Chrysiridia rhipheus

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Madagascan sunset moth
Engraving captioned Urania riphaeus from Charles D. d'Orbigny's Dictionnaire universel d'histoire naturelle (1849)
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Uraniidae
Genus: Chrysiridia
Species:
C. rhipheus
Binomial name
Chrysiridia rhipheus
(Drury, 1773)
Endemic to Madagascar
Synonyms

Chrysiridia rhipheus, the Madagascan sunset moth, is a

optical interference in the iridescent parts of the wings, while the black parts are pigmented.[7][13]
Adults have a wingspan of 7–9 cm (2.8–3.5 in).

Lesson, 1831).[2]

At first the moth was thought to be from China or

setae. Silk spun from the mouth helps the caterpillars hold on to smooth leaves and climb back to the plant when they fall. After completing four instars, the caterpillars spin an open network cocoon. The pupal stage lasts from 17 to 23 days.[16]
Chrysiridia rhipheus is the sole specialist herbivore of the four species of Omphalea in Madagascar. Omphalea is toxic: the toxins are sequestered by the feeding caterpillar and retained in the pupal and adult stages.[17] Thousands of these moths migrate between the eastern and western ranges of their host plants.[16][17]

Taxonomy

The Madagascan sunset moth was first described by the British entomologist

Lesson in 1831.[2]

Native

Malagasy people call it adriandolo or lolonandriana,[8][18] from lolo for "spirit" or "butterfly" and andriana for "noble" or "king",[19] therefore meaning "noble butterfly",[8] "noble spirit",[20] "king butterfly"[18]
or "king spirit".

The genus Chrysiridia is entirely African and the only other species in the genus is the

basal. In the group, the use of Endospermum is an ancestral state (a plesiomorphy). The more basal Alcides feed on Endospermum and Omphalea, while Urania and Chrysiridia feed only on Omphalea.[17]

Description

Chrysiridia rhipheus has a wingspan of 7–9 centimetres (2.8–3.5 in), and sometimes up to 11 centimetres (4.3 in). Moths from the highlands, 900–1,080 metres (2,950–3,540 ft), have a median wingspan of 7 cm (2.8 in); moths from lower altitudes, 600 m (2,000 ft), have a median wingspan of 9 cm (3.5 in).[16] Like many other uraniine moths, the sunset moth has an uncanny resemblance to swallowtail butterflies, especially in its tails and colourful wings, and can easily be mistaken for a butterfly.[21]

The sunset moth is black with iridescent red, blue and green markings. There is a fringe of white scales on the wing edges, wider on the hindwings. The moth has six tails, very often lost or damaged during its life.[16] Pattern variations are common, and the moth is often partly asymmetrical;[22] one of the factors causing this is temperature shock during the pupal stage.[16]

Wing microstructure

Unlike in many other moths, the colour of C. rhipheus's wings does not come from

Neotropical relative Urania common subjects of research in optical science.[13]

The colours on the Madagascan sunset moth's wings are produced by the conjunction of two optical phenomena:

Both sides of Chrysiridia rhipheus
  1. An air-cuticle multilayer in the scales creates optical interference. Each scale contains cuticle layers with randomly located blocks of cuticle that hold them in place and maintain an air gap between them. The layers and air gaps are narrower than the wavelength of visible light. The structure varies from one layer at the proximal end of each scale, to about six layers at the distal end. This multilayer structure strongly reflects certain wavelengths of light, which are determined by the thicknesses of the layers and the angle at which the light hits the scale.
  2. The scales are highly curved, which creates inter-scale reflection. This mechanism is unusual among Lepidoptera. The proximal part of each scale is almost flat; the scale then gradually curves up and then steeply bends down at the distal end, covering the proximal part of the next row of scales. Because of this shape, adjacent rows of scales have valley-like grooves between them. This allows light to strike one scale, reflect at a roughly 90° angle, strike the next scale, and be reflected away from the wing. Because the angle of each reflection is far from
    normal incidence
    , the interference effect favours reflection of different colours of light than are seen when light strikes near the top of the curved part of the scale.

The colour seen in each part of the wing is the combination of the colours reflected by these two effects.

Because the cuticle layers are arranged in rows, with a cylindrical curve, the amount of the second type of reflection is dependent on the

insects can detect polarization of light, so it has been proposed that this feature may be used as a visual signal between moths.[7]
This has not yet been studied, however.

Distribution and habitat

Distribution of the four species of Omphalea in Madagascar

Drury's specimen was given to him by Captain May of Hammersmith and believed to have come from China.[14] Cramer believed the specimen came from Chandernagore in Bengal, however, giving rise to the French name "page de Chadernagor".[15] It is now known that Chrysiridia rhipheus is endemic to Madagascar. Thousands of adult moths seasonally migrate between geographically isolated populations of their host plant Omphalea spp. They can be found almost everywhere on the island, except in the south-west and the extreme subdesertic south of the Androy where their host plant is absent. They migrate from the three species in the dry deciduous forest in the west (O. ankaranensis, O. occidentalis and O. palmata) to the eastern rainforest species (O. oppositifolia). The western species are largely in protected areas. The eastern species, on the other hand, is mostly unprotected and dispersed in widely scattered populations threatened by deforestation. Being the only evergreen species, O. oppositifolia is probably crucial for the moth's survival. The Jamaican moth Urania sloanus, from the same subfamily (Uraniinae), most likely became extinct after the loss of one of its host plant species.[16][17]

The moths migrate in response to changes in the host plants. Chrysiridia larvae defoliate the whole plant, and even eat the flowers and fruit, and thus have a considerable negative impact on the reproduction and survival of seedlings.

secondary compound levels, becoming toxic to the larvae and causing high mortality. Omphalea populations that are not damaged by moths for long periods of time have lower toxicity.[11] These factors cause mass increases in local population, followed by sudden crashes. The population crashes might result from increased larval mortality, but are more likely caused by the emigration of the adult moths. Through semiochemicals, the plant may recruit hymenopteran parasitoids as a protection, hence playing a role in the population dynamics of the moth.[17]

Host plants

Like C. croesus and species of the genus Urania, C. rhipheus is a specialist species whose caterpillars feed strictly on species of the pantropical genus Omphalea (Euphorbiaceae).[17] Four species of the genus Omphalea are endemic to Madagascar:

  • O. ankaranensis, a
    karst
    of northern Madagascar
  • O. palmata, a dry forest shrub, closely related to O. ankaranensis, but from western Madagascar
  • O. occidentalis, also a dry forest species of western Madagascar
  • O. oppositifolia, a tree from the east coast rainforest of Madagascar[23]

Omphalea, like many other members of the Euphorbiaceae, possesses

leaf nectaries that attract polistine wasps, which are predators of early instar caterpillars. The leaf nectaries also attract ants. The ants usually protect their host plant, eating both the nectar and plant-eating insects on it. However, they generally completely ignore Chrysiridia caterpillars, making it likely that the caterpillars possess a chemical deterrent as a primary defence.[17] This chemical deterrent comes from the host plants. Omphalea species contain polyhydroxy alkaloids potentially sequestered or excreted by the caterpillar, the pupa and the adult moth.[24]

Behaviour

Unlike most moths, the sunset moth is

toxicity
, a strategy seen in many diurnal moths. Another habit the moth has in common with many butterflies is the night resting posture—the wings are held vertically over the back. During their migrations they roost in a group for the night.[17] The moth flies over the crown of trees and in clearings. Sometimes because of high winds it is carried about 100 m (300 ft), it then falls, inert and wings closed, to the ground.[16]

Life cycle

Final instar larva, shown here on the leaf of Omphalea oppositifolia
Adult Chrysiridia rhipheus at Madagascar near Mahajanga

Continuous generations of the moth are present all year. The highest populations are found from March to August (fall and winter), while the lowest are from October to December (spring).[16] The females

milligram (3.5×10−5 oz) and usually has 17 ribs, but sometimes 18 or less often 16. The eggs are usually laid on the lower surface of Omphalea leaves, but occasionally on the upper surface. Eggs are laid in groups of 60 to 110, usually about 80.[16]

After they hatch, the small caterpillars only eat the tissue (

setae.[26] It has five pairs of prolegs on segments 3 to 6 and 10, and six true legs attached to the thorax.[27]

After completing all but its last

haemolymph into the wing veins. The moth then beats them a few times, waits 45 minutes to let them harden, then beats them lightly again. The moth finally takes flight between one-and-a-half and two hours later.[16]

Nectar sources

Adult moths prefer white or whitish-yellow flowers as a nectar source, which indicates that visual cues play a large role in their selection. Most flowers visited are

Leguminosae (Mimosoideae, Myrtaceae and Combretaceae
). However, not all white flowers elicit a response: the white and showy flowers of Omphalea oppositifolia are not visited by the adult moths. Nectar sources include the flowers of:

All these flowers are white, with the exception of Camellia sinensis which has a yellow centre, and all either have dense filaments or are formed of tight clusters of small flowers.[17]

In culture

A cigarette card featuring a "Chrysiridia madagascariensis" fairy in 1928

This spectacular moth is considered one of the most impressive and beautiful Lepidoptera,[10] rivalling almost any of the butterflies in brilliance of colouring and form.[21] It is featured in most coffee table books on the Lepidoptera,[11] and is much sought after by collectors.[12] It is collected in the wild, and raised commercially for the international butterfly trade; its wings were used to make jewellery in the Victorian era.[26] The Madagascan sunset moth appeared on a 6 maloti postage stamp in the Lesotho Postal Services Butterflies of Africa issue of 20 August 2007.[29] Only one of the four species of host plants, Omphalea oppositifolia, is used to raise the moth commercially, mainly using plants collected in the wild, but also some cultivated for the purpose.[23]

In Malagasy, lolo is polysemous for "butterfly" or "moth" and "soul". There is little doubt that this is because a pupa resembles a covered corpse and that the adult emerges from it—like the soul from body of the dead.[30][31] The Malagasy people believe the soul of the dead or of ancestors appears in the form of a lepidopteran, and thus to attack it is to attack the ancestors.[32][33]

Footnotes

^1 The meaning of the specific epithet rhipheus was not given by the author Dru Drury.[14] Possibilities include the Latin Montes Rhipheaus, the Ural Mountains[34] or Ripheus, "the most just of all the Trojans".[35]

References

  1. ^ a b Belouino, Paul (1852). Dictionnaire général et complet des persécutions souffertes par l'Église (in French). Paris: J.P. Migne Éditeur. pp. 1784–1786. Retrieved 2008-02-16.
  2. ^ a b c d e Kirby, William Forsell (1897). A Hand-book to the Order Lepidoptera (PDF). Baldwin & Cradock. pp. 50–53. Retrieved 2008-03-21.
  3. ^ Grote, A. R. (17 January 2008) [1874]. "Synonymical Note". The Canadian Entomologist. No.9. VI. Entomological Society of Canada: 180. Retrieved 2008-07-05.
  4. ^ Beccaloni, G.; Scoble, M.; Kitching, I.; Simonsen, T.; Robinson, G.; Pitkin, B.; Hine, A.; Lyal, C., eds. (2003). "Chrysiridia rhipheus​". The Global Lepidoptera Names Index. Natural History Museum. Retrieved 2018-04-20.
  5. ^ a b c Swainson, William S. (1833). Zoological Illustrations. Vol III. Second series. London: Baldwin & Cradock. pp. 130–131. Retrieved 2008-02-19.
  6. ^ Savela, Markku (15 March 2007). "Chrysiridia". Lepidoptera and Some Other Life Forms. Retrieved 2008-06-16.
  7. ^
    PMID 19532506
    .
  8. ^ a b c d Decary, Raymond (1950). La Faune Malgache (in French). Paris: Payot.
  9. ^ Biosecurity New Zealand (24 August 2005). "Import Health Standard for the Importation of Tropical Butterfly and Moth Pupae into New Zealand". Commercial Imports. New Zealand Government. Archived from the original on 2011-07-26. Retrieved 2006-11-08.
  10. ^
    ISBN 1-84525-015-X
    . Retrieved 2008-02-19.
  11. ^
    JSTOR 3494552
    .
  12. ^ a b Griveaud, Paul (1963). "4" (PDF, 3.87 Mbit). The Invertebrates of Madagascar. s.n. pp. 81–82. Retrieved 2008-02-19.
  13. ^
    S2CID 22654532
    . Retrieved 2008-02-16.
  14. ^ a b c Drury, Dru (3 December 2006) [1773]. Illustrations of Natural History, Wherein Are Exhibited Upwards of 240 Figures of Exotic Insects. Printed for the author and sold by B. White. pp. 40 and 91. Retrieved 2008-06-18.
  15. ^ a b Boisduval, Jean Alphonse; Achille Guénée (1857). Histoire naturelle des insectes: spécies général des lépidoptères (in French). Roret. p. 12. Retrieved 19 June 2008.
  16. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Catala, R. (1940). "Variations expérimentales de Chrysiridia madagascariensis Less. (Lep. Uraniidae)". Archives du Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle. 17: Ph.D. Thesis.
  17. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Lees, David; Smith, Neal (1991). "Foodplants of the Uraniinae (Uraniidae) and their Systematic, Evolutionary and Ecological Significance" (PDF). Journal of the Lepidopterists' Society. 45 (4). The Lepidopterists' Society: 296–347. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2007-03-15. Retrieved 2006-10-29.
  18. ^ a b Oberthür, Charles (1922). Études de lépidoptérologie comparée (in French). Rennes: Ch. Oberthür édition. Retrieved 2008-03-20.
  19. ^ Webber, Joseph (1855). Dictionnaire français-malgache (PDF) (in French). Ile Bourbon: Établissement malgache de Notre-Dame de la Ressource. Retrieved 2008-03-20.
  20. ^ Shoumatoff, Alex (7 March 1988). "Our Far Flung Correspondents (Madagascar)". The New Yorker. New York. p. 62. Archived from the original on 2014-11-12. Retrieved 2008-02-16.
  21. ^
    ISBN 9780385068734
    . Retrieved 2008-02-19.
  22. ^ Kaabak, L. Лицом к лицу с природой (in Russian). НАУКА и ЖИЗНЬ. Retrieved 2008-03-18.
  23. ^
    S2CID 83494179
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  24. doi:10.1016/0305-1978(91)90063-6
    .
  25. ^ Minet, J. (1986). "Ébauche d'une classification moderne de l'ordre des Lépidoptères". Alexanor. 14 (7): 291–313.
  26. ^
    ISBN 1-56458-062-8
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  27. ISBN 90-04-09227-7
    . Retrieved 2008-03-18.
  28. ^ "Chrysiridia rhipheus". Collection naturalisée (in French). Insectarium de Montréal. 10 May 2005. Retrieved 2006-10-29.
  29. ^ WADP Numbering System (WNS). "LS009.07". World Association for the Development of Philately and Universal Postal Union. Archived from the original on 2016-03-06. Retrieved 2008-06-20.
  30. ISBN 0-472-06430-4
    . Retrieved 2008-06-17.
  31. ISBN 978-0-85883-485-9
    . Retrieved 2008-06-17.
  32. ^ Académie malgache (19 April 2006) [1919]. Bulletin de l'Académie malgache. 1915–1921 (in French). Vol. 2–5. Imp. officielle de la colonie. p. 30. Retrieved 2008-06-17.
  33. ISBN 2-7483-2482-X
    . Retrieved 2008-06-17.
  34. ^ Csuzdi, C. S.; Pavlíček, T. (2005). "Earthworms from Israel. II. Remarks on the Genus Perelia Easton, 1983 with Descriptions of a New Genus and two New Species" (PDF). Acta Zoologica Academiae Scientiarum Hungaricae. 51 (2): 75–96. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2008-06-25. Retrieved 2008-06-18.
  35. ISBN 0-14-044051-8
    . Retrieved 2008-06-26.

External links

Wikispecies has information related to Uraniinae.

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