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A recent article in the open-access journal African Invertebrates sheds light on the life cycle and behavior of the Cape Autumn Widow butterfly (Dira clytus), a species unique to South Africa.
Researchers Silvia Mecenero from the Lepidopterists’ Society of Africa and Stephen Kirkman from Nelson Mandela University explored the developmental stages of this butterfly and how it reacts to environmental factors, which is important for conservation efforts.
By raising the subspecies Dira clytus clytus in a controlled environment, the team documented its entire life cycle, from egg to adult. They discovered two separate phases for pupation and adult emergence over several months, which were found to be influenced by colder temperatures. This indicates that environmental signals are crucial in initiating these life cycle events. Notably, two broods were observed within a few months, even though this species typically only reproduces once a year in the wild.
The results suggest that Dira clytus clytus may possess some degree of phenological flexibility in response to climate change, allowing it to adjust its timing of pupation and the number of broods produced each year. However, this kind of adaptability can have downsides; changes in their developmental timing might not align with the seasonal availability of their host plants. On the plus side, since Dira clytus clytus consumes a wide variety of grasses, it may be better equipped to handle variations in its life cycle.
This research was published as part of a special collection of articles honoring the late ecologist Prof. Stefan H. Foord.
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