Hw. Krenn et Cm. Penz, Mouthparts of Heliconius butterflies (Lepidoptera : Nymphalidae): A searchfor anatomical adaptations to pollen-feeding behavior, INT J INSEC, 27(4), 1998, pp. 301-309
Citations number
31
Categorie Soggetti
Entomology/Pest Control
Journal title
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF INSECT MORPHOLOGY & EMBRYOLOGY
Proboscis length, the length of the tip, the number and length of the vario
us sensilla throughout the proboscis, and the size and shape of the labial
palpi were compared iri 25 species of pollen-feeding and non-pollen-feeding
Heliconiinae (Lepidoptera, Nymphalidae). The mouthparts of pollen-feeding
species tall belonging ts the genera Heliconius and Laparus) do not have st
ructures exclusive to them. However, in comparison with non-pollen-feeding
Heliconiiti, the pollen-feeding species have a significantly longer probosc
is without elongation of the tip-region; the bristle-shaped sensilla tricho
dea were found to be significantly more numerous and longer on the proximal
and mid-region of the proboscis, while the sensilla of the tip-region are
significantly shorter. In addition to these proboscis features, the labial
palpi were shorter in the pollen-feeding species, which is likewise possibl
y associated with pollen-feeding behavior. The biological role of these fea
tures is discussed and the evolution bf this unique feeding behavior among
Lepidoptera is considered in the context of the phylogenetic relationships
among genera of Heliconiini. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights rese
rved.