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The occurrence and effect of a protozoan parasite, Ophryocystis elektroscirrha (Neogregarinida: Ophryocystidae) on overwintering monarch butterflies, Danaus plexippus (Lepidoptera: Danaidae) from two California winter sites
Author(s) -
LEONG K. L. H.,
KAYA H. K.,
YOSHIMURA M. A.,
FREY D. F.
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
ecological entomology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.865
H-Index - 81
eISSN - 1365-2311
pISSN - 0307-6946
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2311.1992.tb01067.x
Subject(s) - danaus , overwintering , monarch butterfly , lepidoptera genitalia , biology , ecology , nymphalidae , zoology
.1 Monarch butterflies, Danaus plexippus , from two overwintering populations, were found to have Ophryocystis elektroscirrha spores on their scales at rates between 53% and 68%. The frequency of butterflies with O.elektroscirrha spores remained about the same between sites and throughout the winter. 2 The spores, recovered from all parts of the body of the butterfly, were most numerous on the abdomen, particularly near the posterior third. 3 Butterflies with spores survived as long as those without detectable spores at 10.1°C ±0.4 SE and 78.3% r.h. ±0.6SE. Insects with spores held at 19.4°C ±0.4SE and 44.9% r.h. ±1.5SE showed a significantly higher rate of moisture loss and survived a shorter period than monarch butterflies without detectable spores.