[LEPS-L:7989] Long-lived leps

[Woody Woods]

Anne, Ken, Ron, muchas gracias! My reason for asking about long-lived
butterflies, or moths for that matter, is that I am interested in the
ecological and evolutionary significance of resting energy use, and that has
led me to the odd task of measuring, well, insect breath, under unlikely
circumstances (them) and remote locations (me). Long lifespan has often been
associated, however indirectly, with lower resting metabolism, and that's why
I am looking for long-lived leps. I found one good example, the satyrine
Manataria maculata, where Bill Haber had found that adults of Costa Rican
populations live for nearly a year while migrating in reproductive diapause.
It turns out that Manataria's resting energy use is about half that of their
nearest regional relatives, when corrected for body mass. Live slow, live
long! 

H. charitonius is one I wish I had measured while working in Monteverde, Costa
Rica, but they haven't been found at that altitude (about 1500 M) and I have
missed out there so far. I understand their range extends to the southern
states, and maybe I can manage that.  Arctic moths I do know about, but right
now it's a separate (though fascinating) issue because they spend much time in
the deep freeze, a little analogous to Monarchs overwintering in Mexico
(thanks, Paul, for examples a few weeks back of other populations making it at
higher temperatures...). For Anthocharis pupae, maybe the question is partly
one of temperature and partly one of possible diapause. Pupae of the hawkmoth
Manduca sexta can have a very low metabolism, independent of temperature, if
they diapause, which they do in temperate regions. 

Thanks again, and I am grateful in advance for any further examples of
long-lived leps.

Woody Woods
-- 
*********************************************************
William A. Woods Jr.
Department of Biology
University of Massachusetts Boston
100 Morrissey Blvd                      Lab: 617-287-6642
Boston, MA 02125                        Fax: 617-287-6650
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