Interaction between butterflies (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) and longhorn beetle (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae), with comments on the use of exudate as a food resource

Caique Dantas; Gabriel S. Ferreira; Thamara Zacca

doi:10.37486/2675-1305.ec05018

Authors

Caique Dantas Laboratório de Sistemática de Insetos, Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Estadual de Feira de Santana, Feira de Santana, Bahia, Brasil. https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5887-4200
Gabriel S. Ferreira Laboratório de Entomologia, Departamento de Zoologia, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4228-9100
Thamara Zacca Laboratório de Pesquisas em Lepidoptera, Departamento de Entomologia, Museu Nacional, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1398-0381

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.37486/2675-1305.ec05018

Keywords:

Behavior, commensalism, ecology, exudate, opportunism

Abstract

The interaction between the butterfly Fountainea glycerium cratais (Hewitson, 1874) and the longhorn beetle Retrachydes thoracicus thoracicus (Olivier, 1790), simultaneously feeding on the exudate of the Schinus tree (Anacardiaceae), is herein reported. We also revised the literature on this topic and compile data of other species of butterflies and beetles performing the similar type of ecological interaction in Neotropical region. Although this type of interaction has been documented as commensalism in some literature, the paucity of observations limits this affirmation and the development of standardized studies considering the frequency of occurrences and the behavior of the species involved are on demand.

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References

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