morphological traits associated with higher acceleration ability and speed. Some individuals which do not have these morphological traits to defend a territory might adopt the patrolling strategy.